A Family Moment

My church teaches that families can be together forever, and today I got up early and flew to St George, Utah, to be with my brother and sister-in-law when they were sealed to each other, and to their twin babies, Jace and Jenna.

Cody is the youngest of seven; I’m the oldest, and I loved this photo of us with the twins (four months old).  

We used to think we were a big family—until we met Shelley. Shelley is one of 16 children, all from the same mother and father! You can see it’s a pretty large group.

Although not all of my family was there (Dad was in the hospital and my brother Kurt and my sister Vonna couldn’t make it), it was one of the many occasions when I’m reminded how much I love my family.  

Comments

[Leonie Schroder]

family IS a precious gift and its great to see you being blessed by such a wonderful family ... wow 16 - imagine that christmas gift list!!

[Kristine John]

What a wonderful day to share with your brother. I know that it will be something he treasures for the rest of his life. Children are an heritage of the Lord...and what a blessing to have a set of twins.

I often get comments about my "large" family (of 7 children), but that's not even half of the 16 in Shelly's family. What an adventure a day in that family's life must be!

[Kay Kalthoff]

What a lovely post, Shelly! I LOVE the picture of you and your brother. My parents are both only children so I had zero first cousins . . . but my brother and I are really close. My hubby on the other hand has over 100 first cousins!! Wonder how many cousins Jace and Jenna will eventually have?? lol! Have a happy day!

[Betsy]

You are truly blessed to have such wonderful family times. My father came from a family of 11 children. He was the second oldest. Family times are special and I am sure you have wonderful memories of all those special times.

[brandy]

Shelli,

You have a beautiful family. Beautiful twins, I have twin boys myself that just turned 2yr and they are alot of fun. You are truely blessed to come from such a large and close family.

[Maureen Stivala]

wow! I know how much trouble I have with my 54 first cousins (pretty equal on both sides) AND their spouses and children! (my DH has no chance -he just assumes I am related to everyone!!LOL) I am the baby of the baby on mom's side and Dad is the 3rd youngest of 9 - so everyone is very much older than I am...but - it was a blessing, because I was spoiled by everyone!!! LOL It also explains a lot about my personality!! LOL but its ALL good!!! And really - as Kay said - I wonder how many cousins the twins will end up with!! That is another big WOW!! But a very happy thought!! Glad you had a chance to celebrate family again!!
((()))reen

[Nena Shaw]

What a wonderful, beautiful, huge family. Such a blessing it is. God is good, and blesses all who believe in Him. Thank you for sharing these great pictures...and the twins are adorable. Love the banner "Boo!". Blessings to you and your family - my you're a busy lady Shelli...how wonderful for you to still be able to bless those around you. Nena

[Belinda King]

How wonderful for your brother's family! The twins are precious! :) I come from a large-ish family (6 kids) and we have a large-ish family (5 kids so far)... Family is such a blessing! It's awesome that so many of you were able to be there for the sealing. :)

[Sharie]

Thanks for sharing such a precious moment in your family.

[Jennie]

I'm in the Uk and new to Stampin Up and your blog. Already, I am addicted to both although I literally came across your blog just a couple of days ago. When your blog filled my screen just now, on a cold, wet, miserable English day, the photo of you and your family, literally lit up my room. How wonderful for you all to have each other and the love shared is seen in every face. In those faces cliched though this sounds, your Father is there too. Dreadful as the accident was, I smiled at the thought of this man sqeezing every last drop to be had out of each moment. Though I don't know you, that sounds like you too! I wish you all continued happiness and pray that your father is well enough to plan his next adventure soon! Thank you for bringing sunshine, both literal and metaphorical to gloomy England today!

[Evelyn]

wow! 16 siblings? I can't even imagine that many TOTAL relatives at one gathering in my family, let alone just brothers and sisters. That's amazing!

[Crystal Fowler]

What a blessed event! I hope your brother and sister in-law write it down for their twins to read about some day. When I was 16, I was sealed to my parents in the SLC LDS temple, and I will never forget that day. It helped me keep in mind my goal to be married in the temple for time and all eternity.

God bless you and your family

[Gay Ferland]

Shelli,
Thank you for sharing again a part of you that most of us are not familiar. You are such a gracious person! I love that about you. The babies are so precious! I too will be holding a baby soon. My son will be having his first baby, about time, he's 35! We are excpecting Bryce Aiden Ferland in eight weeks!! Stampin'Up! has made it easy for me to create wonderful things to help celebrate his arriving! This weekend we all get to attend a baby shower in his honor!! From the decorations to the wrapping paper, I used SU! products...Woo Hoo! Wonderful products!
Thanks so much for sharing with us Shelli, I most enjoy your graciousness!
Gay Ferland

[Alice]

What a special day. When I was sealed to my husband we had three kids. A 6yr old boy, 3yr old boy and a six month old little girl. It was the most percision thing to have the temple workers bring me those beautiful children dressed in white. I wouldn't trade those memories in for the world. Families are Forever!!

[Kim]

Temple sealings are such a wonderful way to spend time with family, and remind us that we can be together forever!
Wow... 16 kids!!!!!!!

[Sandy Ross]

What a wonderful day that must have been.Thank-you for sharing such a special event with all of us. I know how wonderful that day is. My husband and I were sealed as soon as my 4 children's adoption to my husband was finalized. What a beautiful day that was.Your blog is such an inspiration to everyone who reads it. Hope your Dad is healing quickly.
Have A Happy Day!

[Makeesha Byl]

Oh Shelli, what a beautiful family you have been blessed with by God. I am sure it was a most memorable day for you all. We actually have a family of 16 in our church too! It is rather amazing.
So wonderful to see your photos and to hear all you have been up to. Take care and please give my regards to Sterling also.
Makeesha Byl

[Cheryl Miller]

What a beautiful family! It is wonderful that such a large family is able to gather together.

[Sara Douglass]

I hope you gave Cody, Shelley and the twins hugs for me, wish I could have been there. I'm also enjoying your new Blog header...very Fall-ish:)

[Kasia]

I flew to St. George this weekend too! I missed you by a few days but it would be fun to share a flight with you. Don't you love the way the temple looks from the air?

[Leah]

I love the new blog header!! Don't get me wrong your family pictures are lovely and those twins are just too cute but I have a habit of reading blogs via RSS feed and sometimes I forget to click every once and a while to the "real" site so that I can see the style of the blog and I am glad I clicked today!! I really like the update. It was great to have gotten to meet you in Kansas City last week, and it was fun to see the BOO Banner on your blog. You will have to tell Sara how impressed all the demos were with her creation.

[Kristy Young]

Gorgeous! And love the new blog design looks great!

[Mindee]

AWESOME

[sylstamper]

Shelli,
I love the new October look for the Blog! And the family photos! How awesome! But the "Boo" Banner is soooo over the top! Wow! I'll just look at it and admire it from the photos as I would never attempt something so gorgeous, but time-consuming. It is lovely, to state the obvious! Never thought I'd say elegant and Halloween in the same sentence, but there you have it!
Sylvia

[Rosy Eckhardt]

Hi Shelli, can you explain to me what being sealed means. To me it sounds like being married. You have a very beautiful family to love. Rosy Eckhardt