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ella mcdonald

@ellaaallaaaa

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My little girl got married.

Private ceremony. 2 kids in love. 14 guests. Morning fog. A valley full of vineyards. Mountain views. Dinner under the olive trees. Hand drawn and lettered menus. Lights in the pool. Bubbles and tail lights.

Ella saw her version of a dream wedding in her head and with a collective effort from two amazing families, the dream came true.

We love you Aiden & Ella McDonald!

Details: They got married Tuesday night at a private home (Airbnb) in the hills above Calistoga, CA at the north end of Napa Valley. (Knights Valley if you know the area.)

Both families enjoyed a 3 day stay at the property, culminating in a wedding ceremony at dusk, followed by a fancy outdoor dinner, an hour of heartfelt sentiments from each family member, and an epic swim party.

They’re off to Kauai for a few days.

They’ll be sealed for time and all eternity in the Draper Utah LDS Temple on July 7th.

(I’ll for sure make a sappy post about all this next week, so check back often.)

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Julie said on our drive home today, “That’s a weird skill set - to be your children’s manager. I love it. But I’m not doing the thing they’re doing. I’m making sure they have what they need, help them to remember and get prepared, cheer them on. That’s not too much of a skill. But I love it.”

I replied, “I don’t think there’s too much a child would want from their mom more than that.” Shout out to all the manager mom’s out there.

(That’s my experience and view, not a judgment of motherhood that’s looks different from that.)

So as Ren, our youngest child graduates in two weeks, here’s to all the:

School registrations
School pictures
Merit badges (still a thing for Cole)
Awards banquets
Art shows
Travel game school lunches
School projects, speeches and assignments
Hair cuts
Clothes shopping
Shoe shopping
Supply shopping
Math, English, Science tutoring hours
School dance grooming sessions
Birthday mornings
Dentist visits
Braces
Checkups
Immunizations
ID’s
Mission prep
Wedding prep
Girls camp prep
Husband prep (permanent assignment)
Young women’s activities
Relief society activities
Young men’s activities
Elders Quorum activities (what are those?)
Funeral volunteering
Ministering visits
Lunch dates with friends
Texts sent to someone the spirit named
Late night scripture and testimony
Words of encouragement
Wisdom straight from God

And countless other gifts, blessings, and miracles Julie has brought into our lives over the last 27 years of marriage.

We’re excited to see what a new season of life brings with it.

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we schemed up this DREAM surprise proposal on valentine’s day and it was better than we ever imagined it would be. i love you @ellaaallaaaa

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❤️❤️

#nails

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What happens when they leave?

No seriously, what happens? Haha. Julie and I are about to find out. Cole is still with us for now. Eric got married in September. Ella isn’t engaged yet but is dating a fine young man she likes a lot. Ren leaves on a mission this summer.

Seasons of life.
This one is tender. Full. Strange. Beautiful.

As I’ve pondered my children being on their own out in a big old world, three things have meant the most to me - things I hope they know.

1 - You can always come home. Alan Jackson knew what he was talking about. Not just to live but be loved, to start over, to get back to good, to warm up, to visit, to laugh, to eat, to love, to remember.

2 - You’re never alone. Most of the things I regret came from believing I had to face life by myself. I should have called my dad or mom sooner. I hope they call us sooner. Or a sibling. A friend. A bishop. A neighbor. Find out how it is instead of how it seems. Don’t wait.

3 - Jesus is The Christ. He’s the one you’ve been waiting for. The friend, the Father, the light, the hope, the love, the truth. His love is anywhere and everywhere you find yourself. His light shines in darkness. It redeems, it heals, it enables.

Mom and Dad love you kiddos. We’re proud of you. Shine on and remember to call home when you can.

- Dad & Mom

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Cute and simple

#nails #nailsnailsnails #utahnails #nailsofinstagram

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Christmas already?!

#nails #nailsnailsnails #utah #utahnails #fyp #christmasnails #christmas #nailsdesign #nailsofinstagram #gel #hardgelnails

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Julie and I had another kid! Okay. Have another kid. @madiweenig is the best new daughter we could have hoped for. She and @ericneilsonn got married yesterday in the Payson Utah temple! A sacred ceremony and an epic party on the same day!! Thank you so much everyone who came out to support them. A day full of love. We are so blessed. (We didn’t get too many pictures, but not to worry - I think the photographer got 20,000 or so, so we’ll be good.)

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Hiked Mount Timp today! 🥳🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🔥 I’m a certified mountain G.O.A.T. 🐐 with a terrible fear of heights.

#friends #mountains #nature #beautiful

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“All of this is for free? How?”

Those were the words of my six-year-old son Ren while eating his ninth snow cone at a church community party.

The event had games, rides, prizes, and 50+ volunteers — including a Bishop who served snow cones for 3½ hours straight (nine of them to Ren).

I remembered that moment today, sitting in the Conference Center at a free organ recital.

Richard Elliot (Tabernacle Choir organist for 34 years) was performing How Firm a Foundation — my favorite hymn. @ericneilsonn invited me. Grateful he did. (Imagine 75 people in a 20,000-seat hall listening to one of the greatest living musicians.)

So is this all free? How?

Of course it’s not free. It takes tithes, volunteers, missionaries, and people sharing their gifts. But to us on a random Friday? It’s free. No payment. No ticket.

Isaiah said: “He that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat… without money and without price.”

But how do I reach the milk and honey when my worries feel more like John the Baptist’s camel hair and locusts?

The hymn answered me:

“Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not dismayed.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”

Sometimes I think my stress is the cost of discipleship. I don’t think Jesus sees it that way.

“Be not afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)

Maybe stress is just the cost of my ego.
My need for control.
My adult mind getting rigid.

Maybe discipleship was never meant to be added stress — but an adventure of finding Christ in every good thing.

Life’s burdens feel so heavy when I try to carry them alone. They feel so oppressive when I focus on why Jesus would make me carry them in the first place.

But when I meet Him in the morning and say “Hello Jesus, ready to go on a walk?” He always smiles and says “Let’s go!”

Today I feel like telling my son @ren_neilson (17 now and our last kid in school) and everyone else that - Yes, Christ’s snow cones hit differently when you’re an adult, but they’re still there and they’re still free.

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My Dad turned 85 this year. He made one final run up the Greys River. He’s been coming here since he was in his 20’s. A lot has changed since 1940, but this canyon and river are timeless. (Road upgrades are a welcome improvement.) Dad got out the fly rod 🎣 one last time. Mom sang us her favorite songs. 🎸Great to spend time with my parents, my brother, niece and nephew, and my own awesome kids. Memories are what shape us most.

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