Our granddaughter's news!

When Emily called us a few weeks ago and said she had some 
news, we thought she was engaged! 

Nope, not that. 

She told us she decided to serve a mission! 

When we asked her where she wanted to go she said ANYWHERE.

Then Friday night, thanks to FaceTime, we got to watch her open 
the big white envelope! 

Her Mom, Kim, and her Aunt Kris, were in Texas at a quitting convention which I know was SO hard on them not to be there....but they didn't want her to wait the 4 days for their return.

10 pictures I've been liking or living lately...

Just a few quick pictures that have been on my mind lately...
(in no particular order)


1. My friend in Utah served Hawaiian Haystacks 
at their women's conference.... 
I'd always wondered how they would do this for a large group. 
So here it is!



LOVE food pictures. 


2. I guess Den and I stayed a bit long recently while we were at 
Dad and Susan's. We got to see their nightly ritual of massaging 
each other's feet. 

(Some of Susan's family in the background.)




3. We got to watch Elora turn 15. Yep, FIFTEEN.


4. Annie (21 months) passed out, so spent the night in the hospital 
and then had to wear a monitor for 30 days....plus have an EEG.

Annie's tests all came back good!

(HOW did they keep a 21 month old from pulling off her monitor? 
McKenna kept telling her how pretty she looked! Don't think this would work with a toddler boy.)




5. Dennis went by to get our mail at our old house and then new 
owner showed him what they had done to our their back yard.

They extended the patio, and put in a playhouse.
I'm impressed. But I'm especially happy they love it. 


6. A text from Amy and Logan about 3 weeks ago. 
I'm just over the top happy they stuck to the Calif concert!




7. Long ago, and about a mile away, Tyler was good friends with 
Cindy and Katie who lived in the same cul-de-sac with us. 

Fast forward about 25 years...last month I got to be with Katie (left) 
and her Mom Debbie (right)
and Dee (Heidi's mother who the baby shower was for!)



The disappointment was 
not getting a good picture of pregnant Heidi!!!
My neighbors feel like family to me.




8. This next picture is a classic to me. 
Our entire stove quit working SIX HOURS 
before the warranty expired. 

I call this very good luck. 
6 hours later and it would have been our bill.

(Den always stands guard whenever we have a service call. He has caught many mistakes this way,
including one we would have never known about.)

9. We all missed President Monson at our recent General Conference,


But, we're happy he could be with his great grandchildren.
They sure look like him.
Thanks to his family for posting this great picture on FB.



10. This is probably one of my all time favorite Ensign covers. 


Family prayer on the go. But never the less, family prayer!



I'm glad I was there to see this

There was this moment in time yesterday, that I’m still thinking 
about. 

I was at Kaiser pharmacy ready to pick up my prescription. The 
entire pharmacy was busy and I could hear quiet chattering all 
around the room. Each line had several people waiting. Things 
were moving quickly though. Perhaps this was just a typical busy 
Monday morning. 

Soon I notice what looked like a young mom come in with her little 
daughter who I’m guessing was about 6 or 7 years old. I noticed 
them because the daughter was in front of her and the mom had her 
arms wrapped tightly around her…both facing forward, and 
walking in this way. 

This cute little girl with blonde pigtails was making continual 
screams and screeching and crying sounds. Horrible, sad, and loud 
sounds. 

All the while the mom was smiling as they both made their way to 
the very front of the line where a pharmacist was waiting to give 
her their prescription. No waiting in line like the rest of us. 

The mom never took her tight body hold off her daughter. And the 
daughter made no effort at all to escape that embrace. Clearly this 
was not the reason for her crying. 

I sensed this mom had special permission because of their 
circumstances to be served as soon as they entered the pharmacy 
door. 

I also sensed the mom was smiling as if to say to all of us in that 
room, “Please forgive us for making so much noise and for cutting 
in the line. This is our life and we’re doing the best we can.” 

All the other customers in that room seemed now to be quiet. I 
think just about all eyes were on this mom and her daughter. I 
wasn’t sure at first what that meant. Were they annoyed by them?

The little girl continued to wail and screech and cry. The Mom 
continued to smile. I probably was not the only one with tears in 
my eyes….thinking of this courageous mom and the suffering they 
undoubtedly go through every day. 

The little girl, I’m guessing, has autism.

I thought of all the many many families who go through similar 
situations every single day. 

I was hoping the quiet in the room was respect towards this Mom, 
although I wasn’t sure. I was a little afraid someone might say 
something mean to her. 

I continued to be in awe by the Mom. I could not get over that 
smile on the her face through all of this. 

After the mom got the meds, I watched as she turned around and 
headed towards the door. I felt this huge need to go up to her and 
tell her what a great mom she was. 

But several others did this for me. 

I watched someone give her a thumbs up. I heard someone else in 
the small crowd say to them, “God bless you.” and I heard another 
customer say, “You are such a good mom! Bless you!” 

I’m certain this is NOT the reaction this struggling Mom always 
gets. I’m sure she has received many less than loving reactions. 

Several hours later it was time for my bookclub with the 
neighborhood ladies. Our discussion ventured into Christianity and 
how “many people are turning away from God these days.” 

I thought back to earlier in the day and the goodness I got to see. I 
couldn’t help but think….whether they believe in Christ or not, 
does not change the fact that we are all made in His image. 

All the goodness in this world, comes from Him. 


Look what happened last night

  Just a little pre-graduating gathering for our DIL Amy.... Not everyday a Mom of 7 and a Grandma of 7, graduates from college. It was not ...