Photo by Louis Liang (4/9/2011)
Story Line: A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. (originally published on 4/15/2011)
Reflection: "All the precious time Like the wind, the years go by. Precious butterfly. Spread your wings and fly.
She'll change her name today. She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.
Standing in the bride-room just staring at her. She asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not sure-I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
She leaned over
Gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there, Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time." "Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry"
Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have done something right. To deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses
I couldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is. I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
Every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses..." song by Bob Carlisle
Analisa and Dave's wedding was attended by families and friends representing many races, religions, national origins and cultures of six continents that I could identify. That reminded me of a line from one of my favorite songs: "There is so much that we share that it's time we're aware, it's a small world after all."
Update 4/9/2021 (on 10th anniversary):
Through The Years
Congratulations to Analisa and Dave. Thanks Anand for sharing your joy with everybody!
Posted by: Sam | April 15, 2011 at 09:58 PM
Congratulations! It is wonderful to see these photos, both old and new. Thank you so much for sharing!
Posted by: micro CEO | April 16, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Congratulations to Dave and best wishes to Analisa!
Posted by: Rommel | April 16, 2011 at 02:48 AM
1. Analisa, So happy to see your wedding photos posted at Friday Reflections. Congratulations and send my rbest wishes to Dave as well.
Best regards,KK Chee (Ken Chee)
2. "Lovely. Congratulations!" Brian
3. our heartiest congrats on analisa's wedding... she looks like an angel and the couple look a perfect pair.... please pass on our congratulations to both of them... Ronak and Namrata
4. Congratulations again! Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. I can see all smiles and every one is happy. I am also happy for all of you esp Analisa and Dave. Pls convey my best wishes to them. Thanks. Rgds, shw.
Posted by: Well Wishers (email and FB) | April 16, 2011 at 04:21 AM
Anand - Great pictures and congratulations to Analisa and Dave ! You rightly look like a very proud father.
Posted by: John McMahon | April 16, 2011 at 08:08 AM
1. Congratulations Anand!
What a beautiful daughter and wedding. You look most distinguished. But more than that, I love the feeling of joy and connection. You are a lucky man, with a lucky daughter. A father’s visible love is the most important gift a daughter can ever be given as it is her foundation for live and self esteem. Thank you for sharing this. J
2. Congratulations Anand on your daughter’s wedding! AJ
Posted by: Notes from friends to Anand | April 16, 2011 at 10:12 AM
A very beautiful young lady.
Posted by: MD | April 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM
What a joyous occasion for your family, Anand! Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures. May the lovely couple have a lifetime of happiness together.
Posted by: Thomas | April 16, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Anand and Luisa:
Our congratulations to both of you and particularly to Analisa for a great wedding in a lovely setting. Thanks for sharing your joy with Rekha and I. It felt good to be with some of the people I had not seen in years!
Posted by: Bipin Shah | April 16, 2011 at 03:31 PM
Congratulations! I have a 7 year old daughter, so will have a same experience as you. Seen from the pictures, the father's hair becomes white while the girl is growing up. A father loves his daughter forever, it is always true before or after she flies out of the nest."
Posted by: Zhicong (FB) | April 16, 2011 at 06:08 PM
Lovely parents of the lovely bride and bridegroom.. was lovely to see the pictures and Analisa sure looked gorgeous .. and there is a very very happy look on everyone's faces... wishing you guys the best..
Posted by: Alka | April 16, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Congratulations! What a wonderful and romantic wedding reception…
By the way, I also see a very happy “father”
Posted by: Boon Seng | April 16, 2011 at 09:10 PM
Nicely Written. Great Photos. Congratulations.
Do send my regards to Analisa and Dave, beauty couple.
Posted by: KH | April 17, 2011 at 07:42 AM
Hello Anand Uncle,
Would like to congratulate you on your Daughter - Analisa's wedding.
Best Wishes for the couple.
Regards, Sahil A Deora
"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." - Randy Pausch
Posted by: Sahil | April 17, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Congratulations, and thanks for sharing this wonderful moment of your life
Posted by: Alex | April 17, 2011 at 04:17 PM
BTW, below reflection is just your story…you must be proud at the same time sorry to let her go out of your world
Posted by: Jay | April 17, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Congratulations to your daughter’s wedding, She is so beautiful. I am sure that you are very proud of her.
