Quick little update:

So much has happened ... where should I start first? My oldest son, Justen, got married to Ravyn Martyn-Dow on December 19th, 2009. They have been engaged for almost 2 years so it wasn't a huge surprise but the planning of the wedding seemed to be fast a furious! lol Ravyn's mom, Jaqui, did an excellent job of putting things together. I was included in the plans and we used everything that I had purchased 1 1/2 years ago when the "kids" were first going to get married. After reviewing their financial situation 1 1/2 yrs ago they decided to postpone the wedding. Jaqui provided some beautiful decorations and the cake was beautiful and delicious. It was a very nice ceremony performed by Bishop Gibson and the reception followed right afterward.

Jessica was able to attend her brother's wedding and was even a bride's maid. Brandon and Austin were groomsman and did an awesome job.

I don't have many photos but here are a few from my father-in-law's camera:

Here's the happy couple:

awwww... how sweet!

We are a goofy family! hehe... Justen and Ravyn wanted a silly photo and they got it!

Here's the Taylor and Jensen grandparents with the couple. (Taylor on the left - Jensen on the right)

I can't wait to see the photos from the photographer. I'm sure they will be great!

I knew Jessica wouldn't have the energy to last the whole evening so I had her favorite nurse, Renee, help get Jess ready, come to the wedding with us and when Jess got tired, Karl took them both home and then came back to the reception. I was able to just be the mother of the groom and enjoy my evening. I danced with my husband, all 3 of my sons and all 3 of my brothers... 2 of which had come from out of state to attend the wedding. The evening was wonderful. Two of my friends, Janice and Reesa, came and helped in the kitchen. We couldn't have done it without them too! We are so blessed that Jessica was able to be there and enjoy herself. We never would have believed that she would survive long enough to see her brother get married back when she was in a coma and hemorrhaging when she was 3 years old. What a miracle she is!

The Start of Something New

Ahhhhhhh, to be young and in love.... remember how it felt to first fall in love and everything is new? I remember being young and falling in love with a special young man. This young man didn't have a job, he had come home from his mission early because he was very sick and he wasn't sure what he wanted to be when he grew up. But I saw beyond that. Waaaaay beyond that. ;) We prayed about getting married and our answer came back a resounding YES! So we did.




We did what we needed to do to secure jobs for both of us and we started our lives out together. We lived on love, hope and faith.... because heaven knows we had no money! hehehe... and here we are today... almost 23 years later... older, wiser, (heavier) and more in love now than way back then.



We have been through sooooo much over the years... having our first child when we had been married barely 10 months didn't help us financially or emotionally, but there he was. He was our sweetie. Our sweetie who is about to turn us into IN-LAWS! That's right. This post isn't about Karl and me, but about Justen and the love of his life, Ravyn. We found out today that they are engaged and planning a wedding in August.



So there's a picture of what it's like to be young and in love - and about to begin a whole new life together. I wish them well. I wish them peace. I wish I had a genie to pay for the wedding! hehe... but seriously, Ravyn is a sweetheart and I've never seen my son happier. (By the way, he has had a hair cut since that picture.) I'll have to get another picture of them soon.

I thought of Lady and the Tramp when I was thinking about what to write tonight. I love that scene when they are sharing the spaghetti... anyway, here is a little video that I found and it reminds me of Justen and Ravyn: The Start of Something New: Staring Lady and the Tramp