Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Several years ago, I was searching for something on the internet.  Something random...like sneakers or language curriculum or conversion charts.  I can't remember.  What I do remember is finding--quite serendipitously--a blog put out by the Squicciarini family. They are kind of techy, and I think that combined, they have several blogs. Anyway, despite not finding sneakers, curriculum or conversion charts, I started reading anyway and discovered that these people were kinda kooky, like ourselves.  Nutshell: They were Christians...who loved and kept the Torah as much as they were able.  Fancy that!  Anyway, the name stuck in my mind--I mean, a good Italian name like Squicciarini?  A gal has to work hard to let that name fall out of her memory.  

Fast forward...

When I came across that name on Facebook a year or so later, I couldn't resist sending a certain Julianna Squicciarini a quick note to say "hello!", and "I've seen your blog!".  The rest is history.  We kept in touch, emailing and "Facebooking", and I even received the sweetest of gifts on Purim from my dear long distance friend.  A little over a year ago, Julianna went to a Hebrew language immersion school in Jerusalem (here is a shout out to Ulpan Morasha, reportedly the best ulpan in Israel), and I started following a blog that she developed to track her experiences in Israel.  It was through following that blog that I really got to know Julianna's "voice" and heart even more.  I could gush all over about this young woman, but I'll leave it at this: I'm a big fan. :) 

Fast forward...

Within the last 6 months, Julianna was visiting a friend in Tennessee and we decided to meet at Fall Creek Falls in the eastern portion of the state.  She lives just outside Charlotte, so I jumped at the opportunity to meet face to face!  The girls and I drove out there, and spent several hours talking in front of the fire and over lunch.  We talked about lots, but one of the topics was a certain young man named Joshua that she had been in a courtship relationship with for a few months.  

Fast forward...

When I received a wedding invitation in the mail, I thought that not even wild horses could keep me away.  What's a 7 1/2 hour drive, really?  To meet her beloved groom, and the rest of her family?  To show my love and support of this new friend, who despite her youth and being an aquaintance of mine for such a relatively short time, has been such an encouragement to me?   

Nah, wouldn't miss it for the world. 

So, we packed up the van, drove out for the Thursday night wedding, shared dinner with her lovely family on Erev Shabbat the next night, joined the larger family community of Bella Torah Fellowship on Sabbath, and finally, dropped in on the couple for brunch and goodbyes on Sunday before we headed home...leaving behind so many extraordinary people.  Joe, Allyn, Morgan, Greg, sweet little Sophia, Julianna, Joshua, Christine, Isaac, Peter, Mary--it was a delight to meet and spend time with you.  We are better people for it.

I took only a couple pictures, and pinched others from Facebook:

This is one that I got from Facebook.  I believe that is Julianna's only surviving Grandparent with his arm around the groom.  The lady in the blue on the left is Mrs. Spurlock, the mom of the groom.  Far right is Joe Spurlock, the Host with the Most, and father of the bride. 

Another picture stolen from Facebook, and I wish it weren't so blurry.  Apparently the bride and groom hadn't seen each other for a week, until Joshua put the veil on Julianna.  I believe this might be that moment captured.  Joe Squicciarini joked that this was an important part of the wedding ritual, as Joshua wanted to make sure that he was marrying the right girl.  To quote Joe as he was officiating the ceremony, "Because that sort of identity problem has happened in the past!"  (Those who know their Bible stories will get that reference quickly). 

This is the view of the chupah, or wedding canopy, from our seats.  My girls LOVED this.  Both noted the tallit (prayer shawl) strung over the top of the chupah, where underneath the bride and groom would hear the ketubah read, be blessed and make their vows.  Symbolically, it's a very special place.  Most of the symbolism, I'm sure, has to do with the ketubah made at the foot of Mt. Sinai between Adoani and the children of Israel at the giving of the Torah.  But I'm also reminded of Psalm 17:8: "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings", as the Hebrew for "wings" can be understood as 'garment', 'edges' or 'corners'; the most special "cornered" garment to our Jewish bretheren is the tallit.  When in Luke 13:34 Yeshua says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings...", this same imagery of our Master wrapped in a tallit comes to mind, as he wraps his arms and prayer shawl around those who would come near enough to his embrace.  Goose bumps, I tell you...goose bumps!

Right after the ceremony, and before the couple was taken around the room elevated on chairs.

 

Joe Squicciarini in the foreground, with Julianna confiding in her sister Mary (I'd imagine) that she was amazed and relieved that she didn't fall to her death just moments before.  Which just now strikes me as funny, as she has gone skydiving in the last couple years.  :)

Several pictures of this beloved family that Belle took without me knowing:

From L to R: Morgan & Greg Bartos, Mary Squicciarini, Peter Squicciarini, Joshua & Julianna Spurlock!, Alynn & Joe Squicciarini, & Christine Squicciarini & fiance Isaac.  Sorry, Isaac!  I don't know your last name! 

Another thing that impressed us was the emphasis on the bridegroom during the ceremony.  We do things differently nowadays in our westernized Christian religious ceremonies and their focus on the bride, but what we witnessed this past week seemed to honor Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) in a unique (though not new!) and meaningful way, and brought his return as our bridegroom to mind more than any wedding we've attended as of late.  So cool.

Now, here are some pictures of Joshua and Julianna Spurlock:

Mazel tov!