A Rose Gold Proposal to a Hallmark Wedding

For years I’ve watched Hallmark movies.  I’d make a tasty snack and sit in front of the TV swooning over the romance.  I hoped and wished upon God’s stars; I would be the woman who literally ran into my prince charming.  Bam! Oh! Sorry dear sir, or should I refer to you as my soulmate?  The love stories drew me in with their wholesome whimsy.  They whisked me away to a land of courting enchantment.  My mind left my living room and sat at a coffee shop in Seattle across from my wooer.  I then strolled over meadows with my suitor filled with monarch butterflies and willow trees.  I sat under raining leaves for a moment and pretended to be in love.  I left Clinton Township and dreamed of a Christ-centered Courtship.

I was now thirty-two and living in Gray, Louisiana.  I still watched Hallmark movies and dreamt of the day that I would fall in love.  Little did I know, what was around the Bayou bend.  A lunch date with a friend changed my whole life.  Her suggestion turned into manifestation.  God was preparing me for my role in my Hallmark movie.

On June 27th, two years ago, God introduced me to my leading man, Carl John Baudoin.  As they say, “The rest was history.”  In my book of life, the “O’Banion” chapter was almost ending.  My single life changed instantly, like instant coffee.  At Scarlet Scoop, I scooped up my soulmate.  I didn’t literally run into him as they do in Hallmark movies, but I fell into his love.  I fell, danced, and spun into perpetual love.  We kissed and ah!  What bliss!

Perpetual love brought us to a brisk December evening.  December 16th was a night of rosy magic.  We roamed the New Orleans City Park beneath twinkle lights sparkling upon Live Oaks.  Our cold breaths misted into the night air.  We sauntered and swayed through mazes of white glittered bushes.  We sipped hot chocolate to warm our bodies, but Carl’s love for me warmed my soul.  He wrapped me in tenderness like my green pea coat.  We steadily approached a corner amidst roses aglow.  Carl started professing his love for me.  He said, “He couldn’t live without me.”  Since, the day we started dating, I knew I couldn’t live without him either.  He was now etched into my heart.  He stooped down to one knee and opened a little black box.  It held a ring of shimmering gold.  The diamond ring glistened like the Michigan snow.  People proceeded to walk by where we stood, but they faded as Carl’s words grew like the rose bushes.  He said, “Will you marry me?”  I kept saying, “Yea…yea!”  I lit up like the lights that spun like ballerinas around the fountain in the background.  I couldn’t stop smiling!  I felt like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.  Carl slipped the ring onto my finger.  The diamond in the setting was his late grandma’s.  I felt as if I could feel her there, even though I haven’t met her.  I could almost sense a smile on her face as she sat on a bench in Heaven.  The December eve felt like a scene out of a Hallmark movie called, “A Rose Gold Proposal”.

Tick-tock, tick-tock…hours went by on the marriage clock.  An “Alice in Wonderland” themed wedding shower chimed on August 4^th, 2018.  So much love and excitement showered us, that we held a black umbrella over our heads.  We were hopping down the rabbit hole to wedded bliss.  It was as if we were the main guests at the Mad Hatter’s party.  Teacups, top hats, teapots, ribbon, lace, bunnies, and a Cheshire Cat! Oh my!  There were many laughs and happy hatter sighs.  I was dressed as Alice and Carl was in his dapper attire as the rabbit.  My wedding clan played along and dressed as the main characters.  The cast included a purple plum Cheshire Cat, mystical Mad Hatter, royal red Queen of Hearts, and a frilly flower child.  The day popped of yellow pansies and sweet pastries.  When the shower was over, we took an imaginary bow as the guests of the party applauded.  Carl and I sealed the rabbit hole by a magical kiss.  My “Alice in Wonderland” fairytale was about to start.  Ah, no, it already started. “Curiouser and curiouser…”

“When I used to read fairy tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one!” —Chapter 4, The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill

The morn of October 15^th finally dawned.  The misty Smoky Mountains whispered of sweet wedding tunes.  I couldn’t believe we were getting married in three days!  The preparation and planning halted.  Wedding bells began to ring in the distance amidst Honeysuckle Hills valley.  We finally reached our quaint hotel in Pigeon Forge.  We unloaded luggage along with excitement, nerves, and anxious “I do” hearts.  We were both ready to tie the knot, literally, on our braid ceremony board.

