Eight Years

On Saturday, JB and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. It's difficult to believe it's been that long! But it's been a wonderful ride, and it seems to get better with each passing day. She is my ride-or-die, all that and a bag of chips, and every other cliche I might be able to muster.

To commemorate the occasion, we traveled up to the Syracuse temple—our first time at this beautiful House of the Lord—for a sealing session. In doing so, we revisited our covenants and also our  bounteous blessings.

Afterward, we enjoyed lunch together at Red Robin. Then, we returned home to hurkdle-durkle—a Scottish term meaning "to lounge or linger," a phrase that has lately become a favorite of ours (lest I be misunderstood)—together for the remainder of the day. Among other activities, we watched an old favorite, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which I am legally required by the Disney Corporation to state is now streaming on Disney+.

Dallin's & Eliza's Wedding

Our year of four weddings and two funerals concluded Saturday as our nephew Dallin was sealed to his lovely bride, Eliza, at the beautiful new Saratoga Springs temple. As far as August weather goes, it was actually milder than most, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

Following the sealing and a hillion jillion pictures, we congregated at Fox Hollow Golf Clubhouse in American Fork for the ensuing wedding dinner, which featured baked chicken, rolls, and salad. Four-year-old Sadie sat at our table, showing off her new cast here:

Throughout the day, we were surrounded by family, new family (the Corbins), and friends. 

The reception was also at the golf club. JB worked very hard to prepare the wedding cake:

Goodies provided included popcorn and a candy bar ((Sour Patch Kids, M&Ms, caramels, gummi bears, etc.) for snacks. There was dancing. There was almost a limbo contest until I realized that that particular decoration is called a wedding arch instead of a limbo bar (I shoulda got a picture of it).

Smiles abounded all day long, because it was a joyous day, indeed. We are grateful that Dallin found Eliza and that she is now part of our family.

Olivia's & Caleb's Wedding

Last week, our niece Olivia was sealed to her husband, Caleb, in the beautiful Taylorsville temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of course, you know that Fun Aunt and Uncle were there for the occasion and for the festivities that followed.

It was a beautiful ceremony on a beautiful summer day in a beautiful place. Both bride and groom looked so happy all day long.

The reception was held later that evening at the Bountiful Central Stake pavilion, adjacent to Bountiful High School. We were greeted by a railing lined with photos and other memorabilia charting the happy couple's relationship over the years.

There was also this quilt, which attendees were invited to write an entry on. JB, whom I'll admit has much better handwriting, wrote something for the both of us. Presumably, this quilt would then be made into an actual quilt and given to the newlyweds.

There was also an ice cream bar—the perfect recipe for one of the many hot Utah summer days we've been passing through.

All told, it was a wonderful day spent with a wonderful couple and many of our family members and friends.

Jenna's & Max's Wedding

Our niece Jenna was sealed to Max on Saturday, April 13, in the Draper temple. It was a beautiful spring day with beautiful weather, and the popcorn was definitely popping on the trees.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a family friend of the Woodburys (he was Jenna's grandparents' mission president in San Diego), performed the sealing. He gave some very wise words of counsel along with the ordinance. But he was also not the only General Authority in the room. Kristin Yee, second counselor in the general Relief Society presidency, was also there. (She had previously served as one of Jenna's Young Women leaders.)

So, we basically had all of the famous people there. We also had this whole group of folks:

The sealing was only the beginning of our long day! We then congregated in the cultural hall at Dave's and Jessica's meetinghouse in Woods Cross for a wedding luncheon. We were served a delicious meal, catered by Cafe Zupas.

The day was capped off with a wedding reception at the lovely Eldredge Manor in West Bountiful, where Biz and Jeff's reception was held nearly 16 years ago! Way back then, Jenna was a five-year-old bridesmaid (seen here on the right, with five-year-old Kenna and nine-year-old Madison):

The refreshments at Eldredge consisted of a wonderful waffle and crepe bar. (We were basically spoiled all day long.)

JB worked very hard on the baking the wedding cake, which turned out like this:

Of course, a family wedding wouldn't be complete without our getting to take a picture along with the bride and groom:

The evening concluded with a lot of dancing, after which the bride and groom hustled off on a plane ride to Hawaii.

We are happy for Jenna and are also grateful to have Max as a new member of the family. The future is bright for these two.

Kylee's & Talin's Wedding

Our 25-year-old niece Kylee was married Thursday night to her husband, Talin, in a lovely ceremony held at beautiful Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City. The early-autumn night weather was sunny and cool and basically perfect for the occasion.

