Wedding weekend

This last weekend we had a double reason to celebrate!! My niece (Yes she is my niece, Even though she is 3 years older than me!lol) Serenity, was sealed to her husband, Jerry. It was such a wonderful thing to be a part of and I am so grateful that I was able to be there.

Still so very much in LOVE! I was excited to do their pictures for them.

Then the next day we went to the wedding for my nephew, Mosiah. (Serenity's brother) His brides name is Amy and she is a doll. We are glad to welcome her into the family! She had a photographer, but here are some of the pictures that I nabbed of my own. He is so absolutely in love with her. He was crying during the whole thing. I am so happy for you MO!

And here are some of my nephews and nephews in law with the father and stepfather. Left to right: Merric, Clint, Mosiah, Mike, Kaj, Reed, and Jerry!

Room For the Kiddies

I finally got my kids bedroom all decorated! It has only taken me 2 years!! lol. But I am quite pleased with it. The only thing that I didn't add that was in the plans originally was I was going to paint some pictures of the disney princesses to frame and put up, but I decided I am way to busy for that and if I waited to do that then I would never be finished! So here it is!

I really really like it because I used a lot of things that I have collected over the years from people who love me and my girls so I feel that I have in a way surrounded them with LOVE!

My obsession with fairies has been deep seeded for a long time so I have many statues that are beautiful and together they are breath taking! The middle one I bought in Brazil! The picture was painted by my young women's leader Judy Cooley, who is absolutely amazing and sales her art and has authored 2 books!!! She was my mentor and still holds a place in my heart. The butterfly "Best Friends" key chain I got from my niece, Stasia, who really has been my Best Friend the longest.

This side of the room is great, you can see the flower bows that my sister, Simcah, makes! They are so gorgeous and fun for little girls (of which I have pleanty). Also, next to the picture of Eliannah you can see the sand castle that she brought back for me from Hawaii when she was in High School. The book shelf actually used to be my brothers GIJoe fort but I painted it...lol...sorry brother! The dresser was mikes when he was lil.

We have been blessed to the max with blankets from loved ones. These aren't even all that we have! In the crib is one made by Simcah. The one on the back of the rocking chair is from Mike's Grandmother. And the one on the bottom was made by my wonderful sis in law, Kari. The rocking chair came from my sis in law, Becky, who has been the most wonderful and helpful friend that I could ask for. Truly a kindred spirit. And the adorable lion stuffed animal (which actually unfolds to become a pillow) was given from my sister Leah, who has the biggest heart toward children.

This last picture features the poster that my High School friend Lanaiah gave me...again with fairies. More blankets(On Tsadakah's bed): The bottom one which is Tinkerbell (The intended theme...ish) was made by my sis in law's sis in law, Shellece. The croche'd pink one at the end was made by my amazing mother, and the main one is the classic pillow patch quilt made by Simcah. If you don't know that story ask me the next time you see me. To sum it up, Simcah is the best quilter ever!

Well that about sums it up! There is the tour of my little ones' room.

A Time of Sorrow and Mourning

On Friday, July 31, I got a call from my mother informing me that my cousin's son, Cooper, died in a tragic car accident. It has been something that I cannot stop thinking about, or crying about. I feel so deeply for my cousins. I have been praying non-stop for them and their healing time. My Niece emailed me the blogsite for the family and in reading it I am glad to find how faithful they are. My heart still reaches out to them forever and my prayers will not cease.

Generally my way of healing is to write poetry. So I have written a poem. I hope that it accurately expresses my feelings.

Tonight I hold my children
Tonight I hear them laugh
Tonight I pray beside them
Instead of praying on their behalf

Tonight it seems so unfair
Tonight seems so unreal
Tonight my heart is breaking
For the reality seems so sereal

Tonight I cry for loved ones
Tonight I wish I could help
Tonight I wish to tell them
All the love God for them has felt

Tonight I know Christ is with them
Tonight I hope they feel Him there
Tonight may they know atonement
In the abundance He doth share

Tonight perhaps they'll doubt
Tonight they'll question "Why?"
Tonight they must learn to see things
Eternal, up beyond the sky

My sister, Shannah, also lost a son, Michael, at the age of 8 over 20 years ago and I know that this time has been perticularly difficult for her because she is feeling the pain all anew. I wrote a poem about that too, about 7 years ago which I have never shown her, but I thought that given the cercumstances I should add it aswell.

Suddenly,
it comes time.
Time to learn of tragedy.
Without warning
the words are spoken.
Nobody is ever expecting
to hear that
"Death has come."
How can a person
blurt the words out
without tenderness?
How can they not?

Suddenly,
it comes time.
Time to stop breathing.
It feels as though
the world should
drastically change.
Everyone,
just like you,
should stop.
But the world doesn't stop.
It was only
Your breathe.

I have never had to cope with the death first hand, so these poems reflect what I imagine it must feel like to lose a child. I am sorry if I have said the wrong things because I know that there are some times when a person is mourning that they don't want to hear. Like in Steal Magnolias when she says that she is in a better place because Shelly is in heaven and the mom says, "I don't want her in heaven I want her here!"

I believe that Cooper, Matthew and Michael, along with other ancestors who have past on before, have all been with their families this weekend and will continue to be, to help us who are left behind. There is a scripture that I can't find, but it says to not mourn for the spirit for it is with Christ, but to mourn for the lose of that life to this world. I think that this wonderful family has done such a beautiful job of that. You can tell by they things that they say that they understand that spiritually, Cooper is saved, and they are giving a wonderful memory to his time here with us.

I am grateful for the Gospel and for Jesus Christ and His atonement which makes it possible for all to return to God. Especiallly little children. And because he saved us from the grave we can understand when He meant when He said: "for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13.

It is my testimony that these things are true! My prayers and love are with them. If you would like to see pictures of this beautiful boys life here is the blogsite.
www.cooperkofford.blogspot.com