London Wedding...{ YAY! }

Hello!  I am sooooooo happy that we pulled it off! 

First let's start with a few pictures site-seeing with family. There are so many more pictures that I will get from my mom and sister later. What can I say........I was over-whelmed at first by the whole "hosting 2 families" and getting them everything I thought they needed since they are not familiar with London and of course I wanted them to have the best time ever!!!!

But then, as time went by, I could see I was not the worst host ever and things went pretty well. Isn't it amazing the growth you can make when you have your eyes wide open and are able to recognize room for improvement (me: control, worry, perfectionist)......there are lessons to learn around every corner......

London Town!

 

 - - - { { THE WEDDING } } - - -

-for full effect, listen to Dirty Dancing soundtrack or She is Love by Parachute as that's what I listened to while writing this-
There are more photos to come, but I couldn't wait!

Where do I start??!!

It exceeded my expectations.

I planned, prepared and pulled off a wedding in Wimbledon.

Amazing how the plans God has for you can go far beyond your imagination when you trust Him and let Him lead. Of course I am not the best at trusting.......my first reaction is to take things into my own hands and do everything myself. I am so thankful to all the people who have been praying for me for years with all my decisions regarding le Rey and decisions for myself.

I have been continually blessed through these 32 years in my life, and I am humbled DAILY at the amazing things that the Lord provides. The things of this world are not forever, and I intend to cherish this moments and experiences that bless me so much.

The wedding celebration in London filled my heart in a way I did not expect! 

The venue was beautiful and the staff so lovely and efficient (lesson #1: trust that others can do their job)......Cannizaro House, I will never forget you. The staff that could see how overwhelmed I was put me at ease when they smiled and told me to enjoy it and that they would take care of everything. 

Pete, our pastor......thank you for performing our ceremony. Thank you for being flexible with our constantly changing dates, and for keeping Christ at the center of our ceremony. It was important to le Rey and I that you did the ceremony and gave the glory to God. Thank you so much!

My family could sense my anxiety on the day of the wedding as the time got closer.......thank you for understanding that I was overwhelmed. You are the best family and the way you can love me unconditionally despite my faults is amazing. Being born into our family has been/will always be the best thing that has happened to me. (lesson #2: embrace your family, flaws and all. Treasure them, even when difficult.)

Our guests were a perfect, loving combination (you were in my heart dear friends from around the globe) to support us on this wonderful day. Thank you for chatting with friends new and old, and trying the South African dancing and being so excited about my candy bar! I am so happy each and everyone of you was there! (lesson# 3: small weddings can work, even with groups of people that haven't met before....don't worry so much Kelli!)

le Rey's family, you were the life of the party! Thanks for getting others to try the long-arm dancing, for chatting to all these people you had never met before, and for being such a joyful group! Thank you for taking photos Karen, they are beautiful! Reichardt and Niel, I love seeing le Rey light up when all the brothers are together. Ma & Pa, thank you for raising my amazing husband. He treats me like a queen.

My loving husband.......what have I done to deserve you?! You are the best person I know (although this title runs closely with my amazing mother) and you make me want to be better. I NEVER thought I would find a good man, let alone a great man! I wanted a man that loves God, loves me and is full of I*N*T*E*G*R*I*T*Y..........but always thought this was not a combination I would find. Thank you for being YOU! I love you so much! Thank you for being so patient and loving while helping these past 3 weeks. I am so proud to call you my husband.

Thank you to everyone who supported us with prayers, encouragement, phone calls, sleepovers, skype dates, coffee dates, thoughts and more! I love you all!

 

 

 

I am trying to figure out how to upload the videos of the first dance, etc! Stayed tuned...........

Lots of love,

Kelli