I'm back!

I have tried posting about 5 or 6 times and I couldn't get it to work.  I send feedback messages and Blogger never got back to me.  Finally, a pop up came up and it said that I had to go into to Google Chrome for it to work.  I'M BACK!  I'll start blogging again.  

Happy Mother's Day!  I have been very blest to have a wonderful mother.  Here's a letter I wrote her for her 80th birthday last month: 

Happy 80th birthday! I’ve often thought about how you have influenced my life. Every compliment I receive I should send to you because I am who I am because of you.

Growing up we were all taught to work. When typing your journal I heard you say over and over how this person or that person was a hard worker. I know that is what you admire in others and what you taught. I know that I would never of had nine children if it weren’t for knowing how to work. I would never have known how to keep my house and children clean, work in the yard, paint and remodel, serve in the church, take care of other people’s children, make bread, to cook great food, to grow gardens, glean the fields, to can, work at school, teach myself to read and write, help Roger at the golf course, and the list could go on and on. All of these experiences I owe to you teaching that simple concept of work. You taught this by example and love.

I love the gospel and Jesus Christ more then I could ever express to you. I don’t know anyone that was as faithful and diligent with keeping the standards and teaching their family like you did. What a strong and valiant daughter of God you are. I want to thank you for teaching me about prayer, tithing and obedience and just teaching me the love my Father in Heaven has for me.

I have told you on different occasions that I am married to Roger because of the advise you gave me. This blessing is one of the greatest blessings of all. I love him more then I can say. You never did say that I should marry him but you saw his goodness probably before I did. You told me that he would be a good father and husband, and that he would honor his priesthood. He always has.

Mom, I love you. I admire you, and I am very grateful I had the privilege of having you as my mother.
Love,
Deborah



Grandma's 80th Birthday!

Look at all that grey hair!!  We must be getting old.  The proof is in the picture.  I was so glad I was able to drive down with Stephanie to celebrate Mom's birthday with her.  Steve and Katherine drove down too.  Lynne and her boys came up from Jordan River and Diana drove farther then we did comig all the way from Cedar City.  Of course she stayed the night with her mother but it is still a long ways with two children.  Yvonne came from Texas which was a really fun surprise!  I think Mom had a great time and she was so happy we all came.  She became choked up when we sang Happy Birthday to her.  I had several people write some of the ways she has influenced their lives and reasons why she means so much to them.  Many made comments about what a strong women both spiriatually and physically she is.  She has always worked hard and still does.  I love and admire her very much.

Roger was the father hen the whole time we were there.  No one was watching the little ones because we were all so excited to see each other and we were all in the house visiting.  Roger was concerned about the creek and the kids getting in it so he stayed outside and watched all of them.  Shilo became very attatched to him and thought he was her Grandpa too.  He was touched that she became his side kick the entire day.

I didn't get pictures of Lucas playing with Noah and Cole but they played together and Cooper and Ty hooked up too.  Lynne and Diana said they want the boys to get together more when Craig and Diana move back to the area in September.  Cousins are the best!

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Easter

This entire weekend was so much fun.  When we were at Lynne's we got to color eggs with her boys and then we went home and got to do it with Jeff's girls.  We REALLY missed Steve's kids . . . . just ask Joelle and Addie.  We didn't get to see Craig's kids either.  I keep saying that in my perfect world we all lived a lot closer!  Anyway, we sure did have fun.  I always like the Easter Egg hunt! 

Last week we had General Conference and this week we had Stake Conference.  Between the conferences, the temple experience, and then Easter, I have been spiritually fed and am so grateful for the gospel.  I am so grateful for the Savior and the older I get the more I love him.

The Temple

Lynne, Stephanie, and I drove up to the Bountiful Temple to watch the sealing of the Stacy Nance family.  It was so amazing.  Even the weather was wonderful.  It had snowed about 3 or 4 inches but the sun came out and it turned into a nice warm snowy day.  Afterward we all went to Chuck-O-Rama and we had so much fun visiting with everyone.  I love forever families and being a part of such a great one. I loved being with my aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, daughters, and my mother!  Going to the temple with Stacy and having so much of the family there, made me reflect on how blessed we are to have the temple ordinances and be a part of an eternal family. 

Ty at Build-a-Bear

I would never have thought about Ty's 4th birthday if Bryan hadn't reminded us.  I'm so glad he did!  Stephanie and I were already down in Utah for Lynne's birthday and we couldn't make another trip down in May for Ty's birthday.  Stephanie and I would have missed his Build-a-Bear trip if he hadn't reminded us and that would have made me ver sad.  Stephanie is such a good aunt and loves doing it as much as I do. Ty was so fun to watch and it always surprises me how fast all the kids make up their minds about what they want.  And once they do, they don't want anything else.  He decided on a cute puppy and a Buzz Lightyear outfit.  It is very cute!  I can never decide who enjoys this tradition the most . . . me or the kids!