On our wa
y home from my mom's house on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m., I commented to Brent that it had been a really great day. We started out the morning (early) with a temple sealing session with Mom, my brothers Cash and Jared, and my sisters-in-law Marisa and Maren. We also had Maren's sister and brother-in-law, and our great family friends, Jayne and Darrin Heaps. The session was wonderful, as it's always good to be in the temple with family.
After the temple we came home to prepare for evening festivities. Brent and my brothers picked the boat up after a tune-up at the shop, so they were ready to hit the lake. Good thing they have a 70 degree condition placed by Marisa, or we would have had Easter festivities without the men. Instead, all those big boys, including Dalin, had to hide 84 Easter eggs in Mom's back yard, and then we turned the kids loose. They scoured the yard, although they didn't have to look too hard because after finding a couple of stray eggs a couple of summers ago while mowing Mom's lawn, the men decided that most of the eggs would be in plain sight. No more plastic egg shrapnel all over the yard. . . . We had a ham and funeral potato Easter dinner and spent the rest of the evening just enjoying each other's company and watching March Madness (sorry about the Aggies, Cash). My cousin Linda and I hung some things down mom's hall for her, and the kids played outside most of the day. Even the four- and five-year-olds got along swimmingly, so the day was darn near perfect. Thanks to my mom for always hosting the big, crazy party. We found out that my cousin Kathy and family (hubby Kevin and girls Hannah and Breanna) will be moving to Utah in May where Kevin will be managing a construction project. We love and miss them, and it won't be the same without them here. I hate it when life happens like that. . . .
On Sunday, the whole family gathered again at our church building to see Dalin ordained an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We met in a large room where men that Dalin loves and admires placed their hands on his head while his mom cried. During the beautiful blessing that Brent gave Dalin, I couldn't help but run a mind-film of my son's life. I concluded that while Dalin has his faults, my son has always been an obedient, easy child, very sensitive to things of the spirit and full of faith. I am wonderfully blessed to have such a son and such a husband worthy to bestow the gift of the priesthood on his son. No wonder I was crying! The only thing that would have made the day more perfect is if Dalin's grandfathers had been here. I know that one of them was watching and smiling from another realm, and the other was praying for Dalin and wishing he were here. We missed you, Dads. I also know that my brother Jay would have given his right arm to be here, and I missed him terribly. Dalin wished Jay could be here, too, and he is lucky to know that his uncle loves him.
Dalin Brent Gunnell was ordained an Elder by his father, J. Brent Gunnell, on March 23, 2008. Participating in the ordinance and standing in the circle were the following: Bishop James Aydelotte, Brother Hogg (ward high councilor), my brothers Cash and Jared Hill, my cousin Kevin Lamb, and our home teachers John Patterson and Dennis Beckman.
As I reflect on this time in my life, other than feeling old, I can only feel gratitude to the Lord for placing me on the earth in the hands of parents who honored and honor their covenants and by so doing have made me part of their celestial family. Also, every time I look at my husband, I am overwhelmed by love for an amazing man who leads our family in righteousness and loves me despite my faults. Brent comes from a family who loves the Lord and the gospel and taught him to do the same. What an awesome heritage my children have! Thank you Mom, Dad, and Mom and Dad Gunnell.
y home from my mom's house on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m., I commented to Brent that it had been a really great day. We started out the morning (early) with a temple sealing session with Mom, my brothers Cash and Jared, and my sisters-in-law Marisa and Maren. We also had Maren's sister and brother-in-law, and our great family friends, Jayne and Darrin Heaps. The session was wonderful, as it's always good to be in the temple with family.After the temple we came home to prepare for evening festivities. Brent and my brothers picked the boat up after a tune-up at the shop, so they were ready to hit the lake. Good thing they have a 70 degree condition placed by Marisa, or we would have had Easter festivities without the men. Instead, all those big boys, including Dalin, had to hide 84 Easter eggs in Mom's back yard, and then we turned the kids loose. They scoured the yard, although they didn't have to look too hard because after finding a couple of stray eggs a couple of summers ago while mowing Mom's lawn, the men decided that most of the eggs would be in plain sight. No more plastic egg shrapnel all over the yard. . . . We had a ham and funeral potato Easter dinner and spent the rest of the evening just enjoying each other's company and watching March Madness (sorry about the Aggies, Cash). My cousin Linda and I hung some things down mom's hall for her, and the kids played outside most of the day. Even the four- and five-year-olds got along swimmingly, so the day was darn near perfect. Thanks to my mom for always hosting the big, crazy party. We found out that my cousin Kathy and family (hubby Kevin and girls Hannah and Breanna) will be moving to Utah in May where Kevin will be managing a construction project. We love and miss them, and it won't be the same without them here. I hate it when life happens like that. . . .
