Our family pictures from this reunion are in my August posts!

July 5, 2009
Happy Birthday land that I love!!! I am so blessed to live in America. I am scared for some of the directions we are going but have faith that our leaders will remember the freedoms that have made our America so great.
It has been crazy here for the past few weeks. I had my petscan June 29th and received the results on Thursday July 1st. I am still cancer free. So yeah for me! I was a little nervous to go to my result appointment, but there you go I am good.
A few years ago we decided to start are own immediate family reunion. I was I afraid if we didn’t get it started that we wouldn’t be able to find a time for all of us that didn’t interfere with spouses reunions and stuff. So our little family reunion was over July 4th. It was Jed and Jamie’s year to be in charge and they arranged for us to rent a cabin up Sundance area. It was so beautiful and so fun. But our life was crazy busy getting ready for it. Marci and her kids arrived last Monday evening. Jed and Jamie arrived from visiting Jamie’s family in Green River on Wednesday early afternoon. Eric arrived Wednesday night. The reunion started Thursday. With shopping, packing, planning etc. it has been go, go, go. The reunion was awesome. I love all my kids so much and my grandkids are so darling and so fun to be with, that even though I am a little sleep deprived I wouldn’t change any of it (except for it to last longer) for a minute.
We had planned to take the boat to the reunion but as we were pulling out of the driveway the boat trailer came unhooked as we rounded the driveway, we heard a funny noise and I looked behind us and saw the boat and trailer come toward us at an odd angle. The trailer hit the curb which I am sure stopped it from causing more damage than it did. The back of the truck will need some paint and the plastic casing over the trailer part where you cinch up the anchor is damaged. After we looked at the damage and with Jamie and Marci’s helped put the trailer back on we decided to go ahead and bring it. As we continued on down the windy road to the freeway the rain just started pouring. Jack asked where we were going to park the boat. I called Jed and Jamie to see if they had arrived at the cabin yet to see if they thought we could park a boat under the carport. They hadn’t arrived yet, we knew it would be up a windy canyon road and Jack asked if we would have enough room to maneuver parking the boat. On the way down the hill to the freeway Jack made an executive decision to not bring the boat. We turned around and took the boat home. By the time we turned around and brought the boat home the boat was soaking wet and Jack and I where drenched through and through just parking the boat in the garage. We left at 2:00 pm and got to the cabin a 4:30 pm (should have been there by 2:45 or 3:00 pm). We had Gabe, Isaac and Karsten with us. They had been in the car almost 3 hours and we didn’t hear a peep out of them until we were about 10 minutes from the cabin and then they wanted to know if we where almost there. They were totally involved with their DS’s which was so great in this situation because it was pretty scary, plus we had the thunder (really loud), lightning and a pretty amazing rain storm.
Everyone was to the cabin in time for a yummy dinner. We just visited and played games the rest of the evening. Friday we went on a short hike as the road ended and we couldn’t get where we wanted to. We played family cranium and Pictionary which with the kids. We had delicious meals each day because we have such amazing cooks in our family and tons of snacks. Friday night we played Mafia until 2:00 am. I am sure you can guess who was still up playing till the very end, yeah it was me. Saturday we played poor man’s paint ball. You put flour and marshmallows in a bag and shake them up divide in teams and throw the marshmallows at the opposing team we had dark shirts and light shirts teams, but soon it didn’t matter because you couldn’t tell who was light or dark because of all the flour. The kids had a blast. Amber brought all the stuff for it, they had played it in YM and YW. Josh had made swords out of noodles for a Get the treasure game where you have to run to the treasure without getting hit by the sword. Saturday night we went to the Staduim of Fire. Today we just packed up after breakfast and took a few pictures of the families as they left. I went to bed about 2:00 am each night and got up about 8:00 am which normally I wouldn’t even blink an eye but since the end of my chemo I have been sleeping 7 – 8 hours per night, so I am exhausted. But, very happily exhausted. I love being with my family. I cried a little as they all left. Big surprise I know.
Jamie and Kirk have a little nephew who was run over by his older brother in a truck Tuesday night before the Reunion. It has been an amazing experience to see the Lord’s hand blessing this family and this little boy. He isn’t quite two and the damage was so extensive to his head they didn’t think he would last the night. But through priesthood blessings and Heavenly Father’s tender mercies he has pretty much healed himself. All the doctors and everyone are amazed at his progress. Miracles truly surround.
I am so thankful for all the miracles that Heavenly Father places in our lives. Wow, the trailer thing could have been a disaster, my petscan could have turned out differently, everyone traveling safely to all our different activities, little Alex, all amazing miracles which I am so thankful for. I know the church is true. I know we have a loving Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ who want to bless our lives if we will let them. Love to all!! Life is great!!!

