I got married!
I keep asking Riki, "Are we still newlyweds?" - It's been five weeks and I'm worrying that our 'specialness' is wearing off. I still want everyone to think of us as newlyweds. Forever!
We're just about to move into our first home next week so are incredibly busy (and broke), albeit not quite as busy (or broke) as we have been whilst planning the wedding!
Some of the highlights of our day:
My step-sister helping my mum to dress me in the morning - we've had a couple of issues in the past but I'm so glad she was there, it meant so much and just felt right.
My big brother walking me down the aisle (one of my favouite people in all the world)
Giving Grandad a kiss as I walked down the aisle - I love my Grandad, he's one of my absolute favourite people ever. He was always going to walk me down the aisle but at 72 and with Lewy Body and Parkinsons, he wan't able to. I was gutted but this was the next best way to honour him. We've had a special kiss for as long as I can remember. I give him a kiss and then we wipe each others mouths - we're rubbing it in, not wiping it off!
We were married at the Baptist Church I grew up in - It'll always be my home, even though we attend a different church, the Baptist Church will always hold a special place in my heart. It was nice, though, to have my Pastor come up to pray a blessing over us as soon as we were pronounced husband and wife.
We also asked Auntie Joan to come up to serve us communion - I wanted it to be our first act as man and wife. Auntie Joan isn't a blood-auntie, she started the Sunday school for my brother and I when we first started attending the Baptist church, when I was around 2 years old. Riki and I absolutely love her and in Riki's words, "she is the world's best hugger!"I made pretty much everything myself. I didn't really want flowers so made a button ball (you all know I'm obsessed with buttons!) and smaller ones for my two bridesmaids. I also made button boutonierres for the men. I wore my cowboy boots (Thank you for all your prayers - they fit on the day!) and all in all it was a lovely day. The sun came out like never before - we were worried it might snow as it has snowed in March for the past couple of years - we couldn't have ordered a better day if we'd tried!
The day was everything we wanted and more. I thought I couldn't be happier.
We went to a country music festival in Dublin for the weekend - we left our wedding in the evening to go straight to the airport - flying the next morning - not realising that we had left our festival tickets at home. My mum, bless her, she drove all the way to Manchester Airport first thing to bring them. We're so blessed to have her!
The festival was great but that's not the reason I'll remember that weekend in Dublin. The second day we were there, we were walking down the high street - we were cold and hadn't taken coats so we found a Primark (they're called Penney's in Dublin) and bought jumpers - and I spotted a street evangelist. I love to go and chat to them so I walked over, holding my new husband's hand.
As we were chatting, the man, named Noel Butler, asked Riki if he knew what they were doing. Riki answered, "Yeah, kind of". I told him I was a Christian and we were newlyweds on honeymoon - I didn't want to pressure Riki and thought I'd give him an out. To my astonishment, the man started telling Riki all about Jesus and how He died for our sins. I was silently begging him to talk about God's great love as I think that's the most important part. He finally did, after the fire and brimstone bit (equally as important!) and then he told Riki that one day, he's going to have to deal with eternity and his soul's eternal resting place.I expected Riki to smile and nod but when he asked if he was ready to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, Riki said yes.
Oh my word! I almost cried! I stood there, holding Riki's hand as he said the Sinner's Prayer, right there in the middle of Dublin city centre. With a random street preacher. I couldn't believe it! I was so desperate for Riki to be saved before we got married and then I pretty much gave up. It's been so difficult but I left it in God's hands and literally two days after I trusted God and married Riki, He sets us this amazing divine appointment and gives me the best wedding gift I could have ever hoped for!
Noel didn't seem to realise how much I was affected by this, and I think I held it together pretty well, although I did text my Mum and a really good friend from church almost straight away! He prayed for our marriage as a "young Christian couple, wanting to walk in God's path" - which made me so happy I almost cried, again!Now, Riki hasn't seemed to change very much, although he's a pretty stand up guy anyway. I don't think it would have ever been a major "realisiation" moment or epiphany where your life turns around completely. I think for him it would be more of a gift of faith. I think he's still working on a lot of questions and issues, and he hasn't mentioned it since so I haven't either - I don't want to push it. He doesn't seem any more interested in church than he was before, but still. He's made a massive decision. A huge step of faith for him to stand there in the middle of a city and proclaim that he's a sinner and wants Jesus to enter his heart.
I couldn't be happier. Please keep praying for him, and for us as Christian newlyweds!
-Lisa
