November 12, 2005

November 12, 2005. The awaited wedding day was perfect. A day I will never forget. Father thank you for your goodness, faithfulness, peace, and excitement. Perfect- that is how I would describe it. Everything looked so beautiful and the day was ironically relaxing. That morning I got up and had breakfast with my best friends, two of them being my sisters. I had time to journal, read the Word, and share scripture and pray with Dani. After my hair and makeup was finished, I went to the church and was able to sit in the aisle alone and take it all in and enjoy the moment.

(Last year I spent a lot of time with exchange students, we had a wedding party back in May for the girls because they were all going home and couldn’t be here for the wedding. They wrote me notes to open on my wedding day. I sat in the church in my dress and read each note and remembered all the girls who meant so much to me. Thank you girls. You are all such a blessing to me. I miss y’all.)

Then, everyone showed up and pictures began. The groomsmen and ushers looked so nice in their tuxes and all the bridesmaids looked beautiful. Mom, you looked amazing.

The church looked beautiful- thanks Stephanie for all your work. Marcus’ Uncle played the piano for the Recessional. He is a Music Professor at Union University. He was so great. All the pieces he played sounded amazing. We showed a picture slide show of Marcus and I growing up, and the Bridal Party entered. My dad and I were next. I finally got a little nervous walking down the aisle. It hit me then. “This is your wedding day, you are the bride and your groom is waiting at the front of the church for you… The day is here.” We walked down the aisle and my dad gave me away to a man who has so many of the same qualities that my dad possesses. We began the ceremony in worship. The ceremony was truly a worship experience for me. As we were worshipping, I was overwhelmed by the Father’s faithfulness and goodness in my life. I’m alive. I’m alive. I am alive and well and I am so thankful that the Father allowed me to live and do life “for better for worse, in sickness and in health” with Marcus. The ceremony ended, and our marriage began with a kiss. “May I now introduce you to Mr. And Mrs. Marcus Pedroza.”

After the ceremony was over, and the pictures were finished, we took a trolley from the church to the Reception. Marcus and I stood on the trolley. People were honking, waving, yelling out their car window “CONGRATULATIONS!!” There were even a few people who took a picture of us from their car using their phone or digital camera. It was great!!!
I was so overwhelmed walking into the Reception Room. There were so many people there supporting us. So many old faces that I haven’t seen since childhood. So many people came who have inspired, challenged, and supported Marcus and me throughout the years. It was such a blessing to have my family, Marcus’ family, and all our friends there celebrating with us. There was food, lots of wedding cake, and DANCING!!! Marcus’ cake was two-tiered chocolate cake that had a globe on the top of the tiers. The globe represented our heart and desire to “Go” to the nations to make the Father’s name known and glorified.

I Wanna Dance...

“ I WANNA DANCE, I WANNA WRAP MY ARMS AROUND YOUR NECK AND DANCE”- Caedmon’s Call.

I love to dance and I love watching other people dance. I loved seeing the smiles on everyone’s face while they were dancing, whether dancing to the Electric Slide, doing the Chicken Dance, showing off their dance skills, being really silly (Nawsaw!!) or slow dancing to Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. Marcus and I danced to “Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, a song that really describes us. My dad and my dance lessons paid off. We did the fox trout and mamba to my Grandma Rita and Paw Paw’s favorite song, “Begin the Beguine” by Perry Como, in their memory. I will never that dance with my dad and the way he look at me. His eyes told me he was so proud of me, that he loved me so much. Daddy, I’ll always be your little girl. Marcus and his mom danced to “What A Wonderful World.” They were so silly. There were bets going that Marcus was going to drop his mom when he dipped her, he didn’t but everyone still laughed at the two of them.

The wedding and reception ended magically. Everyone went outside, formed two lines, and lit sparklers. Marcus and I ran through the middle of the people and sparkles and hopped on the trolley that was waiting for us. We stood at the back of the trolley again with our own sparkers and waved goodbye. As we drove away into our “Happily Ever After…” my heart was overcome with thankfulness.

Father you amaze me. “You have given me more than I could ever have wanted.” Thank you. You answered all my prayers… prayers I prayed as a child and as a woman. I give you all the praise and glory. Thank you for celebrating with us. I felt you so near. May our marriage bring you praise. Use us for your glory.

HONEYMOON IN ST. THOMAS

St. Thomas was beautiful. We had a great week relaxing on the beach, snorkeling many times... we saw a lots of fish and coral, a sea turtle, an eagle ray... we went sailing, and we also took a boat to the British Virgin Island- Virgin Gorda. It was a wonderful honeymoon. We made some friends while we were there, had dinner with them, played games, and got to experience life with them. The food was amazing. We can't get seafood like we had there here. The weather was perfect. We could not have asked for a better time. We are blessed.

Snapshots of the Wedding Weekend

Treasuring in my heart so many moments that have taken place in the last week and a half.

