It has been forever

And I am really sorry for that. We have had a crazy crazy month. We returned from England after several snafus. We stayed with Mark and April for a couple of weeks, picked up a car from my mom, found a place to live, picked up furniture from mom, moved into our place, picked up furniture from Chattanooga, and got the most beautiful puppy in the world. So now we are settled in and playing with our puppy all the time. I am trying to study but that is going about as well as expected. Andy is working and I have a job interview today. So yeah, chaos! But I promise I am going to post pictures very soon. My mom and sister are coming this weekend and we are planning to paint the apartment. Hopefully then I will have some good pictures. 

Until then, I am off to read while the puppy is asleep. 

We are almost home!!!!

Okay so it is 3:00 a.m. here in Canterbury. We have spent the day packing and cleaning and we are pooped! If you are wondering why we are up this late, we are night owls. For the life of me, I can't get on a normal sleep schedule if I don't have a place the I am obligated to be early in the morning. So that means I stay up late and sleep late. I'm sure that will all end soon. But back to being almost home, we are all ready to leave for London in the morning. We are so ready!!!!! On Tuesday we will be flying back to the US at 7:30 a.m. (ugh, early flights are trying to kill me. We have to leave the hotel at 5:15) I am so excited to be going back. 

I have had a lot of setbacks this time, especially over this weekend, and I am just ready for it to be over. I had a crisis on Saturday that involved a closed library, a carrel full of my primary sources, and me standing outside crying. I guess the short version is that the library decided to take a long weekend because Monday is a holiday. Well, I didn't know about it. So when I showed up on campus Saturday with a copier card ready to make copies of the parts of the books in my carrel, I was sadly disappointed. I went into panic mode, all the work I had done was locked in the library with no hopes of me getting it before I leave, all the note cards tucked into their respective books. So I went back home after breaking down at the university and tried to contact people to see if I could find anyone who would be gracious enough to let me in, but that did not happen. The administrator for our department, Claire, or as I call her the miracle worker, has agreed to go and collect my notes and return the library books for me. And thankfully I have located the 10 books I need to make copies from. The bad part is that they are in 4 different libraries spread throughout Alabama, so I will be doing some traveling and re-researching. So yeah, now I have to do a lot of work over again, which does not help me make the deadline. But I am going to get through this. 

Okay so I know that I haven't written that list of things that we are looking forward to and things that we will miss, but time has escaped me. Maybe I can do that while I am sitting in one of the 3 airports I will be visiting on Tuesday. We will just have to see. 

Well, I guess this is the last official UK post! Next time I write, I will be back the the good ole' USA. Until then......

Plagiarism is so not cool...

So I don't know if you are like me, but I like to read a lot of craft, design, and fashion blogs. They have so many beautiful things for me to become interested in. But it makes me very sad that sometimes those writers and bloggers get ripped off. One of the blogs that I follow daily through my RSS feed is English Muse. Sadly for Tina someone has been ripping off her blog word for word and picture for picture. She has now found the person and has exposed them on her site. 

Blogs are supposed to be fun! They are supposed to be an extension of yourself and your creativity. Don't take someone else's creativity without giving them credit. It's just a really horrible thing to do. Unfortunately sharing your inspirations and ideas can be taken advantage of. Hope you all can enjoy blogging and not have this happen to you. 

Worth watching- The Garden

If you haven't seen a film lately that made you think honestly about political motives and how they affect the common citizens of the US, you need to see the documentary The Garden. I know, some of you are thinking 'Ugh a documentary', but hear me out. The Garden is about 13 acres of land in Central Los Angeles that was given by the city to the people for farming. Several years later, the city decided to sale it back to the original owner (after many court battles) without the farmers knowledge. The movie details the struggle that the farmers went through to continue to use the land in the face of lies and deceit. It was one of those movies that really makes you think about what government is doing to protect you. It was well worth the rental price on iTunes!

In other news, everything is back in working order. I am trying to get as much done before we leave in one week!!! I am so ready to be home. I am trying to stay focused on reading, but the excitement is starting to build. Our boxes were delivered today which made it feel more real now and I can't wait. Andy has been preparing for our move by sending out his website to various advertising agencies in Birmingham and getting ready to work again. He is excited about the prospect of a new job.

