Back to my trip

This is me the morning I flew out of Texas...5:30am.

After 2 days at Abbi's house, she let me take one of their cars and I picked up Russ (my little bro) and Kim from the Yakima airport, met Kim's grandparents, and we drove an hour plus out to the Tri Cities...Kennewick. I was going pretty fast to get there to take Diane's family picts, and no cops were in sight (or hiding). It was pretty countryside. Lacking in the greens, but nice little hills all around. I really liked Kennewick and it was fun to meet Diane's family and be apart of the day before wedding craziness. We dropped our stuff off at the neighbors home who ended up boarding 8 of Diane and Taylors friends. That night, we picked up Gavin at the Pasco airport. Gavin is Russ' friend who grew up in our home ward along with Russ and Taylor and roommed and such at BYU with the guys. Gavin's older sister, Nicole, is one of my closests friends. So the 4 of us drove around that night bouncing around the tri cities. I had fun. I felt true freedom in the cute little jeep borrowed by my roommate, Abbi. In the morning, it felt like we were at a bed and breakfast as we got a full coarse breakfast, and I found some VERY YUMMY cookies. I later got the recipe for Death by Chocolate (recipe later).

I was going to have my own bed that night and I was so excited to sleep diagonally sprawled out (as I do on the rare event that I sleep alone) but communication from the bride to the groom to the hostess was mixed up. Instead of having Gavin share a room with me, he shared with Russ, and Kim shared with me.

The temple sealing was at 11, that is always very enjoyable to be a part of that, and feel of the spirit of love in the temple. To remember my marriage day several years ago. We took pictures outside the temple amidst crazy weather. To see more images on my photog blog, click here.

On our hurried way back to the luncheon, I got behind the car I was following and when I sped to catch up, a copper pulled me over. I was ticked...especially since I had just sped up to catch up (and because I have a ticket at home waiting for me to take defensive driving for). He showed no mercy, so blah blah blah. I felt guilty back at the lunch b/c the bride and her mom felt it was their fault (I was following them) and I in turn felt bad that they felt bad...on their wedding day when it should be all smiles! I took a little drive, let out a few tears, then re-gained my composure for the rest of the day. And guess what???? No defensive driving in the state of Washington...so I'm gonna try something else.

It was a fun evening, and I felt like a rockstar with Diane having framed many many engagement and bridal pictures I took all over the room and hearing from revelers. I think the gratitude was also flowing from the bride and her family as they got a steal of a deal for wedding photography (and feeling bad for that pesky ticket). The mother of the bride gave me a little tip that covers the cost of the ticket, so that gave me some peace.

Russ, Kim, and I headed back to Yakima late that night, and I dropped them off at Kim's gma at 10:30 pm and I got to Abbi's shortly thereafter. The morning was short with Abbi and her kids, I went to church, we chatted a bit, then I had to leave for my plane. R&K were on my flight home, so that was nice. We palled around the Salt Lake City airport together and Russ and I chatted a lot while Kim studied on one leg of the trip. I read the book The Wednesday Letters and really enjoyed it. Michael picked me up at 9pm, and he heard stories all the ride home of my footloose and fancy free time. Happy to be home with my little ones. They ran to me and snuggled me in the morning. Ahhh, the love was flowing.