a few photos from the Open House

Andrew and Heather were married on Thursday, April 25th in the Salt Lake Temple. Two days later we held an open house for them here. There will be a reception in Mesa this week.

I hesitate to thank people because I'm so afraid I'm going to miss someone and hurt his/her feelings. But I feel I need to try, so I apologize if I've forgotten anyone (just let me know and I'll gladly add your name).

Thanks David, Jackie, and Terra for loaning us so many items to use (and Joylene, Sherry, Dana, and the Gross family, too). The place would have been bare without your generosity. 

Thanks Glen, Hannah, Geoff, Alex, Gary, Sarah, Thomas, Ben, Terra, and Jennifer and the Johnson family (did I miss anyone?) for helping decorate and for knowing from whom to borrow things!

A HUGE thanks to Annalee for making the cake and for Sariah for first getting the cake set up, and then for dishing up the ice cream and keeping the goodies fully stocked on the table. You deserve more than the extra bananas. Our ice cream bar included 3 flavors of ice cream, 4 sauces (thank you Terra for making the caramel and the chocolate sauce!), and various other toppings (oreos, peanuts, reese cups, sprinkles, mini m&ms, whipped cream, and cherries).

Thanks to everyone who helped clean up (adding to the list above would be Mom and Dad P for sure). (I was brain dead by then and am not sure if I missed if anyone else helped clean up other than those who set up, too).

Gary took photos...can't wait to see them, but meanwhile I don't have any real photos of the line or the guests since I was in the line, but this is what I have:

The centerpieces included 4 photos--one of the proposal (see below), one engagement photo (shown on the right in the photo above), one photo after the wedding (seen in my previous post), and one of the top of the temple (on the left in the photo above).  Thanks Sherry for loaning us the mirrors.

While a friend with a camera hides in the bushes, Andrew proposes to Heather on December 1st, 2013 within a circle of Christmas lights, flower petals, and candles in mason jars.

 This photo shows off the skirt of Heather's dress (her younger brother Kyle is holding the dress).

This photo shows off the bodice a bit better. It truly was one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen.

 The wedding cake. Thanks SO much Annalee and Sariah! We loved it.

 The feeding-each-other-cake tradition started off okay...

...but soon the frosting was not on the cake anymore.

All in all, it's been a wonderful, crazy, and full week. I am so blessed to have such amazingl friends and family who did so much to help out--planning and carrying out a party is not one of my strengths. So, thank you to everyone who helped, and thank you to everyone who offered to help if we needed them. We are truly blessed with lots of support. 

And we are now blessed with lots of leftover ice cream in the freezer (thanks mom and dad for loaning us some freezer space)...some of said ice cream will be served Monday night after Ryan is set apart as a missionary before he enters the Provo MTC on Wednesday. (I'm trying not to have a panic attack...)

So, onto another wonderful, crazy, and full week.

a few photos from the wedding

Hannah, Ryan, Beth, Glen, Elder Eric Perazzo, Alex

Andrew and Heather coming out to greet the crowd

one quick photo with Eric before he had to go back to work

Heather and Andrew inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

email Eric, Hannah is inducted into NHS, and Ryan goes to the temple

First off, congratulations to my nephew, Zach Stoehr, who just graduated from Air Force Basic Training in Texas on Friday, April 19th. He will be going into munitions and starts specific training soon. His wife, Stephanie, is 8 months pregnant and will give birth to their first child (and my sister's first grandchild and my parent's first great-grandchild) while he is in training, but he'll be allowed a few days off for the birth. Exciting times.

The rules for missionaries sending emails have now changed (church spokesman Scott Trotter said this week that missionaries now "can also communicate by email with friends, priesthood leaders and new converts.)...it's not just immediate family members that missionaries can email. I put Eric's email address on the side bar with his mailing address. He would LOVE to hear from you all.

To see the article in the Deseret News on the subject, click here.

Spring is always a busy time of year, and this year is no exception.

Hannah was inducted into the National Honor Society on Wednesday 27 March 2013. Congratulations Hannah. You will be a great asset to the organization. Her cousin Becky, a current member, was there as well to welcome her as a new member.

On a bright and windy day, Ryan received his own endowment in the Reno Temple on Friday 19 April 2013--which also happened to be Mom and Dad Perazzo's 55th wedding anniversary. Many family members were able to be there to support Ryan in this important step in the Church and towards his mission. Grandma and Grandpa Perazzo were there. Uncle David and Aunt Jackie, Uncle Alan, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gary, and cousin Alicia were in the session with cousin Megan meeting us in the Celestial Room. Alicia's husband, Dallin, waited outside with baby Everett. Afterwards we were treated to dinner at the Sizzler by Mom and Dad Perazzo. It was a wonderful evening.

I realized that we have been through the temple with our 3 oldest boys...but we have not been with more than one at a time. Andrew was at school for Eric and Ryan going through and Eric is on his mission now for Ryan's. That will all change this Thursday when Andrew, Eric, and Ryan will be with me and Glen in the Salt Lake Temple for Andrew's sealing to Heather (gosh, it's making me cry, just thinking about it). Thank you Heather for choosing the Salt Lake Temple in which to be sealed.

