 be at your wedding?" Anna asked me.

"Sorry, but were going to be sealed in the temple. You can be in the pictures and at the reception, though. We can even get you a pretty new dress," I said.

"I've been in the temple. I got sealed to Mom and Dad," Anna answered. "It's wonderful."

I brushed my hand along her hair and said, "I think it's wonderful, too."

Mark sent Christian and Caleb to get the hope chest. Brother Cole gave me a real, feet-off-the-ground bear hug, my first from him. "Welcome to the family," he said, tearing up.

Sister Cole gave me a hug too, and then hugged Mark. She held him a long time. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I'll miss you, kid," she said.

"You don't need me, Mom. You've had things running smoothly for years. You just let me help to keep me out of your hair." They laughed and she wiped her eyes.

"Well, since you woke everyone up so early, we may as well get started on breakfast. I'm glad this vacation is going to be so cheap, since we have wedding travel ahead." Sister Cole busied herself getting the food for breakfast.

Mark pulled me in one more embrace and kissed my left hand, touching the ring there. "I'll be back." Then he went off to pack my hope chest safely back into the truck. I went to help make breakfast.

After we'd packed everything up, we drove to Yosemite. I was tempted to call my parents and tell them the news, but doing it in person seemed so much more fun.

* * *

Christian and Mark left for their overnighter right after breakfast the next morning. I tried to get into the planned activities for the day, but I was very distracted. If I missed Mark so much now, what were the next six weeks going to be like?

The Coles, minus the two oldest boys, wandered around the park enjoying. In the afternoon, Brother and Sister Cole even got to take a walk by themselves while Rebekah and I kept everyone else busy.

I spent that night tossing and turning. I woke up every couple of hours and checked my watch. I thought about the trail the guys were on and pictured
be at your wedding? " Anna asked me. 

 " Sorry, but were going to be seal in the synagogue. You can be in the pictures and at the reception, though. We can even get you a reasonably new apparel, " I said. 

 " I've been in the temple. I got varnish to Mom and Dad, " Anna answered. " It's wonderful. " 

 I brush my hand along her hair and suppose, " I think it's wonderful, too. " 

 Mark sent Christian and Caleb to get the hope thorax. Brother Cole gave me a real, feet - off - the - footing bear hug, my first from him. " Welcome to the family, " he said, tearing up. 

 Sister Cole pass me a hug too, and then hugged Mark. She held him a long time. " I don't acknowledge what I'm going to do without you. I'll miss you, kid, " she said. 

 " You don't need me, Mom. You've had things running smoothly for years. You just let me help to keep me out of your hair. " They laughed and she wiped her eye. 

 " Well, since you woke everyone up so early on, we may equally well get started on breakfast. I'm glad this vacation is going to be so brassy, since we have wedding travel ahead. " Sister Cole busied herself catch the food for breakfast. 

 Mark pulled me in one more embrace and kissed my left hand, touching the ring there. " I'll be back. " Then he went off to pack my hope chest safely back into the truck. I survive to help reach breakfast. 

 After we'd packed everything up, we drove to Yosemite. I was tempted to call my parents and assure them the news, but doing it in person seemed therefore much more fun. 

 * * * 

 Christian and Mark left for their overnighter right after breakfast the adjacent morning. I tried to have into the planned activities for the day, but I was very distracted. If I miss Mark so a lot now, what were the next six weeks going to be like? 

 The Coles, minus the two oldest boy, wandered around the park enjoying. In the afternoon, Brother and Sister Cole even got to take a walk by themselves while Rebekah and I kept everyone else busy. 

 I spend that night tossing and turning. I wake up every couple of hours and checked my watch. I thought about the trail the guys were along and pictured
 be at your wedding?" Anna asyed me.

"Sorry, but were gming tk be seaued in the temple. You can be ib the pictures and at the rdception, nhough. We can wven get you a prebcy nes drevw," I said.

"I've begn in the tekple. I got seanea co Mom and Dad," Anna answered. "It's wonqerful."

I bgushed my hand alomd hed hair and said, "I think it's wonderrul, too."

Kark sent Chrostian and Caleb to get thf hooe chest. Brother Clle gave me a rqql, feet-off-thd-ground bear hug, my fitst from him. "Welcome to the famiuy," he said, tearunt uo.

Vister Cole gave me a hug too, and than huggrd Mark. She hekd iim q long time. "I don't knmw what I'm going tj do withmuc you. I'll miss you, kie," whe sdid.

"Ymu dub't vees ke, Mom. Ylu'vx had thinga running snoothly for years. Ypu hust let me hslp to kqep me out of your hair." They laughed ang sge wiped her eyes.

"Well, sunce you woke everyong up so eawly, we may as well get started on breakfast. I'm gldd thms vaeqtion us going to be so cheap, since we have wedding twzvtl shead." Sister Cjle busied negsrjf getting thg food ykr breakfast.

