Families are Forever

This post might seem out of place because this is not a picture of our family or anyone in our family.  This week a tragedy happened in our community that has had a great effect on me.  This sweet family, Bill, Ross, Keegan and Liam,  lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning.  The older two children, Jensen and Ian, are serving missions.  Jensen was serving with Austin in the Oregon, Portland mission.  Last July when they opened a new mission and changed the missionaries around she was reassigned to the Washington, Vancouver mission.  Ian is serving in the North Dakota mission.  

Jensen and Ian came home for the funerals. They have been nothing but a strength to the community as they have born witness of Eternal families.  Bill saw Ian at the funeral and gave him a big hug and the first thing out of his mouth was, "How is Austin doing?" In their time of great loss they are reaching out to others.  They tear up when talking of their family that they lost but at the same time they bear testimony of Heavenly Fathers plan and that they know they will be together again.  Jensen said that this is a sign of Heavenly Father's work hastening and that they are now a part of it.  She said. "It is AWESOME."  What an example of faith and trust in Heavenly Father! 

Their example and faith has made me commit to be a better daughter of Heavenly Father.  This has changed my life for the good and I am so grateful for their love and commitment to their testimonies.  I pray that they will continue to rely on that faith and feel Heavenly Fathers love to give them peace as they continue to deal with this.  I am so grateful for Heavenly Fathers plan and that I know

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!

Looks Who's Getting Married!

April 19 is coming quickly!  Brandon and Kirstin got their engagement pictures taken for their wedding invitations.  They turned out so cute….but then again they are such a cute couple!  We are so excited for them to start this new life together.  Love them so much!

Kira is excited to have Brandon as her step-father.  He is so good to her.

Chalice's Blessing Day….

Oh! how we love these babies.  We are so grateful that each of our children/grandchildren are close enough that we get to be there for all of their special events.  Ryan and Caitlin are living in Rigby so we  went to be with them when Chalice was blessed.  I am so grateful also that Ryan is worthy as a Priesthood holder to bless Chalice.  He gave her a beautiful blessing.  As I hold her and look into her sweet face, I feel a little bit closer to our Heavenly Father and his spirit. 

Griff, Whit, Maddie and Kira came with us.  The girls had fun playing together at Ryan's parents house when we went there for dinner afterward.  

We are so grateful for you Chalice and love you! 

Kira and Kalli playing in the playhouse.

Such a sweet girl…Hannah.

Isn't she beautiful….a little piece of Heaven.

Hannah's ready to eat!

Kira and Kalli at their own table.

Griff and Erin….Griff is always a tease.

Cait and her sweet baby Chalice….beautiful inside and out!

Ryan, Hannah, Kalli, Cait and Chalice….What a beautiful family…love them so much!

Happy Birthday Griff!

Twenty-six years ago this little guy was placed in my arms and my life has never been the same.  He has brought so much joy into our lives.  With each child our love has just grown and encompassed each of them.  I have so many fun memories of Griff…..loving sports since the start, mimicking football players on TV when he was 18 months old, running with the football as a toddler with his hand waving behind, going to work with Bill in Ogden and crying when he got home because Bill would be so busy working he'd forget to feed him, driving the golf cart all over the place at the Ogden Elevator when he was only 5 years old, driving the truck and horse trailer home from the church farm with Bill asleep in the other seat when he was  8 years old, all the games we watched and cheered at from the time he was 8 years old.  I could go on and on.  With all of those memories the most profound for me are watching him as a missionary in the Colombia, Barranquilla mission grow into a faithful, wonderful man.  He left as a boy and came back a man converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a commitment to serve Heavenly Father.  And now he is a devoted husband and father.  I am so grateful for this journey in my life and look forward to the years ahead.

Happy, Happy Birthday Griff…….We Love YOU!

Little did the photograph know but that sports would be his life!

Ray Harding and Alex Carlson, two of Griff's longtime friends, came over for cake and ice cream.

Opening his presents…..

A memory book of his last year of college football.

Summer fun…in the Winter!

Jordan is about over going to "church everyday".  He has had seminary the past two trimesters and is ready to be done.  I finally bribed him that if he went to school all week without complaining that I would take him to Lava swimming on Saturday.  Caitlin and the girls and Kira went with us.  It is so fun now that the little pool is covered and they have the new little kids area with toys.   We had a fun time having a little "summer fun….in the winter!"

Hannah and Kalli in their new swimsuits.

Kira had to bring her mermaid tail.

Jordan playing in the splashing water.

Such cute girls….Cait, Kalli and Hannah.

Jordan on the climbing wall.

Up, Up and Away…..

Mermaid Kira

Hannah loved the water!

Minnie-kins

Oh, we love Minnie!  She is suppose to be an indoor dog but she loves to go outside and play.  If it's cold or warm it doesn't matter.  She will spend most of the day outside playing with Freddy and Moe.  Then when it gets dark she is ready to come inside for the night.  The only drawback is when she goes outside and gets wet or muddy.  Then when she comes in she has to go in her kennel until she gets dry.  

I wouldn't have ever believed we would have an inside dog and love her so much.  But with 

Minnie-kins we do!

A Little Bit of Home...

Austin despised the cold weather of Idaho.  He never liked to play in the snow as a little boy and said that he would someday live where it never snowed.  Things seem to change when you are away from those things you know and soon realize you love.

It snowed in Portland this winter and Austin loved it.  He sent home pictures and he said it made him think of home.  It was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father…..A little bit of Home!

Austin is working with a man who is trying to be rebaptized into the church.  They made homemade root beer with him.

Happy Birthday Daddy-O!

Daddy-O does not like us to celebrate his birthday.  But how can we not celebrate someone as special as he is.  He does so much for us and we are so grateful for every year of his life. So…we ignore him and have a "Happy Birthday" party in his honor.

Ryan, Caitlin and the girls came down for dinner and the birthday party.  Daddy-O did love having those sweet grandchildren close to help him blow out the candles.

Kalli, Daddy-O and Hannah

Erin, Josh, Kalli, Daddy-O, Hannah and Jordan

The whole birthday crew

This is always his favorite birthday gift….a years supple of gingerbread soap from bath and body works.

Movin' On Up!

Change is never easy.  Griff thought he was going to be in Cedar City until he graduated in May.  That all changed when he got a coaching job at Snow College and they said that they needed him in Ephraim as soon as possible.  In a matter of a couple of weeks, they had to find a place to live, arrange Griff's classes, Whit had to finish up work and they had to pack up to move.

I went down to help them move and to go to Griff's football award program.  It was kind of sad to see their life in Cedar come to an end and also Griff's football career.  But change also brings new opportunities, new friends and new possibilities for growth.  

Griff received the academic achievement award for having a GPA of 3.5-4.0.  We were so proud of his hard work in school as well as on the field.  He received 2 awards for receiver of the game, 1 award for offensive player of the game and 1 award for returner of the game.  Griff also got the "receiver of the year" award.  

SUU has been a good place for Griff and Whit….the best part of this adventure was the birth of Madison Lee.  

The football team came and helped load the truck…they were a BIG help!

Griff and his best friend Fatu were appropriately by each other.

So proud of Griff receiving the Academic Achievement Award for having a GPA of 3.5-4.0.

The trucks all packed and they are ready to go….

Maddie's first home

Love this little one...

All of Griff's awards…..he had an awesome 2 years at SUU.

So many memories in 18 months…on to a new adventure.