Kathy has posted some pictures from our blessing ceremony on August 12 on her blog at www.nutsaboutquilting.blogspot.com so please copy and paste in your browser, or click on the link to Kathy's blog over on the right side of my blog to see those pix. Unfortunately, we have no other pictures of the ceremony, so if there is anyone else who did get some, we'd love it if you could share them with us.
We placed cameras on the tables at the reception and asked people to take pictures for us. I had them developed yesterday and some are very good, but they didn't do the flowers justice. They were outstanding!
I haven't had time to get all the pictures ready to publish but I will do that soon.However, many of the pictures were taken by Arabella and as you can see here, she is quite the photographer. Here is a picture of "Rascal" who was once known as "Big Baby". You can almost make out one of the 15 centerpieces my friend Lou made for us.
Here is the smaller of the two large arrangements that Lou made. I wish I had a picture of each arrangement or even just one good one that did them justice. Blue hydrangea in all shades, amazing giant red dahlias, roses in amazing pinks and pale yellow, blue delphinium and on and on. I just can't say enough about them.
Ed and I wrote a little skit showing our southern family how to talk like someone from Boston and helping the Bostonians learn some of the colorful southern expressions. Steve, Ed, John and my friend Peaches were the stars! It was wicked good, y'all.
Someone shot a picture of all three grandkids. Zeppelin, who made a nice speech for us, Arabella, shutterbug, and Indigo. Better pictures of Indigo will follow. I thought this one was cute. A 1 year old learning to walk, she struck this pose quite often!
Family and a few friends came back to the house afterwards. I loved the bonding of my family from the north with my family from the south. It was heartwarming to both Ed and I.Ed and I wanted to thank everyone for helping us celebrate and bless our marriage, our family and our friends. It was a fabulous day for us. There were so many things that made it special for us. The music was so beautiful, the flowers exquisite, the weather was superb and the family and friends made it perfect! My special thanks to the Conor family, Lynne, Emily, George and my pal Melonhead (Melinda).
They helped with so much, including setting up, clearing away and lots in between. George video taped our ceremony for us. The girls were willing to do everything and anything to help. Melinda was my support for months leading up to the event as well as during and after on that day. They even had us over for pizza after setting up the night before. Emily and Lynne called it our "rehearsal dinner" even though there wasn't any rehearsal. Ed and I were so grateful to spend the night just kicking back, relaxed and enjoying their company and their hospitality. What wonderful friends they are.More later about so many others who are dear to us, some who travelled from far away to be with us. But for now, those of you who were there will remember that we had three poems as part of our ceremony. Ed chose First Love by John Clare. And I think he did such a beautiful job of reading it. Our minister read the second poem, which I chose, called At Last by Elizabeth Akers Allen. This poem touched me so deeply the first time I read it. And I actually gathered the courage to read a poem I had written for Ed as his wedding present, that tells our story of young love rekindled after years have gone by. I had a few requests for copies of these poems and thought I would post them here.
First Love, by John Clare
I ne'er was struck before that hour
With love so sudden and so sweet,
Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
And stole my heart away complete.
My face turned pale as deadly pale.
My legs refused to walk away,
And when she looked, what could I ail?
My life and all seemed turned to clay.
And then my blood rushed to my face
And took my eyesight quite away,
The trees and bushes round the place
Seemed midnight at noonday.
I could not see a single thing,
Words from my eyes did start --
They spoke as chords do from the string,
And blood burnt round my heart.
Are flowers the winter's choice?
Is love's bed always snow?
She seemed to hear my silent voice,
Not love's appeals to know.
I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling-place
And can return no more
At Last by Elizabeth Akers Allen
At last, when all the summer shine
That warmed life's early hours is past,
Your loving fingers seek for mine
And hold them close at last at last!
Not oft the robin comes to build
Its nest upon the leafless bough
By autumn robbed, by winter chilled,
But you, dear heart, you love me now.
Though there are shadows on my brow
And furrows on my cheek, in truth,
The marks where Time's remorseless plough
Broke up the blooming sward of Youth,
Though fled is every girlish grace
Might win or hold a lover's vow,
Despite my sad and faded face,
And darkened heart, you love me now!
I count no more my wasted tears;
They left no echo of their fall;
I mourn no more my lonesome years;
This blessed hour atones for all.
I fear not all that Time or Fate
May bring to burden heart or brow,
Strong in the love that came so late,
Our souls shall keep it always now!
And There Came a Day, by Suzanne Hall Eaton
And there came a day when he dared to speak
And risk the safety of his boyish way.
And their two hands did each other seek,
Two youthful lovers on a summer day.
And there came a day when they dared to dream
And risk the safety of what was true.
And the life they planned did likely seem
A forever after life for two.
And there came a day when they dared to know
And risk the safety of a childlike heart.
And hearing’ youthful love can’t grow’
They believed it true and grew apart.
And there came a day when she dared to leave
And risk the safety of his tender glance.
And on that sweet warm summer’s eve
They one last time embraced to dance.
And there came a day when they dared set out
And risk the safety of their youthful days
And learned what life was all about,
Two winding paths, two different ways.
And there came a day when he dared to call
And risk the safety of silent years.
And as timeless walls began to fall
He faced his lady and his fears.
And there came a day when she dared reply
And risked the safety of worlds apart.
And with truths revealed in a whispered sigh
She knew his soul and loved his heart.
And there came a day when they dared to meet
And risk the safety of imagined days.
And as first-light fell that morning sweet,
They held each other beneath God’s gaze.
And there came a day when he took her hand
And they risked the safety of a single life,
And exchanged the vows in childhood planned:
He, her husband and she, his wife.
And there came a day when their eyes were clear
And they risked the safety of love’s blind sight.
And, still dancing, held each other near,
Two youthful lovers on a summer night.
I will post more pictures just as soon as I get the chance to go through and edit them. In the meantime, please go to Kathy's blog at www.nutsaboutquilting.blogspot.com to see pix of the ceremony. Have a great day!
Love,
Suz
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