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On Sunday, the whole family gathered again at our church building to see Dalin ordained an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We met in a large room where men that Dalin loves and admires placed their hands on his head while his mom cried. During the beautiful blessing that Brent gave Dalin, I couldn't help but run a mind-film of my son's life. I concluded that while Dalin has his faults, my son has always been an obedient, easy child, very sensitive to things of the spirit and full of faith. I am wonderfully blessed to have such a son and such a husband worthy to bestow the gift of the priesthood on his son. No wonder I was crying! The only thing that would have made the day more perfect is if Dalin's grandfathers had been here. I know that one of them was watching and smiling from another realm, and the other was praying for Dalin and wishing he were here. We missed you, Dads. I also know that my brother Jay would have given his right arm to be here, and I missed him terribly. Dalin wished Jay could be here, too, and he is lucky to know that his uncle loves him.
Dalin Brent Gunnell was ordained an Elder by his father, J. Brent Gunnell, on March 23, 2008. Participating in the ordinance and standing in the circle were the following: Bishop James Aydelotte, Brother Hogg (ward high councilor), my brothers Cash and Jared Hill, my cousin Kevin Lamb, and our home teachers John Patterson and Dennis Beckman.
As I reflect on this time in my life, other than feeling old, I can only feel gratitude to the Lord for placing me on the earth in the hands of parents who honored and honor their covenants and by so doing have made me part of their celestial family. Also, every time I look at my husband, I am overwhelmed by love for an amazing man who leads our family in righteousness and loves me despite my faults. Brent comes from a family who loves the Lord and the gospel and taught him to do the same. What an awesome heritage my children have! Thank you Mom, Dad, and Mom and Dad Gunnell.
6 comments:
It *was* a good weekend -- thanks for capturing it so well! You've got great kids and they are such great examples for mine; I'm always so impressed with your mothering. (I wish mine was more mothering -- less smothering...).
Happy Easter!
an Elder? Wow. Your kids are all beautiful. What a fun weekend for you.
I agree-it was great! I am go thankful for all of my wonderful kids, grandkids,nieces, nephews and kids. I don't know how one person can be so lucky as to have you all in one family.
Your blog is quite amazing, honey!
Dalin, I am so proud of you and how you are preparing to go on a mission. Keep up the good work as an example to all of the younger kids. (Elder Gunnell-I like the sound of that)
Dugga, you know I have been depressed all week. I SO wish I could have been there to see you ordained an elder. I admire you and love you tremendously and I know that as you continue to seek the Lord's help, he will develop you into a great missionary, leader, husband and father. You could have no better example of a priesthood holder than your father. Watch him and his dedication to the Lord and his priesthood. Keep me posted on everything. School, mission, all that. I want to know. BTW, I am learning the harmonica and I am borrowing a trumpet from a friend so I can get my chops back in playing order. By the time you get back from your mission, maybe we can find a stand up bass player and put together a little jazz trio.
JeNeale, thanks for the post. You know if I could have I would have been there. I miss everyone terribly. Keep your eyes open for design jobs in the Northwest somewhere. I am dying to get home. Last night for FHE we talked about Elder Eyring's last conference talk and how he wrote every night about how the Lord had helped him that day, and then we sat down with the kids to help them write about stuff. Lacey of course, kind of got the idea, and asked Heavenly Father to bless London very tightly. She is so sweet. I love you and wish I could have been with you all on Easter. Holidays are the hardest.
PS-I'm glad you liked the portrait. I was a labor of love.
Some of my favorite Dalin memories:
1. Dalin was always so kind to the fellas when they were little. They grew up with a great interest in and consideration for children and I believe much of that is the result of a great example. They were shown such respect and friendship as little folk by a big boy they admired.
2. Topher was actually potty-trained by Dalin. He had only one accident after he watched Dalin aim for the Cheerio (sorry, Dalin. Just a figure of speech. I know there was no Cheerio involved but once again, you set a fine example. I am forever grateful.
3. Eating spider waffles at Grammy's counter
4. Making big tapioca pudding together in Grammy's kitchen
5. Ice skating in Salt Lake on Halloween and afterward trick or treating in the freezing cold.
6. Hearing Dalin bear testimony of how great EFY was and being so glad my boys could hear him
7. Hairdos - Ronan wants to grow his hair and has for almost 2 years because a friend at school has longish hair. One day he said, "But Dalin has long hair. Why can't I?" Shortly after that conversation, Dalin cut his hair. Ronan respected that.
8. Last summer watching you point with your lips like Dominicans do. I love this.
Thanks, Dalin, for enriching my life and being an example of the believers for my sons. Jay and I love you and are so excited about the man you are becoming.
You know that I love your family. What great memories and traditions you have. I am glad that you could be together for Easter and for all of the incredible events of the weekend.
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