Lauren's Temple Wedding

Saturday September 1, 2012
Lauren has been planning this day for years.  She wanted to have her great grandmother's dress, Zorah Henrietta Horne Jeppson was married in the Salt Lake Temple June 7th 1929.  The roaring 20's, just before the great crash and depression.  Her beautiful bridal portrait has graced our home and has been a conversation piece since I was a little girl.  Lauren wanted that dress.   She put me in charge of finding a dress maker that could do the job.  I found a bunch of websites of wedding dress specialists and was shocked at some of them.  Not THAT great.     We decided on Nancy Barrus of   http://www.nancybarruscouture.com She was excited for the challenge of designing and sewing Zorah's dress.    Lauren had several fittings and had the perfect dress.  Now for the man.

Benjamin Philip Hardy was in some of Lauren's Psychology classes and they hit it off.  Both are returned missionaries and  MTC teachers.  We told her to not tell him of the dress for a while, it could be a deal breaker but not for Ben.

Lauen decided to buy table cloths instead of renting.  Our neighbor, Sherry Neiger put the table cloths in her steam setting dryer getting out the hard creases and I ironed most of them.  Gayle Jorgensen came and did the last half with me on a make shift ironing board.  We put a mattress cover on a rectangle table and it worked much better than the board.  Ben came and ironed for a bit a few days before the wedding.  We also had sashes for the chairs I ironed.  Ironing took about 8 hours for me plus Sherry's time.

Utah County Court House Family Dinner

Friday night we had a setting up party at the court house where we set 16 tables and 4 serving tables.  We forgot about a table for the DJ so he ended up using a sheet I brought.  The table cloths were champagne color (gold) and the sashes were light blue, pink and champagne.  We rolled the table cloths out up and put them in a sheet (used by DJ later).  Each chair had a sash on it and the tables were decorated with DI vases with embellishments Lauren made and Costco flowers.  The tables had place cards on them with photos of the guests of the table at their wedding or vintage photos or ones of Lauren and Ben. They were lovely.

Lauren had Ben had some photography taken by his aunt Jane before the wedding, to be used as some of the decorations. I (mom) wanted a formal bridal portrait to match the one of Zorah, but there seemed to be no time for that.  The day before the wedding we settled on doing it between the sealing and dinner but it didn't sit right with me so I arranged that morning (final plans 10AM)  for us to get the portrait taken at 11:30 before the festivities.  My sister Debbilyn Clark Day, Lauren's best friend Mirinda Pettit Call, Lauren and I drove to Spanish Fork running two errands on the way.  One to the Flower Patch to pick up the babys breath bouquet I decided to order the day before and we check them into the Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast in downtown Provo.

Our photographer Jessica Myrick, had us drive to her assistant's home.  Christina Curtis has a studio in her basement.  We took the Zorah photograph placing Lauren in the proper position and it ended up being a full bridal session!  I was pleased, this was my only request in having the Zorah dress, a formal portrait.

On the way home from the sitting, Debbilyn said this was the last lunch she would eat as a single woman so we quickly swung into Cafe Rio for a bite to eat.  Meanwhile the family was arriving at our home in Orem.  We had sandwich makings and fruit for them.

We had about a half hour to spare before Ben picked up Lauren to go to the temple.   We all got ready and Kay couldn't find his temple recommend!  I called the temple and found out what to do.  We needed to come early so they could figure it out.  We were there  about 35 minutes before the sealing, it is recommended we arrive 30 minutes early.  Kay sat in the foyer waiting for them to call President Wilkinson, his branch President.  The recommend was signed by former released bishop Wynn and needed renewing next month.  After 3 or 4 calls they got him and Kay was allowed to enter.

Meanwhile I went in and saw Janell and her companion, Sister Mullin.  Janell, at the request of Lauren, was able to attend the sealing.   The MTC mission President called her in to tell her she was approved and could go from 3PM to 4:45PM.  The sealing was at 3:30.  He said her cousin could not attend.

