Wedding Day!
Huong's and my journey together in life began 10 years ago on my family's first visit to Viet Nam. In the early years Huong did not speak English, but thanks to the help of translators we were able to begin to share our lives together through letters. When I returned to Viet Nam a few years later, Huong was learning English, but I still managed to wear the helpful interpreters out! The day I received my first email from Huong, our lives changed. No longer did we need to wait for an interpreter to help us with our communications, we were now on our own and our relationship flourished. I always knew I would attend Huong's wedding and toady, is that wonderful day! God is so good and faithful!
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| Huong and Karla on morning of wedding day |
Two days before the wedding, Huong and Nam arranged for us three Mom's to have dinner together. I had met Huong's Mom on my last trip, but I had not met Nam's Mom. It was a lovely night that led to Nam's Mom inviting me to her home the next evening to meet Nam's side of the family. I immediately accepted! Nam's Mom and family prepared a huge feast and I was having so much fun, I didn't want to leave but we had to go pick up Huong and Nam's wedding clothes and my Ao Dai before the shops closed!
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| The "3 mom's" |
The morning of the wedding arrived and we first met at Huong's home. I loved the traditions and customs I got to experience first-hand. Huong's relatives gathered and each received a pink rose, identifying them as part of Huong's family. Nam's family would receive red roses. When my pink rose was pinned on me, I was so proud to be identified as Huong's second Mom. Beautifully decorated baskets of food were paraded into Huong's home and laid on the table. Each basket was more beautiful than the next.
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| one of the beautiful flower arrangements |
In Viet Nam if you are a family member or very close relative you bestow a gift of gold to the bride and groom. The beauty of this ceremony unfolded in front of me as Huong's parents stood up and placed a gold necklace on Huong and a gold ring on Nam. Huong motioned to me... it was my turn. I stood up with my two boxes of gold. I placed a gold necklace on Huong and a gold ring on Nam. And just as the flood gate to my tears burst, the photographer comes in for a close up! I can only imagine how those photos look!! I was so overcome with emotion. I love Nam and I was so pleased with Huong's choice of such a fine husband. As Huong's second Mom, I could not have been more proud. Next we went to Nam's home. Nam's Mom and Dad were first to present their gifts of gold to Huong and Nam... followed by their aunts and uncles. It is truly something to behold and so extraordinarily special.
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| Huong and Nam on wedding day |
Huong and Nam - Morning of Wedding Day
Soon, we were off to the wedding celebration. From the start of the wedding to the end of the celebration, Huong's and Nam's families embraced and included me. We arrived at the hall and Huong and Nam's parents were already positioned at the entrance of the hall, ready to greet the guests. The "Mom's" took my hand and gently placed me next to them on the receiving line. Three Mom's and I was one of them! The generosity extended by Huong and Nam's parents is truly overwhelming. After all the guests arrived, the parents were ushered to our seats to await the introduction of the bride and groom.
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| The wedding couples moms and dads |
Huong had asked me to say a few words at the wedding on the stage with the parents. So, I am thinking that all the parents say a few words... wrong! Turns out that one family member from the bride's said and one family from the groom's side are chosen to speak at the wedding. Yes... at this point I am totally thinking I am not worthy. I delivered my speech that Giving it Back to Kids staff member and friend, Lanh, interpreted for the 700 guests. Lanh and I had practiced my small speech many times, but now I look over at Lanh and she has tears all welled up in her eyes! Now it is Huong's turn to speak. In front of 700 relatives and guests, Huong speaks in perfect English... thanking her parents for raising her and Nam, thanks the guests for attending their beautiful wedding and then thanks me for always being at her side the past 10 years... telling the guests about our special relationship of mother and daughter. Once again, I'm a teary eyed mess, but I quickly look over to Lanh who has to somehow pull it together to interpret what Huong just said to the 700 relatives and guests!
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| The Bride and Groom on the wedding day |
I knew from the moment I met Huong that I would walk beside her, her my whole life, and now here I was attending the most important day of her life and seeing her get married to her wonderful husband, Nam. I will close with this. Robert had to ask me tons of times to come to Viet Nam before I said yes. Each time he'd ask I would politely turn him down. He'd just smile that Robert smile, and ask me again the next time he saw me! If you are like me, next time Robert asks you to come to Viet Nam, say "Yes". It will forever change and enrich your life and grow your heart tenfold.
Thank you for letting me share and May God bless you, Karla
Please write me if your able to invest in one of "our" kids lives as Karla did. We have both Skype (teach English and build relationship) or our friendship program. Both are at no cost beyond a commitment from you!
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