(Lana's POV)
Harvestfest was such a wonderful time! Getting to be in Newcrest with all of Parker's family was such a blessed time, getting to spend a weekend fellowshipping with his immediate and extended family is something i'll cherish forever. Because the 'big house' cannot hold all 13 kids with their families, Adalynn gets to stay in the spare room since she's the out-of-town sibling that has the most children. The other kids that come in from out of town stay at different hotels or simbnb's in the area, this year there's been loads of the extended family coming into town so there's loads of relatives just milling around the town centre. At some point in the weekend Parker and I were able to take these cute pictures in his parents backyard, we've been talking a lot about the future and I'm prayerful that we can ring in the new year with new goals and hopes for the year ahead (AN: *AHEM* she means she wants to be engaged by the new year, but she obviously can't say that 😂) As for the structure of our relationship, I get girls asking me what rules Parker and I have for ourselves in terms of keeping our purity intact. We're determined to set our own standards as defined by our convictions, so right now we're saving our first kiss for marriage, and we've allowed hugs and brief handholding (like for pictures, prayers, and the like)
Every year there's a big family photo, and various other group shots - like this couples picture. Right now there's 9 marries couples, Parker and I, and 3 single siblings. It's so great that we got to be included in the couples pictures. Lorilee was telling me that at last years they'd just gotten engaged, and now here they are only a few months away from welcoming a blessing into the family! Getting to see the siblings with their spouses and hearing their individual testimonies and the different stories they've had from their courting days has been worth its weight in gold.
Amongst the group shots was one with all the girls, and I felt so much love being around all the women in the family. There was such an overwhelming sense of togetherness and family that can only can be found in the Lord's goodness. Lorilee and I say all the time that it's so great that we've found our way into the same family, Lord willing theres a more official family photo like this soon! (AN: *AHEM* Lana would've liked a ring by summer, but she'll settle for a christmas engagement // Also please excuse my editing skills, there's only so much I can do with this many sims to get them to pose nicely.😂)
It was especially nice to finally get to meet Beckett and his wife Mandy, Beckett is number 7 in the sibling line up and him and his wife live in Selvadorada where they serve as missionaries. Getting to sit and chat with them all weekend about their individual testimonies, how they were directed by the Lord to serve in Selvadorada, and about how life is there has been such a immense blessing to me that words can't even begin to describe. Being able to give themselves freely to move thousands and thousands of miles away to serve the Lord takes a lot of strength, and for them to dedicate their lives to such a great endeavour as such a young couple.
