Hello January

We have had a good month--I just forgot to write about it.

The biggest event was a wedding!  My brother Aaron married Hannah at the beginning of the month in the Salt Lake Temple.  Our family flew in for a week to celebrate with them.  Dallin and I attended a wedding dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building the night before their sealing.   I love the intimate setting of a wedding dinner; it gives the bride and groom precious personal time with their closest friends and family.  Hannah chose to have her dance with her father at that dinner, and oh, it was a sweet thing.  I don't know Hannah or her father very well, but I was a blubbery mess by the end.   

Aaron and Hannah coming out of the temple!

 The temple sealing was early the next day, and, for a wedding in the Salt Lake Temple, they picked a day that was relatively quiet.  It doesn't get much better than seeing a family member be sealed to their sweetheart.  I felt so grateful for Aaron and Hannah's choice, and our opportunity to witness it.  It felt so good to be in the temple with so many family members.  And, we have finally crossed a threshold: there are now more married siblings than unmarried siblings!       

Aaron and the sisters (I blinked).

 The reception was hosted at my parent's home that evening.  Many, many weeks of preparation went into a very successful, very well-attended event.  The front yard was filled with homemade luminaries (I think at least 100), and twinkly lights covered the house and a dozen large trees.  Inside the house, every mantle piece, table top, counter, and shelf was covered in flower sprays, candles, and portraits of the new couple.  The whole house smelled like a florist shop, and we had music for most of the night courtesy of Dallin on violin, with piano accompaniment by a close family friend.

Ezra loved the reception, especially the abundant supply of cake.

In other lesser news, I am renovating our kitchen.  I like the original layout, but decided to paint the existing oak cabinets white.  It is currently a great work-in-progress, which could potentially continue for a few more months.  The painting is slow going, as every door and cabinet box needs three coats of primer, and three coats of paint.  We plan to add six additional cabinets (cabinet space is sparse; we have no pantry), to two different open walls.  We also plan to replace the old laminate counter top with new laminate of a different design.  The kitchen is very functional, but a little small, and I am amazed at how much bigger it feels painted white.  I have painted several coats of primer on most of the cabinetry, and I love the new look.   Here is a before and after picture of the progress thus far:

Oak cabinets with original stove and exhaust hood.

White kitchen cabinets with new (to us) stove and microwave a friend gave us for free!

As a Christmas gift, a friend gave us a gift card for a company who provides its customers access to small, artisan food producers who specialize in unique types of meats.  We gave it a try, and opted to buy a quantity of ground bison raised by a local rancher.  Neither Dallin, nor I had ever tried bison.  I found a recipe for bison burgers, which we ate on rosemary sourdough toast, with Dijon mustard, cheddar, and piled high with caramelized onions.  It was truly heavenly.  I have a new food love.