Update

Our invitations are done and will be mailed tomorrow (April 30). I can't believe how the time has flown - it's less than 14 weeks until the big day.

The photo is an overview of the area where the ceremony will be held. I will post additional pictures of the site in the next few days.




I really wanted to share the most awesome
picture so far - our 2 year old grandson in a kilt. Isn't he absolutely precious!!!

Our Invitation

Nancy Downard & Graham Hawksby Invite you to celebrate with us as we join hands in Marriage Our Handfasting Ceremony will be held On August 2nd, 2008.

At 5:00 in the afternoon

At the Elmhurst Inn Ingersoll, Ontario Dining & Dancing in the Gallery Room at the Elmhurst Inn will follow

Theme

We have pondered long and hard about the theme for our handfasting. We have finally arrived at a theme that works for both of us.
Graham was born in the city of York in England. For those of you whose knowledge of history is a little "shakey", York was part of the War of the Roses:

The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars fought in medieval England from 1455 to 1487 between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The name Wars of the Roses is based on the badges used by the two sides - the red rose for the Lancastrians and the white rose for the Yorkists.

Since Graham is from the "House of York" all of our flowers will be white roses.

As for me, I have, for the past 2 or 3 years developed an interest in crystals and crystal healing. My portion of the wedding theme will be rose quartz - it will be used to outline the boundary of our sacred circle.

Rose Quartz

Alternate Names: "Love Stone"

Metaphysical and Healing Properties Lore

Keywords: Love

Rose quartz is pink quartz that is often called the "Love Stone." It is a stone of unconditional love that opens the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love. The high energy of quartz gives rose quartz the property of enhancing love in virtually any situation. In turn, this lowers stress. All in all it is a very soothing and happy stone.

Emotionally rose quartz brings gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance. It raises one's self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It helps balance emotions and heal emotional wounds and traumas, even grief, bringing peace and calm. Rose quartz removes fears, resentments and anger. It can also heal and release childhood traumas, neglect, and lack of love, in part by enhancing inner awareness. It can help with reconciliation with family and others. Overwhelming or unreasonable guilt is eased by rose quartz.

In the psychic and spiritual realms, rose quartz is often used to attract love, and for love spells. It is also used to ease the process of transition in dying. Rose quartz can be helpful for dream recall and dream work.

Physically rose quartz is used in crystal healing to benefit the heart, the circulatory system, fertility, headaches, kidney disease, migraines, sexual dysfunction, sinus problems, throat problems, depression, addictions, ear aches, slowing signs of aging, reducing wrinkles, spleen problems, fibromyalgia, and reaching one's ideal weight / weight loss. Rose quartz is also helpful and protective during pregnancy and with childbirth. It is also sometimes said that rose quartz is helpful for supporting brain functions and increasing intellect.

Rose quartz is associated with the heart chakra.