- School: I have been working rather hard and diligently on my exhibition portfolio. While each component is just as important as the next, I find myself really making meaning of what I have been doing this past year. It is awesome tracing all of my work and efforts and now putting it down on paper in a creative way--one that is personalized to me. However, it is still giving me a lot of anxiety, luckily I am not the only one who feels this way. I am almost done though, and I cannot wait until the final product! Ps. I have also signed up for my exhibition which is at the end of this month...ekk! So crazy how everything is coming together!
- Mandir: This week, we were so lucky to have P. Kothari Swami in Atlanta for our opening of our youth activities center! Being in his presence really opens your eyes to what it takes to be an exceptional satsangi. I always feel so inspired when people like Kothari Swami come--everything he does is in the name of God, his actions, intentions are nothing but pure. Being able to be a part of the program all week really put so much into perspective and I am glad I know have a connection to him that is meaningful to me and special...I think you'll understand why, when I share my story.
- Wedding: As of now, we are in a lull, but we have finalized our wedding venue, and a venue for our other events. It has been a roller coaster for sure, especially with all of the craziness, but I think it only gets better from here. I have wonderful support from my family and my new family, my friends, and extended family. Without all of that support, I would not be able to handle any of this. Whoever thinks planning a wedding is a one (wo)man show, they are in for a treat. Taking all the help you can get is not a sign of weakness, but a great way to keep your composure. My very simple advise for you.
Now for my story...
This week was huge for me and Sohum. In our culture we are officially engaged when we conduct a religious ceremony. We were able to do ours on August 29, 2012 at our mandir in front of P. Kothari Swami. Now, some of you may understand how loaded that statement is...others of you, may not. But what is awesome about all of it, is that when we make our engagement official in front of God, in the presence of such a great Sant like Kothari Swami, you are pretty much the luckiest couple alive. Sohum and I are the luckiest couple alive for sure! This is an opportunity and something extremely special to both of us. We started our morning at 6 am, where we got ready, dressed up in our finest Indian outfits and headed out to the mandir. When we got there, we got ready for our puja (ceremony) and all of our family and friends assembled as well. It was very intimate as the room we did it in was not very large, but it was perfect. We had Purnajivan Swami conduct our entire puja and from there Sohum did his parts while I had my parts. In the middle of our puja, when we exchange the coconuts and put our garlands on, Kothari Swami came. He first came and sat down right next to Sohum finishing up that part of the puja and then they moved on to the exchanging of the coconuts. This was so AWESOME. As I sit here writing this, I am picturing it all as it is happening. After Kothari Swami left, we were able to finish the rest of the puja and then also do abhishek together and take pictures and all of that good stuff. This story is not very detailed, because to be honest the memory lives in my mind and my heart. Putting it into words is so hard because it was that special to both of us.
I think that is all for now, if I go on, this could turn into a novel and I know none of you want to read that. ;)
But I will share a picture of our new complete family!
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| This is all of us, my family to the right of me and Sohum's family to the left of him. I love how big we are together. =) |
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