Stephenson Family Ties

Can he really love her? Can the soul really be
satisfied with such polite affection's?
To love is to burn, to be on fire, all full of passion.
from: Sense and Sensibility
by: Jane Austen

Anita, Davids mom, shared this with us, "I have so many thoughts about the weekend but what brings out the most joy is the look at Davids face realizing all the family he has now.. a sweet serene look on his face is all a mother and father want for their son, and to be content and happy. They will have their challenges.. we all do, but they have each other now....We are so glad to have you both in our circle as well my new friend.... here's smiling at ya

Jace says his favorite memory is being outside the temple with all the cousins and having fun at the reception!

Grandma Sharp said, "I guess what I remember most was how many young adults and kids of all ages were there. Most of them were kids belonging to Bobs brothers and sisters but it was fun to watch them have so much fun together and even dancing together. I also was impressed with what a beautiful, happy, radiant couple Anna and Dave were. The other nice memory I have is going with Anna and her mom,when she was trying on her wedding dresses! That was lots of fun for me."

Mikele's response was:

"I loved watching Anna & David walk out of the temple, us making a line for them to go through, and how happy Anna was! She was glowing!"

"Watching baby Liam!! then seeing Anna and Dave come out of the doors all dressed up!" was Lexi S's favorite memory.

Carly said, "My favorite memory is probably taking pictures outside the temple (minus the fact that it was BURNING HOT :)). I just really liked being with all our extended family and seeing how much everyone has grown and where our family is now. It was neat being at the temple (wish i could have witnessed the sealing!) and realizing that the temple is so important and is all about families. We are so blessed to have such an incredible family, and to have so many wonderful examples within, including Anna."

Brian, a man of few words, when asked what his favorite memory of the wedding was, answered, "the food." (its always about the food.)

Lauren and Tim's favorite moment has to be during the temple ceremony. The words that the sealer said were so special. It was so wonderful to be a part of that. He gave great advice that we can all take in to account. We also loved the dinner fri evening when the parents shared their thoughts and feelings. The whole thing was awesome. Even when my husband was dancing like it was going out of style.


Lachlan liked dancing at the party in his Sunday clothes.

Kelly was quick to reply with some of her favorite memories--"The whole weekend was wonderful, but I especially loved being in the sealing room with family all dressed in white. It was such a spiritual experience for me and was a confirmation of heaven and the eternities is all about being with our loved ones. Nothing else matters. I loved having my girls experience the wedding activities as well and am grateful for Dave and Anna’s great example of getting married in the right place.

Grandpa Stephenson said, "I feel so fortunate to have been in the sealing room for the ceremony. I had a perfect view of Anna from where I sat. A perfect view of her face. There was complete peace and happiness and total contentment and conviction for this monumental event, and to what she was doing. She knew she would be blessed."


Grandma Stephenson said that for her the special moments involved viewing Anna for the first time, on the temple grounds, in her beautiful wedding dress. She was so pretty and her eyes..... She was so happy."


It was easy for Natalie to come up with favorite memories. " The first dance was special, as they gazed into each other eyes you could see the love they have for each other. Davids emotions in the temple was so touching too; you can really see how much they love each other."

Jake had a long list of things he liked about the wedding. He replied, "I liked being in all the pictures. And I liked the sparklers at the end. I liked playing Red Rover on the lawn at the temple (while waiting for the grown-up to come out) with all the kids, and I liked playing on the stairs at the party place."

Mayci liked the daddy daughter dance the best and the first dance between Anna and David.

Chelsea said, "I loved it when all the beautiful girl cousins carried the cut- out of Clark onto the dance floor and danced with him!! What a riot!!"

Dan enjoyed the lines of family and friends that encased David and Anna as they came out of the temple and as they walked down the front steps into our waving arms. It was cool."

