Women of Service

During our lesson at church today, they were talking about service. We went through the scriptures and talked about women who gave service and then we focused on the Savior's life and all that He did for us. I started thinking of the examples of service I have had in my life.

When my aunt was two years old, she got a rare virus that basically "ate up" her brain, causing severe brain damage. She had to be cared for as a baby would for her entire life. She lived to be in her 40s. I watched as my grandparents sacrificed daily to care for her. They never complained and they always showed a great amount of love for her. Not only did they have this daughter, but they also had a daughter who was diagnosed with MS. Her case was very severe, and she also had to be cared for around the clock. I feel that I was able to witness something very special in the love and service they gave their daughters, and I will be forever grateful for their example.

My other grandmother died when I was very young. I do remember her as someone who was quite stern and no nonsense. I also knew that there were people who loved her very deeply. When I was in YW's there was a guest invited to come speak to us. The lesson was on service. As she began talking I was touched that the person she said she wanted to be like was my grandma. She talked about how she was someone who truly "rejoiced with those who rejoiced, and mourned with those that mourned." The lady said in all the years they lived in the same town my grandma never missed a funeral or a wedding reception. That was her way of showing she truly cared about the people in her community. As I have grown older, I have heard precious stories of how my grandma would take someone "under her wing" and give them love and encouragement when it was needed most.

I feel so grateful for these wonderful examples of service and love and hope that in some small way I can continue on their legacy.

Dinner Conversations

We love having Evan at home with us. He tends to spice things up at dinner time. This was our conversation the other night.

kids: what is for dinner?

me: Deer

addie: oh, I don't like beer mommy

ev: not beer- deer

addie: oh, i still don't like it

ev: wow, bambi sure tastes good

kids: silence.....

grace: you can't kill bambi dad. he has a wife he needs to take care of you know

ev: well... he actually had about 10 wives

grace: you can't have more than one wife

ev: sure you can. haven't you heard of polygam

me: ( cutting evan off) wow it sure is nice to have you home to creat such a great dinner conversation! but maybe we should save this particular conversation for a different time.

ev: just stating the facts

Our Get Away

I shouldn't have even tried to show how beautiful it was but I just had to! Evan and I went on a get away to Island Park for a few days. It was so beautiful. There was so much snow! We loved every second of it. The trees were all frosted and there were hardly any people there. The was fresh snow to snowmobile in every day. It was awesome!!! Okay, let me explain. My sister and her hubby shared their time-share with Evan and me. So she kept our kids while we had some time alone together, which was super nice after Evan had been gone for five months. This was the day they came up to Island Park. We spent they day playing in the snow and sledding down the hill by the resort.
We brought the kids up to spend on night with us, so they had a chance to snowmobile and swim and watch movies by the fire. It was great fun.

What a hunk!! Evan and I spent a couple of days going on long day rides and soaking in the hot tub at the resort after. We were able to go to some nice restaurants and just talk and have fun. This was such a great Christmas present!

Thanks for the fun Evan!!
And thanks for making this happen Kristi and Terry. You guys are so great!

The countdown to Christmas

Before Christmas, we had a list of things we wanted to do. One was to go to Temple Square and look at the lights. We went last year, but it was so cold we pretty much ran through. This year we got together with some friends, took tracks into the city, looked at the lights, and ended with hot chocolate and donuts. It was a fun night.

It was a little crazy considering this wasn't even all the kids we had with us looking at the lights. But we hope they will have some good memories and remember how it felt to look at all the beautiful lights.

I was so sad this picture came out fuzzy, but Addie was so excited when Evan was showing her the nativity. The light of the star had just turned on when I took this picture.

We had to dip pretzels. I thought we did a lot until I talked to Kristi who made about 200 more than we did. I will admit, hers turned out better... I think we put too much milk in the caramel, but this will be our work in progress.

I don't know what was wrong with me, but I didn't take very many pictures of us putting up the tree. But we did get the tree from Dubois, and we only got a little stuck driving in to find the "perfect tree." After trudging through thigh high snow packing Sander on our backs, because he was just disappearing under the snow, we finally gave up on "perfect tree" and decided on any tree. It was fun and we had a beautiful ( if not a little charlie brownish ) tree. We loved it.

Happy Third

Although we were gone over Addie's birthday, she got in some good partying. We stopped by Sugar City before we headed back to Utah for a quick sing and eat. Addie was loving being sung to by Grandpa Gee. ( Sander was trying to blow out her candles for her) This was the party in Dubois. Nothing like rainbow chip cake! We had a great Sunday dinner- thanks Mary- and ended with cake and ice cream.

The kids get so silly together, but there is no doubt that Grace, Sander, and Hannah love Adelle. Well, Hannah loves her when she isn't being smothered by Addie.

We had to start Addie's birthday off right by driving around and looking at bunnies. :)

Adelle adds all sorts of excitement to our lives. I can't help but love her sweet little face. Happy Birthday sweet thing!

Thanksgiving With Mom and Dad

This was the first Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad since they have been back from their mission! It was fun to all be gathered together at home ( don't worry Nate... me missed you and the fam!) The grand kids all love playing with Grandpa and listening to him tell them how much he and grandma missed the family and how glad they are to be home. The kids put on their annual thanksgiving play. Kami wrote, produced and acted in it. The kids love that she is so willing to be the best oldest cousin ever! She has created some great memories for them.

Dad bought a four-wheeler so the kids piled on their snow clothes and huddled in the shop while they waited for their turns being pulled behind the four wheeler. Cold but really fun. Sander was the last kid in the house. He stayed out the with the "dads" to make sure he didn't miss out on any fun.

Evan took over baby duty while we put together humanitarian aid kits. It was a great holiday. We loved being with all the family!! So much to be grateful for.

Glad When Daddy Comes Home

This was the day Evan officially moved back home! He walked in the door and the kids started yelling and jumping on him and laughing. I think it was just about the greatest day EVER for them! ( I was pretty happy too!!) It took a bit for Evan to get back into the groove of things ( you know things like the laundry going in the basket not on the floor etc.), but the kids got used to Evan being home real fast. They would curl up with him at night while he read them stories and played games. Bedtime took a lot longer, but you could hear Evan and the kids telling stories and laughing, just loving every moment of him being home!