Mother of the Bride

I am the mother of the bride. Jill is getting married in 11 days. The wedding planning has really gone mostly smoothly. She knew she was getting married in May, got engaged in June, and she is getting married in October so we have had lots of time to get things ready. Jill is really good about researching options for wedding dresses, photographers, flowers, etc and then arrangements can be made. I feel like things are coming along.

The last couple days I have worried a bit more if everything is ready. Today I felt more worry and uneasiness if everything would work out. I was trying to work on the slideshow and it wasn't working. I tried to do my hair a different way to practice for the wedding, and it wasn't working. Jill and Larsen were planning to get pre-wedding bridal pictures taken today, and the veil wasn't done and some other glitches with her hair and make-up for today.

Then we were driving to church, and Hanna text me and said she had been puking all night. And we got to church and the opening hymn was, "I Have Work Enough To Do," and I thought, yes I do. I'm not sure it will all come together.

Church was good and I felt a bit better. I made progress on the slideshow this afternoon.

We went to the seminary fireside tonight, and some friends told me that there is a high school football game in Lethbridge the night of our reception here. So then all of the worry came back again, and I wondered what if we put in this work and no one comes. It is also Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.

The fireside was really good. Earlier at church, I thought that I needed a pep talk from Char Olsen. She is a good friend in our ward who had 3 children get married this summer. So I just needed her to tell me that it would all work out.  Jackie Olsen, another friend, and Char's sister-in-law was also there at the fireside, so I told them I needed a pep talk. It was just what I needed.

Char told me that it would all work out. She told me that I needed to tell Satan to get behind me. Jackie told me I should get a priesthood blessing (which I did when I got home), and that I can ask for angels to assist me. Char also told me that when she was sitting in the sealing room waiting for the bride and groom to come in (for both her daughters) she felt some guilt that she hadn't spent more time preparing for that moment and for that ordinance. She had spent more time thinking about the napkins (and other preparations). She said that as you sit in the sealing room and listen to the words of the sealing ordinance watching your own daughter at the altar, all of the other things melt away and don't seem as important. She also said that on the day of the wedding, the bride and groom don't care about the little things either - they are just excited to be married.

Then she told me that she had a tied quilt that she was giving to Jill for her wedding. I realized that people love Jill and we will feel loved even if they can't come to the reception because they live far away or will be at a football game.

Char's third wedding and reception this summer were scheduled to be outside at her house. They had spent so much time and effort getting everything ready. The night before the wedding, it was pouring rain. I drove past and Char was out in the pouring rain in a hoody mowing the grass by the driveway. I was so worried for them that it would rain again on the wedding day. It turned out to be absolutely perfect weather. She said it was because so many people prayed for them.

So I am thankful tonight for the peace of the Saviour and of good friends and good family. So from Char and Jackie, I learned to have faith, that it will all work out even if you have to mow the lawn in the rain, to not spend so much time worrying about the napkins, and that we are loved.

Jill and Larsen went to Zions National Park and were really happy with how everything turned out - the location, hair, dress, photographer, etc.

Hanna is feeling a little better and got to hear Elder Jeffery R. Holland speak to all of the young adults in Logan.

Austin gave me a blessing to have peace, to feel love, to ask for help from my friends, and to get everything accomplished and to prioritize the things that we need to get done.

Lucy went and got her scriptures and read this to me - John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."