As reflect on November 12, 2005, the day I married my best friend, Marcus, and the incredible week on our honeymoon, so many snapshots come to my mind and fill my heart with a smile. I am so blessed and over whelmed by it all. Every thing was so perfect. November 12 was truly the best night of my entire life. Everything and everyone looked so beautiful. There was an overwhelming peace and excitement that filled the entire day, no one was stressed at all leading up to the big event and the day was incredibly relaxing, exciting, and so enjoyable. The Father’s presence and glory surrounded us. I give Him all the praise and glory.

Snapshots… Rehearsal Dinner
The day before the wedding my mom and sisters getting our nails done and having so much fun laughing and relaxing, the Bridesmaids and me checking into a hotel before the Rehearsal, eating hors d’ oeuvres then going to the Rehearsal together. The Rehearsal- so much fun… it was nice to meet Marcus’ friends/groomsmen from high school, Albert and Nick. Albert, thanks for making my sister laugh so hard. Went to FireWater Café for the Rehearsal Dinner- Danielle- thank you for your toast and for your prayers in the hospital chapel two years ago- the Lord heard and answered. He is faithful. Dad, oh dad, your toast was perfect… I will never forget it.

After the dinner was over and everyone left, Marcus and I went outside and by the huge waterfall and I gave him a chest full of items I had collected on every mission trip I’ve been on for “the guy” I would one day marry. I began collecting these items on my first mission trip to India six years and continued to fill the chest up with items from Kenya, Japan, and Germany. Inside the chest was a journal that I began writing in high school full of letters that I wrote to my future husband. It was my joy and honor to present this chest to Marcus. Baby, I have been praying for you for years. I have prayed that the Father would direct our paths to lead us to each other when his timing was perfect and give us the same heart and passion for the nations. I am so excited to know that we our desire is to Go to the nations, regardless of the cost.

Back at the hotel my Bridesmaids, Sam, Nicole, Danielle, Jennifer, Elaine, were waiting for me to return. We stayed up talking about each other’s love stories, and then all the girls all recounted to me how they felt and the way they dealt with the news when finding out that I had a brain tumor. We talked about LOVE. Thanks for all the great pointers. We finally went to bed late that night, I think we laughed our selves to sleep. I remember falling asleep with a smile on my face and a full heart, feeling so blessed to be loved and adored my so many people and so blessed to have five amazing godly girls as my friends who rejoice for me.

To be continued…

Memories... Old and New

What a great weekend…
I had such a wonderful weekend. It was both exciting and relaxing. Friday night was the first time in a while that I had some alone time. I was at my parents house for the last weekend. What a weird feeling, knowing that I will soon have a husband and a house that we will make a home. This time also allowed me the opportunity to start and almost finish packing for the Honeymoon. This week will be busy, so I am so grateful I had that night to be able to pack in peace and reflect on my childhood, youth, and college. God has been so faithful to me. He’s brought me through so much, rescued me, restored me, healed me, blessed me beyond measure… My house, my room, all of it, reminds me of the Father’s faithfulness. There are so many great memories in that house.

Saturday was Sassy. My close girl friends threw me a “girl party.” I really enjoyed laughing, almost crying because we were laughing so hard, with my girl friends that have meant so much to me. The party was so fun and oh so sassy. I loved the cake, food, fellowship, “words of advice,” and all the gifts. (What do you do with this? Grandma finally got it right. I need help!!”). I still laugh out loud when I look at the picture of me and my identical cake.

Sunday, oh Sunday, Marcus and I went and worshipped together for the last time as an engaged couple. The message was on being grateful and thankful for all the many blessings the Father has poured out. As I sat and let the message soak in, my heart overflowed with thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. An amazing man who loves me unconditionally, an amazing family, an amazing God. I am blessed.

Last night we spent some time with some friends we haven’t seen in awhile. It was good to see them and catch up on life. Afterwards we went and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the first time. It reminded me of when I was little. Oh the joy of reliving childhood pleasures, enjoying the magic, feeling like a kid again….

Thank you Father for the weekend to relax, to enjoy life, to enjoy silence, laughter, friends, family, to remember to count my blessings which leads me to worship.

Quick, Quick, Slow

My dad and I have been taking dance lessons for the past few weeks. We are having a dance after the wedding at the reception. This will be the first time my dad and I have ever danced together in public. He’s nervous, I can't wait. He didn’t want to just sway back and forth during our dance, so we started taking dance lessons. It’s been so much fun. My dad is an athlete, but dancing has come pretty natural for him. He’s so cute (can you call your dad cute?) Sometimes, he has to count the steps out loud so he “feel the music.” It’s something I will always remember. I have really enjoyed those times with my dad. I can’t wait to dance with my dad in 10 days.

My mom and my dad almost called off their relationship because they went to a Christmas party many years ago and my mom wanted to dance but my dad didn’t want to. They left the party that night mad and upset, when my dad dropped my mom off at the door he said, “I was going to propose to you tonight.” Well needless to say, he did, she said yes, and they’ve been married for 26 years. Over the summer they started dancing together also. I’m excited for them to dance together as well.
This is for you dad, “Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow…”