Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms in DC are beautiful and I was going to post some pics of them but I am on the wrong computer...my photos files are on the other one. I REALLY NEED TO ACQUIRE COMPUTER SKILLS!

27!

Burgers, baubles and balloons
Chocolate cake that makes you swoon
Wishing you a happy day
You've blesssd our lives in every way!

This is the best I can do with my three minute window of opportunity! Have a great birthday!

The Ides of March

If you are Julius Caesar not your favorite day....and quite frankly, not my favorite day either! I really don't want to do what I have to do this week which is fuss with and finish prep on the Youth Conference Service project! Feeling the pinch on this thing and I work VERY hard to avoid stress in my little life! Sometimes it is unavoidable! On the up side, Lisa is having a birthday tomorrow! Woohooo! and Match Day is Thursday and next week we run away to DC...get to go see our cute boys. Delightful lesson on the Creation in RS yesterday and it has helped to raise my spirits. The weather is lovely here right now and so I am going to focus on the fun and lovely things around me and try to not be concerned about silly details that even though they need to be managed, they can be managed in a lovely environment! Et tu, Brute?

February 14th

A kind of sober Valentine's Day in my little heart. I am so terribly sad for Shauna and for the loss of her boy....it just still seems very unreal to me. And cruel that she has to manage this loss particularly on a holiday that celebrates loved ones who you want to be with. Life is changed in an instant and so I guess that is the lesson to take away [or one of the lessons] from this experience. Eternity is today. Live with appreciation for the things you have and think less about the things you don't have. You will never have everything you think you need or want and we all have everything we really need now. The gospel, freedoms, families and friends. Few other things matter. I have the greatest family in the world and I am certain that it is the family it is supposed to be.........remarkable children, children in law who sustain us and take care of the dearest people in the world, darling and adorable grands and good hearted sibs. Parents that struggle but who keep trying. Very darling nieces and nephews and sibs in laws. The best friends in the world for many years now. So have a happy Valentine's Day and know we love you and pray for your every happiness and are grateful for the blessing you are to us in our lives.

MESS!

Cavin and Ella have a very cute way of saying MESS! when they need their hands washed or their faces cleaned or the toys need to be picked up or there is any type of major disorganization. And that is about the only word to describe the house right now but I am ok with that. The floors are mostly installed and I think I am going to really like the way they function and look. I am excited about the possibilities of a cleaner and more orderly home!

2010

Happy New Year to all. I struggle with Christmas but love New Year's! Crazy huh. It was great to have the kids home and the other kids around except for Chris. We missed him and his cute family. I really have the greatest kids and they have the greatest spouses who are marvelously supportive of them and us and (we) all have the most darling and adorable children/grandchildren. I will never cease to be amazed at how delightful they are and how much I adore them. I am grateful for the blessings of the past year. It had some difficulties but there was very clear evidence of the hand of the Lord helping through the challenge. Miracles were granted and progression was made. Progression always comes with struggle if we allow for it. There were good things that happened that maybe shouldn't have happened or certainly came through the grace of God and I have had a tremendous sense of gratitude for His willingness to help my family with what they need. There were some prayers that were not answered in the way that we would have wanted them to be answered but I am certain that they were heard and that He will attend. We went to watch Lisa run her half marathon this morning. It is very inspiring. She did great. Then we took Missa and Ethan to the airport. Sorry to see them go. Loved having them. (Thanks for coming!) They are going home to move to Rexburg tomorrow! I hope that all goes well. Chris and Chira went down to see the White House Christmas Tree.....Caden says it's COLD! Corey getting ready to head out to interview some more this coming week. The kids start school again on Monday. Natalie not having to work very much. Kind of nice. Kerry out churching some this evening. He is trying to support the new ward creation on Sunday. They have to have calls issued by then. I am watching football and working on the computer. Fun (if Miss didn't have to go) and low key day. Steph made some great chimichangas for lunch. They were wonderful. Stopped by Lumber Liguidators on the way home. Narrowing our search for hardwood flooring. Time to do maintenance on and update some features of the house! All in all I am hoping that the new year will be a happy and healthy one. I am so grateful for so many tender mercies.

Hustle and Bustled

This is a photo from our trek to Israel a few years ago...we were going down the steps into the area in a cathedral in Bethlehem where they feel that the Savior was born. It is a site whereon several churches have built cathedrals and shrines to the Christ Child...it has become very non-manger-ish and non-stable-ish as they have guilded and adorned and encrusted the site with much that the world values but with nothing the Child would have valued...it was crowded and hustle-y and bustle-y and very much NOT a peaceful place where you could make a connect to the sacred event that is said to have transpired there. Hmmmmmmmm......there is a pattern there that I am picking up on...a holiday(site) meant to celebrate the Savior but with little real semblance of anything that actually does celebrate the Savior.... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Hustle and bustle is the name of the season but my hussle is bustle-d! I told Kerry that I think I have too many 'windows' open on my 'screen' and the hard drive is bogging down! So I may need to be re-booted and see if I can get some forward progress going again! I hope that you are finding all well this season and getting a few of the things that you want to have done.......done!
My mom is home from her hip replacement surgery and we find that to be a miracle..I guess 'tis the season. Kerry's step Aunt Ruth passed away on Tuesday in Vernal. Mabel has done a magnificent job of assisting her during these last years of her life. I hope Ruth is able to understand that now. She would not have been able to before due to her mental alertness and assessment skills. But no matter, the guy that really counts knows. Nan is beside herself with anticipation. She loves the holidays. Corey is all over the place interviewing for transition year programs and resident programs. That process will continue into the new year. Chris is working hard in VA and they are awaiting the arrival of their new little one in January. Lisa and Rags are in the throws of the Rockets basketball season and Marisa will be here on Monday. We are happy she and Ethan are coming home! Our grandchildren are delightful and wonderful.......and growing. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and the happiest of new years.