Forever and Ever!

Well folks, it finally happened!

Brendan and Witney were finally sealed for time and eternity in the Logan Temple on February 18, 2012.

The last few days have been pretty hectic, but I honestly could not be happier. I truly believe there is no one in this world who is better for Brendan than Witney is and I'm so SO happy that he found her. She fits into our family so well and she is strong and faithful and diligent.

I just have a few pictures from the reception because I accidentally forgot my camera (and jacket!) in the car when Bren and Wit emerged from the temple. I guess I'll just have to steal those pictures from Maci or Mom.

Witney, I love you and welcome to the family at last. Thank you for making my brother so happy and for sticking with him through thick and thin. You amaze me.

Their reception was picnic themed, hence the little ants. 

I seriously love the idea of a rice krispie cake!

The cross stitch I made for them of the Logan Temple.

The stitched the words to the chorus of their song in the border. 

Did you find you were falling like I have been falling for you?

Were you counting the days before seeing my face?

Tell the truth, does love like this really just happen?

Baby, forgive me for asking, but how could it be that you wanted me?

Cutting the cake turned out to be a pretty big challenge.

Almost as big as trying to chew it.

No matter how happy we all were, by the end of the day I'm fairly certain we all felt a little like this:

And if not like that, then at least like this:

My Eternal Family

My home teachers asked me the other day what I am most thankful for in the gospel.
Without thinking I said that I can be with my family for eternity.
As these words left my mouth I had some words come to mind that overwhelmed me with happiness and joy:
"You will never go another day in all of eternity without your family."
Oh it is such a comfort to be sealed to them and to know that I can be with these amazing people that I love like nothing else forever and ever and ever.

The gospel is true, folks. I can't say it loud enough or with enough feeling.

We love each other.

We support each other.

We cheer each other on.

We talk to each other.

We are best friends.

What I did to deserve to be in such am amazing family, I don't know.

But I am forever and eternally grateful for whatever it was.

*Oh man, here come the water works.*

Is it ridiculous that I make myself cry just thinking about how much I love my family?

Gratitude #23

Yeesh, I've got some serious catching up to do!

I am so grateful for the time I get to spend with my family.

It's crazy, I had never even met little Hyrum, but I had all this love for him saved up inside. When I finally got to hold him for the first time it all bubbled over and I was so happy this special little red-head was going to be in my family for eternity.

I just can't get enough of this little guy!

Or this one...

Or little Grey...

And then there's sweet little Phoebe...

And Gwen!

*Yikes, what was I talking about again? Oh yeah...*

It was especially nice that Logan and Rachelle and the little girls were there to help us decorate for Christmas this year (sorry, didn't have my camera with me). Most of our ornaments ended up at the bottom of the tree, but I was just happy that I didn't have to do it all myself.
*I spend way too much time trying to make the placement of the ornaments random, which, if you took McMurray's stats class, you know is impossible...it makes for a very tiring activity*

I also love just playing games with them :)
I even beat Logan a few times at Blokus until he figured out a good strategy which totally trumped mine.
*sigh* Such is life.

Gratitude #14

I am so beyond grateful for my nieces and nephews.

They have taught me how to love someone more than I love myself.
Gwen is a little spit-fire, but she is a great older sister. I love the way she argues with me over who loves who more :)

Phoebe is a tender-hearted sweetie. She is pretty soft spoken a lot of the time and totally devoted to her little animal toys.

Little Greysen was born the day before my birthday, and therefore holds a special place in my heart. He was my first nephew as well. He has a smile that melts my heart and he is just so stinking cute!

Isaac has another one of those smiles...he uses his whole face! He definitely looks like an Owen, which makes him absolutely adorable ;) He turned six months old today! How absolutely crazy is that??

And finally there's little baby Hyrum. It's still hard for me to believe that Nate is a dad! I am so excited to meet Hyrum for the first time! It's crazy how much I love him when the closest I've gotten to seeing him are the pictures my family sends me. He's already a month old! Time flies...

Gwen, Phoebe, Greysen, Isaac, and Hyrum...your Auntie Em loves you more than words can express :)

This picture is a little outdated, but yeah.

Gwen, Greysen, Isaac, and Phoebe

Here's the proud Daddy with little Hyrum :)

Home Heals the Heart

I went home on Saturday :)
I love how every time I go I come back with a heart that is completely healed.
It can be heartache, heartbreak, or just plain frustration...but home makes it all disappear.
I love that.
Also, I got to see my nieces and one of my nephews. That always helps :)

You know that age where babies smile with their whole face? Little I is there:

 Cute Little I and me:

Oh my gosh he's so stinkin' cute!:

Phoebe's response to "Don't play in the dirt.":

 Cute Little Gwennie all dressed up for church:

I don't care what you guys say, my nieces and nephews are the cutest!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

The 'It' mentioned in the title of this post refers my life for the last week :)

Don't you just love when you actually get stuff in the mail???

