Symbols

The day of our wedding I heard quite a few comments about our use of symbols and how much people appreciated that.  I have since been reflecting on this and realized I use symbolism a fair bit!  And guess what... I have the pictures to prove it;)

I carry my Snuw'uy'yulh teachings from my Cowichan ancestors with me deep within my heart.  I acknowledge the We Wai Kai & We Wai Kum people of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation, whose land I grew up on and provided the beautiful backdrop for our wedding.  The day I arrived at Dolphin's Resort I smudged the lodge where our wedding reception would take place as well as the beach house where we would be staying.  Weddings come with lots of emotions and I wanted the space to be clear of other energies.  I also placed cedar boughs above the doorways for people to leave any concerns or worries as they entered the space.  I thought I would explain that in case guests saw the cedar boughs and were wondering.  I prayed for those we love who have passed on to be with us and bless this special time.

Darn Pinterest! I had found the most perfect pair of shoes, but I could not find them anywhere.  Just before my Aunti Lynda passed away in May, she had sent me a link to these shoes, which were very similar to the Steve Madden ones I had pined over.  Knowing my Aunti and her deep love for me, she had scoured the internet trying to find something similar to what I wanted.  I still haven't had the strength to delete the email with the link...

An ode to Aaron & Josh's rapping days, Josh gave Aaron these awesome cassette tape cuff links.

Something new... my beautiful dress.  The day I went to try on dresses with Jess & Andrea I had no intention of actually buying a dress on that particular day.  Until I put this one on...

Something old.  Maybe not something super old but older than me...;)  My mother's wedding ring, which Jessica is putting on the lacing in this picture..

Something borrowed. Above my mother's wedding ring was my something borrowed; my Aunti Lynda's wedding ring.  If Aaron and I can have half of the love & joy my Aunti Lynda & Uncle Ken had together in their 42 years of marriage we have got it made!

Something Blue. My Grandma Wendy had given me this necklace & earring set many years ago.  My amazing seamstress Nicki MacKenzie, sewed the earrings into the sash for me.  

 Our sister-in-law (Matt's wife) Che was unable to be at the wedding, as she had to unexpectedly return to Australia.  This rose was for her:)  We felt your love from across the ocean Che!

The beautiful gift from my Dad & Elizabeth.

The Letters of Unity box Aaron & I made.  We have a lot of reading to look forward to on our first wedding anniversary.  Thanks to those who contributed a letter to our Unity box.

With the Unity box is the ring box I made.  Aaron brought me back this beautiful Myrtle Wood box from his last trip to Oregon.  I looked at it & thought immediately it would make the perfect ring box!  This symbol is for our Oregonian Chamberlin family who were unable to make it.

Our first dance.  Two weeks before the wedding, Aaron said hey why don't we take dance lessons?  My first thought was, like we don't have enough on the go?  But I am so glad we did it!  Aaron arranged for Hannah Schneider to give us lessons at Carlson's School of Dance.  She did an amazing job, and was very patient with us.

The dance lessons were a real learning for me, so much more than just the choreography or movements.  I looked at our dance as a real metaphor for my need for control.  There are so many ways my life feels out of control so often and I really control what I can in my life (maybe a bit too much).  Letting go of control and Aaron leading in the dance was a big deal for me.  Of course as I have learned over the years, when Aaron takes the lead he never disappoints me.  Once I let go and just had faith in Aaron we floated along...

 
All of the wedding favours were made by Aaron & myself.  We put a lot of love, joy & laughter into the favours & we hope our guests can feel it:)

Jess's game, I'm not sure what to call it... the shoe game?  It was fun & a really good laugh.  I think we were both winners on this one;)

As said in our vows,  Our rings are circles and a circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth, the universe, or wholeness, perfection, peace, and unity.  Like circles, our rings have no beginning and no end and in the sacred tradition of marriage rings have come to symbolize eternal love and endless union of body, or mind, and spirit.  These rings are worn by us to show our love and commitment to one another.  May the presence of these rings always remind us of the eternal love we have pledged and devotion we willingly share with one another from this moment on...

I ask you to be the person I walk through life with.  I vow to help you love life.  To always hold you with tenderness, and have the patience that love demands.  To speak when words are needed, and to share the silence when they are not.  To live within the warmth of your heart, and always call it home.

Ok, so not totally a symbol, but it does represent our insane love of desserts!  These phenomenally delicious cupcakes were made by Kyla Sumner of Cakes. By Kyla.  Kyla also made the awesome Lemon Meringue Pie (MY FAV), and the Banoffee.  I know we all had seconds!

We had a memorial table which Carmen had set up on a beautiful antique desk.  It had pictures of Aaron's Dad Richard, his uncle David, Granny, & Grandma, my Aunti Lynda, Auntie Donna, and Grandma Wendy.  I am hopeful someone has a picture of the memorial table and can send it to me...

