Our Wedding Day
We got Married at the
end of August last year.
My nerves flowed
through my body as I prepared to walk down the aisle.
Mum and Dad linked
arms with me 'it's time'
Heart so full of love
and beating strong in my chest, limbs shaking, and absolutely certain.
As soon as I saw my
husband and my hands were in his, I calmed, as he held my hands and he had to
stop my launching myself to embrace him and kiss him there and then.
Looking into his eyes
I felt so safe and full of joy, bubbling up with laughter and overflowing with gratitude,
for making it to this day together.
Standing there with
our friends and family around us and me in the dress my Mum had lovingly made,
with jewellery from each matriarch of my family (me being the 3rd women of
Mum's side to wear the pendant bracelet). I had eaten Weetabix and banana that
morning, remembering my morning breakfasts with my Auntie Anne, often before a
bush walk, and how pleased she would have been to meet the man holding my
hands.
And as we sang 'How
Great Thou Art' together with our friends and family I felt that I could not have
picked a better one for this beautiful day with the gum trees around us, all in
bright colours and native flowers around us.
Vows exchanged, lips
connected, and it felt so good to hold my husband that I didn't want to stop
and told him so, he replied 'we have to stop sometime!' with a big grin on his
face.
His whole demeaner showing
me just how deeply he loved me right back.
We sat with our
bridal party and one of my bridesmaids held my bouquet (apparently she wanted
to give it back to me as it was heavy), I didn't focus that well on what our minister
was saying, as I clasped the hands of, and lent against my strong, gentle and
kind husband, and appreciated the brief talk on our bible passages we'd chosen.
Proverbs 18:22 'The
man who finds himself a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favour from the
Lord' NLT chosen by my husband
Colossians 3:12-17
'Since God chose you to be a holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves
with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make
allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember,
the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Above all, clothe
yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let
the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body,
you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Let the message about
Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with
all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs to God with
thankful hearts.
And whatever you do
or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him
to God the Father.'
We signed the
paperwork with my Auntie Sue and His Uncle Alex, as my brother and his wife
sang and Andy played the guitar, for the hymn 'Come Thou Fount of Every
Blessing'.
Then we were officially
Mr and Mrs Lampa!
When we re-entered
after the bridal party there was cheering, delicious food, speeches of thankfulness,
laughter and storytelling, dancing, cutting of the cake (made wonderfully by
Elijah's cousin Hazel).
Then we drove out as
everyone blew bubbles and shared in our joy.
It was over in 6hrs.
The first day of what I hope and pray will be a glorious and blessed marriage.
Our Honeymoon
We went to Hamilton
Island.
Sea, sand, mountains,
animals, and artwork.
Snorkelling, visiting
animals, and the art gallery, and eating by the sea.
We walked around the
Island and took the time to bereave out together.
At the end I climbed
the mountain.
I looked out at the
islands and the sea and sang praises and thankfulness to God my Father.
For our wonderful
friends and family that had helped us in the lead up, and on our wedding day.
Most especially for
being blessed to have such a wonderfully husband who knows how to calm me down
and make me laugh every day. And for our new expanded family.
Everyone is so deer
to us and I will always remember those who came to my kitchen tea and being
sung the Lewis Bridal song by members of my Gaelic choir, and all the wise
words, hugs and thoughtful notes with the recipe book in my bookshelf.
I was a good
honeymoon. Time well spent.
Our Big Friendly Giant
When we got home, we
pre-pared to bring home a new member of our family.
He had been chosen
for us by Greyhound rescue.
We took a photo of Toe
Beans space once we had shopped for him (bed, toys, and blankets).
The day after we went
to meet him.
He warmed up to us
quickly and was wagging his tail as he picked out a toy, after we signed the
paperwork, and got him some bowls, treats, and a Hound Tee.
We had a borrow and
send back his harness because the ones in the little shop didn't fit him.
The lovely kennel
manager helped us bring him to the car and showed us how to secure him using
his lead. Everyone wanted to say their goodbyes to our sweet boy, who they had
all helped to heal from racing and get ready for his family (us!).
After his first
roach, (when he lay on his back with his legs in the air), I took him for his
first walk.
Seven months in, he
snuggles on the couch with us, is very vocal and wags his tail even in his
sleep, and rubs his head against us when we come home from works. He roaches a
LOT!
It's so wonderful to
know that when he received neglect of his health and wellbeing, by the racing
industry, for the first 5 and a half years of his life, he has been saved to be
loved and cherished, safe with his new family,
Greyhound rescue matched
him with us and saved him.
We could be more grateful
for the fact that they, and others like them, (those that recued and cared for
my parents abused greyhound Bree - a beautiful black and white girl), give
these dogs a new life.
Where they are free
from abuse and are loved and appreciated.
The way they always
should have been
Proverbs 31:8
'Speak up for those
who cannot speak for themselves.
ensure justice for
those being crushed'
My prayer is as we continue to share in our life
together we will keep looking out and caring for others, and that God may continue
to bless us with the opportunity to change lives for the better.
