It's Been A Year

A year ago Tyler and I got married. Our wedding day dawned snowy and freezing, but I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I had been praying for snow to make the pictures absolutely gorgeous, and they were (although it did make it so that a few of our family members couldn’t make the trip. Sorry). The night before our wedding I was in Kamas. I went to a dear friend’s wedding reception, and then spent the night hours talking to some of my dear friends in a bachelorette party of sorts. Really it was just a gathering of Hailey, Merilee, Hannah, and I, and we just talked. It was a lovely way to spend my last night as a single lady. It didn’t feel real that I would be getting married the next day.

After about five hours of sleep (maybe…), I was ready to get the show on the road. I woke up early to put together a Christmas present for Tyler; I couldn’t sleep anyway. Still it didn’t feel real. I couldn’t believe that I was really about to marry Tyler forever. I didn’t have regrets or feel nervous. I was just kind of passive. We got to the church in American Fork where the luncheon was, and I said hello to family and close friends, but it was sort of a dream. Then I saw Tyler. It was the longest we had gone being apart from each other in a month, and suddenly, I was filled with so much love and joy. He kissed me, and I knew that I would never look back and feel regret.

I remember that we were late to the temple, but we got there before our escorts. I remember feeling so happy and peaceful, and I remember how whole I felt when the ceremony was over, and Tyler and I were bound together. I remember getting dressed in a little more than ten minutes, and the ordinance workers were amazed. Everyone told me they loved my dress, and I got to tell them that it had belonged to my grandmother, and she had worn it forty-four years and two days earlier. I could list a million silly details of what I remember, but I mostly just remember the wholeness that I felt with Tyler.

Now a year has passed, and I still feel a wholeness and oneness with Tyler. I know him even better now, and we’ve become even closer. As much as I loved Tyler on our wedding day, I love him even more now. I know his heart, and he knows mine. There are so many days when I feel overwhelmed by the blessings in my life. Being married to Tyler is my greatest gift. I’m so grateful for his partnership and love. The last year has brought happiness and laughter as well as sadness and tears. We've faced disappointment and discouragement. We bought a motorcycle. We've taught primary. We've eaten delicious food, attended funerals, and watched lots of movies. I'm a better person because of all of these things, but especially because I got to experience them with Tyler.