The Secret Is..........

October 2, 2009

I Know a Secret!

Sunrise, Sunset

Sorry this is a picture of a picture. I really need to get hip with this scanning stuff!

Eleven years ago today Jeremy and I were married.  As I look back now, I am still eternally grateful I chose Jeremy.  (Most of you know our crazy story of me being engaged to another guy when I met Jer!  Wow am I glad Jer came along!  But that's another story!)

I was just thinking about what a beautiful wedding we had and how fun the day really was.  I felt like a princess the entire day!  Our wedding was early in the morning so we got up at the crack of dawn and road over to Jer's house to pick him up.  I remember thinking it was cheating to see him before the wedding like this but it was really fun to ride together.  When we were all dressed in our temple cloths we sat in the Celestial room of the Bountiful Temple waiting for our turn.  I remember thinking that I would remember forever where we sat so we could sit there again.  I have since been back and can't remember exactly where we sat but I do remember how excited I was.  Walking into the sealing room we were greeted by each of my sister's and my brother along with all of their spouses.  I was always anxious when I didn't get to go into the temple to see each of my other siblings get married but it really paid off to be the last one so every single one of them could be there!  We were also greeted by Jer's family and several other family members.  I don't remember much other than I kept saying I DO instead of yes and they had to correct me!  After the ceremony I went back to the dressing room to get ready to take pictures outside.  I wore tennis shoes under my dress because I wasn't about to be uncomfortable on my wedding day.  The little old ladies there thought it was so funny!  

After taking pictures outside it wasn't time for the wedding breakfast yet so Jer and I went to Parson's bakery in Bountiful to have a cookie.  They were dinosaur shaped cookies with pastel frosting - the best!

Then it was off to Joseph Smith Memorial building for our awesome breakfast.  It has always been a tradition for my dad to sing Sunrise Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof and for the siblings and Dad to sing The Men in my Little Girls Life.  For The Men in My Little Girl's Life we would all line up behind my dad.  He would sing the Father parts and we would come up one by one and do another part.  I always loved doing this at all of my sister's weddings so it was fun to finally be the one to do the I am getting married part!  Both songs bring tears to my eyes any time I think about them.  I can just hear my dad's beautiful voice singing Sunrise Sunset!

After our wedding breakfast we had some time to kill so we went and got checked into our hotel.  Enough said.

Later that night we headed to our reception at Grand Estate Reception Center in Ogden.  I chose white, white and white for my colors and I loved it!  I didn't think it would be that fun to stand in line and greet all of the people as they came but really it was enjoyable!  My sister Karen and my best friend Emily were my maids of honor.  When it was time to leave, everyone blew bubbles as we headed to our car that was covered in a mess.  Mike had tied a kite to the hood that flew over head as we drove.  I have to say that was the source of our first fight being married.  I was insistent that we cleaned the car really good and Jer just wanted a quick cleaning job.  Hmmm, I wonder what had him in such a hurry?

The next day we flew out for a two week honeymoon that started in Grand Cayman and ended in Disney world.  It really is fun to re-live those days of getting married and being so young and in love.  I still feel young and still feel in love but now it is a much deeper, greater love!  I am so glad I get to spend forever with you, my Jer-Bear!

Sunrise Sunset

Is this the little girl I carried,

is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older,
when did they?

When did she get to be a beauty,
when did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly flow the days.

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
blossoming even as we gaze.

Sunrise, sunset (x2),
wiftly fly the years,
one season following another,
laden with happiness and tears.

What words of wisdom can I give them,
how can I help to ease their way?

Now they must learn from one another,
day by day.

They look so natural together.

Just like two newlyweds should be.

Is there a canopy in store for me?

Sunrise, sunset (x2),
swiftly fly the years,
one season following another,
laden with happiness,
and tears.

The Men in My Little Girls Life
The men in my little girl's life
The men in my little girl's life
It seems like only yesterday when I heard my little girl say
"Daddy, there's a boy ouside, his name is Rod.
He wants to play in our backyard
Can he daddy? Can he daddy? Oh please daddy."
Is it really so long ago she'd come to me and wanna know
"Dad, there's a boy outside, his name is Lee.
He wants to carry my books for me.
Can he daddy? Is it alright, dad? He's got freckles, dad."
The men in my little girl's life
The men in my little girl's life
Then came pony tails and jeans and my little girl was in her teens
"Popsie, there's a boy outside, his name is Tom.
He wants to take me to the prom.
OK, popsie? He's cute, popsie. We'll be home early, popsie."
Before I knew it time had flown and how my little girl had grown
Now it was "Father, there's a boy outside, his name is Eddie.
He wants to know if we can go steady.
Can we, father? Yes, father. Oh, can we borrow the car, pop?"
Yes it seems only yesterday I heard my lovely daughter say
"Dad, there's a boy outside, his name is Jeremy.
He asked me if he could marry me. I said yes, dad.
Got something in your eye, dad? I love him, dad."
The men in my little girl's life
The men in my little girl's life
A child, an adolescent, a young lady, a wife
And oh yes, there's another man in my little girl's life
"Hi dad, there's a boy outside, his name is Tim.
I told him Grampa was gonna babysit him.
Thanks, dad. Bless you, dad. Good night, dad."
The men in my little girl's life
The men in my little girl's life

