We are honored and thrilled to announce that our oldest son, Zach (almost 30), blessed us with another daughter last weekend. He married Mary, who works for the family business. Needless to say, everybody in the family AND in the office was in attendance…except for our new Operations Manager, Brian. He graciously volunteered to keep an eye on the website, email accounts, and author dashboard, and to take care of the pets. It was a relief not to have to worry about anything for three days straight!
The ceremony was outdoors. Huge thunder-bumpers were rolling in the background and a few lightning strikes added to the amazing (i.e. exciting!) ambiance. During the ceremony, I kept whispering to myself, “Talk faster! Hurry up! It’s going to POUR!”
Zach is currently in the PGA program, aiming to become a golf pro. The ceremony was at the course/country club where he works, on the 18th green. It was really cool (yet hot as Hades!!).
They wrote their own vows and there wasn’t a dry eye on the green. After they were announced as husband and wife, the officiant said he had been asked by the couple to tell one last story. He talked how Richard adopted and raises Zach and his two oldest siblings as his own (my ex was a deadbeat, and gave up his parental rights many years ago). Back then, Zach was known by his birth last name in high school. Everybody called him by that name, not by his first name. So, when the adoption occurred, he opted to keep his previous last name, with our blessing, of course.
When Zach proposed to Mary on Christmas Day at our house, he told us what was later announced to all our loved ones during the wedding ceremony. Zach and Mary are both changing their last names to Hoy to honor Richard for his selflessness, his sacrifice, and the love he had and has for three children who weren’t biologically his, but who he has always considered his own flesh and blood.
Zach turned around to look at Richard during the announcement, and was sobbing. Richard was sobbing. I was sobbing. The entire wedding party was sobbing. It was so beautiful! After the ceremony ended, one of the groomsmen, who knew Zach’s biological father, said, “Wow. That was powerful!!!”
After we got back to the clubhouse, and after my running mascara was repaired, we ate, drank, and were merry for several hours before the happy couple escaped. They are currently on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico and we’re loving the Facebook photos they’re sharing!
I suspect we’ll be grandparents before long! Not sure how I feel about that but, since three of our children are adults, it’s shocking that it hasn’t happened already. 😉
I will post photos from the wedding next week.
RELATED:
I’m Going to Be a Mother-in-Law Again!
Wedding Pics (from our daughter’s wedding last November)
Back From Maine And We Have A New Daughter-In-Law!
I’m Going to Be a Mother-in-Law!
Ali Made Another Gorgeous, Five-Tier Wedding Cake! Wanna See?
Photo by Erica Johnson, EJ Photography
Angela Hoy lives on a mountain in North Georgia. She is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the President and CEO of BookLocker.com and AbuzzPress, and the author of 24 books.
Follow Angela: twitter | facebook | linkedin
Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
Learn more here: https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/
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I am delighted for all of you! I got teary-eyed too. You are blessed with a very loving family!
Phenomenal! Ahoy and many blessings to the newest Hoys!
Congratulations!!! And, that story definitely brought tears to my eyes. Just beautiful!!
Susan Kaplan-Williams, author
Auntie Suzie Raises a Turkey
http://booklocker.com/books/4442.html
HOORAH!! Zach and my daughter are the same age, and I feel as though they have grown up together. Congratulations to the NEW Mr. and Mrs. Hoy. I remember when you reached out to me in my PI days. Blessings on all!
You know, Angela, I remember when Zach was a just a kid (in 1998). I had just joined your newsletter and you were giving snippets of family life.
Looking at this article, I can’t believe that this much time has passed and he has long since become a man. Where did the time go?
Zach and Mary are going to make a wonderful couple in life.
Thank you for sharing all these years.
Congratulations! I love the tears of joy!
I’m still crying after reading this. You really made my day. I love happy endings and you have such a wonderful husband, Ang. You are truly a blessed woman. I also want to say I love you all, and am happy to know you. You have a wonderful family. God bless Zach and his beautiful bride Mary. May they have a lifetime of happiness, love, and devotion to each other.
– Harry Husted, author
How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business
http://booklocker.com/books/1387.html
Insider Secrets to Wealth and Prosperity
http://booklocker.com/books/3075.html
Stop Smoking and Start Living
Learn of ways never heard of before to stop smoking.
http://booklocker.com/books/4475.html
Congratulations!!! Well, I cried just reading this, I can’t imagine how moving it must have been in person. Zach’s announcement regarding the name change gave me chills! What a lovely testimony of love for Richard! My compliments to both you and Richard for having raised such a principled, compassionate young man. My best wishes to the newlyweds. Looking forward to the photos! Cheers!
Pamela Allegretto
Bridge of Sighs and Dreams
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html
Two women clash in World War 2 Nazi-occupied Rome.