Dearest Sarah. . .

Where has the time gone, my childhood friend of yesteryear. It's hard to believe that on this cool night somewhere you will try to sleep, but I think it may prove difficult. It's still friday where you are, but here it's offically saturday and your big day has already arrived. With it are all my thoughts and prayers for you and your new life with Jonathan. I am sure that you and Cheryl will be up till the wee hours talking about all the time that has flown by, and where exactly did it fly by to? That I don't know but I am sure that early in the day, or late this evening you will try to steal away somewhere by yourself to write down some thoughts and reflect. Maybe a moonlit walk with your soon to be husband, excaping all the chaos that must be whirling along around you. I wish I was there with you to wish you well; to see your nieces dressed up to the nines in there frilly best for their aunts big day; to see your rich black hair all dressed up; your beautiful floor-length dress of white; your handsome groom; the flowers, and Cheryl. I am sure there will be many tears, I will even shed some tonight in honour of you and our long lost childhood on the sunny isles of yesterday.

I remember walking down so many aisles with you in tow, our hair up, our baskets full of flowers and rice, I think we must have been flower-girls at almost every wedding there was those years. Do you still cry at every wedding you go to? I'm sure you will cry at your very own. I'm sure you will be way to busy to even read this right away, but I hope it falls into your hands at some point down the road.

Some advice from your big sis, first breathe. Look around you and breathe -- take it all in. Enjoy every moment of every second; laugh at the mistakes; smile at every camera, don't worry about anything or anyone and breathe. Breathe in the color, the smells, the tastes (if you can taste anything, I didn't on our day), breathe in the words of encouragement from all around you, take in every tiny detail and store in in your heart for all the years to come.

Second, the very next day when everything has died down and everyone has disappeared except for you and your honey, once again breathe it all in. The first day of your new life full of promise, wonder and hope. God has so much planned and promised for your life Sarah -- princess -- the dark haired one from the island with so much spunk and wit.

You were always the bravest of us, the deepest of us, the most fairy-like. You have a compassion that sticks even when you're not there anymore and a respect of others that will always carry you far. I have always called you "kid" and "my little sis" when really I have admired your strength and courage and the way you keep going through everything. I have admired you more than you will ever know.

I am so deeply proud of you and the choices you have made. Though I have not met Jonathan I know he must be special and handsome and clever to have landed you. I also know he must be a man who is deep too and full of compassion so take care of each others hearts.

My prayer tonight is that you will find the desires of your heart, that God will grant you a life full of blessing and promise. I hope He gives you a 'quiver full' and I do mean FULL cause ours is pretty full and I wouldn't change it for the world. I know you will be a great wife, and a good mother.

I miss you more than I can express with these fleeting words. Words cannot convey to you how much your life has meant in mine and to mine. I think of the times at the beach, the times at the pool, the hundreds of wild and crazy adventures we went on and my heart aches for you. (Flukey Luke; Salak; Perbagi: Puji La Yehovah: you changing in front of Gil; Bali; ADAM; the cottage) too many memories. I love you. Take care always.


As you enter your the next chapter of your life with your best friend remember that "The truth is that friendship is every bit as sacred and eternal as marriage" (Katherine Mansfield), and remember your old friends now and again and drop us a line.