Justin is ENGAGED!

He relied heavily on his sister, Ashlyn, to help add in more of the blankets and pillows than what he had and she also helped him with the "Marry Me" letters on the bags that they then cut out.  He had intended to do a practice run with the girls but they ran out of time so the girls were basically on their own to create his vision. He said they did so successfully!  (Personally I think I should get props for getting a rental with a fire pit in the backyard! I didn't even know it would be needed!!)

Where is the picture of he and the new fiancé you might ask?!  That's a good question!  They did not take one!  I've tried to raise these children right but alas....

So Justin was planning on proposing 2-26-26 (he's a tad superstitious I think) BUT then he decided to adjust so it could be on a weekend AND could be this weekend when he could use his sister's help.  He gathered up the rest of the items he needed before our "I Love You" party on Friday.  Then he waited for me to leave to go to McKell's reception on Saturday and then he took Mackenzie roller skating (their first date).  While they were gone, the sisters (and maybe Luke and Sam?) got busy and set up the backyard of our rental for this quaint little private proposal.  Then the family had to leave before they got back so it was just the two of them.  She did say "yes" but you'll have to take my word for it!  He showed me the ring when I got there and it's beautiful.  It's dainty with a thin gold band and a round diamond.  Mackenzie is a rock lover so it was important to her to have a real diamond and not a manufactured one.  This is where solar sales came in handy! 

They do not want a reception or open house.  They do want to get married in the Phoenix temple.  They are saying June 6 at the moment.  They are basically eloping to the temple with their family in tow.  So, even though it's our third wedding in just over a year this one is shaping up to be a piece of cake!  I don't think I can even mess anything up!  Welcome Mackenzie!!!

McKell Mary McIntyre Gets Married!

I had this for the little girls to keep warm but they had a lot of fun using it as a sail whipping around in the wind and they wanted to display the message!

This is Donny's father!  He's 93!  I couldn't believe it!  He has a harder time getting around and hearing but he looks great!  The cute little gal behind him with the dark hair is married to the guy next to her and he is in med school in Texas, a year behind Tyson.  The husband has] met Tyson before and his wife seemed darling.  Scott talked with them a bit before the reception started.  I think they would be good friends with Tyson and Calla so if they end up in Texas they'll have to look each other up.

Donny (father of the bride) is standing with his hands in his pockets and his mom is in the wheelchair.  His brother-in-law is manning it.

Once again...the wind!  The Taylorsville temple was no different than the Orem temple in that regard!

McKell and Porter 

We were on our way to the car when I made everyone stop for a picture!  They'll thank me later!

I didn't end up with any pictures of Angie (mother of the bride and Scott's sister)!  I hope the photographer got pictures of them all together!  I did video their speeches to send to them after so I had to grab one from that!

The fresh flowers were gorgeous.  McKell had a vision for what she wanted it to look like and they did a beautiful job!

Angie and Don took us all out to the Olive Garden after the sealing and then Scott stayed to help set up while I took Justin, Kenzie and Annaka back and then I drove back up.  It was in Ogden so it was a bit of a drive!  Angie, Don and their son, McKay and his wife and child stayed in a hotel nearby so it wasn't as much of a commute for the reception.  They rented a 15 passenger van to transport all the table settings and decorations!

Porter is one of six boys and finally one girl...their baby girl is 15.  This brother, Sawyer, served on his mission in Mexico with Luke.  He only was one transfer ahead of Luke but he was asked to train him. He wanted to know if I had heard any stories about him from the mission.  I thought that was curious so I asked Luke when I got home.  He said he actually did not like Sawyer when they were companions.  Sounded like they both thought they knew what was best!  But, they got a long afterwards.  Sawyer was later his AP.  They have done a few things since the mission together, including with Ashlyn.  They have enjoyed him.  We quite enjoyed him too.  Ashlyn has a friend that she said would be fun to set him up with.  They are from Texas and Sawyer has embraced it with his big belt buckle and his "yes maam"!

