Weddings, Parties, Anything: A place to Celebrate

If I could do anything, had all the money and favour in the world, I would buy the paddock next door to us, the powers that be at Council would love me and let me do what I wanted (now that would be a miracle!), and I would build a new/old weathered barn which I would use to offer weddings and events to all the people God brings my way.

I could have occasional sales of repurposed furniture, who knows, maybe even a Saturday morning ‘devonshire tea’! In my dreams I see brides saying “I Do” under the willows by the creek, see children running through the grass as their families enjoys picnics in the shade, I see softball games with the families from our church fellowshipping together and really embracing what Jesus spoke about when he said ‘love one another.’

I would offer the space for group retreats, for prayer, for leaders to get away for a day to refresh, the opportunities could be endless. I love events, love seeing joy on people’s faces in those special moments, love the work that goes into pulling it all together – it exhilarates me! (yep, weird I know!)

 

Source: http://themeadowbrookblog.blogspot.com/

The dream became more real to me when I was watching one of the young girls from our church walk down the aisle on the weekend, and another of my friends watching said, “My daughter wants a wedding just like Tanika’s (that’s my daughter No 1). She wants it ‘on the Smith’s farm’”.   This is just one of the families I love so much…and I want to do everything I can to fulfil this 13 year old’s wish.

Relationships are the reason we are here, and to be a small part of someone’s ‘magic-memory moment’ would fulfil me.

Not just weddings, but baby showers, family bbq’s, any occasion where people come together to celebrate and give thanks.

  *Here is part of the paddock, I don’t have a shot looking back towards our house.

 

It will take a miracle, but I know a big God!

So for all the 13-year old princesses dreaming of their ‘big day’, prayer begins today!!!

$10,000+ will go a long way in Uganda!

As promised, here are the pictures of the amazing time we had last Saturday in “The Secret Garden.”

The most amazing part is, that we have raised over $10,000 (after expenses!) for our friends at COME Uganda, which will bring much needed resource for the hospital project, schools and orphanages they run.

The auditorium was themed around the enchanted rainforest of the opening…a young girl, wandering through the lush vegetation, looking at the beauty all around her, seeming to be searching for something…someone.

She realises that what she has been looking for was with her all along, and pulls a key out of her pocket which unlocks the door…………..

 

Our dancers wowed the crowd, in a beautiful dance scene which began with a 7 year old playing the violin and ended with a gorgeous song written and performed by Emily.

The flowers woven into the iron gazebo were made from hundreds of ‘home brand’ napkins, folded and fluffed into carnation shapes. Along each arch was real ivy strands, with fairy lights intertwined around the branches.

Our inspiration came from “The Cinderella Story” scene where Chad Michael Murray dances with Hilary Duff at her prom.

The lace on the ceiling was two white curtains, found in an op shop and dyed to a soft green…unfortunately, the dye didn’t take that well after days of soaking so it looked more cream than green, but close up you could see the colours of a rainforest!

Out the front, the women came through a marquee entwined with ivy and strings of paper hearts. (This took one of our girls hours to do!!!) There was an evergreen garland strung with magnolia flowers and two large urns either side of the door. The wind was so strong, many of our concepts had to be changed as we were planning to enter through a side door, but had to change at the last minute as everything was blowing over along the street!!

Onto the market……

The creative team met every few weeks for five months to make items to sell at the market. There were hair accessories, mosiac mirrors, cakes and slices, aprons, candles in teacups, paper art/cards, baby wear, you name it, you could buy it!! The bunting was made from a $3 childrens book from the op shop, cut into triangles and strung along twine. This would look great in a child’s bedroom, and so cheap to do.

 

We had a fabulous speaker, from Opportunity International, who spoke about gardens in developing countries, and how they are the livelihood of their people. They are the community hub, the social place as well as the source of life.

The fabulous fibre optic trees were on loan from The Complete Garden in Wollongong, who also loaned the bench seat, urns and settings to make the area so special.

Then it was onto the auction, where we sold off vouchers for hair and beauty treatments, dinners for two, photography etc to a fantastically generous audience. That’s me on the left with my friend and mentor, Linda, who oversees all the ministry areas of our church.

We had so much fun…

guilt free shopping with a purpose is the only way to go!!!

 

We hold this event every year in June, and it’s open to EVERYONE…so if you feel like a visit to God’s country, then buy a ticket in 2012 and come on down to Wollongong.

I would love to meet you!