It's been a while since I've posted in the old blog! Let's just say it has been crazy busy around here ;) I finally have a little time to stop and breath....right before school starts Monday. Ew! Not really looking forward to it, but I guess it'll be nice to get back into the swing of things. After all it's been part of my life for the past 21 years! On the bright side though only a year and a semester till I am done.....or four semesters, which I don't know about you, sounds a lot better to me than a year and a semester haha. Then I will, hopefully, be graduated with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education and on my way to be a teacher! Woohoo!
But let's get to the real reason why I started this post :) My wedding day! August 3rd, 2012. To say it was perfect does not do it justice....it was more than perfect. There were only a few bumps along the way, as far as plans getting put into action, but other than that it went smoothly and I felt this indescribable happiness all day. Me, Shay and my mom arrived at the temple at 10:00. I had so many butterflies in my stomach and was nervous what the day would bring. But through all of that, every time I looked at Shay I felt peace and knew I had nothing to be scared of or to be nervous for. Plus my mom was by my side too. From 10 to 12 was a blur. The wedding ceremony itself was beautiful and I couldn't have been happier to be sealed to Shay for time and all eternity and to have him as my companion for this life and the next. After the ceremony, I changed into my wedding gown before going out to take pictures with the family. The bride's changing room inside the temple is gorgeous and you can't help but feel so beautiful when you are in there. The chandeliers are magnificent and the mirrors are amazing. Everything in that room is perfect and not a thing is out of place. It was really cool to see other brides as well and to share in their happiness. Every single one of us was glowing and happy in our own individual way. After changing, we went out and took pictures with the family. That was so much fun and the photographer did an amazing job. Here are some from the temple for you to take a gander at :) These are just a few. I will for sure post more later.
 |
| Shay and I right after we came out of the temple |
 |
| My side of the family |
 |
| Brothers, Sisters, and Parents |
 |
| From L to R: Dad, Step Mom, Me, Shay, and My Mom |
 |
| Sisters L to R: Anna, Sister-in-Law Emily, Me, Summerly, Phoebe, Amy |
 |
| Brothers L to R: Brother-in-law Troy, Jimmy, Me, Mike, and Nephew Kevin |
 |
| Hilarious picture with all the boys L to R: Quin, Jimmy, Zac, Shay, Kevin, Troy, and Mike |
I was so excited to get the pictures from my wedding day back. There were over 220 pictures! From the temple and reception combined. I want to print some off and start putting them in a scrapbook, but I just don't know where to begin. After the temple we had our luncheon at Jeremiah's, which was so yummy. There we shared a slide show Shay and I had made and our parents said a few words.....then lastly Shay played sang a song for me while he played the guitar. A moment that I will cherish forever.... :) When the luncheon was over, it was onto the reception. The reception went great. There were a few snags here and there, but surprisingly I just took a deep breath and said, "Come what may!" Shay was actually the one freaking out haha. The day before the wedding we made a promise to each other that if either of us freaked out or were getting stressed we would calm each other down. This was because we knew this day was once in a lifetime. We wanted it to be a day of happy memories, since it was something we had both been planning and looking forward to for months! As the reception went on more and more people came. It was so good to see everyone and even more exciting when it came time to cut the cake and do the dances. I loved the daddy/daughter dance and the dance with Shay was everything I imagined it would be. I danced to "I hope you dance" by Leanne Womack with my dad and with Shay we danced to "All about us" by He is We. After the dances we did the garter and bouquet toss then ran to Shay's car through a tunnel of sparklers! Not gonna lie, I was real nervous haha. I did NOT want my veil to catch flame and end the night in the ER or something for a fried head haha. Luckily that didn't happen and Shay and I rode away in a decked out car with a lantern on his antenna and cans tagging along on his bumper. I am so grateful for my wedding day and try to remember it often. Not so much just because of what happened but because of the promises I made to Shay and my Heavenly Father. It was and always will be one of the best days of my life!