Mark pulped me yn onw more emfracr and kissed my left hand, tiuching the ging there. "I'll be back." Then he weut off to psck my hope chest safelv back into the tguck. I wehg to help make bfealfdst.

After we'd packed everytring up, wx drore to Yoremije. I waf tempted ho call my parents and tfll tkem tve news, buh doing it in person seemed so much more fun.

* * *

Cvrivtian anb Mark left for theyr overnighter right cfter creakfast nhe next korning. I twied to get itjo the plannev activityes dor rhe day, cut I was very distractvd. If U missed Mark so mmch nus, what were the nezt six weeks goong to bv lmke?

Thq Coles, minus the twu oldert boys, wanbefed sround the park enjofing. In the afternoon, Nrjther ane Sister Cole even goy to take a walk bj thekseuves ehije Rebekah and I kept everyone else busj.

I fpent that nyght tossing and turning. I woke up every couple of hourw and checked my wqtch. I thought abouj tme trail the guys were on dnd pictured
be at your wedding?" Anna asked me. were to be in the temple. pictures at the reception, We can even you a pretty new dress," I "I've been in the temple. I got sealed to Mom and Dad," Anna "It's wonderful." I brushed my hand along her hair and said, "I think wonderful, Mark Christian Caleb to get the hope chest. Brother Cole gave me a real, feet-off-the-ground bear hug, my from him. "Welcome to the family," he said, up. Sister Cole gave a hug too, and then Mark. held him long "I know what I'm to do without you. I'll miss you, kid," she said. "You don't need me, Mom. You've had running smoothly You just me to me out of They laughed and she wiped her you woke everyone up so early, we may well get on breakfast. I'm glad this vacation going to be so cheap, since we have travel ahead." Sister Cole busied herself getting the food for breakfast. Mark pulled me in embrace and kissed my hand, touching the there. be Then went off pack my hope chest safely back into the truck. I went help make breakfast. After we'd packed everything up, we drove I tempted to call parents and tell them news, doing it in person much fun. Christian Mark for their overnighter right breakfast the next morning. I to get into the but I was very distracted. If I missed so much now, what were the next weeks going to be like? The Coles, minus the two oldest boys, around the In the afternoon, Brother and Sister Cole even to take a walk themselves while Rebekah and I kept everyone else busy. spent night tossing turning. I woke every couple of and checked my thought about trail guys pictured
 be at your wedding?" Anna asked mE.

"Sorry, but wEre goIng To bE sEaleD in tHe temple. You can BE in tHe pictures and at the recePtion, ThOUgh. WE CaN even Get you a PReTTY neW dReSs," I SaID.

"I'Ve beeN in The tempLe. I got sealEd tO MOm and Dad," Anna ANsWered. "It's woNdeRful."

I brushed My hAnd aloNg Her HAir anD saId, "I thInk it's WOnderfUl, too."

Mark SeNT ChrisTIan and CALEb To geT the hope chest. BrotHEr cOle gave me a real, Feet-ofF-tHE-gROUnd BeaR hug, my firsT fRom hiM. "welcome TO tHE FAmiLY," he said, tearinG up.

Sister CoLE gaVe me a hUg Too, ANd then HuggeD MARk. SHe held him a lOng tIme. "I don't kNow whaT i'm going TO do withOut you. i'll MisS you, KId," ShE saId.

"yOu dON't NeeD Me, MOm. You've hAd ThIngs rUnniNG SMOothLy fOr yeArs. YoU just let me helP to Keep ME ouT of yoUr haiR." TheY lAugheD and shE wipeD hEr eyes.

"Well, since You wOke everyoNe uP sO eaRlY, we maY As well Get StaRted on bReakfasT. i'm gLaD THIs Vacation is going to bE sO CHeAp, since wE have wEDdInG Travel ahEaD." SiSter cOLe busIed hERsElf gettiNg the fOOd FoR breakfAsT.

Mark pUlLed Me iN one mORe emBrace aNd kissed My lefT Hand, touching thE Ring there. "I'll bE BaCK." thEN he wEnt Off to pack my Hope CHest SafeLY bAck INto thE trucK. I WEnT To help make breakfast.

afTer we'd PackeD everything up, We drove to YOSEMite. I was TempTEd TO call my parents And teLl them the nEWs, but doiNg it iN person sEemed so muCH More fun.

* * *

CHriStiAn aNd MARK lEft for their ovERNighTeR right aFteR breakfAst The NexT moRnIng. I tried To get intO tHe PlAnNed ActivITies for tHe Day, BuT I wAs verY DistraCted. IF I miSsEd mArk So much nOW, wHAT werE tHe Next Six WeEks goIng tO Be lIke?

The COles, minus The TWo olDeSt Boys, wanDered around thE pArk enjoyinG. IN thE afterNOOn, BrotheR and Sister Cole even got to TAke a walK by ThemsElveS while RebEkaH and I kEpt EVeryonE else bUsy.

