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. 

    

Jackson Jeffrey - What's in a name?

Jackson, I thought you might be interested in knowing where your name came from.

We were so excited when we found out we were expecting you, even though you made mommy sick while we were in Hawaii. I guess you can say you have been to Hawaii too, technically. We had been trying for some to get pregnant and we were so happy to know you would soon be coming.

Well before we knew if you were going to be a boy or girl, mom like to talk about possible names. I, however, did not want to discuss names until we knew your gender. Whenever the conversation of possible names came up I would jokingly suggest names like 'Psych Ward' or 'Maternity Ward' or even church congregations back in Washington like 'Tiffany Park Ward' and 'Benson Hill Ward'. Needless to say mom did not care for my jokes to much.

Mom remembers it being one night as we were laying in bed, when she started asking what names I liked again. I gave her the standard joke names, when suddenly the name Jackson Emery came to my mind. I told her the name and she looked at me astonished. I couldn't understand why. She asked me if I really wanted to name you that. I responded that I did, I really like the sound of it. She laughed. I was really confused and asked why she laughed. She asked if I realized that Jackson Emery was a BYU basketball player. I completely forgot and had to laugh. That was probably why I liked the way it sounded so much. Ultimately, we both agreed we loved the name, but your mom could not live with your initials so we had to come up with a different middle name.

In the end, we decided and giving you your Grandpa Brown's middle name. At the time it may have been because of how it sounded together more than anything else. However, around the time you were to receive your baby blessing I thought more about your name and I how wanted it to be more than a name to you.

In the Book of Mormon, Helaman named his sons Nephi and Lehi. His desire was that they would think of their namesake and seek for the same good characteristics and blessings in their own lives. That is what I wish for you. Your Grandpa Brown has one of the biggest hearts that I have ever known. He genuinely loves all he comes in contact with. He is able to make friends regardless of what country he is in or language he is speaking. He has charity for all the people he meets and that is why people are drawn to him and quickly become his friend. Grandpa Brown is a hard worker. He gives his everything at whatever he does. He is smart and resourceful. These are traits and characteristics that we wish you will strive for in your life as you remember your name and where it comes from.

We love you.

Dad