This and that

It has been so fun to get to know Meli more and to make her part of our family.   She is a very kind hearted, sweet girl.  She is very easy going and adapts so well to the many changes in her life. I have been blown away at how well she has managed all the changes.  She has to leave for school at 6:30 each morning as her school isn't very close.   Incidentally, I also leave at that time and I think it is way too early to have to get up.  It takes her an hour and a half to get to school if you include the time she has to walk home from the trax station.  Here are just some random pictures of things going on.

                                 Kara and Meli at Garnder Village

                                            Kara and Tianna, (Meli is taking the picture) at Gardner Village

 

Meli is an excellent artist. 

                                                          Meli taking Fozzie on the walk.  He adores her.

            Meli made us a cake on her two month anniversary of living at our home.   It was a German pound cake and it was so yummy and colorful!

                I took Meli to the pumpkin patch.    We picked out our favorite pumpkins.  While there we saw farm animals and lots of pumpkins.  

                            Later that night Matt and I took Meli to the pumpkin patch.  Kara was actually there with a date that night.  We tried to not run into her, but we did, luckily she didn't see us.  My parents once followed me on a date I went and it was one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me.

                      Kara and Meli went to Lagoon for my niece Mikayla's birthday.   They had a fun day and they even rode home the front runner. 

 Kara and her cousin Mikayla!  Happy 16th Birthday Mikayla.  I love and adore you!

Kara and Meli kidnapped Tianna early in the morning for her 17th birthday.   They dressed up in sheets and put a mask over her and she didn't find out who they were until they were at IHOP.  Kara had already talked to Tianna's mom, but the girl does have courage.  They had fun!

                           Kara and her cousin Mikayla!  Happy 16th Birthday Mikayla.  I love and adore you!

                                   Matt and I went to a couples Halloween party last week.  It was so much fun.   I borrowed both costumes from my friend at work.   We didn't really go with the couple costumes, like I would have liked, but it was fun.

                                         Spencer and his girlfriend Anne went to a Halloween party.   Spencer was a pirate for the party.   He looks so ruggedly handsome.

                  Spencer, his girlfriend Anne, and Matt.


Coby went to Kiev, Ukraine this last week.   He was an escort for some of the people in his branch through the temple.   It looks like a beautiful place from the pictures. 

Kara just let me know that she wants to follow in her brothers foot steps and major in International Business.  She has been applying for several scholarships so she can do a study abroad this summer and many other programs to follow.  I am excited for her to explore the world and I believe she has  a lot to offer.  I adore her.  But, honestly, I am not thrilled about it.  I always imagined my children living in the United States,  never in my wildest dreams did I think that some of my children would like to live outside the country and want to change the world.  

                               Kieve, Ukraine temple

Colton went to convention for Cosplay over this last weekend.   He attends these events all dressed up.

We also attended Kara's choir concert, attending the Dave Ramsey classes.  I highly recommend them, I only wish I had started when I was much younger,  and I have been to the doctor several times.   I got a sinus infection, mid summer and I have had it ever since.  I have been on a few doses of antibiotics,  and it doesn't seem to go away.  I got bronchitis from it,  an ear infection and I still feel miserable and don't seem to be getting better.   I finally went to an ear nose and throat doctor and he said I have blockage again and I need to have sinus surgery again.  I told him I had already had THREE sinus infections and I didn't want to have any more.   I am very frustrated about it and don't want to have surgery again.  I am looking for other options.

                      Kara and those she went to the Young Ambassador camp with.

Courage

Meli is now on the Cross Country team and she is an officer for the French Club.  She has gotten really involved with a lot of things at her school and she is such a hard working student. She is such a fun girl.  I have really admired her courage. I think that sometimes I forget what courage looks like.  I  become too caught up in the day to day activities.

I am in awe of my children and Meli's courage.  It takes a great amount of courage to change your life and to do hard things like moving to the US or Turkey. 

My examples have taught me to take courage today, this week, this month.  Take it and hold it.  Get used to it's weight.  But then if the young people I know are brave enough to move across the world, then maybe I am brave enough to give courage a try.

Kara took courage and tried out for the Improv team.  I really didn't think she had the time to be in the group, but it was something that she really wanted.  She tried out with 130 other people with possibly only 12 spots.  I admired her courage.  Honestly, I thought her chance to make the team was pretty slim.  But on Saturday night, after Matt and I got home from the Saturday night Stake Conference there was some people at our door. The guy was dressed in what looked like a Darth Vader costume and they asked her to come. Of course, I went outside and watched as it looked like she was being abducted. :)  They took her across the street and then screamed and yelled that she had made it on the team. I guess they find crazy ways to let the new members know they are on the team.  Below are the pictures of the youth who came to let her know.  They only took 7 new people on their team. She will do a show once a month at her school and of course I will be coming to every performance. And one thing she is really happy about is the fact that there are 8 boys on the team and only 4 girls!  

I have done really bad taking pictures recently.  I need to do better.  I forgot Kara's Voice Recital,  cute things Meli did and other happenings.

Meli will be here tomorrow and other things!

Tomorrow Meli will be arriving!  I am so excited to finally meet her after talking to her and her family for the last 5 + months.

She has been in New York for the last few days and so hopefully her jet lag won't be as bad.   She starts school on Wednesday too.

Steven left to go to the MTC this week.  He and his family stayed at our home.  He is going to be a terrific missionary. I love his enthusiastic, energetic, spunky personality.   He is such a cutie; he is sure to get in a lot of doors.  He is called to serve in the Anaheim California mission.

Below are pictures from the morning he went into the MTC.   We love you Steven and we know you will be a terrific missionary!!!!

Memories and Happy 50th anniversary

While Jared and Lindsey stayed with us we looked at photos of my mom. One of their daughters resembles her so much it is unexpected. It was fun to look at the pictures of my mom and dad and reminiscence. Jared was 6 when my mom died so his memories of her are vague.  It is both happy and sad to talk about our parents.  It is emotional, but I always feel the spirit strong when we do.  Lindsey and I went through a few pictures and below are some of our favorites. 

On another note,  I am actually trying to figure out what to do with all of the missionaries letters my mom and dad wrote during  his mission.  The handwriting is very difficult to read and I feel like it is personal.  Any ideas what I should do?

 

My mom somewhere between 15-18 

 

My niece who looks like my mom.  I know they don't care for their children's pictures on the internet, but since my blog is only read by family and a few friends I thought it would be okay!  

 My mom on the 2nd row to the bottom, 2nd one on the the right with her head tilted

(My mom on the bottom left corner)

In all of these pictures we could really see a resemblance to my mom.  It is amazing how genetics works. 

Last month my parents would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  I thought of them most of the day on 6-21 and I  felt grateful for their influence in my life. I don't know how it works in heaven, but I hope they knew how grateful we are that they got together!  

The 4th

 I love the 4th of July!   My brother Jared and family came to Utah after our family reunion. We didn't know at first how long they would be in Utah so we tried to soak up each and every minute.   I have the privilege of having his family stay at my home.  It was so great to get to know their children better and to visit with Jared and Lindsey.  I absolutely adore he and Lindsey and I think they have some of the cutest children EVER!!!!  

 On the 4th we went to my brother Mark's and families home.  The food was so scrumptious and  the company was great too!

  The nieces and nephews really enjoyed playing together.   It was great to see how well they all got along.  

  Mark and Caleb put on a great firework show!!!  It was fun to sit back and enjoy the show! Thank you for a great evening!