We are going to Paris!!!!!!!!!!!

So....Scott has been bugging me about getting my passport. I need to get back into the United States from Canada now....and I'm the only one in the family that didn't have one yet. So.....he even went so far as leaving me notes reminding me to go get it. Well.....now it all makes sense. Christmas morning there was a package that said "Open last" It was my present from Scott. He wrote me the most beautiful letter. Told me how much he appreciated me being there to help him while dad was sick. It was just beautiful....and then he told me that he had been thinking of how he could show me how much he appreciated me. The next envelope had an all the information about our trip to Paris for our 25th anniversary. What? I started to cry. Of all the cities in the world it is Paris that I have always dreamed of visiting some day. My dad served his mission in France and he took several trips to Paris with my mom and his french class. Somehow.....I got the trip to Quebec.....what a ripoff....ha ha. Well....since my dad passed away I've had even more of a desire to walk along the Seinne River and see the gardens and visit the museums of Paris. I can't even begin to express how excited I am. We will spend our anniversary in June in Paris!!!! It is almost unbelievable to me. Such an awesome gift.....and it overwhelmed me. Scott has always wanted to go back to St. Lucia where he served his mission.....and instead he picks the place that I want to go. How loving and unselfish. I can't wait until we go. Thanks babe. I can't wait to spend time with you in Paris.

Christmas 2009

What a wonderful Christmas at the Jackson house. It was so great having all of our kids home for Christmas. We were pretty much on top of each other....but that didn't matter a bit. It was just wonderful to be together and laugh and play and just enjoy each others company. With Chris getting ready to leave for his mission it will be awhile before we are all together again.

Looks like Chris and Brent could both use a little more sleep.

Scott opening his fishing presents from Chris. I'm sure he will put them to good use.

Stacie gave Kevin a professional picture that was taken when he ran the St. George Marathon.

The guys in thier new Mariners shirts.

A hungry bunch....waiting for Christmas dinner

Scott grilled the prime rib and it was so delicious

We all played pictionary after dinner and Brent and Carolyn were the winners....and she let all of know that!

Brent's dad and sister teamed up. Mark was better at giving away clues to Brent than he was at drawing.

Fun playing games

Stacie and Kevin make a great team

Brent's sister Heather teamed up with Chris. He kept her laughing.

Chris and Brent chilling on Christmas night. Those two crack me up. Brent looks pretty comfy.

We had a fantastic Christmas. Wonderful gifts.....I got an Obama chia head from Brent and Carolyn.....those nuts.....and a beautiful calendar that Stacie had made full of pictures of our family. I love it. Chris got me a cool case that he antiqued to store his letters in that he will send me from Mexico. Scott wrote me the most beautiful letter and gave me such a special gift....but I am going to post about it all on its own. It was wonderful to be all together. Couldn't have asked for anything better.

Leavenworth

A couple of days before Christmas we took everyone up to Leavenworth. It is a little Bavarian city nestled in the cascade mountains. It gets all decorated up for Christmas. All of the little shops have so many treasures. It was such a great day.

Kevin and Stacie. It gets pretty cold up there so cuddling is necessary.

Carolyn and Brent in front of the pretzel tree.

Chris loves going to his favortie store there....the Austraila store. He bought some pepperoni sticks that were alligator and kangaroo. I took a bite of the alligator stick....it was good.....until he told me what I was eating.....and then it kind of gagged me.

Mom and I walking along the streets in Leavenworth.

The funniest part of the trip was the "Hot sauce" episode. There is this little shop that has food samples and we have been there before and Chris almost singed his tongue on the hot sauce. So....I warned everyone not to try it. Well....Stacie just couldn't take it....she said that now she just had to try it.....her face was fine at first....and then the burn began.....Kevin followed.....they both ran over to starbucks looking for milk to quench the fire burning in their mouthes. Carolyn and Brent were next. Brents face got all red and swollen.....they went as fast as they could to the icecream shop.....when they walked in they were handed samples because they knew they had partaken of the hot sauce. Well.....Chris is the last one.....he had his pretzel loaded with hot sauce....he had extra on it because he was going to give it to his sister....sounds just like a little brother.....I told him not to do it. He said "Mission Prep".....and put the whole thing in his mouth. He said he thought he was going to die. His mouth was on fire for about 30 minutes. Why oh why don't they listen to their mommy? I was laughing so hard as they all were trying to figure out some way to extinguish the burning sensation inside their mouths.

Temple Day

On the 22nd of December we had the wonderful opportunity of joining with Chris as he went through the Columbia River Temple. What a marvelous experience. We watched as family and friends joined with Chris in this spiritual occasion in his life. The feelings were so strong that day.

The family stopped for a moment to take some pictures before Chris had to go inside. Inside we were also joined by Uncle Tom and Aunt M'Lee, Milo and Melanie Bushman, and Les and Janine Michie, and Bakers. I can't even begin to express the overwhelming sense of joy it was to be together as an entire family within the walls of the temple. It was very emotional for me. Seeing my children all there embracing one another was one of the best days of my entire life. It was a moment that I will cherish forever. I don't really know when exactly it was when Chris went from being a boy to a man.....but it happened somewhere between baseball games and swimmeets.....and what a wonderful man he has grown into.

