From Momentville/DannyandBecca:
Our Stories
Her Story
Born April 7, 1986, in Hamilton, Ontario. Red-haired Rebecca loves nature, music, people, and just life in general. She has 5 siblings, one of whom also has red hair and she has a dog (who also has red hair).
His Story
Born November 2nd, 1983, in Nipawin Saskatchewan. I play hockey, go to school, work out, play music, work at OLSWA, have 6 siblings (one of whom is a priest), and so on and so forth.
Our Story
He was a boy, she was a girl, can I make it anymore obvious?
No Avril, there's more to the story than that. Becca and I met at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry's Bay in the fall of 2005. We went to school together for two years. Then I went to school at Redeemer (by Hamilton) while Becca stayed at OLSWA. Then Becca went to Redeemer while I went to work at OLSWA. And finally this past year we are once again living in the same town.
Becca and I at first did not get along. She thought I was arrogant, and I thought she talked too much. Yes, nothing's changed... except that now we do get along.
We were engaged June 13, 2009, and will be married April 10, 2010
No Avril, there's more to the story than that. Becca and I met at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry's Bay in the fall of 2005. We went to school together for two years. Then I went to school at Redeemer (by Hamilton) while Becca stayed at OLSWA. Then Becca went to Redeemer while I went to work at OLSWA. And finally this past year we are once again living in the same town.
Becca and I at first did not get along. She thought I was arrogant, and I thought she talked too much. Yes, nothing's changed... except that now we do get along.
We were engaged June 13, 2009, and will be married April 10, 2010
The Proposal
Nope, it didn't happen on the top of a mountain. It was more like this:
We went to town (Nipawin) to buy some groceries for my mom and, when in the produce section, we both reached to grab a watermelon. Our hands touched, lightning struck, and we both looked into each others' eyes. At that moment, I fell on my knee and proposed to Rebecca using a bagel as a ring. Aisle one of the Co-op grocery store will always be special for us!
No no no. It was actually more like... we went to town to buy groceries for my mom, but stopped at the church first to pray a rosary. Needless to say, I was shaking during the rosary; however, Becca didn't know what was going on. After the rosary I called Becca to the sacristy (right by the santuary) to show her the parish's new chalices (not entirely a lie since the parish had just bought some new ones). When there I pretended to look for them, and had her open up some cupboards as well. Eventually, after staring at one cupboard in particular for a while, Becca finally noticed the ring proudly sitting there. She said something like "are you serious" and then I proposed, she said yes, and all is well.
We went to town (Nipawin) to buy some groceries for my mom and, when in the produce section, we both reached to grab a watermelon. Our hands touched, lightning struck, and we both looked into each others' eyes. At that moment, I fell on my knee and proposed to Rebecca using a bagel as a ring. Aisle one of the Co-op grocery store will always be special for us!
No no no. It was actually more like... we went to town to buy groceries for my mom, but stopped at the church first to pray a rosary. Needless to say, I was shaking during the rosary; however, Becca didn't know what was going on. After the rosary I called Becca to the sacristy (right by the santuary) to show her the parish's new chalices (not entirely a lie since the parish had just bought some new ones). When there I pretended to look for them, and had her open up some cupboards as well. Eventually, after staring at one cupboard in particular for a while, Becca finally noticed the ring proudly sitting there. She said something like "are you serious" and then I proposed, she said yes, and all is well.
Gift Registry: Matrimoney...
Seeing as we will most likely be moving several times within the next 3 years, receiving a large number of gifts will only create problems for us when it is time to move. In other words, we need to live lightly over the next 2-3 years. There is one thing that will help us signficantly, however, and not be a hassle when we move around: money. And so, we respectfully ask that all gifts simply be monetary contributions.
Thank you for your understanding.
There is one way, however, to give an actual gift. You can mail it to Nipawin, SK, where Rebecca and I will be based (for the most part) after our wedding. The address is:
Thank you for your understanding.
There is one way, however, to give an actual gift. You can mail it to Nipawin, SK, where Rebecca and I will be based (for the most part) after our wedding. The address is:
Daniel and Rebecca Millette
Box 2961
Nipawin, Saskatchewan
S0E 1E0
and now...
The Wedding Blog
January 14
So I started a website today, I haven't done that since my first year of university. Alas, wedding planning is time consuming. And it's all done for one little day! Well, this day will come and go, but the memories will always remain...