Thanks for sharing and sending me the Friday Reflections: which I have been learning and enjoying from it.
Take care and all the best!
Posted by: Jane | April 17, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Congratulations! And thanks for sharing the old and new photos.. they tell a story of a proud father.
Posted by: Jerry | April 17, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Congratulations to Anand and Luisa. Thank you very much for sharing wonderful pictures. Analisa is so beautiful. Best wishes to Analisa and Dave!
Posted by: Hideki Yoshinaga | April 17, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Congratulations!!! The last 2 photos are really cool.. before then and now. I like it. Regards, Khay Inn
Posted by: Khay Inn | April 18, 2011 at 03:37 AM
Congratulations. what a lovely couple.
Posted by: HB | April 18, 2011 at 03:39 AM
Congratulations on the wedding…nice pictures!
Posted by: Kim | April 18, 2011 at 03:41 AM
A happy, proud, and sad day all at the same time.
Sad because you want them to be yours always and not have to share them with anyone else. At least this is the way I feel about my kids.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Jose | April 18, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Congratulations to Analisa and Dave on your wedding! I remember first meeting Analisa when she was a toddler in Papa's arms. Now I am a father of a 10 yr old daughter and am also looking forward to one day experiencing the same joy.
Anand and Luisa, you've done a wonderful job raising a beautiful daughter.
Posted by: Ken | April 18, 2011 at 09:55 AM
1. very touching!! What a beautiful daughter!! Frank
2. Wow! Nice photos of a beautiful bride and her proud dad. Chester
3. WOW.
4. Beautiful daughter, thanks for sharing!Mary
Posted by: Email messages | April 18, 2011 at 04:50 PM
Nice photos of your daughter's wedding. I am sure it was a happy time for everyone.
Posted by: Don | April 18, 2011 at 09:59 PM
Dear Anand and Luisa
Congratulations to both of you. Please convey our best wishes to Analisa and Dave. It is always great to have an adiition of a son to the family.
With lots of love
Shruti and Piyush
Posted by: Shruti and Piyush | April 19, 2011 at 07:37 AM
Dear Anand and Luisa,
Congratulations on your daughter's wedding!
Analisa is so beautiful with Dave. How lovely she is!
Nob and I are wishing them a happy and peaceful marriage life.
We Japanese are still struggling with a natural disaster and a man-made monster called radiation. We are most grateful to the people in the world for their aid. At the same time, we are very sorry to horrify them with radiation still now. It is very depressing.
I miss you. I hope the day will come to see you and your family.
Please give my best regards to all of your family.
Take care and keep in touch.
Fondly,
Yoko
Posted by: Yoko and Nob | April 19, 2011 at 07:45 AM
Thanks for sharing those beautiful wedding pictures with us. Please pass on our congratulations and best wishes to Analisa and Dave. Similarly congratulation goes to you and Luisa too on achieving that one of the major milestone of your life as a parent of Analisa for the “Kanyadaan”, which as you know, what they say about in our Hindu culture …..“The ritual of Kanya Daan is considered very auspicious in Hindu religion. It is a very pious and dutiful ritual which is said to bring fortune as well as relief from the sins for the bride’s parents.. Kanyadaan means when the father hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective groom. This way the father gives her daughter as a gift to the groom. As per tradition, groom is considered a form of Lord Vishnu. Thus, presenting him gifts is deemed as the greatest honor for the parents of the bride. As a result, they offer their daughter to the groom, who is their most cherished gift. As a symbol of acceptance, the groom touches the right shoulder of the bride, promising to take care of her and holding her responsibility”
Regards
Urmil
Posted by: urmil desai | April 19, 2011 at 07:46 AM
My dear Anand,Please convey our best wishes for a happy married life, to young couple
Mama,mami,Anish and Vineeta
The computer has started after 45 days Arun Trivedi
Posted by: Arun Trivedi | April 19, 2011 at 07:55 AM
Dear Anand @ Luisa,
We trust this will find all of you in excellent health and very busy for the preparation of Analisa’s Wedding.
