I like this post, Cath... I especially love the dog's POV ... our Levi knows how to give us the information

I can't wait for the wedding!!!


Restie

Loved Levi's POV

I love the way you are writing this, Cath!! Levi certainly has it all together!!!

Joy

Once again, an amazing post cath. I'm so..... umm, what's the word?? Oh yes, incoherant. Can't think straight as I'm all swoony as there is a wedding with Levi and Bobby giving speeches! FAB!!!! From Jenny

LTS, I kinda hadn't had much to time to come up to this end of the challenges so playing catch up, reading them all at the weekend to start my r and r's very soon!

Such a wise dog.

Loved this line!

Wonderful chapter! Thanks!

Tracy

Ivory - Levi is definately a wise dog, wish mine was the same but she's more like Jess from broken wings

Chapter 9

Reaching his side she holds out her hand for him to take, I can see him squeezing it gently as he signs ‘love you’.

For a few seconds they are lost in each others eyes and I can hear their Pastor coughing quietly.

Before Bobby can embarrass them, I touch Jack gently on the leg to bring him back to reality and feel him scratching my head.

As the service begins Deanne signs but when it comes to the vows and promises Jack signs them.

He’s worked hard to learn them, to sign 100% accurately, determined not to let her down.

Deanne and Helga took him in hand and had him signing perfectly……… as long as his nerves don’t get the better of him he will be OK, although I think even if he makes a complete dogs dinner of it Sue will appreciate his efforts.

They are definitely a match made in heaven those two.

Hmmm talking of dogs’ dinner, can’t wait till we eat……… Sue forgot to feed me this morning.

All the ladies stayed in the hotel last night and I think everyone thought everyone else had fed me and in the end no-one did………. Might have to go on strike……… still if I look at Jack he’ll throw me a few titbits I’m sure.

Sue and I have him wrapped around our little fingers……… not that I have fingers but you get the drift……………..


Posting on this story may be a little slow as I have ideas for vows and he sermon but they aren’t working on paper, anyone want to beta me for the next 3 posts?.

Aww poor Levi and after all the hard work of matchmaking she overlooked her faithful companion. He deserves a few doggy treat I think.

Great post

Levi is certainly being patient. It sounds like you are planning to include the ceremony in the next part of your story. Sounds great.

Poor Levi - I'm sure someone will give you something to eat at the reception!!

Joy

Im sure there are some readers out there who wouldn't mind skipping the sermon and vows and going off to the honeymoon! Just thinking, knowing the fuzzie-holics out there! I'll shut up now. Sorry, if I'm ruining it for everyone out there, I will have to kick myself later. Ah well, I'm off. From Jenny

Loved this part... And so true...

Great post!

Tracy

HONEYMOON???????????

you want honeymoon as well as a wedding??

cath

Chapter 10

Thanks to Rosa who beta’d for me

As Jack took a deep breath I could hear his voice choking with emotion as he spoke and signed his vows.

‘Sue I want you to know that I love you with all of my heart and all of my soul, with every fibre of my being…………

You have made me a better person since you marched into my life and you make me want to be an even better person. Your love for me has enriched my life and touched me in ways I still don’t understand fully. Your love has helped me to become more like the person I believe God wants me to be but I know I am still ‘a work in progress’………………..

I’m deeply sorry for the things I’ve got wrong in the past and I am sorry that I didn’t tell you years ago that I loved you.

I love you more today than I did yesterday but less than I will tomorrow.

I promise today that I will love you and cherish you each day we have together, that I will walk with you through good times and bad…………….

I want us to be two sides of a triangle with Jesus as the third side holding us together as we hold each other and Him……………… I want you to know that I will do my best to love you as Christ loves his church; totally and unconditionally and I ask you to forgive me for the times I will fail to love you as you deserve…………………..

I want to pray with you and for you each day, to grow in faith with you.
I promise to be a loving husband and father. I want to walk beside each day, not in front dragging you along or behind pushing you but beside you as equal partners.

Today you have made me the happiest man alive and I thank God that he brought you into my life.