Stephanie's fun memory for the weekend was, "watching them cut the cake and then singing to Anita (Davids mom) happy birthday. I also found it fun that I quickly learned all the fun quirkyness's of Anna's and Davids displays of affection to each other."

Sharon loved "the moment when Anna and David walked through all the family and friends that lined the walkway from the temple stairs. We all had our arms up waving and clapping, celebrating their happy union."

Trisha said she "loved the dinner the night before at our house. (Cindy and Bobs) It was so fun because it was so casual and low key. All the kids had a blast and the adults weren't uptight about the kids. Every one had such an enjoyable time."


Joy said, 'What a beautiful celebration of two people who couldn't be more perfect for one another! My favorite memory will always be of the sacred moments in the temple, of David & Anna being sealed as one. I have never felt the Lord's presence so strongly, and knew many generations of spirits were thrilled to witness the eternal joining of a new family.

I also loved watching David & Anna dance the first dance...so sweet & romantic! Like watching a fairytale prince & princess! lol!"

Uncle Kim-

" I loved watching you (Cindy) watch Anna when she was listening to the sealer at the temple. Anna couldn't take her eyes off David. Watching the look on Anna's face when the sealer spoke to us about not speaking evil of God's anointed. And then being reminded that we too have been anointed and that we should never speak evil of one another. It was a lightbulb moment for us all!!!"

Memories from my dear friend Kathy K who slaved away in the kitchen for me all night long!!!

"The groom’s room had two massage recliners. The groom’s parents both fell asleep in the recliners between decorating and the reception. They looked very relaxed.

I thought it was really funny that those two little girls locked themselves in the bride’s room. Then when someone tried to open the door by “breaking in” they opened the door and said, “We weren’t locked in.”

From the kitchen,

· Marlo panicked when she put out the banana muffins and 70 were gone within 10 minutes. The little kids were hungry and liked them!

· No one wanted to slice the pineapple.

· All the wedding guests wanted a piece of cake, so even the top layer was served. The girls who were serving couldn’t get the slices to the table. Guests were taking them from the tray as fast as they came out of the kitchen. The kitchen help ate the blemished pieces. It was delicious!"

I've known Sue for 12 years; she is a dear friend and is another angel that slaved away in the kitchen, behind the scenes, all night long!!

"Anna and David are a happy couple. I was still cleaning up and saw that they had come back in after the reception to change into more casual clothes and dance. Then I saw them doing a fairly wild form of the jitter bug. They just look like they are having fun just being together.

Loved it all.

Love, Sue"

Cathy likes remembering,
" the amazing photographs taken by Chelsea. I feel like her pictures help to turn Anna and Davids wedding experience into a fairy tale and like it came of the pages of a storybook. I was also so touched by Davids emotion at the alter, which created emotion in a lot of others in the room, including the sealer, which is highly unusual for a sealer."

Rob said something profound, even though he didnt want to. " I was dancing with Olive and had an epiphany of sorts. I realized that someday I was going to have to do this wedding stuff with her. That kind of freaked me out."

When I asked Matt what he enjoyed, he said, "I really enjoyed being with everyone. It was fun to see everyone at the Temple in the sealing room and then outside afterwards. Such a fun day!"

Lauren said her favorite memory was the dancing at the wedding reception. She says she really liked the music that was played and she liked that David & Anna danced too! She liked watching the daddy/daughter dance and just liked dancing with everyone!

Aly said her favorite memory was:

" watching all the babies outside the temple and then watching Anna & David walk out of the temple, followed by pictures. They were so happy!"

Favorite memory from Julie-
"The couple was absolutely adorable together, but one of the things that impressed me the most was the example sweet Anna was setting for her cousins, and for her cousin's children.
After the reception Scott and I had a great teaching opportunity with our children who now can't wait to "get mawweed in the tempul," and then have a "party" of their own. Olivia especially was impressed with the "princess in the white dress." We also had a great FHE the Monday after we got home about temple weddings.
Thanks again Anna and David for your valiant example!"