A Word from the Newlywed

Wow, it's been exactly two months since my last post! Time has flown by and sooo much has happened, that it would take an epistle to record it all. I haven't even caught up on my own journal. I'll give a Reader's Digest Condensed version of events.

~The week before the wedding was pretty busy, although not frantically so. I came down with a cold early in the week and didn't feel so hot for awhile. Vestiges of the cold (congestion, coughing) hung on for several weeks, and then Dennis got it (I wonder why?). A few times I wondered if I had the flu, but am pretty sure it was just nerves. Being sick barred me from singing at the wedding as planned, which is probably a really good thing.

Friends and wedding party started drifting in on Wednesday. It was so wonderful to see Dennis again after two months and to know we wouldn't be parted for so long again! The next several days were a blur of social activities, airport runs, packing, and taking care of last minute details. One highlight for me was getting a pedicure and manicure with Jill!

Saturday morning dawned fairly clear. It turned out to be a pretty nice day, mostly sunny and not too cold. I decided to get my blood flowing with a walk around the block early in the morning. It was quiet and fresh out, and I tried to take in the fact that this was my last morning to be single and walking around that neighborhood. After showering, then started the beautification process. Friends Anna and Rachel came over to do my makeup and hair, and then we headed to the church.

Except for a tux issue with the groomsmen, which made them a little late, all went so well. Dennis thought it was the most beautiful wedding he'd ever been to, and I think I might agree! We were blessed with a fantastic team of decorators and cooks. The coordinator was great. Little Rebekah, age 2, didn't make it down the aisle, but at least there was also Chloe, age 5, who (after talks and bribes) did a great job. Will and Joshua also did pretty good, only providing enough ceremony antics for one or two funny pictures.

For me, the most memorable moment was waiting to go down the aisle. I watched as my lovely bridesmaids walked down one by one. They smiled at me with love and encouragement. The music was "Non Nobis Domine" from Henry V. They walked down to the first part and then the doors were closed. I waited with my dad at the door, listening for the grand climax to the final chorus of the song. Then the doors opened, and we waited a little bit more. Dennis said that he tingled all over from then until I'd made my way down the aisle. Penny noted the light streaming in behind us. The audience stood, the music climaxed, my dad and I looked at each other, and down we walked. If ever I was to feel like a princess, I suppose that was the time!

After a meaningful ceremony complete with a message from my dad, vows, rings, kiss, and music, we were man and wife! What an incredible joy to be married to the one you know God has for you, one who is your best friend, and who loves you more than you ever dreamed possible! The reception was beautiful and food wonderful. After a few hours we changed, said our goodbyes (I choked back tears), and took off for the honeymoon. It was interesting to be the ones leaving instead of saying goodbye! We didn't have to clean up or anything! :-)

The first couple days were spent at Ocean Shores, on the Washington coast. We stayed at a beautiful inn in a suite which overlooked the ocean (from a distance). It was very romantic and restful, though rain the second day kept us from doing much on the beach. Monday we returned to open gifts and pack up. Tuesday we said our tearful goodbyes, I packed up Cheeky, and off we went for the airport. After a bout of meowing and "soiling" in the car, Cheeky did great after that! I was so thankful for that answer to prayer.

We spent the next few days in our new home getting ready for our "real" honeymoon. On Friday we took off for our grand adventure. To get our skymile tickets over to Athens, we'd been assigned a rather interesting route -- Newark, Geneva, Paris, and then Athens. But as it happened, our flight to Newark was delayed, which would have really missed up everything. So the agent assigned as a direct flight to Athens! Wow! There were some hoops to go through, and I wasn't quite sure we'd make our flight, but we did just in time, and were thus able to arrive much earlier than originally planned.

I won't elaborate too much on Greece because it would take awhile. Parts of it were spectacular, parts were charming, parts were breathtakingly beautiful, and parts of it were just ugly. Athens is very much a huge, modern city, with a number of ruins thrown in. But we were able to get around on their great metro system and see many wonderful sights. After a few days we took off for the islands where we spent about a week. First was Santorini, a place probably most have seen pictures of, with whitewashed buildings on rugged cliffs and blue-domed churches everywhere. The weather wasn't quite what we hoped for, and we got lost in their crazy, winding, unmarked streets, but did manage to see some beautiful places and things, shop, eat, and decide it was a little overrated.

Naxos was our favorite island. We stayed in the main city on the water. It's a seaport, much like New England ones we're familiar with. In the middle of the town is an old Venetian castle. There are winding little lanes leading up to and around the castle, draped with flowers, and oozing with old world charm. Our little apartment had a balcony with a view of the ocean and the unfinished Temple of Apollo. We often ate at one of the little restaurants which lined the waterfront. People really dine over there. They sit in comfortable seats or even couches and take their time over their meal, often staying long afterwards to talk with friends or just gaze around lazily. Such a restful place.