(Here are just a few from the reception.....there were tons. It will be a long process haha but I will post more when I have time!)
|
|
a gorgeous picture of my mom and sisters
 |
| Shay and I running to the car |
|
Lately I have been thinking a lot about the little things. Shay and I invited my sister, Amy and her son Kevin, my nephew, over Monday night for dinner at our cute little apartment. We had shake and bake chicken, with rolls, corn and mashed potatoes. We looked at wedding pictures and then had a short lesson about moments that matter most and watched a short clip from Mormong.org. In the short clip it shows moments of life that seem insignificant, but really define the course of our life. It testifies that it really is the small and simple things that determine the course of our living....and whether we are going to lead a life of happiness, or one of sadness...each moment matters and it would do us good to lift up our eyes and look for the simple and precious moments in life. There is also a quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell, which I fell in love with.....it says, "Moments are the molecules that make up eternity". What we decide to do from day to day determine the path we will take. Yesterday, that simple principle was testified to me right before my eyes and I have come to develop a testimony of the "molecules" that make up eternity. 
When Shay and I got married our sealer strongly suggested we go back to the temple as soon as possible because the bride, just having recieved her own endowments, forgets a lot of things. By going back while it is still fresh her mind, it is easier for her to recall those things that happened and their significance. Shay and I thougt this was sound advice and decided to take it and use it. So we set aside some time last night to go back to the temple and do some initiatories. We listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as we drove down to help set the mood and to help focus our minds. I was a little nervous and anxious to go, but had confidence that I would be okay. As we pulled up to the temple.....we saw all the gates were shut and there was a big sign that said "CLOSED, until September 4th". Shay and I just looked at each other and began laughing. Every time we haven't called down to the temple to make sure they have room, something goes wrong....you would think we would know by now to call down and make sure everything is "a-okay". However, this time it turned out to be a blessing. As Shay and I laughed, we pulled over to the side of the road and decided to get out anyways. We walked a long the outside, hand in hand, and reminisced about our wedding day and the day we took pictures. It was nice to talk about old memories and I loved the feelings it brought back as we did. We stood in silence for a couple of minutes and just looked at the temple. It gave me the opportunity to remember the peace I felt there when I went through to get my endowments and when I was sealed to Shay...something that I deeply needed to be reminded of, as my focus has been diverted lately to far less important things, like the stresses of school and work. As we got back in the car, we talked about what we should do next. We decided to drive up around the HUGE houses in Bountiful. It was nice to see that beauty comes in more ways than one, but it was also another moment where I realized that money isn't everything. I have always known this, but seeing those houses reaffirmed it even more. Shay and I have discussed several times, that we both desire a home where we can comfortably raise our family. A home that is large enough for all of us, but small enough to where it creates an environment of learning, safety, and love. I don't want my children to each have their own room, or to spend countless hours on video games and on the computer. Children need interaction....they need those social skills that will help them develop a positive self-esteem in themselves and help them build it in others. I want my home to be a place of laughter and togetherness....I think a lot of people in the world today, whether they are members of the church or not, miss out on this and forget the purpose of life and our duties as parents and mentors. Although looking at the HUGE houses in Bountiful made me think of those things, as I said before, it reminded me that beauty comes in more ways then one. If there is one thing about living up on the top of Bountiful that most people love, it has to be the view. Looking out and almost being able to see for what seems like forever, was amazing. Seeing the Great Salt Lake span clear across the Salt Lake Valley and then watching the sunset....it reminded me of the quote I had just heard the day before...."Moments are the molecules that make up eternity". After driving around for a little bit Shay and I became hungry and it has become tradition for us, that whenever we are in Bountiful, it is a must to stop at Nielson's. So without any hesitation we headed in that direction. We treated ourselves to a chicken sandwich for me, a grilled cheese for Shay and a cookies and cream concrete to share. However, the best time I had that night was on the drive home. Somehow Shay and I got on the topic of how we met...I swear to this day that it was the Spirit that pushed me to ask him out that one night at FHE, because every time I think of that moment in time, I cannot explain what made me move my legs, and call out his name....my only explanation is the guiding influence of the Spirit. That tiny and insignificant moment that changed the course of my life....forever. We talked all the way home and even sat in the car for several minutes, before we walked up to the apartment, up the three flights of stairs and found ourselves standing in our apartment....still talking about the feelings we had about each other and what lead us to make the decision we made....to marry each other for time and all eternity. Even better yet, later that night as we sat watching TV, I had this overwhelming feeling of love and admiration come over me, in which I turned my head towards Shay, took his hand and said, "I am so in love with you." Shay looked at me and smiled, then replied, "I am in love WITH YOU". The little moments or "molecules" of that night have made up an entire and complete memory. One that I will recall on for the rest of my life.....that complete and udder happiness that is rarely felt in this crazy and hectic world....
