[12/19/11] Monday Memories: Twenty-six years ago today...

Twenty-six years ago today, this happened:

(The printer used the wrong color of ink, as seen above, but 

I don't have any of the correct announcements...)

Here:

Manti Temple

It was an awesome day! It had been all dreary and wintery when we'd driven down to Orem, Utah, the day before, but when we got up that morning to drive to Manti, it was very sunny and beautiful.

Our ceremony was beautiful, and extra special because I was the fifth generation on my mom's side to be married in the Manti Temple. I had dreamed of getting married in this Temple ever since I was a little girl. One funny thing...we forgot our wedding bands at my parent's home in Pocatello, so we borrowed John's dad and step-mom's wedding bands.

When we went outside after the ceremony to take pictures, some of the snow had even melted away and green grass was showing.

It really was the perfect day.

We left the Temple to travel back to Provo, Utah, to attend our wedding luncheon at the Wilkinson center at BYU.  The mudslides had occurred earlier that year between Provo and Manti. John and I left the temple and started following the signs to Provo. After awhile, we noticed that the towns we were driving through were pretty much covered in mud. Eventually our road ended in a hill of mud, and all the surrounding buildings were totally covered in mud.

Uh oh.

We turned around and sped really fast drove very carefully back to Provo. When we got outside of Provo, a thick fog had descended on the valley, and we had a hard time finding the Wilkinson Center.

(Remember, this is before GPSs and cell phones. You know, back around caveman times).

We arrived at our wedding lunch 1 1/2 hours late. 

Not good.

But after we explained what had happened, everyone thought it was funny and it is definitely something we will never forget.

A lot has happened the past twenty-six years:

Six years of schooling for John.

One "real" job.

Four amazing children.

Eleven moves (three in one year!).

One awesome daughter-in-law.

Many amazing friendships.

Four homes (two of which we still own).

Four job promotions.

Many wonderful church callings.

Trials.

Joys.

Tears of joy.

Tears of sadness.
Many learning experiences.

Health issues.

Family vacations.

But through it all, more blessings than we can count.

It's been an awesome twenty-six years, and I'm looking forward to another twenty-six plus.

And then an eternity on top of that.