Four Is Fun!

We have had 4 granddaughters turning 4 this year.

FUN! FUN! FUN! FUN!

Today was Hannah's 4th birthday!

We celebrated at a family party which included parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Hannah gets a story from Vovo before the festivities begin:

Then it was time for "Hannah Bingo!" Hannah played the game as well as helping the caller:

Grandpa and Lorne are filling their cards!

Grandma got to hold David while she played!

Then it was time to open the presents!

After opening her Cinderella book, she checked out every page before opening the next present!

A Princess tent!

Hannah loved her new baby that can be sick and came with doctor equipment for making the baby all better!

After a yummy dinner, MaryAnn appeared with a castle cake!

I think Hannah liked it!

In fact she liked everything about celebrating her birthday!

Yummy But No Pictures!

For some reason I get good pictures of Halloween and Christmas--even have filled scrapbooks with them, but I hardly have any from Thanksgiving. Hmmmm??

There were lots of good smells this week: apple pie one night and pumpkin the next; homemade rolls coming out of the oven; and then today the heavenly aroma of a turkey roasting. Can't wait until someone invents Smell-A-Scrapbook!

A quick shot of the table before the guests arrive:

Dinner is already over and I am doing the dishes. The kids are intent on the story Brian is reading to them:

Here is what David thought of the whole thing:

Room for dessert? Quick, get the camera before it's all gone! From one end of the table....

...to the other!

Feeling especially thankful this season for my wonderful husband!

Something That Did Not Exist Before!

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. "

"Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty."

"Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty..."

"You might say, “I’m not the creative type. When I sing, I’m always half a tone above or below the note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or as a doorstop.”If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe."

"Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before."

"What you create doesn’t have to be perfect."

When President Uchtforf spoke these words in September of 2008, it gave me a lot to think about. We are always creating and we are creative! Lately, I've felt a need to make good use of little spots of time here and there. I had pretty much given up crocheting which I learned how to do in Primary at around age 11 and had done on and off over the years. The things I "created" always gave me great satisfaction. So recently I decided to get some things organized and to take up my hobby of crocheting! It brings me satisfaction and fulfillment and hopefully will bless others as well. Here are some of my current projects:

Newborn booties for Humanitarian Aid

Afghan to be donated to charity:

Decorations for my Thanksgiving Tree, Some Indian corn:

That's a turkey in there:

And a few pumpkins at the bottom:

I've got a couple of other things going, but they are surprises!

The Best Seat in the House!

Last Monday Dan looked out his office window and this is what he saw in a window across the alley!

Thanks for all the good wishes from everyone!

Today we are having a guest blogger contribute a post:

The Best Seat in the House



During stake conference last week I was asked to bear my testimony. Here’s the gist of what I said in part.

During the past ten years, I have been privileged to occupy the best seat in the house. First, I love sitting on the stand before and during meetings and watching the saints gather to worship. This is especially inspiring for stake conference, when over 1600 come together in the same meeting. I love looking into your beautiful faces.

Second, my calling has allowed me to serve closely with some of the best people in the world. I have learned so much by being with them—you—and seeing your love for this work, for the members of the Church, and especially for the Lord. Collectively, you do so much good and make such an important difference as you serve one another. Thank you for your service.

Third, it has been my privilege to conduct a lot of temple recommend interviews. At the conclusion of many of these interviews, I have asked, “How has the Lord blessed you recently?” The responses from literally hundreds of you have given me a sacred glimpse into your lives, sometimes your struggles and your joys, and an appreciation for how Heavenly Father has been involved in your lives. I have learned that Heavenly Father knows and loves and blesses each person individually, with customized blessings that fit each unique situation.

Finally, I have been privileged to witness from close range again and again and again the Lord’s hand in directing this work. I testify to you that the gospel is true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s kingdom on the earth. He is in charge and directs the affairs of His kingdom in very many large and small ways.

Yes, for ten years I've enjoyed the best seat in the house. The new seat is not nearly so comfortable. I pray for the Lord’s help and each of yours.

Sleepless in Seattle!

Wow! How do parents get any sleep????

Darryl and Amanda have three little ones each 20 months apart. It is very hard getting enough sleep each night let alone keeping up with them all day long!

I'm glad I could be there to help a little.

Here are some highlights of my recent visit:

Family Home Evening Activity:

Joy School:

Seattle Children's Museum:

The park in between rain storms:

Dancing shows:

Daniel loves his new skill: walking!

And reading lots of stories! We read this one a lot--mostly because I thought it was SO funny. It's the Mr. Monk of the animal world!

Hope you get some sleep--probably in about 20 years!

Another Decade?

It's Sunday night, November 8, 2009. We are exhausted! We are overwhelmed, humbled, amazed, scared, excited and so, so many other adjectives. It's hard to put into words the marvelous weekend we have just spent! All I have left in me is the energy to upload a couple of photos. It was so incredible to spend time with all of these wonderful priesthood holders and their wives. I feel truly blessed on so many levels!

The original stake presidency called in November 1999: President Kent Wood, First Counselor Dave Boyce, Second Counselor Dan Harrison (photo taken 11/7/09).

The stake presidency released today: President Kent Wood, First Counselor Dan Harrison, Second Counselor Kirk Norman with Elder Lance B. Wickman of the Seventy on the right and Elder Donald Tenney Area Authority Seventy on the left.

You'll see it in the Church News:

The new stake presidency sustained today: President Dan Harrison, First Counselor Steve Parkinson, Second Counselor Treavor Hodson with Elder Lance B. Wickman of the Seventy on the right and Elder Donald Tenney Area Authority Seventy on the left.

This is definitely one for my journal!

Decade of Dedication!

November 1999:

Bill Clinton was President; Bread was $.89 a loaf and gas was $1.22 per gallon!

We had one married child and one grandchild!

What a difference a decade makes!!

10 years ago this weekend, Dan was called to serve in our stake presidency. As he prepares to be released this weekend, we have been reminiscing about the years of his service and all the many hours of meetings attended (he's doing Temple Recommend interviews at the stake center right now!), the many talks given, and the many other experiences the calling entailed. Dan mentioned to me last night that he had served 1/4 of his adult life in this calling!

One of the wonderful opportunities was our trip to the Holy Land in 2006. At the Garden Tomb we took a picture of the stake presidency.

Obviously there are not many photos of him serving in the calling, but here is one someone snapped in 2004 when he was in charge of some things for the temple groundbreaking. He is inspecting the gold shovels:

He was first called as 2nd Counselor in the Fair Oaks Stake and then when our stake was reorganized in December 2006 (losing 4 wards and gaining 4 new wards) and we became the Folsom Stake, he was called as 1st Counselor.

Recently they had a professional photographer come to take a photo of the Stake Presidency and High Council. Unfortunately, the 2nd Counselor was out of town for a family emergency.

As I have witnessed it all first-hand, it has been an amazing decade of dedication!