The story of her Three White Dresses

OK for the purpose of having the kids have a minor journal of the finer points in their lives, I must stick to getting this done. I will re-attempt to re-create that beautiful weekend.
But here I go again on doing Alaria's Baptism page. It was such a beautiful day. Because we we're in Utah for Great Grandma's funeral we we're able to get her baptism done in Utah that weekend thanks to my sister in law Moncia. Which I can never thank her enough. It really was so wonderful of her and Ty to let us use their Stake Center and the Bishop for taking his time to do it.
Well, the program had a bit of a theme to it. A very special idea that my Mother thought of when Alaria was born was to make her blessing dress out of my wedding dress. There was soooo much fabric from it and I thought it was a beautiful idea. I had come across a poem that was about Three White Dresses that has always touched me and it has been very special to actually let Alaria have this for her to have and cherish when she is truly old enough to understand. Here is the beautiful blessing dress my Mom made from my wedding dress.

The dress to me was so amazing and beautiful. My Mom hit a home run. We had several people even come over to see the dress so they could copy the pattern, which there wasn't one, my Mom always chucks the patterns and comes up with amazing things

And here we are 8 years later with her Baptism dress. Her second dress of white. She actually didn't use any other material as every piece came from my wedding dress. I will have professional pics done, and then post so you can see the beautiful intricate details. Just amazing.

The details are hard to see in this light, but I will get a good replacement so you can see the beautiful details and all of the beads and lace she removed and sewed into the new dress.

The reason the 3 White dresses is so important to me has a bit of a backstory. I made up the programs and then I inserted a poem about "The Three White Dresses" and on the back I had a little collage of Alaria and her family and friends. It was so hard to pick any pictures and you probably won't be able to see a lot of the pictures very clearly, but I will add it, so Alaria will always have it. Here is the program

This is funny because we made a ton of copies and I got left with the badgered, wrinkly one, but I guess it wouldn't be any other way. My Dad gave a beautiful talk about Baptism and Recieving The Holy Ghost. He is a hero of mine and I was so happy to have him there to talk to Alaria about these things. She is so willing to learn and is honestly the most pure spiritual little soul I have ever met. I know I'm prejudice, but I'm imagining something very trying will be coming because Heavenly Father has to send down spirits as strong as hers. It is a wonder to watch her soak up everything and be the best exmple for all of our family.I also dragged my beautiful girls ( nieces to be exact, but they have always been more like little sister's to me) to help. Morgan my sweet Senior in high school who is Student body President and is so busy made time to come and play the piano. She did such a wonderful job. Believe me I know how scary it is to get up and play in front of a small crowd where it is so quiet. She should be greatful for those lessons. She is beautiful inside and out. Courtney, Morris, still so strange to call my newlywed that helped me lead the music. Tyler baptized Alaria and it was so special. I'm told that after she started to walk up the stairs to get dry, and I had just walked out to get to her that her little brother Nicholas put his little hands up to the glass and yelled after her, " I Love, or "Wove" you Alaria. It brings tears to my eyes that she is already such an example. I had Morgan come help me to get her ready having her there was special to me. I felt her love for Alaria just as much as I love her and her sister. It meant more than she'll ever know.

Well, we got back and it was my turn to give my little poem of the "Three White Dresses." Here is the insert I put into the program one side with the poem and the other with a few pictures of Alaria and her special family and great life.

It was too hard to decide which pictures to put in since I have millions I'm sure. I tried to get all her family and special cousins that she loves so much.





This poem means a lot to me and I know you can't read it. This was the insert into the program. I will write it so you can read it. But after I got married, I posed with Courtney my little angel bug who I drug with me everywhere I could. She is in her baptism dress and holding a very special doll that has on her blessing dress, and of course myself in my wedding dress.

My Three White Dresses

My Mom bought me a white dress, Not red or pink or blue.

She said it was a special dress like very other few.

There has been just one before, A dress now put away.

That I wore some time ago upon my blessing day.

As a little baby clothed, In my first white dress

My Dad held me in his arms, There to name and bless.

So pure and clean was I just then, With time to grow and learn

About the Father's plan for me, My glory I must earn.

Now I've reached the age to judge, The wrong road from the right,

And I am here to be baptized, In this dress of white.

So, once again I'm free from sin. The path is clear to me.

I'll grasp the rod and hold on tight, I vow with certainty.

Just as mud would stain my dress, Sin would stain my soul.

The key is to repent or bleach, For whiteness is my goal.

And if I try my very best, Then richly blessed I'll be.

Wearing inside God's Holy House, White dress number three.

