After having a few days to reflect on our daughter’s marriage, I have figured out where all the strong emotions came from. It is not the fact that she is moving halfway across the world. It is the fact that she has now left our family. She will always be a part of our family, of course, but the reality is, she and BEN! are a family now. BEN! is the one she will go to for comfort and joy and share her sorrows with. We will be secondary to that. It is all natural and good, but takes a bit of adjusting.
Keziah, Ezra and Boaz have all left home, but none are married. Though they’ve moved out, they haven’t left our family. All three come visit periodically. Keziah was bridesmaid in the wedding. The boys, unfortunately weren’t able to make it (they live about 4-5 hours from us).
We came home Tuesday night, and Avi sobbed in my arms saying, “I’ll never see her again”. That was an exaggeration, of course, but probably very much how it feels to an eight year old. I am sure there will be more tears today as we say our final goodbye. I have Skype set up on my computer now so we can keep in touch.
Thank you to everyone for your kind comments. So far I have heard from people viewing the wedding from: Bulgaria, England, Australia, Japan and France. We know we had family and friends from Canada and New Zealand viewing. If you watched the wedding from a country not listed, could you leave a comment? It is fun to see where viewers live.
Adalia has no intention of starting a blog (sorry) but will hopefully be adding plenty of photos on Facebook and I hope to be able to share some with you.
I’m off to say goodbye to my MARRIED daughter and son-in-law BEN!
We watched from Abu Dhabi, UAE. What a lovely and perfect day. We were crying our eyes out during the father daughter dance. Thank you for sharing!
I checked in on the wedding from Hawaii – and having been “that daughter” who married a guy from another country then proceeded to move thousands of miles and an ocean away from my family (my family lives in BC, Canada and I live in Hawaii), I want to say I am glad you have Skype set up, and plans for Facebook photos, and Adalia you may end up wanting a blog (even if it’s just for you and your family, private) to share everything.
🙂
We watched from Switzerland. I was impressed by the sincerity and the simplicity, it just seemed so authentic. That’s also what I appreciate about your blog. Thank you for sharing! God’s blessing to the young couple and your whole family.
I posted a comment earlier on Facebook and the live stream but I guess you didn’t see it. My family watched from ITALY and it meant so much to us. Thank them for allowing it to be shared. I have been able to have conversations with my kids about how doing it right looks because of them. I think that this process must be a little like childbirth Joy and pain combined. Imagine how hard it would be if it wasn’t someone like BEN! We are praying for blessings for you all. I loved viewing the love the kids had for each other on the live stream!
I watched from Norway. What a beautiful couple! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
And here from Brazil!!!
I watched from Sweden. I appreciated the opportunity after spending years reading this blog. Can hardly remember when I started anymore.
I was only able to see a minute or two before the screen kept going black, alas–but I saw as I was trying to watch that there were 111 or 112 other people trying to watch. I’m in Germany.
I was watching from Denmark – and now I finally get how to pronounce Adalia :)! God Bless.
I tuned in from Argentina 🙂
I watched from sunny Spain. I too had problems with Adalia’s name! Congratulations to the happy couple and family! 🙂
I thought it was aah-dah-lee-uh
Same here!
I so wanted to peek in at the wedding…..my work computer blocked it, and it wouldn’t let my mobile tablet or phone view either. So…no peeking for me, and I was very sad. I went to lunch with a friend, and she was very understanding of a person wanting to peek at a wedding of “friends” she has never met. I know it was beautiful, wonderful, and just right. Congrats to the couple, and my mommy heart feels your pain also…. (PS, I am only in Wyoming!!)
Brussels, Belgium! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to witness this beautiful wedding, Adalia and Ben seem so happy and perfect for each other. Congratulations to all of you!
Your exactly right! When our first daughter married it was an adjustment of the heart. Yes, I knew it by the Word of God and in my head but it translated to my heart a couple of days after the wedding and even though there was a rejoicing that a new family was formed there was also a grieving even though their first home was just outside our kitchen window!!! And there will continue to be adjustments but to be honest you just move with it. I believe that having a good understanding of God’s Word encourages you through these times and gives you the vision and the strength to encourage their oneness, knowing that a godly healthy marriage is the best place to raise godly healthy children. The best act of love, I can do for my grandchildren is encouraging my daughter and my son’in law’s, love in the Lord and their oneness! How wonderful that you can now do this even from such a vast distance through the technologies of today. God bless and I plan to visit your daughter and Ben on this side of the world 🙂
And you’ve a viewer from Ireland here. Congrats to the happy kissing-obsessed couple.
I tuned in for a few minutes from Lithuania.
I watched from Malaysia. Congratulations Adalia and Ben
I have watched from Poland. I have been the follower of your blog for at least 4 years now. Part of the atraction is the fact that I used to live just outside Vancouver for many years and knoe Bellingham andn area well. My best wishes for the newly weds!
Long time lurker, formerly from Canada & now living in Saudi Arabia. Congratulations to the newly weds!
I watched from glasgow Scotland where I am on study abroad! Congrats to the lovely couple!
Watched from Israel for a few minutes until the kids needed me
Renee, reading these comments is such a blessing. .. look at your worldwide impact and influence. It makes me choke up. I’m so glad to call you friend. I love that so many others get exposure to your world through your blog. You are so humble, you will brush this off but I’m telling you anyway how wonderful you are!
Loved watching from near(ish) London, England. Lots of good wishes to the happy couple and your family.
Was able to watch for a few minutes from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!
I am a bit late on my blogging, so haven’t actually watched the wedding, but seen pictures you posted here on your blog – what a lovely couple!
Congratulations from Israel !!