On July 1st, 2004, we flew from Tenerife to Canada....Mike's second time on Canadian soil.  (The first time was to Niagara Falls, where a Mounty requested a baffled Mike to please extinguish his cigarette, even though they were outdoors....that was in the good 'ol days when Europe still loved smokers).  

       Side note finished.  Return to main event....On July 9th, just over a week after arriving home, we were married in the Al Azhar Temple along the Bow River in Calgary.  It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we were blown away with all of our Canadian friends and family that gathered to help us celebrate.  One of the down-falls of an international marriage is that the face-to-face meeting of the two families isn't really feasible, but all of Mike's friends and family from Ireland wrote emails and these were read at the ceremony - such a wonderful touch to have them there in spirit.  

      The next week, we had a chance to drive out to Emerald Lake Lodge and spend the night in the beauty of the Rockies in a wood cabin with a fireplace. A short but romantic honeymoon...and an unexpected one, as it was a gift.  We hadn't thought we would need a honeymoon, but after all of the energy and emotions tied up in tying-up, it was definitely on order.

      Not long after, we were back on the plane and headed for Ireland, where another incredible celebration and gathering of friends awaited us.  Mike had paid his dues in Canada...facing bravely into blurs of new faces and names...and Ireland was Devon's turn.  After living in Tenerife for a year, where we are known to nary a soul, it was wonderful to see how many people we have in our lives.  A million thanks to everyone. 

     So.....that's that.  We're hitched...Back in Tenerife, and life is good.  Not one of the most eloquent nor exhaustive pieces of story-telling, I know, but conciseness has its merits.  Let the photos tell the rest of the story!