Okay well, that's all for now, short I know. I am going to post again before the end of the week about all the things we are looking forward to and all the things that we are going to miss. 

The clouds are clearing

So I am finally feeling better. I went back to the doctor on Friday and they told me I was probably transitioning from the flu into the 'after effects' that appear as cold/sinus infection like symptoms that show up after your immune system is completely sacked. But at least I'm getting better. And with less than two weeks before we go home, it's about time. I am supposed to find out on Friday how long of an extension that I am going to get. The rule is if you are sick for more than 7 days the medical centre writes an official letter telling how long you get an extension for. So now I am just waiting on the department signing off on it as well. Despite the extension, I have a lot of work to do and over a slightly more stressful time. 

Let me preface this with the fact that I am not writing this for comments or sympathy, but because I just need to vent and get past it. At the moment this blog is a way to do that. -----Right now I am extremely frustrated. I just don't feel very encouraged. I really want to just write this paper and have it all finished with but it is not just something you can write overnight. I just want to wake up and feel like I can do this today, I can close this chapter of my life and move on to the next. But most of all I want to feel supported and like people believe in me. And at the moment I don't even really believe in myself. I am just tired and don't really have the energy to put in 16 hours of reading and writing. But I am going to because I have to and I want to be able to have a normal life again. Soon, very soon.

A little under the weather

So, things just keep going wrong. I now have the flu and have had since Friday. Great time to be sick huh! This paper is not going to be done because I just don't have the strength to do it. Actually, the doctor told me that I should not work on it and stress myself---- that is the one thing that my husband took away from the appointment "you can't do work". So as you can probably guess, I am bored staying in bed all day and doing nothing, especially when I need to write 12000 words before the 28th. I must say I am really thankful that Andy is here and did not go back early. I have been so weak and he has done so much. He is the most amazing husband!

As far as our plane tickets go. We changed them..... well we had to make a quick decision honestly. Andy was doing research on moving our tickets and accidently canceled them. So there was a quick scramble to call orbitz and get our tickets back. We had to pay but we decided to change the ticket because there is no reason to stay longer. We need to get back to the US and back to having normal lives. Well, as normal as it can be I guess. So now the stress is finding jobs once we get back to the US. I just hope our connections in Birmingham allow us to find something quickly. 

Frustration

So right now we are dealing with a lot. We are trying to decide if we are going to pay the extra money to go home early or pay the extra money to stay here for an extra month. This is all money we don't really have to play with. Even though I bought trip insurance.... doesn't help in this situation. So much for buying it. I hate having to deal with this, like the stress of school isn't enough. But it looks like we are going to try to come home September 1st, if it doesn't cost us another $1000. This is not even taking into account the fact that neither one of us have jobs in Birmingham yet!!! FRUSTRATED!!! Please pray for this all to work because we have run out of options!!!

Crisis week

It has been a tough week. I guess I will try to start with the good.

Well, last Monday we actually made it to Battle Abbey! Yeah!!! We left the apartment around 9:00 to pick up a few things and we were on our way. Unfortunately we had to go through Hastings again and then take an additional bus to Battle. But we made it there on a drizzly Monday. We packed a picnic lunch and were able to sit and eat it because the rain had slacked off once we got there. So after lunch, we were on our way with our audio guide. We took the long route walking all around the battlefield and the ponds. Most of the year they have sheep all over the place, but on our visit they were nowhere to be found. But we did find some nice blackberry brambles! Yum! After we finished touring the fields we toured the abbey ruins and buildings. I think Andy had a really great time and I was so happy for it. After we saw everything we decided to go to the corner grocery because it was about 5:30. We sat at the bus stop and ate discounted salads and the crushed cherries we had gotten in Canterbury before we left (they didn't fare very well in my bag) After that we were back on our way home and on the bus with all the terrible people again. 

