Wedding Photos

Finally!  We have wedding photos from Lyndy and Nik's wedding.  We were waiting for them from the photographer.  Several guests took great photos that they shared with us as well.  Thanks Laura and Chris :-D.

It seems like their wedding was yesterday,,,,, when it was exactly 3 months ago.... wait.....no... 3 months..... how can that be?


Sept. 11, 2009-  Dec. 11, 2009.

Yes, it was 3 months ago.  How time flies!

If you had told Nik last Christmas that in a year he would be celebrating his next Christmas as a newlywed, he would have laughed at the thought.  If you had told Lyndy that in less than a year she would finish her degree and be married, she would have scoffed at the idea.

Love has a way of turning us into believers.

We are so happy for the newyweds.  They are enjoying being married; loving each other more and more; learning about each other, sharing dreams and hopes, tears and fears, knowing they are in this together, as an eternal couple.  Growing.  Laughing. Loving.  What more can you ask for?

A Tribute to Leroy

On Friday I received news that my uncle Leroy had passed away. He has been on hospice care, so we all knew his time on earth was limited. Mortal life had become a constant state of pain for him. The meds he was on obscured his thinking at times. Yet, through it all, he would be the one asking how someone else was doing or inquiring about another's welfare.

He was a newly wed, relatively speaking. He had married Bette two years ago. They were married in the beautiful, simple, country church he grew up in, as was my mother. She, too, was married in this church, on the corner of corn fields and gravel roads, in rural Nebraska. My uncle was married in September- the second weekend in September- (on my sister Laura's birthday). It is the same week-end my daughter is getting married this year.

I was able to make it to his wedding. I loved being a part of the family celebration for such a joyous event. To see the people come from far and near to help celebrate the new union because of their love for this couple was heart-warming. I soon learned, though, the extent of that love. Coming to the wedding and celebrating at the reception was a great sacrifice for the Nebraskans. The wedding was on the night of the University of Nebraska game against USC. The UN fans gave up their stadium seats for a folding chair in the reception hall of Peace Lutheran Church. This was true friendship and family love! They snuck in a radio to the kitchen, though. At least they could keep track of the score between bites of cake and swigs of fruit punch. I did not advertise to the group my affiliation wth California (where I live) or dare root for USC! Uncle Leroy acknowledged their love of him and the sacrifice they made to help him celebrate his wedding. Watching all of this made me realize what a slice of Americana was before me. This felt like a different time, a different era, and yet, it was in the here and now. It was a blessing to be a part of this.

This is how I will remember my uncle; dancing at his wedding, with a smile and a song, and an apology to his friends for getting married on a game night. Here's to you, Leroy Hinz.

Graduation time!

June was a very exciting month for Lyndy! She received her Master’s in Social Work from California State University East Bay on June 11, 2009 (exactly 3 months before her wedding). She was very excited to have completed her Master’s Degree. She had worked hard for two years to complete her degree. She worked part time while she completed her degree. She also had two internships as a part of her training. A master’s research project was part of the graduation requirement as well. All these things combined to make Lyndy one busy girl! Add falling in love and getting engaged to the mix, and you can see why Lyndy was glad to finish her degree. :-)

We are all very happy and excited for her. She is excited about her career and the myriad paths she can choose. Right now she will be working with the same agency she has been with for the past few years, directing the interns. It gives her a chance to implement new ideas and trainings.
It also gives her time to do the next thing on her agenda, finish planning a wedding. :-D

God's Hand in Our Lives

Tonight as I was preparing a lesson for next week for the young women at church on keeping a journal, I ran across a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring in 2007. I had forgotten about this talk. This talk was my inspiration for starting this blog. President Eyring shared with us how keeping a journal over the years had benefited him. He gave this counsel;

“Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life …? ….And then..find a way to preserve that memory for the day that [you], and those that [you] love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him.”

We can see the Lord's hand in our lives. We can see the way our lives are touched by others, or how we might respond to a prompting and touch another's life.

I was reading over the book I made for Nicola when she turned 18. It has journal entries from before and during the time she was adopted. I cry even now when I read those entries and remember the joy we felt when that tiny, precious child was placed in our arms. I am so grateful I recorded the thoughts of my heart at that time.

We knew God's hand was touching our lives at that time. Each day we can lose sight of the gifts sent to us from above, the care and tenderness of our Father above, and, as Pres. Eyring says, God's hands in our lives. Now, it is time to record the precious moments of Noah's life, and how it touches ours. Now it is time to record the courage and faith Lynn has as she faces cancer. Now is the time to acknowledge God's hand- we each have this to share and preserve.

Wedding Bells are Ringing!

Have you heard the news! Our lovely daughter has found her Prince Charming! Nikolas and Lyndy are getting married in the fall: September 11, 2009. Yes, they know that is a red letter day. They want to make it a memorable day for joyous reasons! They are getting married at the Oakland Temple.

We are busy planning a wedding. Lyndy is busy trying to complete her degree. Stay tuned! Pictures and more plans to come!