First Grade Home School Plans and Curriculum - My Plan -

Overcoming the Comparing Syndrome
For no real reason other then fatigue, I plopped myself down in my office chair tonight and told Leif that I was questioning my plans for home school curriculum next year. Being tired often clouds the emotions and tends to bring on the fear and doubt. Luckily, my sweet husband was in a good place tonight and was able to listen to my thoughts and concerns, validate, and reconfirm that in reality all will be well.  As he assured me of his confidence and gave me a few pointers I was reminded of how much I value his opinion and confidence in me. Thank you, My Love!

The fears that I had stemmed from comparison. I found myself comparing myself and our home school to the "Big School" teachers and routines. I was feeling kind of dull and boring. Leif reminded me that the teachers past Kindergarten aren't usually the most dynamic of the bunch. On occasion you'll find a bubbling, dancing, ever-jolly teacher. But most of the time they're just plain burned out and trying to get through the year. Well, when you put it that way... :) I think we can make this work, and make it a good year!

So let me share some of my plans and ideas.

Home School Assessment Testing
I've been asked if I used MindSprinting as a Free Home School Assessment Tool. Yes I did, and I am pleased with the results. If anyone else has any other recommendations I'm open to suggestion. But for now, I am happy to know that Jakob is right on target for the next grade.

Papa's Summer Camp
During the summer I will be really busy taking a couple of classes. Leif on the other hand has purposely taken the summer off to spend time with the kids. He will be directing the summer filled with fun and learning. Jakob is beside-himself with excitement. He LOVES to spend time with Leif!

Home School First Grade
Once my classes are over we'll start back to our school routine. Throughout the summer Leif is going to help Jakob understand that because he is older he has "moved up a level (video game lingo always helps)." This means that he is ready to spend more time in his day on his studies. So we will be starting school an hour earlier than this year and we will be moving through the day in a "centers" like fashion. We are also going to start the school day with a prayer and a scripture. The first center will most likely be a self-guided one to help me be able to finish up the morning routine with "the littles."

The Centers/Subjects that we will do our best to cover daily are:
Phonics (ClicknKids.com and StarFall.com)
Math (BJU Press Math DVD)
General Studies (MovingBeyondThePage.com)
Gospel Studies (This lesson plan is still in the works, but I will list the resources that I will be pulling from:
Scriptures4Kids.com
LDS Children's Friend Online
Sugardoodle.net

Extra Curricular Activities
Although we are not overly concerned about our kid's "socialization" (they get out and about plenty.), but we do want to give Jakob a few more opportunities to get out from under our wings on occasion. We do however run into a wall in this regard because of where we live and the lack of opportunity that we have for our boys. So far the only extra-curricular activities that we can find are Dance, Gymnastics, and Baseball. Jakob has taken dance. In fact, he was the first boy ever to take dance in our community and he opened the door for other boys in the years since. But Jakob really wants/needs to interact with several other boys with similar interests. So Leif and I are hoping to head up a Science Club and possibly and Arts Club here in our community. We will not direct them. But we will organize them and help them move forward. I won't go into details now. But this is something that we look forward to in the near future.

Caleb
Caleb is three years old. Jakob was 3 when he first went to a small in home preschool based after the Joy School program. I am sincerely hoping to find him a preschool that he can go to a few days each week for an hour here and there. Jakob thrived in preschool. I hope to give Caleb the same opportunity within the next couple of years. Unfortunately both of Jakob's preschool teachers no longer teach preschool. I am praying for  the right teacher to come along for Caleb! Until then, We use the Your Baby Can Read videos and he participates in our home school lessons along side Jakob and I throughout the day. He has blossomed considerably.

So, there it is -My Plan-
Let it be Written, Let it be Done!

A Few Thoughts Behind the Scenes

This week I have often found myself in deep thought. A few things have happened here and there throughout the week that has jogged deep rooted emotions and stirred them up. This being my "thinking corner" I might as well share a few of the thoughts.

