September is National Preparedness Month

How many times have you put off buying emergency kits because you thought you would just do it on your own? If you’re like me it never happened. So I bought mine from Totally Ready and now at least I know I have that covered. It was nice the other day when our power went out for almost 24 hours and we used the glow sticks and flashlights when the sun went down. I also used mylar blankets during the day in my windows that get the most sun to reflect the heat out. They worked great and were nice and big for covering large windows and sliding doors. My Mom’s latest article, “30 More Days and 30 More Ways to be Prepared.” gives a list of all the things you can do to get prepared this month. I’m already behind, so you can catch up on last week with me, but this is what’s on tap for this week:

September 9th
As a family read “Members in Coalinga Respond to Earthquake” (Ensign, July 1983, 77–78). Mom and Dad should read the article “Ready to Go!” (Friend, Jul 2007, 8–11) and plan a similar exercise for Family Home Evening tomorrow.

September 10th
Hold a family home evening based on the article “”Ready to Go.”

September 11th
Evaluate your preparations to care for your pets.

1. Have you assembled 72-hour kits for your pets? These should include water, food, medications, up-to-date vaccination and other medical records, vaccination records, collar, toys, food and water dishes, and sanitation
2. Also be sure you have someone who will care for your pets, outside of your immediate neighborhood, if you need to leave your home.
3. Make a list of foods and medications you need for a 1 month supply for each pet.
4. Make a list of items you need to gather or purchase.

September 12th
Gather or purchase the items on your pet needs list and place them in a pet 72-hour kit.

September 13th
Place an extra set of important keys in adult 72-hour kits, safe deposit box, at work, next to your bed, and with a neighbor. Keys should include all cars, homes, homes of those you have promised to help evacuate, offices, recreational vehicles, mail boxes, and storage sheds.

September 14th
Add $10.00 to your coin bank for spending on emergency needs.

September 15th — Get the house ready:

1. If you live in hurricane country, take necessary measurements and purchase supplies needed to board up windows. Don’t forget screws and bolts. Take supplies home and pre-drill holes to make installation fast
2. If you live in earthquake or tornado areas, purchase items to strap your water heater and to secure large furniture items such as dressers and sideboards to walls, and then do it.
3. If you live in a flood area, purchase and place survival items in your attic. See Meridian articles: “Preparing for a Flood,” “Prepare Your Home for the Unexpected” and “Prepare to Evacuate!“.

In About Nine Years…

In about nine years I’ll be looking for dresses for dances, and entering the dating world with Emma… When we were back at my Mom’s for the wedding, she and Emma dug my wedding dress out of the closet, (I keep it there because we move so darn much and the train is long and bulky) and Emma just had to try it on. She looked so pretty in it and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed seeing her feeling beautiful in my dress. It was a moment where I thought, “wouldn’t it be fun if she wore this for her wedding too?” Then I snapped back to reality and thought by then the styles will have changed a few more times and I don’t think she’ll be interested. I can just hear Hunter now quoting, “I like your sleeves, they’re real big.”

With that day in the back of my mind I was looking through the website, Beautifully Modest and came across this dress that I just loved! If Emma, Hannah, or Sabrina were old enough and wanting it I would be seriously tempted. The price is a bit out of control, but I’m dreaming here… I love the belt, the colors, the flowing skirt and all of the sequins, so pretty and girly! They also have a wedding dress in this pattern, which I think is gorgeous too. I’ll file it away, and maybe in nine years I’ll be back!

A Very Merry Unbirthday

This messes things up a bit as far as dates go, but I just had to do a post about the Unbirthday Party we had with the cousins in Utah. We never get to celebrate with any of them because we are so far away, so I thought it would be fun to throw a party and celebrate with everyone at once. Melanie made a fancy cake and cupcakes, Heidi brought a delicious desserty fruit salad, Korby brought pinatas and goody bags, and Heather drove the 45 minutes with her 7 kids to be there too! We had a picnic dinner and the kids played in the park in between eating, hitting the pinatas, and opening presents. It was so much fun! Adler got stomp rockets that the kids had to try out right then, and we had a couple of rescue missions to get them off of roofs and out of trees. We’ll have to do it again!

Matt and Ashley’s Wedding Day

My brother Matt and Ashley were married and sealed in the Sacramento temple one day after Rob’s and my 11th Anniversary. It was a lovely ceremony, very peaceful and nice. I always enjoy going to weddings in the temple so I can be reminded of all of the wonderful blessings that come through my own marriage.

After the ceremony were all of the bazillion pictures outside. I think their photographer Kathy did a good job, and got some great shots. The kids were the best we could expect, and there were snacks to keep us busy in between photos. This photo is me, my parents, brother, and sister, with Matt & Ashley.

Then we went to our family friend’s home for a nice taco salad lunch and the kids got in some play time away from all of the reception prep. There were so many women at the house helping out and they even cleaned up and set up starting that morning while we were all gone to the temple. Thank goodness for good friends!

We topped off the day with a beautiful reception. The backyard looked amazing, and the weather was perfect. There were so many desserts to choose from that I couldn’t even try them all. Matt and Ashley took off for the coast afterwards, and the rest of us crashed! What a full day!

To get a true appreciation for the wedding day you may want to click on the gallery and view the entire album. There is a slideshow feature on the green bar at the bottom of the gallery page. The box says “album actions” click on that and pick “view slideshow”. You can then pick how long each picture shows for and the size etc. Ok, that said, I went a little camera crazy. There are just a ton of pictures and I couldn’t take the time to judge them all, so I posted almost everything.

Temples and Sealings

Because my next post is all about my brother’s wedding in a temple, I thought I’d post definitions for those who are unfamiliar with my faith:

Temples are literally houses of the Lord. They are holy places of worship where individuals make sacred covenants with God. Because making covenants with God is such a solemn responsibility, individuals cannot enter the temple to receive their endowments or be sealed in marriage for eternity until they have fully prepared themselves and been members of the Church for at least a year. Throughout history, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples.

Sealing– An ordinance performed in the temple eternally uniting a husband and wife, or children and their parents.

Setting Up for the Reception

On the day before Matt and Ashley’s wedding, all of the families came together for the setup in my parents’ back yard. Everyone worked really hard including Hunter who strung up lights with the guys, and Emma who was Nana’s “personal assistant.”

Matt and Ashley had a blast putting up the umbrella lights

Nana was supposed to be sitting in that wheelchair since she had two swollen ankles from her fall, but just couldn’t help herself

The kids kept busy with the bowling game in the entryway

Melissa and Emma frosting mini cupcakes

Centerpieces for the tables in the yard

Ashley’s Dad and brother Brady stringing up lights

Nana and Kate enjoying the yard after dinner

Hannah and Sabrina put on a hula dance show after dark

Dress Rehearsal

After many hours at the sewing machine, help in pattern reading from Heather and several calls to Mom, I have finished the dresses for the wedding! Sabrina’s is one that Heather gave to me, I added a belt and a bow and it works out so nicely! I don’t think I would have had the patience or time to make one for her too. I took pictures to get a feel for how the dresses and bows will look on the big day. I still need to attach the belts for Emma’s and Hannah’s dresses, and hair isn’t done so the look isn’t quite as crisp as it will be on the big day. We are so excited for Matt and Ashley and are preparing for our last road trip of the summer, whew!