The rehearsal dinner was located at “The Local Goat” Restaurant.  I thought that uncanny, since I do love goats.  The dinner and company were sugar sweet and splendid.  Carl and I sat at a table in the middle.  We were amongst our knights and ladies at the rectangle tables.  The lights in the restaurant shone upon faces that we loved so dearly. During our dinner, my sister-in-law, Kaitlin, surprised me with a heart stirring gift.  I opened my present and laid it upon the table.  It was a scrapbook with colorful pictures and tender letters.  I flipped through the scrapbook and looked upon fond friends, loving family, and my heavenly dad.  I touched him, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. “Oh, dad, I know you’re with me.”  Each of my family and friends wrote letters of adoration, an adoration that I could feel deep within my bridal soul.  The tears starting to stream down my face, like a refreshing stream amidst the mountains.  The love of all our family and friends molded my heart with intricate molding.  I could almost hear my dad laughing and crying during this memory moment.

When we got back to our hotel, Carl met me outside of my room. It accompanied me, my mom, and my flower spirit friend, Jessica.  He bid me goodnight under the knitted afghan of stars.  He said, “I don’t want to see again till we meet at the altar.”  We went our separate ways and slept in separate beds for the last time that brisk night.

The sun peeked over the Smoky Mountains.  Ah! It was the morning of October 18^th.  It was finally our wedding day!  It seemed as if we waited for years for our union to become one.  From the first day we met, I felt as if we were one.  We were like horses pulling a wagon.  We both stayed side by side, pulling equal weight.  He pulled with a spiritual strength.  There were qualities in him I never saw in any other man.  I knew he was my Hallmark leading man.

We arrived at our venue, Honeysuckle Hills.  We were greeted like the monarchy court.  I felt like a princess.  I would be a princess for only a few more hours, then be crowned, Queen Baudoin.  My king and his men abided in another room. Regina, our photographer and her “lady’s maids” made sure to all our needs. They made our memory day even more momentous.  My bridesmaids kept my spirit calm as we all beautified ourselves.  Makeup was glittered all over the table.  Dresses and tool flowered over couches.  My mom sat with a joyous yet bittersweet heart.  “Bob, look at our daughter…”  My sister, Andrea, was my made of honor.  Although, it was an honor to have her as my sister.  She adorned me with my aquamarine birthstone.  My dad presented the necklace to me many years ago.  Now I felt as if he was presenting it to me again.  She also clasped my mom’s diamonds earrings in my ears.  I felt like a princess mountain dewed in diamonds.  My bridesmaid, Missy, tied my pink bow on my wedding dress.  She tied the dainty bow with delicacy and grace.  I was ready for the ball.  I was ready for “the rest of my life”, the new chapter in my book of life.  It was almost time…

I’ll never forget standing in my wedding dress, decorated in white tool and lace.  I stood in the quiet room alone as the ceremony started.  I could hear the music start to play across the magical land.  The song “Only Time” by Enya danced over trees.  I knew the doors were about to open.  I bounced in my white ballgown with a touch of flowery pink.  I bounced out some nervous energy.  I talked to my dad.  “Dad be with me as I walk down the aisle. Let me feel your spirit.”  His spirit I did feel, all around me in the peacefulness of the room.  I chatted with God.  “God, thank you, for everything.  Thank you for the love that you placed in my life.  Please, be over our wedding.”  God’s presence swept over Honeysuckle Hills.  He reigned over our wedding day.