Dad's Fish'in Buddy

Anyone out there who has ever fished knows what it is like when you find the perfect fishing hole.  You have the perfect spot to get just the right cast, with water that  is the perfect depth and just the right temperature to get your hands in to pull out your prize.  And of course the temperature in the air has to be a comfortable 70 degrees with no one else is around to spoil the peaceful atmosphere.  Then, just when the timing is right, you begin pulling prize after prize out of that fishing hole.  You may even just squeal with delight with all of the fun you are having.  And then it happens, the Fish and Game Warden comes along to check for that fishing license, and when he finds you don't have one on you he gives you a slap on the hand and banishes you from your fishing hole, the one you have dreamt of all your life!

Some one in our house was caught by the warden today.  (Well actually, almost every day this month!)  

Here is her mugshot:

And here is her favorite fishing hole:

Being a Mom

I was thinking today about all of the things we have to accomplish as moms and was feeling like I haven't been fitting it all in.  I just need to take a step back, spend more time with the girls and let the other things fall sometimes.  Today I came across this quote and it seemed perfect for me today.

"We need to remember that the full commitment of motherhood and of putting children first can be difficult. Through my own four-generation experience in our family, and through discussions with mothers of young children throughout the Church, I know something of a mother's emotions that accompany her commitment to be at home with young children. There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives. "As a Church, we have enormous respect and gratitude to you mothers of young children. We want you to be happy and successful in your families and to have the validation and support you need and deserve."M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109

Sentiment!

I seem to have this strange attachment to in-animate objects.  I think it must have started back when I was little and didn't want to give up sucking my thumb.  When I went to bed at night I would suck my thumb and I had to have this old feather pillow that had to be cold which I wouldn't let my mom put a pillow case on.   My mom was at wits end and resorted to bribing me with a couple of stuffed animals I affectionately called TL and Pupcake.  After finding them packed in some boxes a few years ago, I let Jer talk me into throwing them away and could kick myself for not getting a picture first.  

Anyway, throughout life I can think of other things I haven't wanted to let go.  Things like the family van we had growing up that we named Bobmobile, our first house, old cloths I have worn to special occasions, the tiny bows the girls first wore in their hair on the day they were born, Neeley's favorite binkie from when she was a baby, art projects the girls have made, the car we first brought Neeley home from the hospital in and the list goes on.  I guess you could say I am not the best with change when it comes to certain things.  Or maybe it is the memories that the objects hold that I am afraid will disappear when the object does.

So this is a picture of my latest thing I can't seem to let go of.  When I was getting married my parents set me up for a life on our own.  They did more for me then I ever could have imagined.   Not only did they give me an upbringing that set me up to for life but they got me every imaginable thing I might need to start a household.  Before I even got one wedding present I  had a full set of china, stemware, nice silver, tablecloths, candlesticks, napkins, everyday dishes, glasses silverware, placemats, aprons, blankets and the list goes on.  Among the items are something I have always treasured.  Growing up being the youngest of 7  girls I saw all of my sisters get married and each time they did we would make dish cloths for them.  My mom would take the flour sack type dishcloths and iron on pictures.  They always seemed to be pictures of ducks or bears with the days of the week on them.  Then us girls would paint them with fabric paints.  I remember getting so excited to paint the dishcloths for my sisters.  So when it was my turn I loved them.  My sisters, my mom and even some nieces all got together to make mine.  I have used them for almost 11 years now and many of them are still around.  I kept one or two in my cedar chest so they would stay nice but the rest are well used.  The other day I stopped to look at one and realized just how ragged and worn it is.  It is funny how we become so used to using something that we don't even see it age.  So, now that I have a picture of this one, I guess I could throw it away.  But to be honest, it is put back in the cupboard for more use.  Maybe some day it will disintegrate on it's own so I won't have to toss it!

Scuba Girl!

Grandma Great

Grandma Great you always had a smile on your face for the kids, loved to watch over them and play with them.  Each time you saw Lilah you would tell me how big "he" was getting.  You always had a compliment for my shirt and a $10 bill for our birthdays (the right size and the right color you would say).  You taught us about getting a good education and being super thrifty and yes I mean THRIFTY!  You made beautiful things with your hands including a set of baby booties for Neeley.  You weren't really making them any more and were tickled that I asked you to make just one more pair! You made wonderful memories for Jeremy with things like your surprise ice cream, trips to the nature center, sleepovers and mowing your lawn.  Your seat on the couch misses you but not as much as the rest of us do.  The other day when we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa and they weren't home, Kayla looked at me and said, "But Grandma Great, where is she?"  You have been a constant for us and that house sure seems empty without you there.

Wanda Stanger Dopp

January 12, 1919 to January 25, 2009