Ryan Day was at the MTC too, getting prepared to go to the Milan Italy mission.  His mom suggested he at least ask and apparently he did and had the MTC President, President Brown, call him in and had a good talk with him.

Janell, Sister Mullin, Mirinda and I went in to help her get ready, she was wearing her own temple clothing and insisted in the brides room she could do it herself.

In the largest sealing room at the Provo temple (75) we had a little over 50 there.  Ben's    Grandpa Rex Hardy sat in the mother of the groom seat.  The sealer was Brother Hullinger.  They were sealed and everything went great.

After the sealing she did need help getting into the silk dress and fitted hat veil.  I had put the bouquet into the refrigerator in the children's waiting room.  We had rain when we walked in and sun when we walked out.  Too much sun where we were squinting.  Janell was allowed to stay for pictures and we insisted her companion was in the pictures too because that is part of the story.

We drove there with Caleb but he had to run to the court house reception center to be our family Representative there so he took our car.  Caleb kept coming back and forth with keys and saying he was getting a ride with someone else and then not but Kay ended up with some keys to a car that wasn't even there so we called everyone but.... they had turned off their phones for temple use so we finally got a hold of Pete's daughter, our niece Kember who came back and picked us up.

Meanwhile Lauren went to the Hines Mansion to get ready, hair done for the reception followed by the photographer and Mirinda Pettit Call. 

We got home and quickly changed and remembered all of the sudden, the costco flowers.  I threw my dress into a bag and we high tailed it over there, got the flowers for the tables and went to the Provo court house.

When we got to the court house it was about 20 minutes to 7.  It seemed like all the men were looking out the front windows.  There was a Latino festival going on at the court house outside.  Lauren was warned about 3 weeks before the wedding about it but she insisted we should have it there in the vintage 1920's building.  At the bottom of the steps of the court house there was a real live boxing ring with fighting going on. Big huge tents and vendors and a concert venue graced the court house lawn. The steps were being used as bleachers for the boxing match.  Just as we arrived, the men inside reported they crowned a winner and they were dispersing.  Yea. We separated the flower bunches and mixed them and Rachael went around making them look pretty just minutes before the party started.

Frances made suggested signs in Spanish stating no bathrooms and wedding guests only.  We had a security guard at the south door, the only door open for wedding guests and a few parking stalls coned for us. No one seemed to have a problem with parking and we didn't hear the party outside until we left the building!

At about 7:05PM I called Lauren who told us to start and pray and they would be there when we opened out eyes.  Kay asked Rex Hardy, Ben's grandfather to pray and just as we were quieting down, Lauren and Ben arrived. We prayed and ate.  The photographer put a back drop where the fight window was and started doing formal portraits.

Caleb was the go-to man making sure things were going smoothly, sound could be heard, keeping the line out of the dance floor for the portraits, inviting all to have their picture taken. Dancing when he felt like people needed to dance. We needed Caleb!

Jessica Myrick and her assistant Christina Curtis did formal wedding portraits the whole evening.  Percy and Anne Smith came through the line and she said they needed separate pictures for their obituary.  Percy made funny faces but had some serious ones and then they had some together. The Neigers said they want to make sure to get a copy of their portrait.  Free formals, who can resist?

Lauren had a relative of the Hale family do the music with her playlist.   Songs from Zorah Jeppson's day on her lists.  The parents said a few words to the crowd about our kids and the dancing started.  The food was done by Utah Celebrations Catering and Yogurt Land (where they had their first date) and people were raving over the yummy food.

The video and photographers all said that was the funnest wedding ever.  Lauren didn't have a cake or a garter or a bouquet throw.  Just a party. We were cleaned up and home by 10PM.  A great day.

Dinner with the Kuku Family- North Omaha NE

Leila Kuku and her family share their Sudanese/Ethiopian meal with me!  Deng, Wal, and  Julie

Family Portrait time

Fire at the apartments! It was a big one.