So today I make this pledge: I'll strive to choose the right,

Through this sacred baptism ordinace, In my second dress of white.

Linda nelson

When I was in young women's they took all of us young women to a hotel overlooking the Idaho Falls Temple and talked about these special white dresses. It is special to me becuase it was one of those defining moments when I felt the spirit whisper to me that I would be inside God's Holy house with the right Man at the right time. Now, watching Alaria grow it is a hope that can wrench the soul to have her there. I guess with the weekend before and being in the temple with my sweet Courtney and Ryker it was a very special few weeks.

 While we we're getting Alaria into her dress after the baptism we played a video that so perfectly put into song the Three White Dresses, please watch this video it will bring tears to your eyes, besides it took me for ever to get it downloaded onto here. Please watch

                                                                               

Well, now that I have already written a book I have so many pictures I have to include. There we're so many faces there that I was thrilled to have. Tyler's family that could come and my family that could come and also sweet friends that left us stranded in New Mexico, haha. It was wonderful. I was thrilled that Alaria had both of her Grandparents there, both so sweet and special in their own ways. Alaria is so close to them and she honestly cries because she misses them, so when she doesn't get to see them as often as we'd like. I will always be greatful she has them in her life and I consider it sacred.

Grandma and Grandpa Jorgensen, Alaria, and Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen

The other sweet face I couldn't get over was seeing sweet Great Grandpa there after being what he had been through that whole time and he came to support Alaria. I told Grandpa that when I was born I had my Grandma Jorgensen who was getting along in age and was so sweet and we saw her at Holiday's and she was very quiet. When I met him and Great Grandma I thought they were the cutest little Granparents I'd ever seen, and they had a way of making you feel like you we're the only one. I just love him to pieces. I was thrilled he was there.

Too sweet for words

Like I said it is so amazing Alaria has all of her grandparents to share her life with. I know one day she'll realize how amazing that really is. So here are a lot of pictures with her Grandparents

LeAnne and Tom gave Alaria her first set of beautiful scriptures. Her name is engraved and the first night after she got them and we we're staying with our friends' the Nortons. Alaria got out her scriptures and read a bit of 1 Nephi to her best little friend Hailey. They then held hands and said a prayer. Cutest thing ever.

Grand Masterpiece. We have saved a piece of the rest of my wedding dress to make a slip for something old, and she can pick her own dress and have a slip underneath to connect it to her dresses.





She's not spoiled at all. LeAnne was the only one who could make Alaria laugh like a maniac when she was a baby. She grew up her first few years at the Sorensens. So they have a special bond. And Grandma Jorgensen can't resist Alaria either. She is so lucky to have the 2 best Grandma's ever!

A Picture Is Worth a Thosand Words

So, now we will move on to brother, Nicholas, who is never far behind and wanted to be right there for every shot. He was so excited. After the baptism he said to me, " Mom I only have one more Birthday and then I get to be like Alaria!" He loves his sister so much and I will never cease to keep that bond strong.





Nick has to try and out do everyone, so since g-pa held Alaria he wanted to be higher up and on the shoulders. Good thing Grandpa is so loving and playful with the kids. Miss my pops terribly

 Now we had all of the cousins that could come and of course my Sister Michell, who I was so excited she could make it with Morgan and Courtney and Ryker the newleyweds!

Corkie and Morgana, two Nick names Alaria gave to the girls

Best of pals, Girl's nights and a lot of hercules:)



Corkie the great example along with her sister. Don't forget us little people now that you are married Court:)haha



Alaria really doesn't enjoy their company;(, NOT) her eyes light up when Ryker is nearby. Thanks for being such a great example of what to do

Here are more of some of Alaria's Cousins. She loves her cousins and we all wish she could see them more often.

Jaden and Seth, or Saden and Jeth as Alaria calls them. So sweet. Love these two sweets and wish we could see them more

Macady who Alaria adores. When Alaria was a baby she was the first girl cousin to come along on the Sorensen side, so they had so much fun together. Macady always took care of Alaria.

I have pics of all of her cousins somewhere in the last blog, but while we we're doing pics in her baptism dress I couldn't round up everyone, but she loves them all and they have made her life so fun. It was so sweet for them to all come. We missed Bryson who will get home from his mission in a month, can't believe that at all. And Lydia and Adalie couldn't make it, but I know they so wanted to be there that weekend. And of course my brother and his family. I missed them so much it hurt a bit in my heart. Brady and Alaria are very close and I would've loved for him to see it.





Here are a few Aunts and Uncles I could track down to get a picture from



Aunt Michell, who actually helped me take all these pics, because I was inside busy losing stuff I needed. I only hope I can be half the mother she has been to her girls. We love her so much, and I miss her.

