Alright, I've been married for 6 months today. I guess it's time to finally write about the wedding and honeymoon and how it is being married, right? (It’s probably also time to finish my thank you cards.) That is why I made this blog, to keep a record of what’s going on in my life. I want to be able to look back on it in years to come and remember my life, especially the good times. And maybe my kids’ll even be interested in it someday.
Okay, so, I got married on July 12th of last year (yes, it’s now 2014!). And it’s been just great so far. I’ll admit, I was a little worried. But then again, when am I not worried? I’m the queen on worrying! But it really has been wonderful. I love being married! And I’m not just talking about physical benefits here. I love having someone who is mine, who I can tell anything to. Someone who helps me and supports me and works with me to meet goals. Life is less lonely for me this way. Not that I was ever really lonely before. I had great roommates. And before that, great mission companions, and before that, more great roommates and of course my amazing family. Life has been good to me. But I do quite enjoy being married and starting a new part of my life.
Our Love Story
Chris and I met in the Spring of 2009. I was going to BYU and when I came home for the “Summer” (which was actually Spring since BYU gets out so early), I noticed a really cute boy who spent a lot of time at my house. He was friends with Steve, my brother-in-law at the time. And since he was at my house often, I met him and got to know him a little. The first time we really ever talked, we talked ’til 2 or 3 in the morning. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with Chris and my sister Heidi, talking about random things. And then somehow the topic of church came up and Chris mentioned that he didn’t think people should have to wear dresses and skirts and suits and ties to church. He said it shouldn’t be a fashion contest. I told him I disagreed (about what to wear, not the fashion contest. I agree quite fully about the fashion contest part) and gave him my reasoning. I told him that I go to church to worship God, so why wouldn’t I wear my best clothes to do that, to show respect? If my best clothes were a pair of tattered jeans and a t-shirt, and I weren’t wealthy enough to buy new clothes, then great. God would be happy with me to wear what I have. But for most of us, our best clothes are nicer, and so I think we should wear them to show respect to Him who created us and gave us life, especially when we go to His house. Chris saw my point and said he hadn’t looked at it that way before. But we agreed that even still, people should be trying to put on a fashion contest at church.
So that’s how our relationship started. A nice, friendly debate about what to wear to church. We started hanging out after that. Going to the movies. Taking rides on my parents' golf cart around the neighborhood. Going to the park (that’s where we first held hands).
But things started getting slightly complicated, at least for me. I didn’t want to get too attached to someone I wouldn’t want a serious relationship with. And I didn’t want a serious relationship with someone I didn’t want to marry. And I didn’t want to marry someone who I couldn’t be sealed to, in the temple. I wanted my marriage to last forever. But Chris wasn’t a member of my Church. He didn’t have my same beliefs about temples and marriage for time and all eternity. So I tried to keep my emotional distance, but it was hard. I was indeed falling for him. Another complication was that I knew, deep down in my heart, that I needed to serve a mission. I didn’t want to, but I knew needed to. And privately, spiritually, I was preparing to do just that. That would mean I would leave for a year and a half. That’s another complication in a serious relationship.
One day, Chris mentioned that he hadn’t been to church in a long time and that he wanted to start going back. He grew up as a Lutheran, but I still told him he could come to my church if he ever wanted to. And since he was living with Heidi and Steve, I told him to go with them on Sunday. I would have just asked him if he wanted to come with me and even picked him up, but I was leaving town to go to Europe for two weeks. And I knew that if I couldn’t take him, then the best bet for getting him to church was with Heidi. So I told her to take him with her and I left for my trip, praying he would go and like it and begin to understand the eternal things that I understood (at least as much as a naive 21-year-old could understand about the things of God).
In the meantime, what I didn’t know, was that he had called up his high school friend, Kyle, who he remembered was a Mormon, and told him he liked a girl who was Mormon and wanted to know more about our church. So Kyle (who had just recently been reactivated and was preparing to go on a mission) invited him to a fireside. Chris went along, of course. He loved bon fires! He was quite confused when he realized there was no fire nor beach. But the speaker at the fireside that night spoke to him, almost as if the whole talk was directed at him. He felt the Spirit and wanted to feel it more.
Chris called me while I was on the airplane about to take off for France. I told him I had to go since the flight attendants were telling everyone to turn off all electronic devices. And he said something like, “Okay, I just wanted to tell you I went to a fireside last night with my friend, and I liked it.” So of course, I couldn’t hang up then. If I did, then it would be 10 hours until I could talk to him again. And even then, it would only be through email. He had caught my interest. I quickly asked him how he ended up at a fireside and what he had learned and if he wanted to learn more. And he said yes! So I told him I’d have the missionaries call him. He didn’t know what missionaries were. So I said that 2 guys, about his age, would be calling him to set up an appointment to teach him more. I hurried and hung up with him and called the missionaries as I heard the announcement over the loud speaker, for the 2nd time, to turn off all electronic devices. I called the missionaries in Heidi’s ward and gave them Chris’s number and trusted that they’d take it from there. And they did. They passed him on to the singles ward missionaries and started teaching them. I didn’t ask much about it during my 2 weeks away.
