Missionary cards

I love cards - homemade, store bought, small, big. They are just one of my favorite things. I like to send cards to others and to receive them too!

I've been busy all morning making 9 homemade missionary cards. Most of them are birthday cards, but here are two cute ones I made for my son and a missionary in our branch. If you want the pattern, here 's the link to help you make the cards. They are easy and fun to do.

http://lds.about.com/library/bl/aids/missionary_shirt.pdf

Tanner's first day of school as a Senior

It was Tanner's first day of school today. He is such an incredible son, but I will restrain myself and write about him on his 18th birthday which is coming soon.

He had an overall good day and even had the energy to go run after school on his own.

How I love him!

Kate's blessing

Today at church, Kate was given her special Priesthood baby blessing by her father. Kate was 6 days old today. Marc's parents from Canada were able to be there, which made the event even more wonderful. Kate wore Laura Lee's blessing dress which is now an heirloom. It still looks brand new. Laura Lee made the white bracelet for Kate to wear. Marc's mother crocheted the white baby blanket. Kate looked and acted like an angel today and we felt heaven near.

I cried today

I cried today as I drove away from my daughter's home. I cried because I am so full of joy and love having a new baby in our lives. I cried because I will desperately miss Kate. She has become part of me and it's hard to let go. I cried because I will miss the heavenly feelings associated with being with her constantly. I cried because I miss the newborn stage of motherhood. I cried because I feel so blessed by God. I cried because I am so happy for my daughter and her family to be blessed with two precious, adorable daughters. I cried because my emotions were raw with lack of sleep over the past six days.

As I drove away I realized that each member of our family who has joined us, either by marriage or by birth has been a God-send in my life. I am a better person knowing and loving you. I couldn't ask for more wonderful children (including spouses) and grandchildren.

Pure gratitude to Heavenly Father filled my heart for sending me not only Ryan, Jeffrey, Laura Lee, Michael and Tanner but also Marc, Sarah, Jennifer, Addie, and Kate. I love you all more than you know - My cup runneth over............

Tomatoes

I have a new post on tomatoes (and homemade salsa) on my provident and healthy living post. Check it out if you are interested. :)

Go to providentandhealthy.blogspot.com

I am in heaven

Last night I was holding Kate while she slept. It makes me so happy to sit with my arms filled with a tiny bundle of pure love. I have noticed the feelings I have when I hold her. I feel so peaceful, serene, reverent and full of the Spirit when she's pressed against me. Time seems to melt away and I feel especially present. I feel my connection to Kate and to God powerfully. I have pondered how important it feels to hold a baby. Here she is, all 6 and 1/2 pounds, sleeping away. She could just as well be sleeping in her bed but I love these tender, choice feelings and can't get enough of them.

It's been a privilege to spend my days and nights with four people I cherish. I have pondered about the peaks of life. They are the treasures of mortality, the memories to cherish when life is hard. I have had so many joyful vista's lately. I am a blessed woman. I am so honored to share this time of transition and new life with this family. I pray I can have more sacred moments like I've experienced lately.

I have a different viewpoint from this angle and am struck at how blatant the lessons are. I am in awe of how central motherhood is to every human being. I am so aware of a mother's influence for love and goodness in her home. I reverence a mother's co-creator role with God.

I recognize more completely the immeasurable value of life, and how important one individual is. I understand with greater clarity the relationship we have with our Creator.

I am seeing with greater light. I am in heaven.

Kate Lynn

Kate made her debut on Saturday, August 15th ! She is so PRECIOUS to us and so tiny. I don't think I've ever held a baby as small as Kate. She weighed in at 6 pounds 7 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Kate has a high pitched shrieking cry and it goes straight to your heart. She has a little birthmark on her left cheek which makes her so unique.

Laura Lee had a much easier time with labor and delivery and is dealing with everything else associated with newborns in a relaxed manner. I'm so happy for this family of three to become four.

There is a deep spiritual connection that comes from holding a baby straight from heaven. I love it. God's plan is so beautifully depicted when a baby is brought into the world.

