Speical day #2

The night before the sealing the girls and I went over to the church to decorate.  They were so helpful!  I wanted to make everything look beautiful!  A Beautiful day deserves beautiful center pieces.

I started working on these babies a month before the sealing.  It involved, spray paint, DI dishes, epoxy, digging pine nuts out of pine cones, dollar store trips, and borrowing some awesome pine cones from my parents. 

 The day was beautiful!  Inside and out!  We were sealed on the day after Thanksgiving.  It was significant for many reasons, one of them being that Daren and I were married the day after Thanksgiving 15 years earlier. It was a little cold, but our friend Jeni Labrum did a great job taking photos that make us appear comfortable.  We were so glad to go inside when photos were finished!  They treated us all like royalty once we entered and I was so thankful that Jess was there to help with the girls.  She was our special aunt that day.  There were also many other family members and friends that filled the sealing room with love. 

 The little angel herself.  The reason for it all!

 We spent the two weeks prior to the sealing learning all we could about temples each night during scripture study.  We answered as many questions as we could and we hope that the girls will always remember, above all, the special spirit they felt inside the temple.

Millie's nose is looking a little pink!

The girls will warm her up!

As an extra bonus, we were able to have Millie's birth mom and grandmother at the temple.  Her birth grandmother was present inside the temple for the sealing.  It was how it is suppose to be.  So much love!

I wish I had pictures of everyone that attended.  We snagged Aaron & Steph, but missed Steve & Vickie, Nana & Papa Holley, the Gibbons, Madelyn & Marvin, Aunt Colleen, Daren's parents and siblings, Dave, my parents, etc.

Brooke (Dave's girlfriend) filled a special role in sitting with Courtnie in the waiting room.  I am thankful for her!

My Grandpa Wally!  All the grandparents were special on this day.  I have no doubt that there are some special Grandmas in heaven that had a hand in this arrangement (Grandma Gloria, Granny Holley, & Grandma Great all were in my mind and heart).