Kelcey joined us on the trip to the temple. She was a trooper. She sat in the waiting room for a couple of hours as she waited for Chris

to be done. I'm glad she could join us on this special day.

She's DONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is Carolyn's last day of student teaching. I know it will be hard for her to leave those students. She had an amazing mentor teacher and such a wonderful experience at Springville Junior High. I can't believe I have a University graduate. I feel very OLD today. Way to go Carolyn. I'm so proud of you for all your hard work and determination as you finished your special education degree. You are awesome. You're going to be an exceptional special education teacher. You have so much love to give. Let the job hunting begin! I hope you get that job in the district.....sounds like a good fit for you. We love you bug! This is quite an accomplishment.

Gone but not forgotten

Yesterday I stopped what I was busy doing and sat down and watched the memorial service for the 4 slain Lakewood Washington police officers. What a sight it was to behold as I saw the thousands of police and fire vehicles in the procession. As the caskets arrived even with thousands lining the street it became very quiet. Seeing the salutes from fellow officers was touching.

There were police officers from not only around the country....but from around the world. I must admit that the 1000 police officers that belong to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police looked the sharpest. It was a carpet of red as they marched into the Tacoma Dome. They really stood out in the sea of blue uniforms. I was proud of my canadian heritage as I watched them march in and take their place among the other law enforcement personel that were there to honor these fallen heros.

There was a touching moment before the service began. There have been makeshift memorials set up all around the city and a reporter talked about a seven year old boy that came and left a Mariners baseball and his baseball glove.....with it a note that said "These are my most prized possesions but I am giving them to you." What a tender and thoughtful gesture from a young boy that recognized the service of these four slain officers. I shed a few tears over that one. The service was beautiful. A wonderful and well deserved tribute to those in uniform. As the service concluded and the folded flags were presented to the families instead of a 21 gun salute there was a bell that was rung 21 times. Then the saddest moment of all......the stadium became completely quiet and the officers radio control letters were read three times.....NO RESPONSE.....after no response came with each one a voice said "Gone....But NOT forgotten."

May God bless these families as they grieve. May we all remember the sacrifice they made to serve others.

A day to reflect

I have been in a rather reflective mood today. Today would have been my father's 70th birthday. This is a picture of my dad at 1 year old. Oh how I wish that dad was still with us and I was able to talk to him today and wish him a happy birthday. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him. There are many things that I learned from my father....and many traits that I inherited. He would always tell me "Remember who you are" I took that to heart....and I always tried to live up to the King name. After all....as a little girl I thought we were royalty. I have since learned that it is so much more than that. I am a Daughter of God....and I need to live and Honor that birthright. I learned to always be my very best self.

This is a picture of my dad as he left for his mission to France. Isn't he handsome? Some of the traits I inherited other than the obvious King nose.....are always being very early to everything. My dad hated being late. My lack of patience I attribute to my dad as well. I think one of the traits I got from him that shines through quite often is my ability to stand up for myself. I didn't always have that quality but as I grew I learned it from my father. I got my stubborn streak from my dad too. There are times when I will do something and Scott will say "Okay Ted King" I take that as a compliment.

A couple of weeks ago I had a very special experience. I had been to the temple and I had dad on my mind. I had prayed that I might feel him close to me. Two days later we were on our way to Rexburg to see Chris open his mission call. I was pretty emotional on our ride down there. I told Scott how sad I was that both of Chris's grandfather's were gone and they could not share in this with him. We hit snow and slush on the roads on the pass and suddenly we started to slide.....I gasped and said a quiet prayer.....I felt like there were arms around me....and I felt so warm....but I didn't feel like it was my heavenly father....but my earthly father. I couldn't get dad off my mind for the rest of the trip. I hoped that he and grandpa Jackson had the best seat in the house for Chris to open his call. As we walked into the Costco in Missoula, MT....there was a great big package of vinyl transfers for your wall....and it was the Eiffel Tower. My dad was a french teacher.....and every time I see the Eiffel Tower I thought of him. I must admit I was a bit surprised to see it there....didn't seem like something that those in Montana would have on their walls. No antlers or anything.....ha ha. Well.....we went into TJ Max when we were done at Costco....and that is where we got the text from Chris that his call had arrived....and just as I walked around the corner in the store there was a big silver Eiffel Tower. I really felt like my dad was trying to tell me that he was there....that he knew of Chris's call....and that he would be with us. I love you Dad. I'm grateful that I am your daughter.....and I'm grateful for the things you taught me while you were here...and even now since you've been gone. Happy Birthday Dad.

****Minutes after I had published this post I got an email from my cousin Linda telling me that My cousin Shane's wife Pam had delivered a baby boy today.....on my dad's birthday. That little guy is going to share a birthday with a very special family member. Congrats Zobell family!