Birthday for K6 at the Ks and some of her cousins

Our ward had Fast & Testimony meeting today. Aislyn, Ella and I bore our testimonies today. Sunday school was wonderful. Mary Ellen Edmunds, our teacher taught from the Book of Mormon, Helaman 1-5. It was very uplifting and I read those scriptures again later. Our last hour was spent with a combined Priesthood, Relief Society and Young Men & Women also attended. The subject matter was about how sacred the power of procreation is to every one of us. The adversary has taken great effort to destroy the sanctity of the relationship of husband and wife and degrading it. The message was so impacted with spirituality and the great blessing of keep the laws of chastity for our eternal reward. I was very impressed with how well the message was received and the positive way it was presented.



K6 enjoying the spotlight for her ninth birthday. It isn't hard to imagine how wonderful it is that my Ks grandchildren have enjoyed their birthday celebrations with family and friends along with a special meal of their choosing.


My nine year old birthday party in Chicago. I am second from the left, you can see my head down barely a silhouette.



The Utah brothers having dessert while with a visit in a rare occasion for one-on-one meaningful conversation. We were treated after the festivities to have an e-chat with Michael & Joanna on the Macs.


K7, is such a character. He had the biggest smile and likes to tease!! God bless him. He is a good sport and is very intelligent.

Woman Touching the Garment of the Savior

I really like this painting of the woman reaching after the Savior's robe. Imagine the faith this woman had to have had for it was recognized by Jesus when she touched him and he knew it. We can all learn a lesson here that with our own faith in action to become whole, we can even let the Savior heal us if we put our faith & minds to it...I believe that.

Holiness to the Lord on Every Temple

This marking on the temples is part of the dedication of the temples through the Holy Ghost, feel his Spirit and commune with Him and you will know a peace that you will find no where else.





President Gordon B. Hinckley has said,"If every man in this church who has been ordained to the Melchizekek Priesthood were to qualify himself to hold a temple recommend and then renew his covenants in solemnity before God and witnesses,

1)We would be a better people, there would be no divorce, it would almost entirely disappear.
2)There would be little or no infidelity among us.
3)So much of heartache and heart break would be avoided.
4) There would be a greater measure of appreciation and of mutual respect among us.
5) There would be fewer weeping wives and weeping children
6) I am confident that the Lord would smile,with greater favor upon us.
7) There would be a greater measure of appreciation any kind. I am confident
8) Every man or woman who goes to the temple comes out of that building a better person.
9) Do you have problems and concerns and worries? Do you want for peace in your heart?

10) Go to the temple, the house of the Lord and feel of his Spirit and commune with Him and you will know the peace that you fill find nowhere else.

11) If we are a temple going people we will be a better people.
12) We will be better fathers and husbands.
13) We will be better wives and mothers. I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do, but...
14) I make you a promise that if you will go to the House of the Lord,You will be
blessed.
15) Life will be better for you.
16) It will refine your natures.
17) It will peel off the selfish shell in which most of us live/
18) It will literally bring a sanctifying element into our lives and make us better
men and better women. Elder Vaughan J. Featherstone has said. . ."all who faithfully attend to temple work will be blessed beyond measure.
19) Your families will draw closer to the Lord.
20) Unseen angels will watch over your loved ones when satanic forces tempt them.

"Now, please, please my beloved brethren and sisters, avail yourselves of the great opportunity to go to the Lord's house and thereby partake of all the marvelous blessings that are yours to be received there. And so my brothers and sisters, I encourage you to take greater advantage of this blessing and privilege.

"I, the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." D & C 82:10

May God bless each and every one of us to be obedient and reap the blessings of attending the temple often.

Scenes by the Sea shore, Tales of the Sea. . . .

This reminds me of the lake in Guatemala that I saw when Michael and I went there as he completed his missionary duties. The water was so clear, as you can see it is pure looking and crystal blue.