I've been reading too many sappy internet wedding planning sites. Anyway, I hope to keep you all updated as to how things are going with the planning and such.
God Bless,
Dan
I've been reading too many sappy internet wedding planning sites. Anyway, I hope to keep you all updated as to how things are going with the planning and such.
God Bless,
Dan
January 14, 2010
January 25
This weekend Rebecca and I went down to Brantford to do some shopping and visiting. Actually, I ended up playing more hockey than anything, but that's ok. The visiting was good, and much was accomplished shopping too. Additional invitations were bought, while other things were returned. Groomsman shirts and ties were purchased (Rider Green lives!!!!!!!! Wahoo!!), gifts were also picked up. Oh, yeah, and we also bought our wedding bands. I don't think I'd ever really put a ring on my finger before (as we were trying it out). It was an odd feeling to say the least. Maybe I can make my ring into an earring and wear it on my left ear? Or tie it on my skate laces for good luck? I'm sure it'll be like many things with marriage, you just don't know what it'll be like 'til you try it.
For now though, I must spend the day morning the loss of all the money I spent over the weekend. So much money I tell you. I'm never getting married again after this.
Dan
For now though, I must spend the day morning the loss of all the money I spent over the weekend. So much money I tell you. I'm never getting married again after this.
Dan
January 25, 2010
January 29 (71 more days)
Yesterday was the Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, one of the very best. For some reason I kept thinking of our cat Buck. You see, Buck is a big big black and white cat. Hence, he looks like a large Dominican. Well, Aquinas was a large Dominican. The only difference is that Buck has a moustache, and only liberal clergy wear moustaches, therefore Buck is a liberal Dominican. Yes, as Aquinas once noted, all analogies ultimately fall short.
That has nothing to do with the wedding however. Let's see... Becca and I went to the town office at 8:15 this morning in 30 below weather to apply for a marriage licence. What a $100 cash grab by the gov't! They don't even recognize the marriage banns from the Church anymore. And, 12 weeks after our wedding, we have to send the gov't $15 more just to confirm that we are married. There is so much involved in getting married, I really am shocked that so many people go through with it anyway. Maybe they are simply heeding St. Paul's words: "it is better to marry than be on fire." Yeesh. Don't worry Becca, that's not why I'm getting married. This is probably the time for me to stop writing...
Dan
That has nothing to do with the wedding however. Let's see... Becca and I went to the town office at 8:15 this morning in 30 below weather to apply for a marriage licence. What a $100 cash grab by the gov't! They don't even recognize the marriage banns from the Church anymore. And, 12 weeks after our wedding, we have to send the gov't $15 more just to confirm that we are married. There is so much involved in getting married, I really am shocked that so many people go through with it anyway. Maybe they are simply heeding St. Paul's words: "it is better to marry than be on fire." Yeesh. Don't worry Becca, that's not why I'm getting married. This is probably the time for me to stop writing...
Dan
January 29, 2010
January 31 (Holy Altar Boy Batman)
Today Becca left to go babysit the Gensens and so I won't see her for a few days. I am all alone, free to do whatever I want. I would go on about how I must enjoy these last few moments of freedom, yet I keep wondering how she's doing out there. I guess this kind of freedom isn't all that satisfying.
Nevertheless, today I was thinking about the topic of altar serving. I've been a regular up at the altar at St. Hedwig's for the past few years. This year, being engaged while also having Becca around, was supposed to bring an end to my serving career. However, there is a shortage of young men willing to consistently go up there to read and serve everyday. John Paul Meenan does most of the head serving these days, and he does a heck of a job, but I still help out for the Monday and Wednesday evening Masses, as well as one of the early Friday morning Masses each week. All these single young men around here, and still it's the engaged guy going up to serve at these Masses. I could go on about how they are missing so many blessings by not serving, but that's for another day. What I was going to talk about was should I continue to serve, even as a married man? I mean, there is something innate about a young man serving and discerning his vocation. It would seem that if I'm married, I won't be discerning like that anymore. Yes, it would seem. However, I really really enjoy serving, it is one of the greatest things in the world to me. Plus, there still is a need for me to serve (at least three times a week). Plus, Deacons are regularly up at the altar, and the ones around here are married. Therefore, all things considered, I will probably serve from time to time when I'm married. That is, if Becca will let me.
