A Wedding to Create A Marriage: Public, Official, & Permanent

Me & husband of 25 years.  He is a keeper, yes.

 Weddings are fun!  Celebrating is fun!  I love to see couples starting out together...

How cool is an OREO tower?  There was a fountain of milk next to it (instead of a chocolate fountain, same hardware).  Below is their cake (top layer was an actual cake, rest of tiers were triangular cut cheesecake brownies).

Butterflies everywhere, because she loves them, and he proposed with one:

Cute story:  they love to Geo-cache, and he planted a "fake" one, complete with log.  When she found it, she tried to put it back, saying it was somebody's proposal, turned around and saw him down on one knee with a ring..

Jon Schmidt played the prelude--so we have something in common with this couple!  The groom sang a song to her that was swooning romantic.  The bishop married them in a nice ceremony.  She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is not.  He comes to Church with her and attends John's Sunday School class so we have gotten to know him a little bit.

They obliged me with a photo kiss.  Actually, I have never seen such a kissy couple at a reception! Super happy, sweet vows exchanged (she loves him more than milk.  And more than bacon.  Made everyone laugh, but by the end we were all teary).

Part of our gift to the newlyweds was a Mr & Mrs.  Actually, it was really just a fun way to decorate the package.
During the reception there were several drawings--at the guest book spot there was a big jar we could put our name in to win one of her beautiful vases and pots--she just graduated from BYU-Idaho with an art degree, emphasis ceramics.  It made me want to stay to the end!

I am convinced that all the details of the party don't matter as much as how the newlyweds treat each other, if they stick together at the reception, if they kiss and kiss and kiss blissfully unaware of anything but each other in that moment...Dancing is fun.  Details of decorating can be memorable.  Food details can be forgotten.  But how happy the new couple is, how they hold on to each other, how you can feel their love for each other--that is the celebration.  That is what you think about as you walk back to your car hugging your sweetie and feeling grateful for marriage and love and couples who want to be together!


Psychology Today article:  Marriage is the process by which two people who love each other make their relationship public, official, and permanent.

For Emma: Blue & Red

Happy Birthday to our oldest! She reminds us how long we have been married... we are old and she wimply graciously ages.

Everywhere I go, my eyes are open for sky blue with red accents, Emmalyn's wedding reception colors of choice.

And I have overdone it, a bit. Thinking of family, thinking of sharing, and outfitting an army of love to surround our daughter and her future husband.

Extra sky blue skirts, blouses, a beautiful blue shirt that will fit my brother JOHN perfectly, tutus I have created for his girls. Hair bows and bracelets in red...A lightweight sweater for my mom.

You get the idea? I've been thinking about family and this fun theme.

So her happy birthday day is all about Wedding Party getting ready!

Happy Birthday to my first baby!

June Wedding Thoughts

My daughter will be a June bride! I am thankful she has found someone who makes her so happy. It if fun to plan a celebration party, but difficult to explain to dear non-member friends why they won't be invited (inside the temple) to the actual ceremony, but how much we want them there at the reception. Her sweet boss was a little confused why Emma's younger siblings and even her great grandma won't witness the event. Delicate matter to explain. It isn't out of disrespect or lack of love or wanting to include them. There is plenty of room inside, so it is not for lack of venue seating. They can wait outside, see her when she comes out officially married and pictures together.

The focus of all of this festivity: my daughter is getting ready to go to the temple. From the above lds.org link: "Temples are places of learning. Their principal purpose is to provide ordinances necessary for the children of God to enable them to return to dwell with Him. Temple ordinances lead to the greatest blessings available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Everything in the Church—the meetings and activities, the missionary efforts, the lessons taught and the hymns—all lead to the work done in holy temples.

One ordinance received in the temple is called the endowment. The word endowment means "gift," and the temple endowment truly is a gift from God. The ordinance consists of a series of instructions and includes covenants to live righteously and follow the requirements of the gospel. The endowment focuses on the Savior, His role in Heavenly Father's plan, and the personal commitment of each member to follow Him.

Another temple ordinance is celestial marriage. In this ordinance husband and wife are sealed to one another for eternity. A sealing performed in the temple continues forever if the husband and wife are faithful to the covenants they make."

I found this crayon drawing when I was cleaning out some old files this month. I remember drawing that turquoise dress, but forgot I was only 4 years old. In Mom's writing on the back, "June 15, 1970 Daddy and Mama going into the temple to be married." I knew from a young age that my parents were married in the temple. It is what I wanted, what I got! It is what I hope for all my children. I asked Suzu if she felt bad that she won't be there to see Emma married: "No...but I hope she comes to mine!"

Outside Around 4:30 PM

My favorite lighting is outdoors, early evening. Magic happens then.

Post haircut. Michael Harrington. I asked him if he could do my hair every day. He said he would love to, when I am rich and famous and he is my lackey (he had gone to a traditional Greek wedding the week before and saw first hand what a real lackey does. Glass smashing, weeping realitives, a dessert bar 100 feet long, he said it was the best wedding he has ever been to. I asked him what made it so amazing--he said the love the family had for each other, the passion, the emotion. Made me want to invite him to one of our family's someday. I'll introduce him as my hair guy!)

We are in Pittsburgh this weekend for a niece's baptism! YEAH OLIVIA!

Time for a New Forever Family

This is my favorite picture of Steven, my tallest little brother. Today is his wedding day! Welcome, new Sister Babcock!
(Altered quilted pillow shams, part of my gift to the couple!)
On our own, it's just us.
Seen from the right persepctive, the relationship goes on and on. That is what it means to me to be sealed, united, married in the temple of God, bound by restored Priesthood power, for now, and for all the ever afters!

Ready for the Party!

Ikea has great candles, wonderful colors packaged together.

Finished castles with seashells and sea glass baubles.


My favorite, two-towered castle. Needs windows, and I could live here.

Sam had a great time eating cake (white chocolate sea shells and brown sugar "sand") and dancing.