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.

Christmas 2008

We had a rather scary trip to the airport and back on Christmas Eve. Carolyn and Brent arrived a couple of hours late and that was just enough time to be in the middle of the storm on our way home. The roads were solid ice. We were prayed home by friends and family. My friend Val lit her mother in laws candle for us. Emma was a devout catholic and she always lit that candle and said a prayer so Val did it for us and we were very grateful. We saw several cars in the ditch including a semi truck. We were so happy that their flight arrived and we could be together for Christmas.

It was nice to wake up to a white christmas. The snow and frost on the trees have been just beautiful.

We had a rather lazy christmas morning. Carolyn and Brent stayed over at his mom's on Christmas eve so the three of us here just slept in. We didn't get up and open presents until after 11. My brother called and they opened presents at 4am. There are some benefits to this phase of life.

Chris liked all of his stuff but he was most surprised by his digital camera. He has been taking pictures of everything since he got it.






Santa had a little elf named Chris as she found a Sarah Palin button in her stocking. Ha ha....very funny Chris.

Scott was surprised to find that Santa likes Bob Marley music. Scott served his mission in the West Indies and he still likes to listen to some good Regae music.

Chris got us a GPS and we really laughed when he said he was saving future fights from developing. You know how men NEVER ask for directions. We got a good chuckle out of it.

Chris still thinks he is the real spiderman. So....to aid him in his spidey exploits we got him a spider winter face mask. He loves it.....and I know he will wear it....probably even in the summer.

Brent and Carolyn opened up their stuff when they arrived later in the day.

Stealing a kiss. I don't see any mistletoe you two!

We had a wonderful Christmas. We missed Kevin and Stacie as they had Christmas in Wisconsin. It was nice to talk to them though. We have been blessed abundantly this past year with the additions to our family.

LET IT SNOW?

The person that wrote the words to the song "Let it snow" obviously didn't have kids trying to get home for Christmas. Oh......we have had quite the weather. It is sunny out today....but we are covered with snow. Flights in and out of Seattle are canceled and that is where Carolyn and Brent have a layover. Hopefully they can at least make it that far and then we can chain up and get over the pass if it is open. The whole state has been hit hard with a winter storm. My brother in Spokane has been hit the hardest. They have about 3 feet of snow. The snow plow got stuck there today. That is not a good sign. So.....while all this is beautiful and I hate a brown christmas......ENOUGH!!! NO MORE SNOW! I just want to get my kids home safe and sound. Once they arrive then we can Let it snow....let it snow....let it snow. Kevin and Stacie arrived safely in Wisconsin. I did get a text from him today and he said it is bitter cold back there. Wishing everyone a very merry christmas and I hope all of your loved ones makes it home for the holidays.

Thanksgiving in Provo

Our first stop was in SLC to see the Wintertons. We got to see the new baby in the family. He was precious. We didn't get a chance to see Tyler or Lylie Bird

A mormon thanksgiving. The boys around the barbecue drinking an "Apple Beer"

While the bird was cooking we went to the park and took some pictures.

Scott, Chandra, and the kids

Brent and Carolyn

Stacie and Kevin

Chris

Me and my hubby

Scott took care of the turkey and cooked it on the grill. It was delicious.

The boys were busy in the kitchen with last minute preparations.

Chris is getting hungry

Carolyn and Brent wait for dinner

This is how we felt after eating so much. Stacie made delicious sweet potatoes and homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest. Yum. We had all the fixings. Kevin made pumpkin pie and a banana pie like they have in Brazil.

This is what we woke up to the next morning. There is an apple orchard right behind Kevin's house and it is loaded with deer.

While Brent and Carolyn were working Black Friday the rest of us hiked through Rock Canyon

Scott and Kevin climbing up the cliff. I kept yelling for them to get down.

Kevin resting

That night we went up to temple square to see the christmas lights.

The lights were beautiful

Merry Christmas

We had such a wonderful time. We enjoyed playing games with all the kids....even if it was until 2am. We laughed so much this weekend that my side ached. We went to Evanston, WY to hear our nephew's missionary report. Rory served in my old stomping grounds. He was in the Canada Calgary mission. It was nice to hear his report and see some of the Jackson family. We picked up a friend of Chris's and took her home to Ammon, ID. We stopped for awhile to visit with her family. Scott and Chris used to be their home teachers so it was nice to see them again. We spent that night in Rexburg. The new temple their is breathtaking. It sits up on a hill and it glows for miles. Rexburg has changed so much since we went to college there. We drove Chris around campus and then showed him where we used to live and some of the places we used to hang out. The ride home on Monday was very foggy but the sun broke through as we reached the summit on Monida pass and we were surrounded by majestic mountains and we saw about 100 head of antelope. We crawled into bed exhausted. I told Scott "I feel like the richest woman in the world." He looked at me puzzled with a look that said "Have you see our 401k lately." I laughed and said "Our kids our so happy and we are so blessed. That is why we are rich.