There has been a new temple announced to be built in the city Panajachel, Guatemala. It will be their second temple in Guatemala. The woman, Ruth is our neighbor, who told me is from Guatemala City and said they all know this place, Lake Atitlan is where the waters of Mormon were, and where the Savior came when he visited the Nephites.


I remember the feeling I felt when we went to this beautiful place. I told Ruth it felt like I was in a holy land. She agreed; that is when she said it was where the Savior visited. I didn't know that fact at the time Michael and I were there. We went there three different times in our travels as we drove to various places where Michael served his mission. It was incredible. I would love to go back there once their new temple is built.

I will put that goal on my 'bucket list.'

A. S. A. P.

Candice and Baby Joel-- Beth said she hadn't seen many photos of the new baby.

Ella and Parker, play on the hearth while Candice fed the baby this morning.
Ella is so willing to say prayers whether it is for the blessing on the food, or in family prayer. She needs NO coaxing.


I like this message.

I saw this and had to take a picture of it. One of my visiting teaching sisters had this in her living room to hang up. She gave me permission to take the picture.

Fruits of labor, busy day sharing I-Health

I stopped by to see Tracie on Sunday for a few minutes. I noticed she had some peaches from her tree in the back yard. The peaches were not quite ripe and I took a mental note to call her to see if I could help.



Today the peaches were delicious and ready to peel, so when she called about something else she said she was going to make peach jam, and freeze the rest. I called her back to see if she could use my help and I could go over for an hour before I went to Orem to work on some people on my i-health system. She welcomed the offer so I went over. She froze what wasn't made into jam. Her visiting teacher even came and started helping cut up the peaches with me. The work went fast and we got the rest of them done. Tracie was so happy to get them done so quickly. Many hands make light work. Right? The fruits of our labor will bless Tracie's family in the months to come.

I then went to help a couple of clients and went to visit Donaire later in the afternoon. She has had a lot of physical pain that has prevented her from sleeping very well. My friend, Diane met me there and we both worked on Donaire. It was frustrating to not know how to alleviate her pain in her arm, back and leg. Well, I learned a lot today. I used a light-color therapy method on her and it made all the difference in the world. She had a marked change and it left her out of pain. It made my day to finally help address the pain problems.

I seem to be getting a better handle on what works best with the i-h-system. Training, and the repetition helps. It gets better with practice.

Touching the lives of others for good

There are occasions when I look at what I just experienced and tears well up in my eyes with gratitude to know the spirit has touched me and prompted me to do good. It filled my heart with joy. "Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

I had a few errands to run today after a job interview this afternoon. I went to buy some KFC, and had the prompting to buy more than a few pieces of chicken. So, I did. I then hurried off to the post office. There was a line with a man in front of me. He looked tired, a little unkempt with his hair uncombed and his clothes looked shabby. He asked me a few questions in English, then he realized that maybe I spoke Spanish. He asked if I had any work he could do for me. I declined and said I'm sorry I didn't, then he proceeded to tell me his plight. He was out of work, was injured in a car accident I think and hadn't heard from the attorney about his case. He seemed desperate.

He was waiting for a letter to be brought to the post office that was delivered with a notice for him to pick it up. He was early and needed to wait for the carrier to bring it to the post office. He was concerned, and mentioned food. I didn't have cash with me, so I shook my head. He knew I didn't get what he said.

Anyway, as I was leaving the parking area I had the impression to share some of the extra chicken I had just bought. I pulled back into the parking stall and offered the man food, who was already in his truck. He said thank you, and was very pleased to eat hot food. I went back to my car and saw an orange on the floor by the front seat. So I reached down, got it out and took it to the man. He smiled again and was very grateful. I told him that God would bless him, and he said, "Thank you, you too." This was all spoken in Spanish too.

I went away feeling like I had fed my Savior, Jesus Christ and wept. My heart filled with love for Him and His example as he fed the 5,000. I only fed one man. I was happy being the one to be there and prompted to help someone else; I was grateful for the means to have to buy the food to share with someone else in need.