So, we are towards the end of the mission and wedding preparations. There's still a lot to do, but we've had plenty of offers of help.

It's such an exciting time.

We are so blessed.

It's only 4 days till the wedding, 6 days until the Open House in Fallon, 10 until Ryan enters the MTC in Provo, and 12 days until the Reception in Mesa. I'll be traveling 3,400 miles in the next 2 weeks.

And on the 15th day, I'll rest. And maybe the 16th day, too.

insanity is setting in

OK, maybe insanity is too strong of a word. Moments of "deer in the headlights" is more the feeling. The "ack!" of realizing what the next few weeks means and brings. It's wonderful, but it's a lot.

Ryan made it home last night...they (Ryan and Paden) left Friday morning and didn't get far before Paden's car started acting up. Paden's dad went to the rescue, but they spent the night in Pocatello (the boys taking in a few movies while waiting for the calvary) and came home on Saturday. It is SO good to see Ryan's smile again...(our laptop died and we haven't skyped lately).

Laptop. Yeah, Hannah was skyping when the screen went black a few weeks ago. Turns out the computer now says it doesn't have an operating system. We can't find the discs to revive it... Ryan is now home with his computer so we can skype again... but we still need to find or buy the OS discs. Minor problem at the moment.

Ryan did not go suit shopping in Rexburg and since we have 17 days before he leaves, that becomes our first priority for him.

Another priority, though it's an easier task--I need to hem his white pants before he goes to the temple for the first time this Friday. Wow. Ryan going to the temple! I'm so excited. Friday the 19th is also Mom and Dad Perazzos 55th wedding anniversary.

On Sunday the 21st, I get to teach my first lesson to the Beehive class at church.  I'm a bit nervous about it...I don't consider myself an interesting teacher. I love studying the material, so I just hope my enthusiasm for the gospel makes up for my lack of skills. I'm working on my skills, though.

A few days after that, it'll be Heather going to the temple for the first time. The next day is the wedding--and seeing Eric in the temple for a few minutes. Then the luncheon. And 2 days later the Open House.

There's still a lot to pull together, and though I don't doubt it'll happen (I'm so grateful for my friends to have offered to help), it tends to overload my brain at times. Andrew married...and all that that entails with the plans and the parties and the traveling.

Then it's Ryan getting set apart as a missionary and me taking him to the MTC. AFter that, it's the wedding reception in Mesa.

And then life will slow down. In three weeks I will be able to relax a little. I look forward to all these events, but it's nice to know that I will be able to relax afterwards.

And then it'll be summer. I have lots to look forward to.

the Doris Stoehr memorial crosswalk

Back in January, my sister's mother-in-law, Doris Stoehr was hit and killed while trying to cross a street in Las Vegas. Yesterday the Doris Stoehr Crosswalk had a dedication and ribbon cutting and it was covered by the 3 major news stations, including KLAS 8 News Now, the station my brother-in-law works at. Here are the links to the stories:

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/21912741/senior-who-pushed-for-crosswalk-honored 

http://www.mynews3.com/content/news/story/Doris-Stoehrs-crosswalk-dream-comes-true/cDLTK90kKke-HaB57qiDcg.cspx

http://www.ktnv.com/multimedia/videos/?bctid=2286867567001  -- ch 13 live report

http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/201979841.html -- ch 13 evening report later

To read more about Doris, here is a link to her obituary:
http://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary.aspx?pid=162306267

When we spent Thanksgiving at Denise's house last November, Doris came for dinner and we got to see her, too. I'm so glad we had a little time together and got to see her one last time. We are so glad that they were able to put a crosswalk up and that they honored her by naming it after her.

General Conference Report

Lap top in the shop. Luckily we have just 4 of us, so Glen pulled the big, comfy chairs into the office so we could watch General Conference on our office computer. It was great. The set up and the conference.

We each choose a word for Conference, and when that word is said we can take a candy, if we want. Usually the candy is skittles, but we also had nerd bumpy jelly beans and Wonka's bottle caps to choose from, as well.

I listened to the Priesthood session today and it was AWESOME. So sisters, make sure you catch it.

Our chosen words and my count from all 5 sessions of conference this weekend-- but not counting the Young Women's broadcast last week--(disclaimer--the count cannot be considered totally accurate, but it should be close as 4 sets of ears were listening at most times):

Hope (Glen's word)--35 times
Temple (Alex's)--34 times
Atonement (Heather's)--25 times
Remember (my word)--15 times
Key(s) (Hannah's)--12 times
Lost (Eric's)--7 times
Grace (Ryan's)--5 times
Sealing (Andrew's)--3 times--but they talked about it a lot without using the actual word "sealing"

So, we are on a sugar high...especially since some of us ate the candy whether a chosen word was said or not (love those root beer bottle caps).


The sessions can already be viewed at the church's website, but it'll take a few days to get the printed version, otherwise I think I would have put in President Packer's poem on aging.