Alas, I must be going. I have to go serve for rosary and benediction right now.
Dan
Nevertheless, today I was thinking about the topic of altar serving. I've been a regular up at the altar at St. Hedwig's for the past few years. This year, being engaged while also having Becca around, was supposed to bring an end to my serving career. However, there is a shortage of young men willing to consistently go up there to read and serve everyday. John Paul Meenan does most of the head serving these days, and he does a heck of a job, but I still help out for the Monday and Wednesday evening Masses, as well as one of the early Friday morning Masses each week. All these single young men around here, and still it's the engaged guy going up to serve at these Masses. I could go on about how they are missing so many blessings by not serving, but that's for another day. What I was going to talk about was should I continue to serve, even as a married man? I mean, there is something innate about a young man serving and discerning his vocation. It would seem that if I'm married, I won't be discerning like that anymore. Yes, it would seem. However, I really really enjoy serving, it is one of the greatest things in the world to me. Plus, there still is a need for me to serve (at least three times a week). Plus, Deacons are regularly up at the altar, and the ones around here are married. Therefore, all things considered, I will probably serve from time to time when I'm married. That is, if Becca will let me.
Alas, I must be going. I have to go serve for rosary and benediction right now.
Dan
January 31, 2010
February 2 (Feast of the Presentation)
First off, please pray for the souls of Paul Sanders and Janine Lieu who lost their lives in Lake Kaminiskeg two years ago today. May they rest in peace.
Today is the feast of the Presentation. A good excuse to sing at Mass: "the light of Christ... has come into the world..." Anyway, I just wanted to pass on a link:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10020110.html
Here Pope Benedict speaks on the marriage annulment process and how marriages are to be held valid unless proven otherwise. In his reasoning he states that "charity without justice is not charity, only a counterfeit." Wonderful. So... there's no easy out for Rebecca and I. Fortitude is a must in marriage, as it is in any vocation. No easy out... no easy out... Hmm... I need new shoes, my feet seem to be getting colder... No easy out... for crying out loud, someone turn up the heat in this building!... no easy out... no easy out... ahh!!!...
Just kidding Bec, I can't wait!
Today is the feast of the Presentation. A good excuse to sing at Mass: "the light of Christ... has come into the world..." Anyway, I just wanted to pass on a link:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10020110.html
Here Pope Benedict speaks on the marriage annulment process and how marriages are to be held valid unless proven otherwise. In his reasoning he states that "charity without justice is not charity, only a counterfeit." Wonderful. So... there's no easy out for Rebecca and I. Fortitude is a must in marriage, as it is in any vocation. No easy out... no easy out... Hmm... I need new shoes, my feet seem to be getting colder... No easy out... for crying out loud, someone turn up the heat in this building!... no easy out... no easy out... ahh!!!...
Just kidding Bec, I can't wait!
February 02, 2010
February 4
First off, I know many of you have expressed how you would like to be able to add comments after my blogs. If I knew how to add this function, I would. I apologize. For instance, Becca has told me that she would write about how happy she is with me, my blogs, my everything. In fact, she told me that she wishes to tell everyone how she is the luckiest girl in the world to be marrying me. Right Becca? You did say that, right?
One thing that has intrigued me greatly throughout this engagement period is watching how other local families raise their kids. Some things that Rebecca and I see are beautiful, and we hope to imitate such methods. Other things... well, not a chance. As a general rule, I would have to say: use common sense. Ironically, common sense isn't all that common. As a sister of mine once said: "am I the only one here with half-a-brain?"
Dan
One thing that has intrigued me greatly throughout this engagement period is watching how other local families raise their kids. Some things that Rebecca and I see are beautiful, and we hope to imitate such methods. Other things... well, not a chance. As a general rule, I would have to say: use common sense. Ironically, common sense isn't all that common. As a sister of mine once said: "am I the only one here with half-a-brain?"
Dan
February 04, 2010
February 5 (I Dreamed a Dream...)
I had a brilliant idea just now... why not start putting the blogs in order from oldest to newest! Brilliant, simply brilliant! I'm sure you can all tell who has the brains in the relationship.
Oh, never mind, it's too complicated to figure out how to do it. Just never mind.
