Fall Fling

Glenn and I took a couple of hours and made a run out to fall fling. It had been raining through the night and morning until about 7am. Once it looked like it was going to let up we made a run out there to see if we could find any treasures that we still needed for the Fury. There weren’t as many vendors as usual probably because of the rain. I have to admit that most of it just looked like junk to me but I’m sure Glenn thinks the same when he walks through a craft fair with me. We found a few things that he needed for the car and it was nice spending a Saturday morning together. We don’t get to do that too often.

Redlands California Stake Temple Day

A piece of heaven on earth-

I love our temple. This is my favorite temple. Even though I grew up in the shadow of and got married in the Los Angeles Temple and it will always hold a special place in my heart, the Redlands temple is where both of my daughters have been married. Glenn’s parents work there every Wednesday and I love how every time I go I run into someone I know and love. It is hard to put into words but every time I go I feel like I’m going home.

Today was our Stake’s Day at the temple. What an amazing blessing it was to be able to participate. Usually we rush there from our busy days doing our best to leave the world behind then having to rush away as we are done. Today it felt like when you take a longer vacation. The first few days you're still wound kind of tight but then the more you are away and immersed in your surrounding the more you forget about work and can relax.

The first session I felt about the same as always. It was nice seeing more faces that I knew but otherwise not much difference. After the first session I had a little extra time to spend meditating before starting a second session. What a difference. Truly all the cares of the world were so far removed. My heart and mind were more in tune with the spirit. It was such an amazing experience. Even after all the times I have been though, because I was truly listening I learned what was to me a new truth. The longer I was in the House of the Lord the more I could truly feel what was going on.

As we exited that evening walking past the font where some of the youth were doing baptisms then walking out being thanked by our Amazing Stake President, President Hansen and his wife and then seeing many families that had brought their children, just to be on the Temple grounds. What a truly glorious day.

I tend to bear my written testimony in my personal journal and not out here on my everyday blog. Mainly because is it so dear to my heart. My testimony is not what I would consider an everyday thing to blog. But I want no one to be mistaken on what I believe. My testimony goes to the core of who I am. I Belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have a testimony of the restored gospel. I know that Joseph Smith went into that grove of trees and he saw God the Father and our Elder Brother and Savior Jesus Christ and through a 14 year old boy’s humble and sincere prayer the full and complete gospel along with the priesthood was restored to the earth. I know that Thomas Monson is the current Prophet of the Lord and I support him with every fiber of my being. I know that the atonement and the gift of repentance are the greatest gifs ever given. There is so much more I know and believe but this is the very foundation for the rest of my beliefs.

The Ring

I know to some this might seem silly but this was one of the harder things I have done in a while. Both cutting off my toe ring after 32 years and posting pictures of my ugly feet. Anyone who knows me knows I have a toe ring. I have worn one for over 33 years now. Long before they were the “in” thing to do. I have not had this toe ring off in well over 25 years. I have even had two foot surgeries where the doctor sterilized it along with my foot and then taped it down to ground it. He figured that it would be a good indicator of swelling. If the ring got too tight I needed to get my foot up. We tried to get it off (without cutting it) for one of the surgeries which ended up with my brother William and Sister Rose laughing so hard they couldn’t stand up any longer…but that a story for another day.

Today it is about “The Ring”. Glenn always teases me that it was a symbol of my rebellious side and I was finally growing up and letting it go. I swam competitive in my younger days and you could not wear jewelry during competitions. If you are found wearing jewelry on the starting block you’re disqualified but when you’re on the starting block your arms are down and the officials can’t really see a toe ring. Hence the beginning of me wearing a toe ring. I wore one for years. Took it off for CIF finals (just couldn’t risk that….rebellion goes only so far) but other than that it was a constant for me. I actually like it. Even with all my foot issues it never bothered me.

