the sky must be falling

okay so the sky isn't falling, but I am blogging after ...what?... two months! I know these are long past due, and I really have no good excuse: newly married, setting up house, computer has a virus, no internet connection.... see, no good excuse. I figured that since I have two months worth to catch up, I better give it in doses.

The hair reminded me of Elizabeth Bennet

Clowning with Derick's grandmas Jane and Goldena

The only picture we got at Spaghetti Warehouse

June 6, 2008 was blistering hot and stiflingly humid, but I don't think I really even noticed. I think both Derick and I were asked about a hundred times if we were nervous, and I really honestly wasn't. In fact everything went so smoothly I should have been expecting a catastrophe just around the corner--not even a misplaced recommend. We did freeze when the temple president asked who our witnesses would be. I hadn't even thought about it. Luckily my brother's Daniel Merrill and Jeff Brown were willing and able and made it such a simple and personal ceremony. Derick and I had the opportunity to sit alone for a moment in the celestial room before entering the sealing room. Did we gaze deeply into each other's eyes and contemplate the significance and gravity of the covenants we were about to make? Well, I do remember thinking, they left us alone in here?! we aren't married yet!! The way Rachel tells it, during the ceremony, I had a lovey-gaga look on my face. Actually, I was trying to stifle the giggles. I know, I am a complete heretic. We did take a moment to pray together, so we can't be hopelessly lost.

My perfect moment of the day was the look Derick gave me when I walked out to meet him in my sparkly dress. I saw how deeply he loved me.

Derick's parents provided our lovely honeymoon suite at the Marriott and took the time to set the mood for our arrival--candles around the jacuzzi (not ideal with long hair, but I only singed a little), rose petals (even in the toilet), soft music, good cheese and good crackers...

What is that saying? Into every good life a little rain must fall. Apparently, the catastrophe was around the next corner. I guess to expect two perfect days in a row IN OHIO, would have been pushing my luck. I have the most wonderful and creative family...on both sides. They pulled off a miracle. The reception ended up being better than I could have planned, and believe me I planned a lot!

Then off to the beach...

It is true what they say about southern hospitality. Even the trip down was a joy, possibly tempered by the fact that I was hopelessly in love, and finally had Derick all to myself, and nowhere to be for the next two weeks. Even when we stopped off in North Carolina to have the car serviced, and it took four hours! We walked down to this old pizzeria and had the best breadsticks of my entire life. Big fat ones, topped with browned sesame seeds, all crusty on the outside, and warm and chewy on the inside.

I have no intention of going into great detail about the goings on of our honeymoon. Like it is a big secret anyway. Y'all are not stupid. Derick found this lovely room with a balcony right on the beach. We made no concrete plans and changed our minds on a whim if we felt like it. It was so wonderful and relaxing. So, the para sailing wasn't so relaxing for Derick, who is terrified of heights, but I loved it. I also love that Derick swallowed his fears for me. To see rays, jellyfish, and sea turtles from that vantage point, was quite the experience. Mostly, we spent the days collecting shells on the beach, or building huge sand dragons. I did happen to step on a bee, but Derick removed the stinger--my hero. In the evenings, we grilled fresh shrimp and fish on the balcony and ate better than I have in any restaurant. Derick was not overly thrilled to swim in the ocean either, but I was in heaven. Derick has this thing about swimming in water in which he cannot see the bottom. Luckily, it wasn't until the last night we went out onto the pier to watch the fishermen reeling in shark, or I never would have gotten him in the water. No great whites, but these probably could have taken a decent bite. I wasn't worried for a second.