A blog to follow.....

I have added blogs that I follow, to my blog. There is one in particular that has impacted me the most. It is called Sunshine Promises. It is the story of a sweet family in our ward that lost their young son Bennett a few short months ago. Although it is a sad story, Amanda, Bennett’s mom is taking us on a journey to experience the high’s and low’s associated with the loss of a child.

She is sharing her faith in Jesus Christ, with her belief as well as mine, that they will have the opportunity to be with Bennett again. The belief that families are forever. The belief that when this life is over, and we have each left this earth, that we will live again as families in heaven with our Heavenly Father.

I invite you to follow along on that journey. The journey to learn of our Heavenly Father, to follow Him and learn of His teachings! I am thankful for her faith and her ability to share her feeling in such a way, that I can feel of Heavenly Fathers love for her and her family.

The veil between this life and the next is very thin. I know that Heavenly Father has prepared and provided a way for us to live with Him again. May you and I grow and learn of His love and plan for us, as we take this journey together. I pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sarah’s married....

It has been a few weeks to get to this point but I didn’t want to go too long without blogging about Sarah’s wedding. On January 8th we took both Sarah and Spencer to the Bountiful Temple to receive their own endowment. It was a wonderful day and one I never want to forget. Spencer received his mission call to the Florida, Orlando, Spanish speaking mission, just three days prior. I took some family names that we did and later took those that stayed and we did sealings. The sealer called up Josh and Sarah. He told them that this was just a dry run. After the first sealing he said, “Now you two understand that I did not just seal you? You will have to wait til next week for that!” We all laughed. Spencer was called up to be a son, with Sarah and Josh, as mom and dad. Ken and I did some sealings with Josh’s dad, Duane as a child. Brandi Devey stayed and did some daughters, one of which she did the endowment for. Her first name was Gracie, just like her and Darin’s youngest, named Grace. Nate and McKell also did some couples sealings. Later we went to the cafeteria for lunch. We were in the Temple for a total of 6 hours. It was a beautiful, wonderful, uplifting and satisfying day!

When we got home Sarah and I only had a 1/2 hour before we needed to be at a shower being thrown for Sarah. We rested for a minute or two and then went to a shower that Stacy Smoot and Jeri Dabling put on and invited ward ladies. It was very enjoyable and the ladies we so kind and giving. Sarah has received so many nice things from the showers that she had. When we got home we both pretty much crashed!

January 15th was the day of their Sealing. It was fun going early with Sarah and getting the opportunity to help her dress for her wedding day. The sealer did a fantastic job and it was a special treat to have Milo and Jackie there with us. They have lived in our home since September 17th, 2010. After the sealing we went out for pictures. It was a nice day because there was no snow, but it still was cold. Our neighbor LuAnn Anderson let us borrow a cape for Sarah to wear outside. It made a big difference for Sarah. It helped her to stay warm!

The luncheon was held at the 10th Ward building of the Salt Lake Park Stake, located on 400 S. and 800 E. It was so....nice to be able to relax and visit with family. I wasn’t worried at all about setting up for a Reception. Josh’s family did a great job on the luncheon. We were able to invite all of our family members who wanted to come. We did not exclude anyone. It was fun to have the neices and nephews there.

The Reception was held on January 22nd at the Salt Lake Park Stake Center. Our neighbor Sara Dickes did the decorations! She did a fabulous job. Lots of ward members from the 31st Ward were awestruck with the beauty. Many of them said that they had never seen the building look so beautiful! It was fun to see ward members from both wards. We did live in the 31st Ward for the first 7 years of our marriage, so it was fun to see old friends! For the treats, we had cake, eclairs, punch, lemon water and Temple mints. Mandy and Lucine helped me to make 500 mints for the reception. I still have lots if you would like any for a treat at the end of a lesson.

Sarah loved the reception. She was excited when she saw the Stake Center being decorated earlier in the day. Sarah and Josh made their own cake, that day. I think that was a little stressful for Sarah, but they wanted to make their own cake! I couldn’t believe the support from our ward. The Smith family mentioned how many people came from our ward and how few came from their ward. I was grateful for the support!

