We have worked hard to pull off two receptions for those cute young people. One here in St. George on Tuesday, July 26th, and the other in American Fork on Thursday, July 28th. Then following their marriage we stayed at the temple for about an hour and had photos taken, and then we moved to the Northampton House in American Fork for a luncheon together with their guests of about 100 people. At the end of that beautiful luncheon of a chicken or steak main dish, garlic mashed potatoes, a carrot, cauliflower and broccoli mixed vege, roll, and then a piece of bunt cake. We handed out white balloons, and as the kids ran to their car, the white balloons descended into the sky with notes of love and best wishes tied to their strings. It was a beautiful image for me of our Chandler flying! He is on his own.
It is Saturday afternoon, and I find myself here for a few minutes of time we can't hardly believe to fill with something new. There are many details not mentioned here, but miracles have been abundant and we are deeply grateful!
Brad says his favorite parts of the week include: Sealings in the temple for names on our own line on Wednesday afternoon with our adult kids. They did about 50 names together with Brad, Jed, Annie, Chandler, and Liesl present.
Monday we spent at Lake Powell together with everyone on the boat. Well, kind of. Sara broke her arm about 9:00 in the morning, and so Sara and I took off to hospitals to have her taken care of, but the others enjoyed the rest of the day together. Sophia reported that she skied for a whole 10 minutes. Stephen rode the tube. Jakob wake boarded and slalom skied, and Chandler threw his back flip successfully several times (4-5 times they say). Jed has fully recovered from his biking accident where he broke his neck, one year ago this week, and he didn't hold onto the rope for the landing, but he successfully flipped and landed upright twice. Scary! I wish he would hold off for a bit longer. I am grateful he is fully recovered!
We both loved the wedding luncheon complete with the balloon send off. The luncheon began with Brad inviting everyone to kneel down by the table, and join in a beautiful prayer. He said he had asked Craig, Haley's dad, if he could give the opening prayer, and he challenged him to do it Harr style. What a beautiful blessing that was! It was a beautiful moment, not rushed, to kneel together and tell our Heavenly Father thank you for the blessings promised in the temple, for the abundance that we enjoy. At the end, he taught everyone our "summit" cheer together with a challenge to summit the next mountain when we reach one summit. Surely Chandler has reached a summit if monumental proportions and now he begins the next climb.
We enjoyed the wedding luncheon with the guests. There the families put together a "survival kit" for the spouse of their family. So we gave Haley a Ponkocker pan and flipper so she could continue that tradition. We gave her a foam pad for their adventures. A knife and cutting board made by our family, a warning that our family enjoys many project types of things together. Brin and Sara made her a Harr family cookbook complete with an apron so she is prepared to make yummy treats for our Chandler. We found a funny scale so she could hook it on his collar to see when he is on empty so she could "feed the beast." We shared a box of Muscle Milk, and the traditional camp table that we got for our wedding from the Harr side of the family.
They presented Chandler with a bag of Zesty Cheetos, a bottle of Cholula hot sauce, with cute stories about Haley loving those. They gave him a plumbing toolbox packed by his new Grandpa Jensen, because Haley has clogged the drain with her hair for years. We are sure that is a combination of the girls in her family, but it was cute! They gave him a marker and some spray paint, and shared a cute story about the importance of banners and celebrations for birthdays. They made a darling poster of 5 P's. They shared that they learned that Chandler was Chanley P. They thought the P was for Perfect, but we think it came from President Anderson's talk at his mission farewell being Chanley P for Pro and Chandler corrected them. That doesn't matter, they have called him Chandley Perfect and I am sure that will stick. They requested 5 P's of taking care of their Haley would include: Priesthood, Posters, Plumbing, Protection and Providing.
For each of these they gave him a little something, 2 ties for Priesthood. A cute Poster that read "Chandley and Haley Perfect Forever" They gave him $1. to begin his charge to Provide. They gave him an umbrella and a flash light to Protect them from the darkness and elements. It was really cute. Then her mom, Alesia shared tender stories about Haley and them falling in love.
It was a beautiful evening. Brad shared a challenge for them to keep Christ the center of their marriage. Chandler went last and shared his testimony of the importance of the Book of Mormon in their relationship. He shared a leather covered Book of Mormon with Haley for Christmas right after she got home. Then when they started dating, they decided to read a few verses together every day. At some point this spring their relationship started having some doubts and Chandler realized that they had stopped reading together and they decided they were missing that together. When that resumed, then the problems dissipated and the love continued to grow. I am so grateful for him! He is such a pure, clean young man who radiates the love of God. I am grateful for him! We welcome with open arms beautiful Haley into our family! She is beautiful and strong, and we are grateful she will be Chandlers bride forever!
Best of Wishes for both of them! Love you Chandler & Haley! We Celebrate YOU!!!