Look familiar?  Her baby brother (there are 11 children) is Nate Tenney who is a dentist here in our stake!  She said Nate was her baby!  She was 10 or so when he was born so she was in charge of caring for him a lot.  Her husband is Porter's uncle.  

We were shocked to see the resemblance between these two.  Porter's brother is married to Jules.  (Named Julia I think).  She is expecting baby #3 and hoping for a girl after two little boys...you can see Dad, Hunter,  with one in the mirror)

 

(try saying that three times fast!). 

McKell and Porter were sealed in the Taylorsville Utah Temple on Saturday morning.  After the sealing, we were able to join Angie and Donny with their parents, siblings and our kids at lunch.  Scott then stayed to help them set up for the reception and I took the kids home.  I didn't realize they were setting the tables and doing all the decorations.  I thought the event center was doing that or we would have done things differently and I would have just stayed with Scott and helped.  Oh well!  I did stay with him after to do the take down!  We weren't able to get back until after 11 pm.  We watched (ok I watched and tried to describe what was happening while he drove) the BYU basketball game on our way home.  We were pleasantly surprised by the outcome!  

The reception was in this old court room in an old historic building in Ogden.  It was very McKell and Porter.  They both just graduated from BYU Law and took their bar exam and are in Ohio where McKell at least is practicing.  (I'm not sure what Porter is doing at the moment.) She wanted forest green and black and creme.  It was very beautiful.  They loved the florist they found so--girls with upcoming weddings...if you want a florist in Utah to do real flowers....let me know! 

I liked Porter's family.  I haven't been able to get to know Porter well yet but judging from his family and hearing his best man describe him as a paradox and say he seems one way but is really another....it sounds like he's a pretty good guy.  He reminds me of a young Hugh Grant and I guess he gets that comparison a lot!  Annaka prayed tonight for them to have a good marriage together and that is our hope and prayer for all these young couples!

"I Love You" Party

I used pictures to indicate who was sitting where.  This was mine surrounded by kiddos in their Halloween costumes when Justin was a baby!  Ashlyn also made these peanut butter chocolate kiss cookies to bring and they were awesome!  She is becoming quite a good little cook.  She loves her blue Kitchen Aid so it must make her a happy little baker!  Church didn't start until 1 pm for them today so she was going to make muffins this morning for she and Luke.  

This just proves it!  Pictures do lie!  (Scott and Grandma actually had a good time despite how it might look here!). 

Luke was laying across the three girls but I didn't get a good picture of that....

answers:  C Blue (this was a trick question since he did say every girl looked good in lilac but it wasn't his favorite color--that messed up several); C Country Roads; B Naked Gun; A "Death puts its pants...." (although David did like Golden Girls and he also never took the freeway if he could help it!); B Hillary Duff; A Lighthouse; A Salad; B the sock on the windshield wiper

I ordered my groceries while I was in Utah to pick up Friday between 7-8 am before I left for Bailey's wedding.  That was wise!  I was able to have everything put away and ready to go after we got back.  Scott and I took over most of the ingredients to my moms and I made the cheesecake while he made the potato casserole. It was easier to do there instead of buying a whole thing of sugar etc!  I then went and got a basket for McKenna's baby gift to leave there (my brother's daughter) while Scott finished up.  Then we went back and he did the chocolate dipped strawberries while Annaka made the chicken crescents and I set and decorated the table.  So it was a team effort!

The house was perfect!  It was actually why I chose this place because it had two dining room tables (one was normally horizontal in front of the window) and it fit us all perfectly!  The living room was spacious enough to seat us all comfortably and the bedrooms were amazing!  They were very spacious and most had extra beds in them!  The master bedroom had a futon type twin and the other bedroom upstairs had a small couch.  Then down in the basement they had a bedroom with a king and a full; a bedroom with a queen and a crib size mattress in the closet cubby; a bedroom with a king that had a twin in the space that connected to another room that had two bunkbeds!  The downstairs family room had a big sectional couch with air hockey and foosball and game table and a big tv.  The kids enjoyed playing Mario kart together. 

