The Family ~ A Proclamation to the World ~ The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Donald & Jamie Hadlock

Donald Carlton Hadlock and Jamie Leigh Brackenbury who were legally married on September 23, 2011 in Lindon, Utah, were sealed as husband and wife, according to the ordinance of God, for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple, on December 4, 2012.

If I said that this seems so surreal to me, it'd be the understatement of the year. A year ago I would've laughed if someone even mentioned the idea. Funny what curves life throws in the road that send you flying down an unbeaten path to Heaven. I now know that I accepted God's plan and chose to experience a mortal existence, to bear children to love and care for, and to become an Eternal Family.

I have not always chosen the straight and narrow path for it is a hard one to traverse without guidance and support. I denied what I knew in my heart at every turn in the road. I took great pride in always doing what I felt was right, as a parent anyway. I didn't think there was anything I couldn't take in stride, nothing I couldn't just "roll with". I was wrong.

When a parent is faced with doubt and uncertainty, it is one of the most frightening feelings imaginable. When you don't have the answers or the right words to comfort, you feel helpless. I, have never felt helpless as a parent. I always had advice, I always had an answer, I always had experience to share, but not this time.

 When you find yourself helpless and afraid, is it a friend or loved one you turn to? Maybe. Is it one of your own parents you ask for advice? Maybe. Consult the internet for answers? Maybe. Or just maybe...you turn to God. I said a simple prayer to God to give me the strength and wisdom to know what to do. My prayer was answered. But not in the way I expected. Here I am, 9 months later. A survivor of a tragedy. One of many. Not even one of the worst but a tragedy all the same. Do I still feel sad? Sometimes. Do I still feel insecure, that maybe I didn't do all the right things? Every day. But my prayers were answered. Not just the one I said out loud but all the silent prayers of my heart.

Here I am. A new person. A righteous example to my children. I am obligated by a "sacred duty to rear my children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live". I will be accountable before God according to my discharge of these duties and I intend to succeed.

I am the happiest I have ever been. There is a completeness of Spirit and a contentment that I can't begin to put into words. I am at peace with the inner demons of guilt and failure. I am at peace with the resentment of childhood disappointments. I am a daughter with an eternal identity and a divine purpose. I cannot express the love I feel for the people who have supported me and always remained faithful in that support. The people who knew the potential was there and never wavered in their hope that I would someday have a change of heart.

I would like express my gratitude to my friends in the ward and at work who have given words of encouragement. I would like to say thank you with all my heart to my friend, Craig J. Wintle, who eagerly answered my questions about the gospel with an enthusiasm  I can compare to none, who was my witness at my Sealing and who I love like family.

I am a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it...

The Cedarstrom-Hadlock Family

A human life is a story told by God ~ Hans Christian Andersen

Lonnie Carlton Hadlock

1942-2011

Our Poppy

I was lucky enough to have two men in my life whom I would call "Dad", my own father and this man. I didn't have enough time with him but I know he treated me like a daughter and treated my kids like his own grandchildren. Poppy ( I called him Lon) always had a smile on his face, always happy to get a visit from us. He always had a story to tell me, something to make me laugh out loud.

I called the house one night to talk to Gran about some of my ancestors that I had found while doing my genealogy and Poppy answered the phone. I talked to him instead and he was genuinely interested in where my family had come from and had some interesting information of his own. We probably spent an hour on the phone. I will cherish that phone call forever.

I could be myself around Poppy. I could say what was on my mind and I knew that he would do the same. I will miss his smile and his witty sense of humor. I will miss his opinionated arguments about politics. I will miss the deep country sound of his voice. I will miss his laugh and the way he sweetly bickered with Granny. I am grateful that I see him in his son every day. 

I wanted to tell him goodbye, but I couldn't in front of everyone. I wanted to tell him to rest easy knowing that I will take care of his boy. I will do my best to make him happy and protect him from heartache. I wanted to tell him I was sorry that he wasn't going to see us become husband and wife. I wanted to tell him that I loved him like a father.

I want to be a part of his family because the love and closeness that I have seen the past week rivals that of any family I have seen. Poppy would have been amazed! But it won't be quite the same without him. I will remember that whenever I am missing him, I know where he is, and I know he would love a visit now as much as he ever did...

...but I will miss his smile.

A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people ~ Will Rogers

One of my best friends told me today, "You'll never know unless you do it". Those are the wisest words I think I've ever heard.

It's kind of like standing on the edge of a cliff and looking at the dark blue water below. You know the water is going to be cold. You know it will feel like a thousand knives stabbing you all over. You know it will take your breath away. But... the fall will be worth it.

It will be exhilarating... if only for a moment.

What is life without brief moments of exhilaration?

I would rather live my life for the brief moments, the ones that fill your soul with memories. You said it... the bad memories fade. Life has a funny way of leading us around in full circles. People disappear from your life, and reappear when you least expect it. People you love will remain...

