Wedding Memories

It was the coolest day.

It began with me hanging out with the bride, mother of the bride, and bridesmaids as we got hair and make-up done. I met up with my family at the church, and my handsome hubby was decked out in a tux. (No photos of him or us yet—he was taking all of the few pictures we do have.) While our daughter stood by the guest book, we had about 20 quiet minutes before the ceremony in a private room. Carlos slipped in and spent his last few moments alone with us. We received his gratitude, and prayed over him. Then we told him to go have a blast celebrating and enjoying the fact that he was surrounded by people who loved him and wished him well. He escorted his biological sister and then Mrs. Mabry, the “grandmother of the groom,” then me down the aisle. And as we walked, I had some special words prepared for him about the love of his late mother and grandmother (whom I did have chance to know). Dr. Charles Swindoll officiated. He began by telling the couple's story. The father gave away the bride, and the couple exchanged vows they had prepared—breathtaking. Carlos washed Karla’s feet to symbolize his commitment to serve her. They also did a Mexican “Lasso Ceremony.” In such a ceremony, a special couple place a large lasso (in this case, a silver cord with a cross hanging down) in a figure-eight shape around the shoulders of the couple after they have exchanged their vows. Carlos and Karla were kneeling in prayer as they received the loop, symbolic of God’s love, which will bind them together every day.At 7:28, Dr. Swindoll pronounced them husband and wife, and Carlos kissed the bride enthusiastically, adding a tender kiss on the forehead.The reception (Mexican food, of course!) included a bride-and-groom dance that ended with a Tango-flair including a big dip. Then from nowhere, a flash mob appeared, performed by Carlos’s coworkers at Insight for Living as the live orchestra rocked to “Everlasting Love.” Carlos was front and center for that. (It reminded me that he once led one of our teams in similar choreography to The Macarena at the Culicán zoo. It made the lions roar at us!) I was seated next to Dr. Swindoll during the reception, and he denied any knowledge of a flash-mob rehearsal on company time. Sparkling grape juice was delivered to each table and toasts were made. Carlos’s biological brother expressed his wonder that sixteen years ago Carlos volunteered to translate for a bunch of American missionaries, when he hardly even knew English. (At this point, the groom looked at me and sheepishly shrugged with a big smile on his face.) A mariachi band followed. The whole day was a beautiful mix of cultures, languages, and traditions, and such a picture of "exceedingly abundantly," when I consider that it all started when “Dr. Bill,” our then-pastor, had a heart condition that required him to change the church's first mission-team destination from Ecuador to somewhere at sea level—which turned out to be Culicán. Many members of our original team were able to be present for the ceremony, including Dr. Bill, who was picked up at the airport by Kelly Wagoner, one of those members, and whisked through traffic to arrive on time. Kelly said the look on Carlos’s face when he saw Dr. Bill was priceless. We sent off bride and groom through an arch of sparklers on a warm November night. Today they should land in Malta.