“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, the father of my children, and the guy who still makes my heart skip a beat. He makes love easy. I don't take for granted how lucky I am to have this great love in my life, and I still thank God everyday that he's in my life.
There is something I would like to share that I've kept secret for many years from my own family. I had a secret ceremony the night before my actual wedding. I guess you could say yesterday was also my anniversary. Let me back up a minute. I am Mexican and Catholic and H is Arabic and Muslim. I was born in Illinois and he was born in Jordan. We found each other when we were living about 2 miles from each other in Texas. Meeting him is when my life changed forever.
When we set about planning our wedding, our biggest challenge was going to be where? I knew that whether it be in the catholic church, or in a mosque, it was going to be one of those places. It was important for us to have one of our religions recognize our union as an interfaith marriage. It was going to be far too challenging to go with a catholic ceremony in a church--and his family probably wouldn't have attended, so we were married on September 26th in a mosque. I remember earlier in the week going to Target to purchase a modest black dress and I borrowed a black scarf to cover my hair from my muslim babysitter. The night of, I had plenty of family members over visiting and preparing for the next day so I dashed out letting my parents know that I had some last minute honeymoon details to work out. I only told one of my bridesmaids what I was really up to.
I arrived at his house, changed into the clothes I was to wear, and then we went to his older brother's house where we had dinner with his family. He drove us over to the mosque and was our only witness. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous while I was there. I used to be shy around new people and I had to wait in a dining hall with several other women and children while H and my future brother in law went off to get the ceremony arranged. What felt like an forever yet really only an hour, finally H came back to get me and led me to another hall. I entered a room with the sheikh at a desk and two men kneeling in the center of the room. We both took a chair and my brother in law sat behind us. There were Arabic words I didn't understand spoken and then I was asked questions in english. Such things as how much H would be giving to the mosque for our marriage were mentioned, and other things I cannot remember. I do however remember being asked if I was going to convert. I started to cry. I was torn. I meant to say no, but I was afraid he wouldn't marry us if I did. Later H told me I didn't have to say I was going to convert (though I had no intention of converting and am still in fact a Catholic).
After all was said and done we headed out and were driven back to H's house. I really can't remember if we kissed while we were still on mosque grounds. I remember we hugged. Once we got back to his house, I quickly changed and rushed back home. I was excited and still a little nervous about my whirlwind ceremony. I told no one about it and only my best friend a few days later. The reason I kept it from my parents is because I didn't want them to be mad at the fact that I went through with a muslim ceremony but H did not do a Catholic ceremony. They loved him right off the bat, but I didn't want it to seem that I was sacrificing for him, and not the other way around. I guess I wanted them to see first what a great choice I made in partner and father. I'm beyond lucky and he treats me like a queen.
Phew so there, got that off my chest. I don't open up too much about personal matters other than when I'm feeling overwhelmed with the girls, but I wanted to share this because it is possible to find love through someone you might have never thought of. H and I are from two different nationalities, different religions, yet it works for us. Our differences have never been an issue with us or our children.
The one photo I have from September 26th
There is something I would like to share that I've kept secret for many years from my own family. I had a secret ceremony the night before my actual wedding. I guess you could say yesterday was also my anniversary. Let me back up a minute. I am Mexican and Catholic and H is Arabic and Muslim. I was born in Illinois and he was born in Jordan. We found each other when we were living about 2 miles from each other in Texas. Meeting him is when my life changed forever.
When we set about planning our wedding, our biggest challenge was going to be where? I knew that whether it be in the catholic church, or in a mosque, it was going to be one of those places. It was important for us to have one of our religions recognize our union as an interfaith marriage. It was going to be far too challenging to go with a catholic ceremony in a church--and his family probably wouldn't have attended, so we were married on September 26th in a mosque. I remember earlier in the week going to Target to purchase a modest black dress and I borrowed a black scarf to cover my hair from my muslim babysitter. The night of, I had plenty of family members over visiting and preparing for the next day so I dashed out letting my parents know that I had some last minute honeymoon details to work out. I only told one of my bridesmaids what I was really up to.
I arrived at his house, changed into the clothes I was to wear, and then we went to his older brother's house where we had dinner with his family. He drove us over to the mosque and was our only witness. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous while I was there. I used to be shy around new people and I had to wait in a dining hall with several other women and children while H and my future brother in law went off to get the ceremony arranged. What felt like an forever yet really only an hour, finally H came back to get me and led me to another hall. I entered a room with the sheikh at a desk and two men kneeling in the center of the room. We both took a chair and my brother in law sat behind us. There were Arabic words I didn't understand spoken and then I was asked questions in english. Such things as how much H would be giving to the mosque for our marriage were mentioned, and other things I cannot remember. I do however remember being asked if I was going to convert. I started to cry. I was torn. I meant to say no, but I was afraid he wouldn't marry us if I did. Later H told me I didn't have to say I was going to convert (though I had no intention of converting and am still in fact a Catholic).
After all was said and done we headed out and were driven back to H's house. I really can't remember if we kissed while we were still on mosque grounds. I remember we hugged. Once we got back to his house, I quickly changed and rushed back home. I was excited and still a little nervous about my whirlwind ceremony. I told no one about it and only my best friend a few days later. The reason I kept it from my parents is because I didn't want them to be mad at the fact that I went through with a muslim ceremony but H did not do a Catholic ceremony. They loved him right off the bat, but I didn't want it to seem that I was sacrificing for him, and not the other way around. I guess I wanted them to see first what a great choice I made in partner and father. I'm beyond lucky and he treats me like a queen.
Phew so there, got that off my chest. I don't open up too much about personal matters other than when I'm feeling overwhelmed with the girls, but I wanted to share this because it is possible to find love through someone you might have never thought of. H and I are from two different nationalities, different religions, yet it works for us. Our differences have never been an issue with us or our children.
The one photo I have from September 26th
Our wedding on September 27th
A honeymoon picture...though we have sooo many. Here's one. ;)
Ps. No I'm not pregnant here even though it looks like he's cradling my stomach. Lol!
That's such an interesting story! Happy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHappy Anniversary!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Thanks for opening up a bit about yourself. It's nice to learn little bits. You and your husband make a beautiful couple, and with your children you guys are a beautiful family!
ReplyDeleteYou're very sweet. Thank you!
Delete