Another Sealed Deal

 

This has been a week for the books to say the least. Monday through Thursday was spent dying cheese cloth, soaking candle sticks in acetone, going to every Dillards, H&M and JC Pennys in a 30 mile radius, hemming suits and preparing for the wedding of the year! On Friday evening Codys family flew down from Reno to through a family dinner at Aunt Randas house. It was beautiful, the weather was perfect and so special to get to know Codys family better! His parents are wonderful and each of his siblings as wonderful as Cody in their own respects. Codys Dad shared a sweet account from Codys childhood that highlighted his successful and well-rounded nature we could all relate with in knowing him. and my parents shared a series of embarrassing stories about Breea that really had us all laughing. mom made a list of marriage tips that tied into photography that was really thoughtful and sweet to hear. Grandpa Hatch recited a poem he wrote for them...priceless. and Breea and Cody prepared a video of their dating and engagement photos that easily exceeded all the photos and video i have of chad and I over our 9 years of knowing each other. it was darling and the food was delicious!
   Saturday morning we woke up early and got ourselves to the temple 45 minutes early out of sheer excitement! Some of Breeas roommates were able to watch Liam and Matix so Chad and i could attend the ceremony. One of my favorite parts of the whole day was when we walked into the gathering room upstairs in the temple and saw everyone. old friends, new friends, Codys friends, everyone was there with big smiles and united in excitement and joy.
  President Hall, who was our stake president for over 10 years in my youth was able to seal them and he said so many wonderful things! He has a beautifully eloquent way of warning, advising and really laying out the temple covenants and their weight in heaven. I learned a lot and loved the points he highlighted that brought so much beauty and appreciation for the decision Bree and Cody were making. Watching my Grandma Guttery and Hatch's faces was my favorite part. i know that their prayers and their parents prayers and their childrens prayers were being answered right before their eyes.
   As they exited the temple, there were reverent cheers of excitement from friends and family. The videoographer worked his way backward down the center of the walkway, only to accidentally block an older gentlemen who no doubt worked at the temple and was bringing cupcakes for his shift workers, the old man rudely jerked in front of the videographer and walked right up the center of the shot and between Breea and Cody. all of us with dropped jaws laughed out loud as my dad kindly said, "wow, those look good" (referring to the cupcakes, in hopes of sparking a friendly short exchange) and was returned with a stark "they're not for you". I guess it wasn't everyones happiest day of their lives.
  As Liam and I walked hand in hand to the back side of the temple we had a fun conversation;

K:They did it buddy! They got married!
L:Yeah, in the temple, right?
K:Yeah buddy.
L: Now all their dreams can come true!
*Intantanious laughter from myself and all around us who heard*
K: I guess that's true! Where'd you learn that from? (Knowing that while he was correct, I had never used that verbage before.)
*he responded without skipping a beat
L: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

I'm seriously so proud

    The reception was straight out of a Hollywood movie, bubbles, sparklers, confetti, fireworks...everything! We had churros, soft serve and brick over pizza made fresh in the backyard and lines of beautiful wood tables dressed in fresh greenery, thin distress cheese clothe and romantic tall candles. The dance floor was always full and the viewing area (for thier video) was decorated with beautiful rugs and boho velvet chairs and pillows, so comfy! There were not one but 2 photobooths, one still frame and one slowmo video booth. I watched the daddy daughter dance with all the feeling of happiness inside me. remembering that special dance made me so happy Breea had her own special relationship with the same amazing man and while we danced with the same great guy it held its own personal place in each of our hearts...so grateful we have that in common and separate at the same time.

   Breea is a complicated, intricate person. There is so much to her, and it makes it hard for most to keep up with her. She's so driven and hard working and she often gets anxious at even the idea of down time so I can tell sometimes its difficult for her to let loose... but on April 21st 2018, she truly enjoyed it all! As she and Cody drove away, I watched her playfully wave at everyone as she drove out of the neighborhood and i saw an expression of fun and joy  that are sometimes harder to see between photo sessions or through an instagram filter. I loved it and was sure all the happiness I was feeling was because of hers.

We all have slightly (or sometimes drastically) different relationships with and definitions of happiness and balance but most of the time the two components co-exist in their moment in time. I was so happy to see Breea in a moment that she felt balanced in her efforts and found so much happiness in it. Cody is a perfect fit and friend to her. I don't know him well, i wish i did, but i know he loves her and will always not just take care of but cherish her spirit. He's a good man and an even better sport. (we Gutterys can be a lot to handle) but i know he's stick by Breeas side no matter what.

   SO so happy. This young love is beautiful, untarnished and rejuvinating to be around. I'm grateful for the blessing of the temple that allow us to the the bigger picture and the true significance of the weekend, fireworks and confetti aside, the heavens are rejoicing as another family was created and the Fathers plan brought to further fruition. I love the plan of happiness and I love even more when my sisters choose to take such great part in it!