to have and to hold
Just got back from one my many visits to Toronto 2 days ago. I made the trek up with my parents for yet another wedding. The last one for me, at least for this summer. It’s been kind of a wedding blitz for me these last 2 weeks. First, 2 weddings in 2 weekends, and then finding out in between those 2 weddings, 2 couples I 
know getting engaged (congrats to Alex & Austen and Kat & Mike!). As always, very exciting and awesome to celebrate with friends and family!
The last wedding I went to this past weekend is one that I’ll probably always remember. I had the privilege to help out the happy couple (Teresa & Caspian) by being one of their ushers. Not a difficult task, but was glad to help out in any way possible. But it isn’t this that made it so memorable, it was how the couple made the day that could have been (and rightfully so) all about them into a day about God and others.
The first thing that stuck out in my mind is their first act, besides the first kiss, as a married couple: to lead all of us guests in musical worship. That’s right, the bride in her bright white dress and the groom all decked out in his tux standing on stage with their band, leading the church to worship God. Just awesome. 
It didn’t stop there either. Later that evening, during the banquet, there were the usual speeches from the maid of honour, best man, families, and the newly wed couple, but during the newly weds’ speech, they invited Trevor from Compassion to speak to the guests about sponsoring a child. Teresa & Caspian themselves had started sponsoring their second child through Compassion a couple of years ago and not content with just that, they decide to open up their special day to encourage others to do the same, to join in something that is close to their hearts. Wow.
Again, a brilliant day that I won’t forget because of how two people diverted attention that they could have drawn to themselves onto God and helping others in need.
themes, trains, & tcelebrations (the ‘t’ is silent, couldn’t think up of another ‘t’ word, so i made one up)
As you may have noticed, I’ve changed the look of my blog recently. This was more for practical reasons than aesthetics. I loved the old theme, but the blog column was too narrow, I couldn’t put pictures in the middle of text effectively, so I changed it to this one. Hope ya like it.
Just got back into TO from Leamington this evening. Nothing too eventful, same train ride as always. Last night was good though: attended Steve’s & Vicki’s after wedding celebration last night. Good times. Really cool to see them last night. Can’t believe Steve’s all grown up and married now. But yeah, it’s really cool to see how they’ve been brought together. Even though I don’t know them as well as I did when I was in high school, you could just sense that they were made for each other. Saw a slides how of their wedding in Mexico. Absolutely gorgeous.
Though I doubt you’ll read this: Steve, Vicki, congratulations! May God bless your marriage and your life together as husband and wife!
hot mugginess
hmmm…so another week begins. Craziness with the unwarned TTC strike today. It took my cousin 2 1/2 hours to drive downtown to work. Man am I blessed to be able to walk to work and not worry about transportation.
There was a wedding this past weekend, Toby’s to be exact. Was invited but didn’t go, kind of regretting it now. I thought my parents weren’t going, but turns out they were only not going to the banquet. Also thought that I wouldn’t know anybody (Toby’s the son of my parents’ friends, so I don’t really know him), but turned out I probably would have known half the people there. Heard it was a great wedding and a lot of fun, but yeah, kind of wishing I could have been there. Ah well, wishing Toby & his new wife a great life together!
And so it’s been a week since CC ended. I’ve processed things a bit more, caught up on some sleep (could use some more though), and just still in awe of everything. Already mentioned in my previous post how I was humbled by God’s providence. But I was also humbled in another way: my pride just being smashed to pieces. I guess throughout the planning and especially during the conference, I had the attitude, “Look at this conference I’m helping plan.” I wasn’t outright boasting vocally, but still, it was in the back of my mind. And so, trying to suppress that thought all weekend, but it was still there and on the last day, me and my big head was half expecting some sort of huge thank you for me and my work. *rolls eyes* When it didn’t come, wow, was heart brought to its knees. Realizing it wasn’t about me or what I did, but about Jesus and what He did. It’s all about Him, always has been, always will be. Not a new lesson for me, but one that I seem to have to be reminded of and retaught every so often.
It’s all about you, Jesus. And all this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame. It’s not about me, as if you should do things my way. You alone are God and I surrender, to Your ways.
