Dancing with Daffodils

Thirteen years ago today I woke up so nervous and excited. Three of my favorite friends helped me with my makeup and hair and then my fiance came and picked me up and we all went to the Palmyra New York temple together. I went in and put on my wedding dress and walked into a room where my family and some of my closest friends were waiting. My fiance and I knelt down at an alter and made sacred promises to each other and to God and we were sealed together as a family unit for time and all eternity. Mirrors behind each of us reflected our images countless times, symbolizing the eternal nature of our marriage and future family. It was the most beautiful moment of my life. We walked out of the temple as husband and wife to greet more family and friends. All of my sisters wore purple dresses and there were yellow flowers on all of the tables. I carried a bouquet of yellow roses. We took a bunch of pictures (once the photographer finally showed up) and then headed to a local church for a s...

I found out in the same day that two of my best friends are moving away. Both of them are leaving at the end of this month and I already feel the gaping hole in my life. One of these women was my first friend when we moved here 7 years ago. We've spent hours watching each other's children, eaten countless meals together, we've celebrated many birthdays and even a few Thanksgivings with each other. We've explored D.C. together and gone away on girl weekends. We've talked for hours and hours and hours and know a lot about each other. Between us we've given birth to six children while we've been friends and helped each other through challenges. She is sensitive and kind and our hearts and families have intertwined around each other the past 7 years in a special way. It will be sad to say goodbye when they move across the country in two weeks. My other friend moved here 3 years ago and I instantly liked her and her family. We have been serving together in our ...