Honeymoons and Exotic Places

Should you, or shouldn't you?  That is the question.  Should you take a honeymoon to some exotic place, or should you spend this important "get-to-know-you" time in a familiar setting?

The data has been collected with this conclusion:  if the opportunity affords itself to go somewhere uniquely beautiful, DO IT!  Just DON'T DRINK THE WATER!

Brian and I have tried to send our married children off in a big way.  Using points from our Disney Vacation Club membership, our gift to the newlyweds has been a Disney Cruise.  Robert and Josalyn cruised in June of 2008 down the Mexican Riviera, leaving from a port in Southern California. 

Erica and Derek recently cruised out of Florida for a honeymoon trip through the Bahamas.

 
Brian and I, too, were fortunate to fly off to some far away, exotic place to begin our married lives together.  We were thrilled to have a week in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.  For both of us, it was our first trip out of the country and it sounded very extravagant and romantic to us.  For the most part, it was.  Do have I any regrets?  Yes.  We had a lousy camera that took very poor photos, so most of our memories are stored on our internal memory discs.  And as unseasoned travelers to third world countries, naivete in drinking unsafe water and eating unsafe produce had very unfortunate effects.  When you are spending 24 hours a day with someone you adore, it takes away a little of the glamour when half of that time is spent in the bathroom....

My house is quiet....

I had forgotten.  This is how it usually is.  But I had forgotten what it is like to be mostly alone.  The company is gone.  The Honeymooners are gone.  I am left with an empty house and overflowing laundry hampers.

But, oh!  What an amazing week I have had.

Last Thursday we picked up Jackie, Robert, Josalyn, and Evelyn from the airport.  We traveled home to Salem where our dinner was mostly ready to go. (I love crockpots)  My mother, sister Suzanne, and my nieces, Malia and Lauren, came to enjoy our dinner with us.  We ate in the backyard.  Perfect evening. 

The following morning we arose early and went to the Portland Temple.  This was a special preliminary visit, a precursor to the wedding to follow, as Erica entered the House of the Lord to receive a special endowment of blessings from the Savior.  Such an amazing experience.  What a delight to be able to share this time with one's child who has prepared herself, has kept herself unspotted from the world in order to enter in that holy place.

We returned to Salem that afternoon to make final preparations for the Reception.  We met Derek's family at Copper Hill at 6:00pm and with their help we had everything ready for the party to start at 6:30pm.  Talk about miracles....

What a wonderful event.  It was delightful for me to greet all our friends that came to honor Erica and Derek.  I loved it.  And what a crowd!  I thought we would have lots of leftovers.  What was I thinking?  Every delicious morsel was gone, except one tier of wedding cake which I selfishly held back so I could take it home. (Mother of the Bride's prerogative...)

After the whirlwind of a party, we quickly "un-decorated" then headed home with our huge load.  Grateful for the chance to unwind, the family gathered to watch Erica and Derek open their lovely gifts.  Fun times.  Silly times.  The first gift opened was a set of Elvis drinking glasses.  Hmmmm.....what were we in for? 

Saturday morning:  SLEEP IN!  That was on all agendas.  What a blessing.  Rumor got out that our daughter, Jackie, an Esthetician with skills, was in town and willing to remove stray hair.  Believe me, more silliness!

At 1:00pm we gathered up everything needed for the rest of the day and drove to the Wedding luncheon at Macaroni Grill.  Perfect.  What a lovely, relaxing way to prepare for the next, most important part of our wedding weekend, THE WEDDING itself.

The Temple Marriage and Sealing Ceremony was the most sacred event I have ever witnessed.  Many tears of joy were shed as a beautiful bride and a handsome groom commited to each other not just for this life together, but to spend all of eternity together as husband and wife.  They were radiant.  They were blessed with an abundance of the Holy Spirit to sanctify this significant event.  I will never forget this special day with them.

After the ceremony, Erica and Derek came back "down to earth" and emerged from the temple, ready for whatever life would give them.  They were met by loving family and many photographers.  By this time on Saturday evening, the crowds had dissipated and we had the temple grounds to ourselves for all the pictures we could want.

After changing from their wedding clothes, they drove off together in their little red Toyota.  A fitting end to a perfect weekend.  A fitting beginning for the rest of their lives.

Packing Bags

There is something undeniable about packing bags; it always generates some type of feeling.  It is impossible not to feel something when you are packing bags.  You might feel the thrill of anticipation as you pack your bags for a vacation.  You might feel frustration packing your bags for the umpteenth business trip where you will be crammed into a tiny airplane seat and have a bag of peanuts tossed at you.  And then there are the feelings associated with leaving home for the first time.  A sleepover at the neighbor's.  Summer camp.  Thanksgiving at Grandma's.  Going to the hospital to bring home a new baby.  The feelings may not always be the same, but as surely as the winds of change blow through our lives, we pack our bags for multitudes of reasons, accompanied by multitudes of feelings.

