Friday, July 27, 2012

Tying the Knot

Right now I'm sitting outside Starbuck's in American Fork, Utah.  Not many places in American Fork have free internet service...but I found one spot that does!


I'm in the Beehive State for a friend's wedding.  This morning Chris Morales and his best friend Becca tied the knot in the LDS Mt. Timpanogos Temple.


Chris and I met over eight years ago at BYU-Idaho.  I was the activities director in our college ward and Chris was on the committee.  We planned parties, dinner's, carnival's, and the ever popular "Super Sunday Spud Supper Spectacular."  (It was Idaho, after all...and ever meal needed a potato.)


Notice how there are very few
"normal" photos of me and Chris.
Through the years Chris and I have become really good friends...even though we come from completely different backgrounds.


I was born into the LDS faith, raised by two parents in Utah, have two brothers and two sisters, and am the most awkward white-boy dancer you'll ever see.


Chris joined the Church when he was a teenager, was raised in L.A. by his mother who emigrated from Guatemala, has one brother, and his dance moves will knock your socks off (as will Becca's.  They're having a dance party at their reception...it lasts until midnight!)


Chris is one of those guy's that becomes your best friend the moment you meet him.  Everybody loves him...because he loves everybody.  


With our crazy friend Melinda at the Lehi rodeo.
After Erica and I scheduled our wedding, I learned Chris had law school finals that same week.  It was his last year of law school and I knew it would be impossible for him to come...but he insisted he would not miss our wedding.
Lunch with Chris and his mom at Cafe Rio.


True to his word, he spent a lot of money and time he didn't have to fly in and join us.


When Chris was 13, he met two LDS sister missionaries.  They taught him the gospel and he was baptized.  A year later, his mother and brother joined the Church.  


As with every Mormon, they were assigned a home teacher...who visited them at least once a month.  He made sure they were doing okay, helped them with challenges, and became one of their best friends.


Another typical photo.
Six years later, Chris was sitting on an airplane at LAX about to leave for the Missionary Training Center.  It was September 11, 2001.  Of course his flight never left...instead, he walked off the plane and his home teacher drove him 13 hours to the MTC.


Today that same home teacher was a witness during Chris and Becca's marriage ceremony.  It was beautiful, special, and awesome!  I wish Erica could have been here to witness the whole thing...but she's on her way to Pennsylvania to celebrate at her cousin's wedding reception.
I can't wait to see what happens with Chris and Becca.  They are both incredible people (my brother and sister-in-law have known Becca for years) and the synergy between the two of them is explosive!


Congrats to two of our best friends...from two of your best friends!










2 comments:

  1. You should have come and parked in front my house and stolen the internet...I can see the Mt. Timp Temple from my house!

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  2. I tried to like Brianna's comment - and then remembered we aren't on Facebook...stupid Facebook - messing with the way I live my life.

    That's an awesome story - that'a all I was intending to say. :)

    ReplyDelete