...part 2.

The ceremony.

We were so lucky to get married on the most beautiful day of May I've ever seen in Arizona. It was breezy, cool, and completely perfect. It was located in a large, 1/4 acre field in our neighborhood that our ward friends kindly prepared for us (thanks, Palmers!) The sun was setting on our ceremony, and it was everything that I had dreamed and hoped it would be.

We had a civil ceremony instead of the typical "Mormon ring ceremony" that you'll see between split families like ours. Typically, Mormons get "married" in the temple, and if one of the couple is a convert, they'll sometimes have a ring ceremony to appease their family that couldn't attend the temple ceremony. Unfortunately, I was not yet eligible to enter the temple (you have to have been baptized for a year), so we had a civil ceremony that both our families were able to be a part of -- and it was exactly how Heavenly Father wanted us to be married.

My favorite part of our ceremony was where we read each other journal entries that we had written the night before our wedding. In civil ceremonies, we aren't supposed to technically make "vows" to each other, but this was a sweet touch that made our ceremony more personal and meaningful to each other.

And then we were off to get our party on!

That one time we got married and forgot to post about it, pt. 1.

I KNOW.

I've been promising these pictures for like, 7 years. I've also been promising to get better about journaling, and we all know how that always turns out. Better late than never, right?

But seriously. I just barely put these beautiful pictures on my computer. I'm so unbelievably in love with them, I can't even choose which ones I want to put in frames around our house. I want them all. Everywhere I look. Enough words, more pictures.

I'm prepping you with us wedding prepping, since I have 3 CDs with 300 pictures each. Before the wedding, me and my girls got ready at my sweet sister-in-laws vintage-y house. It definitely calmed my nerves to know that so many people were there for me and helping me to have the perfect day.

Maybe this isn't what typical brides do, but my advise for the wedding day would be to RELAX. If your family is telling you not to stress, then don't. I spent my morning having breakfast with Kendall, lunch with our friends, and then moseyed on over to my SIL's house to get ready well before the ceremony. My family told me they'd take care of everything, and I let them. My wedding day was perfect because I let it be.

More wedding awesome to come.

Humbled.

I'm going to take another pause in catching up to talk about the present.

Today I spent a lot of time thinking about my husband. I was having a gross sick day, and even though I wasn't feeling good I felt the need to pull my little tush out of bed and drag myself through my classes. By the end of the six hours, not only was I sicker than I started, but I missed Kendall incredibly. I started to think about the gifts I could give him for his birthday and Valentine's Day, and on my way home I even called him to see how his day went since he had to go to class sick, too.

When I finally walked through the door, directly in front of me this sat, waiting for me to stumble upon.

Lately, I've been so focused on holidays and gifts and material things that I have forgotten what is most important. In Kendall's sweet letter, he wrote about how he can't wait to start our eternal family together and how happy he is that I am his wife. This simple, thoughtful gift brought me back to reality and helped me realize what's most important.

I am so in love with my husband and happy that I found someone who can ground me. He is my perfect balance because he constantly reminds me to put Christ at the center. He is a man that thinks of eternal things before temporal things - a trait that I fell for immediately. I cried the moment I walked through the door, knowing that the man who had left this precious gift for me was mine forever.

In case you didn't already know, I adore you Kendall, and I love you more than you know.

Speaking of New Year's...

On New Year's Eve this year, Kendall began to scribble away on a small notepad, stopping every few minutes to put on his "I'm thinking really hard" face. Upon asking him why he was making such a face, he informed me that he was making a list, a list that was meant to last all year, and that he really meant it this time. 

Now, I've heard of these so called "New Year's resolutions," but I had never personally tried said resolutions. A year is a long time to commit to no chocolate or signing up for a gym you'll go to twice a month. But, Kendall decided that it was time that we both get serious about the New Year, and so began my own scribbling and "I'm thinking really hard" face. 

We decided on thirteen resolutions for '13.

I'm getting fancy up in here. Anyways.

1. Read scriptures everyday.

2. Go to the temple at least once a month.

3. No soda.

4. No junk food.

5. Exercise everyday - not tomorrow.

6. Focus on school and do all things on time.

7. Make time to be romantic.

8. Blog more.

9. Finish cleaning the house.

10. Be more organized.

11. Practice guitar everyday.

12. Learn a new hymn on the piano each week.

13. Pray always.

So, now that it's February (happy Groundhog Day!), I can actually give an accountability report about how I'm doing. Thirteen is a lot, and each of these has taken me a little bit of time to get used to. A year seems like a long time, but it makes my resolve to get things done that much stronger. I may slip up sometimes, but the main difference this list has made for me this year is that slipping up isn't giving up. I haven't failed because I had a cupcake the day after my birthday when I said I wouldn't. I haven't failed because I couldn't exercise the day I had a migraine.

So if you made resolutions, I just want you to know that I know they're hard and I know it's uncomfortable, but it's worth it. And other people are suffering right along with you. I'm suffering along with you. The most important thing is that we are trying to better ourselves, and even if we "slip up," failure is not an option this year.

What are your resolutions this year?

Christmas time.

For our first married Christmas together, we visited the magical land of Washington with it's miles of blue waters and endless green trees. In this mystical state resides my family - my mom, her husband, and my two little brothers. We were lacking in the Christmas spirit until we landed in the 20 degree chill, and suddenly we knew what it was like to feel like Christmas.

   

From walks in the rain to late night talks; from real Christmas trees to real white snow; from trips to Multnomah Falls to shopping in downtown Portland and watching Les Miserable in the best theater in the US; this had to be my absolute favorite Christmas of all time. We stayed through New Years and were able to bond so much with my beautiful family. And even though the snow didn't stick to the ground, I still consider this the perfect white Christmas.