The Women Who Knew Christ - 2022

This post is so long overdue and as I was cleaning up my pictures (the ones for TWWKC) to make space on my laptop - I stopped and thought - did I post this with the new pictures? 

The reason behind my not posting after holding this program was my father was ill and the chances of him passing were high. I was told we could postpone - but I had spent 3 months planning and I felt the sisters of my ward needed this. 

I needed this and I found solace in serving the sister of my ward as my literal sisters were with my Dad in Wales. To those who follow me, I live across the ocean here in the USA and have been since 2004. My Dad, sisters, and two of my older children along with their kids live in Wales. Which makes times like these, really HARD to cope with. 

Although, as I set up, I had my Dad's favorite kind of music on - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, etc. that he and mam would rock and roll to before Dad's brain hemorrhage when he was 41. I cried and I laughed, although, I probably cried more. 

When the night drew on, I stayed behind the backdrop, unable to stop my tears, not only from the program but from the feeling of such a strong spirit that all was well. Christ is with me. And the fact my dad was so ill.  Sisters came up to me after the program, tears in their eyes, all touched by the truthfulness of Christ and the testimony of the Holy Ghost witnessing to us that CHRIST LIVES - AND STILL LIVES. So, for me, this time around this program hit REALLY HARD and moved me beyond my expectations.

My dad passed 3 days later after we held this evening that focused on Christ. My life then was a blur for a week as I planned with my sisters and I flew home for more planning and my Dad's funeral. 

So, here we are now, nearly a year later posting this.

I will say this, I've already had a number of requests to send them a copy of this program I did back in 2014 and I will say it here too...please email me and I will send you the copy, gladly. As it is a wonderful program that focuses on Christ and the Women who knew HIM.

This time around, I wanted pictures of CHRIST on every table and everywhere else - entryway, food, and drinks. Afterall this program is all about our Savoir, Jesus Christ.

I purchased these wonderful olive garlands from Tablecloths Factory Which gives each table along with the lights  and muslin a nice touch.

As a gift from the Relief Society, I painstakingly made wood ornaments that feature all of CHRIST's names and pictures of CHRIST. I displayed many on the trees and then the rest in the take-home basket

This is CHRISTS TREE

I have one at home and it's the last tree to go up. It means the most and I ponder each name and picture of CHRIST as I place them on the tree. I hope that from that night each sister felt inspired and went home and with their families had a CHRIST TREE

I also purchased these photography backdrops.

One of the Nativity and one of the City of David in Jerusalem.

Sisters, were eager to take a picture in front of these.

I brought my pictures of CHRIST to display also. The wooden stars, I made at a RS Super Sat

We kept the food simple as in the previous time I planned this program. Dates, almonds, grapes, nuts, seeds, apricots, humus, tomatoes, cheese, pita bread, crackers. etc.

And yes, you spy chocolates. I cannot do any RS activity without incorporating chocolate

As the Savior promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The life and teachings of Jesus Christ give us ways to feel His peace if we will turn to Him.

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Dad

How do you ever get over losing a parent or loved one?

I don't think you ever do. 

The quiet and the unexpected times are when it catches up with you. Right? I know without a doubt the tears will fall as I write this post. I also predict that this week when the children are back in school and Jason is back at work - then is when I think the grieving will happen. Not that I haven't grieved - I have. 

Yet, with everything that happened, time went by in a haze, as I walked in circles like a zombie, booked my flight and car for my trip back to Wales and I decorated for Christmas in one week! It normally takes me one whole week just to do the inside. Outside didn't happen this year. But that is okay. I needed to go home. Home to Wales. Home to say goodbye to my dad.

December 5th at 5.40am. 

My heart broke.

It broke once before on Jan 5th, 2010 when my mam passed, and it broke again on December 5th, 2022 again when my dad passed away.

I am thankful for one thing - technology. I was able to Skype with my sisters and Aunt Linda and be there in the room with them as my dad passed. The heartache and pain I know we all felt were tremendous. Something I will never forget or want to. The following week was each morning on Skype with all my sisters as we figured out everything. 

The week I was in Wales went by in a manic rush of doing and organizing. Judith and I were the ones driving around to the Solicitors, the county council, and my best friend Lisa, who owns her own flower shop to choose the flowers, the funeral home, shopping for items for my dad's wake. Even the night before the funeral, adapting two tablecloths into scarves to wear. LOL This is one heck of a story to tell. 

