THE Wedding!

It took us six years from Ashlee's birth to get Alyssa AND it was well worth the wait! How we love this beautiful faithful daughter. Alyssa has had quite the adventurous life with her junior high school year spent as a Congress Buntenstag student in Germany, a leadership scholarship to CNU following High School, an 18 month mission to Portugal for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a return to Christopher Newport News University in Virginia to finish her Bachelor's Degree Studies this past year and a half. Now the best of adventures begins as she was married to Steven Sevy, December 15th, 2010 in the Draper Utah Temple!

Steven is a true answer to this mother's prayers. You may have heard me say on more than one occasion, I love love! Our world is all mixed up right now on matters of love and marriage and family. I prayed that a young man as faithful as Alyssa would find her and that together they could build a future basking in the light of the love of the Savior. Heavenly Father has blessed both Steven and Alyssa with a perfect match. I am deeply grateful.

On December 9th, Alyssa completed her final finals and http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif she did very well I might add. That same day, Claigh flew to Virginia for the "Preception" in Poquoson the following evening. Due to my health challenges I was not able to make the trip. The Sevy family is wonderful and with their help, her sorority sister SaraLynn and her mother, and many other dear souls, a wonderful time was had by all. SaraLynn's dear husband Daniel brought his camera and got some pictures.

After pulling an all night packing session, Aly and Claigh boarded the plane to fly home. They arrived just in time for Alyssa to make it a few minutes late to a bridal shower put on by her dear friend Deatra.

Sunday was filled with church and friends. Monday she was off to the dentist and then we headed for Salt Lake City. (Actually we hit snag #1 when Alyssa couldn't find her drivers license and debit card. We finally had to leave without them. The girl had had so little rest the following week I thought it was incredible she was standing!)

Tuesday was get our bearings day and a photo shoot in extreme wind at the temple. I loved watching this very "in love" young couple. They really know how to have fun together. What a joy.

We ended the evening with dinner and the diving show at The Mayan Adventure Restaurant with the Stalcup family and Cam and Collins, which was followed by some last minute shopping.

Wednesday morning dawned bright and early with one last minute crisis. The girl scheduled to do her hair and makeup never showed. Thank-goodness for sisters! We made it to the temple only 15 minutes later than scheduled and Alyssa was at her most beautiful ever. Did I mention that I love this girl!

There was newly fallen snow and lots of closest family and friends to greet the newly wed couple. All of our son-in-laws and daughters as well as 15 of our 20 grandchildren were there. Chris and Erin made the extra effort to come up from California. After more pictures we were off to the Magnolia Grove for a luncheon with about 80 guests. Thankfully Cameron and Collins took a few candid shots. We had a wonderful photographer, Ashley Mackay and didn't take any pictures ourselves.

Alyssa and Steven left the next day for Florida, a Bahamas Cruise and a flight for Virginia for a Sevy Christmas. They will pick up her car and things and head out on the road for Idaho. PRAYERS PLEASE! Steven begins his last seven months at BYUI. We are excited to have them close for a few months but then they are off to parts unknown. Steven hopes to have a commission in the USAF.

We feel very blessed!

PICTURES FOLLOW