Wedding Week 1

Week of August 3-9, 2015
If you read last weeks blog you have an outline of what has happened this past week.  We made all of our flight connections and got to SLC on time to be greeted by a huge rain storm.  We need to send some of that moisture to our beloved Ukraine!  First let me tell you that we can't wait to get back home to our little apartment in Vinnistya. We miss it and all of the wonderful people very much.

Coming into Amsterdam

Elder and Sister Mikkelsen heading to the weddings

We flew over Greenland and Iceland the views were incredible 

We feel like we are in a foreign country being here in the states.  We love and miss the simple life of the mission field.  With that said, we are having a wonderful time with all of our family and friends.  Jonathan and Kelsey's wedding turned out just great!  The weather was perfect and they had a lot of friends and family show up.  We had a special treat when Janet's Aunt and two cousins from Michigan came to celebrate with us.

Janet and Sandy's Aunt Shirley and their cousins Jan and John

 We have not seem them since 1992 when they came to Aspen Grove in Provo Canyon for a Petersen/Jennens family reunion.  It was a wonderful visit and are so glad they made the effort to travel to Columbus Ohio to be with us on this important day. We understand how important family is at times like this.  My wonderful son surprised his beautiful bride with a poem he wrote for her.

He is very talented in this department.  It says just what we each need to hear about love and family.

Forever You and Me

(For My Kelsey)

By: Jonathan Mikkelsen

I sometimes sit and wonder about the life that we will share

The things we’ll do, and where we’ll go, roads both rough and fair

Our family that we’re starting, and the adventure that we will live

My back and hands are strong, for you my everything I shall give

I love you more than words can say, or more than I can show

Your hand is mine to hold, down every path and road we go

At times I might make you cry, or mad at me as sin

But just remember how much I love you, and we can always win

I love you more than all the stars at night, or grains of sand on every beach

Our dreams and goals and happiness, I’ll always help you reach

For you I would do anything, a better man I’ll be

You are my one and only, without you there is no me

Because of you I smile, my days are warm and bright

Your laugh and touch are perfect, you send my heart into flight

Forever won't be long enough, to have you by my side

But as long as you can hold me, our love will not divide

We all will face challenges as we go through this life.  It was said about life that "it will not be easy but it will be worth it".  Having the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives makes it so much easier.  As we look around us, we see the devastation in peoples lives as they ignore the Savior of this world and try and do things on their own. Keeping a focus on Him will help us to stay on that path that will help us return to our Father.

We arrived here in Columbus on Tuesday afternoon and had the opportunity to meet with our first grandchild.  Little Riley is a precious gift from God and we have loved being with her this week and looking forward to next week.

Grandma and Riley getting to know each other

I love Grandpa

Just hanging out with my favorite Granddaughter!

Grandma Duty and loving it

 That will be one of the things we will miss when we return home to Ukraine.  She is a gift from our Father in Heaven and we are better people for being able to feel of her spirit.  On Saturday night when mom and dad left for their short honeymoon we got to take care of her.  I know one thing. That little girl loves her mother.  It was the first time they have been apart since her birth and several times during the night she let us know she missed her mom.  As I have watched Kelsey tend to her little daughter and new husband I have been so impressed by her loving concern.  Jonathan is one lucky guy to have found such a loving and caring companion. And we are blessed to have her in our family.  Last night we played 5 Crowns she is such a great sport and is so fun to be with.  Thanks Kelsey for taking Jonathan and us into your life.  They will be great parents for their little daughter and future CHILDREN! 

Well most of this blog will be pictures from the adventures of this past week, we hope you will enjoy them. Our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is just a little stronger as we have been able to enjoy the blessings of family.

Fun times at the reception

I did satellite dish installation with Jonathan
for two days before the wedding. We had
a wonderful two (long) days installing

Nice weather for a wedding

Kelsey's paster Mark giving the wedding vows

Mother and Daughter-in-law

Little Riley in her wagon getting ready for the wedding procession 

Giving the last minuter Fatherly advice
("you can be right or you can be happy. You choose")

We just added one more to our family. We love you Kelsey

 Everyone was here this week except Jacob.  He is serving in Cancun Mexico on his mission and we would not have it any other way! The small world syndrome was bought up with us yesterday at church we met Elder Bunker from Cedar City who is serving a mission here in the Columbus area.  He is a Great-great???great grandson of Edward Bunker (founder of Bunkerville).  Well that is no surprise since we are all related in this great gospel of Jesus Christ.  We hope you have a blessed week. I know we will have a blessed (Busy) week

Love you all Elder and Sister Mikkelsen

of course we need to end with a picture of our granddaughter