Something old...

Yesterday marked one month until the wedding! It is hard to believe- I am not sure where the time went. Oh wait... I know- the holidays, work and planning a wedding.- WHEW! So, with the final countdown beginning, I thought I would do a series of blogs based on one of the oldest wedding traditions and share my "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue".

First, I wanted to find out a little more about where this tradition came from and its meaning. It is based on an Old English rhyme: "Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe".  For this specific blog we will look at my "Something Old".

Something old represents continuity and the caring and loyalty from friends and family from the bride's past. This item carries with it the love and warmth of many generations.

This James Avery charm bracelet belonged to my Grandmother who passed away last year. I love wearing it because it makes me feel closer to her so it will make me happy to wear it during the wedding since she can't be there. Not only do I love it because it belonged to her, but the charms on it are very symbolic of things that make me think of her.

She LOVED cats and had many of them throughout her lifetime. They loved her too and were drawn to her. Her gentle spirit was comforting to them and they knew she would take time to pet them, brush their coats, scratch in all the right places and play. She always made them toys from household items and made sure they had plenty of attention. Our cats would always go into a state of depression after her visits because we just didn't love them the way she did!

The cross almost speaks for itself. There was no doubt my Grandmother was a Woman of God. She relied on God constantly and trusted Him to take care of her and her loved ones. She studied the Bible and prayed faithfully. There was a quiet peace about my Grandmother and it came from her faith. She was never pushy or overly outspoken about it and yet somehow, there was no doubt she was a Christian.

The hummingbird represents her love of birds. She spent hours watching birds and researching them. A popular gift for her was anything bird related. I have a few of the stained glass birds that she hung in her home and in the assisted living room during her final days. She could recognize most birds by sight or their sounds. Could tell you their habits and where they usually live regionally. She had many bird feeders just outside her windows so that she (and her cats) could enjoy them. I now have a few of them and I am looking forward to setting them up in Brad's backyard so that we can enjoy them as much as she did. 

The final charm is a new addition...

This was given to me this past Christmas by Brad's parents. I mentioned I wanted it to symbolize my new last name so it is fitting that it be worn during the wedding. It can also stand for my new husband Brad and guess what...? My Grandmother's name was Bernadine... funny how that worked out. 

Coming soon... my "Something New"!