What A Weekend!!!

So many words could describe this weekend in Boston. "Amazing" kind of sums it all up, but I would be remiss to leave it at that.

"Fun" certainly applied to much of the time. We were able to spend time with my parents, Erin's parents, Erin's grandmother, Dacia, Alyssa, Thayne, MaryAnne, Matt, Renee, and Tania; we were also fortunate enough to have Renee's parents join us for a little while and had the great privilege of meeting Tania's father and sister. Everyone was a blast; it was such a great group of people, all with wonderful senses of humor. The laughing hardly stopped.

"Special" absolutely can't be left out. We've been waiting for this day for over a year now, ever since we started planning our civil wedding we knew this day would come and we could hardly wait. But in a way we've also been waiting for this day all our lives; this chance to extend our marital vows beyond "till death do us part" to "for time and all eternity" is the most important thing we can do.

Overall, however, I'd have to say that "beautiful" is the most appropriate single description for this weekend. It was beautiful to see much of the family get together. It was beautiful to finally get to see our newest niece, Alyssa, such a gorgeous perfect little baby. The Boston Temple was also beautiful as I had opportunity to see it for the first time.

Several other things struck me as especially beautiful on our drive home tonight. Early on Erin fell asleep next to me. She looked so peaceful and content that I couldn't resist holding her hand even in her sleep, it was so relaxing to feel her soft touch on my fingers, lovingly feeling the familiar lines in my skin and the shapes of my knuckles, showing in her own little way that even in her sleep she knew I was there with her. A little later after she awoke, her smile dazzled me as we talked about all the fun we'd had this weekend. And as we got closer to home, she allowed the music we'd been listening to take over a little and I had the rare opportunity to hear her generally shy singing voice strengthen to where I could hear her quite clearly; if the angels of heaven are capable of jealousy, no doubt the perfect, sweet, clear-bell-like voice that Erin calls her own would generate such feelings. In me however, the only feeling her song induced was adoration.

There was one moment that outshone all others; a moment where Erin's beauty (physical, spiritual, and emotional) was stronger and more apparent than ever before. As I knelt at the altar and held her hand, I looked deeply in her eyes, knowing the entire time that I was indeed the luckiest man in the world. She looked so peaceful and happy as she gazed back at me. The knowledge of what had brought us to that point, together, coursed through my mind along with the hopes of what we would do and see together throughout the rest of our lives and beyond. Oh how beautiful she was at that moment as the emotions over-whelmed me and the tears of joy and love threatened to build and blur my vision. I hope that I will always be able to remember the way she looked at that very moment. My wife, my love, my eternal companion. How truly blessed I am; and oh how beautiful this weekend was.

Labels: Erin, love, religion, Temple

posted by Brett at 9:52 PM