The memories of such a grand journey are perhaps better than the event ...but so be it ! I hold onto the Present as a way to be truly grateful for all that is . When our middle daughter chose to marry ..half way round the world ..in Sylvan Glen in the Southern Highlands of Australia ..we thought...!!!WOW!! We, the bride's parents wanted to be there to glimpse the JOY ! Plans were designed for over a year and we hoped for good health to carry us there. The whole Family worked to make this happen for us all . I KNOW the angels and HIS will encircled us on the complete journey .
From the moment , before we left , we planned with doctors, friends , van transport to airport , stop overs in Phoenix with nephew's family, seeing elder family members there, visiting son's baseball stadium for game ( box seats), travelling with daughter-in-law via LA to Sydney , to reach the final destination at daughter's home . The frivolty and wedding preps were marvellous as groom's family feted and charmed whole wedding party. Touring Sydney and local areas made the country so welcoming to us . LOVE was all around us ..the feeling was superb. Son's arrival from US mixing with other foreign guests completed bride's contentment .
The van ride to the wedding site in Sylvan Glen was monumental: fish lunch at a pub while the flower garlands were being finished; meeting all the past friends from childhood, and new ones from Australia; ferry ride with all wedding guests; touring SYDNEY via rail ; wedding site and accomodations perfect for a grand wedding venue; Mehndhi superbly orchestrated ..guests were great sports in fine, jubuliant attire; ASIYAH ..great lady in red !!! Shane ..super in goldish beige attire. LOVE was in the air!!! NIKKA performed in gentle fashion ...whole wedding party in great form ..looking only better than we planned . THIS WAS A DAY in perfect harmony .. everyone did their SUPER BEST . Praise the Lord and family who supported our wishes to be there. Southern Highlands of NSW will stay near my heart for years to come .
Ride home was easy to Sydney . Family continued to fete the royal couple with evening soirees, trips to Taree farm with Groom's parents , hosting done in Newcastle by brother , loving treatment by groom's aunt & family , continued affection by groom's grandparents , sister and fiance, bride's loving friends' continual feting for bride and groom . Constant mixing of two families brought a comraderie never before felt by us, parents of the bride. THIS was a journey into Fantasyland of LOVE. It reminded we , elders of the mixing of family when we were married in Pakistan ..so many years before. The drive to the Blue Mountains and lunch was a great highlight of the trip .. serene moments amidst the natural splendour and serenity of Nature; visits to the Pacific Ocean viewpoints in Sydney and Newcastle filled the wonder in our hearts ; just being there to watch the unity of this couple who had now chosen to be partners for LIFE ... made us proud and happiest of all .
The stay with the royal couple was superbly gratifying ... 2 1/2 weeks of seeing TRUE LOVE in motion . Thank you God ! The departure at airport was anti climactic ,,,but left us feeling content having been there. We knew that the girl would be well cared for ..whatever may come . What more can a parent ask for ?
Heading back to Phoenix to visit son's family again was another reward from this journey . Journey fatigue was present but the love and acceptance made it all worthwhile . How to thank our Maker for loving, kind adult children ??? Now I know about sadaka .. gifting to poor in honor of our truly remarkable bounties . Son's wife was 5 months in waiting for their new baby ...so we had that excitement to visit ; husband's sister and hubby were visiting their son .. we had not met for 12 years ; visiting nephew's family with two pre-adolescents , being exposed to summer climate while jet lag disappeared ...truly a remarkable journey .
The faith inspired on this journey will never leave my lips (ISA) ... prayers and hopes that left my lips throughout this trip shall inspire my thoughts and memories for the remainder of my earthly days . HOLD TIGHT to the ROPE OF FAITH ; NEVER make a picture that does not have a happy conclusion ... I choose what I want to believe in ... let the rest just BE!!! THANK YOU LORD for these bounties for which we can only hope to be worthy of.
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