Thursday, August 27, 2015

... the end of our trip story and exciting news ...

We began our trip home from California the morning after the baptism, but had a stop to make first.  Before we left home to begin this trip we filled the car with things belonging to Chase and Rebekah, so we stopped in Provo to deliver those things.

We got to see their apartment and help them move things into it.  We didn't stay long, but we did enjoy every minute of being with them.





We had not been able to get pizza in our motel on this trip, so we enjoyed some pizza (delivery) in their apartment for dinner.  Then we headed down the road to get a bit closer to home, so the next day's drive wouldn't take us so long.


We got to pass by my favorite little house on the way home.  It is getting a little worse for wear every time I see it.   I love seeing this site and would love to know the history behind it.



We made it early enough to add one more stop to our trip.  This was closer to home - only a couple miles away.  ;)   One might say we saved the best for last, but each of our family members are our best, so it doesn't actually work to say that.  But, it's still exciting and awesome!

We got to see our babies - Twins, born to Michael and Tawnee ...,  Elsie is a sister ...,  she has a brother and a sister now.  Good Times!


They are soooo tiny!   This makes our count jump to 13 grandchildren.  ;)




They were born while we were away.

Naomi Jane and Ritter James

If I have my story straight (and that is a big if, because I think I have shared it wrong before), Naomi Jane was born first, weighing in at 6 lbs 1 oz, and Ritter James was born about three minutes later weighing in at 6 lbs 5 oz.    But, you'll have to ask those that really know to be sure.

I know this is old news because they are about 2 weeks old now, but I did need to share this excitement here.

They are beautiful!
We enjoyed that short visit too.  Happy to live close enough to see them often. Wish we all could live so close, but happy to have my children happy wherever they are.



So, we got back in the car for a few more minutes and got home shortly after 7:30pm.


It felt good to be home again.  It is always nice to visit our children and grandchildren, and I did enjoy the visits on this trip, but it really was a long time to be away.  It was the longest time I have ever spent away from home (except for when we lived in Seattle, but I felt somewhat at home then because I was with Terry and he is where my heart is).

And, there was much to be done at home, so I was getting a bit anxious to begin those tasks.

Since we've been home from the wedding trip we've been preparing for

Chase and Rebekah's open house 
Saturday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at our house. 
 Hope to see you here!


I've also been preparing for Seminary - it starts the 31st.  

Oh!  Almost forgot this - the evening after we got home we went to a birthday party and  had an enjoyable night with dinner and a movie in the tent.  Sometimes it's just as fun to watch the kids watching the movie as it is to watch the movie.  ;)



Okay, back to work.  I just had to take a break and finish these posts before I got any more behind-er.  ;)  

I have been feeling very "behind" but after today I feel like maybe I'm going to be okay.  I am so grateful for BJo's help - couldn't do it without her.  And we have some great friends that have blessed us with their service.  There have been angels in our outfield (or yard) this past week.  May the Lord rain blessings upon them.   


Hey!  The blog is caught up for the minute.  Feels good!

...now on to more prepping....



8 is Great!

Next on our trip was a visit to Blythe to attend another special occasion, that of our second grandchild getting baptized, on the 16th of August.  Tawny had her 8th birthday and celebrated in a wonderful way.

Her daddy baptized her.  Isn't she beautiful!



Here we are - 



Four generations.



It was very warm/hot, which kept us not very active, but we had some good times together.






It was good to be with family and share in the wonderful occasions.  Do you recognize this mask from the previous post?  Happy Birthday to Ethan while we were there.




We love our family!



Monday, August 24, 2015

Family Time

I'm a couple weeks late with this, but finally I'm sharing more info about our trip.  Here is the 2nd part of our trip.  (one more to come - when I get to it.)

After the wedding and reception were complete we spent some time with Brandon, Megan, and Turner.

We went to the Los Angeles Zoo.



The animals were great ...,

my favorite is always the giraffe

but the baby was better.  ;)




WAIT!  ... Turner isn't much of a baby anymore.  He is growing up and we love him and enjoyed every minute with him.  (And now we miss him!)

We tried a new restaurant and did a little shopping (which included some yummy Sprinkles cup cakes).


We visited and enjoyed the pool or pool-side,



and we really enjoyed each other's company ..., Oh, and had some yummy sushi for dinner.


We had a great visit and look forward to our next opportunity to get together.




Thursday, August 20, 2015

moments full of you

I was doing some studying and found Can a husband and wife be together forever? on Mormon.org and decided to keep it where I could see it again.  This is my life!
Family relationships can last forever—not just for this life.
Just as some of life’s sweetest joys can come through family associations, the loss of a beloved family member can be a source of our deepest sorrows.
Jesus Christ gave power to His disciples to seal families together forever when He said, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Death does not need to be the end of our relationships with cherished loved ones. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that the “same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in eternity], only it will be coupled with eternal glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2).
Family members who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in God’s holy temples. These ordinances seal a husband and wife together for all eternity and children to their parents as an eternal family. (See: “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”)



I found this on pinterest and decided to keep it too, since I find myself living it.  I constantly search for memories of Terry and wish he was here at my side, to hug and to hold.



Sometimes I feel lost without Terry, but I do know the direction I must go and will do my best to get there, however hard it may be.  "Endure to the end" is an enormous and necessary task at hand.   However hard, I know that the Lord is my strength and that He will send me peace as I do endure.  I know it ..., I feel it from time to time ..., often enough to carry me through ..., and I am grateful.





