New Mexico "Land of Enchantment"

After the wedding we flew to New Mexico to meet family and celebrate. We left early Tuesday morning. Flying and traveling always makes me nervous, but we got to the airport with out any problems. Just as I was getting comforatble, problems began. We sat on the runway during Mea's lunch time for about a hour and an half. Missed our connecting flight, were stranded in Dallas for five hours, and after sitting hoping to get on standby and going from gate to gate hoping to get on a plane we finally made a flight and got to New Mexico around 11pm. It was an exausting, patience trying trip, but Mea did great and we made it. When Mea got off the plane and in the truck the first things she said was "Why did they turn all of their grass into dirt?" and that "they really needed to water out here" I laughed and was surpized at how observant she is. The mountains were beautiful and while there was a lot of dirt, the senery was spactacular. The next week we met family, including Mea's new best friend/cousin Shaylee. The girls had a lot of fun playing. They both have big blue eyes and look like they could be blood, not to mention that their presonalities fit well together too. Mea can't wait to go back and visit. The reception was so much fun. The food was great, the dancing was tons of fun, (the lessons in the basement payed off), and meeting all of the people I had heard so much about was great. Everyone worked really hard to make the night special, and I am so thankful for all the hard work that was put in. I have to say that the cake was my favorite part. It was so cool, and yummy to boot. The last thing I had to write about was branding...you are reading this right, branding...as in burning defensless calves skin with a hot iron. I am proud of my self for getting through that. Cows make me uneasy and I had never been in any situation like that before. It was an experience. I got the low down and when we began and my job was to mostly stay out of the way. Each calf had to be roped, branded, given shots, and had their ear tagged and tattooed. On the first cow, I thought I might cry. The poor things looked really scared and I knew the branding must hurt. My feeling were a mixture of city girl "animal rights" to family loyalty/pride"I am going to show them. Determined to gut through, I decided to jump in and help, and in the end was an okay assistant for this being my first experience with large animals. Everything went smootly, and there is no way anyone will be stealing Fancy Nancy (the cow Mea named). I am pushed out of my comfort zone everyday!! We had a good trip but are happy to be home, settling into our new life.

We are married!!

On June 12th, Jared and I were sealed in the Nauvoo IL temple. It was beautiful and everything worked out perfectly! The sealing took place at 9:00 am. After the ceremony we took some pictures, ate some lunch and headed out for Chicago. We were so thankful that all the people we love and care about were with us in person or at least in thought. I was nice to share the day. We are so happy and cannot wait to start real life together. Perfect shoes, perfect dress, perfect husband, perfect family, perfectly perfect!

Real life will be delayed a week. On Tues we head out to NM for a reception. It will be really nice. I am excited to meet all of Jared friends and family, and show off my new dance moves ;-)! After that we will be home for good and the tasks of real life will start up again. I am sooo excited!

LIFE IS WONDERFUL!!

I'll post more pictures soon.