Weekend Visit

Have you seen a pomegranate tree?  I know I have seen this tree before, but it just seemed to draw me in this time when I saw it and I decided I needed a photo of it.  This tree lives in the back of our oldest sons yard.  Terry and I went to visit his family this weekend and we had a lovely time. 

This is what I really wanted to see out in the yard - these four awesome grandchildren of ours.



We went to watch Brayden's football game Saturday.  Go Team!

Terry and the boys reading a book Sunday morning before church.

 

Here are the girls Sunday morning.

Sunday was a special day!  We sang the opening hymn (#98 I Need Thee Every Hour) in Sacrament Meeting and we heard little angels singing a few rows behind us.  It was such a sweet sound and it touched our hearts.  We sat in on the primary program practice during Sunday School and heard Ethan give his part and sing his heart out - so awesome.  Terry went to Priesthood and I stayed to see and hear the rest of the practice.  It wasn't long before I heard another heavenly choir.  It was a male choir singing a capella in the background.  The men were singing their opening song (#2 The Spirit of God) and it too touched my heart and will remain a wonderful memory.  I saw Tawnee and Brayden give their parts and was so proud of how they got right up there and said it with ease and conviction.

There was something else that made this day special - Gregory was released as Elders Quorum President and sustained and set apart as the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric.  We know that he will fulfill that calling well and that the Lord will be pleased.  He is a good man.  Terry was able to ordain Gregory a High Priest and stand in on that setting apart. 


Monday was our last day there and our flight was in the early evening so we went to the Phoenix Arizona Temple open house.  It was beautiful ... a perfect place to be with our family.   This is our view as we rounded the corner.  Lovely!

We parked in the Wet and Wild Water Park parking lot where they had charter buses driving the guests to and from the stake center and temple grounds, which was only a five minute drive. 

This visit to the temple was a special part of the weekend for me as we came into view of each of the rooms inside the temple and I could feel the eternal joy that is ours because of a choice Terry and I made over 34 years ago to go to the Idaho Falls Temple to be sealed for time and eternity.  We are an eternal family!  I must also say that the artwork in the temple was beautiful too.  Many of those beautiful pieces spoke to our heart and soul, each in it's own way.  I wish I could have taken pictures of them.

Here we are:

WE ARE AN ETERNAL FAMILY!


We are so happy to have had this opportunity to go see this lovely family and enjoy the weekend together, making memories.  They are all AWESOME!

Sunday / Monday

The internet was down Sunday, so we couldn't post, but we had a good day!

Sunday was a special day for sure! Gregory brought the kids over for a special occasion - Anthony received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of Deacon. Usually this type of thing happens in the bishops office at the ward meeting house, occasionally it happens in one's home, but for Anthony it happened in our apartment, here in Seattle.

It was so awesome to see the boys in their white shirts and ties, with their sister, walking up the street to the door - a sight that definitely pulled on the heart strings. Then to see them in the family room after the blessing/ordination, giving hugs and enjoying the special moment, was another ... well, special moment.




It was a quick trip for them. They came and took care of business, ate, and had to leave after a little visiting. But, we had a good time together, ending it with banana shakes and berry smoothies before they headed home.
Try this one:
Summer Very Berry Cherry Smoothie (it takes longer to say the name than it does to make it :)
1 cup yogurt (Cherry Vanilla, or any berry yogurt - we had raspberry)
3/4 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
3 ice cubes
Combine in blender or processor until smooth. Enjoy!

I know it was just yesterday, but we look forward to the next visit already :).

Because our internet was down, we couldn't watch any General Conference talks online. We did put in a DVD from Time Our For Women and watched it. We enjoyed the music and the message. Each speaker had a one liner that I thought was clever and useful to remember. I'm going to have to watch it again to write them all down. One was; "All you can do is the best you can do, and that's all God expects. They (God and Christ) can fill in the rest."

Monday has not been the best day for Terry as far as feeling really well, but he was able and willing to let me "drag" him around a bit. We didn't have a clinic visit so we ventured out to find a Walmart store. We made it, and to Macy's too. Terry walked the Walmart store with me but sat in the car while I went into Macy's. We took care of some wedding preps and headed back to the apartment.
We are continuing Terry's hydration and he is resting after the busy morning.
These roads are crazy around here and I think I like driving to TriCities or Wenatchee much better :) At least I know where I'm going to some degree, and I could always find my way back home. I get so turned around here, it's awful. The only directions I can really feel are that up is up and down is down, but North, South, East and West keep changing on me :) Terry tells me that they are staying the same, but I sure can't find them when I need them most. Oh Ya! Their on my mirror, but I didn't think to look there. I just ask for directions from the nice guy beside me - yip, that's Terry. Samantha tries to help us, but sometimes she just confuses us. At least she recalculates for us in a hurry.