The Merry Month of May

Lots of action in the Hill-Mulford connection this month. Tammy and I flew to Las Vegas for Ben and Emily's open house at the home of some of the Wright's dear friends. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit! We attended an endowment session in the Las Vegas temple and here is Tammy beaming before we entered that sacred place. This is the 21st temple in which we have performed an ordinance since we were married. We love the temple! By the way, Tammy was just called as couselor in the Primary Presidency.

Cam was a star in the Northridge Elementary art show. His teacher (pictured above) is Mrs. DeWitt and she speaks very highly of Cam's talent. Though he is only in third grade, she put his artwork in with the 4th-6th graders.

Maddy also was excited to display her rather abstract artwork as well. I believe it was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art for 4.3 milliion dollars (just kidding!)

Seth has really gotten excited about scouting, though this picture doesn't do a good job of portraying his enthusiasm. He already has eight merit badges and plans to get 10 more at Scout Camp next month, and he is not yet 12. I (Jeff) have been called to be Assistant Scoutmaster and Deacon's Quorum advisor so I will be with them! (I thought I was through with Scout Camp :)

Amanda's team wrapped up their lacrosse season by placing third in the state. As a sophomore she was named the defensive player of the year. She loves lacrosse!

Maddy's dance group performed at BYU and she was so coordinated and rhythmic. They had a fun group.

Jordan and Ryan are shown here demonstrating their talents in front of the temple. This summer Jordan is working 40 hours a week keeping up the Orem City Park on 8th West and 16th North and then in his spare time he is waiting tables at the Pizza Factory. He was also recently called to be the activities chairman for his student ward.

Ryan has been playing in lots of summer basketball leagues. He is so excited to take drivers ed, turn sixteen, get his license, and then go out on dates. He is great!

I wanted to show the rest of the Hills. Here are Jeff, Aaron, Sarah, and Abby on top of the "Y" in Provo when everyone was in town for the wedding.

Here I am smiling!

Cam participated in the Cub Scout Olympics and blew out everyone in push ups. On the average kids his age can do 14. He did 60! Watch the action!

Emily and Ben's Wedding (April 23, 2009)

We are so excited that Emily Ray Hill married Benjamin David Wright for time and all eternity in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on April 23, 2009. This picture captures the feelings of that day, which were clearly out of this world!

Their wedding day was absolutely perfect! Tammy had everything planned so we didn't have a worry in the world. The weather cooperated as well, with light clouds and temperatures in the low 70s. They are both so photogenic.

Emily and Ben held their reception in the Provo Library on the night before the wedding, Wednesday, April 22. Again, Tammy had everything organized so that the night of the reception was low stress. The Library was very beautifully decorated with bright Spring colors everywhere. The photographer captured the starry-eyed couple in this photo worthy of the cover of Brides magazine.

Here is the whole Hill-Mulford clan at the reception. Everyone was there except for Hannah, James and Joel. We numbered 25 souls in this photograph. The photographer did a great job getting us together. Amazing!

With the photographer right there, Tammy took the opportunity to get a picture with the Mulford children. They are all good looking, like their Mom!

Emily posed with all of her sisters, all of whom have different last names. Abigail Boone, Amanda Hill, Sarah Allred, Becky Wright, and Maddy Mulford!

These are all the brothers, sporting their festive ties: Cam Mulford, Seth Hill, Walker Wright, Alex Wright, Ryan Mulford, Jordan Mulford, Jeff Hill, Daniel Wright, and Aaron Hill.

I insisted on one group photo of everyone at the temple. And here we all are! We were blessed to have Dave and Kari Wright with their family, along with five of Ben and Emily's grandparents, along with Hills, Snells, Arnells, Hitchcocks, Flakes, Rays, Curtis, Boones, Allreds, Mulfords, and probably some others I don't see in the picture!

To conclude this post on a spiritual note, I wanted to share what the sealer, Brother Lloyd Packard, counselled the couple in the temple:
1. Return to the temple frequently and remember the sacred covenants made therein. These are the foundation stones of eternal joy.
2. Always look for the good in each other. Good marriages don’t just happen, they are made through conscious effort. Look for similarities not differences. If you look for the good, you will find it. “Seek and ye shall find.” If you look for the bad, you will also find that and there is a danger that you will only start seeing the bad and then your marriage may not last.
3. Treat each other as kings and queens. The temple teaches us that we will be kings and queens in the house of Israel forever. We should start treating each other that way. Even though Emily is strong enough to open her own door, she should let Ben open it for her. He told of seeing President McKay wait outside the car until his wife Emma Ray came so he could open the door for her. They should remember those little things.
4. Make a plan for your family. He asked them what they wanted for their family. Emily said a place of love. Ben said a place of peace. Brother Packard added a place of the Spirit. He challenged them to make a plan for how they would make of their home a place of love, of peace, and of the spirit.

We are blessed! These are very happy days!