The only bad part of the day was that earlier in the day, a darling little boy, Bennett from our ward, passed away in his sleep the night before. They did not find out until later in the morning. I was devastated! I cried for several hours and then had to pull myself together to pull of a reception. Bennett Wilkinson was 20 months old. Just the Sunday before, he spent about a 1/2 hour of Sacrament Meeting on my lap. I talked with him, brush his eyebrows, held his cute little hands and colored with him. I have been holding Bennett since he was a baby. Everyone who know me knows how much I love children, especially babies. Every chance I get, I have held Bennett, putting him to sleep more than once. His spirit was strong and beautiful. He leaves behind a loving mother and adoring father, two sisters and one brother who will all miss him terribly. After the autopsy still no reason for his death. Heavenly Father must have needed him badly. I will miss Bennett. It was hard to see his family at church without him on Sunday! I miss baby Bennett!

On January 23rd, Sarah and Josh opened gifts. They only invited Josh’s mom and me. We took all their gifts to their apartment since they had already been on a short honeymoon. They were blessed with many wonderful gifts! Sarah and Josh seem to be enjoying being out on their own! We have already seen her and Josh more since they have been married, than we have seen Nate and McKell. They got married August 10th, 2010. We now have two married children, one preparing for a mission, and one living in Ogden, two 86 year olds and a 15 year old, living with us!

Interesting....

I have been sitting at my computer for a while catching up and listening to Milo try to remind Jackie of times they’ve had. When you spend a lot of time with people you figure out, how they really are. I found a note in the door of their house in Murray and brought it home. They have spent the last 1/2 hour trying to figure out who the note could be from. Even though they signed it with the husbands and the wife’s name and their last name, neither one of them has any idea of who it could be.

Milo talked about some renters that they had a Murray several years ago. I remember Jackie talking about them quite a bit. Milo brought up them as a possibility of the senders of the note. Jackie has no memory of the renters ever living there. When I brought in the mail today, I sorted it. Once I had given them their mail and sat down to look at ours, Jackie said that with the pile of mail I had, some of it must be theirs. I also gave them a check that my son brought by on Saturday. Next thing I know Jackie is upset that I opened their mail and took out this check. Again, this is a check that Nate brought over Saturday. Sometimes I don’t know how to defend myself against non issues!

Today was the first day back at work. It has been nice to have the last two weeks off! I have enjoyed it and gotten some wedding stuff done. I still have plenty to do. This is a busy week and I hope I can keep up. We are hoping Spencer’s mission call comes this Wednesday, then we will have two children needing to go through the Temple.

When Nate got married a couple of months ago, he didn’t have any siblings at his sealing. Sarah will be able to have two of her brothers there. She may not realize it at the time, but that will be a true blessing! I look forward to that day!

Having fun with Grandma!

It has been a couple of weeks now since my husbands parents moved in with us. Yes, there have been adjustments for all but the blessings are sweet. We have also made some changes to the house to make it more easily accessible and comfortable for them. We made our office into their bedroom. So, the office furniture was moved into storage and or the living room. The piano came into the living room from the dining room and the table went into the storage room downstairs. We made the dining room into their family room. It is right off the kitchen and it puts Jackie right in the middle of the action. For the most part I think she enjoys that except for when the area fills up with noisy bodies.

We also cleared out the play room that I had for my nephews and nieces. We put the toys in storage and I have my file cabinet down there, where I can still access it. I cleared out my desk and put it in there for Milo to use for himself. It is the same desk that he built for Kenneth when he was a boy. He has his computer there and his trainer and his bike. He goes down there at least once a day to ride his bike. The only bad part of it is the stairs for him. His hip and knees have been bothering him but he still goes up and down.

We opened up the wall from the bathroom to their bedroom. It makes it so several of us can be in that same space at the same time. It has proven to be convenient. We got a curtain up there this week and added towel racks and several hand rods for Jackie to hold onto while she is in there. We were lucky to have a small sample of carpet left from a couple of years ago from when the carpet went in the upstairs. That carpet is no longer available. A carpet guy came and tore off the backing and pieced it together and put it in where the wall once was and it looks real good. He was amazing.