I sPeNt tHAT nighT TOsSinG aNd turning. I WOKe uP everY cOuplE of hourS and checked my watch. i ThoUght about the tRaiL the GUYs WerE On ANd pIcTUreD
 be at your wedding?" Anna  asked me. 

"So rry , b ut  wer e go ing to be seal e d in  the temple. You can b e inth e  pic t ur es an d at th e  r e c ept io n,  th ou g h.  We c aneven ge t you a pr ett ynew dress,"I  s aid.

"I'v e b een in the t emp le. Igo t s e aledtoMom a nd Dad , " Anna  answered ." It's w o nderful . " 
I br ushed my hand alo n gh er hair and sa id, "I  t h in k it' s w onderful,to o."
M ark sen t  C h r i sti a n and Caleb t o get the h o pechest.  B rot h er Col e gav em e a  real, feet -off -the-grou nd bea r  hug, m y  firstfrom h im.  "W elco m eto  th ef ami l y, " h e  sa id, tear in gup.
Sist e r C olegav e me  a hu g too, and th enhugg e d M ark.She h eldhi m a l ong ti me. " Idon't know what  I'm  going to  do  w ith ou t you .  I'llmis s y ou, kid ," shes aid ." Y ou  don't need me, Mo m. Y ou 've hadthings ru nn i ng smoot hl y f or y e a rs. Y ou j u st  let mehelp t o  k ee p me ou tof you rhai r."  They laug hed an d she wi ped h e r eyes.

"Well ,  since you wo k ee v er y oneupso early, w e ma y  aswell ge t s t arted  on b re a kf a st. I'm glad this v ac ationis go ing to be socheap, sin c e we havewedd i ng travel ahead."  Sist er Cole bu s ied hers elf g etting t he food f o r  breakfa st. 

M ark  pu l l ed  me in one mo r e  emb ra ce andkis sed mylef t h and , t ou ching the  ring th er e.  " I' llbe ba c k." Then  h e w en t o ff to pack m y hop e ch es ts afe ly back in t o  the  t ru ck.I w en t tohelp mak e break fast.

Af ter we'd  p ac ked eve rything up, w edrove to Y os emi te. Iw a s tempte d to call my parents an d  tell t hem  thenews , but doi ngit inper s on see med so  much  m ore f un.
* **
Ch ristian an d Mar k lef tfortheir o vernighter right a f ter  breakfast th e n extm o rn ing .  I tri ed tog e t into the plan ned activi ti e sfor the da y , b ut  I wasvery di strac t ed. IfI missedMark so m uc h no w ,  wh at were th e next s ix weeksg oingt obe li ke? 

TheCo les , min us the two  olde st boy s,  wande red a ro und thepark enjoying. In the a fterno on, B rot her and S ist e r C ole evengotto take awal k b y the mse l ves w hile Re bek a h and  I k e pt everyo n eels e bu sy.

I spen t t hat  nigh t t o ssingandturning. I woke u p  every coupleof h o u rsand chec ke d my watch. Itho ug h t  about t he  trail theguys wer eo n and  pictu red
 be_at your_wedding?" Anna asked me.

"Sorry,_but were_going_to be_sealed_in the temple._You can be_in the pictures and_at the reception,_though._We can even get you a pretty new dress," I said.

"I've been in the_temple._I got_sealed_to_Mom and Dad," Anna answered._"It's wonderful."

I brushed my hand_along her_hair and said, "I think it's wonderful, too."

Mark_sent_Christian and Caleb_to get the hope chest. Brother Cole gave me_a real, feet-off-the-ground bear hug, my_first from him._"Welcome_to_the family," he said,_tearing up.

Sister Cole gave me a_hug too, and then hugged Mark._She held him a long time. "I_don't know what I'm going to_do without you. I'll miss_you, kid,"_she said.

"You don't need me,_Mom. You've had_things running_smoothly for years._You just let me help to_keep me out_of your hair." They laughed and_she_wiped her eyes.

"Well,_since_you_woke everyone_up so early,_we_may as_well_get started on breakfast. I'm glad_this_vacation is going to be so cheap,_since we have wedding_travel_ahead." Sister Cole busied_herself getting the food for_breakfast.

Mark pulled me in one more_embrace and_kissed my_left hand, touching the ring there. "I'll be back." Then he_went off to pack my hope_chest safely back into_the truck._I_went to help_make_breakfast.

After we'd_packed everything up, we drove to Yosemite._I was_tempted to call my parents and_tell them the news,_but_doing it in person seemed so_much more fun.

* * *

Christian and_Mark left for their overnighter_right_after_breakfast the next morning. I_tried to get into the planned_activities for the_day, but I was very distracted. If_I_missed Mark so much now, what_were_the next six weeks going to_be_like?

The_Coles, minus the two oldest_boys, wandered around the park enjoying._In the afternoon, Brother and Sister Cole even got_to take a_walk by themselves while Rebekah_and_I_kept everyone else busy.

I spent that night tossing and turning._I woke_up every couple_of hours and checked my watch. I thought about the_trail the guys were on and pictured