It made my day and I was pleased that I was given the prompting and acted on it quickly to give this homeless man food. He had mentioned that he was staying in his truck. I felt compassion for him and wept some more. God bless those who are less fortunate to find their way back home. I have a testimony that God watches over the sparrow and knows when he falls, he also knows about you and me, and feels what we feel and cares.

Remembering my mother, Elena Sanchez

Carlos and Elena late 1970s



Mom & me the day she came home from the hospital after having my sister Martha


Elena & brother, Albert and Recio Cousins in Harlingen, Texas


Margarita Barrientes--Elena's maternal grandmother she lived until April 1943 to age 94 the year of and months before I was born

This is Nestora Garcia, Elena's maternal grandmother, who raised her and her brother, Albert. She died when my mother was 12 years old.
Anita Recio, Elena's mother dressed in her Indian Princess show costume.

Elena Sanchez as a young bride, at age 19
Today is my mother's birthday. I want to post more about my mother, Elena. Lately I have been more aware of her influence in my life and appreciate her so much. I know mothers are so connected to their children even beyond the veil. NO DOUBT, and thank her with all my heart for still being there for me, blessing my thoughts with her wisdom, humor and laugh. Yes, laugh...amazing how my laugh mimics hers at various and sundry times.

She always said, "I didn't raise any dummies." Thanks, Mama. I love you.

Catching up--Sharing Recipes

The cooking class was wonderful. The website called chefbrad.com is a site you won't want to overlook. He had so much to share, that there must be lots more good advice.

He used fresh herbs, he grows in his square foot garden in Mesa, Arizona.

1 large sprig of Basil. 1/2 pineapple, water, ice and Xagave.

He makes enough for 1 gallon. He cut up the fresh pineapple, used half of it.
Then he put in the Vita Mixer, along with the fresh basil. He sweetened it with the
1 1/2 cups Xagave, it is a sugar substitute made from cactus. If sugar is used, add 2 cups. he added water and ice, blended it up and there was the smoothie.

It tasted so delicious. The basil tasted like mint, and I was told basil is from the botanical mint family. No wonder I liked it so much. I love spearmint.

I will find a couple more recipes that he used from my notebook from Ed. Week. It is in my car and I did the pineapple recipe from memory. It was my favorite of all of them.

So much to share, need to ponder the right stuff to post...

Later, Mamacita

I am really enjoying just being home and not in rush to go ANYWHERE. I like being in my own little world, such as it is.

I am listening to Matt & Beth's music on their blog as I write this. I miss you guys too. I tried to call yesterday and today, wondering if you are out of town yet. Let me know. OK? I do know that on Labor Day you will be on a lay over in Salt Lake. Be sure to let me know the times and see if anyone else in the fam will be able to meet you and the boys for lunch. Don't forget...

Well, I best be doing some other pressing matters. I need to pick up another blue "ELENA" parakeet today. The last one bit the dust when I went to Ed. Wk. I have no idea what happened. :( I hope the next one will stay a little longer.... I also need to mail a package to Michael & Joanna today.

Cooking,Gardening, Sharing Ideas, a full plate

Read some of the blanks filled in below:



Just some of my notes to mention later so I won't forget-->

Tender Mercies each day. Lessons in life & Blessed are those who, when they find something that belongs to someone else, take the time to be sure its rightful owner finds it in "the Lost and Found."

The notes about tender mercies reminded me of what happened this afternoon. I was in a rush to go to get something to eat. Then as I was about to go into the Wilk, there was an announcement from a pavillion just outside the bookstore entrance. It was a long tent-like pavillion, the kind used for wedding receptions. The announcement said they had 2/1.00 brownies and cookies. I just took a couple of pictures for my blog and was really hungry. The sweets sounded good, and at a bargain prices. Well, I proceeded to buy six, three brownies and three cookies for later. I intended to eat first, then indulge in the treats.