While I was in Europe, Chris and I could only talk through email and I didn’t want to pry too much, so I mostly left it alone, but he told me he was meeting with the missionaries. When I got home, I asked him if I could join in on one of their discussions. When I did, I was very surprised to hear one of the elders mentioned Chris’s baptism. I said, “you’re getting baptized? Why didn’t you tell me!?” He just didn’t realize what a big deal that was for me. I guess he just didn’t understand what that meant for me. That meant that I could let myself love him in a way I hadn’t before. That meant I could get attached. That meant he believed what I believed. That meant everything to me.
A few months later, when Chris told me he wanted to go on a mission, I felt the delicious stab of bitter-sweetness. I was so happy because that meant I could more easily leave him to serve the mission that I also knew I needed to serve. But it also meant that we would be away from each other for 2 years. No phone calls, no video chats, nothing of the sort. Only letters, sent through the mail. Snail mail. But we did it. We prepared together and made ourselves ready. We both left at age 22, a little “late” especially for Chris. But it was worth the sacrifice. Chris left in January 2011 and I left just barely less than a month later in February. Luckily, Chris was only in the MTC for 3 weeks. One week longer, and we would have been in there at the same time, unable to hug or kiss or show affection of any kind.
Our missions were great. We both loved our time as full time missionaries and we love the people we served. We kept in touch. We stayed in love. We wrote letters every P day (and maybe we emailed each other a little too). When I got home, almost 5 months before him, I found a job at Deseret Book and kept myself busy until school started in January. January was also when Chris returned.
Side note: He had a long layover in Salt Lake City on his way home and so Dennis and Heidi and our dear friend Lorena and I took Chris out to dinner. I was so happy to see him. The first time in two years! And it was only a little awkward.
Chris went home to his family for a few weeks. I went home for his homecoming and we finally kissed. Everything between us seemed slightly awkward until, while at dinner with my family, my sister-in-law Hope said, “so, have you guys kissed yet?” When we left the restaurant, he kissed me out front while waiting for everyone. Things became normal between us again. Then Chris moved to Utah to “go to school.” School didn’t start for him until after we were married. He just wanted to be closer to me. And I wanted him to be closer to me, too. We dated again. We talked about marriage. It was scary, of course, but we decided to do it.
He proposed to me on the beach in California, right next to Life Guard post 16 (at Huntington Beach). We were home for a few days during my school break and we had had a bonfire with his family and mine. After they all left, we lingered. I honestly had no idea. Now that I look back, I should have known, but it was better that I didn’t. More romantic. He was so nervous and cute.
That’s the story. Our “love” story. At least the beginning.
Our Wedding Day
We got married on July 12, 2013. It was a short and stressful engagement, but well worth it. We married in the Newport Beach California Temple and I was so nervous I hardly remember anything the sealer said. I do remember I forgot my temple recommend and so we had a late start. After the sealing we took pictures, then headed to the Stake Center for our Ring Ceremony and Reception. The food was tamales, salad, rice, and beans. It was perfect. It was a happy day.
The Honeymoon
Okay, so, I got married on July 12th of last year (yes, it’s now 2014!). And it’s been just great so far. I’ll admit, I was a little worried. But then again, when am I not worried? I’m the queen on worrying! But it really has been wonderful. I love being married! And I’m not just talking about physical benefits here. I love having someone who is mine, who I can tell anything to. Someone who helps me and supports me and works with me to meet goals. Life is less lonely for me this way. Not that I was ever really lonely before. I had great roommates. And before that, great mission companions, and before that, more great roommates and of course my amazing family. Life has been good to me. But I do quite enjoy being married and starting a new part of my life.
