How old are you?

Our family tries to get together for dinner to open a monthly fast or close it. It is always fun and crazy no matter what, when or where! I couldn't resist taking a picture when I saw the grandkids on the trampoline together, enjoying a popsicle. Charlee had the idea of holding up their fingers to tell how old they are. Jaxson thinks he's five, but he is really two! (Nina, Charlee, Ella, Jaxson, Johnny, and Oaklee.)

My tag picture-Brooklynn and Rich's GB house

The 4th picture in the 4th folder-Last Christmas we had a gingerbread house building contest and this is Rich and Brookynn's. They didn't win! Neither did Ryan and I win. Alli and her sister, Jessica did. (second picture.) I tag Ciara

It is time for a new post, but John got a new computer and gave me his old one which necessitates the transfer of all my files onto his old computer and all his old files onto the new computer and on and on. But this goes beyond our brain power so it will be a while until I can post a picture again.

The blood tests I had came back...mono. No wonder I had NO strength, fever, aches and sore throat in August and the first week of Sept. I am very thankful to be feeling better. I had a set-back this week where all I could do was sleep, it seemed. John and I went to the temple where I could hardly stay awake. I slept on the way home and slipped right into bed when we got there and slept more! John and B have been patient and kind through it all and my counselors in Relief Society have been amazing! They have taken so much off of my shoulders where possible and have become my "peeps"! (People) They say that I don't know how to say 'no' so whenever I am asked to do something out of the ordinary, I am to refer the askee to my peeps and they will say if I can or not. (NOT is their usual answer)

Quelf

We (Greg, Alli, Devin, Allison, Brooklynn, John and I) played a game called Quelf tonight and I am still laughing! We added five years to our lives by laughing uproariously for at least five minutes straight. As some of you may know, John isn't a real game player but since it was family night he didn't really have a choice!! So in this game you are doing some wacky things. On John's turn he got a card that said for him to write a five line poem about his looks and say it in a rap. He wrote: "Here is the man, here is the man, you know what I mean, here is the man, here is the man." We had to coax him into rapping and when he did, we fell totally apart. Devin collapsed on the floor, Greg and Brooklynn were hehawing so loud and Allison, Alli and I had tears running down our faces. But John went over to the couch and sat down and commensed guffawing like I haven't heard him do in years. Tears were leeking out of his eyes too and the more we saw and heard of each other's reactions, the more we laughed. Oh the fun!!! Can't wait to do it again.

Great News!

RICH IS ENGAGED! He popped the question last night to Treslee (Lines) Scow by getting on one knee in a parking lot at the movies, pretending to tie his shoe! Their wedding will be around Thanksgiving. They met at a young single adult barbeque in April where neither one wanted to be! When they met they hit it off and`were totally comfortable with none of the worry of trying to impress each other. Treslee has two daughters, Nina (5) and Elle (3) who are darling, and blond. Rich and Treslee seem to be each other's perfect match! We are thrilled to be adding these three girls to our family.

Trevee's memorial

Saturday was Trevee's memorial at the Mesa City Cemetery. Brian dedicated the grave-site and gave a heart-felt prayer of gratitude and testimony for the Savior's Atonement and for being able to take part in Trevee's mission to gain a body. It was perfect. Scottee's family and extended family was there as was most of Brian's family. I am grateful beyond words for the family members that the Lord has given me. They inspire me, teach me, bring me joy and bless my life daily.

Live in the moment

With the events of this week I have had a reoccuring thought---to appreciate each moment that we get to share with our precious family and friends. If I were to be sent back to the times when my children were small, that is what I would want to do better. I seemed/seem to let other matters crowd out my time to just enjoy and strengthen relationships. There was/is always more laundry to do, more calls to make... It reminds me of what Greg said on his blog a while back. He was voicing his frustration for not getting anything done that day because Bastian wanted attention. What he said was, maybe I need to focus more on how relationships were strengthened than on what I accomplished. He said it better but you get the idea. I want to take everyone that I love into a giant bear hug and just shout out how much I love you and thank you for the richness you've brought to my life. I want to sit and 'shoot the breeze' with you and just GIVE time to 'live in the moment'. To all of you, I am filled to overflowing with love for you and I pledge to prioritize my time- stewardship to give more to strengthening our relationships. After all, they are the only things we get to take with us into the eternities!

Trevee Sue Barry

Scottee's gave birth to a beautiful 14.8 ounce, 11 inch daughter, named Trevee Sue today. Although she didn't get to stay with us, we feel to thank Heavenly Father for His tender mercies in preserving Scottee's life and for Trevee's spirit which was felt and for His great and wonderful plan of happiness. Brian, Scottee's brother, Scottee's mom and I got to take part in Trevee's bath (while Scottee was having a D&C) and in seeing her tiny little footprints and fingerprints permenantly placed on paper to treasure forever. We spent hours holding her and marveling at her perfect body with ten fingers and toes. Some angelic volunteers made itty-bitty booties, hats, dresses and little diapers to donate to families who need something to dress their baby in. What a Christ-like service to perform and so very much appreciated!

Scottee is going to need to spend a couple more days in the hospital to continue antibiotics intravenously. Please continue to pray for her and Brian. Even though we all have the assurance that we get to be with Trevee forever, the here and now is very hard.

Please pray for Brian's family

This morning Scottee went to see her dr. Last week he had put her on strict bedrest because her cervix was opening. Her condition is now critical. She was sent to the Good Samaratan Hospital where an amniocentesis is scheduled and where Scottee will stay until delivery. Good Sam is the premire hospital for high-risk pregancies. If there is infection inside the sac, then there is no choice but to deliver the baby and at this stage there is no chance of survival. But if there is no infection then they will sew Scottee's cervix shut and see how long they can keep her baby in. If she can make it to 28 weeks the chances of survival are much better. We seek your faith and prayers in their behalf. We petition our Father in Heaven for comfort for Brian and Scottee and for His will to be done. Their little children will need extra comfort too with their mommy being away for such a long time. Thank you and may the Lord continue to bless you.

Brooklynn's milestones

Brooklynn's 13th birthday is this weekend. It is not possible to say what a delight she is to us. Happy Birthday "B"! Your life is just as it should be. We love you.

After three years playing on various volleyball teams and going to VB camps to improve her skills, Brooklynn's dream of making the 7th grade VB team became a reality. All her hard work paid off!

Continuing the countdown

Only a little over two months more for Allison (Nov. 10th) and who knows how long for Scottee. Scottee is on strict bedrest and her due date isn't until the end of December! We just hope to keep her out of the hospital for as long as possible. We love you girls. Thank you for choosing to be mothers!

Marriage: "Choose thy Love, Love thy Choice"

It's 2:40 AM and sleep isn't my friend so I'm going to get some things off of my chest! You know how hard it is to witness a child being hurt physically? Whether it is gettting immunizations, a fall resulting in a painful injury, an illness that has to 'run it's course', it is excruciating for a parent to stand by. We would do all in our power to make the hurt go away. I'm telling you, it only gets more difficult to watch as our children grow and their bumps and bruises physically turn into deep gashes emotionally as they learn to navigate marriage. I remember that one of my worst fears as a child was that my parents would get divorced. Thankfully, they kept their committments to each other. I also remember thinking in my early marriage that "I could do just as well on my own" and "who needs this frustration". Lies that if I would have kept feeding, would have most surely turned into action resulting in sorrow, loneliness, regret and pain. I learned to shut those thoughts out and concentrate instead on the good things. If you give no place for the "d" word in your thoughts then your natural choice is to hang in there and see things through. I don't entertain thoughts of my own divorce anymore. I feel like I got the best of the deal by far. What I do get concerned about is seeing gashes in the marriages of the people I love most. In my service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I am sad to witness irreparable damage to once-blossoming relationships. Every marriage has it's challenges which can make a marriage stronger but I want to make something very clear, in almost every case, divorce isn't an option! "Cease to be angry," (President Hinckley) 'Choose thy love, love thy choice'. 'The only reason for raising your voice to your spouse is if the house is on fire.'(President Benson?)The scriptures are replete with revelation on the sanctity of marriage. There is a myth about marriage and it is that couples love each other all the time in the same intensity. Not true. It's not meant to be the hormon-crazed, thrill-a-second relationship we experienced when we were dating. We get to settle in and take care of deeper needs. Marriage relationships gets richer and more fulfilling as we adjust and work through difficulties. "I just don't love you anymore" has no place whatsoever in words and thoughts. You loved once, banish the thought and get down to loving again! Now you may be speculating 'who' and 'what', but this isn't meant for anyone specifically, but for all, including myself, as a loving reminder. We all get to experience ups and downs in our most critical and eternally important relationships. So I plead, choose love, have the spirit of peace and happpiness in your homes where all things grow and flourish.

The Peacegiver

I just finished a book, my second time with it, called "The Peacegiver" by James Ferrell. If you need help with your marriage or any other situation in your life, this is the book for you! Rick, whose marriage is falling apart, is taken, by his deceased grandfather, on a journey of three different scenes. Rick is eventually able to see how he has become hard-hearted and how he misunderstood the sacrifice the Savior made for him. The feeling of this book stays with me. Gratitude, love, peace, joy... are some of the emotions I feel. I wish for all my children and their spouses to read it. It is a life changer! You don't have to be a member of any certain church to read "The Peacegiver", it applies to all people of all faiths!

Mr President

Who's it gonna' be-McCain or Obama?

Bastian's new friend

Greg's brother-in-law and his bride recieved a calf as a wedding present!!! You don't hear that one everyday! Well, Bastian has won the shy little things heart. He is the only one that she has let touch her yet. Who could resist him!