Love Generously

I've had these pictures sitting on this page for quite a few days, not knowing where or how to even begin with this post. So let's just start with how me and my close friend Lala met. 

I was thirteen years old when I moved to Perth and entered high school there. I was a loner who was too shy to speak to anyone and so I ended up eating my lunch mostly alone behind a hidden bush or beside the toilet. It doesn't get any sadder than this! hahaa. Soon enough Lala saved me and the rest was history. We became partners in crime and practically did everything together. And today, even though we live countries apart, somehow we've managed to still be in each others lives and there for when we need each other the most. And this was THE day.

 I landed a week before the big day and stayed at Lala and Richie's home along with her sisters family who had flew in for this as well. I was so so happy they welcomed me with open arms into their cosy home because I get homesick real quick and staying in a hotel would've made it so much worse. I was taken care of so so well by them, and to be honest, this was probably the highlight of my week there. The warmth I felt from just how generous they were with their home, time and just going out of their way to make me feel comfortable. One of the first few things they fussed about was getting me to a halal meat shop, which really brought me back to our high school days because her mum would always prepare halal meat when I came over to her house. So we bought a whole lot and everyone at home ate halal meat for the next few days.

Staying with them made me truly understand why in Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 177, God includes taking care of a traveler, as one of the ways to define goodness in someone. "…shares their wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needay, the traveler, those who ask (for help, and for freeing slaves..". Making sure I had a heater and three blankets to keep warm at night, cooked rice for me in case I missed home because we Asian yo, picked me up from the train station and made sure I got home safe were just the few things they didn't have to do, but did just cause.

So to be there as her bridesmaid was really the icing on the cake for me. I won't get into just how amazing that day was as I'm hoping the few pictures I managed to capture (in between rushing to set up the wedding cake and making sure everything looked like her Pinterest board) will do the talking for me. I loved everything about that day. Everything was real; the smiles, the laughter, the beautiful flowers, the stress, the tears and most importantly, the love. It wasn't the fairytale kind. 

To my dearest Lala & Richie, may you guys build a beautiful home together and find ways to always love each other, especially when you get under each others skin. As Richie says, there's no turning back now because they're like one DVD now, side A and side B, hahaa.

Photos by Yours Truly and Imran N.