Our Love Story
Chris and I met in the Spring of 2009. I was going to BYU and when I came home for the “Summer” (which was actually Spring since BYU gets out so early), I noticed a really cute boy who spent a lot of time at my house. He was friends with Steve, my brother-in-law at the time. And since he was at my house often, I met him and got to know him a little. The first time we really ever talked, we talked ’til 2 or 3 in the morning. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with Chris and my sister Heidi, talking about random things. And then somehow the topic of church came up and Chris mentioned that he didn’t think people should have to wear dresses and skirts and suits and ties to church. He said it shouldn’t be a fashion contest. I told him I disagreed (about what to wear, not the fashion contest. I agree quite fully about the fashion contest part) and gave him my reasoning. I told him that I go to church to worship God, so why wouldn’t I wear my best clothes to do that, to show respect? If my best clothes were a pair of tattered jeans and a t-shirt, and I weren’t wealthy enough to buy new clothes, then great. God would be happy with me to wear what I have. But for most of us, our best clothes are nicer, and so I think we should wear them to show respect to Him who created us and gave us life, especially when we go to His house. Chris saw my point and said he hadn’t looked at it that way before. But we agreed that even still, people should be trying to put on a fashion contest at church.
So that’s how our relationship started. A nice, friendly debate about what to wear to church. We started hanging out after that. Going to the movies. Taking rides on my parents' golf cart around the neighborhood. Going to the park (that’s where we first held hands).
But things started getting slightly complicated, at least for me. I didn’t want to get too attached to someone I wouldn’t want a serious relationship with. And I didn’t want a serious relationship with someone I didn’t want to marry. And I didn’t want to marry someone who I couldn’t be sealed to, in the temple. I wanted my marriage to last forever. But Chris wasn’t a member of my Church. He didn’t have my same beliefs about temples and marriage for time and all eternity. So I tried to keep my emotional distance, but it was hard. I was indeed falling for him. Another complication was that I knew, deep down in my heart, that I needed to serve a mission. I didn’t want to, but I knew needed to. And privately, spiritually, I was preparing to do just that. That would mean I would leave for a year and a half. That’s another complication in a serious relationship.
One day, Chris mentioned that he hadn’t been to church in a long time and that he wanted to start going back. He grew up as a Lutheran, but I still told him he could come to my church if he ever wanted to. And since he was living with Heidi and Steve, I told him to go with them on Sunday. I would have just asked him if he wanted to come with me and even picked him up, but I was leaving town to go to Europe for two weeks. And I knew that if I couldn’t take him, then the best bet for getting him to church was with Heidi. So I told her to take him with her and I left for my trip, praying he would go and like it and begin to understand the eternal things that I understood (at least as much as a naive 21-year-old could understand about the things of God).
In the meantime, what I didn’t know, was that he had called up his high school friend, Kyle, who he remembered was a Mormon, and told him he liked a girl who was Mormon and wanted to know more about our church. So Kyle (who had just recently been reactivated and was preparing to go on a mission) invited him to a fireside. Chris went along, of course. He loved bon fires! He was quite confused when he realized there was no fire nor beach. But the speaker at the fireside that night spoke to him, almost as if the whole talk was directed at him. He felt the Spirit and wanted to feel it more.
Chris called me while I was on the airplane about to take off for France. I told him I had to go since the flight attendants were telling everyone to turn off all electronic devices. And he said something like, “Okay, I just wanted to tell you I went to a fireside last night with my friend, and I liked it.” So of course, I couldn’t hang up then. If I did, then it would be 10 hours until I could talk to him again. And even then, it would only be through email. He had caught my interest. I quickly asked him how he ended up at a fireside and what he had learned and if he wanted to learn more. And he said yes! So I told him I’d have the missionaries call him. He didn’t know what missionaries were. So I said that 2 guys, about his age, would be calling him to set up an appointment to teach him more. I hurried and hung up with him and called the missionaries as I heard the announcement over the loud speaker, for the 2nd time, to turn off all electronic devices. I called the missionaries in Heidi’s ward and gave them Chris’s number and trusted that they’d take it from there. And they did. They passed him on to the singles ward missionaries and started teaching them. I didn’t ask much about it during my 2 weeks away.
While I was in Europe, Chris and I could only talk through email and I didn’t want to pry too much, so I mostly left it alone, but he told me he was meeting with the missionaries. When I got home, I asked him if I could join in on one of their discussions. When I did, I was very surprised to hear one of the elders mentioned Chris’s baptism. I said, “you’re getting baptized? Why didn’t you tell me!?” He just didn’t realize what a big deal that was for me. I guess he just didn’t understand what that meant for me. That meant that I could let myself love him in a way I hadn’t before. That meant I could get attached. That meant he believed what I believed. That meant everything to me.
A few months later, when Chris told me he wanted to go on a mission, I felt the delicious stab of bitter-sweetness. I was so happy because that meant I could more easily leave him to serve the mission that I also knew I needed to serve. But it also meant that we would be away from each other for 2 years. No phone calls, no video chats, nothing of the sort. Only letters, sent through the mail. Snail mail. But we did it. We prepared together and made ourselves ready. We both left at age 22, a little “late” especially for Chris. But it was worth the sacrifice. Chris left in January 2011 and I left just barely less than a month later in February. Luckily, Chris was only in the MTC for 3 weeks. One week longer, and we would have been in there at the same time, unable to hug or kiss or show affection of any kind.
