Wedding Planning? Oh yeah, we should probably start thinking about that? Aug. 7, 2009

Aug. 7, 2009

If it wasn’t obvious before, it’s becoming crystal clear that I am not a typical bride. We are closing in on a month from the wedding, and the only thing we really have nailed down is that we are getting married and what we are wearing. All other details that most brides have neatly spelled out in elaborate wedding planners, carefully guarded by their own personal planner, are still for us specifics to be pinned down.

The plan was to be in Iquitos from the end of July to the arrival of the next team at the end of August to plan a wedding. Well, here we are, closing out the first week of August, and have not made it back to the city. We are looking at tomorrow evening to start that venture. Then we will have 15 days to plan the event. I am so at peace and okay with everything. I figure, the day will arrive and what’s going to happen is going to happen anyway, so why worry? The most important thing to me is that I marry the man I love in a way that brings glory to God, the rest are just details. Sure, it would be nice to have some decorations and whatnot, but I’m not going to stress about it.

I think the thing that cracks me up the most about it is how much goes into weddings in the United States. I was laughing with Paulette today about the craziness of it all. I was at the doctor right before moving the Peru. The receptionist was asking questions about my last check up, and realized I was moving out of the country and getting married. She started telling me all about her daughters wedding plans and how much of a job it is, all the details, flowers, oh the expense of the flowers alone. She couldn’t believe it. On the way out I wished her luck with her upcoming wedding, assuming it was in a month or two. She said something to the effect of, “Oh, thanks. We still have a year, but we need it.” A year? And the flowers are already ordered.

I am sure I have apologized to Nelton at least 4 times that I will not be the hott, breath-taking, or sexy bride I always imagined I’d be. While most brides are tanning, doing skin treatments, and this, that, and the other, I’m anything be beautifying my body. I am learning to battle off the mosquitos, horseflies, nats, and chiggers without repellant. My legs are covered with little red spots and dots, and I’ve developed a daily ritual of squeezing out any unwanted contents. I am anything but tan, because I wear pants and often long sleeves to keep the bugs away. I have been getting more pimples than usual, I’m sure it has something to do with the water, or the dirt that flies in the city. By the end of each day, my fingernails have collected dirt. My hair is becoming more and more coarse daily due to more than a month of bathing in the river or with its water.

I don’t say any of this by way of complaining or for you to feel sorry for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way! If nothing else, I hope to gain as many laughs as I myself have gained by the comparison of what I myself always dreamed of and the way reality is actually being lived out. Which, by the way is far better than my dreams ever painted.

And I don’t mean to be down on American weddings, I love weddings. I think it’s wonderful. If nothing else it’s something I remember Dr. Park always saying “Don’t focus so much on the wedding that you forget about the marriage.” I think that happens way too much in the States, and hopefully this can be a good reminder of what’s the most important when it comes to the marital covenant.