Uncle Derick and Aunt Katie, We are so happy to have Katie in our family over a year now. Derick has always treated my kids so great we love him for that. I still can't believe he lives in Idaho Falls, and I'm here in well.... whatev. Hopefully we'll live close one day.

I don't know how I missed Mike, Monica, Ty, Brett. I got them all when we we're celebrating Derick's b-day but I wanted a huge group pic with everyone after it was over and I was way too slow for that. Everyone went to Monica's for all the good food. But I can't thank them enough for coming. I know they we're all busy and from the funeral they needed to get home, but we're so greatful they stayed.

Here are most of Tyler's Brother's and Sister, and family. It was great to have them all there.

Another great surprise was alot of the friends that we have made here in Albquerque that have moved from here to Utah were able to make it. I was so happy. Here are a few of their pics.

This is Ethan from the Hancey family Alaria's "First" (boyfriend) or pass notes around declaring love for each other, so cute. And the picture above is with one of Ethan's sister's, Clara, who is Nick's age and he tells me they are also boyfriend and girlfriend. I have many notes and cute cards from all of them back and forth that are too cute. It was amazing they came. We miss them so very much. I have a picture of Alaria at Ethan's baptism that I will have to share, so cute.

This is Hailey Norton, Alaria's best friend, even though they live very far apart now. They talk a lot on the phone and send a lot of letters. I so wish we lived near them as well.

I guess this leaves Mom and Dad. We we're so happy with the way the day went.

Nick was AWOL at this point, but it was a great baptism.

Well, after the baptism Monica and Ty we're so sweet to let everyone come on over for some grub so I just have some pics of everyone enjoying the day.

                                         It was so sweet for Great G-pa to give Alaria $20 for her Birthday for him to think of her at a time like this in his life is remarkable. Tom and LeAnne gave Alaria her first set of scritpures and all of the boys', Uncles, and cousins gave her that beautiful scripture carrying case, and she is wearing a necklace you can see that is so sweet from The Girls', Aunts, and cousins. Thanks Sorensen's

                                                   Thanks Monica for her special cake!!!

This is obviously a great shot of everyone there singing to her.

This is with the Hancey's Nick, Clara, Alaria, Ethan, and Meredith. Can't wait to see them soon!

This is some of the Norton's Nick, Freemen, Alaria, Hailey, Bella, we are missing Ty, and a baby still cooking.

We had a very long drive back to New Mexico and the Norton's live farther South from Monica so we thought we could get a head start and let the kids play. When we went it broke my heart to hear the hysterical laughter they always had. You always want the best for your kids, but for some reason I just see into those big brown eyes of Hailey and I wish Alaria could be close to her. That night, the first night she had her scriptures after the baptsim Alaria read to Hailey and they held hands while they prayed. Oh, it was the most precious thing and I want to freeze time there for them so badly.

Staying there was great and I do hope we get closer to Utah to be near our great friends. It means everything to have good friends who really love and care about you and your children. Everytime we make close friends here, they move. We've managed to drag one back and keep a few. But the kids had a great time that weekend.

                                       "A Friendship born so young, With hearts so pure and strong
                              Keep them in your loving arms and each other's memory long" MOM

So off we were back to New Mexico, and have been pretty busy here. I have to get caught up with "current" events this happened like 3 weeks ago. So, I have to hussle and get it all done. I had NO idea once so ever it would be quite the craziness it was but it was great to have all who could come. I depart with of course of few more pics and you want to know the funny thing. My camera I have right now is , well I hate it. I am waiting on a new really nice one. I'm not a fan of the quality of the pics and I still have to take Alaria in for her Portraits with her dress. Once I get that done I'll hopefully have spent the time to figure out how to group them together. Here are a few parting Pics. Thank you to all. I love you so!

enough said

OK OK I know this is like 60 pages of pictures and I get it, but how do you choose which ones to keep and not put in. I wish you could really see the details of the dress. As soon as I get her in a studio I can swap them out. This is a sweet tradition for Alaria. She will have a slip made out of my wedding dress to put under the dress of her choice. You probably think I'm crazy talking wedding, but watching Courtney get married has me thinking that time goes by so fast you can't even wrap your head around it. I know I missed a lot about the 2 weeks surrounding the wedding, the funeral and the baptism. Oh and the 4 trips back and forth to Idaho, utah in a 2 week period, but I tried to recall what I could from memory. I want Alaria and Nick to remember this weekend for the real reason. That we can be baptised for our sins and renew it every week because of our brother Jesus Christ.