I am coming full circle...

This is myhappyplace :)

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~ Tenneva Jordan

When my children have children of their own, it is only then that they will truly understand how deep my love for them is...

These four human beings have the power to control my universe. When they are happy and content, I have not a care in the world. When they are sad or sick, making them better is my reason for being. I found purpose in my life the very second I became a mother. As I looked around myself and saw the evidence of my child...his high chair, his toys...I couldn't imagine my life before.


I have not always made the right decisions. I have made mistakes along the way. But when I look at these four beautiful creatures, I know that I have done good. They make me PROUD to be a mother. I will love them with every breath I take for as long as I live and beyond.

Life itself is the proper binge. ~ Unknown

Once a week, Wyatt and I are going to look up recipes that we want to try at home. I think this will be an excellent way to get him away from his electronics obsession :) He loves my homemade chicken noodle soup so I found a recipe from Paula Deen and I am going to have Wyatt help me in the kitchen tonight. Wish us luck...

The Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup

~ 2 cups sliced carrots
~ 2 cups sliced celery, with leafy green tops
~ 2 1/2 cups uncooked egg noodles
~ 1 cup sliced mushrooms
~ 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
~ 1/3 cup cooking sherry
~ 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
~ 1 cup grated Parmesan, optional
~ 3/4 cup heavy cream, optional (HA! Optional...funny)
~ Seasoning salt
~ Freshly ground black pepper
~ Crusty French bread, for serving


Directions
Bring 3 quarts of chicken stock to a boil, add carrots, and cook for 3 minutes. Add celery and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Add egg noodles and cook according to directions on package. When noodles are done, add reserved chicken from 2 1/2 to 3-pound fryer chicken, fully cooked and cleaned from bone. Add mushrooms, parsley, sherry and rosemary. Add Parmesan and cream, if using :) Cook for another 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning, if needed, by adding seasoning salt and pepper. Enjoy along with a nice hot loaf of French bread.

Zesty Roasted Garlic Bread

~ 1 head garlic, unpeeled
~ 1 tablespoon olive oil
~ 1 cup (2-sticks) butter
~ 3 tablespoons minced parsley leaves
~ 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
~ 1/2 teaspoon salt
~ 1 loaf French bread, split horizontally


Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Cut top off garlic head. Place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil: drizzle with olive oil. Fold edges together to seal. Bake 30 minutes: cool.


Squeeze cooked garlic into a medium bowl. Garlic will be soft and sticky. Add butter, parsley, salt and pepper, stirring to combine.


Spread cut halves of bread evenly with garlic butter mixture. Broil 5 1/2 inches from heat, with oven door partially opened, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until butter melts and bread is toasted. Cut into slices and serve.


YUM...

WHY...?

I wish I had an on-off switch, but I don't. I try to mind my own business, but I can't. I always want to have the right answer or know what to do, but it's a reeeal tall order. When there is a problem I spring into action. I devise a strategy and mount an attack, but what if I don't know what the problem is? Is it "mother's intuition" that gives me this sinking feeling that something is wrong? Or is it my imagination? Something is wrong...or about to be...  :(

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~ S.D. Gordon

When I was a little girl, I remember going to my Grandma and Grandpa Brack's for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. They would hide eggs all throughout the horse pastures and the yard. We would trek out with little baskets in hand, looking for the brightly colored eggs. One of the kids found a small garden snake and my dad chased all the little kids around with the snake! I'm sure my grandma was yelling at him, telling him to quit teasing the kids as they all scattered, screaming :) My Dad, The Tormentor and My little Grandma, The Protector.

My parents would always fill baskets full of eggs and candy and hide them somewhere in the house. As we got older, the hiding places got harder and sometimes there would be one basket that we just couldn't find so we would have to wake my mom and dad to ask where they hid the baskets.

I have always tried to carry on the family traditions that I grew up with. Just getting all the kids together in one place, at one time, seems to be getting harder and harder with each passing year. This year was a success, even if Colby and Shaylee were fashionably late :)

I spent the night before making potato salad and getting things prepared for the BBQ. Sunday afternoon, we set up the feast and fired up the BBQ. We stuffed ourselves on hamburgers, potato salad, beans, and chips. We even managed to fit in some strawberry shortcake which was nothing short of miraculous! 

Then we broke out the cameras for a family photo shoot...

The Next Iron Chef?

We were eating the food faster than Donald could get it cooked so the pressure was on...

Andrews hamburger was gone in 60 seconds :)

Christine had moved on to dessert :)

Cold hamburger? Yummm...

Strawberry shortcake is for cuties :)

Momma and Daughter <3

Easter 2011 was laid-back and low-key. We carried on the tradition of surrounding ourselves with the ones we love. Eating, laughing, and loving the time spent together. One happy family...

Easter 2011