Friday, March 18, 2011

Melissa's Wedding Photos

Melissa and Joseph's Wedding Photos can be found on facebook under Melissa Crandall and Wedding Photos. There are many lovely pictures you will enjoy.

My Ward Friends and our Lunch Together

Some of my friends from the ward took me out to lunch. Several were missing because it was spring break and they were out of town but we had such a great time with those that were there. We are blessed with the best ward and best friends in the church!!!

My Favorite Picture of Melissa's Wedding

This is my favorite picture of the wedding and as I watched Melissa and her Dad dance, I wept for joy. I am so grateful for the love they share, for their great family and for the gospel that teaches "Families are Forever!!" They are ours FOREVER!!!!!

Beautiful Sisters

Here are two of Melissa's five sisters, Camille and Kathryn. Aren't they beautiful??? I think we will have a few more lovely weddings down the road.

Our Fun, Fun Rhett at the Reception

Rhett is always in the middle of all of the fun. Being Melissa's only brother, he gets special treatment. It doesn't hurt that he has such a darling personality either!! How I love and miss that little boy. He reminds me a lot of his Dad when he was a little boy. When I asked him if I looked any older, he said, "well just a little". Thank heavens it wasn't, "yes, a lot!"

Our Great Extended Family

Here we are with my two brothers and their lovely families at the wedding reception. It is so wonderful to have their love and support!!

Melissa's Grandparents and Great Grandfather

Melissa is surrounded by the love of several grandparents with Grandma and Grandpa Webb and Grandma and Grandpa Crandall. It was extra special for her to have her 92 year old Great Grandpa Larsen there also!!!

What a Special Family

I love these pictures with Melissa's parents showing how proud they are of their daughter. Then Melissa with her siblings is extra special.

Pictures of Melissa and Joseph's Families

There are pictures of the bride and the groom with their families and then with both of Melissa's grandparents. I love the picture with Rich and Patrice both kissing their Melissa.

Beautiful Decorations at Melissa's Reception

The reception was outstanding with lovely decorations and a fantastic turn out. It was so fun to be with family and greet so many friends.

At the Head Table

At the luncheon, our honored guests were at the head table. Here we are with Melissa and Joseph and both of their parents. Handsome group!!

Pictures with some of our Grandchildren

Here we are with some of our grandchildren at a track meet, at home and at the reception. Elder Crandall is holding our newest grandson, born while we have been in Wales. Isn't he adorable!!! I wish I had been more careful to get all of our grandchildren in a picture. They just don't hold still long enough and so much was going on.

Our Wonderful Children at the Airport

As we arrived home on the 9th of March for Melissa's wedding, all of our children and our grandchildren that live in Arizona greeted us at the airport. Wow what an emotional experience that was. I wish I could have taken a picture of the grandchildren running to us as be came up the ramp. We will never forget the emotions we felt at this time. How we love our great family and appreciate their support of us while on our mission.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Check out this tiny car"!!!

Today while with the elders in Llanelli, we went to see Robert and Margaret Smith and they showed us their "TINY" new car!! It fits just two people and get great gas mileage. I think it is adorable.

In Llanelli with the Elders

Here is a beautiful area in Burry Port with Elder Taylor and Elder Mansfield, both who are serving in the Llanelli area. We spend a day a week serving with them in this area teaching the less active members and returning members. It is a most rewarding experience and these elders are amazing!!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Elder Taylor

At our District Meeting this week, we served tacos and also had a birthday cake for Elder Taylor. He has become a very good friend as we work together every week in Llanelli. He has a very kind and loving approach that reaches many of the returning members we are working with. You are awesome Elder Taylor and we love the rest of the missionaries in our district also.

On the way to Cardigan

This week we had the opportunity to go to Cardigan and spend some time with the sister missionaries, Sister Babbage and Sister Perera. You follow this river the entire way and this is just a very pretty spot, especially in the spring. We will come back in the spring and take another "green picture" of the same spot. We love this beautiful drive. It was a special day filled with the spirit of the Lord.

A Special Luncheon with Extra Special Friends

Sister Strein was leaving this week to go home to Colorado and we took her and her companion, Sister Lauritzen out to eat with the Elders from Merthyr Tydfil, Elders Smith and Siegel. They are great missionaries and have become our special friends. We will miss Sister Strein!!! She was a devoted missionary. Best of luck at home.

A Fun Afternoon at the Theatre

Our mission president's wife has encouraged us to enjoy the culture here in Wales. On Saturday there was playing "Half A Sixpence" which was put on by the Carmarthen Youth Opera. It is a musical rendition of early England. Elder Crandall and I decided to attend and it was delightful.

Our Beautiful Granddaughter

Here are Melissa and Joseph in their wedding announcement picture. Melissa is so beautiful and Joseph so handsome!! But more importantly they both love their Savior first and foremost. We are so excited to be going home next week for their temple wedding. It just can't get any better than having your entire family with you in the temple.