Here comes the Bride!

Some of the pictures Sharlene took before the Sealing. I haven't gotten any pictures of my dress yet... Again, Check out Mom's if you want those!

The wedding preparations started at 7 o’clock, nearly 3 hours after my body would not let me sleep anymore. Dr Drew came to my shoulders rescue, just in time for my make up to be done, so I did have a small break for us to chat some, and for my shoulder to be placed into its socket correctly. Our long time family friend Kalisha did my make-up and all of the make up and hair for my portion of the bridesmaids. Myles’ sister, Chelle did my hair and she did a great job! I really loved how it turned out! I was finished pretty quickly and Shar, Mom, Myles, Lillian, Leah, and Myself headed up to the temple to catch a bit of the sun before the rain poured. We took some really cute pictures in our dinner clothes. Myles and I were goofing off big time, but it was just oh, so much fun and exciting! We entered the temple and all the people were so helpful. We met with our records sister again and then the work began to get my dress on. All of the temple workers told me how beautiful and modest my dress was, and to compliment my hair. They were all so sweet and wonderful! My dear mommy was there to help me and everything was great! I got my dress on and when I walked around the temple, peoples’ heads would turn and follow me and they would gasp at first sight. I felt like a queen! It was incredible! They lead me to Myles. His eyes anxious and bright, he sat there fidgeting until he saw me. Smiles filled our faces! My mom left me with Myles and the Temple worker, who took us to the celestial room. There we waited for our sealer to come speak with us. We chatted, we sat, we giggled, we talked a bit more, it seemed like forever and I was getting anxious. Butterflies were starting to churn within my stomach. I was becoming nervous that we had been sitting there for so long, and it was becoming too much for me. Finally the sealer came! He lead to some beautiful double doors, and much to my surprise I heard the sound of something tearing. I turned around to see the sealers face filled with horror, and the train of my dress, dragging long and beautiful. Though it was beautiful, it was not supposed to be out yet! They called my mom in and I busted into laughter! Holy cow!! I thought it was the funniest thing that could have happened! The comic relief of the stress I was in just minutes before was priceless! I really thought of it as a huge blessing for me! My mom shoved the dress as far up my torso as she could, so that the train would not drag, and the sealer came to speak with us when she finished. He gave some instructions on how the ceremony would proceed.

He was very clear with it all, and we entered the simple and beautiful sealing room with feelings of peaceful joy! I walked in to see the smiling faces of people that loved and supported us! Sister Tharp, My parents, Both sets of grandparents, Myles’ mom and grandpa, the tearful smile of my wonderful sister Kimber, Ray, Anna and John, The Tapasa’s, My dear friend Dean and his parents, Vicky and Mike Hilton, Sister Theil, Mary Jane and Jim, and the Jessop parents. It was a room full of love! It was great to see everyone there! There were a couple of men that I wish could have been there, but my thoughts didn’t turn to them until after Myles and I had been sealed, and My uncle Jim hugged me twice and said, “This one is from Rorie. You know he would be here if he could.” Then with a tearful smile my thoughts turned to the boys in my life who I watched become men as they prepared for their missions. Elder Jessop serving in Texas, Elder Earl in Brazil, and Elder Hewitt in California. All of them dear, dear friends of mine who I know would have been there if they had not been called to serve the Lord right now. They are phenomenal men and strong missionaries and I wouldn’t want them any other place.

Going back to the sealing now… Dad and Grandpa Nielsen sat at the head of the room with the sealer standing between them. Myles and I sat between our mothers at the other end of the room, fingers interlaced, and trying our hardest to focus on what the sealer was saying to us. He gave us direction on how to have a fulfilling marriage. Key points on what would bring us happiness. There were 5 of them and if I remember them all correctly he instructed us to 1) Keep the commandments that God has set out for us. 2) Learn and Live the Gospel. Be able to teach it. 3) Utilize the Atonement. 4) Attend the temple often 5) Be prayerful.

He was very wise and it touched me to know that he had prayed for council to give just to us.

Then the sealer had us kneel across the altar from each another, smiling and locking eye contact. The sealer had made special mention to us not to look at him, but at each other and so we did. What seemed to be no time later, I heard him utter the words, “You are sealed as husband and wife, legally and lawfully wedded.” Then, turning to Myles he said, “ Do you want to kiss your girl?” quiet laughter filled the room. We exchanged rings and each of our guest filled by, embracing and congratulating us.