I Wish I Could Be There!
Having family within Joplin MO area has given us opportunity to hear about the inside details that the press aren't able to capture. There are a lot of miracles that took place the evening of the tornado. And there are a lot of miracles still taking place. This is a reminder that the Lord doesn't leave His children comfort-less. Yes, he allowed the tornado to take place, but because of the tornado many people are giving and receiving Christ-like service that otherwise wouldn't have. The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints have a plan of action already set up and ready to implement in case of any natural disaster requiring large numbers of volunteer service. Within hours after the tornado in Joplin the Church was moving forward with their plan of action. They have hundreds of church members from all over Missouri (and even surrounding states) traveling to Joplin throughout the week, and a large amount every weekend to give service. Everyone ages 14 and older are encouraged to participate in the service. The church conducts a Sunday devotional on Sunday instead of the regular three hour block of church meetings, and then the members go out all day and give service. This organized plan will continue for as long as it is needed.  I wish I could be there! 


Remembering the NICU Days
We celebrated the birth of a nephew this week. We are very excited to have more boys in the family. My nephew was born healthy and strong but he had a very minor sick episode the day he was born and they ended up admitting him into the NICU. While talking with his mama I found myself being taken back in time. By the end of this particular conversation I found myself crying from my mother heart. With tears about to take over I said to this special mother, "I didn't get to hold my baby, go hold your baby." As those words spilled out, so did the tears and emotion of those last days with my baby girls. It is amazing how those moments in time can come back so clearly at the most unexpected moments. Luckily, my nephew is just fine and so am I.

We Spoke in Church Today
We spoke in church today. It was really nice to take some time this past week to really study the General Conference talks. I learned a lot. Jakob said the first two Articles of Faith. He did a great job, all grown up. Leif did a great job! He is so easy going and likable. His love of the gospel and of the people shown brightly as he spoke. I spoke, and I wish I could feel at peace about how it went. I feel good about the message. I felt good about how I presented it for the most part. But for some reason I am just not feeling great about it all. I think I am just being pressured by the adversary. I'd like to think it was a good talk. Here it is:

REFERENCES: April 2011 General Conference

Followers of Christ by Walter F. Gonzalaz of the Presidency of the Seventy

The Miracle of the Atonement by C. Scott Grow of the Seventy

The Atonement Covers All Pain by Kent F. Richards of the Seventy

Face the Future with Faith by Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 Faith is an Action Word

Jakob came to me one night, as he was getting ready for bed. He told me that he had some skin that was hanging from the bottom of his foot and he wanted me to cut it off. I didn’t think it was a big deal… I got the scissors and in the dim light of their bedroom I proceeded to cut what I thought was skin. Instead, I realized too late that it was a large splinter that had wedged itself under the skin. Sadly, I had cut the very piece of the splinter off that I needed in order to easily fix the problem.

When I realized what I had done, I brought Jakob into the kitchen where we had a bright light. Jakob and I were both discouraged at what we saw. The splinter was deep and now that Jakob had seen the wound, it was quite painful. Leif and I explained to Jakob how necessary it was to get the splinter out. I was surprised and touched by his sudden and quick reaction. Without saying a word, he quickly folded his arms and bowed his head signaling to me that all we needed to do was say a prayer and the whole wound would be healed. Oh, such faith!

I am not saying that Father wouldn’t be able to answer Jakob’s prayer exactly how Jakob had hoped. We did say a prayer together asking for comfort and healing, but Leif and I did take a moment to explain a couple of important principles to our son. 

Faith is an action word!

Father in Heaven has promised us that mercy and grace shall be given after all that we can do. In  2 Ne. 25:23 we read: For we labor diligently to write, to ^apersuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by ^bgrace that we are saved, after all we can^cdo.  In the Bible Dictionary under Grace it reads: “Grace is a word that occurs frequently in the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul. The main idea of the word is, divine means of help, or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.”

During some of the darkest and most pain –filled nights of my life I remember one word that went through my mind over and over. The word was MERCY. I called out to my Father in Heaven and plead for His mercy and grace to take away my pain.