After dinner we did the trivia about Dave together.  Scott was the only one to get them all correct.  (He did not want the Nutty Buddy prize though).  We did a "would you rather" game with A B paddles I had made.  That was fun and easy enough for the little girls to join in and wasn't intimidating for Kenzie to join in. 

Then we each picked an envelope to write a little note of appreciation in.  Kenzie was relieved to get Grandma since she didn't know many of the rest of us very well yet!  Grandma got me so that was easy for her too!  We then played Skull King together (through round 7 and then we had to stop because it was getting too late and I needed to get Grandma home and get to bed myself!). I don't remember who was in the lead but I know it wasn't me....

It was a very enjoyable night together.  I'm so glad Brittany and Sam and the girls were able to make it.  (Brady was with his mom.) It was quite a sacrifice for them to drive all that way for such a quick trip!  It was so fun to have a full house again!

Justin is taking issue with the name of this party.  I don't know why he doesn't like it but he thinks I should just call it a valentine party held at a different time than Valentine's Day!  He said people have multiple Christmas parties and they don't call them something different.  Well, the "I Love You" banner was purchased last year and I'm afraid it is here to stay!  I think Luke suggested "Falentine" or something like that to represent "Family Valentine" party.   Boys!  They'll just have to deal with me saying "I Love You"!

A Couple that Works Together.....

In training with her young trainer

This young man will be putting in his mission papers soon.  This was Ashlyn's look when she discovered us in line!

She was obviously happy about it!  

Ashlyn's first day as cashier at Chipotle was also on Friday.  She wanted Annaka to go in and try "her chips" (most love them but one lady complained they were too salty so she wanted our onion).  Annaka was busy with Justin so Scott and I went in and got lunch...and a bag of chips!  Luke happened to be working in the back (they haven't been scheduled to work together previously so this was a great coincidence as well).  He came out for a quick photo for me! 

I took Annaka back later before her shift ended so she could taste test as well.  Annaka's verdict--they were perfect.  Our verdict--they were mostly perfect!  We did get a couple of chips that were a tad too salty.  But our overall verdict--cutest couple ever!  She said they actually got more tips than the other workers do so others must agree with us!  (I didn't think to leave a tip though!  Oops!)

Bailey Ladd Gets Married

with Tammy and Donny Janson.  They haven't aged a bit!

Aimee wore her hair with a slight wave and it looked so good

Mother of the bride with mother of the groom (I didn't get a better picture)

The Ladds!  (It was SO cold!!  I was freezing and you can get a glimpse of how windy it was!  I had to try and hold down my dress at all times because I did not have a coat long enough to hold it down for me!)

Mother and Son!  I thought this was so cute

You can get a glimpse of the back of her dress here

You can get a glimpse of the front of her dress here...it also had the boning in the front but more than Ashlyn's.  I had not heard of it until we shopped for hers.  

Aimee has been one of my best friends since they have been here and Bailey was one of my senior seminary students.  It was a happy accident that we were in Utah on Bailey's wedding day.  We got to Utah late Thursday night so Scott and I were able to join them in the Orem Temple on Friday morning for her special day.  

(Another happy accident:  We were sitting in the airport and we say Randy Cullimore and his wife walk by.  Randy went to dental school with Scott so Scott was able to go over and visit with them for a minute.  We also had Devin Cox from our ward also on our flight.  We flew back with all three of them today!)

I also didn't think about seeing Donny and Tammy Janson at Bailey's wedding.  Scott was wondering how they were friends.  I had to remind him that Tammy and Aimee are cousins!  Donny and Tammy used to be in our Sunrise Mountain ward years ago.  Scott served as a counselor when Donny was the bishop.  They have seven children and I think she told me their last one is about to be married.  They have quite a few grandchildren (16 or 18 or something like that).  So, they spend a lot of time traveling and tending them.  They just returned to the Provo airport Thursday night as well at about the same time as we arrived so I'm surprised we didn't see them!  They had been tending grandchildren but got home for the wedding.