I love you Sue……………’

As I glanced over at Deanne I saw her give him a thumbs-up, he’d signed it perfectly.

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the church

As Sue responded I could see tears brimming in her eyes, as she too took a deep breath before speaking and signing.

Jack, once you get it together, you are wonderful beyond words!!!

Joy

Oh yeah, we would like a honeymoon, if it's not too much to ask! Lovely. Have you done the sermon yet? Cos if not, i could PM you some ideas. Just checking. Lovely post. Really heart touching! From Jenny

PS. I'm going to start typing up the story I am PMing you.

I always knew Levi was a wonderous dog!!!!!

kav

Absolutely beautiful, Cath!

Loved the whole post, but especially this...





Thank you!

Tracy

Oh someone get me a tissue.....


I always cry at weddings!

This is especially moving when considering that Jack was right there beside her when Sue talked to Carol about husbands loving their wives in the "Did She or Didn't She" episode. Beautiful, lts.

LTS, this is such a great story...I loved Levi's pov and the words Jack spoke on the wedding...wonderful!

I'm lost for words, that was a beautiful wedding

thanks for all the feedback, this is a new area for me, lots of fluff and a wedding, hope it's working ok

Chapter 11

‘Jack I love you with all of my heart, I thank God for you and for the ways in which you have enriched my life and helped me to grow since I met you…………….

I thank God that you have been a friend to me through so much, that you have stood with me, listened to me, held me so often when I have been hurting, that you saw beyond my deafness to the person inside...........

I thank God for the love and joy you have brought into my life and I look forward to all that you will bring in the future.........
I thank you for your acceptance of me, your unfailing efforts to learn more of my language and my culture……………………

I promise today before God, our friends and our families that I will be a loving wife, that I will walk with you in times of joy and sorrow, in the mundane things of life...........

You have a very special place in my heart, Jack, you took that place on the day we first met and through everything that place has remained and grown, now you have all of my heart……………..

I want to be your friend, your wife, your lover and mother to your children.
I promise to love you and cherish you each day, to love you as you deserve, forgive me for the times I fail to do that and the mistakes I will make and know that I will forgive you for your mistakes…………………….


I promise that this marriage will be built on the rock of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our lives.

I love you Jack.’

Jack blinked furiously trying to stop the tears in his eyes from falling…….. in touch with his emotions he wasn’t keen on sharing too many of them in front of a church full of people.

Instead he signed and whispered ‘love you’ and blew her a gentle kiss which she returned, before they held hands again.

Again I have no words

beautiful

So touching vows....

MORE !!!!!


Restie

Absolutely beautiful!

Tracy

The vows were indeed beautiful.

Chapter 12

As James, their Pastor concluded the vows with the words ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife… you may kiss the bride…………’ a loud cheer went up.

Many people had been waiting a long time for this moment and, as I looked around I got the feeling that there would be at least two more weddings in the near future.

Jack let Sue take the lead in the kiss, knowing she wasn’t comfortable with being the centre of attention.

Both had tears in their eyes – they’d been waiting a long time for this moment but 4 ½ years of bumbling and dancing around each other were forgotten as their lips met, Jack happy with either a brief kiss or a mind-numbing one, or anything in between.

Whatever happened today he wanted Sue to feel happy, relaxed and comfortable.

As kisses go I suspect it was more on the mind blowing passionate end of the scale, short but sweet.

Certainly when they came up for air both were a bit pink and breathless.

Bobby and I just looked at each other and grinned then he muttered something to Jack which earned him a punch to the shoulder.

Somehow I think Jack will get his revenge when he is Bobby’s Best Man.

Pray tell us what he said! We want to know too!

So, two more weddings in the near future... the ceremony is almost finished.... what next???


Restie

Another great chapter!

Tracy

What did Bobby say to Jack???

