Internet Access at Last

Rory and I finally have Internet service hooked up in our apartment. This means we can start updating our blog more regularly. We have lots to write about, from our wedding, to our honeymoon, to our everyday life together since then. We also hope to soon post pictures to accompany our posts to help keep our family and friends updated in the story of us.

More soon....

Unofficial Engagement Photos

Because Rory and I chose to have non traditional Wedding Announcements (with cartoon versions of ourselves verses engagement photos), I wasn't going to have any engagement pictures taken.

However, my dear friend and wedding photographer Kay Figueroa, insisted that I change my mind. She told me that I needed some good pictures of both Rory and me (taken in a non wedding setting which we could put on our wall or in a photo album).

I agreed, so last week we all got together and had a royal blast taking these pictures together. So I guess you can call these my un-official engagement photos. (I'll post a few for your enjoyment)

The Reception

Originally I was just going to hold my reception at our Church's Cultural Hall. After all we have been counseled by our church leaders not to let our reception overshadow the Wedding Sealing (which is understandable since the Sealing is what is most important). However, a few weeks ago my boss came to me and told me that she had worked it out with the owners of the Old Colonial House (where our Bookstore currently resides) to let me have my reception there while the bookstore was open.

I fell in love with the idea. After all people have receptions in art galleries, why couldn't I have mine in a bookstore? I quickly accepted, and called Rory to tell him the news. He was just as excited as I was, though more so for the fact that the Reception hall is in Lehi, which is more moderately in between both of our friends and families (since my family lives in Orem, and his live in Magna.)

However just this weekend I learned that our little Bookstore is moving across and down the street this week just before my wedding. At first I was worried. After all, would this move affect my reception? I was assured by my boss that I was not to worry. The wonderful owners of the Old Colonial House are still allowing me to hold my reception there ( it will just look like a reception hall and not a bookstore.).

I thank the Abbots (the owners of the Old Colonial House) and my Boss Daniela Larsen (the owner of Classic Books and Gifts) for making my reception possible in this old historic building which I have long fallen in love with in the many weeks that I have worked there.

Bridals!!

This last week I went and had my bridals taken. One of my closest friends Kay Figueroa was the photographer. She is a amazingly talented artist with a BFA in Photography.

I felt like a fairy tale princess as I walked the grounds of "the castle" (in Provo), dressed in my wedding gown, tiara, veil, and ruby slippers. All week I have been filled with anticipation for how the photos would turn out. So, of course, I was ecstatic when my friend texted me this afternoon that the pictures were ready!

I knew she was good, but...Wow! These pictures surpassed even my expectations. Here are a few, of my favorites:

Wedding Announcements!!!!

One of the first things I came to know about my future husband was how talented he is with his drawing. I especially love his cartoons. There is a quality about them that is hard to find these days. He says that his inspiration is Calvin and Hobbs, and Peanuts. I can understand why.

From the first time I saw his work, I dreamed of what a cartoon of me would look like. That's why when Rory proposed to draw a cartoon of us for our announcement instead of the traditional engagement picture, I was in complete agreement. I had wanted to do something more unique and that is exactly what I got.

If you would like to receive your own copy of our announcement, but haven't sent us your address, then this is your last chance. We are planning to send them out this coming week, so please get us your information ASAP.

Stitched by a Friend

A few weeks ago I was approached by a dear family friend Robyn Devey, who offered to make me a veil. I already had one (which I inherited along with my dress over a year ago.), but told Robyn that I would love to have her make me one. It was after this that I found out that she has been trying to start up a business in making custom veils. I became all the more excited.

We sat down to decided what I wanted, and the end result was way different than I had originally planned. (and soooo much cooler!) Instead of a veil attached to a beaded headband that reached my waist. I now am in possession of a simple, yet elegant veil attached to a comb (the women who read this will know what I am talking about) that falls down past my knees with little crystals and pearls scattered throughout.

I truly feel like a princess when I wear it. Especially when I am wearing my tiara that I'll be wearing. So there you have it, another tidbit about my preparations for the upcoming big day.

How did you know that you were in Love? How did you know it was right to get married?

A few days ago a good friend and coworker of mine asked me how I knew I was in love with Rory, and how I knew it was right to marry him. I could tell that my answer was important to her, so I thought very carefully before I gave my answer.