Both myself and Vinookaki are indeed very much thankful to you all for the kind invitation to attend the function and How we wish it was possible for us to be present and share your Joy and happiness. Nevertheless, please accept our
Heartiest congratulations and convey our best wishes to Anna and David for very long, happy and prosperous
Married life.
We both pray Almighty with our folded hands that He may Shower His choicest Blessings on the newly married couple.
Shaileshkaka and Sheelakaki has also asked me to convey their Blessings to Anna & David. We all are OK here.
Please Remember and give our humble respects to Nalinibhabhi and Lola.We all are OK here.
With lots of Love<><>Shishirkaka and Vinookaki..
Posted by: shishir | April 19, 2011 at 07:57 AM
Beautiful day for a beautiful couple. =)
Posted by: RJ Go | April 19, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Congratulations! I didn’t know your daughter just got married. They are a very good looking couple. I wish them the best, happiness, health and all. Regards,
Posted by: Tom | April 19, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Many congratulations to the Father of the Bride!!!!
Very beautiful photos- thanks for sharing them on Friday Reflections.
Wishing Analisa and Dave much happiness together.
Ann
Posted by: Ann | April 19, 2011 at 12:13 PM
AHH I did see this email come through but I couldn’t read it, not because of the large number for accumulated emails but because I knew I instantly would cry.
Daughters and fathers are bound by a very special bond, in the best cases these bonds are the ones that evolves humanity… if a father does his duty the daughter will grow up to trust another man and perhaps give continuity to the greatness of the human race.
And on that 2nd part is where my emotions are difficult to control.
Luisa look stunning, and you striking…for the bride and groom I have no words.
You will love this new phase of life, enjoy it!
Posted by: Costa Rican friend | April 28, 2011 at 08:34 AM
What a beautiful pictures and Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary! Analisa was 3 years old the first time I met her in the Philippines and in 1995 when I came to America, she was already 12 years old. We got along so well and thank you for the love and for sharing your room. I was able to watched all those teen shows 😂 Thank you for all beautiful memories especially your wedding day! Thank you for having me and Samantha for being part of that wonderful day! Congratulations!!!!
Posted by: Amy | April 09, 2021 at 06:23 AM
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already!! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Future 25 | April 09, 2021 at 08:06 AM
Beautiful article. Brought tears to my eyes.
Posted by: LMC | April 09, 2021 at 11:11 AM
Oh I love that song - butterfly kisses. Even till today, I tear up at the part when he sings “she’ll change her name today...”. Every single time. 🥲
Posted by: Young Entrepreneur | April 09, 2021 at 11:16 AM
Beautiful! Ten years already!!!
Posted by: Yogini | April 09, 2021 at 11:17 AM
Letting them go, to seek their own Paradise. Your love instilled in them is the only currency they'll need. So beautiful! So blessed! Anyone would salivate at such beauty & happiness! Bravo Anand & Luisa👏
Posted by: Carol | April 09, 2021 at 04:01 PM
Very nice handsome couple and proud families
Best luck ahead
Posted by: kuldip shodhan | April 09, 2021 at 09:15 PM
Very nice couple and lucky family.your daughter is so pretty.thanks for sharing
Posted by: Pragna trivedi | April 09, 2021 at 09:58 PM
Very nice Friday reflections-to share happiness...thanks, Anand.
Posted by: Cebuana | April 10, 2021 at 09:22 AM
Lovely heartwarming pictures of you and your daughter posted yesterday. It is fortunate for her you have a very big heart.
Posted by: The Good Earth ( AT) | April 10, 2021 at 02:52 PM
Oh this is so beautiful! How, day by day, our children’s growing up and growing into themselves. Photos bring back such wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing this!
Posted by: Mina | April 10, 2021 at 04:43 PM
Always your baby girl. Happy Anniversary to Analisa and Dave. Just beautiful.
Posted by: Denise | April 10, 2021 at 05:02 PM
You are such a sweet father Tito :) Dave and Analisa, more anniversaries to come. God bless your whole family po :) Regards to tita Luisa, Analisa, Rajiv and their families po. I miss the kids :)
Posted by: Tintin | April 10, 2021 at 06:09 PM
Eye's are watering over here! So happy for you guys! Congrats and to many more! Blessed!
Posted by: humble warrior | April 10, 2021 at 07:45 PM