In the front we had a wheelchair ramp built. It was finished yesterday. Ken took Jackie out for her maiden voyage. Before, it took three of us to carry her down the stairs in the wheelchair, so this is a true blessing. It will make it easier to get her in and our of the house and give us the opportunity to get her out more often. I have been taking her out on the back deck each day to get her warmed up by the sun. She enjoys sitting out there. With the heat as of late, 5 minutes is the maximum. Who would have thought that October 1st in Salt Lake could get up to 90 degrees?

I am grateful for the opportunity that we have to have there here in our home. Transitions have been hard for everyone but we are settling into a routine and feel like it is working. I have been blessed with extra strength and health. I myself have been amazed at the strength of my back. I have had many problems for most of my life with my back but I am strong and able to do more with Jackie than Milo can. I usually am the one to get her out of bed in the morning and to the bathroom. I get her in the wheelchair and to the small table for breakfast. If Spencer is still here, he helps get her on the couch, if not Milo is on his own. When I get home from work, Milo and I get her to the bathroom and I take her outside to enjoy the warmth and fresh air. We visit and I take her around the house with me for a change of scenery. Once Ken gets home in the evening, he finishes up the evening and puts her to bed every night. The Lord has blessed us and we are thankful for the peace and joy that having them here has brought. Jackie is grateful to not be in the nursing home. Milo is still adjusting and shows signs of him settling in a little more each day.

One down...four to go!

On Tuesday August 10, 2010 we had our first wedding. Nate (also know as Jack, his middle name) married McKell Allen. Today was the first day since the wedding day that I actually got up and ready and out running errands. The day after the wedding I never even bothered getting dressed because I spent so much time in bed.

The day before was windy and I was worried about the weather because their reception was in McKell’s grandma Connie’s backyard. The day of the wedding everything settled down and the weather was great. Nate and McKell were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. I dream of one day being in the temple with all my children with me. I hope for that day! McKell received her endowment on Saturday afternoon in the Logan Temple.

The reception was in Brigham City. We had guests at the reception before we got there, or the bride and groom got there. Nate and McKell got there about the same time as we did. Since the sealing was at 3:00 it made it hard to get to Brigham City on time. The line moved well and it was fun to see friends, family and neighbors. Not too many neighbors made the trip. I counted 12 total. I knew it would be a small number because of the distance.

Nate and McKell are still on their honeymoon. They flew to San Diego!

Dove - Evolution Commercial (higher quality)

Just a reminder that everything is not always as it seems. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes! You are beautiful to me!

Vacation - July 2010

We spent this past week on vacation. When I say we, I mean myself, Ken, Sarah and Avery. This is the smallest crew we have taken on vacation in 20 years! Spencer works a full time job where he didn’t feel like he should ask for any more time off. He works at Mill Hollow as a cabin counselor. He usually works Monday through Friday. He eats and sleeps there and comes home for the weekends. It has been a good experience for him. I think it will help him to be more self reliant, which is good before a mission. The kids that come up for camp have all been elementary students. It is run by the Granite School Dist. Some of the things that he has had to learn to deal with are boys wetting the bed, throwing up, boys with home sickness, etc. I am glad that he is getting this opportunity. He is also starting to save money which is a good thing for him. I think he is finally making enough money that he doesn’t feel like he needs to spend it all to enjoy life. I think as parents that we have worked quite hard at teaching our children how to manage money but when it comes right down to it, it is up to them. I am happy to see his savings account grow!

We left last Monday and drove through to Cedar City. The kids swam with Ken and ate dinner and went to bed. We got off early and drove to Zion’s National Park. Our goal for the day was to hike the Narrows. We caught the shuttle and didn’t make any extra stops. heading for the last stop of the shuttle. The kids kept asking me if I planned to hike the Narrows I answered yes! Over the past several years, I have not been able to do a lot of things. My body just kept falling, and falling apart to the point where I wasn’t doing any of the extra things, just the necessary things.

