Little Wonders

Shawn found me a picture!

I am looking forward to having some time to write a post about the past couple weeks and the wonderful experience of going with my daughter to the temple.  (We paid a professional photographer to take pictures, I didn't even bother bringing my camera.  So sadly I have no pictures of the occasion for 3-4 weeks.)

Overall it was an incredible, wonderful experience.  Seeing Jocelyn with the man she loves, and watching them --blissfully unaware of the magnitude of this choice--taking the biggest step of their lives.  This is not to say that I don't agree with Jocelyn's choice in husband--rather the contrary.  I love and admire Alec--both in the choices he has made thus far in his life and in the way that he loves, laughs with and cares for my daughter.  He has a testimony of the gospel, is a returned missionary, is kind to Gavin and my other daughters, respects Shawn and I and comes from an incredible, loving family himself.

However I understand from my own previous naivety, how this choice--eternal marriage--affects every other choice in your life after it.  It is a really big, eternal, far reaching decision.  

It was wonderful, joyous, and a little melancholy being the mother of the bride, knowing that Jocelyn and Alec are off on their own life adventure, and that the majority of my parenting of her is finished.  

It was a  rich, rewarding experience to see my daughter who has made correct decisions all her life-- to follow the prophet's council, not date until she is 16, dress modestly, and listen to the Holy Ghost-- walk into the temple on Saturday morning.  She was glowing, her eyes bright, and her spirit brimming with happiness.  On the way out to greet their waiting guests after the sealing, she couldn't contain her excitement, and skipped down the hallway--the word giddy seemed to fit the new couple precisely.

There were several amusing and slightly irreverent moments.  Including coming back into the locker room of the temple-- fresh from the sealing--to find the alarm on my phone ringing from the locker. (ahh the sound override of my alarm program and I have a love/hate relationship.)  The alarm music playing one of my favorite songs as I tore into my locker and temple bag trying to stop the music.

The hardest part is over, 

Let it in,

Let your clarity define you 

In the end

We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made

from these small hours,

These twists and turns of fate,

Time falls away,

But these small hours,

Still remain.

Right now I am focusing on cleaning up from guests and festivities, returning items borrowed for the reception, and taking down Christmas decorations.  

Maybe next week I will have time to share a couple of specific experiences.  Including what I think about preparing your child to go to the temple, the an incredible gift it is to be surrounded by family, the role of the mother of the bride as I see it looking back, and a few questions about party etiquette from Christmas and wedding experiences.

But for now we bask in the success of getting through the past couple months, and seeing our daughter and new son-in-law (or as Gavin introduces him "My brother") make that wonderful/exciting transition from single to married, befitting the song Little Wonders.