Happy Birthday Carolyn

I don't know how to change the post date. I wrote this a couple of days ago. Today is actually Groundhog's day.....and Carolyn's 21st birthday. I'm mad at the groundhog though.....6 more weeks of winter.

My little girl is all grown up.

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY BUG!

Ten Reasons why I love Carolyn so much.

1. She LOVES to laugh.

2. She is awesome with little kids. They adore her. (World's best babysitter)

3. She is a very loyal friend. (I really admire her for that)

4. She likes to think outside the box. (I think she got that from her mommy)

5. She fell in love with Brent. (We love having him in our family)

6. She gives Christlike service. (100 hours helping the special olympics program. Giving up her summer to go to Canada and take care of my cousins children while Erynn was going through chemo.)

7. She's a hard worker. (Have to be to survive the pea fields)

8. She is a beautiful dancer. (And she totally lives by the saying "Dance as if no one is watching.")

9. She has a very strong testimony.

10. She is my one and only little girl. (Not so little anymore....she is all grown up now.)

Happy Birthday Stacie

My daughter in law turns 21 today. Happy birthday Stacie. This year I thought I would post a David Letterman type list and put the top ten reasons I love each of my family members. So, why not post them on their birthdays. So.....here it goes.

TOP TEN REASONS I LOVE STACIE (in no particular order)

1. She loves Kevin.

2. She always has a smile on her face.

3. She calls me Most magnificant Queen (Smart girl)

4. She has the most tender relationship with her brother

5. She shares my love for President Obama

6. She cooks gourmet food. The cranberries at Thanksgiving were delicious.

7. She is a perfect fit in our family

8. She is beautiful on the inside and the outside

9. She is a very dedicated student

10. She is basically awesome. What more is there to say.

Happy birthday Stacie. I love you.

My reward

Once in awhile a moment comes along when parents get a reward for the hard work they have done in raising their kids. Yesterday I got one of those moments. Chris has been asking why he's never had to speak with Scott on his high council assignments. So, last week he spoke with Scott in the 4th ward. I went and listened to him give his first adult talk. He spoke on preparing to enter the temple. He gave a wonderful talk and tears filled my eyes as I thought how close his time was until he entered the house of the Lord. It was a proud moment. Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the temple as a relief society presidency. As I sat in the session that day my mind was flooded with thoughts of Chris and how much he has grown these past few months. He has grown spiritually in leaps and bounds. The time he has spent going out with the missionaries has increased his testimony and given him such a desire to serve the Lord. I thought of how thrilled I will be to come to the temple with him as he prepares to leave for the mission field. He could very well be attending the temple at the end of this year. Well.....back to that parental reward. There is a new convert in our ward that is in the preist quorm. He has some learning dissabilities. He was asked to give a youth talk in our ward. Last week Chris came home and told me that he was going to help him. Chris stood by his side and whispered in his ear. The young man uttered a few words of each sentence quietly into the microphone. I could faintly hear Chris and he was talking about the Holy Ghost. Tears filled my eyes as I saw my son (A jock....and cool kid at the highschool) whisper in his ear. I saw his Christlike love for this young man as he stood by his side and helped him with his talk. I looked over at Scott and said "He is such a great kid" The spirit was so strong as this young man spoke. I couldn't understand most of what was said....but I didn't need to. The spirit said it all.
Chris is about to go out into the world on his own. As parents we wonder if we have done enough to prepare them for this journey. Yesterday I saw before me.....not a boy.....but a man. A man with wonderful qualities. I wish I could say that I was responsible for those qualities.....but yesterday.....Chris taught me....rather than me teaching him. Thank you Chris for being a remarkable young man. Thank you for loving others as you do.

Welcome Mr. President

I have been waiting since election day for the day of the presidential inauguration to arrive. Val came over this morning to watch the festivites with me. Our new first lady looked radiant today. Her loving glances toward her husband warms my heart. I witnessed a piece of American History today as the first african american was sworn in to the office of President of the United States of America. I had goosebumps as he raised his hand....there on the steps of the capitol....which was largely built by slaves. It was quite fitting that he was sworn in with his hand on the Lincoln bible. As he spoke today I wondered if Lincoln's spirit lurked nearby. When he talked about being the son of a Kenyan immigrant who not long ago would not have been allowed to eat at the lunch counter....tears filled my eyes. I was so proud to be an American witnessing this historic day today. He gives me hope for a brighter and better future for my children. He has an incredible task ahead of him. He enters office with a nation in two wars and with an economy in peril. His words today were encouraging and uplifting. I believe he not only wants to heal a nation....but heal the world. Welcome Mr. President. We have been waiting for you. May God bless you and bless the United States of America.

Way to go Chris!

Chris got his acceptance to both LDSBC and BYU Idaho. Now he's crossing his fingers that he will get the fall tract so that he can do a semester before he heads into the mission field. He is also going to apply at Utah State but I think he is kind of set on Rexburg.