Zee Vedding Lunsh-on!

After our sealing, Bill and I and my parents went back to our apartment. (Nothing brings greater joy to my heart than referring to things in first person plural possessive pronouns, i.e., we, us, ours.) Madre and Pops picked up our picture frames that we bought from D.I. and spray-painted ourselves (with some help from our friends Al and Loraine). The parentals were LIFE-savers by taking them to the church and setting them up prior to our reception. Then quick as a wink, we realized that we needed to be on our way to our wedding luncheon in Brigham City, or we would be late!

So we hopped in Lex, my masculine beater car, and zoomed down to the Maddox Lodge.

The Lodge was beautiful! I was so impressed and it smelled divine. I LOVE Maddox food. All the tables were set up, people were sitting down and conversing, and Bill and I mingled for a bit.

Bill mingling

Michelle, Me, Ashery, and Shananaba

  

Acting upon Judy's brilliant suggestion, Bill and I and decided that instead of your traditional toast, we would like our parents to put together "survival kits" for their future son/daughter-in-law. The point was to have the wedding party get to know the bride and groom a little bit better and to keep the mood light.

In the survival kit presented to me, I was given:
    
     A giant bottle of ranch -- because Bill pours ranch on everything. Especially potatoes.
     A blow horn -- to use to wake Bill up in the morning because a little nudge and a sweet-sing-
          songy "good morning" WILL NOT wake my Bill up.
     Earplugs -- to use to allow me to fall asleep at night when Bill starts to snore.
     A book of 5,087 trivia questions and answers -- because Bill is always spouting off random
          trivia. I need a chance to stump him!
     Sunglasses -- because Bill is always complaining about how bright it is.
     A purple vase -- because I need somewhere to put all the flowers Bill brings me. And purple is
          his favorite color. :)
     Roman Holiday -- the perfect chick flick to pop into the DVD player when Bill starts working on
          all his computery things.
     A stepping stool -- because both of us are vertically challenged and can't reach things in
          certain cupboards in our apartment.

Greg presenting me with the almighty bottle of ranch dressing.

Bill was presented with a survival kit containing:

     A clock -- because I'm always complaining about how there's not enough time in my day to get
          everything done.
     Movie tickets and Cars Pez dispensers -- to go see Cars 2 in the movie theater when it came
          out...because I LOVE Lightning McQueen.
     Toilet bowl cleaner -- because I'm always cleaning, and it's what I do for my job working for
           USU Housing.
     Gardening gloves -- because I used to be into a lot of that kind of thing back when I was in
          FFA and working for Allan Plant Co.
     Bubbles -- because I'm a kid at heart, and Bill can take me to a park and play bubbles with me!
     A gift certificate to the Emma Eccles Jones Theater -- I would DIE without the theater in my
          LIFE. This is essential to Bill's sanity.
     A gallon of hairspray -- to save Bill a little money...because I do, in fact, use that much
          hairspray.
     A box of Charleston Chews -- my favorite candy to share!
     A piggy pot holder -- I just love pigs...and baking?

Pops and Madre presenting the survival kit.

Note the yellow carnation that Bill stole from the vase in front of him and then placed in his lapel. ;)

After our parents presented each of us with these survival kits, lunch was served! And our waitress brought out an extra cup of ranch for Bill's baked potato. Yes. She was listening well. :)

We offered top sirloin steak, turkey steak, or fried chicken to our guests along with a never-ending supply of Maddox's delicious rolls.

I was so full! And then Judy and Greg decided that they would like to offer dessert to our guests as well! Snicker ice cream cake, or cheesecake. It was a piece of heaven by the spoonful.

It wasn't as terrible as I thought it might be sitting in front of everyone. I had Bill beside me to talk to and to distract me. Thank heavens. But rest assured, an occasional face was pulled now and again to various people in attendance.

When we were no longer hungry, and by that I mean stuffed full, everyone went their separate ways. And we two and our families wandered out to the cars.

Judy and Greg had picked up the tuxedos and swapped them from car to car making sure all the men had their tuxes.

Greg looked at Lex's headlights and noted that they needed to be buffed so that you could actually see the light shine out of them when you drove at night. He offered to buff them before we left on our honeymoon to Bear Lake. So we traveled down to South Weber to allow my father-in-law to do us such a magnificent service.

While Greg gave Lex a fix-up, Judy suggested Bill and I crash on the front couch for a nap to help us survive the rest of the evening. Brilliant idea. I need naps to survive any regular day...I think one would be especially appropriate on the day of your wedding!

And all too soon...

It was time for our reception!

