Yesterday, Tomorrow, Last Week, Today

Yesterday:  Another wonderful Sabbath.  Our Sacrament meeting ended with the congregation standing and singing The Star-Spangled Banner.  It was wonderful and the organist (a young man with talent, being tutored by Bro. Stephen Phelps) did a wonderful job.  I received a witness that we truly live in a choice land, protected by a wise and loving Heavenly Father.

It was fast Sunday, and usually our family is at Mt. Graham for the 4th of July celebration.  Not so this year.  Jacque went with Kade and had a wonderful, relaxing time.

On the dirt-bikes

fantastic views

Jacque and Amanda

She stole everyone's heart

Newly engaged...CONGRATS!!

the famous snack shelf - anyone can snack!

Saturday night dinner - always a treat

 

 
Tomorrow:  We are back into the regular routine of work, homework, and enduring the heat. 

Last Week(s):  I realized that through the power of prayer and priesthood blessings, fears can be quieted for moments at a time.  How grateful I am for family and friends and promptings and those that listen to those promptings.  No matter the trial, our Heavenly Father is aware of everything we feel.  Richard G. Scott commented on trials in this way:  "...they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more.  He therefore gives you experiences that will stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit."  On to more polishing!!

Today:  I am back to a regular routine.  I have realized that bodies take time to heal and as we age (gracefully, I may say) we need to have patience and understanding that healing will take place, but probably at a snail's pace.  It felt good to be back in the gym, even though at a snail's pace.  I have a list of projects for July, so pictures will be forthcoming!  And I am finishing up a Pinterest recipe today...can't wait for the end result!

Yesterday, Tomorrow, Last Week, Today

Yesterday:  Another wonderful Sabbath.  Went to the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast and realized that the work is going forth.  Am I on board with what my Heavenly Father wants me to do?  Time to start sharing the wonderful blessing of the Gospel.

Tomorrow:  Sometimes getting older is not-so-fun!  How grateful I am for family love and support!

Last Week:  What a wonderful week of temple experiences our family shared.  On Tuesday we went to the temple and shared that experience with Cassie Oliver (headed to North Carolina) and Lincoln Goodman (headed to Guadalajara, Mexico).

(I-Phone pics, sorry!)

Then, on Saturday, Jacque went through the temple and received her own endowment.  It was amazing and wonderful to see and feel the love and support of so many family members. 

 

We also enjoyed the Robert's family for the week.  One morning, I got a call:

Jade:  "Hi Grammy!  Wanna go to Chick-fil-A for an ice-cream cone?"

Me:  "Sure!  When?"

Jade:  "When is it good for you?  You DO like ice-cream cones....right?"

I hear Jenny in the back prompting Jade to ask if I would like to go to Jason's Deli or Chick-fil-A

Jade response:  "Mom, Jason's Deli does NOT have ice-cream cones!"

So we met up with everyone for a fun lunch....and ice-cream cones!!

We loved spending time with the Roberts!!

 

 

Today:  I had another witness that my Heavenly Father is watching over me. 

President Kimball said:

"God does notice us, and he watches over us.  But it is through another person that he meets our needs.  Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other."

 

I am grateful for the service and love of others.

Yesterday, Tomorrow, Last Week, Today

Yesterday:  The Sabbath - such a wonderful day to reflect, rest, and renew covenants.  I have made flashcards with all the thoughts from the past conference that I want to remember and were meant for me.  I love going through these each day.

Tomorrow:  A niece and nephew are going through the temple for their endowments as both have been called to serve missions.  What wonderful examples the older cousins have set for the younger ones.  I am looking forward to sharing their temple experience with them!  The Roberts' family have come to visit!  It should be a fun week!!

LAST week:  ( a tweek I thought would work better for pictures of our family's activities).  Jacque has a new addition to her home - a puppy named Belle. 

We also celebrated Father's day with our traditional songs and line-up and a fun lunch with lots of Grandpa-loving!

 

 

 

Today:  Some days are better than others.  As Jeffrey Holland stated:

"Hope on.  Journey on.  Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe."

