7 Years Ago Today...

...I married the love of my life.

We took our engagement photos at the Berkeley Marina in Berkeley, California. It was very windy and chilly that day. You'll see a pattern here. That was where Mike proposed to me after a dinner at our favorite restaurant in Berkeley called Spengers Fresh Fish Grotto. It was very dark and very, very cold, and very windy the night he proposed. There were suspicious cars in the parking lot at the marina. But he took me to about the spot where we took the first picture, got down on one knee and I said, "what are you doing?" Yes. I really said that. Then he asked me to marry him...in so many words. I honestly forgot what he said exactly. Did I mention it was windy that day? and this shot was taken after a very precarious climb down near the water's edge (that's the SF Bay in the background).This was our official engagement photo that we put on our invitations (after some very clever photo shopping of the glare on Mike's glasses and the runaway hairs from my head).We were married and sealed for time and eternity in the Oakland Temple. This is where I was sealed to my parents and family when I was 3. This is where I took out my endowments with my brother, Jason, before we left on our missions (1 month apart). This is where we spent many Christmas seasons as a family looking at the lights. This is where Mike attended church with his family and lived just down the street from all his life. There was no doubt where I wanted to be sealed to my husband.
I love everything about this picture. It was a candid shot that the wedding photographer took. I remember her saying, "Krista, look over here" and then a big flash went off. I have no idea what I was doing before or what I was thinking. My smile is definitely a "Johnson" smile. That is my mother's pearl necklace that she let me borrow that day. My mother also made the headband piece for my veil. I love that she put a splash of pink on it...she knows me so well. My soon-to-be sister-in-law, Amanda-Mike's sister, did my hair and my makeup after waking up way too late the morning of my sealing. She did an awesome job. My sister-in-law, Mindy, drove me to the temple that morning.The events of that day are somewhat a blur. But one of the things I remember most was right before the sealing, waiting in the sitting area just outside the sealing room. Then Mike walked around the corner...all in white. He lost it. I lost it. This was it. This was real. We were about to be sealed for time and eternity. It was worth the wait.

Happy 7th Anniversary, Mike. I love you more now than ever.