A Busy But Wonderful Week

The past two weeks Ray, Mady, and I went up north to visit our families. Our main reason for going up was for 3 weddings, a baby shower, 2 farewells, 2 baby blessings, and my best friend's endowment. So it was a very eventful. It was fun to stay a while with our families. Ray and I actually got to go on a few dates without Mady. My mom was all too happy to pay for our dates and shove us out the door to spend time with her granddaughter. We also got with our friends from both ends. Alicia, Leisl, and Sariah came to visit while down in Ephraim. And then at Ray's we had Brandon and Annie come visit. It was also fun for both me and Ray to go to Kenny and Jillaye's bachelor and bachelorette party. It was nice to have some girl time, as I'm sure Ray enjoyed his boy time all too well.

The only bad thing about the trip was Ray's temple recommend expired. So we weren't able to go to any of our friend's sealings nor to the temple to do a session. I did however go to my friend Leisl's endowment without Ray. I wouldn't have missed that for the world. I'm so proud of Leisl. She's going on her mission to Barcelona, Spain; spanish speaking. I will miss her dearly, but I know that the people in Spain need her more than I do. We have whole summer before she leaves, so I plan on spending a lot of time with her. It will be fun.

Kenny and Jillaye had a most wonderful wedding. It was gorgeous! Kenny and Jillaye met clear back in 2004, their senior year in highschool, and started dating. Through all these years they finally got married. Both of them went on missions and waited for each other. Their story is like a fairytale. So cute. Here's some pictures of the happy couple.





Oh, and I must give a shout out to our dear friends Annie and Brandon! It was their one year anniversary the same day as Kenny and Jillaye's wedding. They are such a cute couple! Love love love them to pieces!!

I also got to do my sister in law, Jemma's, hair for her bridals. I thought it turned out pretty good for only have an hour and a half to do it. I don't have pictures yet, but I'll snag a few once her photographer is done with them.

It was such a carefree and relaxing week, aside from all the events we had going on. Now, that we're back home we have to buckle down. One of my classes started and I'm determine to finish that one as soon as I can. My professor said he'll open it up for me which will be great. Ray is still trying to find a job. He has the one at the school but there is no way we could get by with making $250 a month. With buying a new car, paying for all of Mady's expenses, plus school....yeah we need another job. So hopefully the places Ray applied for will let us know soon.

We're moving into our new apartment next week! I'm so excited. Only for the bathtub, not the whole moving part. My mom and dad are planning and coming down and helping us out. The apartment is just around the corner from where we're at now, but we have a lot of stuff...unfortunately. So we'll need some help.

Oh yes, while we were up north, my friend Anna took some more pictures of Mady for me. You can never have too many :). Here are some of my favorites. I'd put them all on, but I dear say there are too many. So too bad for you. Anyway, enjoy!

Perseverance!

Perseverance my friends! I started typing the blog under this one at 7 and finally at a quarter after 11 I got it finished! Haha. Well these are all her pictures. Enjoy!

Mady's Blessing Day

Today was Mady's blessing. It was so wonderful. Ray gave a beautiful blessing. My mom wrote down some things that were said in it, which I'll give to her when she's older. She didn't cry throughout all of church, it was probably because she was getting passed around so much.

Ray's family came down Friday for graduation. It was nice to spend some time with them before all my family came. I love seeing Barb with Mady. She's so sweet with her. My family is so cute with her also. They all fight over who gets to hold her. Like right when they came to my place, my Dad runs in and went right to Mady, who was sleeping. He bends down and said, " Awww, she's sleeping. Oh wait she just opened her eye, that means she's awake." And then took her out to hold her. My mom is just as hilarious. Even when she's not here and I'm talking on the phone with her, she'll try and talk as loud as she can to Mady through the phone. One day I swear she'll blow out my eardrum haha. Love you Mom :).

The church service was wonderful. It was a fast Sunday (which I am proud to say that I fasted for the first time in ..... about a year - due to pregnancy - I lasted one meal haha). Ray gave such a good blessing despite his nervousness. And then what was even more wonderful was that Barb, Joe, Ray, and my dad all got up and bore their testimonies. Barb made me cry. It was the first time I have heart Barb and Joe say their testimonies. The spirit was so strong. I loved Joe's. He accidently said grand"son". It was classic. Ray said he was talking about the future through inspiration so we better get on that grandson. Haha. But rest assured, that won't be for at least 3 years.

Well today was the day. It was the first time I had bore my testimony in .... two years? See I made this bargain with God, that I wouldn't bare my testimony until I felt that overwhelming burning sensation inside that you know you must get up. I knew that when I felt that I was ready to share my testimony again and that the past things I have been working on were done away with. Well that day was today. I felt it as soon as the blessing was over. However, being stubborn, I waited it out....just to make sure ya know. But it came to the point where I had to get up or I knew God was going to strike me down. It wasn't just special because it was Mady's blessing and my first time in so long, but also because it was the first time Ray has heard me bore my testimony over the pulpit (Not sure if he knows that, but I do). I always wondered if he looked down upon me for that. But now with Mady being here, I have such a greater desire to make sure I am doing all I can to become the woman that the Lord wants me to be, and has promised me in His personal blessing to me. I am so grateful that I have such a loving and wonderful husband who has the priesthood and has that same desire. I am so blessed.

Well after sacrament, we were planning on having a luncheon with our families and a few close friends. WE were hoping the weather would be good enough to have it at a nice park. But of course, Utah weather is so bipolar, it just had to snow in May! May! Ugh I'm so sick of it being cold. Bring on the heat!!! Anyways so we fit 25 people in my tiny apartment. Man it was crowded, but it was so nice having all the people I love and am close to there. The food was wonderful! My parents brought bbq turkey and rolls, I cooked the funeral potatoes, Naketa and Barb brought a salad and some amazing homemade apple pies, and my good friend Ada brought my favorite ramen cabbage salad. It was great!

Oh yes and I also got Mady's newborn pictures!! So I must post them. There's quite a few, so bare with me. OK actually I'll post the rest later. My internet connection sucks. But enjoy these!