The answer was simple. Rory was everything I had always dreamed of but despaired of ever finding. He is a prince among men. He was an answer to many a heartfelt prayer of mine to my Father in Heaven.

How so? my friend asked

Hmmm….How to explain…?

Well, I said. You know how when you are dating it seems as if you always have to try so hard? You can’t let your guard down for a minute? That no matter how much you may like the person there are still awkward moments? Well, that was never the case with Rory. From the very first I felt completely as ease with him. I was just me and he was just him, and that was fantastic. This was something even my family noticed. Never in my life had they seen me soo at peace as the first time they saw us together.

However, it was more then that.

How so? My friend asked.

Hmmm…Again how to explain..,?

Before I had met Rory I had almost given up. There were many young men I knew who were so called active in the church. They were returned missionaries, temple recommend holding, church attending, and over all nice guys. Yet there was something missing. Many of them were what has been termed "Peter Pan’s" for many different reasons.

Even more, I had been raised to be an old fashioned girl. I believe that except for certain exceptions that women are desperately needed in the home. Yet where to find a young man these days who believed the same thing? How to find a man who would not just support my decision to follow the prophet, and be a stay at home wife and mother, but who would understand why and want it himself.

I have worked hard over the years and sacrificed much to stay out of debt, set aside for the future, gain an education, and learn new skills. Yet few valued or understood why I was doing so.

I have thought much of my future family. I think of how I wish to raise them. What sort of education I will strive to give them. The environment I wish to have in my home and what sort of spirit I wish to invite in. I have thought of what traditions I wish to have, and soo much more. However for all my thinking and planning I knew it takes two to have a marriage, and to start a family. It concerned me when I saw few young men who had even thought of these things let alone whose views, desires, and goals were aligned with mine.

I want to follow the prophet in every way possible both temporally as well as spiritually; from regular temple attendance to food storage. It is all important if one desires to come to Christ, and be an instrument in his hands. I have very clear and set eternal goals, which I am seeking to obtain. Yet few young men I have talked to (and I have talked to many) have ever stopped to really think beyond getting married in the temple as far as their Salvation goes.

In addition to the fear that I would never find someone on the same page with me in all of these important things, was my fear of relationships and commitment in general. I have watched as the marriages of many of friends have been strained and have even failed due to a spouse choosing to put electronics before them in a marriage, spouses changing and falling away from the gospel, or becoming controlling, or critical to a fault. (Really the list can go on. Needless to say that despite the good examples of Christ centered marriages in my life I have been afraid to commit and because of that I have not allowed myself to fully love).

Yet all of this changed when Rory came into my life. Not only was I so at peace in his presence and confident even. In addition to all of that. I found my match (Not only does he attend Church, but he has a powerful testimony of the gospel and a very pure/light spirit about him. He has a rare maturity for his generation. Not only does he have a desire to follow the prophet, but he has thought long and hard of what that actually means. He has eternal goals which he actively works towards. He takes his responsibilities very seriously. He is hard working, and willing to sacrifice when need arises. He is tender hearted, always reaching out to serve his fellow man. He treats me like a queen, and what’s more he treats his mother and sister the same way. He is talented, in his artwork, and really a very intelligent man who values education. He wants to have a home and a family and has thought about the many aspects that go into having that.). Rory is my equal and my partner in all things. We may have different roles, talents, abilities, backgrounds, and insights, but we have the same desires, goals, and dreams.

When I realized all of this (not long after we started dating) I decided that the only way I could overcome my fear of relationships and commitment was to turn to the Lord. So that is what I did. Now I know that soul mates (a couple who promised each other before coming to this earth that they would find each other and marry) are extremely rare. However, I do believe that the Lord is actively involved in preparing people for each other and bringing them together for their mutual joy and their ability to fulfill their foreordained missions. In believing this I asked the Lord if Rory was the one who was being prepared for me, if the Lord had been the one to bring us together, and if this relationship was approved of by him. I quickly received the answer of YES to all of the above. God brought us together, and He doesn’t make mistakes. Once I had this confirmation all my fears fell away, and I couldn’t help but give my heart to Rory Robert Groves. Which is why I know it is right to marry him.

By the end of my explanation my friend seemed to be a little more at peace with a question she held in her heart. I pray that in writing this for the world to see, that someone reading this may be similarly helped as well.