Almost five years ago Leif and I lost our twin daughters to complications during their pregnancy. This has been the hardest thing that I have had to face in my life so far. Since my girls’ pregnancy and death, I have never been the same physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  I have found myself calling out for Mercy on many occasions. And the Lord has answered by helping me find my path to action, my path to His Grace.

  

While preparing this talk I found myself asking a few questions:

First Question: What are the pains and heartaches that our ward family members are experiencing within their personal lives?

Physical illness

Mental illness

Marriage heartaches and confusion

Inability to have children

Loneliness

Grieving

Wayward children and family members

Betrayal and abuse

Weakened testimony and faith

Overscheduled lives

Trapped by debt

Poverty and unemployment

Fear of what the world is coming to

Struggling to endure to the end in faith

These are only a handful of the trials that are being faced within our ward family on a daily basis. Elder Richards has said, “Much of our suffering is not necessarily our fault. Unexpected events, contradicting or disappointing circumstances, interrupting illness, and even death surround us and penetrate our mortal experience. Additionally, we may suffer afflictions because of the actions of others. ³ Lehi noted that Jacob had “suffered … much sorrow, because of the rudeness of [his] brethren.” ⁴ Opposition is part of Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. We all encounter enough to bring us to an awareness of our Father’s love and of our need for the Savior’s help. 

He continues:

“The Savior is not a silent observer. He Himself knows personally and infinitely the pain we face.”

Second Question: This leads me to my 2^nd question: What motivates me personally to move forward and stay on the path to eternal life with God? What motivates me to stay strong and not become bitter and question my trails in life?

First Motivator: I believe with all of my soul that God the Father and His son Jesus Christ are very much real, and very much aware of me. I know this from experience. And the thought of denying this knowledge makes me shiver with fear of the Lord’s consequences of such a thing. Elder Nelson bore witness to this truth when he said, “How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people. ^“

Second Motivator: My covenants motivate me. I have promised God, myself, my husband, and my family that I will stay true to the commandments of God and do all that I can to keep our family together eternally.

      President Nelson counseled us to tach our children and apply the following in our life: “Teach of faith to keep all the commandments of God, knowing that they are given to bless His children and bring them joy. ⁴ Warn them that they will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and ignore others that they choose to break. I call this the cafeteria approach to obedience. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, one keeps all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith.”

Third Question: This leads me to my final question: How do we endure through the past, present, and future trials of life?

(PRAYER)

Let’s go back to my story about Jakob’s splinter. What was his very first response to his pain? He Prayed!

Elder Nelson said, “Unfailing faith is fortified through prayer. Your heartfelt pleadings are important to Him. Think of the intense and impassioned prayers of the Prophet Joseph Smith during his dreadful days of incarceration in Liberty Jail. The Lord responded by changing the Prophet’s perspective. He said, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” 

Heavenly Father didn’t answer Joseph Smith’s prayer by rescuing him from his trial right away. He helped Joseph find the path that God had to His Grace. Heavenly Father will never leave us comfortless. He will always act upon our action of prayer. And most often, he will lead us step by step back into the light of His love, the goodness and true joys of life.

(REPENTANCE and ACTION)

Elder Richards reminds us of my next point. He said “There is another kind of pain for which we are responsible. Spiritual pain lies deep within our souls and can feel unquenchable, even as being racked with an” inexpressible horror,” as Alma described. ⁸ It comes from our sinful actions and lack of repentance. For this pain too there is a cure that is universal and absolute. It is from the Father, through the Son, and it is for each of us who is willing to do all that is necessary to repent. Christ said, “Will ye not now return unto me … and be converted, that I may heal you?”  In order to truly find peace and the grace of God we must repent of our sins. If you need to talk to the bishop, do it! If you need to talk to your spouse about an issue, do it! If you need to offer an apology, do it!  The longer sin sits in ones soul, the more pain it inflicts.  We must take action against our sins and repent in order to find healing.

When Jakob came to me with the splinter in his foot Leif and I helped him understand what actions he had taken to lead to the pain in his foot. We also took action to do what we needed to in order to heal the wound. In life, our trials often leave wounds that require action to heal. If you need to meet with a counselor, do it! If you need to take medication, do it! If you need to change the friends that you spend time with, do it! If you need to drop-kick your computer out the window, by all means do it!  J

As we listen to the whisperings of the spirit and do all that we can do to endure our trials we must ultimately come unto Christ and lift our burdens up to Him.

