Mr and Mrs Ryan and Katie Hillary

Ever have a moment when the world just stops and you are fully aware that a sweet miracle has just happened?  This is how I felt as I watched my son marry his beautiful bride.  He waited his whole life for her, she recognized how sweet his soul was, together they light up a room.  Katie looked so beautiful that day - and her smile was from ear to ear.  Ryan kept putting his hand on his heart to see if it was still beating he was so happy.  You spend a lifetime teaching them about how this day could be.  How when you keep yourselves according to the Lord's plan in life, he can pour out the blessings of heaven on you.  There was no rain on this beautiful day, but the skys were pouring.  It was such an honor to witness this, and to be with Bill and Dianne Lowrey, Katie's parents.  The emotions in the room were so tender, and I am fully unable to even begin to explain the electricity in the room.  There that dad were all of the people we loved dearly, inside and outside of the temple, our families gathered to support these two.  I loved seeing my son so happy, so prepared, following all that the Lord had asked him to do.  I loved seeing Katie, and her trust in him as they start this journey together.  Forever I will remember this day.  Always I will treasure having another beautiful daughter in law.  The perfect day had just started, and we were already in tears.

More pictures to come as soon as the photographer releases the pictures!!

 



The long and winding road - thank you Beatles

There is so much to catch up on - so many pictures, and moments and memories.  I am overwhelmed.  I have so many things I want to post about the past month but I feel that I will not be able to fit it all in.  I want to tell the world of the fun, amazing things - but I have had to make a choice and post fewer pictures, a bit of a story here and there and keep somethings to my private world.  I wondered how to start all of this.  Julie Andrews said, "Let's start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start".  But as Del is currently into his man flick Gladiator... I keep hearing... "I will die, but not today"   So between Russel Crow and Julie Andrew's I've decided to a) Start and b) not today (on everything).  Next to me on the desk is a Picture CD full of over 300 pictures.  My ADD attention span with a 0 on the scale of 0 - 10 (10 being fully rested) adds up to some pretty crazy brain waves.  So as I start this simple, cutback version, with pictures and bigger stories to come, I decided to start my blogging rampage with Gratitude... wha?  really?  yep - because there is no finer thing in life to have than the recognition of the full on Hand of the Lord in ALL things that had to happen, needed to happen, and did happen.  So I think if I start here - you'll get a sense of the miracle of the month of August in my eyes.

 

Internships, driving the car back and forth to California again and again and again, Katie finishing Spring Semester, e-mails with cute Dianne late at night over plans, finding a place to feed 45 tired, hungry people in a place we've never been, loading up the car, reloading up the truck, driving, and driving... oh look the Salt Flats!, Wendover, Elko (look the same to me), GPS system, (remember to have the man talk next time and not the woman), Finding diesel... almost like finding Nemo, finding the hotel, finding ice at the hotel, sleeeeeping, meeting The Lowrey Family (and instantly loving the entire bunch of them), having Katie's puppy lick my legs?, watching 100 lbs of Tri Tip Steaks being cooked on an outside grill, having tacos with Ryan at his last supper, making Ryan stay with us the night before the wedding and having that last moment of telling him how proud we were of him, and how we loved him so much, and loved Katie, the drive to the temple and not swearing at the traffic (big deal here folks), arriving to see everyone all festive, and happy and there alive, seeing Katie and Ryan walking into the temple with her wedding dress held high, meeting Elizabeth (: for the first time (:, Seeing my brother, 2 nieces and my 83 year old Mother arrive, and cry over that a lot, seeing California family that traveled to be there, walking into the temple as a family, walking in with Ashley..., walking into a room where my entire family sat for the first time on this earth, in a sealing room at our last wedding of the 4, being in that room with my husband, watching the tears from a sweet father of a beautiful bride, and the mother of the bride holding her breath, seeing them walk in hand in hand, seeing Ryan see Elizabeth, watching them kneel at the alter, listening to the make promises for eternity, witnessing the kiss (or two), greeting Mr and Mrs Hillary outside the temple, realizing the magnitude of the Oakland Temple and the views, and the beauty of the grounds, laughing through pictures, and realizing that everyone was hungry and we had the answer, eating at the most perfect place ever, enjoying a cool, elegant place to celebrate with our loved ones, resting, hugging the chef that made it so special, thanking the miracle of being able to host such an event, recognizing the blessings of faith, heading off to a magnificent reception, enjoying meeting the Best of the Best of Morgan Hill folks, and loving that their hearts are so kind and generous, hearing the stories of the Lowry Family, realizing yet again that Katie is a gift to our family, looking over at my son and seeing a smile that I've waited years to see and there it was - big as life, watching a first dance, a father's good bye, a hug from a mother, and a car decorated.... Just Married....   Gratitude... it comes in many many ways in my life, this is only part of the blessings poured down from heaven for our family.... as always I must tell my Heavenly Father that I know he blessed this occasion, there is no other explanation, no man made way it could have happened.  I know you love me.

