She's a beauty!

Laura Lee and Addie came to visit us this past weekend! We had a lot of visitors on Saturday including our daughter and grand daughter, the missionaries and some friends that graduated at BYU with William in the Industrial Design department.

I was able to get this great picture of Addie's smile!

There's hair to comb!

Look at the hair Addie finally has!

A carpet of leaves

The leaves have fallen and fallen. This picture is the first of the "crop". We raked the second crop today.
The trees are almost bare. I am glad most of the work is now DONE!

I'm grateful for the right to vote

Yesterday when I sat down to vote, a wave of gratitude swept over me. I have never felt more grateful to vote. That freedom alone is so marvelous and is such a blessing to all of us who have that privilege! Lives have been sacrificed for our great liberty and I hope to never take it for granted!

Now, I was more involved in the political process for this election than normal, passing out right- to -life pamphlets until I had blisters! My candidate did not win and I am very concerned about the future of our nation. I pray for this nation and her leaders and will continue to do to. I know God will watch over her as long as her people will turn to Him! I think that's my biggest concern!

I believe my vote did count and it counted for every other person who had the right to vote! The people have spoken. My prayer is that American's will realize how much we need God to help us at this critical and crucial time and will ask for His help and guidance!

God bless the USA!

A Tribute to our parents!

Today my blog is about how thankful I am for my parents and for my husband’s parents. They are wonderful people! We feel so blessed that they are in good health and are so active! They set such great examples in so many areas. In their golden years they have faithfully and unselfishly served in many capacities and they are enduring so amazingly well.

Both of our parents served missions in their later years which include Nauvoo, Romania and the Philippines. We are so grateful for their example and for what they have taught us by their sacrifice and dedicated service.

My father has served in the Bishopric in a BYU-Idaho University ward for the last several years. My father was just called in September to be a Bishop of a BYU-Idaho University Ward. Now some of you may not know what that entails but there's a great deal of time, energy, and commitment spent in this endeavor. It involves many meetings, getting to know many new names and faces, callings of service for EVERY college student in his ward, the planning of worship services, activities for college students, etc., My dad is so committed to his new calling and it's been wonderful to watch him be so dedicated! I was so grateful I could be there as he was ordained a Bishop and especially to be able to hear his testimony about Jesus Christ.

This calling would tax any man at any age, but my father is in his 70's and is going strong. It's been a testimony builder for me to watch that whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies. I know God is his strength.

My mother served in the Relief Society organization (A women's organization in our church that was started in 1842) for the BYU-Idaho college girls as an advisor. I watched her in her role as she taught a lesson one Sunday. It was a lesson that was powerful and spiritual! She is a tremendous support to my Father and is sacrificing right now to be alone more as my Father fulfills his calling.

Before my Father was called to be Bishop, my parents were workers in the Temple. They would get up very early every Tuesday morning (like 4:00 AM sometimes) to fulfill that responsibility.

William's parents were just released (this month) from their church calling with Dad being a member of the Idaho Falls Temple presidency (for three years) and his mother serving as an assistant to the matron. This also involves amazing stamina, sacrifice and energy. I have often thought how demanding that calling would be for William and me at our age, but it is very obvious that the Lord strengthened them in abundance to fulfill their responsibility. They had willing minds and hearts and did all they could do and the Lord made up the rest! They would work three or four times a week in the Temple, sometimes getting up at 3:00 AM and work rotating, changing schedules. They would work about 40 hours a week there, (ten hour days, four times a week). It’s simply amazing and faith building for me!

I would like to emphasize to our children that this is an amazing feat which both your grandparents have done! Your heritage is great and you are expected to carry it on!

Thank you mom and dad for exhibiting your faith and living your testimony!

Fall in all its glory!

Actually, this post is to invoke sympathy from my readers! Fall is glorious. I love the colors and sights of fall. I love the aroma's and tastes of fall (apple cider and pumpkin pie/bread are two of my favorites). We have had an incredible fall this year. HOWEVER, there is one thing I dread about autumn. My children know what it is!

We have 6 very large maple trees in our yard. Every year we must RAKE their fallen leaves all to the curb. Now that we are down to just Tanner the workload will be shared between just the three of us. (Okay adult children, I know you are gleeful about this!) We just bought a new leaf blower {we wanted the backpack kind - but it was $500.00 ):} but someone still has to rake the leaves.

And so the leaves have turned their brilliant gold/yellow color and will soon fall. (Tanner and I already did one small raking.)
And so WISH ME THE BEST! It's a TON OF WORK! Our neighbors have few trees and our leaves all blow into their yard. This makes this time of year even more stressful, because they don't necessarily like raking OUR leaves. (We often go into their yards and rake our fallen leaves.) New Bremen residents are meticulous about their yards and often mow up or rake up every leaf!

I at least need my granddaughter here to PLAY in the leaves at least ONCE before they are taken away so we can ENJOY THEM!
They are one of God's best play toys!

A quiet home

With Michael on his mission and William out of town our home was quiet this last week. A quiet home is something I have always loved! My family is LOUD. They are boisterous. They have energy and excitement and passion. I have yearned for peace and quiet most of my married life. And yet now, I am realizing that I NEED some excitement and noise. I didn't realize that a home can be TOO quiet if it's for a longer period of time.

Now, I still love a quiet home. I love silence when I read, or write or study. But, I am coming to the conclusion that there needs to be a balance. I've grown accustomed to the noise and I amazingly DO miss it. I guess it's not the noise I miss, but my family!

I suppose this is my introduction to being an empty nester. I am grateful Tanner is still home and that we can enjoy two more years with him. He is a wonderful son. I was grateful to be able to spend some one on one time with him this last week.
( It was very strange for me to cook for only two this past week. I haven't done that in 28 years. It feels foreign to me! I still had a fridge full of food by the end of the week.)

And so I will learn and adapt in this new phase in my life. I thoroughly love having adult children who are examples to me and teach me! I love being a grandmother and having Marc and Laura Lee live so close by.( It would be a much harder stage without them near.) I love to watch my children become... I love the fact that Ryan is getting married next month to such a wonderful young woman. I love to watch Jeffrey strive to reach his potential in his talents. I love to watch Marc and Laura Lee be such devoted and loving parents to Addie. I love to witness Michael's transformation into a missionary. I love to see Tanner set goals and be so motivated to achieve them.

And so for now, I will bask in this new stage of life. I will enjoy the quiet more reflective times. And when the louder, more chaotic times come, I will be grateful!