Friday was an awesome day, though! My beautiful cousin, Adrienne got married! I was invited to the ceremony and the luncheon and the reception. It made me feel so special to be included. First, Kurtis and I dropped our kids off at my bestest friend Nicole's house so that they would be kept out of trouble while we were at the ceremony and luncheon.
I have to tell you, the ceremony was so spiritual. It was in the Salt Lake City Temple, and the temple is a place Mormons go to feel closer to God, perform ordinances in which we make covenants with the Lord. It's quiet, peaceful, and a place where reverence is sacred. The marriage ceremony in the temple is one in which husband and wife make a covenant with each other to love, cherish and take care of each other. We also include God in our marriages as well. Marriage is hard, and sometimes we need a little divine help from above to figure out how to communicate and navigate through the things life throws at us, so we pledge to be faithful to our husbands and wives and always look to our Heavenly Father as the one who will help us get through it all. We believe that we cannot get to heaven alone and that we need each other to help each other in this life and in the next. It's a beautiful thing.
As I was sitting in the room (we call them sealing rooms) waiting for my cousin and her fiance to be brought in, I realized something. I've been to the temple several times to make some of the covenants that I have made for my ancestors who have passed away without having their chance to have them done for themselves, and I always felt a sort of giddy joy while I was there. I always just assumed I was feeling the presence of my ancestor and their excitement at having their work done. That might sound weird, but I believe your spirit lives on after you die, and I do believe they come and witness their temple work being done even if it is just to see what happens. Joy isn't an emotion that I would say I experience a whole lot. I'm just depressed a lot. It just comes with the territory. Being mentally ill and all. You get used to it. But as I was sitting in the temple that day, I felt that same giddy joy I felt when I do work for the dead, and it dawned on me that maybe, it's not somebody else's feelings that I am sensing when I come to the temple. Maybe that is what joy feels like and I was actually experiencing it in that moment. The temple truly is a place of joy and love, and I want to live my life in a way that allows me to continue to be there.
After the wedding ceremony, Kurtis and I stayed a little longer than everybody else and took a few extra pictures. Then we went across the street to the shopping center called City Creek. My feet hurt from walking in my heels, so we went to the food court. I realized I hadn't eaten anything yet today and the luncheon wasn't until 3:30, so Kurtis got a gyro, I got a small frozen yogurt and we shared a smoothie.
The luncheon was wonderful. We ate a lot of food and stuffed ourselves silly. Then we went and checked out my brother's apartment which was pretty much also just across the street from Temple Square, and I got to chat with Lili for a little while. Then it was time to pick up the kids who had been swimming at Nicole's mom's house and get them ready for the reception. The reception was beautiful. There were a lot of people there, too. My cousin and his wife drove down from Idaho, and they were there. I had so much fun chatting with them for a little while. All too soon, Kurtis was doing the "It's time to go" back rub and I had to leave. He and Zach had to get up early the next morning and go off to Camp Kiesel with the Weblos. Zach didn't get to go last year because he broke his elbow and so they let him go this year. He had a blast and loved every minute, so I'm really glad he got to go. Whew. What a weekend, though. I loved it!
Yes. Yes, I did take a lot of pictures. And yes, I am going to show you a lot of them now. No, not all. Just 42 of them. That's not that many, and you'll just want to keep looking at them over and over again, so it's okay. :D
Here they are! The newly married couple exiting the temple!
This is the train on her dress. It was a magnificent dress.
Stealing a kiss.
Her whole family with her grandmas.
Mother and daughter.
Her hot sister. It was a really hot day that day.
My cousin and her new husband. Her reception pictures can be seen here.
My uncle said to Sarah and me while we were waiting for Adrienne and her new husband to come out of the temple, that my cousin's (pictured above) dress was really lovely, and that she looked beautiful in it. What a sweet thing for a father to say! He's right though. I want that dress! :)
Aww! I love my new cousin! He's such a sweetie!
My aunt and uncle. They are so happy and proud for their daughter.
These sisters finally have a brother! :D
These are the shoes. I should have brought a pair of flats to wander around in. But who wants to carry around an extra pair of shoes. My purse isn't that big!
Our view from the bench we were sitting on. That's the Joseph Smith Memorial building on the left and the City Creek sign on the right.
Kurtis said, "Hey, look. It's your cousin and her husband. Heading to the luncheon."
So I stealthily took a picture of them from across the street. Muwahahahaha!
This is where the luncheon took place. Guess what. Thirteen years ago, Kurtis and I had our wedding reception at that very same place. But not in the very same room...
Pretty honey butter!
A beautiful center piece with a beautiful woman behind it.
That's my mom on the left being all thick as thieves with her sister on the right. Good times.
The temple!
I don't know if you can see it, but it was really windy that day, and the wind was blowing the water off the top of the fountain and creating a mist. It looked really neat and cooled you off at the same time.
There are a few fires burning right now. A really, really bad one was east of the reception center and as the winds picked up, it blew the smoke all over the valley. You could barely see the mountains and you could smell it in the air.
My beautiful cousin in her bride's maid dress.
The guest book table.
My other beautiful cousin in her bride's maid dress.
She's actually talking to someone, but I just wanted a picture of her, and I like to just take pictures when people aren't looking. :)
My grandmother. I think she is beautiful.
I thought this was a really cute idea that I had never seen before. On one table, there is a picture of the groom and in that frame with the word "He" across it, she has written down things that she loves about Jaben.
Then on the other side of the entrance, is a picture of her (which I love) and he has written down all the things he loves about Adrienne. I love that idea!
I had fun taking pictures and I really thought this was one of the most beautiful days. I hope my cousin cherishes her memories of this day and always finds joy and love in her marriage. She is such a wonderful person with so much love in her heart and her new husband is a wonderful man with a happy heart. They compliment one another and I am so happy for them.
1 comment:
My friend agrees with me. On my facebook page, she commented: "What a beautiful wedding!" Thanks for the comment, Amber. :)
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