Gratitude 28, 29 and 30--A little late!

Post 28

I am grateful to be born and live in the United States.   I feel great to be able  to choose how I want to live my life.

 

Post 29

I am grateful for animals.  I am not naturally an animal loving  person, but since we have 2 dogs I have been trying to do my best to enjoy them.  I love how simple pets love and how they can bring a family closer together.

Post 30

 

I am grateful for the  prophet, and apostles.   When Matt served in a bishopric  a few years back,  we had a sweet older woman that moved in our ward.  She moved during a time that it was stake conference and general conference within a couple weeks of each other and so the bishop hadn't really gotten to meet with her.   

The bishop got a phone call at home one night and he was surprised when the man on the phone introduced himself as President Thomas Monson (this is when he was in the 1st presidency, but not the prophet).  He called to make sure the bishop knew that one of his friends, this older woman,  had moved into his ward. He shared with the bishop her circumstances and asked our bishop to watch over her well.  Then he asked the bishop how he was doing and thanked him for the service he was giving.    
When Matt shared this with me I was touched.  I had always heard stories about how President Monson always served, but this was the 1st time I personally saw how concerned he was with others. 

Awards, singing, and a Mural

 

 Kara had a voice recital on Tuesday, May 28th.  She did fantastic.  My camera will only let me take a video for one minute and the song was 4 minutes, so here is the beginning.   Kara just started taking voice lessons in April and is loving it.

In Kara's honor's Geography class she was the top student out of 40.  She has a 109% in the class.  She always does so amazing at anything relating to history.  Mr. Flake, Kara's favorite teacher likes to give out awards and he gave awards to his three highest students in the class.  Kara was able to receive it with some of her friends, Rachel and Eliza Moore who were second and third in her class.

Here is her certificate  that she received, stating that she got a 100% on every assignment in class.  I think that is just super duper.  Kara is smart, but she also works super hard on everything she does.  She is so self motivated, you never have to get after her about her grades or homework.  I love it!!!

Here are just two of her big reports she had to do for her classes and she got 100% on them.  She has a 4.0 again.  She makes it look so easy.

Spencer painted a mural with his friend Anne.  It was in the city of Sigatoka, which is quite a distance from there home.  They also had an assistant that helped them who was super nice.  

Doesn't it look great!  WOW!  I didn't know Spencer could paint this well.

Bachelor party, company, and FUN!

We had a fun,  busy weekend.   Coby had a bachelor's party for his friend Dan Jones.  He is getting married this Friday. He is such a fine young man and it has been great to have him at our home for the last ten or more years!

My niece Jessica and her husband John spent the night this weekend too.  They were on there way to Vernal, Utah following their honeymoon.  It was nice to be able to visit with them.  They are such an adorable couple!

Our family went and saw the movie Battleship.  It is definitely Matt's kind of movie.  I liked it more than I thought I would. 


Colton started his first day of work.  And he LOVED it.   He is feeling so much better after getting his wisdom teeth out.  I am so happy that is done and over with. 

I gave a lesson for the Beehives.  I have the cutest girls ever.    My lesson was on Supporting Family Members and I learned a thing or two.  I love getting hand outs on Sugardoodle.  It makes being creative so EASY!!!!


Kara has only 3 more days of school.  I will no longer have anymore kids in middle school.  It is hard to believe!   I am excited for the summer.  I love having more lazy days and spending time with my kids.  We have a lot of fun things planned too. 

We had a barbecue Monday night.  Both my brothers families were out of town so it was just our family.  Coby and Colleen came over.  It was so fun to get to know Colleen better.  She is such a fun, cute girl.   We had a good time visiting with them.  

 

 

 

 

Spencer has almost been in Fiji for a month now and he is loving it.   He has been building a well, and teaching literacy to children in need there.  It has been great hearing about his experiences there.

Boise, Mother's Day, NJHS, and Fij

On Friday, May 11th, my sister in law Suzanne and I headed to Boise for Jessica and John's wedding reception.  We wanted to show them support and be there for the festivities.   As I was packing my bag to go there,  I realized it was the 4th weekend in a row that I was going out of town.  It has been a little busy.   The drive to Boise was super fast.  Suzanne and I just visited the whole time and  we both couldn't believe that 6 hours went by that fast!!!!

John and Annette had the reception catered at the building my brother Matthew and John own.  It is such a historic building and so beautiful.  And the food was so yummy.

Steven and Mason entertained us for a lot of the evening.  They are two great young men.  

