A Wedding, and Life thereafter...

Yes, it's true.  With the wedding now a lovely but ever-distant memory, I am beginning to remember what life was like pre-wedding.  I am remembering mornings at home for laundry and dishes, afternoons at work, time for the yard work and garden, and maybe, possibly, do we dare say the words:  leisure time (gasp!).  It's true.  I have been able to do a little reading (very little, but still...), and am even working on a quilt top for Shiree from her old scrubs.  I know, I know.  I'm giddy with excitement.  So, with the few moments of extra time, I am back to my Rosetta Stone Italian (hey, hey, Jess!), and trying to get the blog updated a little more regularly.  And today is picture time.  I hope.  My computer pre-dates the dinosaurs, so it can get a little sketchy, but here goes.

The first look at the newlyweds, coming out of the temple.  A bit fuzzy, sorry.                
                                                              



This couple is President and Sister Barker, Dave's mission president and his wife, who is beginning to decline.  We were so happy to have them with us at the temple!  Originally, we wanted him to be the sealer, but that isn't how it works, unfortunately.



One of our favorite people.  Aiden in his tux, umbrella in hand, for the 3 or 4 raindrops that happened to sprinkle.  :)



This is one of mom's favorite pictures.  Stu, who is the tough guy, showing a little love for his biggest sis.  Awwww.



And of course, three of the four sisters together.  We just need Jess!



Can you see the spot for a picture of Jessica in our family's new picture?  Maybe we could Photoshop a floating sister missionary head in there between Stu and B...





We have more pictures of the reception and all, but as Shiree has said all along, the most important part of the whole day was what happened behind those big beautiful doors.  We loved being in the temple, and look forward to many more days there. 

We also got a phone call from Italy on Mother's Day, and got to talk to Jess for over an hour!  It was so good to hear from her, and to hear her testimony in Italian (it's very beautiful).  And it was more than just a simple testimony.  It was over 5 minutes of gorgeous Italian, complex sentences, in-depth spiritual insights, and obvious love for the Lord and His work.  It was a very wonderful beginning to my Mother's Day.  (She called at 8 am)  We had Shiree and Kelly over, and Becki and Aiden came up, so we all got to sit around the phone and ask her questions and listen to her describe her days sharing the gospel with the people she has come to love so much. 

Quick story from our daddy, who has struggled just a bit with losing both of his older girls at almost the same time.  When he was in the temple, signing the marriage certificate as a witness, he asked the attendant if this meant he was signing away his daughter.  The attendant said, "No, it means you are signing up for grandchildren!"  We have entered that stage.  I feel much too young to have a son-in-law, let alone be approaching the title of Grandma Smedley, but then, I think of all that awaits in our next decade:  more missions, more weddings, and more happy days that come as our family grows, and I am okay with it.