Four Years Ago Today...

...I was sealed for time and all eternity to my best friend, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. It's hard to believe that four years has come and gone already. So much has happened to us in that time. We have both graduated from college, bought our first home, had a son, then a daughter, and are now expecting our third child, another son, in just a few weeks. As I was looking through my wedding photos, trying to decide which ones to post, a lot of the little things about our wedding day/weekend came back to me. It's very easy, in all the chaos of getting ready for the sealing and the reception to forget the meaning and importance of marriage. When Matthew and I got in engaged in August of 2004, we had originally planned on getting married in December, a typical choice for most BYU/UVSC students, seeing as that is when the semester ends and there is a little free time. But after being engaged for a few weeks, we decided to get married in October instead. Part of that decision came from the fact that we had dated on and off for two years and didn't see the point in waiting. So, we were only engaged for two months before we actually got married. Plans had to be made quickly and that two months was quite a blur of school, work, and dress fittings. I didn't take a lot of time then, to really ponder the eternal nature of my decision to get married, not only to Matthew, but in the Temple. If you were Mormon, that's just how you got married. Since we decided to get married in the middle of the semester, we chose a Thursday to get sealed and had our wedding reception and ring ceramony the next day on Friday. I am a convert to the church and so for my family I decided to have a ring ceramony so that my Father would get to walk his only daughter, and child, down the aisle. Also, my mother never would have forgiven me if she didn't get to actually see me get married, even if it wasn't the "official" ceremony. It was a very rushed weekend, since we had to be back to work and school on Monday. I didn't get to really appreciate how special and beautiful everyone involved made that time for us. My two close friends came from Utah and Michigan to be my bridesmaids, my Father flew in from Vermont, my Mother and Uncle had just recently moved here, and all of Matthew's family and friends came and helped set up and make everything as perfect as it could be. There were glitches, as there always are. For instance, it rarely rains in Tucson, especially this time in October, however, the day we got married in the time in took us to get from the car to the Temple doors, there was a five minute down pour. Just enough time to soak my hair, clothes, face, ect. I walked into the Temple in my wet, white shirt, with dripping hair and mascara running down my face. That wasn't so fun. But I dried off, got in my wedding dress and the day went on.

Although the last four years have not been free of trials, tribulations, or problems, they have been, without a doubt, the best four years of my life. I married my best friend. I have chosen to be married in such a way that he will be mine forever. I now have an eternal family, something that until I had it, I didn't know how much I wanted. I have a partner that loves me, takes care of me, puts me first, and is always looking for ways to serve me and make me happy. I don't always appreciate him as much as I should, but today at least, I remember just how lucky I am to have him in my life! I love you Matthew, happy anniversary!

Our ring ceramony, performed by Matthew's Uncle Rick, a former LDS Bishop.
Our wedding reception, the day after we got married, at Matthew's parents home.
Matthew and I in front of the Temple doors. This picture was actually taken one month after we got married, because we couldn't take pictures after our sealing because of the rain...
This is a picture I didn't really like the first time I saw it four years ago, now I do, so I decided to show it off!