I got the sack of treats and a man next to me came up to the cashier with one brownie and she said that he had to buy two! He put it back and started to walk away. I went after him and gave him one of the brownies. He refused at first, but I convinced him I bought some extras and wanted him to have one. He agreed and thanked me. I went on to Taco Bell in the food court there when Tana called me on my cell and said she was in the Varsity Theater. She saved me a seat; so I ate and went to meet her there.

We stayed after the cooking class for the gardening class. Then we both decided to call it a day. It was about seven o'clock by then. We were parting when I had a thought to have Tana take my picture since I hadn't had one of me at Education Week. I went to my purse to take out my camera that I had used earlier.

I looked and looked for it and wondered where did I put that camera? I traced my steps and thought well maybe I left it on a tray in the Wilk. I said a prayer and asked what I should do. The prompting came immediately to go to Lost and Found. We did, and you guessed it. It was there! I was so glad, & appreciated that someone was kind enough to turn it in. I identified it before they took it out of a box behind the hostess table by the ballroom. They told me I left it at the pavilion by the bookstore.

Sure, of course, I was distracted momentarily with the brownies; I had absentmindedly set the camera on the table by the register and then the I offered the man behind me one. I knew in my heart I was rewarded by thinking of someone else instead of myself and a good Samaritan turned in the camera. A tender mercy indeed.

I felt a warm feeling all over me to find it like I was prompted that I would. I know how much I am loved when things like that come my way. I am NOT alone. God bless that individual for their kind gesture. I know I have and would have done the same.

Recipes, cool smoothies, healthful drinks; onion starts, etc. Later.Thanks Tana!

Love, Mom

Life Long Learning, the Benefits Last Beyond

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.
Abraham Lincoln

There has always been a place in my heart for the great man, Abraham Lincoln. This week took and extraordinary turn to my education and understanding of him and his contribution to all mankind. The instructor, Dr. Robert Young, a dermatologist from Logan, Utah lectured on the life and insights of Lincoln.


I sat in the front row of every class that was offered in the weekly series. My notes are filled with comments made that I considered significant. The first day I attended I wrote in my notes, "This one is for you, Hank." My oldest son, Hank is a great admirer of Mr. Lincoln. Dr. Young recalls the many hours of his personal study about this great man. One of my favorite displays at Disneyland, as I remembered it was the exhibit on Main Street of the American Presidents portrayed with Lincoln in life-like form give an address.

The quote I posted at the beginning of today's entry was a quote I found from the link under the history notes at the side of my blog. It went directly to quotes by famous people and there was Abraham Lincoln's sayings. I found them very familiar as some others may have been given credit for what HE said. No matter. Truth is truth and the life of Abraham Lincoln has touched my life and helped me strive to be honest in my dealings with others. I read many books as a child about prominent figures in history. Their lives impacted mine and I see the greatness in principle I gleaned helped shape my life and the lives of my posterity. It is like a rock thrown into a pool of water and the effect is long lasting==if not everlasting.



I will post a couple of pictures from the web. It looks like I will need to call on an expert, (Hank) to help me find photos like he and Kiersten occasionally post of famous figures etc. noteworthy for the daily blog. It adds so much with just one picture, is like a thousand words (maybe) which I say often.

It tells me that making something better, or improved from the ordinary enhances the written word.

That is my pondering for the day....Love,

Mom aka Anna

Hi Everybody!

I'm back. I went to BYU Education Week. It was an amazing experience. It has been too long since I was there and enjoyed the classes that were offered. I will review my notes and write about my adventure and the classes besides the people I got to meet and learned so much. I am so pleased that we can take our intellect with us to the next life.

We learn line upon line and it is an incredible gift from Heavenly Father. My understanding has increased about an hundred fold! Serious.

I will post more. You will see a lot of days for Friday, August 22, only because I didn't take my lap top with me to campus. It just had to wait to fill in the lost days--I saved a day for each entry to be posted for Monday through Friday.

