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<P>Dear Friends and Colleagues in Open Space,</P>
<P>I am writing to ask you to hold space for Ward Williams (also on this list)
and I on Saturday, January 29<SUP>th</SUP>, 2000 at sunset (about 5:20 pm)
eastern standard time. At this time, Ward and I will be marrying. My heart is
beating in joy, filled with love as I get ready to go to the airport to pick
Ward up. He lives in North Carolina, USA and is coming to Ontario, Canada for
our marrying. His three children, soon to be my stepchildren (Matt 15, Lilly 14,
and Krista 12) are flying in from New York. My daughter Rachel will be flying in
from Alberta, Canada.</P>
<P>Matt vacationed with us in the Christmas holidays so he has already connected
well with my four children (Rachel 20, Laura 18, David 15, Aaron 14). We are all
looking forward to meeting Lilly and Krista and creating this family unit that
includes our 7 amazing young people. For those of you who have popped in here on
your travels, you know that this home is always teaming with young people (when
Father Brian Bainbridge was here for a few days, he had enough material for a
year’s worth of sermons by the time he left) so both Ward and I happily accept
the privilege of doing our part in the parenting of 7 young people. </P>
<P>Sadly, Ward leaves to go back to North Carolina on Tuesday and from there
will start the process of the legalities of bringing me into the US. It is our
greatest hope that I will be able to join him by summer. In the meantime, we
continue to build up air miles as we visit back and forth. </P>
<P>The coming together of Ward and I is truly an Open Space love story. About a
year ago, on February 13<SUP>th</SUP>, I headed to Tennessee to attend the
wedding of my friends Barry and Debbie Owen. Officiated by my friend and Barry’s
dad Harrison Owen. As always, when I go somewhere, if there is a chance for me
to visit other special people in my life too, I do. I looked at the map and
realized it would be a short flight to visit my friend Chandra Christian in
North Carolina (being right next to Tennessee). I met Harrison to learn Open
Space, and in other Open Space events I met and formed deep friendships with
Barry and Chandra— the Open Space story unfolding <FONT face=Wingdings>J</FONT>
. On February 14<SUP>th</SUP>, which is Valentine’s day here, I arrived at
Chandra’s and she let me know her close friend Ward was coming to supper. I had
heard of Ward over time and was pleased to finally meet him, not knowing that
Chandra had known for years that if she could get Ward and I into the same room
that we would find each other in just the way we did. She also knew us each well
enough not to let either of us know of her plan or intentions, knowing neither
of us, out of our strong personal independence, would co-operate. Chandra opened
the space for us, held the space, and let us come forward with our
passion/responsibility. Ward walked in. All of my inner knowing knew that my
life would never be the same from that moment. He hugged me hello, my heart
raced, I moved into instant paralysis of panic knowing that I had somehow fallen
instantly and deeply for this man and not quite knowing how it had happened nor
what to do about it. Ward was having his own experiences. Neither of us "posted"
our passion. I flew back to Canada and on the plane came out of a dreamlike
state and realized I had given Ward absolutely no indication of any interest. I
phoned and left a message for Chandra, in true Open Space style saying that
although she probably only saw Ward as a friend, he had affected me deeply and
could she please let him know I would like to hear from him if he was
interested. She laughed when she got home and listened to her messages, first
one from Ward wondering how to get hold of me, and immediately thereafter one
from me stating my passion. It took both of us great courage, as it does anyone
posting a topic in Open Space, wondering if anyone will come to the session.
</P>
<P>We came together very quickly after that and have been on a wonderful journey
of coming to know one another. Our love is deep. I am honored to become Ward’s
life partner on Saturday. Our ceremony will last most of the day with our family
and a small group of friends, in true Open Space style in a room with a roaring
fire at one side, chairs in a circle. My dear friend Bill MacKinnon is the
minister who will officate the actual marrying, and he of course is an Open
Space facilitator too.</P>
<P>And about Open Space and Ward. I have been on my own for almost eight years,
and during that time I had held a pretty strong position of never marrying again
(never say never) and just to protect myself, I developed a long long list of
the characteristics a partner would have to have to be my partner. Such a long
list that I knew it was impossible to find such a person and I drew the line in
the sand saying I would accept nothing less. And of course on that list was that
the person must live life in Open Space, understand Open Space, be a facilitator
of Open Space, and allow me to continue my own work with Open Space around the
world, as facilitator and as a trainer of others. To support me in this work and
when possible to work together to promote Opening Space in the world. Through
Chandra, Ward already knew of the importance of Open Space. He lives Open Space
and facilitates it for others as his natural style, and fit naturally with
participating at OT and OSONOS and becoming part of our Open Space Community.
Wow! And he not only met every item on my long long list but superceded many of
them. <SPAN class=330225316-27012000>And continues to surprise and delight
me. We will have no shortage of adv</SPAN><SPAN
class=330225316-27012000>entures. </SPAN>And I understood anew another element
of Open Space "be prepared to be surprised"<SPAN
class=330225316-27012000>:-)</SPAN></P>
<P>Following my marrying, my name will change from Birgitt Bolton to Birgitt
Williams. And my e-mail will be the new one at </FONT><A
href="mailto:birgitt@mindspring.com"><FONT
size=2>birgitt@mindspring.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial> which is US based and
I will keep after my move.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>I am joy filled and filled with deepest gratitude<SPAN
class=330225316-27012000> to Mother/Father/Spirit God for this great gift.
</SPAN>I ask you to hold space for us and if you are so inclined, to keep us in
your prayers as we set out on this new phase of our lives.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Blessings,</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Birgitt</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Birgitt Bolton</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>www.openspacetechnology.com</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Striving
for Success?</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Make Genuine
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