So I dreamed about getting married last night, again. I've had so many dreams about this already, and it usually has to do with something going wrong. Last night I was all set to walk down the aisle with Becca, but I just couldn't for the life of me find my shoes. I called to Stephen (best man) to lend me his shoes, but he took off and left me there, shoeless. The jerk. So the wedding happened and at the reception Becca showed up in a helicopter and started flying me around Toronto. Her goal, it seemed, was to keep dodging the CN Tower by as narrow a margin as possible. Needless to say, we eventually had a crash landing at the foot of the tower. And that's when my mom showed up, she was mad at us for missing the morning brunch with the family, and so she grabbed our arms and brought us home to live with her.
This is just one dream of many I've had. I've had it where I can't find the church when going to get married. I've ripped my suit minutes before the wedding. I've lost my suit minutes before the wedding. I've been 15 minutes away from the wedding Mass and then realized I forgot to get a choir, pick readings, and set up for Mass. Once I showed up at the church and no one was there. That's when Bishop Mulhall of the Pembroke diocese showed up and brought me to his office (in the choir loft of St. Hedwig's) and told me that I was to be ordained. I can only imagine what the next 64 days (or nights, I should say) will bring.
Dan
Oh, never mind, it's too complicated to figure out how to do it. Just never mind.
So I dreamed about getting married last night, again. I've had so many dreams about this already, and it usually has to do with something going wrong. Last night I was all set to walk down the aisle with Becca, but I just couldn't for the life of me find my shoes. I called to Stephen (best man) to lend me his shoes, but he took off and left me there, shoeless. The jerk. So the wedding happened and at the reception Becca showed up in a helicopter and started flying me around Toronto. Her goal, it seemed, was to keep dodging the CN Tower by as narrow a margin as possible. Needless to say, we eventually had a crash landing at the foot of the tower. And that's when my mom showed up, she was mad at us for missing the morning brunch with the family, and so she grabbed our arms and brought us home to live with her.
This is just one dream of many I've had. I've had it where I can't find the church when going to get married. I've ripped my suit minutes before the wedding. I've lost my suit minutes before the wedding. I've been 15 minutes away from the wedding Mass and then realized I forgot to get a choir, pick readings, and set up for Mass. Once I showed up at the church and no one was there. That's when Bishop Mulhall of the Pembroke diocese showed up and brought me to his office (in the choir loft of St. Hedwig's) and told me that I was to be ordained. I can only imagine what the next 64 days (or nights, I should say) will bring.
Dan
February 05, 2010
Wedding Blog 2 (2 Months!)
Just two more months until April 10th, and one of those months is short.
Yesterday Rebecca and I met with a very talented young musician who will be taking charge of the music at the wedding Mass. All I can do is apologize to all of you folks who will be coming for the wedding and then returning afterwords to your home parishes to listen to strummy guitar at Mass. You'll never be able to go back to the regular hippy garbage after you hear the wonderful choir at the wedding!
On another note, one that has nothing to do with the wedding, I'm going to watch the Sens and Caps on Thursday night in Ottawa! We'll see how good this Ovechkin guy really is, especially when he has me heckling him all night.
Dan
Yesterday Rebecca and I met with a very talented young musician who will be taking charge of the music at the wedding Mass. All I can do is apologize to all of you folks who will be coming for the wedding and then returning afterwords to your home parishes to listen to strummy guitar at Mass. You'll never be able to go back to the regular hippy garbage after you hear the wonderful choir at the wedding!
On another note, one that has nothing to do with the wedding, I'm going to watch the Sens and Caps on Thursday night in Ottawa! We'll see how good this Ovechkin guy really is, especially when he has me heckling him all night.
Dan
February 13
It's gotten to the point where I just want to get married so that I don't have to plan the wedding anymore. Planning a wedding was something I always dreaded, and it certainly has lived up to its billing. For the record, if anyone is expecting a $50,000 wedding then you'd better realize now that it won't be. There won't be silk napkins, or stretch limos, or expensive bands playing. Instead you're getting a wedding of two people who have spent a combined 10 years in university over the past 6 years. The wedding Mass will be beautiful, the reception will be simple and fun, and hopefully God will be at the centre of everything. With that in mind, even a $50,000 wedding seems shallow and empty compared to a wedding that has the Lord as the centre.
God willing, Deo-volente, this wedding will be the richest of weddings, because we pray that God will be seen as the source and summit of all we are doing and accomplishing.
