One amazing month - THE WEDDING

A highlight of those special memories made and cherished by the Jones family during the summer of 2011 - 










July 29, 2011

I drive away from my house with a PACKED trailer of furniture for Audra and Michael.  I am SCARED!  I am driving all day by myself.  I have no trailer experience.  By the time I drive off of the ferry, I'm shaking.

So, aside from the fear....it went amazingly easy.  I'm here to tell ya, prayers work!

July 30, 2011

Arrived much later last night than I wanted.  Got the trailer unpacked and headed to the hotel.  Wow, what a dump.  It use to be such a nice hotel.  Oh well, lots to do with Audra, so we didn't hang there too much.

July 31, 2011

Sunday - went to Church.  Loudest Sacrament meeting I've ever attended.  Babies e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!!!!  Then we headed down to Salt Lake.  Had to stop three times so that Michael could rewrap the tarp.  Once we got to town we went down to have dinner at Jon and Carrie Marrotts.  Met the whole family.  Delicious dinner, great evening.  I didn't embarrass Audra.  It went well!

August 1, 2011

Went to drop "The Dress" off at the dry cleaners.  Oh my goodness - I made Audra stay in the car - and good thing I did.  The neckline was unraveling.  FREEEEEEAAAK!  But the ladies behind the counter assured me that they would get it fixed and beautiful by Thursday.

Then it was time to get the wedding license.  Next, Michael (Marrott - not Jones, I know, it's confusing) needed to get a suit.

....and lunch with my dear friend, Janet Hancock 







August 2, 2011

Shower for Audra back at the Marrotts.  FUN!  Lots and lots of errands.  Got to do some genealogy with Rebecca Helms - a distant relative from my Grandpa Walter Dale's side.

August 3, 2011

Family showed up.  Veronica and the family headed straight down to Mike and Havi's.  Ron, Audra and I went out to dinner with the Archers.

August 4, 2011

What a special day...special...special.  We went to the Salt Lake Temple for Audra's endowments.  The Marrotts met us there.  It was beautiful.  Then we went to a sealing room and had Ron's parents, my grandfather Underwood and his 3 wives and a number of other family members sealed.  We alllllllllllll cried.  It was such a great day.  Finished off with lunch at the Blue Lemon.  Delish!!!!

 

Then it was down to Alpine/Highland for the Bachelorette Party at the rented studio.  Lots of food and fun, pedicures and getting Audra ready for the big day.  We actually even got some sleep.






August 5, 2011

Michael Marrott came to get his bride at 8:30 a.m.  It was sooooo sweet.  So, there I was, stalker Mom...following the little couple to the temple in the rental car....lol.  Then it was Audra and I in the Bride's Room.  How I wish I could have taken some pictures, but sacred is sacred and this was truly a sacred time - but here's a fuzzy pic of it from a church publication.

It really doesn't do it justice - such a beautiful room!

Also, I really wish we could have invited Melanie in to share the time with us, but with 13 brides coming through just that morning, they were being very, very strict.  How I missed having her there to share in the tender moments.  Most of all, however, I was grateful to be the one preparing my precious little girl for her long dreamed of moment.

The look on Michael Marrott's face when Audra came out of the studio in her beautiful red dress was precious.  But the look on his face when she came out of the Bride's Room in her wedding dress - laaaaaaaaaaa (cue angels).  I'll remember that for the rest of my life.  Proof positive.  He loves her!  That's all I need to know.

The sealing was beautiful, but I actually had almost no view since I was behind Audra.  Thank goodness for the mirrors.  Actually, it was better that way.  Otherwise, I would have been balling like a baby.  Now Michael (Jones)....he is the one who cried like a baby.  That was sweet and endearing. 





Then it was BACK to the Bride's Room to get her ready for going outside and taking official wedding pics.  It was harried, but not too bad.  And the subsequent pics are beautiful.  Good job Megan!

BACK into the Bride's Room.  It took the longest time getting her OUT of the get up.  Phew!

Then a fabulous luncheon at Thanksgiving Point.  Okay, got a little lost, but it was all good.


Then we were off to work on the reception - and to get Audra back INTO the dress - with the hair and the shoes.  Yummy crepes, great company and it was a wonderful, wonderful day.






August 6, 2011

Packed the trailer and truck back up and sent Ron, Veronica and the girls off.  Then Ruth Ellen, James Ronald and I were off on the airplane.  Grabbed Amber in the airport once we landed and headed home (via the Bainbridge Ferry)

Ron and Veronica spent the nite in southeastern Washington.  They had an incredible experience.  Veronica was driving.  They were going through Boise.  Roni just happened to look in her rearview mirrow to see rubber flying everywhere.  The driver's side tire on the trailer blew apart.  Over to the side of the road she immediately went.  There was literally nothing left but wire and a small black circle.  They were sitting on the side of the road trying to figure out how to get the tire changed without the proper tools.  Ron was just about to head out when a man pulled over with just what they needed.  Roni said that she looked up to see - the spire of the Boise Temple.  God is good - yes indeed.