Memorial lantern release.  The lantern release was in honour of those who were unable to be with us in body, but were watching us from the spirit world.  This picture was taken by Jessica Stirling.

The lantern was a bit of a 'Pinterest fail', but Matt came up with a great idea, so him & Aaron released these candles.  They went for a loooong time...  Aaron took these two pictures.

 Just a reminder, all photos (except the bottom 3) have been taken by Anne So of Anne So Photography and are Copyrighted, so no copying please and thank you:)  If there are photos you would like a copy of please let us know & when we return from Hawaii, we will email them to you with Anne's watermark included.  We have to be sure to give our awesome photograph Anne the credit she deserves;)

Mr & Mrs Chamberlin

Well in the blink of an eye it was all over... Here is a little preview of what's to come...
All photos have been taken by Anne of Anne So Photography and are copywrited, so no copying please and thank you:)

When the live stream is posted to youtube I will put up a link:)

The Wedding Countdown is on 3...2...1...

Well it is 3 days until I marry Aaron, and officially become a Chamberlin.  The past 11 years have passed so quickly, and it has been quite an adventure.  In 3 days we will begin a new adventure, and are looking forward to immensely.  We are excited to share this day with our family & close

Because we have decided to keep our wedding small, and there are people that are important to us who live far away and for various reasons are unable to attend, we will be live streaming our wedding ceremony and part of the reception.  Here is a link to the live streaming site: WCAcousticUStream 

The ceremony will be August 9, 2014 3-3:30pm.  There will be a break from 3:30-5, and then the reception will  begin at 5pm, and will go until after the first few formal dances.

 friends.

This picture was at a Christmas party in 2004

Quebec 2008

Sedona Arizona 2013

Engagement Shot 2013

Matt & Che's Wedding 2013

 

I will try to do some posting from our honeymoom in Hawaii, but no promises on that one;)

Fun at the Beach

A couple of weeks ago Aaron &  headed up to Campbell River for a couple of days.  Dad & Elizabeth were watching Kane and Kole while Nicole & Ray were at work & we took the opportunity to take advantage of the nice weather to go down to the beach.

Building a sandcastle. (And it just so happens that our wedding venue is right behind us.)

While we were there 2 groups of 4 sea lions went by.  You can see one in the distance in the picture below.

Papa & the boys look for crabs under the rocks.

Auntie Tasha teaches Kane to hold a rock tightly & put any worries or sadness or anger into it & then throw it into the water carrying away his worries.

Auntie & the boys look at the sea life attached to the rocks.

 

There's no place I'd rather be!

A Moment of Gratitude

For the past two years I have been blessed to work on the beautiful land of my Cowichan ancestors.  My office has been located right next to the Quw'utsun' Cultural & Conference Centre along the Cowichan River. Sadly our office is changing location, and I have found myself packing up & getting ready to leave this beautiful space.

When I returned back to the island after living up north, I was so happy to be in the Cowichan Valley, and I felt such a strong connection to the land.  This is the place where my ancestors lived and thrived.  I was so happy when I went to work for my first day to discover my office would be on this territory and specifically along the banks of the Cowichan River.  I felt at home in my office, and had a real sense of grounding.  No matter how chaotic work could get and how much I felt like I wanted to fly away, I could go to my office, take a moment, and once again feel strongly grounded.

Yesterday I decided to take advantage of not only the connection I feel to this place, but also the beautiful sunny day.  I took my lunch down to the river.  It was so sunny and warm, and it felt like Spring was greeting me.

I have been feeling really sad, and wasn't quite sure what exactly that sadness was connected to.   As I sat by the river and looked around me I realized I was grieving leaving this space.

And spring reminded me that it is also a new beginning...

So today I decided that I am going to make the most of the time I have left here, and once again I took my lunch down to the river.   There was a round grouping of rocks and it felt like they were calling my name. I sat down, crossed my legs, and took in a moment of mindfulness.  I closed my eyes.  Felt the warmth of the sun on my cheeks.  Listened to the river as it flowed past me, and the eagle cry.  I opened my eyes and  looked across the river to see a soaking wet otter scurrying along the river bank.  I looked to my right and saw an earthworm making it's way toward the water.  There were 2 ducks cruising down the river, riding the current.  They woudl ride it for a while, and then fly up river and cruise back down.  I couldn't help but smile at the fun they were having.

I gazed at the beautiful moss covered rock in front of me and beside it I notices a tiny budding tree.

 I took in my favourite view upstream toward the train trellis.  Across the river I saw a beautiful eagle.  That's where the cry must have been coming from.  It was as though I could feel my great grandfather's spirit in that eagle telling me everything would be ok.

I raised my hands and gave thanks to the Creator, for taking my journey to the place of my ancestors.  I walked back toward my office, and once again noticed the signs of spring and new beginnings.

Huy ch q'a Siem.