We hurried to get ready for pictures, and fix my dress. We were told that there was sun outside right NOW and if we were fast enough we would catch it. My mom followed me into my dressing room and did her best to get my skirt off the ground with more safety pins than I could count as they went on. They would do the job for now… we found Myles and hurried outside. Just as we walked out the doors, it started to sprinkle on us and then all to quickly it turned to a full on down pour. My parade was not just being rained on! It was like someone turned on a faucet right over the temple! The skirts of my dress were drenched; those who did not make it under an umbrella were soaked to the skin. People became quickly miserable. I tried to keep my spirits up as my mom demanded that I be the one to make the decision for what to do. My options were stand in the cold and see if we could get enough time without the rain that we could take pictures, or send all the family away so that they could be dry while Myles and I took pictures at the temple under an umbrella. I opted to send everyone else away and do family and party pictures at the church after the boys shirts went through the dryer. Chad hugged me as he was leaving and soon after that someone asked me what was on my dress… To my shock and horror I looked down to see kind of a brownish purple color smudged on the bodes of my dress. My aunt Anna said she had a plan but for now while Shar was taking pictures it would just have to be edited out of the pictures.

I was freezing the entire time but I believe we got some good pictures out of the few minutes that we had. We of course had far too much fun! Well, I don’t know if there is a such thing as too much fun, but we enjoy ourselves a lot! Although I was having fun, I was still cold so when we finished I was grateful to be able to get warmer, dryer clothes on. We loaded the ripped, stained, and soaking dress into the car and headed back to the family dinner.

Myles and I arrived at home with enough time to have Gma Mabee and Anna work on my dress and for us to start shoving things into the car. It was the assignment of Raymond and Anna to “play tetris” with our car so that all the presents would fit into our little civic. They did an amazing job if I do say so myself! We could probably even fit more in if we needed to! Thank goodness we didn’t though… Anyway, Myles ran up to the church to meet his family and eat while I finished helping Ray pack our stuff up. I got to the church with enough time to have Chelle redo my hair because it really needed it. The rain and wind had pretty much trashed it. Then I drank a bowl of squash soup that was delish, and went to get my dress back on for pictures. The stains were all out and the train was just taken out so that it would look better than half of it being down. They did an amazing job and really helped me feel calm about the whole situation. My one concern was that I really had not eaten anything all day, and I didn’t know if I would make it through the reception!

We did as many pictures as we could before guests started arriving. I do have some fears that we didn’t get all of them that I wanted. I’m mostly worried that we didn’t get one with my entire immediate family. I know my momma really wanted one… Oh well… We will be back.

The party was great! There were so many people there to support us! I felt bad for Myles because he didn’t know anyone there except his family and one of his EFY Tacoma kids that came to see him. Someone else would have to guess how many people were there because I really haven’t a clue. There were a lot. I didn’t have a voice by the end of it! We talked to so many people! Amanda Maki was amazing and did the Food and cupcakes for the guests, and Elizabeth Marquez did the cake for us. They both did an amazing job and it would not have been the same without them! I was touched to see so many of my friends show up and see that there was help needed and gladly step in to fill the empty spaces. Even Lagi got an apron on and got to clear tables with her mommy! They were all so sweet and kind to help like they did.

When it came time to cut the cake we weren’t sure what the other was going to do. Smash cake, or be nice… I wanted to be nice! My dress had already been through so much and I was so tired by that point that cake in my face really didn’t seem like a ton of fun. Anyway, Myles saw me pick up a piece of cake and thought it did it too quickly to have the intention of being nice. Therefore, I got covered in cake! It was everywhere! I tried to get him back but my arms just weren’t long enough! I did get him to some degree, but not as much as he got me… haha it was all fun though. All out of love, and very much full of laughter. The pictures people got of this were great!

We had a first dance which was kind of weird because we were the only people dancing and everyone was staring at us… Maybe that is how it’s supposed be but we just talked and laughed with each other while Myles continuously tried not to step on my dress. Following our first dance we had a father/daughter dance which Myles and his mom joined us in. That was fun! Again, dad and I talked and laughed. Following that I think there was more visiting.

It was coming close to time for Myles and I to leave but we couldn’t find my coat, which had our keys in it. We got nervous that the usual vandalisms had been done to our car, but thankfully went outside to see our car untouched. We couldn’t afford to have anything done to it with the long drive that we had ahead of us. Finally I believe it was Auntie Jo that found my coat in the kitchen, with my keys still safely tucked into the pocket!

Myles and I ran to my mom’s house to change out of our wedding attire, threw some more things into the car, and ran back to the church to open presents and play tetris. Mom wrote stuff down while Myles and I busted open the presents as fast as we could. It was fun!

I went to load up my dress to go with Ann but when I came out they were gone! I guess they didn’t hear me ask if I could send my dress with them… We called them back and I put the dress in the car. It is safely there and will be ready for me to wear at our NM reception next week.

After all the presents had been loaded up I started sending around the hugs to my family and closest friends. Kimber and Fia were the only people who got me to cry all day! Then I got to mom and that was just down hill from there. She and I just held on tight, giggling and crying. Giggling because we are going to see each other next week. Crying because it will be hard to be apart again. After I took a few last minute pictures, Myles and I ran out the door to our car and hit the road. Only heading for as far as Salem.