11.22. Wedding Day

My sister is married! That is weird to say. It was such a beautiful day. I'm so glad I was here a few days early to help my wedding-planner-mama with everything. The day after my wedding {that she put together} she said "I am never doing this again!" I guess two and a half years later she forgot that feeling because she took it all on again. She's amazing. Pictures on another post.

Kristine was beautiful. Of course it was sunny days before the wedding and after, but the day of: it rained and rained. We were pretty discouraged but we were able to see a sneak peek from the photographer and the pictures turned out cute! She said it was her wettest wedding yet though! In the chaos of the umbrella's, rain, wind blowing the temple fountains in people's faces...my camera bag got set down somewhere and we didn't pick it back up. An hour later I realized it was gone. Like gone gone. Shaun demanded to see the temple security footage (haha). He saw two people pick up my camera bag, walk right passed me and my mom into the temple. The camera footage didn't show them going into a session or the front desk so I thought it was gone for good.

While Shaun was doing that, I was having a melt down at the luncheon--minutes from giving a speech about the beautiful bride. It was a sad 2.5 hours. That camera not only is my third arm, but is $$$ and I also had my families video camera in the bag as well. Long story short, IT WAS AT THE FRONT DESK OF THE TEMPLE. These old men at the front desk just told us no without looking because the lost electronics always go back to security. It hadn't made it's way back there yet so it was sitting safely at the front desk. My relief overpowered the frustration I felt towards those elderly men!

I was able to take some bridals of my sissy pants for all the frames and decor at the reception. Roger had not seen her dress yet so we did a little unveiling (that is why he looks like a blind man/ninja below).

selfie coming out of the temple. husband & wife!

(somebody's phone pic) The rain called for cute creative pictures with umbrellas

I LOVE MY FAMILY

The Mission Field

The church outside of Utah, or the "mission field" as people call it, is such a different experience. The members here live in a world of persecution and have to really choose for themselves that they believe. I'm not saying that the church back in Utah doesn't get any persecution. I am sure Utah as a whole gets its fair share, but more often there are individual attacks.

In Michigan, I am in a ward where I am one of twenty relief society sisters. I found out yesterday that there are 8 of us that are baptized (which is awesome because investigators are so fun to be around and their learning). Yesterday in our lesson we were talking about persecution and how we react to it. The teacher asked the class:

How many of you first heard about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day 

Saints from a resource that was meant to be negative towards the church?

We counted 9 out of the 12 investigators! I was first shocked to see so many hands raised and then was overcome with happiness that they still showed up to learn for themselves. I learned that the downtown Grand Rapids area, where we currently are living is a very anti-mormon area. I heard stories about the Stake Presidency instructing the members to remove all bumper stickers or things that would reveal that you are affiliated with this church because of many accounts of trashed cars. There is also a cop on duty for the youth's mutual nights. I was so grateful for these strong courageous members! I know missionaries and people outside of Utah probably hear and see stories like this every day. Personally, my eyes would have never truly been open to this if I would not have left the Utah church environment.

One more thing, we were also discussing in our lesson yesterday about blooming where you are planted. One lady shared how her callings have really made her happy and the joy she gets from them (she is the choir director). She explained that she has been trying to get back West for the past fifteen years but for whatever reason she never made it. She has come to realize that the Lord has allowed her to stay here and be the strength in this area. She also has the opportunity to work in the area of the church that she wanted. She said "back in Utah you practically need a bachelors in Music to be considered for a musical calling. I never would have been a choir director back there." People laughed but I couldn't help but nod my head! Shaun and I always talk about how much more work we are being able to do out here. Having these INCREDIBLE experiences with the youth of the church and thinking, back home in Utah we were sunbeam teachers {which was a blast of course}. It makes me laugh. I know there is some truth in what she was saying but I really just loved her comment because it reminded me of all the "blooming" that I am doing out here on this adventure of ours.

I am so grateful for the pioneers and previous church members that truly gave their life for this church and went through unimaginable persecution. You always hear that we are "modern day pioneers" but I never really felt like that until I came out here and am hearing stories of strong courageous faith. The persecutions will come and they will come hard but this true church will NEVER cease to be on this earth! It will keep moving on like a train, a train that I will always strive to be on.


side note: my beautiful sis missionary came home from Albania due to some nasty parasite situation. she's on the mend. I'm grateful for her example of a person that has a love for the gospel and wants to shout it to the world.

Loyalty for your life.

I love when my beautiful sister missionary sister writes home. Her words are so inspirational and she is just always on a spiritual high. I wish we could all be on that "high" all of the time. It's kind of like the high I would feel when I was doing EFY or even during some of these weeks where I am putting everything I have into a lesson I am teaching on Sunday. A few weeks ago she wrote home something that I loved.