Judith and I went to see dad when he was brought to the funeral home. I needed to see my dad in person. To hold his hand and say goodbye. Judith came with me. We cried hard, giggled, and chatted with our dad. Even though he'd passed, he was there. 

I miss you, dad. I am missing you still.

I see you every day - you sit on the left of my writing desk - the picture at Dan-y-Ogaf caves - where mam told you to look frightened with the T-Rex behind you. Also, to my right, is the picture of us all at Carreg Cennen.  

The funeral.

How is it this is the only time you get to see extended family? It was lovely, even through a sad time to see everyone. The service was what all of us sisters planned. I will at some point post my dad's Eulogy.  My daughter Jodi, as well as Judith, and myself, read a poem, the one I read is below. 

Poem Jodi read - Come with me.

Poem Judith read - The Star

We sang Calon Lan, Ar Hyd yr Nos, and Abide with me.

I Miss you daddy xx

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Carys' Baptism.

 Well, the time came finally that we could baptize Carys and it came just before numbers of those that could congregate were once lessened due to covid. 

Also, there is one more thing that stuck me - struck me to the core and I shed a few tears. Carys is the last of my children to be baptized! I'll never get to do this again. Mind you I never thought I would get to have more children to baptize after my divorce. But - here I am writing about Carys' baptism. Child #7, daughter #6.

And to top it off! I'm turning 50 this month! ARGH. Where on earth did the time go :/

Anyway, back to Carys. This is all about her, not me. ( maybe a tiny bit about me - the mam ;)

Carys was so excited. It is wonderful to see the joy in her eyes and little nervousness about going underwater. Carys and her sister, Seren were learning to swim, Seren can, Carys was still wary about going underwater. But I have to say, Carys did great. 

And she was even more excited afterward as she had to get dunked twice lol as her foot decided to pop out of the water LOL in her own words - How cool was that I got to be baptized twice :)<3

It was a very short and sweet service ( covid regulations), but we had a little get together back home in our backyard. It was lovely to have dear friends and some family to help Carys celebrate this special day for her.

AS per usual, I had to make Carys' day just as I did for Seren. Which, I had decided to keep everything I used for Seren's. 

The theme was - I love to look for rainbows. :)

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Seren's Baptism

As a person of our church, when we turn 8 or join our church after the age of 8, you get Baptized just like Jesus and become a member of 'The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints'.

 SEREN WITH HER DADDY

ME, JASON, SEREN & CARYS

So, when our darling daughter, Seren turned 8 in March we knew she'd be getting baptized. A decision she made also :) 

WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER AND LOVE HER TO BITS :)

Given all that, I began the process of figuring out what THEME to use for her and the family and friends who would come for refreshments afterward.

Which led me to Pinterest and the theme of RAINBOWS

THE WONDERFUL WOODEN CIRCLE WITH SEREN'S FULL NAME AND TEMPLE WAS MADE MY BY ELDEST DAUGHTER JODI WHEN WE WERE IN WALES FOR A VISIT IN MARCH.

JODI HAS A WONDERFUL LITTLE SITE:

HYFRYD CREATIONS

 I MADE SIMPLE TISSUE GARLANDS

AND THOSE CIRCLE GARLANDS DANGLING ABOVE THE #8

I ALSO MADE THE TRIANGLE BANNER, WHICH I USED FOR BOTH OF OUR GIRLS' BIRTHDAYS THIS YEAR.

I PURCHASED THE RAINBOW WITH RAINDROPS BANNER FROM ORIENTAL TRADING

THE MORNING OF SEREN'S BAPTISM

 AS TREATS I USED 'TASTE THE RAINBOW' AND SKITTLES. 

I HAVE TO ADD - SORTING EACH COLOR BY HAND WAS TIME-CONSUMING. 

I made cupcakes and used Xtreme sour candy belts as a topper as well as making the cupcake wrappers in the rainbow colors to match the triangle banner and rainbow circle decorations. 

I MADE THE WOODEN HALF RAINBOW CIRCLE FOR THE SUCKERS.

I used templates from HERE AND HERE

How the table looked before everyone tucked into the food and candy and towers of individual rainbow jello.

YOU CAN SEE HOW I MADE THE RAINBOW TABLE SKIRT - HERE

 left to right:

Mark, Me, Jason, Daniel, Jarom

Seren and Michael 

 Breanna, Brad, Jade, Me, Jason, Jarom, Daniel

Autumn, Paisley, Seren and Michael

Seren's big brother, Bradley

and big sister, Jade

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