Later, Love, Mom aka Anna

BYU Education Week Highlights

This week was an incredibly satisfying experience. I was in my element!





Really, time was no factor and I could focus on the classes I chose and had a wonderful time. I attended some spiritually uplifting lectures, humorous subjects and felt renewed by them. It was said humor grounds us, and I felt it. I was surrounded by the beautiful grounds of campus and felt at home again there.

Dr. Robert Young, on Abraham Lincoln



The doctrinal studies were balanced with some lectures on historical figures, like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It was like drinking from a well of pure knowledge and almost feeling the quenching satisfied and thirsting no more for now anyway.

Sunday Meetngs, I taught Relief Society too

Today was Sunday and my turn to teach the gospel in Relief Society. I learned last month that I am teaching the Gospel, not a "lesson." Anyone can read the lesson, but teaching is quite another. I have learned this from experience and love the learning that takes place as I prepare the material.

I take liberty and let the Spirit guide me. For example, today I went into Google an historical figure that has an important role to see that the Book of Commandments were saved and published through their diligence and vigilance besides risking their lives to preserve these precious historic documents. The Book of Commandments were the original relations received by Joseph from the Savior in answer to questions he had prayed about for the Church.

Candice's 3 Great-grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner. She was ten years old when she first met the Prophet Joseph. She was privileged to read one of the first editions of the Book of Mormon. Then at age 14 she came across the pages that were tossed to be destroyed when a mob burned and ransacked the printing shop where W.W. Phelps had printed those pages. They were saved with Mary E. Rollins-Lightner risking her life for them. They ended up, she and her sister hiding in a cornfield to protect those pages. It is quite a story. I read the account to Aaron, Candice, Aislyn and Ella. It was a mini Family Home Evening for them as a bedtime story. Each of the girls loved it. I was pleased to be able to find the record online and print for my lesson time. The girls loved it and wanted more!

I enjoyed teaching today, and the sisters were animated and helpful in the class discussion. I really appreciate the opportunity to teach this lesson. I feel a closeness to Joseph Smith and his connection to the Gospel. I am the one who learns the most...what more can I expect?

Good habits make good traditions

Be sure to check the last two weeks missing entries that I went back and filled in.

I made an observation from past experience. Things I like to do is read the newspaper almost everyday. it is a habit I make time for, right? Then there are the essentials that we do or should do, i.e. daily prayer, scriptures, exercise, etc, etc. etc.

I am all for being healthy and fit. It is something that makes a difference in everyone's life, especially mine. Our patterns of behavior are important in our circle of influence. What we do, is who we are and what we become. Food for thought.

Commitment is the mother of change. It must boil down to just that--Commitment. How committed are we (am I) when it comes to the must do's, should do's and wants to do's?

I know I have room for improvement. Change is IN the air. . . almost. It goes back to the commitment principle.

Later.

Love, Mom aka Anna

Who's birthday was today and would be 98? ? ? ?

Celebrating Ella's Fifth Birthday

We started the day going to McDonald's for breakfast. Happy Birthday Ella.


Baby Joel with Ella getting ready to go to breakfast.

Tender Mercies

Every now and again there are some very sweet occurrences that I call Tender Mercies.

It is a time when it feels like divine intervention has taken place. A lot of times it is being at the right place at the right time.

I went for a walk the other day and decided to go a different way. Walking through the ward was nice. The breeze was just right, it was still in the cool of the morning.

My walk took me over to the condos that part of the ward. My visiting teaching companion lives on that side of the ward. So, with that in mind, I also remembered there is a code for the privacy gate to keep out intruders with a gate to key punch to gain access to the area there.

The closer I got to the gate, it was obvious I couldn't remember the key pad number. Then just as I was walking up to the gates, someone who lives in one of those town home apartments was backing out in her car. She punched the key pad with the right numbers and bingo there I was on the other side of the entrance behind her vehicle. I was silently grateful for the tender mercy and knew I must have done something right today.