This last month has been a bit crazy!

June 7, 2009

I had a new darling wig. When I went to Wyoming with Jack a few weeks ago last Sunday I had taken it off and put it on the floor in the backseat of the truck. I think the metal on the seats or the floor must have gotten hot and melted the fibers on my wig a little bit. It isn’t too bad, most people can’t tell but it isn’t as easy to comb and it doesn’t look quite the same. So there you go even if you have wigs you still can have hair problems. Life is a joyous round of opportunities don’t you think?

It is beautiful and green here Jack has been doing his gardening thing and everything looks wonderful. I am getting ready for our family reunion which will be over the 4th of July. I want to put together books for each family of some of our stories and some pedigree charts. I will see if I get any of that done.

We had a lovely weekend with my mom and dad and my sister Bev and brother in law Ken a few weeks ago in St. George where they live. Jack and I visited with my mom and dad for about 45 minutes on Saturday night. After visiting with my parents we went to Texas Roadhouse with Bev and Ken. Sunday we went to church at Ridgeview assisted living chapel with mom and dad. My dad passed the sacrament as he usually does and they asked me to give the closing prayer. I cried in the pray as I thanked Heavenly Father for blessing our lives with our moms and dads, it was embarrassing (a little) but heartfelt and my mom and dad felt loved so I guess that is okay. My mom didn’t want to lay down after the meeting because she didn’t want to miss a single second with us, but we were going to Stacy and Kirby’s for dinner (my sister’s son and daughter in law) and Bev said she would be to tired if she didn’t lay down for a little bit so after an hour and a half of Jack and I visiting with them we left so mom would lay down. It was a lovely visit. We got to see two of my sweet nieces and nephews and their families.

I have been reading the conference talks and loved President Eyring talk on Adversity. I loved all of his comments. One of the sections of scripture he used was when Joseph Smith was in the Liberty jail.
“O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? “How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?” The Lord’s reply has helped me and can encourage us all in times of darkness. Here it is: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.“Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.“Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.
I especially love the part about “thy friends do stand by thee”. What a blessing it is to have a loving family and sweet friends that stand by you at all times. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Father in Heaven and Savior that has placed in our lives earthly angels to stand by us.

June 21, 2009

Dave's graduation was so cool. Thursday night we flew into San Francisco with Jamie and Kirk, we met Marci and Eric in Oakland our flight got in three hours late so we decided to wait for them. Josh and Amber where suppose to arrive at 8:00 pm but flew in the next day because their flight was delayed until 1:00 am Friday morning. We thought we would just take a cab everywhere but at the last minute I rented a car at the airport for $194.00 from National and a van for $464.00 from Alamo. We decided to get a van at National even though we had only reserved a car because there would be 8 of us When we got to the rental pick up place we picked out a van (luckily it had 8 seats) and drove up to the window to check out. Because they had so many vans available they let us have it for the price quoted for a car. I was so excited that it worked out that way. We found a place to eat by the airport and then picked up Marci and Eric. By the time we got to San Fran and found our little duplex house it was after midnight. Mindi and Dave wanted us to be to their place to help load the moving truck at 8:00 am Friday morning and Jack, Jamie, Kirk, Marci and Eric all wanted to run at the Presido before helping pack the truck. Josh and Amber needed a ride at 9:30 am. I dropped everyone off and ran to the Bart (Josh and Amber took the shuttle and train from Oakland to downtown San Fran) to pick up Josh and Amber. We helped pack the truck for three or four hours, then headed back to our place to shower. Then we headed to Mama's a fun little breakfast place that is only open until 3:00pm got there around 2:00 pm. Ran the boys to china town and the girls to get pedicures and manicures then picked everyone up and headed to our place for Jack and I get to all dolled up for the fancy dinner at the Ritz for Dave's graduation. Jack brought his tux and had bought a new cumberband and bow tie at Nordstrom's before we left and I got a beautiful dress at Dillard's. Mindi had worked her magic and transformed a sleeveless gown into a beautiful chic modest gown that was absolutely gorgeous. Dave looked great in his tux. I will post a picture as soon as I down load them. Saturday was The Thank a Bunch brunch which we attended with Mindi and Dave, and Dave’s parents. It started at 10:30 am and didn't get over until 1:30pm. The kids had walked to golden gate park and wanted us to pick them up and take them downtown. I was so excited about my dress for Friday night that I forgot to pack a dress for church and for Dave's graduation so I needed to go to the downtown mall, dad needed to pick up his silk jacket from the cleaners and we were to be to the The Prime Rib restaurant by 4:30 for Dave's graduation dinner with our family and his family. Sunday we had 9:00 am church, we had to pack up and be out of our little house by noon. Graduation was at 2:00 pm. We had to eat before graduation. Graduation ended around 4:30 pm. Pictures etc. Marci and Eric needed a ride to the Bart station (they almost missed their plane). Jamie was taking Molly home so Mindi and Dave wouldn't have to travel with her. We hit traffic on the way to the airport. Jamie and Kirk's flight was leaving at 8:15 pm to come home and our flight was suppose to leave at 8:45 (it was an hour late again) they barely made their flight. We loved every hectic minute.
Jack and I had a wonderful 5 days at the condo in San Diego. Each day we would go to the beach for 2- 3 hours, play scrabble at the beach (I am still the queen of scrabble), I won three out of five games. The weather was beautiful until Friday and Saturday. We still went to the beach on Friday but I had a sweatshirt on the whole time. We went to the temple Friday. I slept 7-8 hours almost every day we were there. I know, totally crazy. I think that is what my body’s schedule would like to be if I could pull it off every day. Go to bed between 12:00 and 12:30 and sleep until 8:00 to 8:30 am.
The gospel is true. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. We are truly a blessed family, blessed beyond measure. I am so thankful for the restored gospel. I thank our prophet Joseph Smith and Emma for all they sacrificed so that the gospel could come forth in this dispensation. I know we have a living prophet today in Thomas S. Monson and I know he is called of God. I am so thankful for my family. I am so thankful for my sweet missionaries and the rest of my awesome family.