Well after Monday I spent the rest of the week in the library, as usual. On Friday, I decided to stop by the department office to see if they had any information about formatting and binding my thesis. It is there that I found out that my thesis is not due in the middle of September.... it is due the last Friday of August!!!! AUGUST!!!!!!! I had a panic attack. It was the most depressing news ever. I felt like I was on the perfect tract to complete in September with 2 weeks to proof and bind and all that fun stuff. But no, I barely have 4 weeks. So this weekend was spent stressing. And when I get stressed I clean. So Sunday (the day the library is closed) I spent the day scrubbing my kitchen from top to bottom! And sadly that means scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. But I guess it made me feel a little more in control. 

So now Andy and I are trying to make some decisions about what we need to do. Our flight is scheduled for September 22nd, but we think we are going to move that. So I might be home the very first week in September. We also talked about Andy going home next week and trying to find a job and get everything set up, but he doesn't want me to have to take care of the apartment by myself before I leave. And that's another thing, our lease runs out August 2oth, so we are hoping they will extend it for us for a week. 

I did feel a little better today because I had a nice long talk with the head of my department. She gave me some great resources to work with and some good words of encouragement. Unfortunately, my advisor is out of town this week and half of next week. I am going to try to email him to hopefully find out what he thinks about everything. We will see how it all goes. I have a revised plan and it is now into action.

Another stress is about money. It is really expensive to pay for things here. That is another benefit of going home earlier. It means we have more money to furnish our place when we get to Birmingham. Right now, we have a set of mattresses that Mark and April are giving back to us, a tv cabinet and dresser from my mom (which we have no idea how to get to Birmingham), a shower curtain with French words on it, a milkglass compote and vase, and a set of pots and pans from our wedding registry. That's about it. So I am trying to wrap my head around living in Birmingham with no furniture and praying that we get jobs quickly. I actually have been searching a lot on etsy for simple things that can go in my place. I am thinking that most everything we have is going to be white because it's simple. I am going to try to add color with different accessories so I can change everything with the seasons. Right now I am thinking about doing my kitchen in white, black, and grey. So I have picked out a few things that I would love (because it makes me feel a little better to get some ideas).

I love these dishes!!! I think I am in a tree phase right now. And it also has to do with Andy. When we were in college, Andy had to do a lot of sketching for school. I would love to sit and watch him draw trees. He is a really good artist and it was my favorite subject to see him do. 

Along with the tree theme, I found these tree kitchen towels.

I also really love these hand towels (another thing that I am into at the moment) 

I love the fact that this person takes old bottles and smashes them. I am really enticed by the amazing blue color.

I love this persons tea towels. They have several in their shop that I would love to have. They have one that is a full English breakfast menu. If you ever have been to England, you know how seriously they take breakfast.

I love, love, love these prints. I was them to be the art for my kitchen/dinning room. I also love the fact that they are in French, which is a big thing at our house. 

We will see what happens. Just a start to putting our home back together. I have tons more ideas but don't really have time to explore them, we will see what happens when I get back home. 

Food

Okay so if you know me, you know that I love to cook and bake. But one of the biggest things for me is having fresh fruit and veggies. I love them so much, that on Monday I was picking blackberries in the middle of a battlefield (story to come later). Sadly, when money runs tight, fresh fruits and veggies always get left out. I would love for all of our food to be organic, but yet again that hits the pockets hard. 

Today I was reading one of them many blogs I check out, Heart-of-Light, and she had a great link to a service that can help me get organic and fresh food as well as support my local farmer. On Local Harvest, you can sign up for what is called a CSA box (look for the tab at the top of the page). All you do is put in your zip code, they give you local farms, and you can pay around $15 a week for a freshly picked box of fruits and veggies in your area. Some of the farms even deliver! Also, some have eggs, meat, honey, soap and other things you might find interesting. I have already chosen my farm for when we get back to Birmingham in September. 

FAIL!!!

Our day trip was a complete and utter failure!

