An eternal family (multiplying)

I wish I could share all the wonderful things from being with my family, Nancy and Brent's sealing, and the whole trip. But I'm just going to write a few highlights, then share a lot of pictures. (And maybe I'll make a separate post about my creative contributions to the events.)

Fun connections to friends from the past. We all stayed at the home of a lovely family in Denver. The owners (Bro.&Sis. Wall) are friends of M&F, whom they met while serving a mission in Little Rock (they also know and love (I mean love) Benson. There's a sister in the Wall's ward who is from Panama; I made the connection that she is the mom of two of my good friends from the past. I've lost touch with them, but attended both of their wedding receptions (so had met the mom) and one of them (Jandel) was probably my closest friend during my last year of undergrad. Anyway, she came over and delighted my parents with stories of Panama.
On day 2, I got to go visit darling Alissa. One of my dearest friends ever from BYU (one of just a handful that I'm still in touch with). I also got to meet her Ezra, who is super cute! It was a short visit and the time flew, making it shorter still, but I'm grateful I got to see her.
(and, to throw it in there, I saw a Boston friend who is serving a mission right now. She was with some investigators at the temple while we were taking pictures!)

My family. We were all there. All original 10. Plus two sisters-in-law, one new brother-in-law, and W&L's 3 adorable children. Missing were R&S's two girls (:( I didn't know until about 2 hours before I picked them up from the airport that the girls weren't coming, so I was sad).  Anyway, first time we'd all been together in almost 5 years. First time I met Talmage. And first time we were all endowed and in the temple together. It was awesome!!   It was great because I managed to spend my intimate time (maybe not one-on-one, but not whole crowd) with almost all of them. Shopping trips, traveling to and from Wyoming, airport, etc. I'm glad for that. I love my family SO much! [And we're grown up, people. Did you know? Amazing. During lunch, I was sitting at a table talking to Sofia and Laura and I thought (out loud, of course)--I am like an adult. I have sisters-in-law to sit around and chat with. Because my life isn't much different than it was when I was 15 or 20, I forget that sometimes.]
And, blessing of blessings (literally--much prayed for, much worked for), we all got along wonderfully well. Despite the stress and crazy schedules and lack of sleep. There's no moment I wish could be erased.  I thought often throughout the trip, of how grateful I am for the Atonement and Christ's power to create strong families. In  part because He allows us to change, be better, forgive, forget, heal. In part because he teaches us correct principles that, if we follow, bring joy. In part because he gives us purpose and direction and a desire to be strong families. Yes, this was a highlight for me.

Extended family. A few Colorado Checketts were at the sealing and lunch. Then, I got to spend the weekend with U. Roswell, A. Kerry, Randy & fam., U. Thad, A. Lori and Eliza. (Plus Tara at the temple and lunch.) It was a lot of fun to visit with them, play with them, relax with them, learn from them, feel their love! Family is wonderful!!

The sealing. Sealing on Friday, pictures and lunch afterward, reception in Wyoming that night. Fun day. I realized the next morning that I could say with all honesty, that the actual sealing was definitely my favorite part of the day. That's not always true. I know it's always the most important. But it was truly my favorite. Part of that was because my whole family was there. But it was also truly wonderful. The doctrine taught by the sealer was just that, doctrine. And it was good. More temple teaching than any sealing I've before attended (and many others echoed the same). Then the sealing--they've prepared, they're worthy, the Spirit was there. It was good and right. They're a family unit now. :)

Okay, without further ado, here are a bunch of pictures.

The night before

Something we all realized--there are a LOT of big people in our family. How did we all become adults?

Morning of the wedding

The little boys :)

Not really planned, but fun coordination anyway. I stole the hat from Brent's aunt

It was hot! And honestly, all of us wanted to climb in the fountain

U. Roswell, A. Kerry, Tara

The original 10

My beloved brothers

Sisters

Benson and I started an unplanned dance at the end of the reception. And we were pretty proud of ourselves. It was super FUN! (And yes, there were a lot more people than just Lietta and McKay dancing, but perhaps none so exuberantly.)

Handsome Hyrum

I love all of this picture! Nancy and Father, of course. Whitney and his son. Laura in the kitchen--definitely the MVP of the reception production crew (though Nancy and Brent were close seconds with their very thorough preparation!)

Grandmother and the happiest baby I've ever met.

Can't wait for July 28, in Heber, when we get to celebrate some more!