June 28, 2009
Lots of news this week: Dave (our son in law) found out he passed the Dental boards. Jacki and Brian think they sold their house and they bought a lot in Daybreak (which is right by the new Oquirrah Temple (11000 S 3000 W). Jamie and Kirk are deciding on a builder for their home and hope to have it completed by next June and possibly be a home in the parade of homes. Jed and Jamie made an offer on a vacation home in Phoenix that has a lake and dock as part of its package.

It has been a little crazy around here the last few days. The week started off with me getting way behind. Aaron our accountant needed my Qbooks before Jack and I left for Dave’s graduation (from Dental School). He was suppose to get them back to me Thursday before we left. He had some questions and I didn’t get the message in time so I didn’t get them back from him. Monday I called him and told him I desperately needed them as I was already two weeks behind only to find out he was out of town until Wednesday. I had planned to go with Jack to Wyoming, but I couldn’t go because I didn’t have my Qbooks back on my computer with all the accountant’s corrections that he had made on them. If I use them before I have the updated version with what Aaron (the accountant) has done on the files from all our different companies (7) when I download the files from the accountant it won’t transfer any work I have done so I had to pay bills and write checks and then remember to enter them after I received my Qbooks. I final got them from Aaron late Wednesday morning. This was all very stressful because I have tons to do to get ready for the family reunion and kids in and out of my room which I love them to be here but it is a distraction and hard to get my stuff done. Dave’s brother’s temple wedding was Friday morning and I watched the girls for them, I had had them the night before because Jamie had a nephew’s (on the Wersland side) graduation to attend so she asked me to watch them and pick up Mindi and Dave from the airport. Their flight was an hour late. Friday while I was watching the girls Jacki called and asked if they could come up and spend the night and if I could watch their kids for them while they look at houses. So I had a melt down for a minute, not because I didn’t want to do it but because I just have so much to do to get caught up. But no worries, I remembered that if I don’t get everything done that I want to for the reunion it will be okay I can do it for the next one. Also Friday night Jed flew in and needed a place to stay and a car to borrow to go to Wyoming.

Jacki and Brian if the sale on their house goes through, want to live with us while there house is being built. It would be done by December. So we will have a house full. I told them we would get to see what it was like to live a polygamous life style (with three extra guys.

I am a little scared for my pet scan tomorrow. I will have the results by Wednesday. I am not scared of the pet scan but just what it could mean.

I have had a cold on top of all the craziness going on. But other than that I feel great.

I know the church is true. I know the scriptures are true and that the Book of Mormon has so many answers to everyday life problems. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I know we have a living prophet today who has revelation from our loving Heavenly Father. I am so thankful that I have been blessed with my amazing family and a dear loving companion, my Jack. I am thankful for his example, for his worthiness to bear the Holy Priesthood and the ability to use it to bless each of us. What an awesome power to be able to have in our home. I am thankful for the atonement and the power of repentance. I am thankful that I have an older brother who loves me so much that he would give up his life to save mine. I am so blessed.