Wedding Diary: Temple

B & I are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe that families can be together forever, even after this mortal life. We love each other so much we didn't want our marriage to last till "death do us part", we wanted forever. We chose to be sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. It wasn't until I got really sick 3 weeks before the wedding and we strongly considered postponing the whole thing, that I realized that this truly was the only thing that mattered. Suddenly my dress, cake, reception, all seemed so silly. I could do without the frills. What I couldn't do without was Brandon. I needed him to be mine and I to be his. To be one. We made the decision to put our best efforts towards getting me better no matter what so that we could get married the day we planned, even if everything else got canceled. The 3 weeks prior to my wedding were the hardest weeks of my life. I was in and out of the hospital, bed-ridden, delirious and drugged. I dropped 15 lbs, looked completely beat, and had the energy of a sloth. Although they were the hardest days for me emotionally and physically, they were spiritually uplifting. I felt the unconditional love of my Heavenly Father and through the prayers, faith, and blessings of family and friends, I made it through a successful surgery 3 days prior to my wedding and got to be the blushing (though very exhausted) bride I'd always hoped to be.

Being in the temple with Brandon was the best part of the day

and has since proven to be the best part of my life.

{my absolute favorite photo! Jared and Mandy's faces :) }