Joy

yep another great post cath. Please tell us what Bobby said! Are you going to do the honeymoon?????? I know a lot of readers might like that!!!!! He he he! More soon please! from Jenny

honeymoon?,

i'm having enough problems with the wedding night

can i tell you where they're going and leave the rest to your very vivid imaginations?

cath

I know we have very vivd imaginations Honey moon would be nice. We'll wait patiently for the rest, don't worry. More when you can. From jenny

So what did Bobby say?

Curious minds want to know

Curious minds will have to wait a while since i can't post it with this chapter!!!!!

Chapter 13

As we were seated for the sermon, James was almost apologetic, ‘I had a sermon prepared from 1 Corinthians chapter 13 where Paul writes about love, but I think these guys have preached it for me.

Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, isn’t rude, isn’t self-seeking, isn’t easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, love rejoices in the truth, always protects, Always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…………


When Jack rang me from New York to say they were getting married and to ask if I would conduct the service I wasn’t totally surprised……. I’d seen them together at church a number of times before Sue left and I was convinced that one Sunday they would come and see me to tell me they were getting married and this was before they were dating!!.

They looked closer and more ‘together’ than some of the married couples who attend. It didn’t happen and Sue left for the Big Apple………. I could see that Jack was devastated but he was doing a good job of trying to hide it, telling everyone who asked that he was ‘OK’ and avoiding the subject if any of us tried to push it.
For a while they didn’t see each other, then a couple of friends gave them the push they needed and they finally admitted their feelings.
When I met up with them they both told me they had been too afraid of causing the other to be unhappy to admit that they themselves were unhappy with the situation, they put the happiness of the other before their own………..
Since meeting up again their love has grown and blossomed.’

Looking over at them he asked if they had compared notes on their promises, watching as they looked at each other and shook their heads.

It had been the only thing they hadn’t discussed, both wanting to express their thoughts independently……..

‘That’s what I mean, no discussion and they have promised almost the same…and trust me it doesn’t happen often…… unconditional love, forgiveness, shared faith, ……….Jack has promised to love Sue as Christ loves the church……… he won’t always succeed, it’s a tall order but his heart is in the right place…….. he is going to try.

Marriage isn’t always a bowl of cherries or a garden of roses, there will be tensions, arguments and disagreements. I know Jack has mentioned Sues’ stubbornness, he refers to it as her ‘tenacious streak’, Sue finds his over-protectiveness a little hard to live with at times. They know this and both have admitted that there have been times when they’ve been grateful for these traits, they’ve chosen to see them as positives rather than negatives……….

They are two very unique and precious individuals who will be adjusting to living together; their relationship will evolve and grow, become deeper and stronger over time.

They are committed to each other and to building their marriage on shared faith in Jesus the rock.

I loved Jacks’ picture of two equal sides of a triangle with Jesus as the third side holding them together as they hold each other. They want to be equals, not one having more power or control than the other……….. partners walking together through life. ………

There’s an old song, ‘money makes the world go around’…….. The song is wrong, it isn’t money, it’s love which makes the world turn and these guys have love by the bucket load……….. love for each other and God and most importantly they know of God’s love for them. Let’s pray for them………….’

As James prayed I could hear a few muffled sobs……. I guess that some of those present who were married were taking a few moments to renew their vows.

As I looked up I saw them holding hands, love shining from their eyes as Jack lent down a little to kiss Sue’s head.

And as I gazed around I could see their parents holding hands, crying quietly, Sue’s brothers were hugging their wives while Luce and Tara were signing to Myles and Bobby ‘LOVE YOU’ as they signed back.

Next to Jacks’ parents was Charlie, obviously still missing Thelma badly, I almost cried as I saw Jack and Sue turn around and hug him, bringing more tears to the old mans eyes. Charlie holds a special place in both their hearts and they in his.

As the service finished the 3 of us walked back down the aisle, I padded behind them as Jack wrapped his arm around Sues’ waist as she snuggled closer. Their love shone through as he signed ‘LOVE YOU’.

Cath, it was really wonderful and touching part, I especially love this part...


Thank you for this part!!!!


Restie

Sigh! It actually happened without any angst!!! The fuzzies are holding up just fine!

kav

This whole post was beautiful, Cath.