We decided that we would make Monday's our day trip day. We want to be able to visit some of the wonderful historical gems that are scattered throughout the countryside. I am trying to spend 40+ hours in the library each week, so that means working Tuesday to Saturday in the library, using Sunday to do laundry or take long walks or do laundry, and traveling around on Mondays. Yesterday, we decided that we wanted to go to Battle Abbey and explore the battlefields from the Battle of Hastings. So we left our place around 1  and headed for the bus station. (I have to admit, I am not a morning person and so not move quickly in the mornings) We asked the lady in the office what was the best way to get to Hastings. Well, she said take a bus to Folkstone for 40 minutes and then a bus to Hastings which would take an hour. So we thought that would sound great, we would make it there with plenty of time to explore. So we had to wait about 10 minutes for the first bus and we were on our way to Folkstone, which took a little less than 40 minutes. We got off the bus and immediately got on the next bus. Unfortunately this bus ride was not pleasant and was not an hour long. We wanted to sit on the top of the bus to see the countryside and the ocean when we passed by it. The bad thing was that we forgot that the top of the bus is the popular hang out place for 10-16 year olds.------ I know it's not nice of me but I think the children here are the most horrible children I have ever met. They are rude, vulgar and obviously undisciplined. -------- To make  a long story short, we didn't make it to Hastings until 5:15!!!!! In order to get to the abbey, we had to still travel to Battle and make it before it closed at 6. So needless to say, we walked on the beach in Hastings, played an arcade game, ate dinner and had a cup of decaf. And then we began our trip home. We were so let down, and it was my fault we wasted a whole day riding on a bus. Our return trip was faster but still longer than an hour and 40 minutes. When we arrived at Folkstone, there was a drunk man under one of the bus stops. He looked as if he had passed out and thrown up on himself. When we made it to the bus, the driver was away from the bus and on the phone. Apparently the drunk had been there for 2 hours already (this was around 9:30) and had been refused by every bus he tried to get on. Oh well, at least we had a better day then him. We finally made it home around 10:15, disappointed and tired. Hopefully, next weeks trip will be more successful. 

Something New

I just felt like a change. I thought why don't I update my background. I change my computer background every couple of weeks, so it's about time the blog got a facelift too.

Just a lazy Sunday.

It's Sunday and that means it's my day off. After spending long hours in the library on a Saturday, Sunday becomes the most amazing day of the week ----- the library is closed. The thesis is in full swing. This week I paid for the use of a carrel at the library because it will hold me more accountable to actually study at the library (and to have my own space!!!!). In exchange for £15 and the promise of 25 hours per week in the library, they give you a closet with a desk in it! Fortunately mine has windows, but don't be fooled, they don't open more than a couple of centimeters. So after paying for the carrel, Andy and I went up to clean it. I honestly don't think it had been cleaned or used in a long time. The light switch was brown from grubby fingers and there was a layer of dust on everything. Even though it took some work it was worth it. I am a little afraid of getting swine flu which seems to be running rampant here and has spread to the university. So now I can collect my books and lock myself behind a door and read.

I have to be honest, I have been really down over the past couple of months. We have been a little strapped waiting for a money situation to work itself out. It finally did this week. It is really great not to have to invent new recipes using rice!!! So this week has been my cooking week. I had a list of things that I wanted desperately to eat like watermelon, avocado, and salmon. I have to say Andy is reaping the benefits (honestly he would eat anything and he tells me that my best cooking is when we only have 3 or 4 things and I just come up with something from scratch) It feels so good to be able to provide for him in that way. It also makes me feel good to know that he is not eating fried rice for 3 weeks straight like he did in college. 

So another part of being more secure is that we are able to travel to the few places on our travel list. We don't have many because we are trying to save up for our move back to the US (we will only have mattresses when we get back!!!!) So next weekend we are planning on going to Paris for a day. Next Sunday is the end of the Tour de France and I want to see it. It's not really because I follow the Tour or that I enjoy seeing malnourished men in spandex on bikes, but it's because I want to experience it! I just hope that we can also do the other things that we want to do while we are there. We only have one other main place to go and that is Edinburgh. We will be planning a trip there very shortly (because we will be home in 2 months!!!!!) Other than that most places are day trips of interesting places or events, like going to see Romeo and Juliet at the Globe theatre. 

