This was written by both David and J'lene during the Honeymoon. I bet you can tell who wrote what. :)
Friday: May 16, 2008
We spent the entire day decorating the cultural hall we with both families helping. Then J’lene started to freak out because she realized that would be her last time leaving her parents house single. Poor David had no idea what was going on in her head. On the way out to L.A. she just started balling and wanted to go back home saying that she forgot something. When she got in the house she sobbed and held on to each parent for a few minutes and almost didn’t leave. Her daddy gave her a beautiful blessing that said that what was happening was the fulfillment of many blessings that had been given to her since birth. This blessing semi calmed her down and then she got back in the car and left. Missy drove and we dropped David off at his Mommy’s house and then the girls (Missy, J’lene and Rachel) met up with Tonya to spent the night in the temple apartments (room 116). The only other notable events is that David spent time with his sister Julie and found a big potato bug and J’lene went out to Huntington Park to eat Tacos from a taco stand with the girls and came back to the temple apartment at 2am.
Saturday: May 17, 2008
David arrived at the temple at 9:30am with his parents and Andy. They began setting up for the luncheon provided by his mom in the chapel behind the temple for the guests after the sealing. At about 10am David received a phone call from Kembly informing him that J’lene was getting cold feet. David along with Balta and Dan went over to the temple apartment where the girls were staying. Upon arriving they found a fiasco. Besides the “cold feet” being a ploy to did David to the apartment quick their was fake hair, eyelashes, and nails flying everywhere as Rachel got J’lene got ready for the big moment. What emerged from that was the most beautiful girl there ever was.
After a couple of pictures J’lene and David went into the temple. After some quick paper work they dressed and talked with their sealer brother Christiansen (who said that he was a new sealer) and soul mom and dad who were waiting in the celestial room. They then watched as their families filed into sealing room number 1. Attending the sealing was J'lene’s and David’s parents, Stephen and Lacy Merrill, Julie Merrill, Todd and Lyn Marie Southworth, Missy, Mike and Kristen Meza, Forrest and Leannna Wilkins, Ed and Shelly Meza, Bob and Jolyn Bruce, Barbara and Kent Davis, Dianne and Yuma Niesen, Lita, Jack and Linda Oliver, Michelle and Bolton Allred, Jolyn Francis, Kasandra and JT Trout, Jolisa and Steven Grimmer, Kenya and Greg Zumdahl, Jennifer and Josh Anderson, Stephanie Zumdahl, and the Byers. The sealing was the MOST beautiful! As soon as the couple walked in and saw their family dressed in white they were moved and began to tear up. Nothing can explain the feelings that were felt at that moment walking in. To begin the ceremony Brother Christiansen reminded us that this moment was an answer to many of our parents’ prayers. This comment got the real water works going. He continued by exhorting us to go to the temple often. He shared a story about a woman who wanted an entire silver service set. Many of her friends told her that she would never be able to afford the set. One by one she bought each piece in the set individually until she had the entire set. When her friends came over for dinner she did not use her beautiful service set to serve them their meal. Brother Christiansen likened this to…… Then he asked David to take his bride over to alter and as they looked at each other across alter the water works started again with a vengeance.
After the sealing J’lene and David talked with all of the guests as they left. J’lene amazingly beat David changing! They met to go outside to the temple steps. David was stunned at J’lene’s radiance as he saw her for the very first time in her wedding dress. J’lene too was impresses by how good her hunk looked in his tux and new hair cut (no part!) They had to wait for David’s mother before they could walk outside for there grand exit. Two old temple workers gave them instructions and it was so cute because one of the workers was training the other and he was so old that he could not even hear what he was suppose to do. Finally when all the family was accounted for the couple was then was introduced for the very first time as Mr. and Mrs. David Merrill as they came out to the temple stairs to meet the cheering crowd of family and friends. After pictures with family, friends and wedding party, J’lene and David took pictures by the fountain, on the front lawn, and at the entrance of the temple. Then it was off to the reception in Riverside.
