Bethany Hamilton, whose story of resilience and faith after losing her left arm to a shark attack in 2003 that inspired the film Soul Surfer, got married to her fiancé Adam Dirks, a Christian youth minister, on Aug. 18 in Kauai, Hawaii, the pro-surfer announced on Twitter.
“Today was the most beautiful, wonderful best day of my life! God is more than good(: Excited to live life with my husband Adam Dirks!” she wrote.
The 23-year-old athlete, who was born in Hawaii, won an ESPY Award in 2004 and wrote the autobiography called “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board” that was turned into a movie in 2011. After the shark attack, it took her just a month to get back out on the waves on the board.
Hamilton, who credited her rapid recovery and perseverance despite a tremendous loss to her Christian faith in God, held her marriage ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii, in an intimate, but not too small crowd, according to US Magazine.
“I’m born and raised there and still live there, so getting married where I’m from,” she told Us Weekly at an event in Santa Monica, Calif. earlier this month.
The couple met on the beach in spring 2012 and Dirks, 25, proposed on April 13th. Hamilton has said earlier this year that since they've met, Dirks has just swept her off her feet.
“I just had to trust in God and know that He had someone special for me.”
As for their honeymoon, “we’re doing a non-tropical honeymoon,” she said. “We’re gonna get a cabin. It’s going to be cute.”
Fans poured congratulatory comments on Hamilton’s Facebook and Twitter page, reminding her of the importance of God in marriage as well as thanking her for being an inspiration to them and their loved ones.
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11,” wrote Sebastiao Ribeiro.
“Congrats Bethany. You are such an inspiration to my daughter. She has major hearing loss in both ears and is an all star cheerleader. For try outs she wrote on her arm “I don’t need easy I just need possible” she told her coaches if Bethany can surf with one arm I can cheer with a hearing loss,” said Barbara Andrews-Carlson.
“’The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord make His Face shine upon you, And give you peace.’ Marriage takes Three… you know this, but many do not these days! May yours be a light shining in the darkness, as a Witness to the Praise of Glory!” wrote Bree A. Dail.