Wonderful post! Thank you!

Tracy

That was lovely well done

That was a beautiful sermon, Cath!!

"They looked closer and more 'together' than some of the married couples who attend." This sentence brought to my mind that they appeared that way on the show, especially during the 3rd season!! It was very subtle but the connection was there!!!

Joy

Very nicely done!!!

Thanks for the feedback people.

Kav if you want angst I can change things around a little!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Chapter 14

Standing outside the church they posed for photos, both official and unofficial, Sue had suggested asking Troy to take the photos and film the wedding but had agreed with Jack when he said he thought it unfair since Troy would then be unable to enjoy the day.

Instead they had asked him to take some unofficial photos and film, so he could still enjoy the day and capture their friends and family in embarrassing or silly poses………. Something tells me Bobby will feature on quite a few embarrassing pictures………….

Heading towards the limo when the photos were finished, Sue was surprised when Jack pulled her away and led her around the corner to a horse-drawn carriage.

Her mom had told him it was her dream as a girl to have a horse-drawn carriage on her wedding day and he’d found one for her. The only person in on the surprise was the photographer who captured the look of pure delight and pleasure on her face when she saw it and a few other photos as we stepped in and headed off to the hotel.

The driver took the scenic route to the reception which gave them plenty of time alone before they reached the reception. One arm around her shoulder and the other holding her hands, Jack moved into her eye line.

‘Have I told you today how much I love you Mrs Hudson?’ he whispered, his voice sounding very husky.

‘I don’t believe you have Mr. Hudson’ she smiled at him, lost in his eyes.

As he captured her lips and showed her he was oblivious to the cat calls and whistles from passers-by as the horses steadily clip-clopped their through the DC streets.

Coming up for some much needed oxygen, Jack held her tightly in his arms looking heavenwards and whispering ‘thank you’.

‘You gonna tell me what Bobby said at the altar?’ she asked.

‘Ummm……….. errrrrrrr………… you really want to know?’ Jack was bumbling for some reason.

‘Go on………… I think I know……..’ she grinned at him.

‘He timed he kiss…….. said it was the longest he’d ever witnessed at the altar,’ Jack was now a beautiful shade of pink, ‘then when we had the photos taken he told me the only other wedding he’d been to was his mom and step-dad’s which he couldn’t remember very well so he guessed it didn’t really count……………….I will get my revenge when he marries Tara………….’

‘Shall we have a repeat performance then Mr. Hudson…….. since we’re on our own………….’ She fluttered her eyes at him and he melted totally, taking her in his arms before leaning in for a mind-blowing kiss.


Drawing to a halt at the hotel we sat in the carriage for a while so everyone could take photos.

For me it was just like Milton snapping photos for the dog food ad but at least I didn’t have to dress up today.

Luce had suggested I wear a waistcoat and bow tie but Sue refused much to my relief.

After Jack had helped Sue out they had photos taken by the horses – 2 black and 2 grey – beautiful creatures but I kept well out of the way. An ill-placed hoof and I would have been at the vets……. And I needed food, soon.

The photos took a while and between each one they snuck at least one kiss, varying between a quick peck on the cheek to a full blown pash.

Throughout they held hands, revelling in each others’ presence and touch, laughing with each other and with those around them, whispering and signing to each other, only breaking contact for a few seconds to hug or kiss their family or friends.

Katie and I disappeared for a snooze; it was going to be a long day.

Sue had been stressing out about being the centre of attention, wondering if she would cope since it wasn’t something she was comfortable with, wondering how she would manage with all those people talking at her and to her.

Trying not to stifle her Jack was letting her go at her own pace, watching her quietly, ready to step in if it became too much, if she needed him. Watching her handle it all magnificently he could see her growing in confidence minute by minute, his pride as obvious as if she’d achieved some new task at the bureau.

It's great to see them so caring for each other and so happy with each other's presence.... I love Levi's POV!!!!!


Restie

That post was lovely I especially like the horse drawn carriage ride very romantic