 



 





The Quilting Bee - hey - don't give me any issues here - we have skills!

So... growing up - I was raised under the quilts being quilted by my Aunties on my Mom's side of the family.  They were maniac quilters.  We would have every toy there was under that quilt and we loved every second of it.  It's not uncommon to tie up a quilt in our family - each of my children have a quilt tied for them when they get married and since Katie and Ryan have decided to tie the knot - and the kids were all in town... why not knot?   We set it up under the big tree in the back yard and the laughter began.  Every single knot Mandy tied had to be undone, and redone.  Ashley and Bethany helped and the kids played in the pool and ran, yes, under the quilt in giggles and moving heads visible from the top.  Mike even helped - and that meant the world to me.  Someone forgot to tell him that you actually have to tie the yard into a knot.  He can carry weapons of war - but hand him a needle and we're talking hysterical.  Never the less - the pictures tell the stories of the day, and the end result was a work of art (choke) and love (lovely words of quilting), and a few blood stains.

Behold... the Quilting Bee....

lucky us.... we are tied together through it all.

(Knot really - we're all kinda just tangled)



In Utah We Say "Prade"....

There's just no getting around it - I need to post July in a hurry - because the order of documentation is vital.... and other stuff.  So I enjoyed the miracle of 3 grandchildren and the joy that they bring into my every single moment of life.  We started out the day celebrating at the Provo Freedom Festival Prade....  The stars of the day were as follows:

Sharkman - because every prade needs a shark

The 'Not shy around cameras' kid

and an extremely beautiful.... buggins

So - you see - we had all the ingredients for a spectacular 'prade' experience.  Not to mention the family... parental units and aunts and uncles in plentiful amounts.

Mikowel and Lee Lee

Ryan .... and his love....

'Baking with Blonde' and stranger behind her.  (creeeepy)

and some cute little Apples from Washington.

I was there - and here is proof...

the middle legs are mine!

Our favorite part of the 'prade'....

was no doubt

NIE NIE!!!  The Grand Marshal!

(such a freaking fan I can't stand it...

Ryan M. asked us if we actually wanted to run

out and touch the hem of her dress...)

(duh - of course we wanted to)

Here is my Blurrrrry picture ):

big huge fan - we screamed out her name and

told her we loved her - she waved extra hard,

so did Mr Neilson.... and her kids squirted us.

There were a few of these.....

oh and this guy came....

gotta have the gov there eh?

We lied and said we voted for him.

we think he has a funny name....

Over all - the morning was wonderful - we gathered on Mandy's front lawn right on center street.  They had roped off the area and no one could get on it it until 5 am - but Mandy and Ryan staked off their own property, and bazinga - best seats in the house!  Thanks guys!

But the winner of the first Prade is.....

Sharkface Mandy

So.. that was the morning Prade... then we rested and headed to the Sandy Celebration

for yes.... another Prade - this one is by far the lamest prade ever - it's full of trucks, and extremely stupid advertisement places, several floats we'd seen earlier in the day when the wavers were not so wilted, flyers, more flyers, more roller skaters, flyers.... and politicians, and flyers.  The best part though..... freakin candy throwing.  I got a cavity just catching it.

Partae on familia...

we really liked the couple behind us in the chairs - whom ever you are.... you are now family.  No matter what your rap sheet says at the police department.

off to the food - nuff prades

Kabobs....always  better cooked off the back of a

big old truck... and the fixin's along with them!

sparklers... and smiles

sleepy little party boys....

and the picture for Matt to rotate for me....

and FIREWORKS OH MY!

eat your heart out sharkface.... we had a great day.

