We started the morning off with getting ready for my endowments. My brother Mike and his wife Jess spent the previous night at my quaint little home. I accidentally woke them up when I was singing in the shower... :S I just can't help myself at times. Nate picked me up and we were on our way to the Logan temple. We arrived early with my aunt Cheryl as my escort and my mom as a special one. It was a little nerve-wrecking not knowing what to do, but the temple workers took good care of me. I did an initiatory for myself and then prepped with a temple worker for the endowment part. The matron of the the temple gave a few others and myself information before the session (..and actually, she knows Nate and his family! Small world!) Before the session began, I noticed that my future parentals-in-law were to be the witness couple. So cool!! The session went really well and my overall reaction was: weirdness! But in the end I truly felt the spirit and felt good about what I was doing. I knew it was right and if I have to symbolically do weird things for the Lord's purposes, so be it, I'll do it hands down.
Afterwards, my family and Nate's parents went to the Beehive Grill in Logan. The food was so good!!! I loved their homemade root beer as well. Mmmm... :) My family met back at my humble little abode before we scattered in every direction. Jess and I went shopping at a "specialty" store and later drove to Deweyville to get ready for the open house. Holy crap that was a stressful afternoon...
Nate had yet to see me in my dress. So that night was the moment of surprise. :)
I'll never forget the look on his face when he saw me. He was awstruck. His mouth dropped and he wasn't focusing on anyone else but me in my dress. He gave me a hug and we kissed. Then he breathed in my ear: "You. Look. Beautiful!" I couldn't have been happier that day. Everything had worked out thus far and I was with the man of my dreams.
Nov 18th
After I got out of class, Nate and I picked up my bouquet on our way down to Salt Lake. That was a bit frustrating. It was originally wrong with no copper coils and bright yellow flowers, instead of my yellow. I had the girl fix it who then made several excuses all about it 'being so last minute'. It wasn't nothing but excuse after excuse. She had to fix it a few times before I was actually satisfied. We finally headed toward Salt Lake and... it was toward the beginning of the snowstorm that was forecasted for that weekend. We made it in time for me to quickly climb into my dress and get ready before the reception started.
It was a pretty reception. My neighbor Kathy McCullough headed it and did a MARVELOUS job with everything. It ran so smoothly and our guests seemed to enjoy themselves. My dad made my favorite dutchoven chicken for everyone with rolls, potatoes, and mixed veggies. Everyone LOVED the chicken. SCORE! Lol. Nate's grandpa apparently kept talking about the chicken over and over and over during the night--it's just that good!
We cut the cake, I poorly threw the bouquet (the lights got in the way), Nate threw the garter and then we danced. Nate and I danced to God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton. I truly feel these words are true for Nate and I. I love him so much and I feel that I'M the one who has been blessed to get a guy like him. I then had my daddy/daughter dance with my dad. Course as soon as he heard the song, he had tears in his eyes... which made me cry. It was a touching moment that I was happy to share with the dad I love. He's made me laugh from when I was really little to now. He can tickle me without touching me. He serves our family very well, giving his all every minute of every day. He loves my mom unconditionally and respectfully; the way love should be. I respect him a lot and that one moment when we danced to I Loved Her First by Heartland, I felt love and respect for him more than I ever had. He's my dad and he raised me well enough to meet a guy like Nate.
I hoped that more dancing had occurred with friends, family and neighbors, but with the snow storm, it was hard to keep everyone around. Lol. It worked out though. Nate and I ate dinner, changed and helped with the cleaning up. Nate went to his sister's hotel and I went to my parent's house. I hated being away from him that night. It made me crazy. But it was all for the best. :)
Nov 19th
The day had come! I was to be married that morning for eternity to Nathan Warburton! :) :) :) Getting ready by myself was a bit tricky and made us arrive late to the temple that morning. Nate struggled to park the car and once he did, the license was then left in the car... But we did get in and the temple worker that was with me helped out a lot in getting me ready for the sealing.
I found out later from Barbara, that the sealer came up to her after the ceremony and told her that he had some really nice things to say about us. Too often he gets couples and it makes him nervous to seal them as if something seems off. He told her that there is a sweet spirit about Nate and I. He was ecstatic to be the one to seal us. I don't know what he saw, but I felt that was really nice of him.
Jess and Cheryl helped me get ready to make my grande entrance with Nate by my side while everyone that could waited outside.
Grandpa and Grandma Bitner to the left...WE DID IT!!!
I'm so glad that we could be greeted by those who showed up at the temple, including one of my best friends, Adam Keeler! Due to the previous snow storm, the ground was freshly laid with snow and there were several cold puddles to get my dress wet. We took pictures with everyone and then took some of just us. I had open toe shoes on.. tromping through the snow---BAD IDEA! My feet were frozen and numb, I couldn't feel them and didn't care. I was married to the man of my dreams. :) Towards the end of the photoshoot, the sun decided to finally grace us with it's presence.
Nate and I left for the luncheon to eat with family and close friends at the Wight House. It was super fancy and well done! They served us a raspberry spinach salad, Tuscan chicken, roll, veggies, potatoes and a caramelized chocolate cake for dessert. Larry welcomed everyone to lunch and later sent a microphone around for people to offer advice or any comments about our marriage. I think the funniest one for me was from our friend Josh. He said that I need to remember my new last name so that when I get a calling in sacrament meeting, I know who the crap they are talking about. I guess his wife Sara forgot recently while in church, got a calling and looked around trying to find the person who had recently been given a calling over the pulpit. Lol. :) I was hoping to show our video that Nate's sister, Sara, had spent so much time working on, but... I forgot to make sure it was brought to the luncheon. If you didn't get a chance to watch it, here it is:
(insert video here)*
We changed out of our fancy clothes and went to our get away car. Nate's brother Seth did a great acting job of keeping it cool and getting Nate's keys to decorate the Subaru. ;) My siblings tried to inconspicuously talk about their detail job with Nate's car when I was around, but I caught on unbeknownst to them. They did a great job! Especially with the condoms and balloons everywhere in the car. AND we got baby-wipes, chocolate and cider. (if you don't know the baby-wipe story, I might tell you later but they are a blessing!) We drove off toward our hotel in Salt Lake to celebrate and clean off Nate's prized car :) (he really loves that thing, almost as much as me..) For everything that went wrong, it was a very special and happy day :)
pictures coming soon...
Yay, it's all OVER! :D Lol That was a very fun weekend...lotsa stress and crazyness, but it was beautiful and I am SO happy for you & Nate! Marriage RULES! :)
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