Ok so people connection time (try to follow the bouncing ball!)...Donny Janson and Jodi Poston are brother and sister.  Jodi is Alisa Gillespie's mom.  Alisa is in our ward now.  Jodi used to be in our Sunrise Mountain ward before too.  Her son Nathan and Tyson are friends.  I knew Alisa when she was a young woman and now she has five little boys!  Donny and Jodi have a brother John Janson who also served as bishop in the Glendale North Stake when we first came to Arizona and Scott served as his executive secretary so we have been connected to the Janson family for many years.  Their parents used to own a little culdesac area and almost all of the kids lived in homes in that section.  John did not so we were in his ward when we lived in the apartments and then we moved and it happened to be in the ward that had his parents and siblings!

Bailey was a beautiful bride and Isaac's grandfather was able to be their sealer so that was special.  Aimee said the rehearsal dinner the night before (his side did this) went well and then the reception (her side did this) went well and she said she wouldn't change a thing (other than the cold weather which is hard to control!). For her very first wedding--that's pretty remarkable!  (Of course I did share all my notes of what went wrong for me so maybe she was able to learn from my faux pas!)

2 Weddings & A Party (& a Special Announcement)

OK so this has been a very busy weekend!  Unfortunately I have messed up my blog so I can no longer post pictures from my phone--only my laptop.  I left my laptop at home so will know try and play catchup!  I will post event separately as they happened so....

Spiritual Safeguards

On Sunday, our Sunday School lesson came from Genesis 6-11; Moses 8.  Most of our lesson ended up focusing on following the prophet.  We had prepared another emphasis but we didn't get to it.  

Genesis 6:5 stood out to me.  One of the reasons that man was destroyed was "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."  We wanted to spend some time discussing the importance of controlling our thoughts and what to do if an evil or bad thought enters.  I remembered I had come across a poem that I had shared in seminary class but I had found it for a much earlier young women lesson.  I couldn't find it from the one line I could remember in my google search.  So, I looked through previous lessons.  I couldn't find it in my YW lessons so I decided I would need to sift through my seminary lessons.  I went to get out my box and---it was sitting on top!  (Since it took so much effort to find, I wanted to still share it!)

As I have thought about this challenge I think the key to not letting a bad/evil thought in is to control what we surround ourselves with...books, movies, tv shows, art, friends.....in the first place.  If we immerse ourselves with things/people that invite the Spirit, there is a greater chance that our thoughts will be worthy of the Spirit abiding with us.  

I have seen this to be true in my own life.  I don't swear.  But, I have had a couple of instances when swear words have popped into my mind.  Why?  Most likely because the media I had been watching contained those words.  We have a pretty strict media standard (PG or lower or via clear play) but that still does not protect you from hearing and seeing things you don't want to.  Even the books I read recently (the Emma M. Lyon journals...) contained a sprinkling of swear words (which was maddening to me!).  It is almost impossible to not encounter evil in today's word.  If even an occasional experience results in unwanted thoughts, is it any wonder how someone is influenced by a steady diet of evil.  

I saw another poem in one of the YW lessons I reviewed (but I've since put the books away).  It was about impressions and how everything we look at, hear, etc leave impressions on our mind and then when we are in a tempting situation, Satan has our own thoughts he can then use against us!

I also think it is almost impossible to not have an evil/bad thought enter.  But what do we do with those thoughts once we discover them.  Do we invite them to stay and dwell on them and allow them to grow OR do we do what we can to root them out?  Once again, the Spirit is key!  Living worthy of and close to the Spirit will help us know what to do and how to live to remove evil from our lives.

President Oaks reiterated President Nelson's warning:  "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding...comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."  President Oaks then went on to say "One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season where the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don't have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived.  Many obstacles like ahead.  The distractions will be many."

We are in control!  We have the ability to choose what we surround ourselves with and we have control of what we let our mind dwell on.  "The devil made me do it" won't hold up as an excuse.  As Eve recognized, the devil may have power to tempt us but we have power to choose to listen or dismiss!