Alex and Chris’s wedding

My niece, Alex Hodge is so darling. She and Chris have been dating for nine and a half years.  That’s a long time.  A few months ago Chris proposed to Alex (Ali).  Since then we have been so excited for them.  I bought my tickets as soon as I knew they were engaged.  

I also got my sister, Sandy, the mother of the bride her ticket as a gift.  Sandy has struggled financially since she moved away from Washington (that’s a few years now).  

Anyway,  I was always going to the wedding but about 10 days before the wedding Mark decided he could use points to come as well.  

To me - I was looking forward to time with my sister, she’s been struggling so much!  Of course I’m thrilled Mark is coming but I was looking forward to sharing a room with Sandy and having good conversation at night before falling asleep!  All that changed when Mark decided to come.  Sandy went to stay with Alex.  

Mark arrived on Wednesday- he was going to stay that first night with his mission friend, Eric, but Eric’s dad got extremely ill with Covid-19 that day.  Luckily, I was able to get Mark into the hotel a day early.  

Wednesday night all heck breaks out.  Alex and Chris’s wedding is being held at his brother Grant’s house.  Grant came down with COVID-19 too!! 

I arrived Thursday!  I am so excited to get there and everything was going well until I reached Budget car rental.  There were only two people in front of me so I thought “this is great!”  I get up to the counter and the guy says it will be 45 minutes until a car will be ready. WHAT!!! No way - I have Ali’s bridal shower to get to, plus I want to see Cayson too!  

Long story short - one hour and twenty minutes later I am given a monster truck to drive.  Luckily I was able to transfer the monster truck to a regular (still big) truck.  One hour later I arrive at the hotel.  

I quickly change my clothes and rush over to the shower.  Everything is so sweet and decorated way better than I imagined for having all the changes Ali has gone through,  

Picking the Venue for Marissa and Michael's wedding

 It's been so fun planning another wedding.

Marissa and I have been searching for wedding and event centers to host their wonderful reception.  We found three in the area to consider:

Three Peaks Lodge - it's in St. Anthony (10 minutes North of Rexburg)
La Bella Lake Lodge - it's in Rigby (10 minutes South of Rexburg)
The Avenue Rexburg - it's in Rexburg

We agreed to have her and Michael - if he can 

Marissa and Michael are Engaged (need photos)

 Okay so the story goes like this ... Michael asked Marissa to go to Texas Roadhouse before going to Joshua's endowment session (leaving on a mission) because Betsy gave them a gift card.  So they drove to Idaho Falls, all dressed up for the endowment session (also Michael had just picked up the ring at 5 PM the same day, and had his mom tell him something so he could get me away from me for a little bit - haha).  

Marissa and Michael arrive at Texas Roadhouse, Marissa waits patiently while Michael comes back and says they are backed up and the order didn't go through, so they both (Marissa) were sad they weren't getting any food. 

Not being able to eat at that time (which was part of the plan), they had an hour to kill before the temple endowment so we walked at the park across the river from the temple.  As they were walking Marissa felt like everyone was staring at her, and then there was also this one lady winked at her like 10 times (she thought she was having a seizure haha).  Michael was coy about it and said, "She must have something in her eye." 

So then they walked up and she sees a huge sign that says, "M A R R Y   M E"  

In Marissa's words, "I see the sign and I'm like awe how cute, someone's proposing today!  And then I looked at Michael and was like, 'wait, no, wait for real, really'  We walked over to the sign together and then he got down on one knee and said, "Marissa Cassity Lowe, will you marry me?"

Of course, she said "Yes, yes, yes" and she pretty much tackled him, haha.  He placed the ring on her finger and they had a very special milestone moment.  

Michael had arranged for a photographer to be there, so he took a bunch of candids of the whole thing.

That wasn't it - after he proposed, he planned a candle-lit dinner for the two of them.  His sisters Sariah and Sophia picked up the food Michael had ordered and delivered it to them at the gazebo!

Michael is such a romantic - in her words, "Michael is a romantic for sure"  

Marissa was completely surprised - she said it was the best day!!!!

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Mark and I are so very happy for both Marissa and Michael.  We think he is a wonderful young man and we are thrilled to welcome him into our family.  He is such an honorable and considerate person!  They are perfect for each other.

On a side note - he likes tennis (obviously), and he's going to graduate with an accounting degree - he fits right in with our bunch of number crunchers.

Marissa and Michael set a date of November 21 - it's just over 2 months away.  

Marissa and I are excited to start planning the wedding!  She has to finish studying for the NCLUX which she takes Tuesday - once that is done - she can focus on the wedding!  

Working round the Clock

 It's not a good time to start a full time (temporary) job at the same time you received orders for 18 different items.  YIKES!!!

I received an order for 12 quilts, then I received another, and then another - all within a matter of days of each other.  One had a RUSH put on it.  While those orders are coming in, I also receive an order for a baby blessing outfit and I have to finish Cayson's Halloween Harry Potter Cape ... and finish 100 ties for Robert and his buddy!  

Add on top of that that we are kicking off the Self Reliance adult classes on September 13th - so I'm responsible for the marketing, advertising and communication for that, AND we are kicking off the Life Skills Courses  (Youth Self Reliance courses) on September 27 - and I'm responsible for the marketing, advertising and communication for that, too!  On top of that my committee meeting is September 20th. - SO - three Sunday's in  a row I am swamped with SR functions!

Every day I get up at 7:00 AM - go to work by 8:00 AM
work all day (using my lunch hour to shop at Joann's for fabric, or go to the PO to mail orders)
get off at 5:00 PM - call the kids on the way home 
get home at 5:30 PM
hang out with Mark, relax, or answer phone calls 
work on sewing projects from 6 PM to 12 AM (sometimes 12:30 AM)
go to sleep by 1:00 AM

Start over - Pause - Push play - repeat

I need to get some sleep!!!!