Week 15. Proud moments.
So Proud
This week, I stepped away from my usual quiet routine and ventured out into the world for a rare public appearance. It was a day worth every second away from the laptop, a day filled with love, laughter, and genuine emotion.
My sister got married.
As I reflected on my own journey, two out of three years completed on my Master of Laws degree, consistent weekly blogging, and a growing audience, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. To everyone who has supported this blog, thank you. To those who have kindly made donations, your generosity is not only appreciated, but it fuels my wider mission:
making legal services accessible for all,
creating a fund for those who cannot afford legal assistance,
and helping students relieve the burden of debt. Every step forward brings that vision closer.
But on this day, my focus was fully on my sister.
In the United Kingdom, marriage is not only a deeply personal and emotional commitment but also a legally binding contract. Legally, marriage is defined as "the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others" (Hyde v Hyde and Woodmansee, 1866). While this traditional definition has evolved to include same-sex marriages following the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, the core principle remains: marriage creates a binding legal relationship. This relationship carries significant legal rights and responsibilities, including rights to inheritance, tax benefits, next-of-kin status, property ownership, and financial obligations upon divorce or separation. Marriage is both a social and legal institution, reflecting a public commitment that is recognised and protected by law
Watching my sister on her wedding day, radiant and full of life, was a true honour. She is a beautiful human being, and the day reflected every bit of the beauty she carries inside and out.
I don’t often engage in large social gatherings; for many years now, my life has been behind a laptop, studying, researching, building. Yet stepping out for this occasion reminded me why real, in-person moments matter.
The ceremony, the energy, the smiles, the laughter, the tears, it was all real, all raw, and all overwhelmingly positive.
I'm not generally too emotional. As a researcher and a student of law, I’ve learned that emotion often has to take a back seat to logic, reason, and evidence.
But weddings have a way of disarming even the most rational mind.
Seeing not just the bride and groom, but all the guests, so deeply moved by the occasion, filled the air with something you could feel; a pure, unfiltered energy.
It was perfect. No drama, no stress, only joy, just as the happy couple deserved.
Both of them are hard-working people, raising a young family in a world that isn’t always kind to young families anymore. They face the same challenges many do, rising costs, constant pressures, but they do it with courage, humour, and resilience. I have immense respect for them.
I truly believe that something greater, whether you call it God, the Creator, the Universe, or simply the energy we all share, blessed us all on this day. I feel grateful to have witnessed it, honoured to be a part of it, and hopeful for everything that lies ahead for them as they start this new chapter together.
To my sister and her new husband: may your life together be filled with the same light, strength, and joy that you brought to all of us on your wedding day. I bless you both with all my heart.
"Let all that you do be done in love."
1 Corinthians 16:14 (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011)
The Beauty of Siblings
As I took in the day’s celebrations, I also found myself reflecting on the unique relationships we share with our siblings. We begin our journeys in the same boat, learning, playing, compromising, arguing, forgiving, all of which become the life skills we carry forward into adulthood.
I am incredibly blessed that my parents, all four of them, always encouraged us to stick together, to play together, and to grow together. And for the most part, that is exactly what we have done.
That’s not to say that hardship hasn’t caused its moments of tension, life has its challenges, but what occasions like this show is the true nature of unconditional love.
To see my siblings now as adults, standing proud with their own young families, celebrating together, is to witness the beautiful crossover of generations.
The cycle of life, love, and growth, laid out right in front of us.
Each of my siblings has chosen exceptionally well in their partners. I love each and every one of them dearly, and together our family has grown into something even more remarkable.
As the saying goes:
"Siblings: children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together" (Levenson, 1970).
How true that is. And how beautifully it was demonstrated on this day, full of laughter, love, and a little bit of nostalgia, made for the perfect time spent together.
Cheers to everyone.
Life continues to get better every day.
I am so proud.
Let’s Go!
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References
Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011. The Holy Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Levenson, S., 1970. You Don’t Have to Be in Who’s Who to Know What’s What. New York: Simon and Schuster
Hyde v Hyde and Woodmansee (1866) LR 1 P&D 130 (UK).
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, c. 30. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/enacted