Some of my take aways (this is what I wrote in my notes and they aren't necessarily direct quotes):


Saturday Morning Session:

Pres. Boyd K. Packer--Tolerance is a virtue, but don't get caught up in the tolerance trap.

Elder Craig A. Cardon--The Savior wants to forgive us, but it must come with repentance.

Elder M. Russell Ballard--watch the leadership online training with the family

Saturday Afternoon Session:
Elder Richard G. Scott--teach your children how their actions affect each person in the home
--don't worry that you can't do simultaneously all that is asked of us to do as there is a time and a season for everything

Elder Stanley G. Ellis--how we raise our children is more important than where we raise them

Elder David A. Bednar--Heavenly Father wants us to be together in the light and filled with hope. Satan wants us alone and in the dark without hope.
--Sin is a spiritual wound that causes guilt. Guilt is to our spirit as pain is to our body. It's a warning of danger so as to protect us against additional damage

Sunday Morning Session:
Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf--Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merrily sit in the darkness waiting for someone to flick the switch.
--Healing comes when we walk away from the darkness and walk toward the light.
--Start where you are. You don't have to wait until the finish line to receive the reward.

Elder Neil L. Anderson--Let the desire to share the gospel take you to your knees.

Sis. Rosemary M. Wixom--The short note that Prisoner of War Jay Hess was allowed to send home to his family:
 “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year." (which story, by the way, President Monson shared in Conference in 2008)

Elder L. Whitney Clayton--Marriage is a gift of God to us. The quality of our marriage is our gift to God.

Elder L, Tom Perry (can you believe he's 90!)--Obedience to law is liberty.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson--There are rules and laws to help ensure physical safety. There are guidelines and commandments to help ensure spiritual safety.

Sunday Afternoon Session:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland--When facing the challenge of faith, assert your strength first. In moments of fear, hold the ground you have already won. Stand strong until additional knowledge comes.
--Don't hyperventilate.
--What we know will always trump what we don't.

Elder Enrique R. Falabella--In order to contend you need two people, and I will never be one of them.

Elder Erich W. Kopischke--Having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is the ultimate [proof] of being accepted by God.

Priesthood Session:
Elder Robert D. Hales--Sometimes we are a lightening rod and must take the heat, but if we are grounded, it is OK. The Savior was rejected of men, too.

Pres. Tad R. Callister--With increased vision comes increased motivation.
--Revelation is not a substitute for hard work and home work.

Pres. David L. Beck--To minister is to do what the Savior would do if He were here.

Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf--We are not perfect, but don't use that as an excuse to lower your expectations.
--The Atonement makes us like Christ, but we are not all the same. We are united in testimony and commitment, but diverse in other areas (cultural, etc).
--If we fail to perform, the symphony will go on, but if we perform, we will receive a blessing that there won't be room enough to receive it.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson-- respond, work, serve, adjustment, sacrifice, prayer (and others I missed) leads to eternal joy

The Truth About Nut-ism

So it has been heard that I'm a nut.
Wrong.
It fact, I am a human. Actually I have been for quite a while.
You'd think that my own mother would know, but seeing as how she's obviously confused, I might think that you were too.
I am definitely one of the homo sapiens on the Earth. If you wanted me to, I could probably tell you all about the anatomy of my heart and how it differs from the non-existent heart of a nut, but honestly, how many of you would understand what I was talking about?
I could probably name at least 50% of the bones in my body that are not found in any nut humans have yet to discover.
Also, I do not write papers to replace labs. My teacher doesn't allow me to do that anymore. It just so happened to be that I was in the Land of Sin when my class pulled out some sheep hearts and some sheep lungs and dissected them like it was Play-Dough. I had never been so very, very happy to be chillin' in the Land of Sin over the course of my whole life.

So yes, recap: I am certainly not a nut or even a fruit or a piece of toast. And I'm not allowed to be as much of a wimp as my mum leads you on to believe (though I'd like to be).

-Hannah the Human

Easter and a change in my church calling

Easter:

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said...
~Matthew 28:6

That is one of the best scriptures ever.

Another one is the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Ridgon:

And now, after the may testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
~ Doctrine and Covenants 76:22

I do not do well in expressing my testimony...it is a very weird thing for me to put it into words--especially written words, but hope that how I live expresses my feelings on the Father, the Savior, His gospel and His church. They are real. They love us and have prepared the way for us. I hope to always walk in that way.


Change in my calling:

My time as Primary President has come to an end (over 3 1/2 years worth). And I'll be going back to what I was doing when I was called to work in the Primary--I'll be an advisor in the Young Women's program. Though before I worked with the Mia Maids (ages 14 & 15) and now I'll have the Beehives (ages 12 & 13). That means I'll probably teach the Sunday lessons 3 Sundays a month. And attend our Tuesday night activities when I can (which should be almost always). And maybe go to young women's camp.

This may wind up being a tougher gig than being the Primary President. I don't consider myself a good teacher, so I guess I hope to improve my skills in that area. The girls are great, so that shouldn't be a problem. There are only 5. My life is so focused on Ryan's mission and Andrew and Heather's wedding that I'm not even really thinking about my new calling. I have a few weeks before I teach my first lesson, so I guess that's OK.