Day 18

My wedding:

Our wedding invitation photo: Our wedding day at the Manti LDS Temple:

Sad thing about growing older and having kids is that those memory cells quit working! So, here's what I remember:

We stayed at THE hotel in Manti, across the street from the temple. I don't think there was a choice for hotels! I was with my family and Shayne was with his. Our wedding was early in the morning and I don't remember sleeping well that night. My missionary companion (and trainer) did my makeup in the wee hours of the morning and Alisa (my sis) did my hair. Honestly, I remember FLOATING all day long. I no longer cared about what happened, how things looked, or what else was going on. I refused to make any decisions.

When we were sealed together for time and all eternity in the temple, I remember the sealer talking to us but I don't remember what he said. I later learned that he had asked us to look at him so to be sure we were hearing every word he was saying to better understand our promises that day. Well, we didn't look at him - we STARED into eachother's eyes the whole time and that was bliss.

After the marriage, we rode around the temple grounds in a horse drawn carriage (thanks to my parents) and by the time we got to the luncheon - the food was all gone!!! Luckily my mission companion had saved a few sandwhiches for us when she noticed the food was quickly dwindling.

We later had our reception at Shayne's aunt and uncle's home. It was AMAZING. I loved being outside and the weather was perfect. Their yard was BEAUTIFUL. They served strawberry filled crepes and I didn't get a single one. I don't think I even got to try my cake. Shayne claims that was the longest 2 hours of his life - greeting all those people! But, I thought it was fun. At the close, I sang a song I had rewritten to Shayne (You are My Sunshine) and we danced to the Zorro theme song. I think that dates us!

Ah, sweet memories!

Day 17

An art piece:

"Reason for the Season"

by Greg Olsen
When I was a student at BYU I spent the majority of my days in the Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC). There is a large open "gallery" in the center of this building and often, they will showcase work by students and/or faculty or guest artists. One year they had this painting there. It was HUGE - almost the size of my garage door. And it was beautiful. Posting the copy of it in my blog does not do it justice. I love how the children are drawn to the nativity with all those treasures and toys surrounding them. The message is so simple and beautiful.


There was another showcase a year later at the HFAC that a man had driven along Highway 89 and taken pictures. He wanted to capture the beauty of the earth along a forgotten highway - it was spectacular. I wish I knew the artist for that display as I think about it often.

Day 16

A song that makes me cry (or nearly):


Lucky

"Lucky"
(feat. Colbie Caillat)

Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Day 15

My dream house:

...would clean itself
...would take care of the laundry for me
...would have enough room for all my "stuff" and still have room for the cars in the garage
...would grow a garden that doesn't need to be weeded
...would grow a garden that grows food to eat!! (not just weeds)
...would have the doors open for fresh air 24/7 (without getting cold or hot) and NO FLIES
...would have no mosquitoes - thus long evenings for us to sit outside and enjoy the perfect summer evenings.
...would stay close to all my friends and family
...would be a place that everyone wants to come over to
...is the place where my family lives, laughs, and plays. I'm so grateful to be in our beautiful home, despite my "too good to be true" wish list!

Day 14

A non-fiction book:

I don't consider this to be my favorite (I can't decide a favorite) - but it is definitely one I highly recommend. "As I Have Loved You" by Kitty De Ruyter Bon is a must read. It is an amazing story of her survival during WWII when her perfect life was turned upside down. It is inspiring, faith promoting, and it left me with an impression of AWE. It makes you count your blessings when you finish the book. I wish I owned this book so I could read it again. I highly recommend it.