When we started walking in the river I realized that this was going to be a challenge. I think that I did pretty good for someone that has not done much strenuous activity for four years. Sarah stayed by my side and stopped me from falling several times. I stayed with them for about an hour up the river. We had talked about where we would meet if we got separated. I told them I was heading back. Sarah and Avery both told me they were proud of me and glad that I came with them. They went on for another hour and a half. I got myself back down the river and the trail, to the shuttle and back to the Lodge. I was exhausted! I got something to eat at the Lodge and then found a couch and fell asleep for an hour and a half. I went outside and took off my socks and shoes to dry them out. The family returned about half an hour later. I was glad because dark cloud were beginning to form. I notice on the news yesterday that they said that there was a flash flood in the narrows. I am glad we all made it back safely!

We found a place to pick up a pizza and ate in the van as we traveled on to St. George. We stopped by to visit our niece Brooke, her husband Steve and their son Peyton. This is the first time we have been to their home since they moved. It is a beautiful home and great company. Peyton warmed up to us and he is so sweet! We drove into St. George and stayed the night.

We were all tired and woke up just a half an hour before the in hotel breakfast ended. We were rushing to get out before check out time. We drove on to Las Vegas. We had booked a room there for three days and two nights for $189.00. It was a really nice place. It did not have a Casino and there was no smoking allowed except in certain areas outside. It was nice! It was a two bedroom condo. It had two bathrooms, three t.v.’s, a full kitchen with dishes and accessories, and a kitchenette in the kids side, a jetted tub, a queen size bed, a king size bed and a pull out couch and a washer and dryer combo. We felt like we had plenty of room to get around.

Our time there seemed to fly by. We had tickets for Thursday night to see the Blue Man Group. That was a lot of fun! It was nice to be in Vegas and go to see a show that was good clean fun! There were plenty of times that all of the dark and bad things about Vegas just slap you in the face. The show was not one of those times.

When we drove out Friday, we were all ready to be home. We spent 8 hours on the road. We got home late in the evening but it just felt so good to be home. It is nice to get away but it is so good to be home. Spencer got home about two hours before us so it all worked out just right. I had made sure the house was cleaned before we left and when we got home we unloaded the van and I started doing wash. It was nice to go to bed with everything washed, cleaned and put away. In the morning we just had to put a few things away that we left out to dry. I am so lucky to have a husband and children that help Ken and I to work as a team. I cannot imagine if I had to do all the work by myself. We stopped a few blocks from home and filled up the gas tank and cleaned the van. I will probably vacuum it tomorrow but I do not feel overwhelmed. Yeah!

I talked with Nate a hour or so ago. He forgot we were out of town and came by wondering where we were. He and McKell got settled downstairs and started a movie thinking we would be home soon. Instead they were surprised as was Candice when she came down the stairs. They surprised each other. I had Candice come do some painting while we were gone. I painted two coats on the walls in Avery’s room and Candice came to fow it. Is that how you spell that? She also did a finish coat on my red wall in my dining room. They both look so good. The only problem now is that Avery’s carpet does not match the walls. I ordered enough carpet to do his room and the hallway. Slowly I hope to have matching carpet in the whole house. A couple of years ago we did the upstairs and the stairs. They did not have the same carpet this time. I think the carpet I picked will look good. Now I just hope that I can put down new carpet in the rest of the basement before this carpet is no longer available.

We have lived in this house now for 12 years. Every time we do something new I feel like we are making it our home. Once all the sea foam carpet is gone I think I will feel like it is our home. Sometimes I envy people who move into a house and have it painted, carpeted, all new furnishings, etc. etc. etc. Then I remember how much money they must of had to spend to do it and I remember how grateful I am that Ken is so good at budgeting money and keeping us comfortable financially even in these difficult financial times.

We have Nate’s wedding coming up in 2 weeks. When it is a 7 week engagement, the time flies by rapidly. Wish us luck!