(FOLLOW HIM)

           

 Elder Gonzalaz taught “As Christ followed the Father under any circumstance, we should follow His Son. If we do so, it matters not what kind of persecution, suffering, grief, or “thorn in the flesh” ⁴ we face. We are not alone. Christ will assist us. His tender mercies will make us mighty under any circumstance. ⁵

Following Christ may mean forsaking many dear things, as Ruth the Moabite did. As a new convert, out of love for God and Naomi, she left everything behind to live her religion. ⁶

It may also mean withstanding adversity and temptation. In his youth Joseph was sold into slavery. He was taken away from everything he loved. Later he was tempted to be unchaste. He resisted the temptation and said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” ⁷ His love for God was more powerful than any adversity or temptation.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks has also taught: “Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.” ¹⁷ All that will come may be “clasped in the arms of Jesus.” ¹⁸ All souls can be healed by His power. All pain can be soothed. In Him, we can “find rest unto [our] souls.” ¹⁹ Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change, but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in His peace and healing balm.

May we make Jesus Christ and His commandments our motivator as we journey through life’s trials and accept His loving grace is my prayer. In the name of my Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Foto Friday May Week 4

This week started with a visit with a good friend and her kids. From there we enjoyed good weather as it came and went, celebrated Papa's last day of work for the summer, and finished planting our garden. We wrapped up the week with a visit from Cousin V which meant lots of fun with Grandma and a BBQ with family. Good Times!

Playing Outside with Friends.

Jakob made breakfast! YIPPEEE!

Is he really trying to do that!?  Yes, my baby is growing up!

Grandma won the game of LIFE!

This is a sneak-peak of the rose garden memorial we're making for our girls.

Little Tubby Buddies! 

Papa and Jakob building the garden boxes.

Stylish Blogger Award!

I was awarded a special blog award! I don't know if I really deserve it, but it was a sweet warm fuzzy after a long day. Thank you Julie for awarding me with the Stylish Blogger Award. I met Julie through the blog world when she commented on one of my posts. I like to learn about the people who read my blog. So I went to her blog. My world has been uplifted many times while reading Julie's blog. She is a busy mother of 7 kids, she is working towards her bachelors degree, and she was a Mother of the Year nominee for Oregon's Mother of the Year. She has a lot of great advise and adventures to share! Thanks again Julie!

The Rules for the Award are: 
1. Link back to the person who awarded you.
2. Tell your readers 7 things about yourself.
3  Award 15ish bloggers (if you read that many blogs;) whom you feel deserve the award.

7 Things About Me:
1. So far the hardest thing I've faced is the death of my twins.
2. I really really like chocolate!
3. I was a professional nanny for 10 years. I nannied in Boston, Hawaii, Chicago, and Utah.
4. I met my husband in Hawaii.
5. My husband and I created and ran a national Nanny Agency.
6. I am educated (not certified) to be a Holistic Health Practitioner from Global College of Natural Medicine.
7. I served a mission in Chicago for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I will nominate two women for this award. I love all of my fellow mommy bloggers and I think many of them deserve an award. However, several of them actually have private blogs or their blog is just meant for their personal family and friends. So I won't "officially" nominate them. But I'm sure grateful for them and their willingness to share their world with me through their blogs.

Now let me introduce a couple of women to you:

Brittany authors Que and Brittany's Adoption Journal. She brings hope to many people through her blog. Brittany and her husband have adopted their first son and her blog shares this amazing journey with all of her readers. She and her husband have opened up their life and adoption story to the world and I admire her wisdom and courage.  She is a great writer and I can't help but feel uplifted any time that I visit her blog. Thanks Brittany!

Stephanie authors A Daily Scoop. Stephanie lost one of her little girls in a drowning accident. Stephanie shows strength and wisdom daily, as well as the raw and painful reality of the loss of a loved one on her blog. She share the light that Jesus Christ's atonement can bring during some very dark moments on this earth. Thank you Stephanie for sharing your journey and faith with us!