We Love to See the Temple

Bill and I were finally sealed in the Logan Temple for time and all eternity on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 9:15 AM after a year and some odd days of dating. It was a positively beautiful and emotional day that would be quite hard to forget...but I'm sure after a month, certain things have already slipped my mind, while other memories are permanently locked inside my brain. :)

The night before the wedding, I fell asleep without a problem. And I woke up with a feeling of peace and immense excitement! I got ready as I normally do and rushed across the parking lot to Bill's apartment to eat breakfast. Everything was taken care of - our parents made it up safely, the Wedding Dreamer was setting up for our reception, our reservation at Maddox was squared away, I had my dress, Bill had his tux, we had all our temple clothing and our recommends, the sun was shining. Yes, that day was going to be a good day. We could enjoy our day together without so much as a worry.

Bill and I and our escorts needed to be at the temple an hour early, so we picked Greg up from his hotel and met my mom within the Logan temple at 8:15. The temple workers helped us with our things and took good care of us...especially me. Growing up in Young Womens', I can recall all the dozens of comments our leaders made about going to the temple for your first time and for your wedding day - the temple workers treat you like a princess. Of course, my leaders would never let me down! Depsite the thirteen other sealings to be had on our same wedding date, the temple workers made me feel as if that day was all mine. They hung my dress up in the BEAUTIFUL bride's room, and ironed my robes for me. I loved having my mom with me and just talking with her as we waited for the call that would tell us that we could go up to the sealing room. We just talked about everyday things, and it helped me remain at ease as I prepared to make the most important commitment of my LIFE.

Finally! The call came and I met Bill out in the hall. He looked so handsome dressed in white! He was beaming! He took me by the hand and led me into the elevator as we followed the temple worker up to one of the smaller sealing rooms. Bill and I sat by ourselves and looked at each other through the mirrors and talked in soft whispers. Eternity is a long time, and really, not even measureable...but I was sitting next to the man that will be with me through Forever, and I couldn't have been happier.

The temple sealer came into the room and talked with us for a few minutes. Then he led us down the hallway and into the sealing room with all of our family and friends sitting inside. I can't even explain how beautiful that sight was. The feeling of love was great within that room. It was purely amazing.

And before I could internalize the magnitude of what was being said, Bill and I were sealed to one another! We went through the ceremony and I tried to listen intently, but I really struggle to recall what was all said. I was so amazed at how simple and perfect the ways of the Lord are.

When our sealing was over, Bill and I embraced each of our parents and grandparents one by one. My heart was so full and tears were welling up and over. We hugged each of our family members and friends who had been with us in the ceremony and I continued to cry tears of happiness.

We then went our seperate ways to change into our wedding attire. Back in the bride's room, I sat with my mom again and talked with the temple workers. My wedding dress was remarkably simple to put on and I was ready in a matter of minutes! I love simple things. :)

At last, I was told I could go meet up with Bill. Wahoo! It was the same reaction all over again! He beamed at me and told me I looked beautiful! What a hunk. ;)  I hugged and kissed him and we went to the door that would lead us outside to where all the rest of our friends and family were waiting for us. The temple worker opened the door for us and a ray of sunshine poured over us as we walked outside as husband and wife.

It was so fun to hear the cheers and clapping erupting from the crowd before us. There were so many people! Bill and I couldn't believe it! Camera flashes were going off left and right and I didn't quite know what to do with myself! I felt famous for all of five minutes. :)

It was fun to see all my little cousins, and my old roommates and best of friends. It was great seeing my new family and the family that has always been close to me. To see Jord, Val, Marie, and Ben! Whew! Getting married was fun!

Ashery picked up my bouquet for me on her way up to Logan and was given the responsiblity for unlocking the church doors for the people coming in to decorate for our reception. It was a relief to see her with bouquet in hand because that meant things had gone well!...Until my family had all checked our phones after pictures and had realized that the decorators from the Wedding Dreamer had tried calling ALL of us to let us know, that although Ashery had let them in the front doors, the gymnasium doors were locked! Then they called ALL of us back to let us know that they had gotten in after some quick thinking.

Do you want to know how they did it? After being let in and realizing the door was locked, the decorators walked over towards the Bishop's office and saw a number for the missionaries. They called the elders up and asked for the phone number of the stake president. They called him up and he came over and unlocked the gym door for them. They were only set back about 45 minutes behind schedule. Brilliant, no? And an absolute relief. Phew!

After we came out of the temple, we went to the backside of the temple and took a ton o' group shots. The shade was nice for photos, but everyone else was terribly cold. But soon enough, we were done! And the most important part of our day was a success. Bill and I were thoroughly excited.

I love to see the temple.

I’m going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I’ll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

We love to see the temple...we went inside that day. :)

more pictures to post when I get them. :)