Back to School: BYU!!!

Back to school for Janelle and Bryton at BYU!! I can't remember why Bryton is dressed up in a suit and tie, but he had a reason (other than school starting, ha ha)! 

Gan en/Gratitude

Janelle and Bryton gave Rick and I a really special gift. It was a poem that Janelle wrote, with Calligraphy done by Bryton. The Chinese characters (gan en) mean "gratitude!" Love it! 

Janelle and Bryton at Lake Powell!!

 

Janelle and Bryton Wedding!!

Today Janelle and Bryton were sealed for time and all eternity in the St. George temple! We are grateful that all of our children (so far) have been married in the temple, and we were especially excited that we finally had a sealing in our very own St. George temple! Janika and Brandon were married in the Bountiful Temple, Jase and Ellen in the Draper Temple, Jared and Hallie in the Timpanogos Temple, and Janelle and Bryton in the St. George Temple!  

The sealing took place at 10:30 in the morning, and it was beautiful! Rick had everyone stand up as Janelle and Bryton walked into the sealing room. Our friend, President Steve Caplin, is a member of the temple presidency and we had asked him a couple of months before if he would perform the sealing. He said that he would be honored to. President Caplin spoke for several minutes about the sealing ordinance and then performed the sealing. The sealing ordinance is so beautiful and powerful! He then had everyone go up and hug Janelle and Bryton before leaving the room. 

I went with Janelle to the bride's room so that Julie could touch up her hair and then Janelle and Bryton made their grand exit from the temple and Bryton dipped Janelle and kissed her as we all cheered. Janelle looked so beautiful!! The temperature was perfect outside. Kimball Cottam was the photographer and he took a bunch of group pictures and then family pictures outside the temple and then took a bunch of Janelle and Bryton. 

We were missing so many family members. Jaiden and Josh were both on their missions, and Jase and Ellen were nervous about traveling since she was pregnant with Elsie and didn't know if the baby would come early, like Evan and Eli. As it turns out, Ellen carried Elsie full term, which was a blessing, but of course they didn't know that at the time. Grandma and Grandpa Westra couldn't come because she was still recovering from her knee replacement. Shane and Alicia's family came and Chris and Kim came. Julie Yearsley came and brought Grandma Jensen.  

I love Janelle's face when she is being thrown in the air, haha!! 

Janelle had sisters and sisters-in-law for bridesmaids and Bryton had brothers and brothers-in-law for groomsmen.

Janelle's friends...

After all of the pictures we met everyone over at the Blonquist's house, where the luncheon was being held (the same place the reception was last night). The weather was perfect for both the temple and the luncheon! 

Janelle and Bryton's Wedding Luncheon!!

 Janelle and Bryton had their luncheon right after the temple sealing (after pictures) at the Blonquists (same place as the reception last night). The end of November was a little cool for the reception, but that time of year in St. George is typically beautiful during the day and today was no exception! The weather was perfect! The luncheon was catered by Costa Vida and Bryton's mom and dad made their famous home-made salsa to go with it! The meal was delicious! 

They had a few speeches -- Bryton's mom and dad, Janelle's mom and dad, Bryton's twin brother, and Janelle and Bryton. They had also recorded a message from the three missionaries (Jaiden, Josh, and Bryton's brother, Brody).  It was such a nice touch! I cried! Rick also played a video of pictures of Janelle through the years put to the song he had written and recorded for the daddy-daughter dance and that was really special too.

   

We also had Grandma Jensen's Hope Chest display at the luncheon. I thought they were going to have it at the reception, but then found out that they were planning on it for the luncheon instead. I had brought two tables from home and set them up last night, but when we arrived someone had used the tables for the dessert bar at the luncheon. I guess I should have put a note on them! So we had to scramble and make due with a table and some chairs for the display. It worked out okay though! Unfortunately Grandma was not able to see it since Julie decided to head home with Grandma right after the sealing. instead of staying for the luncheon, so that they could make it back before dark. 

After the luncheon we sent the newlyweds off with a bubble send off!!