I officially nominate Brittany and Stephanie for the Stylish Blogger Award! Visit them, you won't regret it!

Don't forget to grab your award ladies.

 Here it is!

Enduring the Signs of the Times

It is hard to ignore the "signs of the times" this year. I haven't mentioned them very much on my blog for no other reason except that they are depressing and they seemed to be happening in far off places. Well, they have hit closer to home and I feel that it is time to mention them. 

My heart and mind have pondered this subject a lot lately. I find myself wondering what will happen next and when it will happen right on my door step. Right now I am talking about the "signs and wonders" of nature. The moral "signs" are a whole post in themselves.  I have also found myself searching through the scriptures and reading about the Nephites in the Book of Mormon as they waited for the signs of Christ's birth and then the signs of his death. I look at the short time frame within those events and it makes me wonder about Father's plan for His Son's second coming. And mostly, it makes me wonder what I really need to do to prepare for, and endure through it all.

Leif and I had a late night talk about this subject. I shared my thoughts and concerns with him and he, being the wise one out of the two of us, put it all into perfect perspective. I had talked about how important it is to focus on the very basics of the gospel right now during the full force battle raging against us. He agreed with me, but he also reminded me that the events happening around us can affect us in two very different ways. It is all a matter of perspective.

1. We can live in fear. Where we are focusing and tallying all of the terribly tragic things that seem to be happening at a more rapid speed then ever. We can wallow in the sorrow of it all and the wickedness. And ultimately, we can despair.
OR
2. We can create a heaven on earth perspective. One where we live the gospel within our homes, and find joy within them. We are aware of the sorrow and disaster around us, but the fear is not overwhelming because our faith is strong. We can serve where and when we can. We can prepare for things to come. But we do not fear. Ultimately, we can rejoice, for we know the end of the story.  This is the path that I will choose!

Now, with this said, I have had one more question. Just how much have things changed within the last 40 years? What about within the last 10 years? How much closer are we to His coming? I know, NO ONE on earth or in heaven know the time except for God the Father. But He has given us a few markers to look for as we exercise faith in Him along the way.

1982 President Ezra Taft Benson: Prepare Yourself for the Great Day of the Lord.
"Every generation, I suppose, sees the time in which they live as being exceptional. The truth of the matter is, you do live in a most exceptional time in the history of mankind. You young people will see events transpire which were prophesied from the beginning of the world. Prophets of old have seen your days and rejoiced in them. And yet, you will face challenges and circumstances, the severity of which has been unparalleled in generations past. For this you must be prepared. ..."


1992 Elder M. Russell Ballard: The Joy of Hope Fulfilled.
"Although the prophecies tell us that these things are to take place, more and more people are expressing great alarm at what appears to be an acceleration of worldwide calamity. As members of the Church, we must not forget the Savior’s admonition, “Be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass.” These are difficult times, when the forces of nature seem to be unleashing a flood of “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”..."


2004 Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Preparation for the Second Coming.
"In modern revelation we have the promise that if we are prepared we need not fear (see D&C 38:30). I was introduced to that principle 60 years ago this summer when I became a Boy Scout and learned the Scout motto: “Be prepared.” Today I have felt prompted to speak of the importance of preparation for a future event of supreme importance to each of us—the Second Coming of the Lord. ..."


2011 Elder Russell M. Nelson: Face the Future with Faith.
"We live in a time of turmoil. Earthquakes and tsunamis wreak devastation, governments collapse, economic stresses are severe, the family is under attack, and divorce rates are rising. We have great cause for concern. But we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith. ..."


While reading through these four articles I recognized a shift that took place as the years progressed. Starting in President Benson's article written in 1982 up through the 90's we are being warned about what is to come. From there, we are being comforted through the storms and advised on how to endure them.

Finally, I would like to give myself a reminder of the basics that I will ground my focus upon.

