Ouch! Ouch and ouch....

This girl has been through a battle....
Mono since October...

 Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy May 17...worst tonsils the surgeon has seen

A not so fun recovery...a trip to the emergency room for pain control and dehydration,

and now...

14 days later there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

You are so tough our Buggy girl!!

Visits with the grandkids...

 Grandpa trip to Chicago...

baseball...

 more baseball...

 a photo at the "Bean" sculpture

and then Utah visitors...

 downtown Salt Lake City

 playing in the 'river'!

 Jonah is spellbound by the machinery!...

Little Miss Pait playing with grandma's bells...

and hangin' on the porch!

This has been fun!

Letter to My Family...

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to center our lives around our Savior Jesus Christ and to become more like Him.  I've loved my experience of serving in the Relief Society Building.  There is such a wonderful spirit in that building and as I learn the history of it and 

am surrounded by the legacy of Relief Society it has brought me closer to my Savior.  As you first walk in the front doors, there is a large, original painting by Minerva Teichert, titled "Christ in the Red Robe".   It is a stunning painting and it is such a wonderful reminder of how our Church is centered around our 

belief in a loving Savior.  The General Relief Society Presidency just rewrote our script for our tours and it is more centered about this painting, “ Christ in the Red Robe”.  We are to explain that this picture sets the tone for all that they will see in the building.  We share our knowledge that throughout His mortal 

ministry, the Savior showed special love and concern for women.  While little is known about a formal organization of women in the New Testament, evidence suggests that women were vital participants in the Savior’s ministry.  The women in the ancient Church were dignified and noble, needed and valued.  They 

served others, increased in personal holiness, and participated in the great work of saving souls.  These patterns have been restored in the latter days through the organization of Relief Society.  The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized.  It 

was on March 17, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois, the Prophet Joseph called 20 women together and organized them in a divinely inspired and authorized manner.  Emma Smith, the Prophet’s wife, was chosen as the first Relief Society president and said on the occasion of the first meeting, “We are going to do something 

extraordinary…We expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls.”  In six of the early meetings of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo (as it was called then), the Prophet instructed the women.  He taught principles that helped Relief Society sisters “relieve the poor” and “save souls” – foundational principles 

upon which the society was built.  President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, urged the women to “lead the world and to lead especially the women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and that is purifying.”  Since the early days 

of the Relief Society, women in the Church throughout the world, have applied the purposes of the Relief Society which is to prepare women for the blessings of eternal life, by increasing faith and personal righteousness, strengthening families and homes and seeking out and helping those in need.  Relief Society 

sisters are part of a great organization, founded by priesthood authority and strengthened by the teachings and declarations of prophets.  They are beloved daughters of God with sacred responsibilities.

     

     It is such a great reminder to all of us that as we serve, however we serve, and participate in the gospel plan, we are being valiant disciples of Jesus Christ in the work of salvation.    Now, as I've studied the legacy of Relief Society and the importance of serving our neighbor, I've thought about how we may never 

know what a kind word or deed may mean for someone.   It's made me think of the scripture: 

3 Nephi 27:27,  

 And know ye that ^aye shall be ^bjudges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what ^cmanner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even ^das I am.

Isn't that a great question?  "What manner of men ought ye to be?" and the answer..."even as I am"!

I loved this quote by Robert Millet:

"The quest to become more like our Lord and Savior

 - to be more spiritually attentive, 

more personally sensitive, 

more tender and gracious - 

ought to be the righteous desire of every Latter-day Saint. 

What, then, can I do? 

     So, beginning now, let's try even harder to be more like our Savior and be the ones to 'save souls, be more sensitive, more tender and gracious and spiritually attentive'.  We have the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost to lead and guide us in this endeavor and the beautiful plan of the Gospel to carry us onward, 

and most important a loving Savior who is our example and comforter.  

I love you all...I pray for each of you...I encourage you to pray for each other...I know our prayers are answered and I know you are all loved by a kind Heavenly Father and Savior and they know each of you personally. You are all doing such wonderful things in your lives and you each are pursuing your dreams in 

your own unique way.  May I just say, as a mother/mother in-law/grandma, it is fascinating to witness!

Mom

Remembering...it's softer, but not easier

Surprise!!

Ok family....hold on to your horses! Yes, this is me! You are not daydreaming about me blogging I am actually doing it! So this is for my girls (my fellow bloggers)......and for the hubby who keeps saying "you need to update our blog"!
I just want to say to all of the children who are studying, taking finals, writing papers, doctoring all hours of the day, and packing! I am thinking of you and wishing you well in all your endeavors. To Kell....I'm not even sure what some of those words are that you used on your blog post, but it made me smile. To Col...I love that you like to do your homework in the kitchen. To Ash and Kaitie...I love that you two share your smiles with me everyday and that your busy doing your things. To Nat and Tam (my little mama's)...thanks for holding down the fort each day and taking care of my babies. and To Todd and Bryan...keep doing what you need to do and keep following those dreams. I've been thinking about family lately and family really is everything! I feel so blessed we've been able to spend so much time together and I'm ready for more! Thanks for Mikie who picks up the tab and thanks to my kids who still like to hang out with me. Here's to family, the holidays, and just pure joy...you are all my 'pure joy'!

Happy Day to My Man!

Yep! Michael Jane you are my man! You are wise, kind, gentle, funny, a tough guy when you need to be, a loyal friend, the most amazing father and grandfather, a caretaker, faithful, a great listener, a great debater when I want you to be. You like to tease me and drive fast into the garage, call me a wimp when I won't wrestle, tell me I'm not making any sense when I ramble and then laugh, you are adventurous and always looking for the next fun place to travel to, you provide our family with every need and lots of our wants. I'm so thankful, grateful this day for another year of you in my life and our kids and I look forward to many more. You are my rock, my quiet guide, my best friend and this one will kill the kids...my lover! M & M forever!!!

Our Baby is Sweet Sixteen!!

Wow! Our Kaitie Bug has turned the big 16! Those sixteen years went by in a blink...it couldn't have been that long ago when this sweet girl came to our family. She was doted on by her three big sisters and her big brother. The pediatrician told us all we had to stop carrying her around because she was not learning to crawl and would never learn to walk if we just packed her around all the time! If I ever let her cry when she was a baby, the older kids would tell me that was mean. Kaitie has always been so pleasant to be around and has always had a gentle way about her. When she was growing up she always had to have some project to do. She wasn't one to sit and watch TV or movies...she had to be creating. We even made her her very own 'craft cupboard' that was stocked with things to do. I would set out my sewing machine and give her fabric and she would sew dolls, purses, doll clothes and other fun stuff. When she started singing her Grandma Saundra told her not to hide her talents under a bucket, and very soon after Grandma Sally told her not to hide them under a barrell. Her talents are many...she is artistic, she is the family stylist, she is faithful, she loves the beach, and rainy weather, she is a dancer, singer, piano and guitar player, songwriter, friend, great sister, a caring auntie, a beautiful granddaughter and a very loved daughter. You bring sunshine to our days Bug and we enjoy watching you live your life! HAPPY DAY!