The second weekend in October I was blessed to attend the wedding of one of my dearest friends, Holly in Philadelphia. Holly and I met my Freshman year at BYU. We lived across the hall from each other in Deseret Towers and were roommates our Junior and Senior years as well. I took the red-eye flight on Thursday night and arrived in Philly before 6 AM on Friday. There is absolutely a reason they call that flight the red-eye. I got almost no sleep and was stuck in a middle seat next to a young archeologist that thought it was appropriate to belch all night long. I was so tired near the end of the day that I was having some seriously word finding errors and couldn't remember the word BELCH to tell Holly about my flight.
I picked up a rental car first thing and drove into the city. It was a struggle to find parking...I didn't want to pay $30 for a few hours. Somehow I lucked out and found a spot on the street that was just a few dollars. When I got out of the car I looked up and this was my view...somehow I ended up next to the temple.
I wanted to see as much of the city as possible before picking my friend Jenn up from the airport around 11 AM. So I set off on a run up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (aka the Rocky Steps). The sunrise was beautiful and I even had a photo op by the Rocky statue.
On my way back to downtown I stopped outside the Rodin museum for a selfie with The Thinker.
Then on to the LOVE statue in LOVE park.
Here is a little flashback to my last trip to Philadelphia...December of 2011 with Seth.
Then I continued on to Reading Terminal Market and waited for it to open up.
I was one of the first in line at Beiler's Doughnuts and ordered two pumpkin flavored doughnuts...a pumpkin cake doughnut and a pumpkin creme doughnut...and both were delicious.
I continued on to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. I didn't go inside either one...the lines were already fairly long.
I continued along Chestnut street to Delaware River and enjoyed views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and New Jersey.
On my way back to my car I just happened across Elfreth's Alley. This is a picturesque cobblestone street that is the oldest continuously inhabited road in America.
I loved seeing all of the fall decorations up in the windows.
My walk continued through Franklin Square and then along Vine Street.
I ended up back at the gorgeous temple.
I was able to catch a little shut-eye in the park and wait lot before Jenn arrived. Jenn is also one of my very dearest friends. She was roommates with Holly our Freshman year and we also lived together Junior and Senior years at BYU. Jenn was in the same program as my at BYU so we had many classes together as well. Once Jenn arrived we got a bite to eat at the mall in King of Prussia Mall before we headed out to Pottstown to help Holly with wedding preparations.
The reception was held at Holly's sister Erin's home in Pottstown.
We were so happy to visit with Holly and her fiance Marvin as we cut up fruits and veggies for the reception.
That evening we were able to get together with Holly and some of the other amazing women in her life for dinner.
Saturday morning we woke up bright and early so we could go to an endowment session prior to Holly's sealing. The Philadelphia temple was AMAZING. We actually had time between the endowment session and Holly's sealing so we were able to sneak in some initatories. It was such a blessing to do all of that temple work back to back in one day. Holly's sealing was beautiful and historic. Her mother, Helen and sister, Dee acted as witnesses for this special event.
The beautiful couple...
I loved being surrounded by these women from various phases of Holly's life.
The only thing missing in this photo is our friend Nel. She was not able to make it for the wedding and our College friend foursome was one short.
Before the reception we put on our walking shoes and headed into the city.
We had lunch at Reading Terminal Market which was way busier than the day before. I had a Philly Cheese-steak sandwich...which was at the top of my list for food to have in Philly.
The ring ceremony and reception were beautiful. I am so excited to see the life that Holly and Marvin make for themselves. He is one lucky guy to have captured Holly's heart.
My only regret about the trip is that it wasn't longer. I was on a flight early Sunday morning so that I could be back to in time for Phin and Millie's primary program. My cup was absolutely filled from a weekend with Holly and Jenn. Thank you girls!
