Our Private Ceremony

Jim & I got engaged in January 2012, a month after we met and started dating. We ultimately want to get sealed in the LDS temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. We decided to first make our marriage legal by getting married civilly by our church Bishop, and then together work towards our goal of a temple marriage. We believe that our temple marriage is the one that would be the most important, so we're saving the big reception and celebration for 2013. On February 25, 2012 we had a private ceremony at our bishops home. We only had 6 people in attendance. It was a very sweet ceremony, and afterwards we invited all the adult family members in the area to dinner at JMK Nippon.

Jim

In December 2011, about a month after moving from Washington to Illinois, I met Jim C. W. in church. We were in the same adult Sunday school class and we sat a seat away from each other. We started to have a casual conversation. Two weeks later (and a week before Christmas) we went on our first date. We started going out on regular dates after that.

I quickly learned about all of his wonderful personality traits. He is very helpful and considerate of others . I learned that unless he is comfortable with you, he can be very quiet, shy, and reserved. Which I thought was funny because the moment I met him, he wasn't quiet or shy at all. Jim was born and raised in Illinois, and has a lot of family that lives locally. He is also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and he has strong family values.
When we started dating, my mom was very happy for me, as well as all of my friends and family.
 I knew without a doubt he was worth getting to know, and my gut feelings were right!

December 2012, our 4th date

New Beginnings

In November 2011, Sissy and I made a big move! Across the country from Washington state, 2000 miles away to Illinois state. It meant a fresh start for us in a whole new place. Unfortunately I left behind my amazing mom, my brothers, and the place I lived my entire life. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the move to Illinois, and I felt so welcomed by my wonderful extended family, my aunt and uncle Allison & Jesse, and my grandma Julia! One thing I wasn't used to but absolutely LOVED, was the snow!! And of course, it was Sissy's first experience with snow, so she loved it too! 

    



Sissy

December 17, 2009

A beautiful baby girl came into my life at 10:19pm. She weighed 8lbs, 5oz. and was 21 inches long. After more than a day of active labor and over 4 hours of trying to consistently push her out, I opted for an emergency cesarean to get her out safely.

 

Sissy's 2nd birthday party

Sissy's 1st birthday party



an hour after Sissy's birth




Holding her for the first time



My Life between 1990 and 2008

Kelsey Lynn J.
I was born and grew up in Washington state, between Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Poulsbo. All three towns are around the Puget Sound, across the water from Seattle. I loved this area, the rain, the trees, the Sound, the mountains. Everything about it was beautiful to me. At age 16 my family relocated to Vancouver, WA. About 20 minutes outside Portland, Oregon. I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have 2 younger brothers and a very loving and supportive mom. I graduated from high school in 2009, as well as from church early morning Seminary.



Me at the Penninsula Park Rose Garden in Portland, OR. 2008

Me and my brothers.
Bryan, Tyler, Kelsey -1995

Emily, Allison, Beth, my mom (Jamie), me, and my brother (Tyler) - 2006