Our Wedding...10 Years Ago

John and I met a month before I graduated Bible School. His roommate was dating my roommate and by the end of the summer we had switched roommates! :) It was a whirlwind of wonderful. We went from friends to courting in 10 days.We were married less than 7 months later.

Our wedding day was unique, to many it was completely weird. I didn't care much about most of the things a bride would typically care about. So, it was simple in that regard. But it was focused on the things that were important to us. Here are some of the symbolic aspects we highlighted in our wedding ceremony.

* We had an open invitation, anyone who wanted to be there...we wanted them to be there. (The Parable of the Wedding Banquet)

* I had five bridesmaids who carried oil lamps. (The Parable of the Virgins)

* Before I walked down the isle, our friend blew the shofar. I walked out to a Celtic version of "Our God is an Awesome God". (Sound of the Trumpet)

* I choose to wear my veil through the whole ceremony. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

* We had a long time where we worshiped God together. For a moment, one could forget that it was a wedding. It really was about Him.

* After lighting the Unity Candle together, I lit a candle and gave it to John's mom and John lit a candle and gave it to my mom, showing how us coming together was going to bring light to both of our families...and it has.

* We had special friends (husband/wife) sing a song that they had co-wrote for another couple years earlier. It was through that experience of writing this particular song that they themselves fell in love. :) It was a blessing to have them sing that for us.

* We had a foot washing ceremony. (John 13) Also, in some cultures, foot washing is a way to welcome someone into your home after a long journey where their feet may have got dirty. Our friend who introduced that part of the ceremony is now a fellow missionary in Thailand... but ten years ago this was all unforeseen.

* We had leaders come lay hands on us to pray and prophesy over us, our marriage, future family, and ministry.

* Once we were announced as Mr. & Mrs. Lambert, we purposely began our journey as husband and wife by walking out of the sanctuary to "Ask and I Will Give You the Nations". We have always known we were foreign missions bound...yet it still took almost 8 years...

So, just so you know, John and I have always been a little weird, as in different from others and we have never really stopped. But we are ok with that. :)

Some things I remember about that day... 1)my something blue were my baby blue bottomed flip flops with sparkly white beads on top. (It was June in Florida) 2) The look on John's sister's friends faces during the ceremony. One of them was a wedding coordinator and I promise, she had never seen anything like it! :) 3)During the reception, my nephew Jordan who was around 13 got his braces snagged on my veil. :) 4)In all the chaos, the bubbles that Aunt Tina got for me never made it in the hands of the guests before we left the church. :(

I remember getting back from our honeymoon to find that many of our friends who were dating had broke up. They saw that we had something they didn't have. Only some of them were reunited and married. Not exactly what we intended to have happen, but God used it.

One of my favorite memories of my wedding, I mean, other than actually becoming Mrs. Lambert, was the special memory I made with my brother Dean. My baby brother Dean represented our family and walked me down the isle that day. The pictures, both serious and funny, from that day are some of my favorites ever. I miss him.

So, it's been ten years, 2 kids, and half a world away from our starting place and we are finally doing what has been in our hearts to do since the beginning!! We are blessed, happy, and fulfilled.

Thank you to all those who have blessed us along the way.