TheWedding

 Jesse and Heather's Wedding _ The Build UP!

This is a day that will forever be etched in my memory. It was beautiful and bittersweet! There are so many miracles that happened for us on this day! 

You need to understand that Andre was really ill at this point in time. He was just focussing on being at his son's wedding. I think it is what kept him going most of 2021. His DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy), had reared it's ugly head in April, just after the engagement. From August he just began to deteriorate. It was difficult to watch! I had all this excitement for the wedding, nothing and no one could stop my joy! My poor husband was just focussing on trying to breathe! 

A week before the wedding I sensed in Jesse a slight nervousness and worry for his dad. I mean this was his big day! I remembered our wedding, Andre's dad could not attended because Jhb air was too thin and his DCM stopped him from attending his sons wedding! I said to Andre that this would not be a case of history repeating itself, I told him to call Jesse and assure him that all is well and that he would be there. Two days before our departure for Jhb Dylan Jones our Pastor and another elder Julian came to pray with us in our home.  Julian had been given a picture by God of a little sac attaching itself to Andre's lung, he thought it strange as it didn't relate to the heart. However knowing about the thin air in Jhb I knew this was a sign that all would be okay with Andre. God was assuring us that He would make provision for Andre in this condition. 

Friday arrived and we were flying to Jhb, now Andre was on a flight an hour before me, and I was landing an hour later. I prayed for him my entire flight, as much as my faith was high, I won't lie I stressed about him on a flight, as a week before my doc had said he definitely should not fly in his condition. When I landed I immediately switched on my phoned and it beeped with a million messages. I panicked as obviously I thought something had happened. Well it did! Andre had taken only a hand luggage, and he was helped in Cape Town by a lovely ground hostess who pushed his wheelchair with his hand luggage to his flight for departure. When landing in Jhb someone had taken his suitcase and not their own. Now what you have to realise is that our wedding clothes were in that bag as well as biscuits I had specially had made for Heather's bridal shower. The person called Andre when they realised what happened and when I landed they were on their way back from Pretoria to fetch their suitcase and return Andre's! What a way to start our week in Jhb.

It was a very full week, it started with my sister's 60th birthday on the Saturday evening, followed by Heather's Jhb bridal shower the Sunday morning. On the Monday we went to Jesse's flat and were going to spend the week with him. I got straight into mother mode when I arrived and as beautiful as his flat was, I got cleaning. He had been staying with a flat mate and I was like " Jesse you can't bring Heather over this threshold!" I scrubbed the flat from top to bottom, cleaned windows etc It took two days but then I was happy that it was ready for Heather! Poor Andre it was so difficult he had bloated so much that the suit he was going to wear did not even go over his feet, we had to purchase him a new pair of pants! He slept on and off most days but the nights were impossible and he battled to sleep. It was really hot which also didn't help, but despite all this he always had a smile on his face when his boy was around. He desperately wanted to be present. Jesse's flat had no lift and it was 3 flights of stairs to get there. Now this for a normal healthy person could be a challenge. For a person with DCM it is almost an impossibility. Heather's parents Susan and Paul realised this and kindly offered us a room in their home for the Tuesday and Wednesday before all the bridesmaids arrived. This brought some relief for Andre, as he no longer had to negotiate those 3 flights of stairs, and also the peaceful setting of their park-like garden definitely helped. We had a parents dinner just the 4 of us with Heather and Jesse at their home and pre celebrated. It was special. 

Andre's sister was due to arrive on the Thursday morning! But go figure... her plane from Heathrow was delayed and she missed her connecting flight to SA. Because her luggage was not on that plane they would not let her fly on that plane! What was it with luggage and this wedding!!!! She was delayed an entire day in Dubai! Poor Andre he was looking forward to have someone from his family at the wedding and now this! Fortunately she managed to get onto another plane and arrived the day before the Wedding!

The Friday morning we fetched Renata at 4.15am. Now remember it was still Covid rules! We could only leave Jesse's flat at 4am, she was due to arrive at 4.15am Sandton to OR Tambo, but my son is a skilful speedy driver and we arrived just in time to see her coming through the terminal. The presence of his sister really lifted Andre's spirits, and he was so happy that she would be there to witness his son's marriage with him! There were tears all round both of joy for her arrival and sadness for her to see her brother in such a dire condition. But love and family can go along way to healing and lifting one's spirits!  As well as the many Percy Pigs she had brought from London!!!

Friday morning we drove through to Hartebeespoorte to the venue, to drop off some wines, and had breakfast with Andre's sister and spent some fun Blignaut time together! The afternoon would be momentous as Jesse and Heather actually tied the knot officially on that day at Heather's home completing all the legalities. The venue where they were getting married did not have walls and apparently it's not legal if there is no roof over your head or walls!  Ashleigh and Jason and Monique arrived on the Friday afternoon from Cape Town, so now our little clan was all together! Tomorrow was the big day and I was relieved that Andre was still not only alive but smiling despite his pain. 

Now I need to share what my friend Tracey from America shared with me.  She had been a furious prayer warrior for us throughout this entire time, her words and encouragement were spot on amazing

"Lord strengthen him , help him, deliver him, save him from this. We apply the blood of Jesus to his life and heart at this difficult time. We know it’s so hard Lord to go through this.We continue to pray, confess your word of healing over his life and heart, confess your promises over him and your deliverance. We decree and declare full healing and restoration over his life. Over every part of his life. Lord we trust in you and in your faithfulness to restore and redeem. Be with him in this trying time. Give Him your peace that passeth all understanding . His life is in your hands . Let Him know your love and kindness. Work powerfully to send Angels to surround Him to strengthen him in ways that are amazing and miraculous. Let him and this family see your power at work in Andre and in every detail of this wedding. Let signs, wonders and miracles be evident to them especially and to others of your goodness. Move powerfully Jesus. Move the immovable and do the impossible. Move this mountain by our faith and your mercy. Heal what needs to be healed. Bless this wedding , every detail of it from beginning to end. Let it be beautiful, momentous and something beautiful to be remembered. Lift this attack off Andre ! you know he has poured so much into his son . You know the enemy wants to steal his peace at this time so strengthen him Lord. Let Him look to you and fill Him and the family with supernatural joy and hope. Continue to help him and heal him fully. Send your ministering Angels to help and comfort Him! Do the impossible! We are standing in agreement for Andre and for his miracle! The word, the blood and ministering Angels to surround him. Bless this wedding! I believe this wedding is going to be beautiful , anointed and Gods presence is going to be strong there, a time of much rejoicing. So excited for all of you. Congratulations Deb! I feel God is celebrating with you at this wedding! Holy and special to the Lord. I feel Gods excitement at Jesse and his wife are joined together this day. So much joy! So much joy!"

All this was true, The wedding was beautiful, God sustained Andre, The Wedding was Beautiful every detail was exquisite! Susan and Paul spared no expense, Heather & Jesse had the wedding of their dreams. But more importantly the presence of God, His peace and His anointing was very present at this occasion with a double rainbow appearing over the venue in the late afternoon! This was indeed a day despite all the challenges a day of JOY GREAT JOY!