Families are so significant to God's plan for His children. The joy I feel is so real and raw. It brings back treasured memories of when my babies were just born.

The innocence, purity and beauty of a newborn is undeniable. To be so closely connected to those qualities by loving a baby is one of the greatest blessing of life.

A quote keeps running through my mind as I hold this little infant. "A Baby is God's way of saying the world should go on".

Enjoy the pictures.

A very generous woman and friend

I received all of these VERY FUN WONDERFUL things yesterday sent to me by a special, dear lady who lives in Alaska. All of the gifts are uniquely Alaskan.
I was in tears opening the package. I am in tears writing this blog. I contact missionary's mothers who are serving within our branch. I email them photo's of their sons (taken when they are in our home). I call them sometimes. I let them know what faithful, valiant sons they have. I know how much it's meant to me to have that connection and experience. I know it brightens their day and it brightens mine as well. I know a missionary mother lives for those letters and photo's and to get either, or hear from someone who just had them in their home is such a special treat.

Well one of the mothers of a current missionary, sent me this yesterday. I was overwhelmed. This was such a kind and thoughtful thing to do. It makes me want to visit her in Alaska VERY MUCH! She is a strong woman who has faith and courage and has taught me more than she'll ever know. It felt like Christmas yesterday! Thank you Marsha!

New Blogspot

I am announcing my new blogspot. I have been debating posting a "healthy and provident" living blogspot. I started out with a "Lessons of a beginner gardner" blogspot and decided to broaden it more. I was going to write lessons I have learned (what has worked, what has not in gardening) but I think this is better.

I do NOT claim to be living healthy and providently. I AM trying. It's something that is important to me. In finally deciding to do this blogpost, I decided that if I focused on it (blogged about it, thought about it more, etc.) I would naturally live more healthy and providently.

So, if you want, go visit my new blogspot at: providentandhealthy.blogspot.com

My main goal is to post lessons I am learning along the way. If it helps just a few, I am happy. If it helps me live more provident and healthy it will be worth it.

Feel free to comment any time on ideas YOU HAVE! I love the idea of SHARING OUR KNOWLEDGE!

Jennifer Davis

Jennifer's birthday was last May. She was Jeffrey's fiance' then. Things were crazy then with the recital and wedding coming up. However, I now claim Jennifer as my very own daughter-in-law.

Can I tell you how simply wonderful it is to have three incredible in-laws? Can I tell you how amazing and special Jennifer is?

I have chosen to detail one of my family members and give them "the garment of praise" publicly at least once on my blog to let them know just how awesome I think they are. I have three more of my family members left. Today is Jennifer's turn.
Too often in life we get run down. There is nothing more uplifting in life than to have others notice your talents, your strengths and your goodness.

Jennifer is so dear to me. She is so right for Jeffrey. I remember her telling me after their engagement," Lynda, I love your son and can't wait to marry him." What beautiful words those are to a mother.

Jennifer is fun loving. She is happy and laughs a lot. She enjoys life and her surroundings. She is young at heart and is playful. I love that about her.

Jennifer has a deep testimony about and love for families. She understands how important families are, and unabashedly discusses how much she wants to become a mother. She adores her nieces and nephews and can't get enough of them. Motherhood is one of her greatest desires, and it thrills me to have her champion motherhood! Jennifer loves her own family immensely. They mean everything to her.

Jennifer is full of enthusiasm. She gets excited about things, and it's contagious. Jeffrey bought her a vanity for her birthday in May. She was ecstatic. She told me the way Jeffrey proposed to her was "perfect". She loved her wedding day and thought it couldn't have been better.

Jennifer is an optimist. She sees the positives. She sees the bright side of life, even when the dark clouds are overhead. I appreciate that in her.

Jennifer is appreciative. She is grateful for what others do for her. She recognizes others efforts and shows gratitude, even for the small things. Jennifer is gracious when given gifts and makes everyone around her pleased to have thought of her. She has a special way of expressing her thanks which just fills the giver's heart. I wish I could be more like her in this area. Her words are so sincere, expressive and real.