There's gonna be a weddin'

Because Wedding Weeks make me a tad on the

psycho side of life.... I will post the poem that my

children had to see everyday and return to

post July and August and Weddings OH MY!

(hey kids... I love you)

Good Roots

Help me to give my children good roots God.

As I work with my plants I see that

the sturdiest, and those which bear most freely,

are those whose roots go deep, gripping rich soil;

they have a base from which they

and grow tall and beautiful and sound.

Let this household furnish that

kind of soil for my family, God.

Enriched with good music, good books

good talk, good taste,

But above all, goodness of action.

So that those who come here feel welcome,

and those who leave here feel warm.

And those who live here know,

in every fiber of their beings,

that they belong to people who,

for all of our faults, are good people.

People of decency and honor, who would

not willingly hurt or cheat any living thing.

Let my children grow freely, God,

In whatever direction their nature directs.

But give them root strength, too.

So that they will never deviate

too far from their own beginnings.

Help me to give my children good roots. 

Last night as my little boy... (sappy, and snot filled post)

I've missed an entire month of blogs - blogs that are inside my heart waiting to be posted - pictures that tell the stories of love from my family.  But tonight I just want to post a quick thought.  I went upstairs to my son's room and looked at him sleeping.  Like so many many millions of times before.  I looked at his eyelashes weighing down on his cheeks.  He's all curled up in a ball, all 6'2" of him.  His hair is still soft and of course cut perfectly.  I can hear his breathing - his lungs allowing those breaths of air that he struggles with.  Oh how I love this kid.  But, his heart that once beat for his mom - now beats for Katie.  Tomorrow he's headed down to marry his bride in the next week, his sweetheart, the one that matters more in this world to him than anything.  His car is packed, chocolate milk in the fridge, cookies in a zip lock, pocket change for gas for his trip.  He's become that which I knew he would become.  His soul is good, and true, and centered on the right things in life.  He's honored his Priesthood, he's served the Lord, he loves the Temple.  Seriously, what more could I ask as a mom? The next time I see him, will be the day before his wedding.  A celebration of the beginning of a new Mrs. Hillary!  For now, each text and phone call from Katie makes him smile, and his step is lighter.  I know he is truly in love.  His goals are playing out just as he's worked for and dreamed of.  He will be a good husband, a kind one, a loyal one.  On those tough days when top ramen is the meal of the day, he'll make sure that it's served on a special plate, and that there's a flower on the table.  Times will be difficult, and challenging with school and work - but wow - when I see that beautiful young lady he'll be married to, I know that the sky is the limit with their abilities.  It's time that they start their own world, and as a parent, I know the struggles and joys of that journey, but isn't that what you spend a lifetime teaching them about?  How grateful I am that we were able to spend a few weeks with him - before he becomes Mr. to the Mrs. of his dreams.  Lucky for me - I have had a wonderful life with Ryan, and I know that it will just get better and better with Katie in that life too.  Up at 4 am to make scrambled eggs and toast and send him on his way.  I wish I could stop my eyes from leaking... must be because I have known and have felt the great love you can have for your children, and how your heart aches to let them go, but you do because what is out there, is all that you told them about when they were that little one in your arms.  Oh... and I reserve the right to tell you when you need to be better, nicer, apologize, and to pick up your socks... I love you always and forever.  Sweet dreams.

Who the heck is managing this blog? No one? Really?

It's been a bit o' time since the last blog. 

I'm gluing the pieces of time together

and trying hard to make it all make sense.

I picked up an extra plate because I had

too much on the jumbo one I was trying to use.

Life comes at you fast,

you need to be surrounded by

those you can love,

and trust,

and that can help you visualize joy.

To not let those broken dreams get you too down.

There are so many special things happening in the near future,

and some so very sad - but how lucky I feel to have

the opportunity to test my faith, to show my love,

and to breathe in and out every day.

Oh Crap.... and tomorrow's Monday

could someone break that Yanni CD that's playing

and give me some Stained....

Posting some Joy this week,

stepping over the sad.

(It's causing big dog jowls on my face)

(and when I do my yoga, it flaps in the wind)

(Em and Drew... I sent my heart home with you,

but I saved a bit for Jman)