The day we set a date...

So yesterday I informed you we have set our wedding date for the wedding.

Yesterday was special but I need to go back a bit first, I first met the Priest that will be marrying us when I was 13, at a youth mass one evening just after Christmas for the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service... my friends dragged me along.

His name is Father Dominic and he opened his mass with this:
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around."
From the start of Love Actually.

It was the first time I had ever been to mass and it felt like home, like there was a community, a family. A room full of people around my age that all believed the same thing, that all wanted more, they wanted answers and to do good together. I have been to many youth services and seen many Priests that lead those groups but none have ever done it with such understanding, love and commitment as Father Dominic.

I spent a year volunteering at the retreat centre for that youth service towards the end of that year things turned bad. My family turned there back on me, I lost two of my dear friends, another friend lost her baby and it broke me the depression started and the only people I had in the world were The Boyfriend, Father Dominic and another lady that worked at the centre that was like a surrogate mum.

I care very much about Father Dominic and we are very good friends he knows The boyfriend well and tries harder with him than sometimes my own family do. I email him when things go well and when they don't. He got me counseling when I needed it and he called my Mum when things were bad.

So last night we went to mass in the church next to my Junior and Primary schools, and listening to the mass was like going home and becoming whole. Then after we stopped had coffee with Fr Dom. He was happy with how far we have come and how strong we are after all we have been through and we set a date for our wedding, 20/10/2012. We planned before and had this meeting but when I left last time I didn't get the feeling I felt last night I knew this was it, there would be no falling through, we are prepared and Fr Dom is on board and it felt amazing.

I was practically dancing on the way home it's one thing to be married to a man you love in a church that formed you as a person, in a building you know inside out, but it's so much better when the person marrying you has seen your love and commitment grow, when they really care about you and is someone I couldn't get married without them being there.

It all feels a little bit like a dream at the moment.

Hope your having a good Monday
Love
Simone
xxxx