Walking down the aisle with her daddy

Walking down the aisle with her daddy

A week ago, our youngest daughter walked down the aisle with her father to a precious young man. The calendar marked it as “sweetest day“, and it truly was.

While her daddy tried to begin with a modest pace, she pulled faster and surprised him with her speed. She wanted to get to the man of her dreams… while carefully holding on the hero of her childhood.

Her two men. One giving, the other receiving….

The sun began its descent into the dusky afternoon light, casting a festive glow on the ceremony. The groom could not stop smiling as she followed her bridesmaids down the aisle. They only had eyes for each other, surrounded by the people who love them the most.

Wrapped in lace and her father’s arm, she finally reached out to replace her father’s arm with her grooms.

It was a moment of letting go and taking hold. Both powerful emotions that threaten to loosen up even the most stalwart daddy fortress, to reveal dewy eyes above the proud smile.

Do you take this woman… I do.

Do you take this man…I do.

Our daughter has now brought us our first son.

He is a funny, loving, thoughtful young man. His heart fills up the space that surrounds him. Just like our baby girl.

Together, their love is infectious.

We celebrated into the night in a beautiful venue, the very place he proposed with an offer of epic thoughtfulness. A converted garage supplied all the vintage charm that they adore, with twinkly lights inviting us all into the celebration.

Dinner and dancing. Laughter and so many new memories made. (If you’d like to hear the first dance song, click here.  For the father-daughter dance, click here. Prepare the tissues in advance...)

When you have a daughter, you wonder as those tiny girls who grasp us so tightly, ever can release enough of your heart to let them be someone else’s most important person.

It’s not easy, of course, when your life has been dedicated to raising and loving and cherishing and training them.

When you are so intertwined with all the fibers of a beautiful family life. But when they marry the right man, it turns out there is nothing but a shared joy and new love for the person being brought INTO the family!

I prayed for months that God would keep my tears in check and allow me to only feel the joy (I am a buffugly crier!)  I needn’t have worried, for there was nothing but joy! I wrote them each a letter before the wedding.

To my daughter on her wedding day…

To the son I’ve waited for…

All the tears flowed as the emotions were typed out. Each character typed, a waterfall down my cheeks. Not sorrow, not at all, just an expression of hopes and dreams and prayers fulfilled.

Prayers for their new marriage to build a healthy foundation after the honeymoon period ends.

As the party wound down and it was time to send off the new Mr. & Mrs. the guests grabbed sparklers to give them a festive goodbye.

Just like the love of every person present, the vibrant crackle and glow gathered in a protective cocoon of affection. Well wishes in all their forms and faces.

Two families came that day to offer their greatest gift, their precious child.

A new combined family was created. His and hers, and they are wonderful people. For both of our kids come from families that believe marriage can join instead of divide, so everyone’s extended family grew that afternoon.

Sweetest day indeed…

That is why it’s been so quiet on the blog. You can see that my time and heart have been very busy living well. Celebrating one of the most sacred gifts of the Lord, in its newest form of the young bride and groom.

P.S. For those of you who’ve followed this blog for many, many years… I thought you’d like to see those little precious girls of ours all grown up. Side by side into two beautiful women. ♥