"Elder Nash from the Seventy came to speak to us. He talked about being loyal to your call. I loved how he described it like that! Everyone's like 'love it, be happy, go with faith' but being LOYAL just resonated with me. Y'all know that I have about 10 friends and 7 immediate family members and that's it. That's my circle. Loyalty is something that you feel down in your soul. Your whole self, even your feet figuratively and literally have to be loyal so that you're always facing the right direction and moving forward..."

Loyal is: giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution. I love that it includes the word -showing- as well. It takes action. I then was thinking of being loyal in every aspect of our lives. Being loyal to our friends and family of course, but also in our callings, to our community, to our membership in the church and to LIFE. Like Kristine said, loyalty moves us forward in life. When you are loyal in your workplace, you earn more trust and may be promoted. Loyalty in family and friends makes your bonds closer. Loyalty in your church and callings make you and your testimony grow. WE CAN NEVER FAIL WITH LOYALTY. And if we have loyalty always resinating with us .."we will always be facing the right direction and moving forward." 

'Motra Wait'

My best friend sister is off serving the Lord! I was so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to go spend her last week or two with her. I had been sick the previous day but was getting better I thought so I was for sure going to be able to travel the next day. I didn't pack the night before because I was so tired so I set my alarm early to pack. I woke up that morning still super sick and decided there was no way I was getting on a plane all day long! Shaun being the smart person that he is KNEW that in a couple hours I would be feeling better and regretting every minute of not going and seeing Kristine for A YEAR AND A HALF. So he threw my clothes in the bag and said "lets drive to the airport and see how you feel then." Well I didn't feel any better but I was so close to Utah! A security line was in my way at this point. So I decided to at least try to get there. Shaun waited until my plane took off JUST in case I changed my mind---which almost happened. In the end he was right, that night being with my family and feeling tons better I knew I would have totally regretted it.

Kristine's farewell talk was incredible and the day was perfect. The only time I would plan stuff with my friends was when Kristine was saying goodbye to hers. I felt like I needed to spend every second I could with her, which pretty much happened. 

We did all of her last minute shopping with dance parties intertwined. 

Like I said, I followed her around everywhere that week. I think this was the night before she went into the MTC. Her last tooth brushing at home. (seemed like a good idea at the time)

The setting apart was amazing. THAT was the night worth coming for. I'm so blessed with an incredible family and an amazing sister. I wish Steven could have been with us.

All my tears were the night before because I think the day of, I was probably in shock/denial and it was just such an EXCITING day. Kristine was just so excited to get out of here. I think since her call came back before christmas, she was getting a little antsy. We took pictures and then had a 3 second drop off. 

Missing Steven.

Like I said, she was just so happy. Adriatic South Mission here she comes! (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro) I'm so incredibly proud of my girl, Motra Wait. She's loving the MTC and her emails are so inspiring. I'm so grateful that she chose to serve and will bless so many people's lives with her happiness for the gospel!

Céline Marie Claudette Dion

If you think you know me, then you know that I am overly obsessed with Celine Dion.

In 2007 Kristine got us tickets for the Celine Dion world tour that was coming to Salt Lake. After months and months of waiting, Celine became sick and cancelled. Tears were shed (actually a lot of tears were shed because it was supposed to be her last time performing, HA!).

Christmas break 2010: Brit, Kaycie, & I were snowed in one night blasting Celine Dion. We then spontaneously purchased tickets to go see her at Caesars Palace later that spring. Kristine will agree, it was the most unbelievable two hours we have ever experienced. We had waited so long for that. Ever since bringing our family's boom box into our room blasting my Mom's Let's Talk About Love album from '97.

Coming home and bragging to Shaun about the life changing event, I only hoped he could one day experience it with me. Fast forward a year-ish later, we were planning our honeymoon. Of course I managed to include going to Dion in Vegas. Here I was 4 years later from our last cancelation-breakdown and she did it again to me! Couldn't believe it.







Well we are a couple short months away from our 1 year anniversary and Shaun has a business trip in Vegas. Perfect right? RIGHT. So February 20th is the day! SJ finally gets to see what I have been talking about for years. Celine, please take care of your voice. I would hate to make this a 3rd disappointment. . .

bye-bye hairs.

Last week Kristine and I made our way up to our beautiful town we call home..and that actually means the word beautiful. Yes, BOUNTIFUL ladies and gentleman. We needed my dear friend Kristen's work on our hairs. I was chopping and Kristine was dying. (dying her hair. not dying because I was cutting mine. although she might have been doing both now that I think of it..)

 

I have mixed feelings although I am sure it's because all I do is stare at it. SJ gratefully likes it more than he thought and it takes about one second to wash. I wonder how fast my 9 inches will grow back. . .