Yesterday, Tomorrow, This Week, Today

Monday is always the beginning of a new week.  New resolutions.  Determination to improve and look for the positive in any situation.  I'm starting a new Monday post - each Monday - as part of our "family history". 
Those who read this:  I challenge you to do the same!  It will be fun :)

Yesterday: The Sabbath - a day of rest. Elder Chantz Oliver spoke in his ward today and bore a sweet testimony of personal revelation.  The spirit was strong and I love that young man!!

Tomorrow:  Will be a little lonely because Aly and Eric are going home.  Can you believe they want to be in their own home?  Newlyweds!  By the way - Aly is doing good and trying to wean herself of pain meds.  What an amazing daughter - and very, very brave!

This week:  I plunge into the homework world again.  Brad is busy at work.  Aly will continue to recover.  Jacque is planning a jewelry party (hope I get invited!!)  (hahahah).  Jenny is at Young Women's Camp and Aaron and Savannah are still braving the tornado warnings.  I plan to finish up all my picture frames this week! This weekend, we get to "host" 14 young men from Pima.  I love cooking for a bunch of young men.  They eat!  LOTS!  I'm excited :)

Today:  I increased my "jogging" this morning.  I have a long to-do list, but mainly I want to organize the grand-kid room!

Last Surgery

The day has finally arrived.  We knew this surgery was coming and with courage and determination Aly met this next obstacle with a positive attitude and high hopes that this is the final step to the fullest recovery possible under the circumstances.  We have seen so many little tender mercies as Aly has gone through this "experience".  Dr. Tarlow is one of those blessings as he has been attentive and very conscious of every decision made for a recovery that Aly can live with.  This surgery was originally planned to attach both the ACL and PCL.  Dr. Tarlow was optimistic and hopeful that the ACL would adhere on its own, but needed to open up the knee to know exactly.  He had pre-drilled holes during the September surgery in anticipation of this surgery making this experience quick and less evasive.  He was right.  Only the PCL needed to be replaced, the surgery was a success and within 6 hours, we were headed home with Aly on crutches and feelling well enough to watch a movie at night. Little miracles today!

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

I wanted to do something different for Memorial Day this year.  Sunday evening, around 10:00 p.m., I texted Jacque at work and asked her if she wanted to drive down to Tucson with me.  I haven't been to Tucson in years.  For some reason, I needed to remember some special people in my life, my Grammy - Faye Payne, my Grampy - Cleone Payne, and my sister, Sheri Sue.  Jacque agreed to go with me and we had a wonderful day.  We met Grammy and Grampy down in Tucson for some wonderful memories and a little clean-up project.

It was touching to watch my Dad clean the grave of his sweet daughter, Sheri Sue.  She was 4 months when she died of SIDS.  How grateful we are for the gospel and the knowledge, hope, and faith that we will see our sister, a daughter once again.  What a wonderful reunion that will be!

 

I think some of my favorite memories of my childhood centered around my Grammy and Grampy.  Things I remember and make me smile:
  *  Sunday dinners at my Grammy and Grampys, and especially doing dishes with the Fuller cousins - who were notoriously wicked towel flippers!
  *  Spending the night at their home on a weekend.  It was such a treat!  Any walking to the convenience store down the street for a hand-picked treat.
  *  Watching fireworks on the top of their home - with fresh watermelon!
  *  Grampy's little refrigerator at the lot where he sold pop-up tents.  It was always filled with goodies, especially GOX cookies!
  *  Christmas Eve spent at their homes with all the cousins, stacked in beds and staying up all night waiting for the appointed hour to see what Santa brought.
  *  Watching the interaction between my Grammy and Grampy - they loved each other - unconditionally!

 

Afterwards, Grampy treated us to a wonderful lunch at Olive Garden and then we took another trip down memory lane.

