For the past five days I have been in heaven. (That is why you haven’t heard from me, I have been very busy enjoying a rather heavenly experience). Now I am back, and wouldn’t you know, here I am, ready to tell Y O U all about it.

I gathered with my family to celebrate (and I mean CELEBRATE) the union of…

Chas & Samantha.

We left for UT on Friday morning, but before we did, we were all a flutter! All activity, all energy, all thoughts somehow led back to Chas and Sam and their much anticipated nuptials.

For example, Millie decided to draw a picture of Chas and Sam.

And here is your portrait Mr. & Mrs. Kelly.

I think you look smashing. FYI: Sam you are the one with the flowing locks on the left, in case you were wondering. She WAS working from an actual picture of you guys so she got your lovely blue eyes just right. One of the many mysteries in this ever so colorful portrait is the reference to BYU – in the upper left hand corner. I asked her about this, and she was vague, but she did have a reason! One should never ask artists such questions anyway.

The following day the girls got their hands on the paper towel roll. I just let them go for it. Why not?

And I was so glad that I did because in the midst of their playing Millie decided that it was the”special carpet” that Sam would walk down when she married Chas. Aw shucks! Be still my little mommy’s heart!

Clara tried it out for you, Sam. It was lovely. We’d love for you to have a go, whenever you make your way to our house. Wink, wink!

While the girls colored pictures and prepared magical walk ways out of paper towels I was much occupied with

WHAT TO WEAR

to the wedding.

Cue next post for the outcome!

“Things are looking up!

Things are looking up!

No need to worry. No need to scurry.

Cuz things are looking up!”

Remember my little brother, Chas? I had some stellar career advice for him, if you’ll recall. He decided against it and went ahead and  made a documentary. It is the story of a boy who lost his way, ended up in jail and miraculously found his way back to the love of his family and God. It is a story worth telling.  This past weekend it was awarded third prize in the LDS Film Festival. The first and second prize winners were made by legit professionals and had HUGE budgets. Chas’ film was his very first. Made for practically peanuts.

I am feeling mighty proud.

Mighty proud of him!

There was a fair amount of opposition to Chas’ little film. The professor who’d been assigned to mentor the project pretty much let Chas know he thought his idea for a doc was RUMMY.

Hmmmm.

Funny that.

I won’t dwell on it, but dear friends who are reading this post, I bring it up to remind you to

BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES!

And silence the voice of the professor types (a.k.a critics) who condemn your efforts before you’ve even begun.

Because you never know when your dreams will be realized.

When your work will be recognized.

And when people will applaud your efforts.

And ultimately when the work you do MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!

Three cheers for the winner of third prize AND a people’s choice award! Three cheers to all the people who helped him bring this work to fruition – many of whom are pictured here!

LONG LIVE DREAMS! LONG LIVE THE GOODNESS THAT BEATS IN OUR HEARTS And LONG LIVE THE STORIES THAT ARE WORTH TELLING!

Congrats, Chas!

The badge don’t lie, suckaz! It says, “FILMMAKER”  and it’s what you ARE, bro!

(Pictures borrowed from Sam’s blog…Thanks Sammy! See you two cuties in four days – looking forward to that big event that we’re all gathering for!)

P.S. Chas, your big sis digs your new hair cut! You look sharp, my friend.

I have news so tremendous, so joyful, so exciting – I need help to express it. I need far more eloquence than I posses to voice the feelings of my heart.

I need THE BARD!

Just imagine, if you will, Romeo and Juliet…but with a HAPPY ENDING!!!

The families aren’t feuding, they have loved each other for YEARS. The moms are the best of friends who shared endless laughs and Costco runs, the dads love and respect one another and have served together in a bishopric. The older kids have babysat the younger kids, had play dates and even little high school crushes…wait for it. Oooh, just wait for it because it gets even better.

I give you the new and IMPROVED version of the classic tale (I know, you thought nobody could improve Shakespeare, but prepare yourselves to be gobsmacked… this is good, oh friends, THIS IS GOOD)

Two households, both alike in dignity,

(well, one might be a little more dignified than the other… that second bunch looks a little WILD to me)

In fair Provo, where we lay our scene,

From forth the life-giving loins of these two families
A pair of star-gazing lovers take their vows;

Whose triumphant goodness cheerfully yields yet more happiness,
Do with their engagement heighten their parents’ joy.