• Pray: Personal and Family
• Scriptures: Personal and Family 
• Temple Attendance
• Sunday Meetings Attendance
• Nourishing my Marriage
• Nourishing my Family
• Emergency Preparation Supplies
• Self Reliance

And all of these revolve around HIM! 

A Real Life Fairy Tale

Tonight we found our little family snuggled together on Mama and Papa's bed and lounging on the chairs near by.  Mama was lathering up the boys with yummy lotion after a nice warm shower. Papa seized the moment and turned on some calming tunes. With this perfect setting Papa began his bedtime story for the boys. Tonight's story was a real life fairy tale. It began something like this, "Once there was a prince who went on a search for his princess. He found her in the island's of Hawaii..." I will have Leif write the story and post it as a follow up to this post. But I just want to share a few of the thoughts and feelings that I had tonight as we closed our day with such a special story.

Before I was married I honestly never let myself daydream about who I might marry and what my life would hold. I knew I longed to be a wife and a mother with every fiber of my being. But I didn't dare dream up the perfect man for me. What if I never found him? This was my biggest fear for many years.

Tonight I need to let you know that I know with out a doubt that our Heavenly Father knows our hearts desire. He knows us! I know  my "fairy tale" might bring heartache to some. I truly ache for these people!  But I would be ungrateful if I didn't thank my Heavenly Father for my Prince Charming and the little princes and princesses that we have been blessed with.

Our journey down life's road so far has not been all "Happily Ever After." But it is far more wonderful then I could have ever dreamed.

The following is our fairy tale beginning story. If you want the "Real Life" Fairy Tale, the one where their Heavenly King reminds them who is the master in their masterpiece, feel free to skip on over to our main side bar story that shares the King and Queen's first not so "fairy tale" trial.

Once upon a time, a prince and princess lived on a paradise island.  The princess loved children and loved going to the beautiful beaches where she would bronze her skin in the glistening sun. The prince worked in a special castle as a healer and people would come from far off places to be healed on this island.

This prince and princess met and during their time together on the paradise island they would often go to the oceans edge, listen to the wave’s crash upon the rocks of the shore, and watch the stars twinkle and the clouds roll across the sky in the wind. One night the prince took the princess on a great vessel upon the ocean where they rode out to sea together and listened to music from the islands. Soon the prince and princess decided they wanted to live happily ever after together and the prince lovingly asked the princess to be his queen. The princess assured him that she wanted this with all of her heart. 

Without delay the prince decided to go with the royal accountant to the royal jeweler to look for a ring for his future queen. He saw piles and piles of gold and diamonds.  The prince wanted something special for the princess so he asked the jeweler to present his best diamonds.  The jeweler showed the prince two beautiful diamonds.  One of the diamonds was huge and the other a bit smaller. However, the second diamond sparkled like the stars in the heaven.  The prince chose this diamond.  Then the jeweler presented two smaller diamonds to fit next to the heavenly one in the center.  The jeweler said that these were called tear drop diamonds, but when place just right next to the center one it formed the shape of an angel.  The prince was pleased. After the ring was set in the jewlers best gold, the royal accountant paid for the ring.

The prince presented the priceless ring to the princess and to celebrate the prince and princess went to the special castle were the prince worked and went to the servants who lathered the prince and princes down in exotic oils and lotions while the court minstrel played music.  Afterwards, they went to a special feast were the cooks prepared a humongous cake covered in the finest ice cream and topped with a river of chocolate syrup.  They finished this off nearly bursting the seams of their finest garments.  

The prince and the princesses’ families were overjoyed that their children had finally found their hearts desires. Before very long, the prince and princess journeyed to their homeland to be married. It was here that the prince and the princess entered into the most sacred of all of their kingdom’s castles to be sealed together as King and Queen for time and for all eternity. Their heavenly king was with them on this day and they promised Him that they would love and cherish Him and one another for all of their days. They promised that one day they would teach their children about the true meaning of love and who brought them together as a family, never to be divided.  

The royal wedding was filled with all of the beauties of heaven and earth. After much celebration, the new king and queen road off into the sunset to begin their life together, and this was only the beginning of a real life fairytale…