Also, JB baked the cake! Kylee has some gluten-related and other dietary restrictions, so she couldn't ask just anyone to bake it. I may be a bit biased, but I think JB did a phenomenal job.

The kids had a lot of stuff around to keep them entertained, and among other things, they enjoyed wandering around and checking out the various birds in the area.

Kylee looked extraordinarily happy all evening, which really was the most important part as far as we were concerned.

We've not so much as lost a niece as we've gained another nibling. It's a bit of a strange moment when your oldest (and first) niece reaches this moment in life. They grow up so fast! We're anticipating there will hopefully be a few other weddings in the near future.

Janae's & Jeff's Wedding

A few weeks ago, we had the blessing of attending Jana's friend Janae's temple sealing to her new husband, Jeff. It was our first opportunity to attend a sealing for the living since our own 5+ years ago, and it happened to take place at the same temple (Bountiful).

An added bonus was that the sealer for this ordinance was my dad's friend, Lonnie Gleed, whom I had not seen for a number of years.

Five Years

On April 18, we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary. What a wonderful ride it has been, and it only gets better with each passing day. I can't wait for the next five, and the next five, and the next ...

Incidentally, this sign was hand-crafted for us by Tony, a dear family friend who became like family to us over the years. He passed away last year, and unfortunately we were not able to attend the viewing or funeral due to a possible COVID infection among some family members. (We had to quarantine for a few days.) It remains a daily reminder in our home not only of our sealing date but also of his goodness and generosity.

Madison's & Wyatt's Wedding

On Saturday, JB and I joined a number of other family and extended family members for the wedding of our cousin Madison to her husband, Wyatt. Madison is our second cousin (youngest daughter of Scott and Claudia).

It was a lovely service held at the Provo library, followed by dinner for all assembled. We got to see many of our Sanders cousins there, as well as Claudia's parents and family. Plus, we got out of town before the crowds came into town for the BYU/Arizona State game ... so, double bonus!

Our Reception

So! As you recall from my previous post, JB and I got married last month. What inevitably follows is a reception (because this is Utah after all, and we do weddings big), and ours was held Saturday, April 21, at the Centerville tabernacle.

Family and friends from all walks of life showed up to wish us well. It was a beautiful spring evening, and the company was wonderful, too. Some friends I had not seen in person for decades, and it was great catching up with everyone.

Before the reception officially started, we gathered for family photos. Here are yours truly and JB with 13 of the 14 Plowman nieces and nephews (niblings):

This was our cake:

. . . which neither JB nor I smashed into each other's face, as per previously agreed-upon rules.

Toward the end of the reception, there was dancing. Here's JB and me during our first dance:

. . . and here's the family and friends joining in on doing "The Hustle" to the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive":

For those family members and friends reading this who may not have made it there, you were there with us in spirit. We are grateful for each one of you and for all of those who lent a hand to put together a fantastic evening and beginning to our marriage. We have been floored by the number of incredible gifts that were given so thoughtfully by so many of you.

Our Big Day

So . . . we got married three weeks ago. (I'm still catching up with a few major life events.)

JB and I were sealed April 18 in the Bountiful temple by Elder John K. Carmack, emeritus member of the Seventy (and also a good friend of Dad's). The majority of our immediate families, a few cousins, and a few close friends were present for the occasion.

It was a beautiful day, both inside and outside of the temple.

Naturally, it couldn't be a Plowman family event unless we posed for an Eagle Eye picture (me together with my siblings here):

Six-month-old Tanner was rather intrigued by JB's necklace:

Overall, it was an incredible, unforgettable experience that I'll always treasure. I'm in awe of my beautiful bride and hopeful for the future that awaits us both.

No Fooling

One of the last movies I saw in the theater before leaving on my mission (in case you've not been keeping up with Paco Nation, I'm old, folks), was Forrest Gump, and I went to see it with Mom. *SPOILER ALERT* After Jenny's death and the very somber ending, Mom turned to me as the credits began to roll and said, "I wish I could introduce them (presumably Forrest and Forrest Jr.) to the missionaries right at that moment."

This is just the kind of person Mom was and is. That's how her mind works.

Fast forward to earlier this week when, on my day off work, and while recovering from a bout of the Martian Death Flu, I watched the last few episodes of "Parenthood," a TV drama I did not watch when it originally ran on TV but which I've been following over the past few months on Netflix. In the final episode, which may be one of the all-around greatest TV episodes and finales ever produced, so many things wrapped around my heart like an anaconda, and I was bawling like a baby during the final 15 or 20 minutes. *SPOILER ALERT* What hit home most was (1) the grandfather/patriarch of the family passing away and (2) Sarah's and Hank's wedding, which was beautifully done. Most if not all of the main characters' (and even some of the supporting characters') story lines also wrapped up rather well in the process.