Whew, I am glad someone was there to open the gates. It made my day.

This may not be a big deal to anyone else, nevertheless it was to me since the alternative would have made it so that I had to walk around and back track where I started from. I can only think that perhaps my Angels were working nearby.

A Day to Salute LTC Hank McIntire

This is a salute and congratulations to son, Hank for his accomplishment of a job well done, with tenacity and grit. Persistence is another word that comes to mind for his "go get'm Tiger" attitude and he never gave up...

This was a very unique day in the lives of everyone connected in some way to Hank. Hank, you earned this and deserve the recognition. Lori and your children are all part of your deserved success and the fruit of your labors collectively. Good job!
Love Mom


More to add later...

President Monson's Message, Church, Birthday Celebration

Home Teachers Visit

My home teachers came this morning. They are so diligent and come often by the second Sunday. I appreciate them very much and they bring a message of love, hope and encouragement to move forward. One of my teachers is from the UK. He is a convert and a faithful priesthood holder. I am impressed with his sincerity. The other one was a shy gentleman and I have watched him open up and feel more comfortable.

Both participate in the lesson and one or the other gives the lesson and I usually ask the one who doesn't give the lesson to offer the prayer at the end of the visit. One of these times I am going to surprise them and offer the prayer myself. They always leave with a prayer and asked that I have a certain blessing that they are inspired to ask for in my behalf.

I enjoy their message and this month's thoughts were from President Monson from the August Ensign. It was about forgiveness. This theme is never obsolete, but a constant reminder of the atonement of Jesus Christ and what he did for me.

Church

I love the order of the organization of the Church. We are constantly reminded of the order when in our meetings. The brethren presiding are out watchmen. I was impressed yesterday during the sacramental prayers that our bishop was aware of the words said needed to be exact. Both priests had to repeat the prayers. The second one had stumbled over one word twice and then the bishop arose from his seat and walked over and lovingly pointed out the error at the sacrament table for the priest to recite it one more time. It was acceptable and we were able to partake of the water and continue our worship time during the sacred sacrament. We enjoyed a great meeting and sustained a new first and second counselor in our ward bishopric. The order of the church in action!




After church I went over to the Ks for dinner. Today, they were celebrating K1 & Hank's birthdays. K1 was back from her nanny job in the Kansas City area for a long weekend. She looked happy and told us a lot about her experiences and I observed the missionary opportunities available to her while she is living there. She seems to like the independence it gives her to be on her own, but at the same time earn a living. She is very industrious and I am pleased to see her happy and moving forward. I am positive her parents are equally pleased too.



It is always nice to go over for dinner visits with them when I can. I love the solidarity of all their extended family influence for good with their four generation get-togethers when Bestamor and Bestafar get to come. I miss that with my own parents and pray I can continue to be available over the years to make that kind of contribution to my own family as that fourth generation great-grandparent.

Photos to be posted later, I have to purge my files since I have so many still on the same file that keep adding to it. I will figure it out soon.

Later. :)

Time Flys when You are are busy

Hi there,

I apologize for not keeping on top of my blog timing entries. My week is almost done with tomorrow being Friday, or is it Friday minutes after midnight? Oh, Well, The week started out on Monday with Candice going to have the new baby.

I attended to the other three, Aislyn, Ella, and Parker part of the day and over night. But we got a sneak peak at the new baby boy late Monday night. I took a couple of pictures and can download when I get a breather.

There was one more week of training for my I-Health system in Farmington, north of Bountiful. So I have been keeping long hours just going, training all day and then the commute back home. I have learned a lot and hope to share the information and knowledge to help improve health for myself and my family.

More later...
Love, Mom

There is a Rainbow below the clouds

(click on the picture to see the rainbow better)
I was coming home this evening when I saw this rainbow as I was at the stop light to turn left close to the house. It had rained a little so the rainbow was somewhat visible. I took two pictures but the clouds appeared to move over some of the rainbow.

