Last night Mike and I attended our Parish's Married couple's night out Valentine's party. We have been a part of this group's activities for a few years now but have never had a hand in any of the planning . Not to say that the planning needed us as the three or so couples that have always been in charge have done a great job . They have supplied a pasta dinner and each couple are asked to bring a desert or appetizer.
The first meeting that Mike and I attended was the Halloween Party a few years back where Mike surprised me by making sure we showed up a couple hours early ( dressed in our King and Queen costumes)and he had a horse drawn carriage waiting to take us on a beautiful ride through the town where I grew up . We then arrived at the party in royal splendor. To add to it all Mike asked my parents to come and take pictures. They did and even drove around with us video taping our ride. This was wonderfully memorable for me , as you can imagine, so this group, has always held a dear place in my heart.
After our first meeting there has been other theme parties such as a travel party where we all wore clothes from places that we either have visited or would like to. We played games for prizes like traveling toothbrush and soap holders, calendars with pictures of tourist attractions and so on. There was a dance party where they had a line dance instructor come in and teach everyone some steps, and other such theme parties.
Mike and I have attended most of these parties and had a pretty good time but last night's party was amazing. As we walked in to the church hall last night with a tray of gourmet olives and the Red velvet cake that I baked for the occasion , we were stopped at the door and asked how many years we have been married. I figured that this had something to do with a game and didn't think much of it.As I took the foods to the appropriate table Mike started talking to some friends of ours. When I joined them everyone was instructed to head from the hall to the Church. We had done this at a previous meeting for journey prayer( which I always enjoyed ) so again I thought nothing of it. Once seated in pews we were informed that journey prayer was not the reason that we were there but that we were all involved in a ceremony of sorts to renew our marriage vows. I was overjoyed. Due to communication problems ( another story entirely) Mike and I did not have a Catholic wedding but were married in a protestant Christian church. I have always felt bad about this fact. Though we have planned on renewing our vows in the Catholic church a couple times,
it just didn't happen. Now with a daughter who is almost eighteen and sons not far behind we have decided that saving for their graduations and weddings is more important than having a second wedding for ourselves. This was our chance and I was so happy. It was like God answering my prayer that I never even prayed. It was really beautiful with song, readings, quiet prayer and then every couple was called forward as their years as man and wife were read and each wife was handed a rose After we were all called and formed a semi circle around the alter and Father officiated in the renewing of vows.It was so nice. After we all went back to the hall to eat and then play a few games. A kind of reception if you will.
Towards the end of the evening, a sheet of paper was passed around. It seems that this group had outdid themselves and were looking for other's to volunteer for future events.Some events were already themed such as indoor bocce and spring flower planting but there was one date in November without a theme. Since friends of ours were also as touched as we were, we decided to volunteer for this party and come up with our own theme. I am not confident that we will be able to do as beautiful job as the past group but we will sure try.
The first meeting that Mike and I attended was the Halloween Party a few years back where Mike surprised me by making sure we showed up a couple hours early ( dressed in our King and Queen costumes)and he had a horse drawn carriage waiting to take us on a beautiful ride through the town where I grew up . We then arrived at the party in royal splendor. To add to it all Mike asked my parents to come and take pictures. They did and even drove around with us video taping our ride. This was wonderfully memorable for me , as you can imagine, so this group, has always held a dear place in my heart.
After our first meeting there has been other theme parties such as a travel party where we all wore clothes from places that we either have visited or would like to. We played games for prizes like traveling toothbrush and soap holders, calendars with pictures of tourist attractions and so on. There was a dance party where they had a line dance instructor come in and teach everyone some steps, and other such theme parties.
Mike and I have attended most of these parties and had a pretty good time but last night's party was amazing. As we walked in to the church hall last night with a tray of gourmet olives and the Red velvet cake that I baked for the occasion , we were stopped at the door and asked how many years we have been married. I figured that this had something to do with a game and didn't think much of it.As I took the foods to the appropriate table Mike started talking to some friends of ours. When I joined them everyone was instructed to head from the hall to the Church. We had done this at a previous meeting for journey prayer( which I always enjoyed ) so again I thought nothing of it. Once seated in pews we were informed that journey prayer was not the reason that we were there but that we were all involved in a ceremony of sorts to renew our marriage vows. I was overjoyed. Due to communication problems ( another story entirely) Mike and I did not have a Catholic wedding but were married in a protestant Christian church. I have always felt bad about this fact. Though we have planned on renewing our vows in the Catholic church a couple times,
it just didn't happen. Now with a daughter who is almost eighteen and sons not far behind we have decided that saving for their graduations and weddings is more important than having a second wedding for ourselves. This was our chance and I was so happy. It was like God answering my prayer that I never even prayed. It was really beautiful with song, readings, quiet prayer and then every couple was called forward as their years as man and wife were read and each wife was handed a rose After we were all called and formed a semi circle around the alter and Father officiated in the renewing of vows.It was so nice. After we all went back to the hall to eat and then play a few games. A kind of reception if you will.
Towards the end of the evening, a sheet of paper was passed around. It seems that this group had outdid themselves and were looking for other's to volunteer for future events.Some events were already themed such as indoor bocce and spring flower planting but there was one date in November without a theme. Since friends of ours were also as touched as we were, we decided to volunteer for this party and come up with our own theme. I am not confident that we will be able to do as beautiful job as the past group but we will sure try.
