This past week was quite a whirl-wind of wedding for my sister and her husband, Roger. God graciously allowed the funds for me to go to London for a week. He also guided the flights there and back safely. After watching too many episodes of 'Lost' before this trip, I was a little hesitant to fly. But I knew that after watching 'Lost', I was better off, with all that they have taught me, just in case that were to happen. :)My plane landed Saturday, July 11th, and needless to say, I felt like a bag of trash. I had a migraine the day before, having to leave work early and go to the Dr. to make sure it was not anything more serious since I was leaving for London. Then the migraine, decided to develop into a head cold that lasted all week in London. The best part was seeing Jessi on the platform after riding on a train so we could finish the last leg of the trip together back to her apartment. She was beaming, as all brides do the week of their wedding, showing me her ring, which I had not seen before that moment. It was beautiful.
All week, I never felt as if I were in London. Even today, as people at church asked me, "What did you think?" I didn't know, I felt like I was still in America, but people were driving on the wrong side of the street, and Drew was not with me. I hope that I get to go back, with Drew, and get to take in the sights more. Next time, next time, but this time was all WEDDING!!
Jessi and Roger met at their church, St. Helen's pretty soon after Jessi moved to London in 2007. Roger is from England, just outside London, just an hour or less. I was able to meet Roger's family and they were very kind, full of help, and welcomed my family into their home the first day we arrived. And then, Roger's dads' patience and kindness was tested, when I left my purse at their home as my family was trying to catch a train in a hurry. He graciously turned around at the train station, drove back to their home, and returned it to me. I was very thankful!
Jessi and Roger were married on July 17th, 2009 at St. Helen's Bishopgate at 1pm. It was a beautiful ceremony. We sang "How Great Thou Art" as the first song of the wedding. St. Helen's was originally built, I think, in the 1600's. It is a smaller but very typical European church, with very high ceilings, and great detail marking the walls. But as we sang that song, with everyone in the church, it rose my affections for the Lord. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art! The high ceilings of the that church made that song seem ten times louder, as well.
After the ceremony, we had a dinner at St. Andrews, which is just down the street from St. Helen's. There we talked with Roger's family, listened to speeches given by my dad, Roger, and Roger's best man, Andy. From there, we proceeded to Dickens Inn, which is a little pub, at St. Katherine's Dock, where we danced, ate some more, watched the cake cut, and waved goodbye to Jessi and Roger. Side note, I was sitting in Heathrow Airport, talking to a lady headed back to Cleveland yesterday, as I was coming back. We were talking about where we were in the city for our stay and small world, she was staying just across the street from the reception, and she saw the sign that stated "Jessi and Roger Day's Wedding Reception." Small world.
As I think about the "Ralston family", what has now split off onto the Belden and Day families, I do get a little sad. My younger sister, Lindsay, now lives in Texas. My mom, dad, and brother are moving to Kansas City in just a few months. Jessi and Roger live in London. And Drew and I live in Stow, Ohio, where Drew grew up. It's a weird realization that family now is not what I thought family would be as I thought about it just 5 years ago. It's exciting to see what God has in store for us!
But, I hope that this realization of my family being split up locationally will cause me to pray more deeply for my family. I think I often forget about them, taking them for granted, consumed by everything going on in my world. But, I pray, that God will continue to transform us through His gospel, sanctifying us for that day when we will all be joined again, having been perfected because of the blood of Jesus Christ. How can I encourage them more prayerfully, through the gospel, and how can I love them each for who they really are?
I pray that through the marriage of Jessi and Roger that His name would be made great!
I have learned aLOT about God this past week and pray that He only continues to teach and grow me more and more.