Dan
God willing, Deo-volente, this wedding will be the richest of weddings, because we pray that God will be seen as the source and summit of all we are doing and accomplishing.
Dan
Family Day (Feb. 15)
Today is February 15, and as the old Bud light greeting cards used to say: "let's make February 15th our Valentine's Day." Today is also family day. To celebrate I am spending the entire day at work, alone. But tomorrow we'll head to Ottawa to skate on the canal. I figure there'll be less people tomorrow. It seems to me that February 15 also is/was flag day. It's funny how I can remember the most obscure dates, yet can't even remember where I put my shoes some days.
I've had a few more bad dreams in the past week. Two nights ago I dreamt I was a homeless man living on the banks of a polluted river in Hamilton. All these people I know stopped by to see me. They told me how life was so good for them. Basically the theme of the dream was that I was living pennyless by the river because I had gotten married, while everyone else who didn't get married was doing just fine. Really, I'm not making this up. The only part that makes me wonder is: why was I alone if I was married?...
Dan
I've had a few more bad dreams in the past week. Two nights ago I dreamt I was a homeless man living on the banks of a polluted river in Hamilton. All these people I know stopped by to see me. They told me how life was so good for them. Basically the theme of the dream was that I was living pennyless by the river because I had gotten married, while everyone else who didn't get married was doing just fine. Really, I'm not making this up. The only part that makes me wonder is: why was I alone if I was married?...
Dan
February 19
Only 37 more days! That's so exciting! Oh, and by 37 I mean only 37 more days of lent. There's actually 50 days until the wedding.
Becca is away on a retreat this weekend, please pray for her. I, on the other hand, will be working on an essay explaining, in great detail, how the old law prepares the way for the new law. And so, we will be apart for the weekend, yet again. Same deal next weekend as well. If nothing else, I should be able to get a lot of work done.
50 more days. Gosh, things are closing in fast. It seems just like yesterday when we we at 100 days. Actually, it seems just like yesterday when I was growing up in Saskatchewan. How did life move so quickly?
It sounds like I'm the one who will need a good retreat soon.
Dan
Go Canada Go!
Written at the time of Canada's Olympic Gold Medal game against the US.
Nothing much to say. I've been sicker than sick the last three days. Becca's been gone, leaving me on my own, only to collapse half-way to the kitchen in a feable attempt to make some melaleuca tea. But, Canada is set to play the US in roughly two hours. Please boys, bring me some cheer. I changed my soap in my bathroom to the melaleuca gold bar soap. Why? Because I believe.
Dan
March 2
39 more days, so much to do, so very much to do. It never ceases to amaze me how, as long as Rebecca and I try our best, God just keeps taking care of things.
Well, the marriage license is ready, the family has a cabin booked, and the liturgy is almost nearly all taken care of. The reception still needs a lot of work, and there are a million details to attend to, but I can be morally certain at this point that there will in fact be a wedding on April 10th.
Oh, and we finally got our rings in! After getting a fitting when we first ordered them (in Brantford) I tried mine on. It actually fit over my thumb. I mean, this ring is way too big. I know I've been sick lately and so my hands have probably shrunk a bit, and I did have cleaning stuff on my hands, but this ring was ridiculously too big. Maybe after a workout or two, to get the blood pumping in me again, the ring will fit better. Otherwise, back the shop.
Dan
March 8
Holy Jumpin, just 33 more days!
Last night I dreamt that I showed up at the church for the wedding and most of the choir, servers, and congregation were missing. The choir director said he couldn't do the songs without a full cast of singers, and so he had to do a Beatles song instead for a communion hymn.
Where was Becca in all this? She wasn't there either. So there was no wedding. I went home dejected, in utter disbelief that this had happened. When finally I caught up to Becca later I asked why she didn't show up for the wedding. She said that she had decided last minute to wait a few more days when the weather would be nicer and that she told some people about it, but not everyone.
Dan
ONE MONTH LEFT
One more month.
One more month to watch "Around the Horn" while I eat supper everynight.
One more month to leave my clothes on the floor before I go to bed, because I'll just be wearing the same thingthe next day anyway .
One more month to eat cereal for supper, whenever I want to.
One more month of dreams where something goes terribly wrong at the wedding.
One more month to have total, total, control over my money.
Sigh, one more month of loneliness.
Awwww.
