Bailey is Married!

June 19, 2012 in Christian Living, The Kitchen Table with 7 Comments

I had the privilege of performing the wedding ceremony for my eldest daughter this past weekend.

While Bailey will always be our “baby”, things are now different. She is now under the care of another man, her husband – Michael.

As a father, this brings lots of mixed emotions.

I have concern. Can Michael possibly love Bailey as much as Stacy and I have loved Bailey? Can Michael possibly care for Bailey as much as Stacy and I have cared for Bailey? Can Michael possibly meet the needs of Bailey as much as Stacy and I have been able to meet her needs?

I have sorrow – not in Bailey’s getting married, but in the passage of time. Bailey and Michael got married at a camp where they both met and both attended and worked. I could look out the window of the chapel and see Bailey as a young 7 year old girl running around with her pig tails. Now, she was dressed in a beautiful white gown, preparing to move onto her next stage of life. Where have those years gone? Why did she grow up so fast? She was just a little girl sitting on my lap, now she is married. Amazing. If the next 22 years go by as fast as these past 22 … ugh …

I have pride. Bailey has turned into a beautiful young woman – beautiful both inside and out. I am proud of the woman she has become. She is very public about her faith and seeks to live a life that is honoring to God.

I have joy. Michael is a great guy. When he asked me if he could ask Bailey to marry him, I shared that Stacy and I really had two desires in the future spouse for our children. One is that they love Jesus. This is obvious in Michael’s life. He loves Jesus in both word and in deed. The second is that they love our child. We also see this in the way he interacts with Bailey. He truly loves her. So, we have joy that Michael is now part of our family and that he and Bailey are together. We are truly blessed and thankful. I could not imagine the pain and heartache if we did not approve of the man she were marrying!

The wedding ceremony was very emotional. I was not sure going into it how emotional it would be. I knew I was in trouble when I walked to the back of the church just prior to the wedding party processing in. Our youngest daughter, Charlsea (one of the maids of honor – with her sister Shelby) came up to me and said, “Dad, are you going to cry?” I couldn’t even speak to answer her. Words just wouldn’t come – just tears. In fact, I am getting teary right now just reliving this. Joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness – the whole gamut of the emotional spectrum.

Now their life as husband and wife begins. It will be fun to see them grow as a couple. They will have times of joy and times of heartache.

I would be interested in hearing from others who have had children get married. What emotions did you experience?

Here are a couple photos for you to enjoy:

  • http://www.facebook.com/mark.kauffman.37 Mark Kauffman

    Matt there is no way, I could have held it together as well as you did in addressing your daughter and her  almost- at-the-time husband!  (In fact, I wondered if you really would, at the start of your comments…)  In fact, it occurred to me, that not many fathers, get to give their new sons-in-law such a public charge, regarding their lives with your daughter…    You of course did it with much more tact than I did, at the time of my daughter’s wedding!  To answer your open question: I was sweating profusely, incoherent, barely responsive, white as a sheet, and babbling like a fool– in my mind, in complete control– in everyone else’s; ready to be committed to the “loony bin”!!!  I have to admit, it was one of the more enjoyable weddings and receptions that I have attended in a  long time…

    • http://www.mattsoderstrum.com/ Matt Soderstrum

      Mark – it certainly was a day of wide ranging emotions! Thanks for the kind words.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joy.lee.5454021 Joy Lee

    Matt, you were amazing as always!   I always love the way you are so real.  You have a wonderful, special way of touching the heart!  Stacy, look at the muscles in your arm!  Wow!  You look almost as young as the beautiful bride!
     

    • http://www.mattsoderstrum.com/ Matt Soderstrum

      Thanks Joy! You are too kind. My wife is a rock star!

  • Kathleen

    Congratulations Matt to you and your family! It is so great to see and hear about God’s Blessings :) We stand in a very special position when we watch our children grow and then have the opportunity to preside when they marry their chosen. Watching them grow as a couple and then as a family is even a greater Blessing!! Time goes even faster but we pray that the Blessings from God will continue and multiply. God Bless!! Love the photos!!

    • http://www.mattsoderstrum.com/ Matt Soderstrum

      Thanks Kathleen. I trust all is well with you. The day was truly a blessing!

  • Don Walters

    Matt, I’m always humbled when I witness a marriage of 2 strong Christians. Their love of God and each other gives them such a huge advantage over those that don’t know Christ. Bailey and Michael seem so mature and seem to “have it all together”. I predict that they will have a great life together, and be a wonderful witness to those that know them.
    As for you, I’ll never forget how emotional it was for me to “give Becky away” to Erik. I was thinking, “Does he know how special she really is? Will he treat her with the respect and love I think she should have? Will he really make her happy?” It wasn’t easy to hand her over to someone so young, so “new to the things of the world”, so to speak. But I knew that they both relied on Jesus, sought after God’s will in their lives, so knowing that God was in it, I was comforted. It’s turned out great. Erik treats her well, and is an incredible father to their children (my grandchildren!) Once again, God’s plan was better than my plan, as we expected Erik to take his bride to California, and then when they moved to Tennesee, we didn’t think they’d ever move to Iowa. Either way, we didn’t think we’d be a very big part of their lives. But it was Erik that wanted to live here. How great was that?
    Congratulations Matt and Stacy. Many more weddings are coming your way!!!