I had to park a block away, put the kids in the stroller and hiked up the hill.

Just as I was picking up Isaac and Aaron to take them to the zoo, Kay called and said we had a fire in our apartments.  And a fire it was.  At least 5 firetrucks and 10+ police cars with all the extras that usually show up.

A little grandma from Burma was cooking on her deck with the hibachi grill and somehow she burned her whole place up and took half the neighbors apartment with her. she was crying and was sure she was going to jail.

Front of #27

I live on the apartment in the far left which is 3 away.  We have smoke smells which really manifest themselves when we closed the windows for the night.

Everyone is safe and out.  There were 2 families in each apartment (not allowed) and they have been reassigned to 3 vacant apartments.

We did make the local news.

Back.  shop and laundry room below the apartment

Back

Rachael brought her older kids over for a fire safety lesson.  I think they learned their lesson.  Our friend from church came today with her children too.

Stairway from the front door

 oh my!

Omaha Happenings

We have been in Omaha for over a year and are getting pretty planted here.  We live in low income housing.

We have a laundry on property with 10 washers and 10 dryers.  A company owned the equipment and gave us 1/2 the income.  We kicked them out (had to get a court order where I testified) and bought the old equipment from them. We were getting $300-400 a month (1/2 total).  We lowered the price form 1.25/load to .75 and Kay spent tons of time fixing the equipment.  We are bringing in $1600 a month now and the place is hopping.

The past week or so we have had a lot going on.
A couple of weeks ago the sacrament speaker got sick, at the beginning of Sacrament Meeting the branch president asked me to give a talk/testimony on Reverence.  All during the sacrament, I prepared a talk, Kay kept whispering ideas to me (thank goodness) and I pulled off an 8 minute talk.  The Trail Center director asked me for a copy of my talk.  I said it was impromptu..... no written talk.  I was wondering what he liked about it.  He said he liked my personal examples of how I handled my children when they behaved badly in church (sorry kids, I tattled).  It didn't offend, like most talks on reverence, but it gave lots of ideas. I talked about Rachael's family too.


I spoke at a baptism for Scott and Larry (8 year old) Kemp.  I gave my usual talk on baptism. Taking upon us the name of Christ.

Sunday- I looked at the missionaries dinner calendar and except for the first Sunday of the month, they are usually free for dinner on Sundays.  Two weeks ago we had them over with no notice for a clean--out- the- fridge- leftovers meal.  This week they came over for waffles and scrambled eggs.  We like to take them out every other week.

 Kay and I went to the Kuku's house (Sudanese family) to do a Family Home evening before the son, Wal Khot was baptized the following week.  Most families in the branch know about FHE but have never done it.  We brought a treat and the family really enjoyed playing the game together.  When we were explaining FHE, Deng, the 12 year old wise-guy son said he had a lesson, he went and got his priesthood manual and gave a lesson from his deacons quorum.  We cut it short as FHE is short but it was good.  We then talked to Wal about baptism and Kay practiced on him in the living room and went over everything he needed to know.  Our goal is to do a Family Home Evening with one family a month.  This was our second FHE.

Monday I met 4 Spanish speaking missionaries with my 3 friends at the zoo so we could get them all in (each member gets 1 guest) for free.  We then stayed 30 minutes.

I have been searching for appliances for a unemployed family in the branch.  They are renting a stove, fridge and microwave for $150/month. they  were also doing laundry in the tub.  I found them a washer dryer we had to get out of a basement that evening.  It was an older house with basically a ladder for stairs but Kay did it... in a pouring rainstorm.  We were soaked but happy.

I found a non functioning side by side steel refrigerator for $50.  The freezer worked but not the fridge.  Even I know that is a fan.  We brought it home and plugged it in and it works.  We will watch it closely, we have fans we can replace when necessary.  It is 5 years old and about $1200. new. Good deal Janae.

