Complex Beauty

In the middle of all the craziness of our Labor Day weekend, we slipped away to Promontory Point. Here, at this south Chicago outcropping into Lake Michigan, we got engaged on August 6.

This time, Melanie Gingerich, also know as MG3 Photography came with us, along with our dear friend Kendra, her sister.  What a fun morning, starting a little before 6am!

This week, after we got our pictures back, we were at Laurel Street where our dear friend Velinda was working on our invitations, when my former patient called me. He had gone to their church council meeting and requested permission for us to use their church.

“You’re in!” he said.

There’s a lot of stress in planning a wedding, and a lot of unknowns that crop up when you turn your life upside down by deciding to get married. But the blessings are numberless, and let me name a few…. our photographer, who drove to Chicago on a holiday at 4am. Our friend Kendra, who came along.  Our friend Velinda, who made our invitations post-haste in the middle of grieving.  Marnell’s sister-in-law Nancy, who is a wedding coordinator, and seems to know what I want almost before I email her my questions.   My Aunt Virginia who agreed to research decor for me.  My Elkhart church friends who have agreed to help make sure this all happens! My friend Denise who magically calls people for me and figures out how much food costs.  My Aunt Emily who agreed to take on what may be the most difficult task of all, coordinating the reception. My former patient, who advocated for us to be able to rent the church.  My dad and step-mom, who agreed to make applesauce for our wedding in the middle of a busy orchard season in Wisconsin.   My sister, who is writing original music to be used for a piece at our wedding.

Then there’s my fiance, who doesn’t panic when I have my weekly meltdown.  (“Do you think we’ll be able to figure everything out?” I ask some version of this question about once a week, when I start thinking of all the things we aren’t sure about.  “No, of course we won’t be able to figure everything out,” he says, or some version of the same.  For some reason, I always feel better!)

Everyone I mention makes me think of someone else who has already blessed us, and I could go on and on…

Then, this week, I had a bill to pay for $551.  I knew I had some money I could use stored in an account I rarely check, but I wasn’t sure what was in there.  After resetting my password to get into the account, what should I find the balance to be?  $557!

I love this stage, and I want to enjoy every day and focus on the beauty rather than the complexity… or maybe the beauty in the complexity!

Thank you for sharing the journey.