The Montifiore Manse

Well, well, what clamor through cyberspace! I suppose we can spare a few minutes for the anxious friends who want to see and hear from the wedded couple even though we're on our honeymoon.

It's hard to put into words what all has been going on the past few weeks; everything is so novel and there has been such a whirl of experiences and emotions. One fact is abundantly clear - God has been overwhelmingly gracious to us in the details of these special days. The wedding day was perfect... and though I did put the ring on Terry's right hand, no one noticed except my sisters the bridesmaids. :D I asked him to switch during the last song before we headed out; no harm done. There were so many friends and family there to celebrate with us that we wished we could have spent more time with them all, yet at the same time we certainly missed those who because of distance or other constraints could not be with us. The reception with my brother emceeing went off wonderfully too.

And the honeymoon, what can I say so far? Being married to Terry is more wonderful than anything I could ever have imagined. God knew what He was doing in bringing us together! Our love story is another amazing testimony to the love which first found us, reconciled us to Him, transforms us into His image, and flows through us to each other and to those we strive to serve faithfully. Certainly, it's that way with all of His children's lives. But what fine attention to detail God shows in each life story! We were commenting today when we'd just been exploring some rocky shoreline how wonderful that God delights in all of the beautiful works He has made on so many levels and in so many places at once. We, on the other hand, are overwhelmed with wonder at a glimpse of one place in one time. What a God we have!

Of course, I know that the "mountaintop" experience, the "honeymoon phase," the glimpse of glory is not enduring. I know that it is but a part of the whole scope of life, of marriage, of the walk with Christ. Certainly there have been many rocky and dark moments during the stress of preparation and leave-taking, and certainly there will be many more during the adjustments and pressures to be faced ahead. But a refreshed sense of God's faithful care and a refreshed knowledge of the joy and pleasure which ultimately will await us in His presence in glory (Psalm 16:11) is a wonderful blessing of God which is now to be reveled in and given thanks for.

For the rest, let a few pictures suffice. Below are just a few of the first download we made off the camera.

We look forward to returning to our dear Tasmaniac friends and spiritual family on August 17. Until then, God's grace be with you.

our table set for tea on the lan'ai (patio) overlooking the ocean

sunlight streaming down the greenery and rocks

a marvelous place called Dragon's Teeth that was formed by an old lava flow

the man himself in a stunningly sharp shark shirt (say that five times!)

sunset over Lana'i, the island opposite West Maui

moonrise on the opposite horizon, after it rose out of the clouds