Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Romantic Maritime


Our wedding was a blast. We enjoyed the time spent with families, especially because it has been a while Christian did not see his aunties and uncle. We even did not realize that we should had some time for ourselves as a newly wed. Until two weeks after the wedding that we decided to have this special time only for us. Christian took 2 weeks off, therefore we went for our honeymoon.
We chose the maritime - east part of Canada as our destination, considering that I had never been there before and that it was met our budget. So there we were...leaving Montreal early morning on July 16, 2006. We preferred land route since we would be able to see more of the sites by doing so. We spent 5 days in 3 provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia). I liked PEI with the Anne of Green Gables thingie at the most, since it brought the book I read long time ago became real. I think Christian liked Peggy's Cove with the romantic lighthouse and the calm waves or maybe the maritime museum where he had an opportunity to sit on the Titanic's VIP wooden seat. The magnetic hill and the reversal falls was amazing, the confederation bridge was spectacular, the citadel was unique. Well too many beautiful places to mention...

The highlight of that trip is the adjustment we'd made toward each other and the togetherness (we are physically and emotionally closer and closer... even more)..not to mention the lobster that we ate during those 5days...such a heaven!! And I suspect Bianca was formed and given to us during those trip...thank you Lord!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

A New Stage in Our Lives



I would like to start this blog with an old posting from my Friendster blog. And all started here..when I say I do to him in front of His people...

I can't believe it's almost two weeks we have been entering a new stage in our lives..it is a married lives..and it is wonderful. Times to times God has proven His faithfulness..our relationship was a very long meaningful journey..this journey taught us to value this married lives at the best.

Once I was down, once I doubted..could he be the one from God? Many difficulties along the way before walking down the isle..our differences make it hard for us to adjust to each other...we have different habits...for example I earn money easily and am a big spender, buying things and things I do not really need..he is a hard worker and good in managing money..I love details and am a perfectionist, but he does not and is not...not to mention things liked family interference...lot of things kept me pondering, is it a bad sign? But these drew me closer to God..I want to trust Him..in my prayer I said,"oh God please..show me..please..if he is the one, we will make it..God.. but if he is not the one, please prepare my heart and his to accept it. Let Your will be done". The question got bigger and bigger as it approached our wedding day.
Encouragement came at the right time from the right person..a letter from my sister reminds me to keep trusting God and His wonderful plan in my life. Keep trusting Him that he is the one for me. She has seen many good things and miracles happened in our relationship and she is so sure that he will become a good husband, head of family and father as well. And you will be surprised if I am telling you now, my sister has never met him in person..how could she say such thing. But that was it...my sister accepts him as part of our family and gives him trust, even though she's never seen him face to face. I still have her letter with me and it feels so good that your family has no doubt in the decision you made, especially if you come from a family that is not so easy to let you date someone that come from different background (for you to know, I come from a Chinese family which known as a very strong-bound family and won't let their daughters to go out with guys who come from different background. And my husband comes from batakese family, which also known as a very strict family and want to keep their sons marrying girls from their own tribes). To our surprise, we do not face these difficulties relating with parents' approvals.

To make it short....we planned for a small simple wedding party..but it turned out to be a beautiful and bright party..(and noisy too..hehehe..)..one of his aunties said it was a perfect wedding (wowwwwww....I am so flattered). We are so grateful to have family and friends that really support and help us. I could not imagine how we can handle that party without their helps. The headache paid off!!

We learned alot during this moment:
1. Not only based on religious thingies, but practically and technically getting married is so exhausted that you will never want to do it again...once is enough! (imagine all the headache you have to face during the preparation, alot more with arguing among relatives and in laws). Arshinta..you were rite!

2. When everything is not perfect, it is a good opportunity for us to really seek God and depend on Him. So as a perfectionist I may say..thank you Lord for making it imperfect, otherwise I would have been so proud of myself.
3. Man should leave his parents to be with his wife and become one. But it is never easy to let your own son go, even if he married to an extremely good girl, the girl that you like so much..
so girls be prepared of your mother in law's jealousy...it could be very tough and may become your first nightmare..Do not hate her for doing it, just comprehend..it may be beyond your understanding, but put yourself in her position, I am sure you will understand.
4. Communication is the key..use the time before going to bed or after waking up to talk openly with your spouse. Solve the problems you have on that day, do not keep it until the sun sinks down.
5. Take your spouse hands in yours, and say prayer everyday (for us, we do it every morning and nite). Place God as the head of your marriage!

6. Once I said that I live to please everyone around me. I know now that at the end you can not please anyone..You have to draw the line, and be sure to not hurting others badly.

7. this is a lesson for me, once I was afraid to live inconveniently, it scared me to have limited access to money...but now I realize how good it is to be able to live at the least, how good it is to be able to differentiate what you want and what you need..

So...it's been wonderful folks!! I am happy...he is happy...everybody is happy...
Lord we give you thank, for You are faithful!! We walk with our hands in You oh Lord..We will trust in You and not be afraid, for we know You will be there..this is wonderful day that You have made!

And as a closing we want to share this beautiful song from our wedding ceremony..enjoy!!

As we come into Your presence Lord
Lifting our heart as one
And with one voice we sing
Promise to be faithful till the end
Forever love You our God

As for me and my house
We will serve You Lord
Together forever we will love You more
Your love is higher than the heaven
Knitted us as one
Great is Your unfailing love

Posted by Lidia Ratnawati on July 14, 2006 at 01:06 PM