Meredith and Garrett's Wedding Day!

Just after getting married in Nauvoo, Illinois, June 17, 2008. We left for Nauvoo on Sunday 15 June and traveled to St. Louis, MO. Meredith and Garrett flew out early in the morning but dad and I went to church and had lunch and then left. We arrived in St. Louis about 9:30 p.m. and spent the night there. We got up early and drove to Nauvoo, crossing the flooding Mississippi at Hannibal. We saw some flooding but not a lot!
We met Meredith and Garrett for lunch. They had to get their marriage liscense from the Hancock County courthouse the day before the wedding took place. They left from St. Louis about 5:00 a.m. to get there when the courthouse opened at 8:00. It is a beautiful drive this time of year, especially since there had been so much rain. The weather couldn't have cooperated any better than it did. It was just perfect temperature wise....no humidity and about 70 the whole time we were there.

This was taken on a rock wall near the Joseph Smith Mansion owned by the Community of Christ Church. You can see in the background that the water was PRETTY high! There were sandbags just over to the left of the picture with a pump going to pump the water inside the wall out back into the Mississippi. The rest of Old Nauvoo was spared from much flooding and it made for a memorable experience. Garrett's new step father kneeled down in front of the wall so that the photographer could stand on his back and get this incredible shot.



We were so blessed to have the photographer that took Meredith's bridals travel to Nauvoo with us. We asked her to take the bridals and the reception and said we would just have to do with the old "Brownie" shots in Nauvoo. When she said she wanted to go there and would pay her own way just to have the pictures in her portfolio, we were stunned! She did such an amazing job and we will never believe how much we love her! You can see, she does an incredible job.

This is a picture in Old Nauvoo at the "Joseph Smith Mansion." Aren't they a handsome couple? Even if I do say so myself! Neil and I stayed in Nauvoo until Thursday morning. We spent the rest of Tuesday afternoon and all day on Wednesday doing the tourist thing. I cannot believe how well Neil "behaved!!!!!" He followed me everywhere and did all the tours, shows and wagon rides without a single complaint. I think he actually relaxed and enjoyed himself. He took off 7 days from work...a small miracle in and of itself! Guess he is getting soft in his "Old Age." Maybe retirement will be a good thing. He says he is retiring in March so we are holding him to that!

The Nauvoo temple is a wonderful sight and this is on the lawn just down the hill from the front door.

They were married at 9:00 a.m. and the ceremony started just as the old clock tower rang out the hour. There is a special sealing room on the upper floor where they were married and it was beautiful. The only thing that could have been better is if we could have had the whole family with us. Someday, we are all going back!!!