Casa de Piatra: married 3 years

One of my favorite photos from our wedding...I love that wink! Taken by Teri Ispas

Our actual LEGAL marriage happened on April 4, 2009.

But, June 21, 2009 was our

Wedding Day.

And I consider myself lucky to have these two anniversaries.

Not because we usually do something to celebrate on both of them,

But because it's like knowing you belong to Christ,

and then waiting for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.
The beauty of two anniversaries.

This is what we wanted our wedding day to mirror:

the actual banquet of Christ and His Bride.

So, we set up the tables at the reception in banquet style.

And the ring bearers (there were 5 of them)

came down the aisle ringing bells and yelling:

The Bride is coming!

Not for me,

although I was coming,

but hopefully as a picture of the Bride coming to Christ.
And we had the congregation read this liturgy before communion:

Reader: When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

All: The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!

Reader: And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the Kingdom of God comes.

All: The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!

Reader: And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

All: The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!

Reader: And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

All: The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!

And we toasted our King at the reception...

and, we hope, it was a celebration in so many ways.

Celebrating the hope of what will come.

Celebrating the hope that found bloom in our marriage.

Today, it is three years since that day.

And still we long for the Banquet. 

(I love in Josh Garrells song Farther Along when he says:
Sing: Lord, come soon....ahh, yeah.)

And still we celebrate the hope,

the love,

that has bloomed and is blooming
in our marriage.

The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!


A few more photos I love...

Teary eyed...

The kiss...

p.s. Casa de Piatra means: house of rock in Romanian...it's traditional to say it to the bride and groom on their wedding day. And, I love the meaning behind it. May your house be built of rock.

p.p.s Sorry these are so angled at me. I can't seem to find the file of wedding pictures on my computer that show more of Bela, too!