One of the Happiest Days of My Life

     It is known that I struggle with remembering things.  My mom also has a bad memory. She blames her bad memory on living under the power lines growing up. I tell everyone I get my bad memory from her. In an effort to combat this, I try to write things down that are important to me (when I remember to). One such event was my wedding/sealing to Courtney.

    Courtney and I met at BYU our Freshman year in 2003. I was attracted to her the moment I met her. We started hanging out. Then we dated and soon we were boyfriend and girlfriend. There are many fun details to our meeting and courtship but that is for another story. Before I left on my mission to Russia in 2004, I asked that she not wait for me. I told her that if she were around when I got home I could/wanted to marry her. Turns out after dating some while I was gone, she decided to wait for me.

    After my mission she convinced me to come to back to BYU early rather than wait until my classes started again in the Fall. January 13th, 2007 I proposed to her and we planned to be married May 04, 2007(which later became May the 4th be with you or Star Wars Day). 

    We planned to be married in the Boston temple, which was in her temple district. She would have loved to go to the DC temple, but logistically it was tough to plan for. That was her temple when she was younger.

    For the wedding or temple sealing, we stayed with her family. My family flew in and stayed in nearby hotels. We even had many of our BYU friends come out too. The morning of we got up and got ready. I remember our friend, and Court's roommate from college, Marilyn helping Courtney do her hair. Once we were all ready we got in the car to drive the almost 3 hours to Boston. On the way we hit really bad traffic and we were panicking that we were going to be late, which we were. We worried about all the family coming for the wedding and missing it and many other bad possible scenarios. When we got there, we rushed to enter the temple. At the doors was a woman who greeted us so kindly and sweetly. She asked for us to relax, we were the only sealing that whole day. We could be at peace and know that everything was going to be just fine. It felt like we were the most important people at that moment. What a huge relief was lifted from our shoulders.  We were able to focus on what we were doing, the feelings that we felt and the spirit that was there.

    We got dressed and they brought Courtney and I into the Celestial room to sit together while we waited for everything else to be ready. I remember being so happy to be there with Courtney. Happy for the covenants we were going to make. No one else was there with us. It was so peaceful. Then we were led into the sealing room where our family and friends waited for us! No one prepared me for what would happen and I remember saying the wrong words and people fighting back laughs. I remember looking into Courtney's eyes across the alter and being so happy. I remember exchanging rings afterward. I remember everyone congratulating us and hugging us as they passed by us on the way out of the sealing room. I remember Court's aunt calling me by the wrong name. I don't remember much of what was said. I was so happy my family could be there with me in the temple to share in this special moment. I was happy to be sealed to my beautiful wife and best friend for time and all eternity.

    Court and I stayed the night in Boston, while everyone went back to Connecticut to get ready for the reception the next evening. The reception  the next evening was great. Then Court and I went on our honeymoon to the Dominican Republic. We had a blast. Someone asked if we were honeymooners because we were so white (never got out of the room). We did get out of the room, but also have a history of getting bad sunburns so we were smart and stayed in the shade or wore tons of sunscreen. Still makes me laugh to think about it. I even took the time to write in a journal about my thoughts, feelings and experiences in the temple. However, I forgot to grab my bag when we left the resort and lost it forever.

I see now the importance of recording those things when they are fresh. Now I only remember small pieces and wish I could reread and remember those experiences again. Still, it was one the best days of my life. I'm so grateful I married Courtney. I love her more now than I did that that day. 

    

More to come

 I started this with the idea of sharing things I wanted for my wife and kids to know and remember.

Life happened.

I'm back and have made it a goal to write more. 

Until the next time, here is a recent family picture that I love!

Jackson - The snowman's melted heart

With the first snow of the year, you and your brother have been so excited. Staring out the window at the snow flakes as they fall, you repeatedly ask if you could go out and play in it. As the snow begins to stick to the ground and put on a couple inches you ask again this time mentioning you want to play basketball in the snow. I smile at the thought and wonder why you want to play basketball in the snow of all things.

As usual, I just got home from work. I'm tired. I don't want to go out in the snow. This seems to be a pattern of mine. I'm too tired. I don't want to race cars. I don't want do whatever it is you are requesting of me. You are sad, but soon you are distracted with something else. I can justify that you are happy doing whatever it is you are doing and it is ok that I turned down whatever it is you asked of me.

The next day something is different. I come home and you ask the question I was expecting before I even pulled into the garage, "Can we go play in the snow?!" My answer comes as a surprise to you as I answer yes. You run around excitedly. You tell mom you are going to play in the snow. You ask if we can play basketball, to which I agree once again. You no longer can contain your joy.

With mom's help we get all dressed for the snow and go out to play. You are somewhat interested in helping me build a snowman. Parker keeps a safe distance, unsure what to think of the snow. We trudge around the house, build some more snowmen and you lose a shoe in the mud. We come back to the front of the house where we finally play some basketball. Not too much later I announce we are going back inside. You lose it. You are having so much fun and don't want to go in. I, however, am a little wet and cold and I can tell Parker is just about done.

We go inside and I calm you down by offering to do some of your school work with you at the table, to which you heartily agree. For the next 15-20 minutes we do your school work together while mom makes dinner.

The rest of the evening went well. As I lay down next to your mom for bed that night I tell her that "I was a good dad today!" I was proud of myself for putting away the distractions and for taking the time to play with you. I didn't think I had done much, but I had enjoyed the time spent with you. However, this is not what I wanted to share.

The next day at work your mom messaged me. She told me how you couldn't stop talking about playing in the snow with me and doing school work together the day before. My heart melted as I realized that something that didn't seem that significant to me could have had such a profound effect on you.

I love you so much! I hope and pray that I can be the dad you want and deserve in your life. I'm trying harder each day to better avoid distractions and my own laziness in order to have more opportunities like the one I just shared. You make me so happy and proud to be your dad!

Love,

Dad

Happy 8th Anniversary to Court

Court, 

It was almost 12 years ago that I was first attracted to you. It was not your looks that first attracted me to you, seeing as how I only knew you from our frequent midnight games of ultimate Frisbee. I was first attracted to your mad skills. Together we won many a game. It was purely a bonus that later I would find out you were awesomely attractive too! However, these thing were not what clinched it in my mind that I could spend eternity with you. What sealed the deal was the charity and selflessness you displayed over and over in our courtship (and your ability to put up with me). To this day you never cease to amaze me.

Before I left for Russia to serve God and those people, I told you that if you were still around when I got back I could marry you. Apparently, you felt similarly because shortly after I returned we were married. It has been an incredible 8 years. Thanks for laughing at my dumb humor, for loving me for me, for being the terrific wife and mother that you are, for continuing to be a great example of charity and selflessness and finally for reminding me of the great choice I made to marry you 8 years ago. 

I love you!

Shawn

No Such Thing as Grumpy People

We had some friends when we were living in Provo, Warren and Rachael Smith, who said something very profound. They said, 'there is no such thing as grumpy people, only tired and hungry people.' I've found that to be true more often than not.

Just thought I would share.

Dad