I just wanted to thank you all for following our time in England and giving us all the love and support. I have had so many positive emails and facebook messages encouraging me. I just wanted you all to know that they have been so helpful. We love you all and can't wait to see you!!!

Okay, well I guess that's all for today. It is almost time for me to fix some dinner and get ready to go see Harry Potter. Until next time.......

HONEYMOON PHOTOS!

Okay, so I know I have been promising honeymoon photos for a while now. Sorry! But I am delivering today. I can only show you some of the photos: first because there are hundreds, and second because we have somehow lost the cord to Andy's camera. I will post the rest of them after we get him a new camera cord or reader. 

Well here they are! I know there are a lot, but I hope you enjoy them:

On the first day, we decided we would walk through the city and try to find our way to the Piazza San Marco. We roamed the back alleys and bridges until we made our way there. It is truly an amazing place.

One of the main attractions on our 'To Do" list was the Basilica San Marco. We climbed up to the museum/balcony and decided we would spend some time watching people below. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from the inside (sadly, they don't allow you to take pictures in Italian churches, but I can't say we always followed that rule)
After going through the Basilica, we went through Doge palace which is right next door. This photo was taken in the inner courtyard looking toward the Basilica. 
We thought that we were going to eat at Harry's Bar--- the guide book said it was a must eat because it was made famous by Hemingway.  Little did we know that the dish they suggested was €55... I almost choked. I think the cheapest item was €23. So needless to say we got out of there fast. Instead we decided to eat in the Piazza San Marco and listen to the live performances. We had a nice Bellini and enjoyed the beautiful weather. 
On the Vaporetti (water taxi).

The Rialto bridge. 

We like to call this one "Drive your boat to church"
The lovely Campo San Rocco. 


One afternoon, we found a lovely little courtyard called Campo San Giacomo del'Orio. We just sat and watched people. It seemed like a nice community. There was a children's birthday party going on under a tent, a little grocery where we bought a few things to eat, a bakery where we bought sweets, and a restaurant where we had an amazing dinner. It was a wonderful, simple afternoon. 
I loved just siting and watching the canal as the sun sat. 


We decided to visit a few of the other islands around the lagoon. We visited Murano, where they make all the famous glass. We were able to see a glassblowing demonstration. 
There are tons of little islands scattered around the lagoon that were once monasteries. We saw them as we rode the Vaporetti from island to island. 

Andy took a seat in the throne of Attila the Hun, which is outside the Basilica and museum at Torcello.

We also visited Burano, where they make the famous Venetian lace. We had a nice meal in a small park on the island and then walked around looking at all the brightly colored houses. 
Burano is recognizable by the brightly colored homes and their famous leaning clocktower. 
From Burano, we took the Vaporetti the long way, through Lido (where we visited the beach on another day) and then back to the Campo San Marco. 

On Sunday, we traveled to the San Giorgio Maggiore with the promise of hearing Gregorian chants in mass. Unfortunately that was not exactly how it went. We like a lot of other tourists standing around were extremely confused because a sign for the mass led you into a hallway but then didn't tell you where to go. And it is sad to say but the attendants or monks didn't want to have anything to do with the people standing around. Finally someone came into the hallway and told all of us that we needed to go up the stairs. Apparently we were supposed to know that we should go up the stairs that were hidden by the open door we went through and then to a room that said no admittance. Oh well, we know for next time. And sadly, there was no Gregorian chant! 
On the day before we left, we took a gondola ride. We had saved it until the end because it was extremely expensive. Finally we just went up to a guy and asked how much he charged, he said €100 ( we were not going to pay that much), we said oh that's too much for us, and his buddy asked how much we wanted to spend, so we got a fairly short gondola ride for €60 instead. I don't know what I expected, but it was not smooth at all. I often felt that I was about to go out the side into the water. But thankfully it didn't happen. 

I fixed it

Just to let everyone know, I fixed the comments! Thanks April for letting me know they were messed up. Apparently they were set so that only the authors of the blog could comment, which is pretty useless. But it is all taken care of, so feel free to leave us a note. 

Hope you all are enjoying summer wherever you are. It is beautiful here. With a top temperature of 75 degrees, how can you not love July? I know, I keep rubbing it in. We are very lucky here because in some other parts of the country they are experiencing a heat wave causing temps to rise to 100. Let's just hope our nice breeze lasts all summer (mainly because we don't have an air conditioner). 

I hope to add honeymoon photos very soon. We have to get a new camera cord for Andy and as soon as we do, I will add even more photos. Venice was amazing and I could live the rest of my life there! It was a dream I can't wait to share.

As far as school goes, I went to a workshop today on how to write a dissertation. I have a lot to do. This week I am going to finalize a system to organize all my research, note taking, and chapters. The more organized I am, the easier this will all go. I also have to set up a schedule so that I can set goals for myself. Whew, it's hard to know where to start, but it's time that I really focus on this! 

Okay, so until next time, I hope you all have an amazing holiday weekend. Sadly we are not able to celebrate until next week. But as soon as we are able, I am going to cook the biggest belated 4th of July meal and buy the biggest watermelon I can find! I may even post some photos!

Love,

Suzie and Andy

As promised

As promised, I wanted to post our wedding service here. We had the most beautiful service. And like they say, it flies by before you know it. Right as I got to the door of the church, I thought 'I don't remember anything we went over in the rehearsal'. Thank goodness I didn't really need to remember. Poor Andy was stressed to the max and was ready to get everything under way. We had to wait for 10 or 15 minutes because some of our family were a little late because of problems with driving directions. But everyone got there finally and we got the show on the road. 

Order of Service

Processional Music                      Wagner

The Welcome

Hymn                         Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling, 

Joy of heaven, to earth come down,

Fix in us thy humble dwelling,

All thy faithful mercies crown. 

Jesu, thou art all compassion,

Pure unbounding love thou art; 

Visit us with thy salvation, 

Enter every trembling heart.

Come, almight to deliver, 

Let us all thy grace receive;

Suddenly return, and never,

Never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing, 

Serve thee as thy hosts above;

Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation; 

Pure and spotless let us be;

Let us see thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in thee;

Changed from glory into glory, 

Till we cast our crowns before thee,

Lost in wonder, love and praise. 

PRIEST: The Lord be with you.

ALL: And also with you.

PRIEST: Andrew and Suzanna, you stand in the presence of God as husband and wife, to dedicate to him your life together, that he may consecrate your marriage and empower you to keep the covenant and promise that you have solemnly declared.

The Bible teaches us that marriage is a gift of God in creation and a means of his grace, a holy mystery in which man and woman become one flesh. It is God's purpose that , as husband and wife give themselves to each other in love throughout their lives, they shall be united in that love as Christ is united with his Church.

Marriage is given that husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorry and in joy. It is given that with delight and tenderness they may know each other in love, and through the joy of their bodily union my strengthen the union of their hearts and lives. It is given as the foundation of family life in which children may be born and nurtured in accordance with God's will, to his praise and glory. This is the meaning of the marriage you have made. 

You now wish to affirm your desire to live as followers of Christ, and you have come to him, the fountain of grace, that , strengthened by the prayers of the Church you may be enabled to fulfil your marriage vows in love and faithfulness. 

FIRST READING: Isaiah 61: 10-11

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 

and arrayed me in a robe of rightousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, 

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise 

spring up before all nations.

PRIEST: God is love, and those who live in lovve live in God and God lives in them.

ALL: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,

All desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden,

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts,

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name, 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

SECOND READING: Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances

you may have against one another. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach 

and admonish one another with all wisdom,

and as you sing psalms, hymns 

and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or dead,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

 giving thanks to God the Father through him.

PRIEST: Andrew and suzanna, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage, and your marriage is recognized by law. The church of Christ understands marriage to be, in the will of God, the union of a man and a woman, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till parted by death.

PRIEST: Is this your understanding of the covenant and promise that you have made?

ANDREW AND SUZANNA: It is.

