For time and ALL ETERNITY!!!

So this may be a little bit of a picture overload, but I have so many to pick from that it was hard to leave very many out... It took me a while to get these pictures posted... We've been super busy! Enjoy the pictures from the most wonderful and perfect day of my life so far, 8-22-2009, the day I married the most perfect and wonderful man for me... The man that I love with all of my heart and look forward to spending ETERNITY with!! :)

My mom with Al and I at the reception

Al's family that was able to make it up to the temple
Al's mom, Loa and his brother, Lemalie at the temple

Al giving his sister, Ise, a hug after the sealing

Al and I with his mom, Loa

First picture as a married couple :)

All of the girls

All of the desserts, they did such a GREAT job! It looked amazing and

tasted even better!!!

Tender :)

My husband is sooooo HOT!!!

Grandma, Grandpa, Alofaaga and Me

Lisa and Me, She did my hair and my makeup,

She Always does such a GREAT job and I LOVE HER!!

My Cusion Jared, He took all of the Pictures!

AMAZING!

Alofaaga and I with one of Alofaaga's best friends, Deon

Alofaaga with Grandma

The cake... I LOVED the cake!!!

Not the best picture of us cutting the cake... but still fun :)

My dad, Tina and Joseph with us

Laulu Love!!!!!

So it has been two weeks since I married the most wonderful and perfect man for me!!! I have never been happier in my whole life!!! With school, work and getting adjusted to married life I have had very little time to blog... I will make time soon to update everyone on what is going on in our lives, but for now here are a couple pictures from the wedding...

Very Humbled and Eternally Grateful

While it is true that I have been super busy with all that is going on and the sealing getting closer, I have had some time to reflect on my life and the journey that has brought me to where I am today. My heart is full, my eyes are wet and I am so humbled at the plan my Father in Heaven has had and continues to have for me as well as His patience and His mercy. In less than six days I will be sealed to my eternal companion, a man that I adore, admire and respect so much. A man that makes me want to be a better person in all that I do and a man that I love with all of my heart. A man that I will be with FOREVER because of the merciful plan of our Father in Heaven. I am so thankful for the knowledge that I have of the gospel and all of those who have taught me about the better way through word and deed. I have never in my life experienced so much joy and happiness as I am now experiencing at this time in my life. I lay awake at night just thinking about the adventure that is before us and my heart overflows with JOY! While it is true that at times I have felt weak and did not completely understand the plan that He had for me, He has been patient with me and very merciful. I am so THANKFUL for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and all that is made possible through it. I had a opportunity to go and do washing and anointings at the temple a few weeks ago. I was amazed at the blessings that our Father in Heaven has prepared for us as we love and serve him. I had heard the blessings before but this time, with a different frame of mind, the blessings really stood out to me and I felt so grateful to my Savior and Father in Heaven. Together FOREVER has never meant more to me than it does now...

The Announcement

Let me know what ya think!!!

The Lord's Timing

This fast Sunday has been a great one! I have had plenty of time to think and reflect on my life as well as all of the changes that are about to come to pass. I must confess that I am soooo very excited. I feel a little like Nephi when he was trying to get the gold plates from Laban. Nephi states "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1st Nephi 4:6) I know that I have received confirmation that Al is the right man, August 22nd, 2009 is the right time and the Idaho Falls Temple is the right place. I know that I will finish school here at ISU and continue to work at MK Place but as for the rest I have not idea what the future holds. I am soo excited to find out what awaits me and my sweetheart, Al!!!! YAY!!!

I have thought alot about the Lord's timing. While I was on my mission my trainer gave me a talk by Elder Oaks that I have referred to MANY TIMES since I have been home from the mission:

"The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith means trust—trust in God’s will, trust in His way of doing things, and trust in His timetable. We should not try to impose our timetable on His. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said:
“The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? The same is true with the second coming and with all those matters wherein our faith needs to include faith in the Lord’s timing for us personally, not just in His overall plans and purposes.” Elder Oaks, Timing.

I think back to a few months ago when I made my "to do list" for the summer, little did I know that the Lord had another "to do list" for me. Some of the not so important things on my list have been moved down due to more pressing and important tasks that lay ahead of me.

"The timing of marriage is perhaps the best example of an extremely important event in our lives that is almost impossible to plan. Like other important mortal events that depend on the agency of others or the will and timing of the Lord, marriage cannot be anticipated or planned with certainty." Elder Oaks, Timing.

I have been waiting for Al for 27 VERY LONG years!!!! I must confess that there were times in which I did not know whether or not my eternal companion made it out of the War in Heaven alive and my faith in the plan that Heavenly Father had for me wavered. I wish that I could say that it never did but that would not be completely true.

I found HIM and as I reflect on my life and all that I have been able to learn and do, I recognize that now is the perfect time in my life. I am so thankful for a loving and kind Father in Heaven who knows WAY more about what, when and who is the best for me! I am happier with the plan which He has laid out for me that I ever would have been if I had it my way all of the times that I thought I knew what was best for me. Great things take time!

It's OFFICIAL!!!

Due to all of the texts, phone calls and facebook messages that I have been receiving, I thought it was time to post and announce that it is OFFICIAL!!! That's right! My SERIOUS CRUSH on Al has evolved and grown into LOVE. As a natural result of falling in LOVE, Al and I are getting married on August 22nd, 2009. I have NEVER felt so good and right about anything else in my life besides going on a mission! Al and I have been dating for almost 3 months now. We have talked about marriage a few times, but me being the stubborn and SLOW mover that I am, never gave an answer as to how and what I felt. I wanted to be SURE before I said ANYTHING!!! After counseling with my trainer from the mission field, she has always been such an inspiration and support to me, as well as meeting and counseling with my Bishop and OF COURSE spending much time with my Father in Heaven in sincere prayer and meditation, I was able to receive some direction and inspiration. I decided to make a decision, that I WAS GOING TO MARRY AL, and asked Heavenly Father to please stop me if that was not the right thing for me in my life at this time. A peace and warmth washed over me last Sunday that has not left since. I knew and now know that I received my answer.
How GRATEFUL I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and all of the structure, stability and strength that it brings into my life. I am grateful for LOVE!!! Never in my life did I imagine that it would be as wonderful as it is. I have had many roommates move on to the next step in their lives and I always said, "I'm not gonna be like that!" Well... I am like 'that' and I love it!!! Today my roomy caught me counting how many days till August 22nd, I promised that I wouldn't do that again... or at least let her know about it ;) my home teachers are here now... I'll post more later!!!

I have a SERIOUS CRUSH on someone!!!!

His name is Alofaaga, I just call him Al, and he is WONDERFUL!!! We have been dating for two months now and I just adore him! He is Samoan and is such great and worthy priesthood holder. He is such a gentleman and is sooooo sweet!!! He makes me smile EVERYDAY and is sooo dang funny! He served his mission in the Philippines and now lives in Salt Lake, which is kinda sad because then I can't see him everyday but we both make sacrifices whenever we can to see each other. He is an incredible man who is soooo thoughtful and willing to serve all of those around him. I look forward to spending more time with him and getting to know him better! I have a SERIOUS CRUSH on HIM!!!! He came up this past Sunday to hear me speak in church. I just blushed the whole time when I saw him in the congregation smiling back at me! Oh gosh.... I NOW have a BOYFRIEND who I respect, admire and adore more than anything!!!! ;)