Dearly beloved, we are gathered together to have...a Wedding!

Our large family gathered in south Texas the first week of August (107 degrees F!) for the wedding of our daughter - K5. On the day before the wedding, the families of the bride and groom (more about him later) held a fish fry lunch at the home of Danny's Grand Parents, who are mutual friends of both families, and super gracious hosts!

There were food choices for any tastes - Danny's selection of great fried fish on the left, or K3's supposedly healthier plate of grass and lettuce.

Danny's Grandpa is an avid hunter and outdoors man, as well as being a taxidermist.

K2 is wearing an arctic fox hat - super warm - while holding Wiley.

That evening we decorated for tomorrow night's reception. Take one big empty gym, and add...

....nice decorations, table & chair coverings, all done by the Bride, her Mom, the Groom's Mom, brothers and sisters, and their kids.

Finally! A picture of the Bride, K5, on the right, and her sister, K4, and Mom,  creating table center pieces. In the background is the sound man, Danny, who used his iPhone to provide music. 

And to eat? More healthy choices. Lots of them. As you can see, my wife has had a big influence on our daughters. Yea for the healthy team.

But, all is not lost! I must have had some positive influence on our children growing up, at least in the chocolate and dessert area, because K1 baked a million tiny cup cakes for those of us who needed real food.

K1, on the left, was in charge of the kitchen, ably assisted by sister, K4. Mom popped in occasionally when not busy decorating tables.

Friday, 7 August, the Big Day. We gathered at the Houston Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All the little ones were parked in the waiting room to be watched by teenagers, while all the adults headed for the Sealing Room.

An hour later, here they are - Mr and Mrs! Jeremiah is an awesome young man of great character and integrity who grew up in the Church in south Texas and served his 2-year Mission in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They are a perfect couple - kind of remind me of Miss Jane Bennet and Mr Bingley from Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice". 

Our beautiful daughters. K3 on far left is due with her 3rd child at Thanksgiving; and K4, next, just had her 6th child last week (her 3rd daughter, Heidi); the lovely Bride, K5, who graduated from Nursing School earlier this summer; and our oldest, K1 who travelled the farthest to be with us for this wonderfully special occassion.

K5 with her four brothers. K6 had to work late last night and had just flown into Houston from Denver and arrived minutes before the photo shoot. K8, the Bride, and K7. K2 was one of the few of us "old school" guys to keep his suit coat on during the 100 degree shoot.

Families are forever, so we have to keep working harder at being more like Christ every day.Thank goodness for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His Plan of Happiness. 

And as Latter Day Saints, we believe in Temple Marriages which last for eternity, and not just "until death do us part". We will be together forever as family in Heaven. If you want to learn more, just contact the LDS Church or Missionaries in your town, or contact me. Or, if you happen to be in Ghana, west Africa, during the next two years, get a hold of K7, the good looking guy second from the right, kneeling on the front row wearing a bow tie and vest - he'll be teaching the Gospel there until October 2017.