We stopped for a day at Mykonos, a prime tourist destination. Don't worry, we didn't go to any beaches, which have quite the wild party reputation. But the main town did have real charm, with its whitewashed buildings, Venetian characteristics, seaport, and old windmills. From there we took a daytrip to the island of Delos, the ancient religious center of Greece. It was full of ruins of a city that was once spectacular and bustling with people.

Then we headed back to Athens. We were more than ready by then to go home, but we still had a few days. So we saw some more sights around Athens, did our final shopping, and then took a bus to Nafplio, located on the Pelopponese Peninsula. The bus ride afforded us the opportunity to see the Greek countryside, complete with vineyards, olive trees, rolling hills, and fortresses. We loved Nafplio. One of the town's attractions is its several hundred year old fortress towering over the town and port. We climbed a staggering 999 steps (so they say) to reach the fortress. Huff puff. There wasn't enough to explore the whole fortress, but it was very well preserved and something any history lover would go nuts over.

After a lovely stay in Nafplio, we went back to Athens for one more night. All in all during our Greek sojourn, we stayed in 7 hotels and travelled by plane, train, bus, rental car, taxi, ferry, and superjet (a fast ferry)! And we walked many miles. I probably would have lost weight if I hadn't eaten so much yummy food, including ice cream, gelato, and baklava! We had many a Greek salad, too, and cultivated a great appreciation for bread dipped in olive oil.

Probably most have seen my pictures on Facebook, which tell a story all their own. We had a wonderful time, and yet were so glad to get home! My parents had arrived the day or two before we did with all my worldly possessions, including my mini-van. All those possessions took up a good portion of a Penske truck. Our house was stacked with boxes and stuff in every room, and Dennis was gasping a bit, despite my warnings!

But in the month since we've been home, most of the boxes have disappeared. Cupboards and closets are full and the house now bears the definite mark of a feminine hand at work. Dennis did pretty good for a bachelor, but...it was a bachelor house. The things plus the many beautiful wedding gifts we received have made it a lovely and restful little cottage. I've enjoyed using many of my cooking and baking things in the kitchen. Dennis boasts at work of the cookies in the cookie jar! Any meal is great to home, but he still loves the occasional Ramen noodle meal. :-) And he'll always love his pb&j sandwiches.

So now people are starting to ask me what I'm doing or intend to do. After God, my first allegiance is to Dennis. I am his wife and helpmate, and am trying to help him in his vision for helping and serving others. He's involved in the church with hospitality and other duties, so I'm getting into that as well. I'm playing the piano for church; there was no one else, at least regularly. I enjoy being a homemaker, having inherited my mom's strong nesting instinct. It's enjoyable for me to make our castle a place where my knight can come at the end of the busy day and find peace and comfort.

I've started up again with my studies with Louisiana Baptist University. I'd started last fall, intending to graduate in May, but got *slightly* distracted. :-) But I'm picking it up again, and plan to graduate next May, D.V. Nope, not a Baptist, nor will I be, but boy, there are sure a lot of Baptist churches down here in the South! Certainly a more religious culture. Imagine a service honoring Vietnam veterans which includes gospel songs by a church choir, a prayer, and a testimony from a veteran who openly gave glory to God! Wouldn't happen in liberal Washington.

It has also been a process to get my name and info changed on everything pertinent. Georgia is very different from Washington.

Do I plan to teach music again? Not if I can help it. :-) I would love to keep performing, though, and plan to audition for a couple Atlanta chorales in August. I'll also pursue various avenues with harping.

Together Dennis and I enjoy reading and going places together. We've just started playing tennis and biking, which will be great for burning off my post wedding pounds! :-o The weather has been quite hot here lately, averaging in the 90s, and our airconditioner is pretty weak. But the past few days have been a little better. I've been getting acquainted with the infamous Georgia bugs, including the cockroach, which I'd never laid eyes on before. Yup, I'll be fine if I never see another one!

Okay, this has turned in to an epistle after all, so I better wrap up. I'll conclude by saying that Dennis is a perfectly wonderful man and husband. He has challenged me in my spiritual walk and and loved and served me in such a Christlike way. He is kind, understanding, intelligent, dedicated, hard-working, and has a great sense of humor. He's endured some very tough experiences in life and allowed them to deepen his relationship with Jesus, and their relationship is sweeter and deeper than I've seen in most. God has truly been good to us and we're very happy!