Miss Marley was blessed by her dad in church on August 5th. There was three blessings in church that day and our ward house was filled to the brim, but it was full of the spirit and love for all of the sweet babies being blessed. We didn't do anything big for Noah when he was blessed because we were in my in-law's basement and didn't want to impose on them by throwing a party in their home, so we did something little. This time around, I wanted to make sure that my closest family and friends could make it. Our house was full and that wasn't even half of the family that was invited! so i'm glad the amount of people came that did or else our house wouldn't have an ounce of wiggle room.
Travis blessed Marley with such beautiful words and as sacred as that prayer is to me, I wanted to just note that Travis blessed her with the ability to love everyone around her no matter how different they are from her. One thing I always have loved about Travis, not matter what you believe, or the life you lead, you aren't judged by him. He feel so strongly about raising our kids to be the same. In the 7 years i've been married to him (and the 10+ years i've known him), i'm not kidding when I say that I don't EVER hear him talk bad about anyone. If i'm ever venting about anything, he usually always tells me to pray to love the person, or to find something nice I can do for them to help me feel better. Believe me, it isn't what I always want to hear (like, please gossip with me for a hot minute!), but it is such a good example for me. He has a beautiful soul and i'm so glad our kids get him as the ultimate example of love. I hope our Mars can feel that every single day and it goes with her in her own life.
People keep asking me how we came up with Marley (not like we came up with it, it just isn't super known so I don't know why we get asked it so much.. haha) and I typically always tell them that I heard it one day and have always loved it. I remember watching Mr. Scrooge's Christmas play one Christmas and loving the story between him and Jacob Marley -- his equally greedy business partner. To make a long story short, Jacob Marley was sentenced to roam the earth bound in chains for his greed and sins. He is the reason that Mr. Scrooge receives the presence of three ghosts at a last ditch effort to give him a second chance at life before he suffers a similar fate like Mr. Marley. I like that Mr. Marley stood for second chances. I weirdly wrote this in my diary and noted that I always liked the name Marley after that. So many people think its after the dead dog (too soon?), or the infamous musician, but nope, I guess the reason I liked it was a little weird, but that's where I kind of got the idea and years later I told Travis that was a girl name I loved and he liked it too. He had another girl name he fought to have for a long time, but in the end, Marley trumped. Hopefully she will find some humor in this story later in life.
I also need to note that the day before Marley was blessed, we had my grandpa Gene's funeral. It was a beautiful service that was honored by the U.S. Navy, since my Grandpa served all of those years ago. They had a beautiful gun service for him and folded a U.S. flag and gave it to his late wife, Ivy. I didn't think I would be as emotional as I was, because he was in his 80's and finally out of pain, but remember the good years and the amount of influence he had on my life left me in tears most of the day. I had the opportunity to read his obituary and hardly got through it without bursting in tears, but it was a wonderful day and i'm grateful my grandpa is finally in a better place. Love him so much.
We had wonderful sugar cookies that were decorated as little white baby dresses, lemon poppyseed cupcakes and a cake made by my sister Kylee, pink lemonade dressed with pineapple and sprite (so good!!!), sandwich bar, salads, and fruit. It was so good and i'm so grateful for all my beautiful friends and family that could be there. I wish I would have gotten a picture of everyone for memory sake, but was too busy running around (reminder to why I don't throw parties! haha). It turned out to be such a wonderful day and i'm so glad Marley got to wear the blessing dress I was blessed in 28 years prior.
Love my leading lady.
Just wanted to also post a couple of pictures from the day I last saw my Grandpa and the day of his funeral:
I'll love you forever, Grandpa.
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