Well lately that has changed. My toe was staring to bother me. Over the years with my toe getting fatter and my joints getting older it just didn’t bend the same with the ring. I was having some issues and I knew sadly in my heart of hearts that “The Ring” had to come off. I waited to say anything hoping that I was wrong. Finally I mentioned to Glenn that I needed him to think about a way to cut my toe ring off (preferably with cutting my toe). I figured he would do like he often does and work it over in his mind for a few days and come up with a game plan and by then I would be ready. “I’ve got some metal snips that should work great to cut that off. Let me go grab them.” WHAT…now…gulp…fine. It was amazingly fast and I can say he made a clean cut, no blood. It was done. It was probably better this way as it didn't give me time tochange my mind.

I know the ring is not my identity, but a part of me wonders…will I feel different? Is what little I had left of my rebellious streak gone? Will anyone even notice? Was it the right thing to do? Am I finally a grown up or just an old lady? Only time will tell but for now the toe already seems to feel better. I think I can hear it softly saying…. “WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG!” (toes really don’t know how to talk softly you know)

Dan and Rebecca's Wedding

OK well first off I will admit that it took me a while to blog about their wedding. I figured anyone who reads this little blog was either there or already tired of me talking about it and posting about it since I did post pictures and a video out on facebook to share and had already done a post to my photography blog I wasn’t sure what else needed to be said. Since this is my “family” blog I thought it would be good to share some family stuff.

First off, we love Dan! He is a perfect match for Rebecca and from what his family tells me they feel the same about Rebecca. I feel like they have both found the person that will complete them and make them even better.

Without tearing up and getting to personal (save that stuff for my personal journal writings) what an amazing day! I can hardly describe the feelings as you sit in the beautiful sealing room of the temple and watch this beautiful worthy young couple make marriage convents that can last through the eternities surrounded on all sides by family and friends and witnessed by the angles in heaven.

Their wedding day was wonderful and Dan’s family was so supportive. It was a thought filled decision on were they would get married as there is lots of family and friends on both sides. Even though they were having an open house in Utah so many members of his family made the trip down to share his day here. Not only his sisters and their families, cousins and a bunch of wonderful Aunties but both of his Grandmothers. It was such a blessing to see that she was marring into such a wonderful and supportive family.

What a wonderful adventure the whole experience was. There were married here in California with a luncheon and a reception and then when they got back from their honeymoon they had a wonderful open house in Utah. There were the normal adventures (like the bride and groom getting ready to leave the temple and not having car keys, or being so excited about the happenings of the day missing their off-ramp and getting lost on the way to your luncheon) the normal stuff like that.

As they always seem too the day went by so fast. I’ve been so glad to have the pictures to go back and be reminded of all the wonderful people that came and the fun happenings as it all just goes by in a whirl. By far the best “Adventure” this year.

I think though if we were voting the biggest adventure of their wedding it would have to be the Utah reception. The Hanks had done all the planning and taken care of everything for the Utah open house. The have friends that they have known since they lived on the East Coast that now live in their ward in Utah that have an unbelievable yard that is just perfect for a wedding reception. The weather had been threatening all day. Thunder storms with these nasty wind cells. We set up tables and waited. Liz (Dan’s mom) also thought we better set up the tables and chairs at the church as a back up plan.

We watched the weather report all day. We had had little bursts but also some clearing. Caterers start setting up. Flowers and tablecloths set, less than an hour until start time, everyone is getting things set...then the drops start. Slow, big drops...will it stop? Finally a decision has to be made...move everything to the church. You have never seen such movement. Caterers packed and moving in record time, someone load the flowers, grab the table cloths, sign in table stuff, slide show equipment, etc., etc. You would not believe the speed of all those many helping hands. That whole reception was packed up moved down the street to the church and reset up in record time (about 50 minutes). I applauded Liz for trying so hard to hold out and wait on the weather. Rebecca had said she really would love an outdoor event but Mother Nature was not going to cooperate. Turns out that before the night was over a couple of large cells came through and the “decision on the field was confirmed”.

And of course what a wonderful adventure we had.