Chase and Rebekah are Married!

SIX of our NINE children are married now - THREE more to go.  I am counting, but I'm not in a hurry.

Chase and Rebekah coming out of the San Diego Temple on that special wedding morning

It was lovely!

A few of our family and friends attended as the temple president sealed them. Beautiful words were spoken, wonderful advice given, love abounded, and the Spirit was strong.  And, they are married!

Getting boutonnieres on

This was another first for me - first wedding of our children after Terry's passing.  It was an emotional time for me but I felt love from above and knew that Terry was present. (I hope to someday be able to control these emotions a bit more, and I apologize to any who might feel uncomfortable because of my weakness.)  I missed Terry's physical body next to me, but I took his recommend with me and carried it throughout the temple so that I could have something tangible to see and feel and remind me that he is here with us at those special occasions in our lives.


the bride and her bridesmaids

Anthony and Chase  ;)  it was a warm day, but we had some fun in the sun


We had a wonderful luncheon at the Boaz home and then helped set up for the reception.
The mighty wind began blowing the decor around, but the atmosphere was so pleasant and inviting. It was a wonderful event that brought cheer and delight to our hearts.

Gelene and Ron Rodeback on the dance floor

Chase and Rebekah
leaving the reception


It really was a wonderful day!


It was hard for me to leave home and begin this trip Thursday morning (Aug 6th).  The best way for me to explain my feelings is that Terry is here in our home and I didn't want to leave him - there is a love that I feel here and a comfort and peace from above.  I know he is not here physically, but I recognized more than ever before that his presence is here, and it's visible in his personal items that he left behind.  I didn't want to leave it, but I did want to go to the wedding, so I had no other choice. I was grateful to find that peaceful spirit with us while we were away. I am learning in so many new ways that  We are Family, and We are Together Forever!

Shawna drove down with BJo, Anthony and I for the wedding day. We enjoyed having her with us.



FYI -
We have been to five different temples for our six married children. Each temple is beautiful and meaningful. The most glorious part of each is the Spirit that is felt within it's walls and the ordinances that are performed by those with the proper authority, especially that of eternal marriage, making it possible for families to be together forever.

Chase and Rebekah were each a part of an eternal family and are now part of a new eternal family - each being linked together in love.  I am so happy that Rebekah has joined our eternal family - I love her!

in love forever and ever ...


I add these inspired words on Eternal Marriage, by Marion D. Hanks, to remind each of us of the importance of marriage.  (Click on the link to read the complete text, not included in it's fullness here - it's a great read.)


Wonderful promises are sealed upon a man and woman in temple marriage, and the realization of the promised blessings is related directly to their understanding and keeping the solemn commitments they make to each other and the Lord.
Those commitments in a temple are total and permanent—involving the whole person, as is, for the whole journey. Neither will remain as he or she is, of course; they will both grow and develop in a multitude of ways. But this marriage ceremony is without condition or reservation, save only the faithfulness of those who make it. On this solid foundation the newly formed family joyfully undertakes to learn how to live happily forever, to build a strong and loving union that will grow more wholesome and more glorious everlastingly.
Many new and enduring relationships spring into being with marriage—relationships all of which are vital to the happiness of the family.
For her, the words—sacred words—are wife, mother, homemaker, heart of a home; for him, husband, father, protector, provider, leader in his home in the warm spirit of the priesthood.
Together they enter a partnership, sharing and learning and growing.
They join their lives as companions in the special sense that married people do. Whether in the same room or a world apart, they are married twenty-four hours a day. They care about the whole person, the whole future of each other. With good humor and good disposition and genuine consideration of the needs of the other, they set out to make it a happy life. They laugh a lot and cry a little. They are warm and considerate and thoughtful: the note, the telephone call, the kind word, the sensitive response, the excitement of heading home to her, of having him come home.
Married people are sweethearts, in a special creative union, blessed with that powerful chemistry that draws two together, sometimes from next door, sometimes from a world away. This divinely designed power must be sustained by other qualities—by respect and loyalty and integrity—to be what it is meant to be. To be able to give oneself fully with confidence and trust, and to fully receive the other joyfully and gratefully—this is a blessing that grows in meaning year by year and forever.
And married people should be best friends; no relationship on earth needs friendship as much as marriage.
Friendship in a marriage is so important. It blows away the chaff and takes the kernel, rejoices in the uniqueness of the other, listens patiently, gives generously, forgives freely. Friendship will motivate one to cross the room one day and say, “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean that.” It will not pretend perfection nor demand it. It will not insist that both respond exactly the same in every thought and feeling, but it will bring to the union honesty, integrity. There will be repentance and forgiveness in every marriage—every good marriage—and respect and trust.
And all these and other elements we are not able to mention eloquently declare that such a union doesn’t just happen.
So the need becomes clear for careful, thoughtful preparation, selection, and courtship. No one should be unwise enough to count on an across-the-crowded-room romanticized live-happily- ever-after marriage made without proper thoughtfulness, preparation, and prayer. Marriage is an everyday and every-way relationship in which honesty and character and shared convictions and objectives and views about finances and family and life-style are more important than moonlight and music and an attractive profile.
... heaven will be heaven for us because we know we will be there with the one we love the best ...


(I am looking forward to heaven!  I am grateful to have a bit of heaven in our home!)