Our Ring Ceremony

Joshua and Christina,
This ring ceremony will help to symbolize your eternal round of friendship and love for each other and for the temporal world to see and take notice of. You have already made your eternal covenants to each other as man and wife and have been sealed to each other as man and wife for Time and all Eternity by one who has the authority in a Temple of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you live this life here on earth, set examples for each other and for your children in all things, guide them through the rocks and shoals of life here on this earth, always let them see the love bore (and have) for each other, by the gentle word, the hug, kiss, and the gentle touch both towards each other and from parents to children. For your children will watch carefully the love of their parents for each other and also toward themselves. For this they will reward you greatly, by peace in your home and in your life. They will be very alert even from their first moments of birth and will search you out for comfort and reassuring parental love. Guide them and council them always. Joshua and Christina, be with and council each other in all things, never take one another for granted, but take council with each other in all things, no matter how trivial it may seem. “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealously is cruel as the grave: the coals threrof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” (Song of Solomon 8: 6-7) Look upon each other’s hearts and keep them full for each other. So that all present may see, exchange rings. Joshua and Christina let these rings symbolizing to the temporal world your undying love for one another. I bless you both in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. -William Joseph Griffin

The Greatest Day

The most wonderful and exciting day of my life came on May 30, 2008...our wedding day!! Throughout all the planning, Josh had been so sweet in letting me do whatever I wanted, so he was totally fine with my decision to be married in the Oakland Temple. As a child, my parents had a picture of the Oakland Temple that hung on their bedroom wall and I always dreamed of getting married there. So, even though Josh's family was coming from Texas and Montana and my family lived 3 hours north of there, it was fine with them. The morning of our wedding, Josh and I left Gridley at like 4 a.m...it was nuts! We went to the hotel that his family were staying and Nicole (Josh's sister) did my hair (thank you again, Nicky!). I was a tad stressed...to say the least! But, despite us getting lost on our way to the Temple, it all turned out fine. It was a beautiful day!

We were blessed to have our families with us, as well as some friends that are family to me. The greatest thing about that day was that my parents and my sister Lori were able to see me get married. It was a dream come true for me. I tried so hard not to cry and ruin my make up, and I did good while we did pictures...once we were inside, that's a different story! I remember bursting into tears while in the elevator with one of the workers, she must have thought I was nuts! I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who knows all and prepares us each in our own ways for the wonderful events of our lives. As I looked around our Sealing Room at Josh (the love of my life), my parents, my sister, Josh's family and our friends, I knew that this was one of those moments that my Heavenly Father had prepared me for and I am eternally grateful to have been so blessed. I was a beautiful ceremony. After words, as our guests congratulated us, when my dad hugged me, I lost it! I cried and cried, I am so proud of my parents for the decision they made to go to the temple. I am so thankful that they were able to be there.

Once we left the temple, we had our whole family (friends included) come with us to a luncheon at Marie Calendars. We were all starved! We had a blast; there's nothing better than good food, good conversation and friends! While at the luncheon, Josh and I had asked Josh's dad, Bill to perform a ring ceremony for us. He did a beautiful job! He gave us some wonderful council and then had us place our rings on each other's fingers (which was my favorite part...I love my ring!). It was wonderful to have our entire family witness this and share in our special day.

When we were done, Josh and I took off for Sacramento! We had a beautiful hotel and even though we got terribly lost (and I do mean terribly!! We ended up on the wrong side of town, had no idea where we were going and only found our way when a police officer gave us directions after stopping us when I gracefully went the wrong way into oncoming traffic!), it was still the best ending to the best day of my life.

Looking back to that crazy day 8 months ago, I wouldn't change a thing (well, maybe the whole getting lost in Sac thing). It was wonderful and I am so grateful that I have such an amazing family and am married to the man of my dreams.

Backgrounds

So, once upon a time when I lived in the BYU 112th Ward in Provo, Utah, I met a nice gal named Cristi. Well, she was so kind to create some beautiful blog backgrounds that I adore! If you want to check them out, go to http://cristiscreations.blogspot.com There are tons on there and they are so adorable! Thanks, Cristi!!

Pocket Lint

Josh and I met in the summer of 2007, we seemed to instantly "click". We dated for about 2 months before we both knew that we wanted to spend the rest of eternity with each other. In September of 2007, we picked out a ring...but it wasn't official. Josh called my dad later that month and asked for his permission, Al kindly granted his wish. Knowing all this (and being a girl!) I was expecting a proposal every time we saw each other (which was about every 2 weeks since we lived 250 miles apart) but, the little stinker kept waiting. When I would come and visit, I would play "dress up" with my ring while Josh was at work...I was so anxious!! Well, FINALLY in the end of October, on the 25th Josh popped the question! He had come to Orem and wanted to take me to a nice dinner, so I made reservations for us at Sundance, in the Tree Room. It was a beautiful autumn night, the restaurant was so nice...but there were lots of loud tourists there. Josh, being the funny guy that he is was mocking the obnoxious patrons (which I was not happy about!). We were sitting there, enjoying each other when he asked me what I would like for a surprise before our dinner came out. I thoughtfully replied that I thought it would be great if he would stop mocking everyone else! Then, he reached in his pocket and said that he had some troublesome pocket lint...and he pulls out my ring!! He held my hand and said, "I guess this is the part where I ask you to marry me." He looked at me...I reply, "So, are you asking??" LOL! We laughed and he asked me formally and of course I accepted! It was magical!

It's About Time!!

Well, here we are...we have finally joined the blogging world! I had a goal to begin a blog when we got married, uh, I'm only 8 months behind! LOL! So, my first few posts will be a recap of 2008, for posterity and all. Bare with me as I backtrack and get this all figured out. Well, here we go!