And Saturday :-)

Saturday was my sister Emily's wedding.  She was married in the Brigham City Utah temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (for more info on temples see my Thursday blog post).  Not only were she and Joel married, but entered into a covenant with God sealing them together for time and all eternity.

We had a handful of small miracles to make the day perfect. :-)  I believe if we pay attention God shows us his love everyday.
Emily has said she wanted to be married in the Brigham City temple since she was a kid.  We all said good luck with that because there isn't one.  Well, right back at us, because now there is.
Ana was sick, puking, the night before the wedding.  My dad was dealing with a nasty cold.  They both received a priesthood blessing and Ana was fine and my dad was much better.
Emily wanted snow for her wedding.  The scenery was looking a little dreary and blah with no snow.  The night before her wedding it snowed.  The perfect snow.  1-2" delicately covering everything in a blanket of white with little sparkles in the sun and melted off the streets.  Heavenly Father loves her. :-) 
I'm sad I didn't take more pictures of it!  I only have one and then I stole all the rest from my sister Melissa's blog. 

A Nativity scene outside the Brigham City Utah Temple

Joel and Emily Manwaring

Of course the obligatory kissing photo (my parents on the right, Joel's on the left)

 Funny story- the photographer said to kiss so of course Emily and Joel kiss, then my parents notice they are also expected a kiss, but Joel's parents just stood there smiling.  My parents stopped kissing because it had been long enough to get a photo for sure just as Joel's parents realized they were supposed to kiss so then my parents do the "what? again?" expression and then kiss so they look a little "oh brother" in the picture...hee hee hee.  They are not into public displays of affection.

Joel, Emily, my Grandma Day (Mom's mom) and my Grandma Sharp (Dad's mom)

Emily and Henry

a clip in Emily's hair her friend made for her

the guestbook made by Michael and Lili

letting off a lantern after the wedding reception

Oh, I almost forgot- the ceremony was beautiful and the officiator shared a beautiful poem that I want to share here so I know where to find it often:

If I Could Go to Galilee

by Carma Salveson

If I could go to Galilee and walk where Jesus walked,

And sit in tender grasses on the hillside where He taught,

If I could feel the gentle breeze as it lifted from the sea

Where He chose the humble fishermen, how full my heart would be.

If I could sit and ponder on a rock that knew His hand,

Or walk along the seashore, where His feet had touched the sand,

My spirit yearns within me, but it doesn’t seem my fate,

I’ll never walk where Jesus walked. I’ll never see –But wait!

I’ve worshiped in His temple, where I know He’s walked before,

Have His feet turned down this hallway? Have His fingers touched this door?

Has he stood here in this very room, and looked at what I see?

In the beauty of His temple, I can feel His love for me.

I close my eyes and picture Him - my worries melt away.

I don’t have to go to Galilee or travel far away.

My tender heart is filled with things He’d want me to be taught,

And my testimony burns within—I have walked where Jesus walked!

A Fantastic Friday

Friday we spent the day with my brother Michael, his wife Lili, and their friend Shannon, in Shannon and Lili's studio.  Which happens to be in the basement of an old church no longer in use- So cool!

Michael and Lili taught us how to make books (and Henry made fast friends with Shannon even letting her attempt to pull out his wiggly tooth- it wasn't quite ready). 

We picked out a paper color for our book covers, we picked out type, we sewed our paper together, we trimmed our papers,

 we watched Michael set the type and ink it,

 

 

                                     
we printed our covers,

 

 

 we glued our covers,

(Emily showed up too!  A nice surprise for us)

and...a finished product- beautiful!

 

 ate a quick lunch, changed our clothes, and headed over to my nephew Kaleb's baptism and confirmation. 
(the photo is a link to a video reenactment of the baptism of Jesus Christ)
The baptism was very nice.  My dad spoke about baptism and my brother, Michael, spoke about the Holy Ghost.  A friend of Kaleb's sang a solo (so sweet).  It was very nice and I'm glad we were able to be there.  After the baptism we had dinner and a birthday celebration for Kaleb since not only was it his baptism, but his birthday too!    It looks like William got a hold of my camera and took a number of blurry shots.  Here's the party from an 8 year old's perspective.

Kaleb made his mom (my sister Melissa) a lego barette

Melissa

Uncle Ben

Riley and Uncle Jeremy with Kurtis and Kaleb and Zachary wrestling on the couch in the background

Uncle Jeremy again

Ana, me, Emily

Brian

Michael and Lili

A Terriffic Thursday

Thursday Ana and Isaac were able to perform baptisms for the dead at the Brigham City Utah temple for some ancestors.  Then Brian and I were able to do initiatories for some of them.  I loved seeing the new temple.  It has so many beautiful paintings and details in the architecture and decorating.  Some people wonder why our temples are so secret, but they aren't- most of what is in the temple is also in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and there are many resources explaining what we do in the temple (like in the video and links below).  I will be honest that I don't share everything I know with everyone I meet.  Our temples are sacred and when I feel like I am being asked questions by someone with a closed heart rather than an open one I am less likely to share.  That is something we can all relate to.  If you treasure something and you know someone just wants to make fun of you or tell you why it's worthless you don't share it or waste time fighting about why it's important.
Here is a beautiful video explaining Mormon temples.  It's about 15 minutes long but well worth the watch.

 If you prefer to read something at your own pace here's a link about the reasons for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint temples.
And here is a link (I couldn't find the "embed" button) to probably my favorite "temple" video.  I love the music and illustration (and it's only about 2 minutes).
After the temple visit we were able to spend more time with Brian's dad.  He took us to Peach City for ice cream,

 

 

 then bowling,

 

 

  then to Mantua Reservoir. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After our fun afternoon we returned to my parent's house for a little birthday party for my Grandma Sharp who turned 84.  Brian offered to get her a tattoo for her birthday and gave her a business card for a tattoo artist he got from a small sock store in town.  She said she usually accepts all gifts graciously, but this would be one she would have to turn down. ;-)  She also said she has thought about getting one across her chest that says, "Do not Resuscitate."  My grandma is so funny.  I think my dad gets his sense of humor from her.  What she said struck me as something my dad might say. 
More fun things from our visit- Henry slept in my sister Emily's old room and said, "I think whoever had this room really likes Winnie the Pooh"- she has a very large stuffed animal of each of the characters except Owl.  William pointed out to me that my parents have one of those haunted portraits that stare at you no matter where you are in the room- it's a drawing of me as a baby that I drew in high school and was unintentional, but creeps out my boys.  Ha ha ha!  I should bring that one home and put a sign by it that says "I'm watching you..."

me, my grandma (dad's mom), my dad, Henry, Ana, William, & Isaac

Brian's dad Glenn, Ana, Isaac, Henry, Brian, William

Everyone needs a family sofa picture right?