One Week

The wedding is officially 1 week from today. Turns out 4 weeks isn't a whole lot of time to plan a wedding. Even if it is going to be very simple. We finally got our invitations out last Friday. I think Ray did such a fantastic job on them. Of course we mailed out every one we made without saving one for ourselves. So we'll be purchasing some more supplies so that I can have one as a little keepsake.

Flowers are organized, nails are done, found someone to do my hair, ties for the men are ordered. Today we pick up our marriage license.

This weekend some of the ladies in the branch are throwing me a Hen night. I've never been to a Hen night myself but I hear it's like a much crazier version of a wedding shower. I'll be sure to post some pictures and details of the event after the weekend.

Here's wishing every one of you could be here with us 1 week from today.

So Idol

I was ready to write this whole season off. Then PA-POW this week brought it for me. Chris R. Hello dead sexy and Blake same. Then Jordin etc. Let's just say although clearly Lakisha and Melinda are fabulous singers I was just waiting for this to turn into a competition which I feel it finally did last night.

I'm sucked back in.

Random P.S. What was with that little girl? Pull it together 'lil sister.

Five years ago today

It was 5 years ago today that the man of my dreams made the moves that changed us from best friends, to best friends with benefits. Those same moves have led to us (in 2 weeks and 2 days) becoming best friends with benefits for time and all eternity.

I could not ask for a kinder more loving man to spend eternity with. He is such a calming and stabilizing influence in my life. He's the string to my kite. the balance to my teeter-totter, the love of my life. Happy Anniversary sweetie!


Ray and Lindsay at Ballintoy Harbor September '06

Ray and Lindsay at Grianan Aileach September '06

Ray and Lindsay at Zions in May '06

Happy Mother's Day

Lindsay and Ray preparing the Mothers Day dinner.

From Left Stewart, Judith, Harry, Margaret, Ray and Lindsay

Just wanted to write a special post to Margaret wishing here the best of Mother's Days. Ray and I were fortunate enough to be able to have the fam over for a celebration on Mother's Day.

We loved having everyone over for a meal and hope it will be the first of many more evenings hosted by Ray and I. I know that some pictures were taken of the evening and will beg Ray Sr. to send a few my way to be posted here.

Much love to Margaret on this Mother's Day!

All At Once One Day It's Spring

Spring has arrived here in the Ireland and I for one am thoroughly enjoying it. The days are getting longer the skies are just a bit clearer and these little beauties have appeared in my yard. These are the before pics. My goal for this week is to do a bit of yard work and then I will post the afters. Hope your spring is as springy as mine!

The Color PurpleDelightful Daffodils

Fun with Canyon

Just got these pictures emailed to me by my Dad. I just can't help myself but post a few of them. How did I get so lucky as to have 2 such adorable nieces.















Austin and Canyon

Canyon and Dags

Canyon and her favorite Aunt :)

It's never to early for good dental health

Happy Birthday

To my newest niece Penelope Gwen. Born this morning and from all accounts doing marvelously. I can't wait to see her in person! (Even some pictures would be nice....hint, hint)

Congrats to Dave and Lacy. I'm so happy for your new little family.

Love you guys!

Plans Finalized

Our plans are final. We called the temple and have booked my parents flights. We will have our civil ceremony on April 5th sometime in the morning. Then we will take a ferry from Belfast to Scotland and from there drive down to Preston. The next day, April 6th we have the temple booked for 4:00 p.m.

It's a month from today and we couldn't be more excited! Just happy to be here and have everything finally coming together.

Almost Deported

I did finally arrive safe and sound here in the good old North of Ireland. The trip was actually pretty eventful to say the least. Starting with the fact that as I arrived to check in from SLC my bags were approximately 9 pounds overweight and I had to scramble to do some repacking in my carry-on and purse to make the weight limit. Still I had to pay an overage fee which I thought would be around 60 dollars but turned out was only 25, schwoo on that. Turns out there was much bigger schwoo to be had on this trip.

Arrived in Houston with no mishaps got some lunch and milled about reading a book. Boarded the plane and was informed that we would be delayed 30 minutes on the ground as Newark was a bit backed up and needed us to delay. We were informed that we would still be touching down at the stated time. Which was around 7:00 pm. My flight to Belfast left at 8:05 pm so I was relieved to hear this. However once we were on approach to Newark we were told we would have to circle and we didn't touch down until 7:25 (coincidentally this is the time my other flight started boarding).

So with the help of one of those speedy airport carts I was able to sneak on the flight minutes before they closed the doors.

Upon arrival into Belfast I was one of the first off the plane and therefore one of the first through immigration. Or should have been one of the first through, but imagine my surprise when the man takes my passport and inquires after the nature of my visit. I inform him that it is for purpose of Marriage and Settlement. He flips to my Visa and just as he is about to stamp it says," This visa isn't valid until the 15th or March." I could see the problem immediately as I had arrived on the 3rd of March. He asked me to wait in a seating area while he processed the rest of the flight. I sat for 30 minutes watching everyone enter the country and wondering the following:
A- how could I be so stupid as to not know about travel dates on Visa's.

B- how could I convince him to deport me to the Republic of Ireland so Ray could just drive down and pick me up

C- how embarrassing is it to be sitting in the airport crying in plain view of an entire airplane full of people wondering what sort of crime you've committed to not be allowed to enter the country.

After the rest of the plane had been duly processed I was beckoned forward by the kind, kind immigration officer. He talked to me at length about what could have possibly happened. He choose to make his official decision that there was a mix up at the embassy instead of assigning the real blame to the fact that he was dealing with a very green girl from Orem, UT.

Let's just say bless him forever. His final words were, "Technically, technically I should be refusing you entry as your Visa isn't valid until the 15th. However I'm going to assume this is a mistake with the embassy and admit you now as a visitor"

Seriously.....he is now on my Christmas card list.

Trip ended with them losing my bags, again. But really who cares, as I had almost just gotten deported. Lost bags truly pale in comparison with what my outcome could have been.

This experience has only re-affirmed to me that Ray and I are truly supposed to be getting married here in the UK. It's finally the right time and the right place.

I must also credit the faithfulness of some of our dear friends here in the branch who told me today that they had been fasting and praying for me that there would be no further delays to my coming here and Ray and I getting married. After hearing this I genuinely feel that their fast was a big contributor to my being allowed in the country and I'm so grateful.