- Dan
One more month to watch "Around the Horn" while I eat supper everynight.
One more month to leave my clothes on the floor before I go to bed, because I'll just be wearing the same thingthe next day anyway .
One more month to eat cereal for supper, whenever I want to.
One more month of dreams where something goes terribly wrong at the wedding.
One more month to have total, total, control over my money.
Sigh, one more month of loneliness.
Awwww.
- Dan
Here I am, all alone in the early hours of the morning. It's amazing what less than 4 weeks to the wedding can do to my sleep.
I was away in Brantford all weekend. I went into Moores hoping to buy some new dress pants, but ended up trying on a suit ($199 is a pretty good sale). The guy looked at the jacket I was trying on and then suggested I try on one a size smaller in order "to bring out your upper body physique more." Sigh. Yes, I fell for the salesman's flattery and ended up buying the suit. How could I say no?
When I got back to Becca's family's house I went to the room I was sleeping in so that I could get some stuff. I heard a scream as I headed in. Someone shouted that I couldn't go in that room. Why? Because "The Dress" was in there. At that point, being rather tired of hearing about "The Dress" all weekend, I walked in the room anyway. And so, I saw the dress. Now it will rain on our wedding day. Now our kids will have 6 toes on each foot, and our marriage will be over within 7 years. Now black cats will follow me around the rest of my days, and my gravestone will topple over when I'm dead. All because I saw "The Dress."
"When you believe in things
That you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way."
-Stevie Wonder
Dan
I was away in Brantford all weekend. I went into Moores hoping to buy some new dress pants, but ended up trying on a suit ($199 is a pretty good sale). The guy looked at the jacket I was trying on and then suggested I try on one a size smaller in order "to bring out your upper body physique more." Sigh. Yes, I fell for the salesman's flattery and ended up buying the suit. How could I say no?
When I got back to Becca's family's house I went to the room I was sleeping in so that I could get some stuff. I heard a scream as I headed in. Someone shouted that I couldn't go in that room. Why? Because "The Dress" was in there. At that point, being rather tired of hearing about "The Dress" all weekend, I walked in the room anyway. And so, I saw the dress. Now it will rain on our wedding day. Now our kids will have 6 toes on each foot, and our marriage will be over within 7 years. Now black cats will follow me around the rest of my days, and my gravestone will topple over when I'm dead. All because I saw "The Dress."
"When you believe in things
That you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way."
-Stevie Wonder
Dan
March 22 - It suits me fine
My blogs seem to be few and far between these days. Clearly I'm not at all interested in this wedding. That, or I'm so busy planning it that I haven't had time for blogs.
So yesterday Becca saw "the suit." She was over for brunch and I tried on my new suit/shirt/tie/shoes. Therefore, not only did she see the suit, but she saw me wearing it! I expect a large uproar from people: "What! She saw you in "the suit"?!? or "So much for a special wedding day!"
I'm having too much fun taking shots at many of these wedding traditions, and seeing people react all shocked and concerned. I mean, it's not like we're going to have liturgical dancing and poetry at our wedding Mass.
Or will we?...
Dan
So yesterday Becca saw "the suit." She was over for brunch and I tried on my new suit/shirt/tie/shoes. Therefore, not only did she see the suit, but she saw me wearing it! I expect a large uproar from people: "What! She saw you in "the suit"?!? or "So much for a special wedding day!"
I'm having too much fun taking shots at many of these wedding traditions, and seeing people react all shocked and concerned. I mean, it's not like we're going to have liturgical dancing and poetry at our wedding Mass.
Or will we?...
Dan
March 29 - 12 days of Marriage
It feels like the 12 days of Christmas. There are only 12 days until the wedding, and it's been snowing all morning.
I was in Ottawa on Saturday at a beautiful retreat put on by St. Clement's latin Mass parish. I must say, I've found that having the wedding during the Octave of Easter has been completely ideal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The lenten preparation has coincided perfectly with, and thus aided, our own spiritual preparation for marriage. And I'm sure the joy of the Easter season will make the wedding all the more special. Or, I should say, the joy of the wedding will make the Easter season all the more special.
I'll just end with a reflection I had on technology. Wow, technology sure has changed. There's so much you can do now. For instance, one could take a home video and add a different face on a character, and people would be confused as to who is really in the video. I mean, if someone were to, say, dance like Elvis, then someone could insert another face in the way. So I ask you to consider these things when watching home videos. The odds are that the person is the video has only been added electronically. You know, it's probably not really them in the video, but just someone acting as an imposter.