Kay was asked by a young mother in the branch to make a display wall.  She is a photographer and has a booth at the local bridal fair.  He home teaches the family and likes a challenge.  He looked on line and designed his own wall that breaks into 3 parts.  She wants to come and paint it but Kay keeps doing it.  We have been working on it in the laundry room this week.

Scouts with Wal  Kuku

Scouts with Bobby Foster

Wednesday we had the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet.  My assignments were skits and games so we did 2 skits and  ran out of time and ended up playing only 1 game, I was fine with that as my games were games you can play with no props for Family Home Evening.

Thursday was my busy day.  I picked up a lady who needed to go to Walmart and then I took her to the zoo for an hour.  It was the first of the month and she had $50 to last her for food after her bills were paid and what did she buy?  Cat food and cat litter..... of course she did, the money was gone!  No food for her this month..

In the afternoon I took Jody to Dillards Clearance store in Iowa for a dress to wear for her first time at the temple, doing baptisms, that evening (she didn't own one).  She shops in a different department than I do so I called several stores to see if they had those sizes and how many choices.  We ended up getting her a $99. dress for under $5. Wahoo!  I bought her some other discounted items to make 4 different outfits she could wear to church with some sandals (what was on clearance) and she was happy.  I then went to Bennington to take Sean to his piano lesson, took him home and drove straight to Jody's house and tended her energetic children while they were at the temple.  Jody's 7 year old daughter told her how beautiful she was.

On Fridays I take the 2 younger Chappell children while Rachael goes to her homeschool group.  We usually go to the children's museum and leave in time to pick up Jenna from her friend's house, We get lunch and read stories until Rachael comes home.  19 month old Isaac and 3 year old Aaron love to sing so our car rides are pretty musical.  If we are not all singing, Isaac sings by himself.

Kay Baptizes Wal Simon Kuku

Leila (mom), Wal and Kay

Wet Wal right after baptism

Saturday we went to Wal's house to lead his family to the Stake Center as they had never been there.  No one was ready and his brother Deng said he "had plans" I told him to get his shoes on and he was going to  the baptism!  He did, but only he and mom went. We found shoes, socks and underwear. We left 30 min lag time and were there 15 min before it started.  Because of another community event we were encouraged to participate in, there were only 4 adults other than us to support Wal.  Kay baptized him and wasn't planning on it, but confirmed him too.  the other 2 men joined in the circle and Wal's Wolf Scout leader happened to be there for a boy in his ward so that was cool to have him.

Sunday my music leader texted me to say she was sick so I did music and taught a primary class of 4 kids who seemed like 12.  I think the only thing they learned is to say "amen" after a prayer.  Well that is the end of my week!  breathe.... I will be writing about our huge fire we had at the apartments yesterday. Janae

Grandchildren

32 Years and counting

willing to go with the girls..... oh yes... he pays!

always curious- even when on a simple kayak trip

sometimes I can even dress him up

Kay and I have been married 32 Years today!  I am not sure how many years Kay has been happily married but I have had a great ride.  Kay is a hard worker.

When I was growing up my dad always said I could marry anyone as long as the man I chose was a hard worker and had a Testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and things would be fine.   He was right.  I have been taken care of temporally beyond my wildest dreams and spiritually as well. Kay uses his Priesthood to bless our family.  He is an excellent teacher in church and with our family.  Kay has been a wonderful father to our children and was the calm when I was the storm many times dealing with them.  They know their dad loves them.  He is sometimes a better mom to them than I am.  He loves to serve others and is always looking for ways to do things better.  I Love my husband!!!! Last year we spent 2 1/2 weeks in Tahiti for our anniversary,  Tonight we will do session at the Winter Quarters Temple and tomorrow we will take the missionaries out for our anniversary dinner.  Today he is fixing a washer for someone and building a display for someone else.