PRIEST: Andrew, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife Suzanna, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

ANDREW: That is my resolve, with the help of God.

PRIEST: Suzanna, have you resolved to be faithful to your husband Andrew, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live? 

SUZANNA: That is my resolve, with the help of God.

ANDREW AND SUZANNA WILL EXCHANGE PERSONAL VOWS

SUZANNA:

Andy, you are my best friend and the love of my life.

From the moment I met you, I knew you were an amazing person. 

I am so excited that I am able to experience the rest of my life with you by my side. 

You have been my companion in joy and my constant comfort in adversity.

Your encouragement and support have shown me what true love is.

I am so hopeful for the future because I know we will be able 

to share our hopes and dreams together.

I promise to encourage and inspire you,

to be kind, trusting, tolerant and understanding.

I will always be honest and faithful to you. 

Here, before our family and friends, 

I pledge my heart to you, and only to you

for the rest of my life.

ANDREW:

Suzie, since we met, most of our friendship has been spent fighting 

about the feelings between us. 

I even moved to a different continent to prove I didn't like you.

But I'm standing here today, on yet another continent,

to tell you that I have been wrong all along.

Suzie, you mean more to me than anything in the world. 

I never though the perfect woman would be standing right in front of me the whole time.

You are my very best friend

and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

I love you so much.

(Andrew and Suzanna join hands)

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, by your blessing, let these rings be to Andrew and Suzanna symbols of unending love and faithfulness, and of the promises that they have made to each other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Andrew and Suzanna have here affirmed their Christian understanding and resolve in the marriage which they have begun. Will you who have gathered here to celebrate with them support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?

ALL: We will.

(Andrew and Suzanna kneel)

ANDREW AND SUZANNA: Heavenly Father, we offer you our souls and bodies, our thoughts and words and deeds, our love for one another. Unite our wills in your will, that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRIEST: Almighty God, give you grace to persevere, that he may complete in you the work he has already begun, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

PRIEST: The Lord bless you and watch over you.

The Lord make his face to shine upon y ou and be gracious to you.

The Lord look kindly on you and give you peace all the days of your life.

Amen

Hymn                           O Perfect Love

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending

Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne, 

That theirs' may be the lover which knows no ending, 

Whom thou for evermore dost join in one.

O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance

Of tender charity and steadfast faith,

Of patient hope and quiet brave endurance,

With childlike trust that fears not pain not death.

Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow, 

Grant them the peach which calms all earthly strife;

And to life's day the glorious unknown morrow

That dawns upon eternal love and life. 

THE CERTIFICATE OF BLESSING IS SIGNED

Choir: The Lord Bless You and Keep You           Rutter

THE PRAYERS

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be thy name; 

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done

On earth, as it is in Heaven

Give us this day our daily bread, 

And  forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn                         Bind Us Together Lord

Bind us together Lord, Bind us together

With cords that cannot be broken;

Bind us together Lord, Bind us together

Bind us together with love!

There is only one God,

There is only one King;

There is only one Body,

That is why we sing.

Made for the glory of God,

Purchased by his precious Son,

Born with the right to be clean, 

For Jesus the victory has won,

Bind us together.... 

You are the Family of God,

You are the promise divine.

You are God's chosen desire,

You are the glorious new wine. 

Bind us together.... 

THE BLESSING

RECESSIONAL MUSIC

IN REMEMBRANCE OF RICHARD S. BROWN

On this day, somewhat bittersweet, 

the thought of you pains my heart.

I cannot help but remember the day

we seemed destined to part.

I know you are looking down on us, 

watching from above. 

Yet, how I wish you were here today

showing your support, and love.

I'm all grown up now,

but I still wish you were here by my side.

I need you here on the day

that I am becoming a bride.

However, I cannot change the past.

All that's left now are sweet memories.

Memories, and thoughts

that in my heart will always last.

I am moving forward,

but I can't help looking back. 

Thinking of  you, and how you did everything

in your own special way.

Because of you, I have learned to cherish

each and every single day.

Daddy, I love you with all of my heart.

You are sadly missed,

and will never be forgotten.