Just keep that in mind...
Dan
Entering into the tomb.. together... sort of
And so Becca and I prepare to enter into the mysteries of the Triduum, to be together for it in the magnificence of the institution, the suffering of the passion, and the joy of the resurrection. Except, of course, I'll be serving for all of that and she'll be somewhere in the congregation.
The poor girl.
So I had another dream. This time our choir director and musician, Alec McCune, played some rock songs for our wedding Mass. Everyone looked at me accusingly as if I had planned it that way. I didn't, and yet, in my pride, I tried to act as if the rock music was good for Mass. Anything's better than admitting I had made a mistake, I guess. Well Becca wasn't too thrilled with that. She refused to sit with me for the Mass and instead sat with her family. While saying our vows she just glared at me. It was a very tense and awkward moment in the church
Please Alec, just stick to the church hymns.
Dan
That Sinking in Feeling
April 4, 2010
Happy Easter everyone! I'm quite exhausted from MCing the Triduum the past three days.
This is the final week. You know, it's all starting to sink in. Beforehand the wedding always seemed somewhat distant. I'd tell myself that I'd have to get past Lent and the Triduum. Well, now those days are long gone.
What does it feel like now that it's sinking in? Honestly, it's quite unsettling. It's hard to think about how I will never be able to live my life on my own after this week. I mean, I like being a bachelor! I've grown quite accustomed to doing things my way, and to have the time and space to do them in. But it'll all end soon. Sometimes it feels like I'm losing something in life. Like a part of me will be missing.
That's how I feel if I don't take it to prayer. In reality, if I pray about it I don't at all think that I'm losing something. I know that I'm actually gaining something; something very special. Something necessary for my life, and my salvation.
On the weekend Fr. Murray Kemper of Madonna House, who was helping out Fr. Shalla, said in a homily that when St. Peter at first refused to have Our Lord wash his feet, he wasn't refusing in humility, but rather St. Peter was refusing to let Christ work in his life at that moment. He was scared of the challenges that change would bring. He wanted things to remain as they were. But, as Fr. said, life without change, and without the cross, is not life at all. Real life demands change, and it demands the cross. And who doesn't want to live a life that's real? As Neil Young says: "I wanna live, I wanna give."
So to summarize, although a little nervous, I'm actually very very excited for this weekend! "My heart is ready oh God, my heart is ready."
Dan
2 or 1 more sleep(s)
Just two more sleeps until the wedding. Although it could quite possibly just be one more sleep... with the final night involving a lot of tossing and turning.
People have been asking me if I've had any more dreams about the wedding. Well. not that I know of. I have, however, planned the wedding liturgy extensively in my sleep, and woken up at 4am only to continue planning it according to what I already had thought of in the dream. And sometimes I can't get back to sleep. When it's on my mind it just won't leave. But hopefully I can just sleep tonight. I'm pretty tired. The hall was decorated today (thanks to Maja and all the wonderful volunteers!). Also, my parents arrived this evening. All in all, I'm just sort of ready to get on with it. There are still things that pop into my head (Becca and I just got back from an hour of adoration, and I was worried throughout that I would forget the rings), but it's time to go through with this. God brought us together, and it's definitely the right time. It's a very very peaceful feeling deep down.
Well, I'll see you on the otherside of the wedding. Say a prayer for Rebecca and I please.
Dan
People have been asking me if I've had any more dreams about the wedding. Well. not that I know of. I have, however, planned the wedding liturgy extensively in my sleep, and woken up at 4am only to continue planning it according to what I already had thought of in the dream. And sometimes I can't get back to sleep. When it's on my mind it just won't leave. But hopefully I can just sleep tonight. I'm pretty tired. The hall was decorated today (thanks to Maja and all the wonderful volunteers!). Also, my parents arrived this evening. All in all, I'm just sort of ready to get on with it. There are still things that pop into my head (Becca and I just got back from an hour of adoration, and I was worried throughout that I would forget the rings), but it's time to go through with this. God brought us together, and it's definitely the right time. It's a very very peaceful feeling deep down.
Well, I'll see you on the otherside of the wedding. Say a prayer for Rebecca and I please.
Dan