I had to take a picture so I would remember the awesome-ness I felt at this moment.

On Sunday afternoon Mom, Dad, Maci, and I made the trip to IF to see the family.

This little guy is growing up SO fast!

Can you believe he's already three months old?

He looks more and more like Ronnie every day.

We also had a new experience!

Nate and Rebecca were able to come up and visit for the weekend

and they introduced us to Wild Asparagus Hunting. 

This is Maci and I before we left.

Here I am afterwards.

I look awful because it was raining and windy :P

Asparagus hunting is so dang hard!

It grows along ditch banks in the Idaho Falls area.

You would think that it would be pretty easy to spot, but it's NOT!

I was pretty awful at it until Rebecca's brother came and helped me.

It was actually a lot of fun even if it was cold and wet and miserable the whole time.

The three sisters sharing their spoils!

I was so happy to get to see these guys!

Rebecca is due October 5 and is having a little baby boy!

I can't wait to see the Three Amigos running around and playing together.

Sleepy little Isaac!

He definitely doesn't like to wake up!

He's adorable and looks just like an Owen.

Maci and Greysen.

Maci got her braces off recently and this was the first time I saw her without them for almost two years!

Doesn't she look so gorgeous?

She's seriously growing up :(

Oh, and thanks to Lindsay for lots of the pictures on this blog!

Bets I've Won

Derek and I tend to disagree about lots of things, so they end up in bets such as this:

What's this called?

I asked Derek if I could borrow their Church Key awhile back and he looked at me like I was nuts.

"It's a can opener!" He said.

After five minutes of trying to convince him that it could be called either we turned to the only way we know how to settle these ridiculous bets.

Aaaaand guess who won? 

Me.

Now for the next one:

Derek: "Emma, can I borrow a sauce pan?"

Me: "Sure, here ya go!"

Derek: "No no no, not a pot. A saucepan! Like this."

Me: "You mean a skillet?"

*five minutes of arguing*

Emma-Leigh wins!

And for the last one:

I have the cutest nieces and nephews!

Isaac Douglas Owen

5/14/11

9 lbs. 4 oz.

22 inches

Cute as a button!

Greysen Gene Thinnes

2/22/11

Phoebe Elizabeth Owen

2/13/09

Gwendolyn May Owen

7/10/07

Heck I hope I got those birthdays right...

If you couldn't tell...

I WIN!

Blessing number 8

Logan, Rachelle, Gwen, Phoebe, and Mystery Baby :)

Logan is my oldest brother and I love him immensely! 

This doesn't sound like much, but he is always

willing to share his music with me :)

Every time he comes over he seems to have

new CD's and he almost seems excited

to let me load them onto the computer.

He has always been an awesome example in my life.

I remember being so proud of him when

he was going on his mission. 

I walked around forever asking anyone who would listen,

"How do you think you say K-A-O-H-S-I-U-N-G?" 

(at least I think that's how you spell it...am I right or wrong Logan?)

I thought I was hot stuff because my brother was going

to speak Mandarin CHINESE.

He and I are both very much into watching

the Suns play. I know the rest of my family

does too, but I really enjoy talking to him about

how they're doing and who traded who for who

and who we think is going to make it to the finals.

He's one of the smartest people I know.

He got a 34 on the ACT in ONE try.

He majored in math! 

He's also crazy into Family History. 

He can hear a random name that

I've never heard of before and he can tell

you how we're related. 

I have had the opportunity to do many

baptisms for those deceased family members

that he has discovered.

It has been an awesome experience every time

and I'm so grateful that he puts in the time

to do the work. 

There have been many times that I have 

felt the presence of the person that I've

been baptized or confirmed for in the room.

It's all because of my brother. 

Amazing.

He also managed to find the PERFECT girl for him.

Rachelle is a beautiful lady and I'm so grateful

for her. She has an awesome sense of humor

and I love being around her. 

We talk about what books we've read recently

and what books we thought STUNK.

She's always willing to lend a helping hand

and I love her for that.

They also gave me my first two nieces.

Gwen is a little fireball and she can be 

very hard to handle. 

However, when she says, "I love you more!"

it totally melts my heart.

She gives the best hugs and kisses ever!

Me and Gwennie!

Phoebe used to be so stinkin' shy!

She's getting over that now though.

I love the way she says, "Cheese!" when she

sees a camera pointed at her

and he cute little giggles.

Sweet little Phoebe

I love being an aunt, and I especially

love that this growing family is

going to be with me for eternity!

I love you Logan, Rachelle, Gwennie, and Phoebe!