Our missions were great. We both loved our time as full time missionaries and we love the people we served. We kept in touch. We stayed in love. We wrote letters every P day (and maybe we emailed each other a little too). When I got home, almost 5 months before him, I found a job at Deseret Book and kept myself busy until school started in January. January was also when Chris returned.
Side note: He had a long layover in Salt Lake City on his way home and so Dennis and Heidi and our dear friend Lorena and I took Chris out to dinner. I was so happy to see him. The first time in two years! And it was only a little awkward.
Chris went home to his family for a few weeks. I went home for his homecoming and we finally kissed. Everything between us seemed slightly awkward until, while at dinner with my family, my sister-in-law Hope said, “so, have you guys kissed yet?” When we left the restaurant, he kissed me out front while waiting for everyone. Things became normal between us again. Then Chris moved to Utah to “go to school.” School didn’t start for him until after we were married. He just wanted to be closer to me. And I wanted him to be closer to me, too. We dated again. We talked about marriage. It was scary, of course, but we decided to do it.
He proposed to me on the beach in California, right next to Life Guard post 16 (at Huntington Beach). We were home for a few days during my school break and we had had a bonfire with his family and mine. After they all left, we lingered. I honestly had no idea. Now that I look back, I should have known, but it was better that I didn’t. More romantic. He was so nervous and cute.
That’s the story. Our “love” story. At least the beginning.
Our Wedding Day
We got married on July 12, 2013. It was a short and stressful engagement, but well worth it. We married in the Newport Beach California Temple and I was so nervous I hardly remember anything the sealer said. I do remember I forgot my temple recommend and so we had a late start. After the sealing we took pictures, then headed to the Stake Center for our Ring Ceremony and Reception. The food was tamales, salad, rice, and beans. It was perfect. It was a happy day.
The Honeymoon
We got 4 days and 5 nights in the #1 all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico. Le Blanc. It was wonderful. I could have definitely used more time there, but I won't complain. We were so blessed to even be able to go anywhere!
It was definitely the best treatment I've ever received. They had someone at the airport to pick us up which made things so easy. We started talking to our driver and I discovered he was LDS but hadn't been to church in a long time. I invited him to go that Sunday. We wanted to go to. And we planned on it. But we ended up sleeping through Sunday morning. Whoops. I hope he went, but I guess I'll never know.
When we got to the hotel to check in, they immediately greeted us with cool, wet wash cloths (since it's hot and humid outside) and leche de coco. Chris was immediately addicted and drank at least 6 a day for the rest of the trip. When we got to the room, they had the TV on, playing calming music, and a free bottle of wine waiting for us. We traded it for ginger ale. Actually we had all the beer and alcohol in the mini fridge traded out for sprite and ginger ale and other yummy stuff. They refilled it every day with soda and candy bars. We could order free room service whenever we wanted or we could go to one of the many restaurants at the resort.
When we got to the hotel to check in, they immediately greeted us with cool, wet wash cloths (since it's hot and humid outside) and leche de coco. Chris was immediately addicted and drank at least 6 a day for the rest of the trip. When we got to the room, they had the TV on, playing calming music, and a free bottle of wine waiting for us. We traded it for ginger ale. Actually we had all the beer and alcohol in the mini fridge traded out for sprite and ginger ale and other yummy stuff. They refilled it every day with soda and candy bars. We could order free room service whenever we wanted or we could go to one of the many restaurants at the resort.
We went to each restaurant at least once and they were all amazing. Literally the best food I've ever had. The stake at the international restaurant melted in my mouth. It was so tender I barely even had to chew it. And I am not exaggerating. The French restaurant served like a 7 course meal and the Oriental restaurant even had vegetarian sushi for me.
We spent most of our time at the resort on the beach. We only went on an outing one day and then went shopping in downtown Cancun. I loved the day we went out on the town. We took the bus and I felt like I was back in Merida.
One day we took a tour to Tolum to see the Maya Ruins. It was beautiful. It was Chris’s first time and I was so happy to share the experience with him. Our tour guide told us much of Maya history and beliefs. They believe that the creators of man were twin brothers. When we heard it, Chris and I looked at each other in awe. All things, even myths and fairy tails and the beliefs of every culture, point to the truth, at least in part. Isn’t it in the scriptures that Christ looks like God the Father? Twins. Who created man together. Yes, it sounds right. There is truth in it. Chris and I want to go back and learn more, take more tours. Maybe some day we’ll have money and be able to do it. Who knows!
