We spent a long weekend in Florida, attending my niece’s wedding and meeting our new granddaughter.
My niece’s wedding was a temple affair. I did not attend. My husband went to the sealing with my MIL. I was rather taken aback at how I felt ironing my husband’s good white dress shirt, then sending him off to the temple without me. In the past, attending the temple was something good and meaningful that we did together. I felt a sense of loss that this is no longer something we can share.
The reception was wonderful. The bride and groom were stunning; a gorgeous couple. The two of them shared a ring ceremony after a dinner for the family (the groom’s family is not LDS, and so did not attend the service). They each read a piece of poetry they had written for the other. I wish I had been able to stay for that…but little boy started being disruptive so felt I ought to leave to keep him quiet. He and I played on the stairs to the stage, and bothered the caterers (but only a little bit). The food was tasty, and the music was excellent, and I had fun mingling with the groom’s family.
The next day, Saturday, we went further south to see my daughter and her family. My granddaughter, Amy, was only five days old. Dark hair, with a face quite like her big brother’s. I went grocery shopping and cooked up a bunch of meat (ground beef, chicken breasts) to freeze so meals can happen more easily. We visited for a bit and watched “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” which my daughter said she doesn’t “get.” We drove back north that evening.
Sunday, we had breakfast and lunch with my in-laws, who blew off church (bless ‘em) and then left for home around 1:30. With the time change, we were home by 8:30 p.m. I studied most of the time we were in the car (on the way there, the way to see my daughter, and the way home).
My mother-in-law made a funny statement: “Well, you’ve had a nice relaxing break from your hectic life.” It was about the opposite: we had a hectic break from our relaxing life.
What a nice trip overall, Ann. How did your dh feel about going to the temple without you?
My friend’s mom is a total heathen but has decided to play the role of believing NOM for the sake of her beloved DH. She’s on the RS board and has a current TR and lied through her teeth to get it, but felt that she needed to appease her sweet husband. She’s able to just say its just church, I imagine. Two years ago I would have thought she was bonkers, but I think I understand now.
I’m glad you are back, I’ve missed you.
Ann’s back! And she’s alive! wooohooo! Sounds like a nice trip. I wonder, too, how hubby felt at the temple. (I may be in that situation one day) It sounds like you two really have it together and your relationship is based on so much more than “just church”. It’s awesome.
I am so glad you got to see Amy. sniff sniff. It sounds like you need a vacation now, though! lol Studying while traveling, etc,etc. I’m worn out reading about it! I need a vacation from your trip….lol
Sounds like the ring ceremony went well. My wife and I also had a ring ceremony at our wedding, as her family is largely non-LDS. That poetry reading part sounds like a very nice touch. Makes me want to go write a poem for my wife.
danithew
http://www.wump.info/wumpblog
I liked your “hectic break from a relaxing life.” Well put. I’m about to embark on the same in a couple of days — meeting up with a bunch of cousins in Utah, all of whom are multiplying and replenishing the earth with little cherub Mormons
-Brenda
Nanna:
I can appreciate your comment about the temple being something that you can no longer share with your husband. Not that it is a matter that is too pressing to me, but I am at least aware of the fact that the end of June (today) marks the expiration of what is most likely the last temple recommend I will ever have. It’s highly unlikely that I’ll be making any last minute dash for the temple today, as I have not sought out to attend anything more than a relative’s wedding in over two years, however I am still aware that, after today, the doors of the temple are possibly shut to me forever. To be honest, my wife and I probably only went to the temple together less than a half dozen times in 12 years of marriage, but I can still imagine that the inability for her to ever attend with me again is poignant.
I asked DH if he thought about me not being there with him, and I think it stressed him a bit. Not me not being at the temple, but the question itself: “Is this a trick question, like ‘Does this dress make me look fat?’ or ‘Why didn’t you say anything about my new hairstyle?’”
I don’t think it bothered him at all. He takes temple attendance very seriously, and it would make no sense to him for me to attend. He knows that I don’t believe ordinances for the dead are necessary, so why would I want to go?
It’s nice you were able to enjoy the trip. The whole temple thing can become a real touchy issue, but you seem to have avoided that yourself. No controlling how family and in-laws deal with it, of course (some just can’t stop themselves from continually venting their distress), but you seem to have lucked out there as well.