JB and I are in the middle of our own wedding preparations as I write this. So, of course, my brain goes there only several hundred times each day right now. It's getting real at this point. I picked up my suit just a few days ago. This is actually happening, I have to keep reminding myself. So, my heart was there with Sarah and Hank as they tied the knot.

Beyond that, though: As the four adult children and widow grieved for their departed father, I went mentally and spiritually where Mom went with the ending of Forrest Gump. Basically, I wanted to hug them and tell them: I've been where you've been. I've lost my father, too. I know your heartache. But I also know the peace, "which passeth all understanding," that only the gospel brings. This life is not the end. You can see him again!

I'm incredibly grateful for the gospel plan by which families can be sealed not for this life only but for eternity, as well, if we are faithful and give our whole souls to the great gospel plan. Because of it and because of our Savior's sacrifice, this incredible blessing is ours for the asking. And unlike the plots of both Forrest Gump and "Parenthood," this concept isn't just a neat story. It's not just something that makes me smile when I am down or a good idea. Though today is also April Fool's Day, it is most certainly no joke. It's everything! And it's what keeps me going day by day.

It being Easter Sunday, I'm reminded that Dad passed away last year just a few, short hours before the dawn of Easter morning 2017. Though it's not chronologically been a year yet, it was still last Easter, and this Easter brings with it memories of that sorrowful night. It also brings with it a reminder of the truly great gift the Savior gave to us all.

Getting Mad?

"Mad Hatter: 'Have I gone mad?'
Alice: 'I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret: All the best people are.'"
 -Tim Burton's Johnny Depp Starring as the Mad Hatter of Wonderland, Also Featuring a Character Named Alice Sometimes, but Mostly Johnny Depp: Electric Boogaloo, 2 Furious, Etc., Etc.

Some years ago, I came home from a day of school and then work to the news that one of my younger siblings had become engaged to be married to the person who is now my sister-in-law. After springing the news on me, this person's next question surprised me: "Are you mad?"

I say that this question was surprising because, well, the term mad never entered my brain at any stage in the process. This person, of course, did not mean mad in the Mad Hatter sense of mad, but the angry kind of mad.

Are older siblings supposed to get mad when a younger sibling ties the knot? I tried to consult the sibling handbook and couldn't find anything.

I suppose this happens sometimes for some people. If it didn't, we wouldn't have a number of Lifetime movies on the subject of the fury of a woman scorned and then going bat-crud crazy, or of a man who's some weirdo psycho stalker creep who rummages through a girl's trash and then places her discarded yogurt cups under his pillow when he goes to sleep at night.

As we head in to the Valentine's Day season (yes, folks, it's already coming), I've begun to see some cynicism creep up from my fellow single adults about the whole messy thing. And I understand where they're coming from. I get it, because I've wandered into places like that. I've glanced at others finding sought-for happiness and then compared myself to the situation, feeling lonelier still.

It's not very constructive. There's so much anger, cynicism, and negativity floating around out there in the world, and this is not a pleasant place to linger long(er).

When all is said and done, however, it does my heart and my soul a great deal of good to see family members, friends, and acquaintances find what they're desiring most, and it is especially heartwarming to see it among my fellow mid-singles. These are some of my very favorite things to see on my social media feeds. At these times, I am far, far from mad. Yes, even Paco is a bit of a romantic at heart at times like these.

President Boyd K. Packer taught:

"Watched over by a kind and loving Heavenly Father, (we) will not, in the eternal pattern of things, be denied blessings necessary for (our) exaltation, including marriage and family. And it will be sweeter still because of the waiting and the longing."

Take heart, my friends. If they're not currently visible in your life, I believe that great things are around the corner for us all if we keep moving forward in all of the faith and patience we can muster, even if it's just a centimeter or two ahead some days.

Am I bonkers, though? The answer to that question is easy for those who know me best. Stay tuned for a blog post on that . . . sometime.

Ashlyne's and Jordan's Wedding

Over the weekend, my cousin Ashlyne got married to Jordan in the Salt Lake temple. Yet another Jordan in the family!

But that's great news, because we really like Jordan and were happy to partake in the day's festivities. It also gave me a chance to break in my new phone's new camera.

It was a very cold but otherwise beautiful day.

During the sealing ceremony, Meikayla tended four-month-old Daniel and rocked him to sleep:

Afterward, we convened at a chapel in Draper for the wedding luncheon, which included either corn chowder or chili in bread bowls: