TexaSmama: June 2013

Tying the Nuptial Knot, Part 3

THY HOLY TEMPLE

(Words by Marvin K. Gardner)

Thy temple stands majestically,

Inviting me, reminding me

To be the best that I can be.

I love Thy holy temple.

For temple marriage I’ll prepare.

I’ll seek thy ordinances there.

With Thee I’ll covenant in prayer.

I love Thy holy temple.

Finally, I just couldn't resist a bit of nostalgia. Being at the sealing/marriage ceremony for Garrett and Katie reminded me so much of my own wedding day. Both days were so very special. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has such a unique view of marriage:

Members of the Church believe that marriages performed in temples are “sealed,” or blessed to last for eternity. The concept that the family unit can continue beyond the grave as a conscious, loving entity, with the marriage partnership and parent-child relationships intact, is a core belief of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Family members who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in God’s holy temples. These ordinances seal a husband and wife together for all eternity and children to their parents as an eternal family.

We were very grateful for those family members and friends who showed their love and support of Garrett and Katie. Some attended a bridal shower given in Katie's honor, the session in the Bountiful Temple where Katie received her own endowment, a family dinner the night before the temple ceremony, the sealing on the morning of the wedding day, the photo shoot on the grounds of the temple, and/or an intimate luncheon in the afternoon following the sealing. Others called or wrote congratulatory notes. We dearly missed many of our loved ones who were unable to attend, for whatever the reason. I personally want to extend James' and my love to all of the family members who were not with us. We do love you and we missed being with you at that time! All family and friends - children and adults - of Garrett and Katie are invited to join with us for an open house in our neck of the woods on the third Saturday in August to honor the newlyweds. Please let us know if you are fixin' to come down south for the evening's event.

The bride's entourage

Some good-looking young men...

...with a couple of beautiful women!

This is as close to a reception line as we got.

My luncheon pictures have a lot to be desired. Sorry about the photo quality.

Our newest sweetheart!

The grandest group!

Good face, Garrett!

Schvesters!
Until we meet again,
THE END

... Enjoying Family Time, Part 2

Secondly, James and I want to thank the Beal family for the WONDERFUL association we enjoyed with them during the wedding events. We are grateful for all of the preparations, the time, and, obviously, the material resources that went into making the events so beautiful, quite memorable, and absolutely enjoyable for all who attended. WE THANK YOU! I'm a bit slow at sending out the cards, so please have patience with me. After the blogging, that's the next order of business.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before the actual tying of the knot, we had a chance for our side of the family to meet and to start getting to know Katie's side of the family. James' brother Keith and wife Susan hosted a family get-together the night before the wedding. Traditionally in the Facer clan, this is a chance for sage marriage advice to be given and received by all in attendance. Naturally, this is an adult affair with younger siblings of the engaged couple also invited. Although this left out the beloved children of extended family members, we enjoyed the more intimate feel of a family home which is the more traditional setting for this event.

Sorry, Keith! It was your home, and I didn't even get a single picture of your face!

Tying the Nuptial Knot and Enjoying Family Time, Part 1

NEWS and VIEWS of MARITAL BLISS

First of all, we absolutely LOVE our little miss Katie. She fits into our family like a right hand fits into the right glove. Our three married children have chosen wonderful mates - James and I couldn't have hand-picked them better if we had done it ourselves. Just look at the love: