Became

So, I did it.

A month ago, I became Sister Lambson.

I knew Benji was kind, funny, wise, Spiritual, hard-working, and (very) handsome before I married him.

But I didn't realize how much he is all of those things, and more.

I used to hate it when people who have been married for a week or a month and say "being married is so great woooo!!!"

But in all honesty. I knew he was a good choice. I knew being married would be great. But I had no idea how much. I am so grateful.

Our wedding day was perfect. I woke up and read 4th Nephi. Then I made my bed. Then I put my makeup on and washed it off. Three times. So I ditched the makeup plan and did something totally different and said "whatever" to the mirror.

Then my sister Emily did my hair. And my daddy gave me a Priesthood blessing. And Benji showed up and told me I looked beautiful and we got in his car and drove to the Temple.

Two little Temple ladies whisked me away and I told them "My mom is a few minutes behind. She's probably worried that I'm worried but I'm fine." Then while I was changing, I heard her walk in and say "Is she worried that I'm late?" And I smiled to myself. I felt calm.

Then Benji and I sat in the Celestial Room by ourselves for a while, just holding hands and looking at the beautiful chandelier. I remembered, as a 16 year old, staring at that chandelier during a choir sound check before the building was dedicated. I remembered feeling joy and knowing I would come back there someday.

The woman came to escort us to the Sealing Room and Benji squeezed my hand and said, "are you ready?" I think I said something super profound like, "uh...yeah?" While walking in the hall we saw both of our fathers. I assume they were signing the marriage documents as our chosen witnesses. We were first taken to a very small Sealing Room where we met our Sealer. He looked a little bit like D. Todd Christofferson.

Then we walked down a long hall to our Sealing Room. I whispered to Benji, "walk slow." I wanted to be in the moment, unrushed. We entered the room to see so many of our dear friends and close family. Some were beaming at us, others were smiling through tears. I held Benji's hand on one side and my mom's on the other.

After the Sealing, my mom, my oldest and dearest friend Anna, and I met in the Bride's Room. It took half an hour for Anna and my mom to figure out how to lace up the back of my dress. Every few minutes one of the Temple ladies would come in and say "Your husband is just waiting outside. We told him a few more minutes." (I found out later he was playing on his iPad) :)

We finally made it outside to greet our siblings who hadn't been in the Sealing Room and everyone who was able to stay. I hugged my Andrew first. Then I discovered Nate sobbing, saying "I don't want Benji to take you away!!" (I think he associated marriage with death) I promised him I would always be his sister and we would still see each other.

After all the pictures had been taken and it was just the two of us and our photographer, Benji realized he no longer had the key to his locker, which had the keys to his car inside it. We were stranded. After 20 minutes of trying to remember everyone's numbers off the top of our heads, we decided to just ask the Temple if they had an extra key. Luckily, Benji's brother had turned his key in to the desk and we were free! While crossing the parking lot we passed a group of 8 year old girls having a Temple lesson. They all ooed and awed  over my dress and flowers. It was fun to tell them, "Yep! We just got married in there!"

We got to our reception just barely on time to start greeting a very long line of guests. Thank you to everyone who patiently waited and to those that only got a brief hello and goodbye--I wish I could have sat down and chatted with each person! Benji's neighbor said, "it was like a ride at Disneyland!"

One of my biggest dreams came true when I got to dance with my dad to "Edelweiss", the song he always sang me to sleep with as a little girl.

After that, all I wanted in the world was to take my beautiful but painful wedding dress OFF so my mom and sisters and I retreated to the dressing room and I got to change. OH sweet relief.

And then it was done. The best day was over and the best life had started.
So many thanks to everyone who worked so so hard. I loved it all.

Aren't our flowers beautiful? All credit goes to my sister Chloe