Another wedding

In June I had the opportunity to attend my cousin Karren's wedding to Scotty.  A couple of days before they were married, Karren went through the temple to receive her own endowment and I was able to attend her session.  It was full of family.  They both come from very large families.  It was a neat experience to see such a special person make sacred covenants.  It was also great to spend time with family.  I was able to have some girl time with Karren, Linda, and Nina on the way up to the temple for her endowment.  On the way back, I rode with Uncle Richard, which was some great uncle time.  On the day of the wedding, Mom and Ed worked at the temple after the sealing, so I got to ride home with Auntie Juanita.  I love some quality one-on-one time with family.  Here are a few pictures to commemorate.

Me and my Sethy

Sorry this is sideways.  She was just too adorable!  I couldn't get her to smile for me, though.

The happy couple.

Mark and Riley Roo

Jay was so cute at the reception.  He got up and sang a song all by himself.  Such a courageous cutie!  It was absolutely adorable.  Not a dry eye in the room.

A wedding

My mom and Ed Allred got married March 29, 2013.  It was a quick courtship and took everyone, including them, by surprise.  It was fun to get calls from my twitterpated mom.  Her giggles were contagious.  Everyone kept asking how I felt about everything.  Honestly, I wasn't okay with it at first, but because Ed is such a great guy and I knew he would treat my mom well, I became okay with it.  Everything was weird, the wedding, and everything.  Not so much anymore.

The wedding was a wonderful occasion.  Lots of family came into town for it.  Most of that family stayed at the house.  My mom and Ed were MIA most of the time.  Their excuse was to go out to his house to 'feed the dogs' but would be gone for hours at a time.  I became the hostess at the house, feeding the masses.  And there were plenty to be fed.  Needless to say, it wasn't a relaxing weekend for me.  But it was great to see so much family for such a happy occasion.

Aunt Laretta and Uncle Richard

B-ry and Aunt Susan

Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Gilbert

The girlies

Ed and Mommy

Steve and Kate

Bryan, Chels, and the H's

With Sariah, Ethan, and Bekah

Erik, Sandy, Sariah, Ethan, and Bekah

Mike, Nicole, Wilson, Weston, & Whitney

With all the kiddos.  There were a couple who didn't want to be there.  It had been a long weekend.

All of us

Kirk and I

Kannon, Seth, kristin, Mom, Ed, Calli, Kaydree, & Kennadee

These are some bells that Grandma Mayes made when I was in high school.  I saw them and said how pretty they were and that they would look great on a wedding cake.  She gave them to me for my next birthday.  Since I haven't had the chance to use them, Mom used them on her cake.

Auntie Juanita made the cake.  The doll was one the Grandma Mayes made, too.

Susan and Erik helping make the relish trays.

Me with the kiddos.

Hate

to hate: to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest (dictionary.com)

Hate has been on my mind a lot recently.  I think it's because it's been thrown around in the social world so much.  'Haters will hate.'  'Stop the hatred.'  There are few things that I truly hate: spiders, snakes, confrontation.

It's frustrating because my beliefs have been called hateful.  For example, I believe marriage should be between a man and woman.  For those who believe in gay marriage, they don't hate heterosexual married individuals (usually).  Why is it that because I believe in traditional marriage that makes me a hater?  Not true.  I am pro-life.  This doesn't mean that I hate individuals who choose to have abortions.  I also believe that we are entitled (yes, entitled) to our own beliefs and we should accept everyone, no matter their beliefs. That does not mean that I want to join in the behaviors that I don't believe in, but just because someone believes differently than me that doesn't give me a reason to hate them or degrade them because of those differences.  I feel I work hard to accept people and treat them with compassion, no matter who they are.  I wish everyone could feel the same.