me
and Matt, since we got married nine years ago today. It wasn't a Wednesday, though. It was the inevitable Saturday, but not the evening. We got married at 10am in the morning which was already way too long to wait for such an occasion. I was ready to walk down the aisle at about 7:30 and had to sit around the whole morning watching my bridesmaids fuss over their hair and hideous pink sparkly dresses. One of the more satisfying moments of my life has been forcing five of my closest and most loved friends to wear pink at my very own wedding. This is possibly why I have never been invited to be in anyone else's wedding (or maybe because I'm always enormously pregnant when my friends are getting married).
The other more satisfying moments of my life was watching very partially hung over groomsmen realize that we were about to sing another hymn. We sang all the hymns you could sing. The service lasted an hour and 20 minutes only because my father preached such a short time. If we could have stretched it to two hours we would have. Not being Catholic we couldn't justify leaving a lovely offering in front of the statue of Mary (although believe me, I really tried to justify it. What an excellent way to show off the dress!) Nor did we end up going with the 1662 Prayer Book Service, although we really really really wanted to. It just became too complicated. But we did sing I want to Walk as a Child of the Light and Lift High the Cross (I think) and King of Glory King of Peace. And I walked in to Not Here for High or Holy Things. Not yet being in submission to my excellent husband, I was able to fend off his great desire that we sing A Mighty Fortress NOT because its not an excellent hymn, but because the verse about Satan is so unsuitable for a wedding.
My father's sermon was chiefly about how he hoped we would have many many children and have a filthy and chaotic house as a result. This blessing, it seems, we are being blessed with abundantly. Six babies in nine years is nothing to sneeze at. However, our house is not chaotic nor filthy. So there.
And we are ridiculously happy, or at least I am. To be floating along through life, intending to devote oneself to the service of God in miserable sacrifice and instead happen, one evening over dinner in the refectory, to fall headlong in love with a strange and fascinating young man with piercing blue eyes and and an extremely quick mind and end up in the service of God without any misery at all, well, what other choice is there than happiness?
13 comments:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! To celebrate the happiness and joy of your life, your dad is taking me to a linguistic gathering (what fun) in Hungary (OH BOY!) and then back to Nairobi in two weeks by way of Istanbul where my lifelong dream to visit Hagia Sophia is about to be realized. A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU!
me
Many congratulations to you and Matt!
Why would your service to God EVER have been one of miserable sacrifice? Just trying to understand what you meant.
Your bridesmaids were happy that you let us sit down during all the hymns. It almost made up for the pink sparkly dresses. Almost.
Your wedding was so beautiful and Matt could not have found a more perfect wife for himself. I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating these 9 years and looking forward to so many more. Matt's grandparents shared 62 years together. Doug and I will soon celebrate 43 and I know your parents have been married many years too. Happy Anniversary!
I heart pink and sparkly. Happy Anniversary - can't think of a woman more perfect for my brother!
Megan
In a very un-Christian manner I shall never forgive you the pink-sparkly dresses though my daughter's dress up clothes are enhanced dramatically by it. And you do need to know that having had E. only a few weeks before my wedding I believe you removed yourself from bridesmaid duties. I would have been delighted to have you :-) Happy Anniversary! (what's this about 6 babies. I thought 5 but I can't keep track).
Congratulations!
I think you have outdone me in speed of having the first six chilcren, and you certainly have outdone and do outdo me in the clean house department.
By the way, are you aware that as of 4:45 PM 8/11/10 all links to Stand Firm point to a generic Yahoo site? Was Stand Firm hacked?
Susan
We share almost the same day but we are at number 44. Yikes! It seems like just a couple of years! Rob and family are taking us to a ball game and Village People will perform at the Trop Stadium afterwards. A perfectly romantic event, don't you think? Congrats on your special day. Love to all from sunny Florida. C.....
Happy Anniversary & blessings for many more to come!
~R
Happy Anniversary to you both and best wishes to the years ahead! :)
A very very happy anniversary to you, Anne. May God continue to richly bless you and Matt, and may His joy be abundant in your house.
Happy Anniversary to you both! Isn't God good that way? And congrats on Baby #6!!!
Jeanne
Happy Anniversary ! One comment that was made at our wedding nearly eleven years ago was all that Anglican liturgy made the wedding last longer the reception. Quite true! Had we not gotten married in the south, I was sorely tempted to skip the reception! SO we did the best we could by having a Choral wedding and short late afternoon reception.
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