Hello!! Our big day
has come and gone. However, the
celebrations leading up to it will live on in infamy! Somewhere between the bridal shower at work
(complete with various sparkling grape juices in champagne flutes!), the family
shower at Helen Fitzgerald’s, the joint bachelor/bachelorette pub crawl and the
impromptu bachelor party (the night before the wedding!) we got used to
everyone celebrating, well, US! We had a
beautiful, laid-back ceremony in the Great Room at Sunset Hills Country Club on
Friday, November 9th.
Everything fell into place exactly as planned the day of the wedding: The girls (including bridesmaid, Johnny)
spent the day at Ginger Bay Salon; the boys spent the day working off said
bachelor party. The weather turned out to be unseasonably warm and beautiful
allowing us to take some photos outside on the greens at the club. A semicircle
of chairs was arranged around the fireplace. The mantle was decorated with baby’s
breath, vintage windows and candles. My dad walked me down the aisle to Otis
Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You”. The
ceremony began and Blake read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. We said “I Do” and everyone waved their
celebratory “We Do” chalkboard signs.
Greg spent the next two hours trying to get used to wearing a ring while
we smiled for pictures and enjoyed hor’derves and cocktails. After dinner, the bridal party headed to BB’s
Jazz, Blues and Soups where the final celebration commenced! The evening was amazing and overwhelming. We want to thank everyone that came out to BB’s
to help us celebrate such a special evening and everyone that called/wrote us
to wish us well. It was a day that neither of us will ever forget.
With the wedding festivities behind us and the holiday
season upon us, I find myself thinking more and more about my friends in
Mozambique. During this time of year,
when most of us are celebrating our faith and spending time with our loved
ones, they are experiencing a time unrest caused by an opposition group seeking
power and money (while most of the country desires peace and development). I am comforted by the fact that church groups
brokered peace agreements in 1992 to end their 15 year civil war. During my trip to Mozambique in 2011 I had
the pleasure of meeting men and women in leadership positions within United
Methodist churches throughout the country.
I am confident that these individuals have the wherewithal to overcome
adversity again.
The 2013 group has spent months preparing for the upcoming
trip. I am excited to be a part of this diverse group of individuals and to get
back to Mozambique. Since my previous
post, five new wells have become operational and a leadership group from The
Mozambique Initiative has spent 3 weeks in Mozambique. As Greg, Blake and I transition into our
lives together, I become more confident that their time while I’m gone will be
one full of laughter, love and shenanigans.
I anticipate struggles for us both during this time but I know that this
will be a pivotal experience in our lives.
If this is your first time visiting the blog, please scroll
down to the first post for details regarding the trip, fundraising and making a
donation. We appreciate you stopping by
to hear our story, to wish us well and your donations.
Peace+
Emilie
