A New Family

Last night, we stopped by the Cole's house to see how things were coming along with the tent that is being put up for the wedding reception tomorrow. The tent was HUGE. As we got out of the car, Covey welcomed us to the circus. It certainly looked like that was what they were getting ready for...bring on the clowns, elephants, and trick ponies!

Ahhh, what a great--yet surreal--event to have your first child get married. It feels like this union has been a long time in coming, and the fact that it is already here is a little unbelievable.

Steve and I wanted to do something special with just our little family, one last time while we were all Mordue's, so we took the girls out for what has been affectionately dubbed, "The Last Supper." Kelsey picked Mikado's, because she knows that it will probably be awhile until she and Covey can afford to go to a nice Sushi place. We sat in a private room, and talked, laughed, and ate good food. When we got home, we gathered around the computer to watch a slide show I had put together of pictures of our family growing up. We laughed some more, and remembered and saw all of the fun things we have done as a family over the years. We then all squished onto our couch, arms and legs touching and wrapped around each other, and that is when the tears started to flow. Steve bore his testimony of our Savior and the Atonement, the gospel and the power of sisters and families. The covenants and blessings of the temple are so incredible, and to witness one of our children participate is pure joy. I love my family of girls! We are so different from one another, but intensely loyal and forgiving. Our Father in Heaven knew exactly what he was doing when he made families. If we can't learn to be civil, caring, forgiving, tolerant, compassionate, ---and a whole host of other things--within a family, how can we ever expect to be able to be that way with our brothers and sisters of the whole human race?

As we were driving home from dinner, I expressed this thought out loud: I felt like I was at the very apex of a roller coaster right before it makes it's stomach churning drop. I anticipated this drop on the long slow right up to the top, and now all I can do is close my eyes, hang on and let gravity do it's work. And smile, scream, laugh and have the time of my life! (and then run and get back into the line so I can ride it again!)

Happy wedding day, Kelsey and Covey. A new family is born

24

Steve has a favorite show he watches ("24"), but that is not what this title is about. What it IS about is the 24th anniversary of the most wonderful day of my life...the day I married my best friend. How is it possible that 24 years have come and gone just. like. that.

How does one celebrate such a milestone? Here is what WE did: we packed our bags and bikes, added a few--ahem--goodies, and took off for the warmer climes of Southern Utah. I am talking 80 degrees and beautiful sunshine. We ran, we rode our bikes, we took in several movies, went out to eat, shopped and even managed to get tickets to see Brian Regan perform at Tuachan. Oh yeah, and we did a lot of "romantic" stuff (okay kids, stop gagging...we're not a million years old! and we still like each other. A lot!) We laughed and were silly. It is so much fun to go away, alone, with Steve. My hope and wish for Kelsey (and all of my daughters) is that she will have just as much fun with her best friend and eternal partner.

The Big Day is fast approaching...

I am so excited to finally get these out into the mail. There was actually a little mini miracle that happened with the invitations. It involved a lot of prayer on my part. We had the proof approved for the invites and were planning on having them printed up on Wednesday so that they would be ready to go today. Yesterday afternoon, an email from the printer popped up informing me that the paper shipment which was expected that day was delayed until next Tuesday. I felt this was cutting it way too close to the wedding day. The printer told me he was going to try some local sources, and that is when I started praying. A while later, I received another email stating he found paper that would work and he was planning to stay late so that he could get the order printed up. He called me this afternoon to tell me the invitations were done, and so I sent Steve to pick them up.

Here it is:

I thought it turned out very nice. Kelsey was thrilled. I love the pictures of these two. We took them out to dinner and to see a play (PTC's 42nd Street) last week, and it just cracked me up how INTO EACH OTHER they are...they are so wrapped up in their little twosome world, that Steve and I felt like we were an intrusion. I have to ask myself, "were Steve and I like that?"

Sunrise, Sunset

How quickly they grow up...