Catch-up

Well, a lot has happened since I last posted. Unfortunately I do not currently have internet connection at home which is why this post will not include pictures.

I have had an incredible summer so far. I lived out of a suitcase for 7 weeks straight, and have visited 13 states (not including airplane trips).

The first two weeks in May I spent at my Grandma Black's house. I had moved out of my apartment and needed somewhere to stay before going on tour. It was wonderful to get to know her better and spend time with her. Growing up in Texas, I never really had the opportunity of going and staying with my grandparents. So my contact with them was limited to family vacations to Utah every once in a while. Meanwhile, Jason started working with his dad's company doing commercial construction. We spent as much time together as we could.

I left for tour May 14 with the BYU Chamber Orchestra. We started in Washington DC and zigzagged up to Maine and back down ending in New York City June 4, where we performed in Carnegie Hall. We went to many church historical and US historical sights, performed several concerts in various venues, did a couple firesides a week, and did lots and lots of driving. We mostly stayed with host families, all members of the Church, and a few hotels. It was really hard to be away from my fiance for so long right before getting married, but it was a very rewarding and educational experience. We grew close as an orchestra, feeling like a family, and we improved more and more as an orchestra making our Carnegie concert amazing. My parents came to the concert, which meant a lot to me. That was a dream of mine, to play in that famous hall.

On June 5, we flew back to Salt Lake City and the next morning, Jason and I flew down to Texas to prepare for the wedding the following week. It was a pretty busy week, but it was honestly relieving after my exhaustion and stress from tour. It was great seeing family and friends again, and especially finally showing Jason my home and past. A chunk of the week was dedicated to cleaning out and packing up my room since my parents are moving. That was quite the task. On Wednesday I went through the Temple for the first time. It was such an incredible experience, and it was such a wonderful feeling to know that I had lived my life in a way that I was worthy to go to the Temple. I'm so grateful to the good examples of my sisters who did the same before me.

Then came the day of my dreams...marrying Jason. It was the most incredible experience of my entire life. I have never been more excited or happy. After the wedding, we had a family luncheon at Abuellos followed by pictures (more pictures), and the reception. It all turned out so well, and we had a great time. We stayed in the Embassy Suites in Fort Worth that night. We were in the best room on the Ambassador's floor with a great view of downtown. Our suite had a whirlpool tub, a 2-headed shower, a king-sized bed, and plasma screens in all 3 rooms (they were cool to look at, though we didn't actually watch any tv).

The next morning we went back to my parents house to open all of our gifts with the whole family and then we left for our honeymoon! We stayed at the Belle of the Bends mansion in Vicksburg, Mississippi for a few days. It was a beautiful house, built in the 1860's. We had a very relaxing time. It was nice to finally be alone.

We met up with the rest of my family in Alabama on Monday for a cruise to Mexico. It was a 5 day cruise. We stopped at Cozumel and Calica. In Cozumel we went snorkeling, and canoing in a "glass bottom" canoe and in Calica we went to see Mayan ruins at Tulum and Coba. The cruise was awesome. I loved finally seeing and spending time with my sisters and their families, and Jason and I had a great time on our extended honeymoon.

The Sunday after the cruise Jason and I flew back to Utah to start our new lives. We got all moved in to our new home (Jason's family's old home a couple miles north of campus). That next Friday we had an open house at the Allphin's. We had lots of family and friends there. It was great to see them all again.

This week, Jason started working with his dad's company again until he can find a job that will work with school. I am also currently looking for a job...other than that, life is awesome!