The French country doors opened.  “Are you ready, Brandy?”  I was ready and at peace in knowing I was about to marry the man of my Hallmark dreams.  I was about to marry my best friend, my superman.  My “lady’s maid” helped me down the steps towards my awaiting brother, Joseph.  He looked at me with soft and joyous eyes.  I saw the strength within him, and it made me feel at ease.  He grabbed my arm and we locked together.  My brother, my strength, locked within my heart locket.  We were the clan O’Banion and I was about to join the Baudoin clan.  The Celtic tune of “Canon in D” swayed softly over Willows and prancing pebble streams.  I wanted to lock my brown eyes with my green-eyed Frenchman.  We walked around the bend and I saw him, I saw the man of my dreams standing there.  He was dressed in dapper blue and my heart swooned.  This felt like a whimsical dream.  It felt as if hobbits watched us from the woods and unicorns abided in the pastures.  Once I saw Carl my heart bean sprouted with joy.  Joseph guided me over the enchanted blue bridge to my everlasting love.  Carl and I grasped each other’s hands and looked into each other’s eyes.  “I love you” my Frenchman in blue.  We exchanged binding vows.  Carl’s vows were read aloud with his undoubting love and spiritual strength.  We then tied the three-cord knot.  The know represented God, me, and Carl.  We bounded our love with God being in the middle.  We knew God would guide and lead us throughout our marriage.  As we tied the braid, the “Braveheart” theme song played in the distance.  Tears dripped from my eyes.  A memory of my dad fell like A yellow leaf.  We were bonded, soldered, braided, and knotting tied.

Our love walked over fields that day.  We pranced with the horses and danced with loved ones.  As we giggled and reminisced, a stream flowed under the “Hobbit Bridge” nearby.  What a mystical memory day.  “Gandalf could be heard, wising sigh.  Under the willow of marriage chapter, we smiled with laughter. “I love you” was said while lady bugs landed…Oh but didn’t matter.

My king swept me up into his arms and set me in our carriage, our black truck.  We were ready to set out onto our new adventure as Mr. and Mrs. Baudoin.  Our ladies in burgundy and knights in blue cheered and said, “See you soon!”

I dedicate this blog post to my loving husband, Carl.  I love you from the stars then moon, sun to sky, sand to sea, until you I see.  I will see your handsome smile now and forever.  Happy one-year Anniversary!

                                                                     Love your wife, 
                                                                           Brandy

                                                              

Honeysuckle Dreams

Hello, streams of wedding greetings

Soothe me with your love endowed sound

Take me over pebbles and God rocks

to alter of braided entwined love

Time to burrow the ‘become one’ lock-box

Ah, green leaves, after orange and reds faintly fall

Emerald start of Baudoin Juniper-fly

Oh! Hello! Lady bugs on white tool,

wings set from sky nearby

Come with me on adoration frolic,

with blue bonnet butterflies

Sun blooms in tender Tennessee sky

Oh! Marvelous Mr. rays! Oh my!

Door opens to golden Lord land

Celtic tune twine o’er Sunflowers

Brotherly strength, tis’ calming comfort

Arm in his, Irish led power

Round the grass bend,

to my love, take me, thee send,

o’er basking blue bridge

Ah, our hearts, about to soundly stitch

Vows hymnal read and writ

My love, my deep spirit love,

My soul, my bold beauty soul

Let’s pen our diary memory day

My eyes upon lovely expression

Ah, dewy tears, so much to say

At last! Covenant whole, pastor told

Embracing kiss and Irish wish!

Spirited stroll to take,

Over wheat and thistle meadows

Bridge of cupid hobbits,

where love wreaths abide

Red heart beneath blue stone,

walked o’er with groom

Play and prance o’er leaves

October shadows subtle and meek

Tilt fair face, just a twig tweak

Hello, my beauty, my handsome

Our three-cord day, knotted

Let’s take a first love stamp sway

Honeysuckle hills, magic delight

Wandering willows softly peck

under buttercream leaves we gently met

Gold bands, summertime shine,

God-filled hearts everlasting tied

Night a’ nigh, don’t fade,

Whisper sigh, goodbye blissful day