Favorite memories:

finally getting my own room (the pink extended part - which was the garage)

jumping over palm prawns and INTO the stickers

Crashing through the window playing flip over the couch with LaNae

lots of walks home from the park

selling lemonade

Santa making "home" visits

We visited our home on 13th Street, the old elementary school, the "bumps", and of course, our Grammy and Grampy Payne's old home. As we drove by this house, I couldn't help but think of a line in a favorite country song:
"Won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me."
This old house only has good memories for me inside, outside, and all around.  I truly feel blessed to have such wonderful childhood memories!

Jacque and I headed on to the mall for some retail therapy and enjoyed spending a few moments with Jon and Darleen Frost before they headed to Oklahoma City for dental school.

It was a wonderful way to remember our loved ones.  One couldn't go through the day without also thinking of all those who have sacrificed lives and family so we can enjoy the freedoms that we do.  We truly live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Great Women

May we know them....
I know many great women.  They are my best friends, my sisters and sister-in-laws, and my daughters.  I am blessed to have a mom who has taught me by example how to live as I believe, how to live the way our Savior taught, and how to love unconditionally.  How grateful I am for my mom's influence and love. 

   

Elder Russell M. Ballard said:  "There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman...A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time."

Another blessing of mine is the sweet influence and love we have from Brad's mom - our wonderful "Grandma".  Her faith is eloquently described in Elder Jeffrey Holland's words:
"A woman’s abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest.”
That is how I would describe Grandma, or Mom to the few of us blessed enough to call her that!

May we raise them......

I have the honor of being a Mom.  I cannot imagine a more noble calling.  Our children are raised and each night I thank my Heavenly Father for each of my children, individually. 

Sheri Dew said: "As mothers in Israel, we are the Lord’s secret weapon. Our influence comes from a divine endowment that has been in place from the beginning. In the premortal world, when our Father described our role, I wonder if we didn’t stand in wide-eyed wonder that He would bless us with a sacred trust so central to His plan and that He would endow us with gifts so vital to the loving and leading of His children. I wonder if we shouted for joy at least in part because of the ennobling stature He gave us in His kingdom. The world won’t tell you that, but the Spirit will.

We just can’t let the Lord down. And if the day comes when we are the only women on earth who find nobility and divinity in motherhood, so be it. For mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in posterity, wisdom, joy, and influence."

I cannot take credit for the amazing individuals that each of our children have become.  Not perfect, but wonderful men and women who are striving to live the teachings of our Savior in their very best way.  They love the Lord, they love their family, and I am blessed to be a part of each of their lives.
 

May we be them!

I cannot express how much I love and enjoy being a Mom.  Moments of pure happiness mixed with sleepless nights, long conversations, and many prayers have helped me to become a better person.  I have learned how to pray more earnestly, fast with a broken yet hopeful heart, stretch my faith, and become a more devoted follower of my Savior. I have learned to search the scriptures and the conference talks for answers, to understand the importance of temple worship, and strive to eliminate things in my life that would distance me from the promptings of the Spirit.  I know that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with His children and also given me the opportunity to influence many more of His children through service. 

Aaron - Savannah - Tyler - Jenny - Jacque - Aly - Eric:  On Mother's Day, I wanted my children to know how much I love them and how much I love being a Mom.

Happy Birthday Jacque!

This beautiful daughter is turning 24!  Usually, on birthday Sunday, Jacque shares her day with either Chelsey or Lincoln as they have birthdays within days of each other.  This year we missed Chelsey, but Lincoln and Jacque had a blast celebrating cousin-style!

We also celebrated as a family with a fun dinner and great entertainment - Jade and Lilly.

Jacque and Preston

 

Jenny was so creative!  See the 24??

J - Just about everyone that knows Jacque feels her warmth, loyalty, and love
A - Adores her nieces....her cousins...her friends...and her family!
C - Caring and dedicated nurse
Q - Quick to help those she loves in any capacity
U - Unique recipes are indeed "culinary masterpieces"
E - Embraces her beliefs with unwavering faith
L - Loves to capture beautiful memories with a camera
Y - Young at heart and is the cousin that makes games "fun"
N - Needs retail therapy - just like her Mom!!

Happy Birthday Jacque!  We love you!!