Rodriguez for Eternity

Friday, August 8, 2014

Saturday, June 7, 2014

It almost didn't happen. The day before the reception, my mom flipped over the truck on her way home from Costco that left all the reception food scattered across the highway, Aaron and Elena alarmed, my mom hysterical, and Carmelo trapped with a broken neck.

We met them at the hospital and seeing the situation tried persuading my parents to drop the reception.

My mom didn't want to. I think she needed the closure.

It was pulled together miraculously with the help of a lot of our family.

We were in California for only about 3 days. It was a short time to see everyone before heading out to Utah and starting our lives together..

And blossom did an awesome job on our cake!

Friday, May 30, 2014

Arizona Reception

Chanel's mom planned everything and I am so grateful for her. It was better than anything I could have ever dreamed of. Everything was beautiful and perfect.

And then there was the Pos Boda the next day....which was awkward. But the food was really good and opening presents was fun. Me and Chanel didn't stay very long. It was more for everyone else, for both families to spend more time together and we heard they had a blast.

Sealed For Time and all Eternity

Gilbert, AZ

I didn't have a stressful night or nervous jitters. After my little get together with Blossom, Valerie, Meg, and my Mom, Violet and her family arrived and it was fun chaos. I wanted to go to sleep soon, though. In my mind the faster I went to sleep, the faster I would wake up and be married. So I went to sleep perfectly happy knowing everything would change the next day.

I got dressed, we drove to the temple, and as we drove up I looked everywhere excited to spot Chanel....except he wasn't there. Chanel was running late and when he got there he forgot the ring and had to call his mom to bring it.

They sorted out our paper work and then took us to get dressed.

I felt like a princess.
The dressing room was beautiful and clean and elegant..and did I mention beautiful?
I felt grateful that I had set a goal in my youth to have a temple wedding. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I met Chanel after being dressed and then they talked to us before leading us into the Sealing Room.

Our sealer was really cool I wish I could remember his name..

When we entered the sealing room, we were welcomed with smiles from all our friends and family.
It was a short and sweet moment that will change all of eternity.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Endowments

Oakland, CA

This temple holds a dear place in my heart. I remember my parents rounding up all of their kids in the van and making the trip to Oakland. I remember Violet picking the prettiest white dress(which I peed in and then Violet had to choose another one) and waiting with my siblings in a nursery until a temple worker took us to join our parents in a beautiful room and be sealed as a family forever. I remember when they told me to gave in the never ending mirror and knowing my family was mine.

I couldn't explain it the experience very well then in my 5 year old vocabulary.

There really aren't any words I could write now to express every thought I had that day when I returned to take out my endowments either. It was an amazing, empowering, and humbling experience. I know my savior, Jesus Christ lives and that he is my redeemer and the only hope for this world so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and maker. I am so grateful to a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to be able to have had this experience.