Jennifer has a great deal of faith. When situations look grim, she prays and her prayers are answered. I have watched God bless Jennifer and Jeffrey in amazing ways from finding a house to live in (when there were 10 other applicants all wanting that house), to being handed a free washer, dryer, nice couch and bed, to finding apartments for her and Jeffrey when things looked bleak, etc. Jennifer understands the power of prayer.

Jennifer has determination. It is just part of her character. She also has patience and can wait for the better deal, and the better situation. Jennifer doesn't complain. She tries to make the best of a situation, even when it's difficult.

Jennifer is a great cook. She knows her way around the kitchen and makes Jeffrey delicious meals.

Jennifer is generous and thoughtful. She and Jeffrey brought me an especially delicious chocolate cake once, (voted best cake in Utah I think) just because. She bakes cookies and goodies for others all the time and gives them away. She thinks of others, and what would brighten their day.

Jennifer is a violinist. I have not heard her play, but I can tell it was a memorable time in her life. She loves classical music. I think that is so cool.

Jennifer has many different looks about her. She likes to change her hair cut and color, but every time she does it looks incredible. What a fun thing to change! She is a beautiful girl with a beautiful smile.

Jennifer is kind and sweet. She is a treasure to us all.

I have an immense gratitude for the individuals my children have chosen to marry. I can't even put into words how blessed I feel, not only to have Marc, Sarah and Jennifer in my life, but to have them be the spouses of my children, and the parents of my grandchildren and future grandchildren. Each of my son or daughter-in-laws is overflowing with goodness and kindness. Each of them are examples to me of fortitude, courage, and strength. I feel so happy for my children to have such charitable and loving spouses. I love each of them like my own.

See pictures of Jennifer below: (in family pictures, she is the baby of the family).

Our weekend

We had another great weekend with family!

I ran another 5K on Saturday, while William rode his bike for about 18 miles. We worked on the yard and garden after that, and I planted more seeds given me by a fellow gardner. Have you heard of purslane and perilla? That's what I planted. I also planted strawberries and we tore up the zucchini, summer squash plants, and cucumber plants from our square foot garden. They did not do well in contained spaces. Lesson learned. Tanner helped me.

We then attended a Catholic wedding in a beautiful church. I love weddings! One of our good friend's sons was married in Maria Stein on Saturday (see the picture below). The Catholic churches in this area are monuments of Faith and the stained glass windows are works of art. After the wedding, we came home and cleaned, worked on projects, and relaxed. Later in the evening we attended the wedding reception dinner with friends and even square danced with them. It's such a fun tradition and William was quite a sport attempting it!



On Sunday, we went to church, at different locations because William had meetings in Lima. We came home and i-chatted with Ryan and Sarah. Then Marc, Laura Lee and Addie arrived. We had a great time with them including eating delicious, healthy meals outside, making and eating s'mores by our fire pit (Not so healthy), watching church video's, reading scriptures and just being together. They left Monday morning and it was hard to see them go. Next time we will see them will be when their baby is born! I thanked Marc for moving his family to Columbus and attending school there. It's been such a blessing for us.

Great memories of our weekend include - hearing Addie pray and repeat scriptures after William read them, hearing Addie say "I need chocolate" when we were getting the s'more ready, swinging in the hammock with Addie, watching Addie discover the "twampline", experiencing Addie telling me she wanted to go potty and sitting her down on the toilet (it's been AGES since I've done that), seeing Marc whittle his own stick to roast marshmallows,and make an invention to warm the whole s'more only to have it fall in the fire, having 70 degree, low humidity weather in August (and this past July) and being amazed at the season change here (a sign of the times).



Laura Lee making the new baby bracelets. She made about five of them.



Addie eating her French Toast. Marc makes the BEST French toast with Buttermilk syrup that tastes like candy. Notice the pink fingernail polish in her hair. I painted her fingernails today and she brushed them right into her hair. I also fixed her hair today for the first time.




Tabouli salad (stuff in pita bread) is so delicious! I used the parsley, mint, tomatoes, and onion for it from our garden.



William and Addie reading the Book of Mormon from the ipod touches.