August 7, 2011

Church with Ruth and James went surprisingly well.  Ron and clan showed up in reasonable time.  Had a little hot tub time with the kiddos.   Nice, easy day.

August 8, 2011

Shop, clean, prepare, babysit, work, work, work!



August 9, 2011

Borrowed a van and picked up Mike, Havi, Gareth, Ronan, and the happy little couple.  Back to the house.  Ron went later to get Trina and Samuel.  Pretty much everyone is here now.

August 10, 2011

Shop, clean, prepare, babysit, work, work, work!  Fun side trip to SARC for a swimming party with the grandbabies.  Josh flew in sooooo late it was early (lol).

August 11, 2011

Family picture day.  Good job, Carmen (see www.clixphotography-carmen.blogspot.com)
And Mike (Jones) and family barbequed.  Fun - fattening - fabulous!

August 12, 2011

Reception - probably about 60 people came.  It was lovely.  Really, really lovely.

August 13, 2011

What did we do today?  I can't even remember.  Recover, mostly.  Zzzzzzzz




..Ron, Trina and Michael (Marrott) went crabbing....and we ate like piggies.





August 14, 2011


A wonderful day at Church with my whole family.  I cried (Ronan did too, but me thinks for a different reason).  Seriously, the children did wonderfully.


Then, the most spectacular, beautious evening at our granddaughter Harley's baptism.  Love, love, LOVED it!

Little note - this is the same dress her momma, her auntie and her sister wore.  Ah, family traditions.




August 15, 2011

Everyone but the Jones clan left today.  The night before there were tears and moping - but honestly, the 24 hour flu was hitting most everyone swiftly and I think....it was feeling like time to go to most of em.







We had a marvelous time - everything I had ever hoped for.  But all things come to an end - and so must our long dreamt of family reunion.  In the end, my world may be my children, but my life belongs to two people, my true love and my Lord.  I am a blessed woman.

I HATE the stock market

Whats the difference between the stock market and Las Vegas Casinos?

Don't ask me!  Feels like gambling my life away with both options.  Don't appreciate this system where we are left to the mercy of "financial experts" telling us what we need to do when, why and how while my money keeps disappearing.  I've even worked for a really nice adviser - REALLY nice .... but I never could figure out how this all works.  I'm actually suspicious that the truth is that it doesn't work, and we poor shmucks are getting victimized through our willingness to ride a sinking ship to the bitter end.  I wonder if they keep it confusing on purpose.  I don't like investing in things I can't understand.  I would go with the money under the mattress if I could convince Ron.

And I'd run away to Uraguay.  I really would.

Re: Old adage about whether the operator is smarter than the equipment....

So I dropped my laptop in California.

Yeah, I know.  Don't even say it.

So Tech Support over at the office said, hmmmmmmmmmm, you might want to get this looked at while it's still under warranty.  The problem was, I was out of state.  I decided, since it seemed to be functioning (most of the time), that I would need to wait until I got home.

Problem is, once I got home, I got busy (alright....lazy).

Yesterday morning, in the middle of sending out some e-mails, the darned thing just stopped finding the Internet.  Dang it!

So, after a few attempts by my son to see if he could figure it out (which obviously won't work if he's long distance which requires some Internet connection - duh) I got Technical Service on-line.

Two hours later, the computer checks out as working great.  I'm exasperated (mingled with relieved), so I decide to take a break and feed the fishies.

Funny, the pump is not running and the lights are not on the fish tank.

Oh, wait......

That's when I figure it out.  The power's off.

No power......no Internet.

Conclusion:  I am NOT smarter than a computer.

Or probably a pineapple for that matter.

Geesh......

What is the Power of Prayer?

I have a family that I love very, very much.  They are good people.  Life has been so difficult for them.  But they're still so wonderful and they deserve big BIG blessings.

What can I do besides love and pray for them and hold them tightly to my heart?

What is the power of my prayer?  And can that power be added onto?

I hope to find out.  I thought about it and decided to take further action by having their names put on five prayer rolls - one in Salt Lake City, one in Mt. Timpanogas, one in Snowflake, AZ, one in Logan, UT and one in Lubbock, TX.

Maybe if they close their eyes and stand still from time to time, they will feel strengthened from the many prayers united in their behalf.

In an article from the Ensign last month was the following assurances:

Handling Grief

• We are not left alone in our grief because Jesus Christ - "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3) - has borne our sorrows as part of the Atonement.
• We can strive to resist the temptation to ask, "Why?"  Instead, we can ask for the Lord's guidance.
• We can accept the challenge to surrender our will to our Heavenly Father.