Today, at my house, was a day of packing bags.  My daughter ceremoniously said good-bye to her childhood today.  She packed up her bedroom which held the treasures of her life at home.  She packed her clothes to take to her new apartment where she will live as a married woman.  She packed the suitcase she will be taking on her honeymoon. 

She didn't share with me the feelings that she had, but I suppose they are quite universal.  I suppose she felt a bit of sadness mingled with the excitement of her new life.  Never one to be too attached to belongings or possessions, she probably just matter-of-factly tackled the job before her.  I hope there was just a twinge of regret in leaving behind a world of doting, over-protective parents who adore her.  But she is leaving our arms to be met by the arms of the kindest, caring new husband.  No contest, huh?

While Erica was busy packing her bags, I had my own little project down the hall.  Within the walls of my bedroom, I faced the exceptional and unique responsibility of packing another bag.  I met this opportunity with respect, with reverence, with appreciation for the eternal and sacred nature of my role as Erica's mother.  I was packing the bag for her to take to the temple.   The feelings?  indescribable.

Craving Normalcy

Three months ago my life changed.  It required a dramatic turn from my regular activities.  It was a welcome change, but as I see the denouement advancing quickly, part of me is so relieved.  Part of me is craving the return to my normal life and normal concerns. 

Three months ago my daughter got engaged and I have been in wedding planning mode ever since.  With only three months to pull off the singularly biggest event in her life thus far (even bigger than Junior Miss, even bigger than the high school musicals, or proms, or graduation), it has compelled me to spend most of my waking moments thinking and planning and shopping and creating and organizing and ordering and arranging....

I am exhausted.  I am drained of energy.  I am spent.

I am excited!  I can't wait to see how it all plays out.  I can't wait to see all the elements combine in the projected and certainly lovely way.

I have spent some time in my craft/writing room the past couple of days.  I have been reviewing the progress I have made on my book project.  Oh, how I have missed my work on that. 

Although this wedding planning has been a fun ride, and the good times will only escalate as company comes into town, parties are thrown, and trips are made to the Portland Temple for sacred experiences, I must admit that now I am also anticipating the quiet times ahead to be spent reading, pondering, and writing.  These activities won't occur until after the company is gone and the party supplies are put away.  Then perhaps life can get back to normal....

Feeling Lucky Too

Our family is growing.  My entire backyard was filled with our growing family last night.  My future son-in-law brought his whole family, including nieces and nephews, over for a cook out.  We had a lot of fun and were thrilled at the relaxed, comfortable nature of the whole coming together. 

Derek's family is a blogging family and I just had to share his sister Laura's blog this morning.  She captured the fun pretty well.  Thanks, Laura!

Wedding. On. The. Brain.

It's ridiculous.  I am obsessed.  I am consumed.  I have already spent or allocated my entire projected budget.  Not good.

I am thrilled to have a new project that completely fills my time, my energy, and my thoughts.  This is going to be the event of the summer.  Last weekend while in Idaho with my kids, we found a stunningly beautiful wedding dress and some very sassy bridesmaid dresses.  They are easily the best I have ever seen.  And so far, the bride and all the bridesmaids are loving them.  There is still one that hasn't tried hers yet but the response from the others has been very positive.

I toured the reception hall yesterday and signed the contract.  It is more beautiful than I had remembered.  Slowly, one by one, I am checking off my endless list of things to take care of.  I told Erica she is the Chairman of this wedding committee, while I will play the role of co-chairman.  But she is a state away, a full-time college student, and she has no money. 

Soooooo, I am not only the Mother of the Bride, I am also the honorary Maid of Honor (the one that does all the work)  AND the Wedding Planner (the one with all the creative license).

I may also be the decorator, the floral designer, the invitation maker, the cake baker...well, you get the idea.

It's going to be a great summer.

Couldn't say it any better!

Erica updated her blog yesterday, and I couldn't say it any better than she did!
So I will just add that we are so happy at our house.  This has been a long time coming, but in a day and age of widespread confusion, I am pleased that my daughter has a desire to be certain before rushing into something so important.  It took her awhile to see what I have seen from the very beginning.

Because their courtship has lasted so long, we already feel like Derek is apart of our family.  His love and kindness and generosity and goodness have won all our hearts, not just Erica's.

Welcome to our family Derek; it is clear that you belong to Erica, and therefore, to us!