A Dutch Wedding

Isn't she beautiful?

Hannah's wedding was my inspiration for a European adventure this Spring. 

Way back in Hawaii she and I had conversations about her longing to be married to the Superstar Husband that we were praying for.

This conversation was continued in Israel where the Lord gave us a precious time together.  At that point things looked horribly dark and depressing for her but we continued to pray and believe.

And somewhere along the line I said something about coming to celebrate when the blessed event took place. 

Not long after Israel I started hearing news about a Dutch fellow named Edwin that she had met. Edwin's mother thought Hannah would make a lovely wife for her son so she arranged for the two of them to meet. 

There was coffee but no commitment until his mother delivered a block of Dutch cheese from Edwin to Hannah who was working back in Israel again. 

How fun is that?  

A marriage sealed with a block of cheese! 

Needless to say, she left Israel and came to marry the one her heart was longing for. 

That's my version of the story... and the cheese bit really did happen in the Garden Tomb of Jerusalem. 

This wedding was amazing on so many levels.

It allowed me to reconnect with my very precious German/Norwegian friend Kristine, to meet Edwin, to spend some time with Hannah and meet her amazing friends and family, AND to celebrate this superstar miracle wedding while enjoying the lovely land of Holland.

We made our way to the pre-wedding luncheon in the "pope-mobile" and the festivities began. 

Here I am , high and lifted up and waving to the minions below.

After the luncheon we made our way to the City Hall where the legal part of a Dutch wedding has to take place. 

There was a huge windmill there which seemed fitting. 

Now legally married, pictures we taken outside and then we all walked down the road to a lovely old stone church where bells were ringing in anticipation of the blessing to be pronounced on the couple.

Unfortunately most of the message was lost on me, being in Dutch, but the worship was incredible and the Spirit of God was in that place.

It was a very God honouring ceremony.

Another HUGE bonus was getting to see Bruce and Hetty.  Bruce was the leader of the Word by Heart school Hannah, Kristine and I had attended in Hawaii two years earlier.

Following the ceremony there was the final episode of this very incredible day.

We drove to another nearby village where a delicious meal was served followed by speeches, cake, dancing and much merrymaking.

He truly makes all things beautiful in His time.

And I was privileged to be a witness to this beautiful miracle.