Brrrrring....brrrrring...the ring...

Vic and mom chose mom's wedding ring online. Mom wanted just a plain band, but Vic insisted that she have something a little prettier. Mom was charged with figuring out her ring size. She took the job very seriously, but since there isn't a jeweler in town, she had to measure with paper then figure it out from the paper measurement. Which she did. Then she downloaded one of those paper ring sizer things with the little slot to slide through until you get to the right size. She measured over and over. Size 8, it said. Which seemed rather large, but it was consistant.

Here it is. isn't it lovely? Other than the photographer messing up and having a focus on the flower and not the ring (they oughta fire her!). But you get the idea:

And here's the back.

Not quite as lovely!  Vicki wrapped it up with medical tape at Blake's place so at least Mom could wear it for the day, but I think they have an extra errand to run this week, don't you?  Reminded Vic and Mom about the high school girls who would wear their boyfriend's school ring, wrapping tape around it to make it fit, as a symbol that they were going steady.

Since Mom and Vic will be going steady for eternity, I guess it's apt.

Just a note that Vic, who's first wife had suddenly passed away about six years ago, wore the wedding ring that she had given to him (since he rarely, if ever, wears a ring), and the girls all wore necklaces of their mother's.  I thought that was such a sweet honour and recognition of a wonderful woman who will always remain an integral part of their family.  I imagine that it was a bittersweet day for the girls, but they handled it with grace and hope and happiness.  A couple of comments in conversations with them made me see how Uvene's legacy of kindness and compassion lives on in her children, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better.

L

A Taste Of Thanksgiving

Food:

Friends:

Turkeys:

And turkey hats, which culminated in a performance in two acts:  The Turkey Boogy and The Pilgrims.  The Pilgrims included using Fynn as a turkey, chasing him around the room, putting him in the oven, then placing him on the table to eat.  Before the turkey took off.

I'm thankful that, when I spoke with hubby in the evening, that he was able to have a nice turkey dinner, too, and wasn't left on his own.  I'm thankful for friends who send leftovers! And naps, which I never seem to get but which I always hope for.  These are just a couple little things, but I indeed have so many blessings I couldn't possible fit them all here.  I hope everyone had as nice a day as we did! 

The day before

Knowing that the weather was going to be iffy on Saturday, we decided to head over to the temple on Friday to take a few photos.  On the way, we stopped at a place on the canyon with a little overlook. 

The view was amazing:

It's time for a...

White Wedding!

Yes, we woke up on Saturday morning to a bit of a winter wonderland, but by the time Mom and Vic came out of the temple the snow was all but gone, although it was pretty chilly and windy.

Their smiles, though, warmed everyone.

I have never seen Mom so beautiful and happy, and every look that Vic sends her direction tells her that he  has found joy, too. 

I know he'll be exactly what she needs.  A clue? 

 He's perfectly comfortable carrying her purse and pretty quilted bag.

Yes!

***

Will post more about it another day, but for now (after another crazy late night), I'm off to bed. 

Nighters!

L

Engagement shoot

Had the opportunity on the weekend to take some engagement photos for a friend of mine as a gift for her wedding.  I love taking engagement photos!  Love love love!  And I found this beautiful brick wall about five minutes from my house.  Yay!

I really need to start bringing my camera around with me again and get back to regular blogging.  In my defence, I left my point and shoot at a friend's in Canada, so until I get that back, I'll be hauling my DSLR.  And since the 365 project, I'm having trouble finding new and interesting ways to take photos.  AND I'm having the same focus problems.  Same story.  Excuses, excuses, excuses--I know, I know!

Anyway, here are a couple of  the photos from the weekend.

Lest We Forget

A change of pace today.  A friend of mine shared this on Facebook, and I thought it would be appropriate to share here.  Be sure to have a hankerchief handy. 

It makes our small daily sacrifices seem pale in comparison, doesn't it?

I heard somewhere that the word "Remember" is the most important word in the English language. 

Let's take some time to remember what happened at the 11th hour of the November 11, 1918, and to remember and honour those who have served and who continue to serve their countries in the armed forces.  It doesn't matter whether we agree with the politics behind any particular war.  The men and women who have given their lives in defense of their countries deserve our respect, as do those who continue to put their lives on the line every day towards the same aim.  Take a moment, a pittance of time, and remember.  It's the very least we should do.

**Note on the music**

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".

Back, around, over, and under

Taught Julia how to knit this evening. 

Now she's a knitting machine.

I think we might be getting scarves for Christmas.

The end.

A new addition

I'm pleased to report that our family is expecting...

A new father!

It's true.  My mom, who has been single for umpteen years and who we always dreamed and prayed and hoped would find someone who would treat her like the queen that she deserves to be, is getting married next month.  Rawther thrilling, I must say! What's better is that she's marrying someone that we knew and admired when he lived near our hometown when I was about nine years old until a teenager, 30 years or so ago.  He's a wonderful man who has made her giggle like a teenager, think deeply about things she's never really thought about before, hope for real joy in her life, and who has brought a sparkle to her eyes that I haven't seen before.

So, Sis and I will have seven new siblings and twenty-two nieces and nephews added to the ones we already have.  Mom goes from two children to nine in one fell swoop!  It will be so fun having new playmates, but I hope I won't have to share my room.  And if my favorite sweater goes missing...boy or boy will sparks fly!  teehee

Although I once knew who Vic's kids were, I didn't know them very well at all, since we didn't live in the same town and only had opportunities to socialize once in a blue moon for youth activities at church.  I was also a social goober, so really didn't make many friends at that age anyway.  I'm looking forward to meeting everyone again after all this time.

I'm not sure if mom caught it when she called me this morning with the news, but I was literally jumping up and down in my kitchen.  Dancing.  And I've been dancing with my feet and in my heart all day long.

Congratulations Mom and Vic! 

This isn't one of my photos (although I wish I could have taken photos of these two in the park!). 

The only stamp I've put on it is a bit of noise reduction, contrast, saturation, and vignetting in Lightroom.