A Wedding On Bainbridge: Part Two.

The morning of the wedding it was raining non-stop....what we had seen coming in the weather forecast, but had hoped would not happen. I locked my keys in the trunk of the rental car. Naomi was on top of that immediately, which kept me from a totally breakdown, since part of the wedding stuff was in that trunk. I left her to save the day, and headed with Shari and Amy to the wedding venue. The wedding "venue" was the home of some dear friends of Shari and Larry, who happen to live right on the water. With the rain pouring down, we set up the food, guest sign-in table, decorations, cake, etc. inside the house. The rented white wedding chairs sat folded in a pile under the carport. Amy had several hours to get ready for her big moment, in the perfect master bedroom and bath. Perfect. So perfect!!

So fun to help her get all laced up into her dress, as guests arrived. She was absolutely beautiful!! The tears started then for me, and just kept right on coming for the next hour.

Everyone huddled in the entry way, to warm up before heading back outside.

Yes, outside! The plan as of that morning was to hold the wedding in the house. But when Amy, Shari, and I arrived that morning.....Amy stared out at the water, through the rain. Like others of us, she has a connection with the waters edge. Especially in Bainbridge. We told her we were on it, and for her to go get ready. We made phone calls and sent texts and let every guest know that they would need to bring an umbrella, as the wedding was for sure happening outside. Rachel and Christy set out to buy the perfect umbrella for Amy to carry.

Although by the time the wedding walk music began, nobody needed an umbrella. The rain had completely stopped. Of course it had! And as the rain stopped, the tears started. And my Dad....walked my sister, Amy.....down the garden paths and walkways.....to the alter. Perhaps only my own family members know how significant this was. (We missed those who were not there, and I am sure Kim and Judy are crying already as they read this.) Originally my Dad and Jill were not going to come. They figured they'd give Amy the money it would have cost them to do the traveling. Amy was disappointed. And after awhile she told Dad it would mean a lot to her if he'd come. I think he was as surprised and joyful as any of us.....and of course he came!!

And this man. Oh this man!!! I have hardly spent any time with Bryan in the two years Amy has known him. But I have always somehow known, from the first time Amy really spoke of him....that he would be changing her eternity and our family. I have no explanation for it. But I knew. And I was completely baffled and confused myself last year, when it looked as if maybe they would not end up together. It made no sense to me...kind of left me speechless. You can imagine what it did to Amy. How do you explain something not happening that is so clearly supposed to happen? You let go and let God. Too many heartaches and miracles and setbacks and joys, to mention. And all of that ultimately led to a man at the alter who knows how to be a man. What he has given up and taken on, all as a part of his love for Amy, is the stuff that fairy-tale romances are made of. But this is real life. As I watched this wedding unfold, I could not contain my emotions. I have such gratitude for Bryan and for him loving Amy. And for him loving her four children. He will absolutely take care of them. And he will let them see how their incredible mother deserves to be treated. Forever. Yep, forever. This is just the first step.

Sydney was adorable as the keeper of the rings. This little girl also sensed early on that Amy was the one for her Daddy. They had a connection that even a six year old could feel. And when they believed it was "over", Bryan never could break it to Sydney. After all, how do you tell a little child of faith that what they know in their heart is not true? You don't!! Childlike faith works miracles!!

So, Larry performed the ceremony. Amy and Bryan each read their own vows as well. Rachel surprised us all by wearing Mom's wedding ring, as a symbol of her presence. Bryan's sister, Jalean, was the only member of his family at the wedding. For now, that was best. She is so much fun, and so happy for Bryan. She also shed tears, seeing how in love Bryan is, and knowing how long he waited for Amy in his life.

Tears from these four beautiful Uhl children, were to be expected. MariAna was adorable. So supportive of it all. Loves Bryan and is happy for her mom, all while trying to take in her own emotions and what it all means for her. Makayla's tears got to me the most. She is so wise, and clearly understands more than most, what this means for Amy and for the family. Such incredible kids, these four. And through it all....they love their mom.

The little blondie fits in perfectly as the caboose to this family.

And wedding makes SEVEN!!

Love.

Bryan loves these kids. They love him!! My favorite is this picture of Makayla looking at Bryan. Click on it to enlarge it!

A wedding happened at the waters edge. This sister of mine always knew it would. She was a bride on Bainbridge....the place that has kept her alive, healed her heart, given her refuge, welcomed her soul back over and over again, and the place where Bryan asked for her hand for the rest of forever. The place where the "Living Water" we all so desperately need, is most clear to her. Man alive, she is amazing!!

Two little lovers!!

Everyone had gone back into the house for the rest of the festivities....but this bride and groom could have posed for pictures in the cold for hours!! I don't know if they even felt the chilly air!

The bride and groom danced. The mothers and sons danced. And, with more tears......the father of the bride danced with his daughter. He doesn't even know how to dance. Doesn't matter. A perfect moment. Only close family can really know the miracle of this dance. Reminds me of a verse from a song I love, "Something Perfect". More clouds have been lifting than just those above the wedding venue that day. Will they continue to lift? We will pray they do.

"There's an ache that's missing today. There's an emptiness that's been filled.

There's a cloud that's lifting and drifting away. There's a ragin' storm that's been stilled.

There's a joy that's real. There's a wound that's finally healed. There's a future replacing the past.

There's breath of new life in the cast. And there's something perfect happening here.

And this moment will bury the mountains of fear.

And through countless tomorrows it won't disappear.

There's something that's perfect happening here.

No one knows, so no one can say that tomorrow all will be well.

Will the brightest promise that shines ontoday, shine tomorrow? No one can tell.

But one thing is sure, and will be forever more. When such unselfish love has been given.

The world just made more room for heaven.

And there's something perfect happening here. And this moment will bury mountains off fear.

And through countless tomorrows it won't disappear.

There's something that's perfect happening here."

My Dad's wife of two years, Jill, I think also felt the miracles of the day, and the week. And I think that maybe she felt what it means to be a part of a family like ours. Felt the best of what it means...not just the everyday dysfunction of what it means. What remains at the end of the day is love for each other.

Some of "The Sistas" who were able to make it to the wedding.

The cutting of the cake, and drinking to the toasts. MariAna's comment was the best..."And this time let it be forever!!" So sweet coming from that girl.

They rode off on Andrew's Harley. Off to catch a ferry to another island, and bask in the honeymoon la-la land they so deserve, before it's back to life as a family of SEVEN!! When it was all finally cleaned up and the last of the people left the house.....Shari and I collapsed onto the couch, and enjoyed the water view for a moment. Not so much from the fatigue of the day, or even the days leading up to the wedding. But perhaps from the overwhelming joy and relief that this sister of ours, our best friend who we have cried with and cried over and prayed for and pleaded for, and whom we know better than anyone the depth and goodness of her heart, the sister we have kept from her death and watched her rebirth, the one who's journey has tenfold strengthened our own testimonies, the one who's strength is beyond what most can hope to ever have.........perhaps Shari and I collapsed with gratitude that there is another on this earth who knows her as well as we do, who has prayed for her as we have, who loves her exactly how she is, and who will take care of her....take care of her heart. He will. (We have threatened him with his very life if he does not.) He will. And as Shari and I look at each other, nothing needs to be said. We love you Amy....how we love you!!!!