1/2 Year!

I can't believe I have been married half a year already. Time does go by really fast. My mother-in-law gave us a few pictures from our wedding days that I hadn't seen before so I thought I would show some. We had two wedding days because if you want to be married at a church you have to have a civil wedding first, according to Dutch law. So we did. We didn't invite anyone really except the three witnesses (our siblings and a friend of mine). My mom came, my aunt and uncle and a lady that worked with my mom because her husband works at the town hall and he told her I was getting married that day. So ok, fine.... One brother and my dad didn't make it unfortunately, but it's ok because we didn't really care so much about the civil wedding. It was kind of a funny day. I knew I was getting married on that day but I wasn't really really sure about the time, so I had to call them to ask again... then I wasn't sure if I had given the "right time" to my friend (the witness) and after calling her I had indeed given her the wrong time... an hour later! So the poor dear had to rush to get the train as she lived in another city. Oops. :( I knew what dress I was going to wear that day but I spent the morning looking through my mom's closet to see what I could put over it, and then as we headed out I broke a flower off of my mom's kitchen bouquet and put it in my hair. Raphael and my brother had to rush to the train station and pick up my friend, and then my uncle drove the rest of us to the town hall. My mom's friend and her husband were already at the town hall and as we were late she called to make sure we were still coming. We all got there at the same time... just a bit late, and parked in front of a supermarket close to the town hall. When we arrived we were about to enter the town hall the wrong way, until a funny man came out and told us we were supposed to enter through the "nice" stairs on the other side of the building. He mentioned he had been waiting for us so he could open the door for the bride. Most town halls in Holland have nice stairs where they usually take beautiful wedding pictures, so it must have been funny to him to see this group of people walking to the town hall, bride and all.

Once inside I was very happy, and it was just kind of cool. The lady that married us asked if she could speak in Dutch or if she had to do it in English for Raphael. Dutch was ok with Raphael... I jut had to tell him when to say "Ja!" After all was said and signed she took her hammer and with a "Bam" she pronounced us man and wife in the law, and congratulated us. So I think I hugged Raphael, and then we looked at her again...and she had a bit of a stunned look, and said "You can congratulate each other."... which I had just done, but ok... once more. I said "Congratulations!" and shook Raphael's hand...haha, the lady must have thought we were idiots. Oh well... it was a fun experience :) We should have invited her to the real wedding.

Both Bride and Groom were late... :( but happy :)

Our marriage lady, congratulating us ;)

I actually wore this dress before on my first wedding. See I got married some years before while a Senior in High School. For our Senior year we did a play called "The Taming of the Shrew" by Shakespeare and I was the Shrew! I got married in the play and wore this dress, and I thought..."If I ever get married for real, I will wear this dress again." That was years ago.

I just love the expressions on this pictures :)

I love you Amor!
You are truly a great blessing to me, and I'm so happy to be your wife... I'm definitely the one that "Married up" ;)
May God bless you always!