The courageous passage of their life-mark’d love,
And the continuance of their parents’ glee,
Which, but their children’s marriage, could only enhance,
Is now the traffic of this humble blog;
The which if you with patient eyes attend,
What here shall read, my toil shall strive to celebrate.

It’s true! It’s true! And every conversation I have with any member of my family results in giggles, exaltations, and this phrase, “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!?!”

It is so good it is almost too good to be true, but believe it,

because

This here cutie

asked this here cutie

to be his WIFE…

&

she

said

“YES!”

A few words about my FUTURE sister-in-law, Sam Card (soon to be Kelly), for those of you who may not enjoy the blessing of knowing her:

You can see that she is lovely. She is also a hard worker, a great student, a hip chick, and a person of true depth & substance. She is a person who has been through some very challenging times and she has emerged from her trials with grace and beauty. She is courageous. She is so good.  She has a testimony. She is strong because she knows where to go and Who to turn to for strength. If you were to meet her you would instantly think “Oh, what a darling, fun girl.” And you would be right, but that is just the beginning.  You might not know that she has managed to confront the darkness of life and remain full of light. And even be lighthearted. Joyful. Fun.

She is remarkable.

And, let the world take note, her FUTURE family-in-law LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her.

So does her fiancé.

Now a few words about Sam’s fiance, my little brother, Chas Kelly.  Chas is a peace maker. He can take a heated situation and calm everything right down. He is a real man. He is a person of integrity and goodness. Of the many things the world prizes and esteems my brother is something that is, these days,  grossly undervalued, but I KNOW how important is is and so I am going to tell ya, he is pure. You heard me, PURE and good to the core! He has made covenants to live and be a certain way – and he has kept them.  He has lived his life to be worthy of a woman like Sam. I have so much confidence in the husband and father he will be. He honors God by honoring the power that God has graciously extended to him. I love him for it. He is also terrific with kids. This picture is for you Sam, it’s gonna melt ya, get ready…

Aw, Shucks! How cute is he??!!! He lived with us last summer and he was a champ with Millie. I would also add that he is also a wonderful listener. And he is a funny fellow. Oh, how he tickles me! Man, I dig him! He also has EXCELLENT taste in women…that is to say, one woman in particular.

Three cheers for Chasio and Samiet!

Hip, hip, hooray!

You better believe that I have plans to carry on posting about this lovely couple.

I will take great pleasure in keeping you POSTED, as they say.

In fact, I would like to invite this happiness, which they have freely given to all of us who know and love them, a permanent home, here, on Dawesome!

Samantha Kelly, that has such a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

In the word’s of Ruggles of Red Gap*  “YIPPY, YIPPY, YIIIIIPYYYYY!”

*(Sam, have Chas show you this film, I’m afraid it is “required” viewing to be a full blown member of the Kelly band! Well, you don’t HAVE to, but it will sure help you to get a lot of our inside jokes. And when Xmas comes, and you are forced to watch Nicholas Nickleby, don’t worry, your future sister-in-law, Allison can teach you the special dance a.k.a the “shoulder shimmy”, which she invented, to help get you through all eight hours of it.)

Having recently graduated from the BY of U my brother Chas is on the hunt for a career.

Search no further, my bro. I have found it!!

You could be Ralph Finnes’ double! Or, even better, you could always play Ralph whenever a younger version of him was required. Eh? Eh? What do you say…

Check it out:

(Ernest, pensive – good, good! That is SO Ralph!)

(Like the intensity here, Chas – you’ll need that when you’re playing Ralph)

(Ah, the softer side. He does have that too, you’ll totally nail that!)

Oooooh, so now this gets a little harder. But Chas, if I could do Lady Macbeth – I know you could conquer Lord Voldemort.

Lets just break it down. (That always helps.)

Step one.

This doesn’t seem too hard, right? I mean you take the make-up and costume away, and this is what it boils down to.

Alright, yes, Chas!  This is going in the right direction. I mean, I think by involving a small vulnerable child you’re getting closer – but I think you need to be a bit meaner.

See, what he is doing here? Maybe if you did some scrunching motions with your hands like Ralph.

Okay, okay this is getting a little closer. Not quite there YET, but  there is time.

We’ll keep working on it. Remember to keep “Loose, relaxed, FREE!” and you’ll get there eventually.

Bro, what do you think? Are you seeing the massive potential here that I am seeing?!