Tag: What I Believe

Is it Tomorrow Yet?

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Well, for all my good intentions, I didn’t get to post “tomorrow” as I had hoped! Last weekend we helped clean out grandma’s pantry and went to watch my boys play Dodgeball in Las Vegas. Their team (The Squirtle Squad) played with honor and heart, but lost to their friends in the semi-final game. However, their friends won the championship, which was almost as good!

My reason for being absent so long in May and June was this:

My beautiful oldest daughter was married to her sweetheart in the St. George Temple for Time & Eternity by her grandfather Derrill Larkin. What a marvelous event! It actually started a few weeks earlier when my husband and I flew out to Washington D.C. to go with her to the Temple for the first time and celebrate Zac’s graduation from Law School at American University:

And a few days after the wedding we held a spectacular reception at Wadley Farms in Lindon, Utah. I wish I had some photos to share of that, but we are still waiting for some from the photographer (my sweet Sister-in-Law Melanie Gardner took pics at the temple and Ken Pak from D.C. came to photograph the reception…both were A.MAZ.ING!!) But I do have one that I love from Ken…it’s my neice Libby as the newlyweds dance in the background:

Yep, pretty adorable.

So that’s 2 kids down, 2 to go! 

I’ll share a few reception pictures later as we get them, but just wanted you to know I had a good excuse for being missing: A wedding is A LOT of work and the recovery time was almost as brutal because it happened at the transition to a new Stampin’ Up! catalog!  I’ll be back to posting SU! stuff now. I have been keeping up on my Creative Juice Facebook page, so make sure to “like” it and choose to get updates! Thanks for stopping by.

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God Bless the U.S.A.

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In studying the Revolutionary War, I remember being deeply moved by a quote from Thomas Paine, who believed God had a hand in liberating America from the British, and penned these sentiments as he travelled alongside the Continental Army with George Washington for a time in 1776.

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem to lightly; It is dearness only that gives every thing it value. Heaven knows how to put a proper rice upon it’s goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.” 

These words, beginning with, “These are the times that try men’s souls…” were read to the army on December 23, 1775, three days before the Battle of Trenton in an attempt to inspire and bolster the souls of the rag tag band of soldiers. The battle was a turning point for “our team” and there is no doubt that God’s influence was there. 
I feel that these times also try men’s souls, but I am deeply patriotic and 100% convinced that God desired America to be free, but that freedom requires obedience to his laws. My prayer this Independence Day is that we understand that God will bless America, when we are true and faithful to irrevocable (and non-voteable) laws that He has set forth to protect and bless us. 
Card Recipe (all supplies from Stampin’ Up!)

Stamps: Chevron background stamp, Morning Post Alphabet

Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake

Paper: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake and Marina Mist card stock, Silver Glimmer paper

Accessories: Hearts Collection Framelits (125599) and Big Shot (113439), Cloudy Day embossing folder (Spring Catalog), Linen Thread,  Natural 7/16″ Trim, Postage Stamp Punch (122344), stampin’ sponges

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Here for You

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I believe God gives us experiences to uniquely prepare us to help others. I’ve been blessed to have a dear friend who is struggling right now and trusts me to be there when she needs me because our experiences have been very similar. It is a stewardship I am grateful for, and pray every day for guidance from my Heavenly Father that I may say the right thing to help lift and strengthen her. Today’s card is for her.

Serendipitously, I was able to tie it to two of my favorite challenges at Create with Connie & Mary and SU Only 🙂 Wish you could see the sparkles on some of the raindrops just a little better…

Card Recipe (all supplies from Stampin’ Up!):

  • Stamps: Million-Dollar Moments (Spring catalog)  
  • Ink: Island Indigo (stamp it off to make it lighter) 
  • Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Bashful Blue and vellum card stock, Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper (126922) 
  • Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch (119275), Designer Printed Brads (122940), 1/4″ White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126877), Dazzling Details (124117), Stampin’ Dimensionals 

One of my favorite quotes is from a modern day prophet, Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) who said, “God does watch over us and does notice us, 
but it usually through someone else that he meets our needs.”

May you find someone to serve who has been praying for you today!

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A Wonderful Wedding Weekend

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Really, it could NOT have been a lovelier weekend: My oldest son (Kayson) was married to a beautiful young lady (Whitney) in the St. George LDS Temple!

The best part of the weekend, I think, was that my father married them 🙂 Now I’m wishing I had taken a picture of my dad with them! What was I thinking? I’ll have to take one when they get home from their honeymoon. I am very grateful for the Sealing Ordinance that binds husband and wife together for eternity and for the peace and beauty found in the temple.

Angie Clayson took family photos outside in the GORGEOUS weather (one of the reasons they chose to be married in St. George) after the wedding and while this isn’t her photo (I’m sure it will be better than mine), I thought it was so cute:

Next, I have to give my wedding planners/sisters Mindi & Megan a.k.a. Frank (prounouced FRAHHNK) & Howard and my mom a HUGE thank you for the luncheon decorations and my brother-in-law Russ for the location. Mindi has an amazing talent for decorating (as does Megan, but she prefers to be the assistant while Mindi is directing) and I am grateful to be on the receiving end of their talents! They truly went above and beyond the call of duty to make it a lovely event on a SHOESTRING budget, unlike the Father of the Bride 2 clip in the above link 😀  I owe them tons of scrapbooking service. And FYI, I did put my Stampin’ Up! supplies and Big Shot to good use for some of the decor as you can see the silver glimmer paper monograms in the first photo 🙂
 

Isn’t it beautiful? The colors were Pool Party, White, Silver and Pewter. And can you see those cakes? My sister Megan made the white/strawberry one and the German Chocolate one, which guests RAVED was the best one they ever tasted. I want her to open a dessert cafe in southern Utah. She is that good.

Now why didn’t I take a picture with my sisters and mom?!!? Again, I’ll do that later and post it so you can see their beautiful faces.

Not to be left out, I must also thank my brother Ryan and SIL Alison, my in-laws Launa & Dixon, my best friend Kelli and my BIL Neal for running last minute errands, making/buying cakes, gathering canning jars, helping to clean up, serving and babysitting services! You all contributed to making it a perfect day!

After the ceremony, we just held a family luncheon (no formal reception was held) and here are the happily married couple cutting the wedding cake:

My heart is full from the beauty of the day and the service my family provided. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!