I saw this seagull one afternoon recently and it reminded me of my dad, Grandpa Rodriguez. He used to go feed the birds with a loaf of bread he would toss broken pieces of bread. The seagulls seemed to come out of nowhere and once he tossed the bread there would be a swarm, or flock of the birds. I got this one up close at a parking lot in Orem, he used take me with him to go over by Target parking lot to feed the birds. Now it is a fond memory and perhaps not very significant at the time. Now it is a precious memory. Oh, how I miss him and my mother.

These clouds seem so Celestial and perhaps a place where angels gather on the other side...heavenly beings in heavenly places.

If you look really close and long enough you can see (click again) a hint to the rainbow a few minutes after I took the first rainbow at the intersection photo. Just amazing how God makes a prism with a little bit of water, sunshine and sky!!!

Maria Refugio Canchola Rodriguez

This is grandpa Carlos' family in 1925. He was almost six years old when this piture was taken. His mother is standing next to a little toddler, dark-haired girl; her name was Emma. She died of pneumonia I believe a short time later. Aunt Celia is the other dark haired child on the steps of Buelito's house at Portland Cement. Nane, my grandmother was expecting her last child/children. She had twins, Alicia & Elena in September 1925.

This is a unique photo from my family history file. Today was the 111th birthday of my paternal grandmother, Cuquita aka Maria Refugio Canchola. She came from Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico.

I can actually say I have been there. I will add a couple more photos soon. There is a file that needs to be downloaded that I want to get done on my paternal side.

Family time and a "birth" day for JOEL McIntire

Congratulations to Aaron, Candice and Family on the birth of my number 35 grand child. He was born, Monday, August 8, 2008. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 6 oz. He is 21 and 1/2 inches long. He is adorable and favors his Daddy (his baby birth photo) and Ella's baby pictures. He had very light hair, and maybe even blue eyes. I haven't seen them open long enough but they look blue. He is fair skinned too.







The three other siblings at the hospital after Baby Joel was born. It was after 10:30 pm. Grandma was excited to stay home or wait until the next day to see the new baby. The kids were excited but getting tired by the time this day was done. They all fell asleep in the car on the way home. It was a great experience. Candice was a little worn out, but felt good after all the hard work of being the ninth mother to deliver by the same dr. that day....Wow. Congratulations to Aaron & Candice. We love YOU...

Blessing and honoring the Sabbath

It was great to have Aunt Mary Beth here for the last week and getting together. I was pleased Michael got to be here to see her again. Beth met her too during her visit.




It has always been my choice to honor Sunday and worship each week by going to my church meetings. Today was no different. I did have Aaron & Candice go ahead since Parker was still asleep from his morning nap. I was able to use the time to get myself ready. The time I was ready he woke up. I knew he needed to eat, so I warmed his favorite chicken/dinosaur nuggets and off to church we went.

I saw later that I had a phone call and an email from Aaron reminding to be sure to feed Parker before we left. Thankfully I knew to do that without the phone call (I missed)or the email I just read. I figured he hadn't eaten, and Candice usually packs the same lunch snacks for him when they get to church. So I followed my intuition and was safe.

I found out Aislyn went up to bear her testimony. I came after it with Parker in tow. Aaron told about it when he went up to bear his and gave a nice short testimony since it was about into going over time. The closing song touched my hear and I enjoyed those few moments as the meeting closed. I am going to look up the song (#158)and write it in if I can find it. Sunday school was great. Relief Society had a lesson about what we "Delight In" or find joy in our lives.

Michael and Joanna and the boys left this morning. Their visit seemed all too short.
James and Austin have grown so much and I miss seeing them grow up. We took a few pictures and as soon as I can download them, I will!

We talked about what we can do and enjoy as a reunion next year in the form of a road trip. It is just in the dream stage right now, but that is how things manifest. Matt & Beth suggested going to Nauvoo and meet there. Sounds like fun and good to me.


More later.

High Lights of Michael & Joanna's Visit