The Wedding

Our special day finally arrived. We chose the Manti Temple because Joe wanted a temple with some history and I wanted a temple that wasn't so busy. It was such a good choice. We were a little nervous because it snowed the night before and thought it may be difficult to travel and to take pictures with snow everywhere but when we arrived, the clouds had parted and left a gorgeous blue sky!

I knew we would be leaving for our honeymoon after the temple and it would require some traveling so I checked my oil the night before and got my car all prepped for the trip. Joe and I traveled together and when arrived at the temple I could see some steam coming from under my hood. That is never a good sign. In the temple parking lot we popped the hood and saw oil splattered everywhere and steaming where it had splattered on the hot engine. I forgot to put the oil cap back on when I added oil the night before. Joe was concerned about the missing cap and what it meant for the rest of our trip, but I shrugged my shoulders and said we could worry about it later. Right now it was time to go in the temple and get married!

Luckily someone in our ward took care of it for us by going and buying us a new cap while we were in the temple preparing for the ceremony.

I was so excited and so nervous. Mom made my wedding dress and did a fantastic job. Wyn made my blue sash, the matching ties and Savannah's dress. Rindee made my bouquet. So much support and love surrounded us.

We sat in the sealing room with all our guests and listened as President Pinager talked and gave us advice and all the good stuff, but honestly I was so nervous that I wasn't listening very well. I had a handkerchief in my hands and I kept wringing it in my warm hands. I couldn't believe this was really happening.

Joe listened really well to all the advice President Pinager said. He took it all to heart.

He finally had us come to the alter and kneel across from each other while he performed the sealing ceremony. I had been to the temple many times and performed proxy sealings before so I was familiar with the wording and the ceremony. I listened patiently not knowing if I should be looking into Joe's eyes or at our hands or at the sealer. My mind was racing until I heard the sealer pronounce us husband and wife for all eternity. My mind stopped racing and I felt the spirit so strongly testify to me that I started to cry. Those are not just empty words. There was a power and authority that I felt when those words were spoken. I know I wouldn't have felt that in any other place other than the temple.

My tears continued to flow as my lifelong dream finally happened. It was real now. We are eternally bound to one another. I am married! Oh, the joy I felt! Oh the gratitude I felt that I never lowered my standards just so I could be with someone. The waiting was so hard and so lonely, but I have been so blessed to have the Lord bring Joe into my life. I am so blessed to have someone so committed to the Lord and to me that he was able to make my dream of marrying in the temple come true. I had decided long before this day that I wouldn't settle for less and I am so glad I stood my ground all these years.

There was a time when Joe and I talked about getting married civilly first and then going to the temple later. He hadn't received his endowment yet and we didn't know how long it would take before he could receive them. He asked me what I thought about it and I dug down deep, searching my feelings, and replied that I wouldn't do it. I couldn't do it. It's a temple marriage or nothing for me. Joe felt the same way, too. One of the things that I love about him is his love of the temple. He was faithful in going once a week to the temple on his own even when all he could do is baptisms. That is more dedication to temple attendance than most life-long members have ever shown. He is THAT amazing!

After wiping away tears and hugging everyone in the room, we came out of the temple to greet all those waiting for us. Savannah ran up to me, called me Mama, and gave me a big hug.
















The rest are photos taken that day at the temple. We used Braxton Bruce Photography as our wedding photographer.