It is difficult at times to accept that bad times are strictly for refinement purposes.  I believe that sometimes bad things happen because of natural consequences to daily choices - and not necessarily OUR choices.  At other times, they happen because it is the natural results of our surroundings.  But the scriptures tell us over and over that we can grow under extraordinary circumstances.

"Behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him" (Mosiah 29:20)

Sometimes the scariest thing to do is to just 'try'.  Try to change.  Try to understand.  Try to maintain faith.  Yet it is that act of enduring to the end that the Lord requires from us.  That and the faith of a child in the process.

I have faith.  Sometimes I have to really challenge those faith muscles by lifting something REALLY HEAVY but I know that it is not Heavenly Father who fails us.  He loves us as much whether we're rich or poor, healthy or weak.

Post Script:  Ron and I watched an amazing movie last night called "Joshua."  I highly recommend it.  Ron would too, but he gets emotional talking about it.  Okay, you'll have to endure the first half, which is nothing short of smaltzy.  But after that.....it's an emotional and personal journey. It really brings the purpose of the journey back to the basics - that God loves all of us and wants us to find happiness.

Can I have a little WHINE with my breakfast, please?

What is it about summer that brings out the crankiness in people?  I read that the heat can do that to ya, but then again, I've read that about full moons, long winters and Diet Coke.  So there you go.  It's all working against us.

So the conversation with my husband this morning went like this:

Me:  There's this guy at the gym that's really getting on my nerves!  He is always leaving as I'm arriving.  Three years of the same old joke.  "I'm sorry Ma'dam, you're too late.  It's all over."  I'm done politely laughing.  I can't take it anymore!  

Ron:  So have you told him that?  Have you said "Look, you've told me that joke everyday for 3 years?

Me:  No, that seems confrontational.  I don't do confrontational.  I'm really uncomfortable with that.  I'll tell you what I'm doing.  I'm leaving 5 minutes earlier.  That way, I get there before he's going out the door.

Ron:  (Smirk)  GEEESSSSHHHH!   You mean to tell me that you would actually disrupt your schedule before you'd say something to the guy?

Me:  He's old.  I've been told he has dementia.  He's not going to remember, and I'd just feel mean saying it.  I'm not COMFORTABLE with that.

Ron:  So you're telling me that you can't just tell him that you don't want to hear the joke anymore?  You are unwilling to talk to him about it?  DOES THAT REALLY MAKE ANY SENSE TO  YOU?

Me:  I told you, I'm UNCOMFORTABLE doing that.  I can't be confrontational.  I'm not able to do that!

Ron:  So what you saying to me is that you would rather be miserable than just talk to the guy?

Me:  SPLOOOOKKKKKKSSSSSHHHH!  (That's my head blowing up)

So - here you are.  My example of a normal conversation between the man with no fear and the woman who is afraid of everything.  I'm talking about what I'm F-E-E-L-I-N-G ....he's trying to fix me.

Did I say I wanted to be fixed?  Did I say I want to be mean?  Did I SAY I wanted to be judged and laughed at?

Why no.  No, I did not.

Now, in the interest of fair play, I am going to post my husband's view of male/female conversations.

Okay, fine.  He MAY have a point.

Back on the subject of journals

I just finished a one year journal.  I wrote in it almost every Sunday.  What a year to pick!  so much has happened.  It's been a long, lovely, hard, frustrating, emotional, grief stricken and joyous year.

But I suppose every year has its moments!

I had to decide whether I was going to go for Year Two!  I decided that I would spare my lil' family from a mushy mommy overload.

Still, there's some really important things coming up...a wedding, two receptions, a family reunion, a dream vacation and a new beautiful grandbaby.  So...what to do, what to do?

I KNOW!  I'll blog about it.  More fun anyway - because then I can show pictures.

So, here's my first pic

This is my craft room.  I've been trying to get it in order in preparation for the g'babie's visit.  Hoping to be using it to work on crafts and fun stuff while they're here.

I'm having a hard time relaxing lately, because I'm sooooooo excited about having my family together.  I want to hug everyone twenty times over.  I want to make sure that they all get so much love that they can carry it back home with them and that it will lasts for a long, longggggggg time.  I want to bask in the warmth of it all.

Probably there will be a mix of all that with a few lil' quarrels and stuff - because we ARE, after all, family.  But I am looking forward to a most beautious time!

GRAND BABIES ARE THE BEST (2004 edition - lol)

Summertime....and the weather is, cold?

More water than we've ever had before.  The ponds look lovely.  The flowers are spectacular.  The vegetable garden?  Eh, not so good.  All in all, looking forward to Summer actually fulfilling the hopes of warmth and sunshine.