Eight Years

Tonight Chancho took me to my favorite restaurant (Temari) and to see the movie "Yes Man". It was pretty funny. It was also very fitting. It was 8 years ago today that I said my most important yes that I've ever said. Luckily Chancho was a "yes man" too as we knelt across an altar from each other in the Salt Lake Temple on that freezing cold morning!I can honestly say that was the happiest day of my life. I have had a lot of days of joy and many moments that I could hardly believe, but an entire day of nothing but happiness and peace and joy? Well, my wedding day was it!
I was determined to marry in the Salt Lake Temple. That particular temple has a lot of significance for me personally. But those dates during winter break fill up quickly. By the time we called to reserve a spot the only time available was 7:15am! And I did it! I felt bad for my family members, but at least nobody had an excuse not to come at that time of day. It was really bitter cold, but the weather was the only thing cold about that day.

Besides being married to the man of my dreams for time and all eternity, I had the great and marvelous joy of having every single one of my siblings in the temple with me. A sealing room in a temple of God is so peaceful and spiritual on so many levels and to be dressed all in white, sitting next to my new husband and to look out and see my 6 brothers and 4 sisters and my parents there in that place--for the first time ever and I think since that every one of has been able to be in a temple together--was just overwhelmingly joyful for me. Here we all are out on the steps of the temple. Even at this age, I guess it is still impossible to get all of your kids to look at the camera for a pic, huh Mom?I was so happy that I was often laughing during the day and remember wondering before our reception even began why my face was so sore--oh yes--not used to all that smiling! I was determined after that to smile more so that I would never have such weak smiling muscles again.During our wedding breakfast our fathers each gave a little speech. My Dad told everybody something that I had told him recently after becoming engaged to Chancho. I told him that for so long it felt like there was a large hole in my heart, like a piece of me was missing. But now that I had Chancho I felt whole. Thank you, my soul mate, for filling that place in my heart!