My Wedding: Down the Aisle

Like I said in my last wedding post -- this was the most emotional moment for me.

I don't remember what first gave me the idea to choose Amazing Grace as the song I'd walk down the isle to-- but that's the one I wanted. After Jose and I agreed on it, I was at church one time and they started playing the song. They had the lyrics on the screen, just a few months from the wedding, and I started to cry.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

And it was that line "The Lord has promised good to me" that made the little girl in me soar. Reminiscing on my childhood dreams of meeting my husband and what he would look like, how much he would love me, and how good he would be to me. There I was, months from that dream, thankful to God for his promise and the grace he's given me.

After re-touching my make-up, I ran to my "hiding spot" upstairs while the guests started to arrive.

I peeked, trying not to get caught, and smiled as I saw my friends and family pouring into the ceremony room. Then it hit me. Gratefulness. I became overwhelmed by the love. I shook my head in awe and praised God. Shortly after trying to contain my tears, my little brother appeared. I will never forget this moment.

When he appeared at the top of the stairs and saw me, he looked shocked. This is a piece of an e-mail he sent me in Spain: "I guess I didn't really comprehend the importance of it until i ran up the stairs and saw you hiding behind the corner. I just got a sudden rush of emotions and I wanted to tell you that you looked beautiful but i couldn't put together any words."

We stood there in silence, both visibly making an effort to hold back tears, looking away every other minute to try and pull it together. It literally felt like I was preparing to part from my brother. I remember I felt this way the morning I left Texas for college in Georgia.

The music started and we appeared at the top of the stairs -- my dad waiting at the bottom for me. And this is how it went....



You can see that walking down the isle became even harder, and the tears made their way out. I realized that the symbolism of being "given away" was the most emotional for me. I was leaving behind a piece of me -- a life as an Amador -- and was entering a new stage in my life.

So that day became more than just marrying Jose Vidal. It was also a good-bye to one part of growing-up. The growing-up that involved sibling squabbles, birthday parties, broken hearts, friendship bracelets, and passing notes... with a hopefulness that one day God will bless us with our own family. When one day I'll have to let go of them.

And well, I'm never good with good-byes. To those who were a part of this day... thank you.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.