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Quddus and Michelle Miller Farnsworth
Wedding Celebration
How it all started
Back in 1975 (before Michelle was born) Quddus and his family attended her parents wedding at Green Acre Baha'i School in Eliot, Maine [He's the tall kid in the picture ogling the cake that Michelle's grandmother is about to cut - ever the sweet tooth!]
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The two families lost touch....
48 years later
September of 2023 Quddus returned to Green Acre, this time as a chef, instead of a cake ogling kid. He knew in his heart that he was there for a reason, but he didn't yet know what it was.
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In November, a few months later, that reason walked down the hall in Green Acre to volunteer in the kitchen.
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He may have ogled her... but more importantly by the end of the weekend it was clear to both of them that energetically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally there was something special there and that together they could build something powerful in the world.
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However Michelle was moving to Costa Rica in 4 days...
International Connection
From the moment Michelle left Green Acre they were committed to staying in touch and seeing if they could build a relationship long distance.
Michelle settled into her life in Costa Rica and into her plan of founding a Center to bring her coaching clients and others to recuperate and rejuvenate in the powerful energy of that country.
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Quddus continued his career goals at Green Acre and, because he has always been a smart man, he knew he had to pursue this woman if he was going to have her in his life. He traveled to visit her in Costa Rica twice in the winter of 2024.
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Michelle is also a pretty intelligent woman and she knew she needed to reciprocate, and so in March of 2024 she traveled to him.
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What she thought would be only a three week trip to Maine, turned into three months...and counting...
Sharing
In the early stages of their relationship they didn't share with many people as it felt so sacred and that it was important to privately tend their new relationship.
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In March, 4.5 months into their relationship, they decided to share publicly and this is what they each wrote:
What’s it look like when I’ve met my other half?
It looks like peace.
It looks like certainty.
It looks like growth.
It looks like gratitude.
It looks like planning what we will build together.
For all those who are tired of hearing “you’ll just know” when asking happy couples for advice on how to know that you’ve met your true partner……I hate to say it, but it’s true.
My past self would be mad at this “you’ll just know” statement, but I’m so glad that she waited until I found my “I just know” moment.
I wasn’t even looking for anyone but we knew from the first few days of meeting each other.
I wish all who are searching for their partner, peace and clarity to know in your heart that it will be obvious when it happens.
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The end of last year and the beginning of this year have been truly amazing.
Over the last 4.5 years I’ve done a lot of internal work on myself. Work that I didn’t know I was supposed to or needed to do. Through much prayer, meditation and tons of work on my well being, I have found my heart, truly. I have done the work, I have made the effort, I have changed, 110%. My heart, the center of my emotion and my intuition, is where I finally found what Baha’u’allah mentions over and over again in the writings and I am grateful. I am now seeing the fruits of that work, some of it expected and some of it unexpected!
In my prayer and meditation, I asked Baha’u’allah for specific things with vision, intent and grit, joy, love and great enthusiasm.This included asking for a life partner. I had said to God, I am ready; this is the kind of person I am looking for. Someone who has also done her internal work.
Ask and ye shall receive. How is it possible? There she was!
One day in November I was working in the kitchen at Green Acre Baha'i Center of Learning and wondering who the volunteers would be. Who would we get this time? Along with some others, in walks Michelle. I found out quickly through a few conversations: here was someone who has also done the work. Added bonus: we met at Green Acre, a special place for me and my family - how great and amazing is that!
Can she hold space for me? Can I hold space for her? Yes and yes! I’m finding that I can be aligned with someone. I’ve met someone who is my supporter, my encourager no matter what! Each of us has been heard. Each of us has been listened to and heard.
For this I am forever grateful.
When I’ve finally been able to put my heart in the mix, with a person sent to me by Baha’u’llah, I am finding that the growth is exponential.
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Life Partners
It was clear after Michelle arrived in Maine that she had found her life partner, and Quddus felt the same.
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So they decided to start their lives together as a married couple on April 20 in a small sacred ceremony.
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It was hosted in the home of dear friends, and their moms attended by Zoom (the wonders of technology)
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Families United
On July 6, 2024 in the company of their friends and family (in person and in spirit) they celebrated their marriage with 3 wonderful days of events in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
The mothers of the bride and groom:
Michelle's parents wedding - 1975 Quddus and Michelle's wedding - 2024
After the Celebration...
Whats next for the new couple?
They will be living in Cedarburg for the next year as they work and plan and save to move together to Costa Rica to create a center of healing, respite and learning - with the combined forces of our skills and talents as well as the power of their union (and their family, friends and community behind them).