The receiving line

They had a lot of friends and family come for the celebration.  I am so glad that we went and were able to help them out.  On Saturday morning we had a brunch at John and Annette's home  and the newlyweds opened their wedding presents.  We helped them with this and then we drove home and got home fairly early in the evening.  And I was excited to realize I wouldn't be going out of town for a few weeks, but Matt was.

On Mother's Day we missed Spencer.  It was good to get an email from him.  He has enjoyed his time in Fiji.   Coby came over and the kids made me a very nice dinner.  They are becoming quite good cooks.   At church during Young Women's all the mother's were invited with their daughters.  Brenda gave a beautiful lesson on competition, being good enough and becoming a queen.  It was a very sweet meeting.  Each of the girls went up and said something to honor their mother.   The spirit was so strong as it always is when love is expressed.  Kara was very sweet to me with her words and I am so grateful she is my daughter. 

Writing in my Mother's Day card in front of me.

Above Spencer with some of the girls he is in the program with.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Spencer's letters/ blog/emails.  It is amazing how some one can grow so fast when exposed to different things and serving others less fortunate.  I am proud of him and the decision he has made of sacrifice.  His blog is http://alittleoffthebeatenpath.blogspot.com/  He doesn't have any of the modern electronics there so he isn't able to get online much, but I have enjoyed what he has written thus far.  

Kara is the treasurer for the National Junior Honors Society and on Tuesday, May  15th it was the Induction Ceremony for the upcoming 9th graders.  Kara was asked along with the rest of the officers to give a talk.  She spoke on  Leadership. 

Tonight is her schools last choir concert.  Kara is the choir president and she received 139 dollars in quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies from her peers to purchase a thank you gift for the pianist.  We have been going from store to store buying gift cards with the coins.  Boy, has it been interesting.    Tonight at the concert Kara is singing a solo/duet with Tom.  Hopefully I will be able to record it well enough  so that it sounds good.  

27 girls and Spencer for four months!!

Today Spencer left for Fiji. It was a bittersweet day filled with a lot of different emotions. He sold his car, cancelled accounts, deactivated his cell phone and notified all his accounts that he was moving to Fiji.  He had to get a  lot of SHOTS!!!   He needed new clothes that didn't have any writing on them. He will be there until the end of August, but he managed to get everything in one suitcase.  WOW, I am sure all the girls will be thoroughly impressed, especially since there was so many things he was asked to bring for others.

  His last day in America was spent shopping for last minute needed items and tyd tying up loose ends.   It is amazing what you need to do before you leave the country.  We had a nice dinner before he left and then headed to the airport.  Interestingly enough my aunt and uncle left today too.  It is hard to say good bye to people all in one day!

His suitcase was so heavy.  He will be the only guy  living in a home with 27 girls.  There is no dating allowed while he is there and supposedly there is another single guy coming to help with the program in June sometime. Hopefully, he will still come.  We are proud of Spencer for his desire to serve the people in Fiji.  Hopefully, living with this many girls won't  make him too crazy.  Kara and I were trying to warn Spencer of all the drama he might witness.  I am not sure if he knows what he is in for since Kara is so drama free and I sort of am (at least on good days) :) 

Good bye Spencer!!!!!!   We will see you at the end of August.  We can't wait to see pictures and hear all about it.  The big question that Kara and I have is if he will come  home unattached?  We'll see!

Happy 22nd Birthday Spencer!!!

 Happy 22nd Birthday Spencer!!!!!  I always love your birthday as it is such a beautiful time of year with Spring in full force!!!!   Because you were so busy on the night of your birthday we celebrated it a day early.   It seemed kind of bittersweet to celebrate with everyone when we knew this would be the last time we would be together as a family for the next five months.  

 Spencer if leaving to go and live in Fiji for the next  almost five months to help with an organization called HELP International you can learn more about them http://fiji.help-international.org/.  The mission of HELP is about fighting poverty by empowering individuals that are natives to various countries. HELP wants to provide self sustaining solutions to the problems that have plagued countries for decades. Help wants to solve a problem through local organizations that once solved will stay solved long after participants have left and finished projects.  So it is an amazing opportunity!!!!

 For Spencer's birthday he wanted barbecue ribs.  We made his favorite recipe for barbecue ribs.  It needs to cook for 9 hours.  So the house smelled mighty fine all day.  It is a delicious recipe!!!!  Yummy!!!!!

 Coby was on his way to a wedding reception  so he was dressed up for the occasion.   He took Spencer out to lunch for his birthday.  

 Kara thinks she is so silly!

 All my children love a good oreo ice cream cake and they are so simple to make or buy!!!

 Tayler, Spencer's best friend joined us for cake. We missed her at dinner, but she had a final.

Kara made Spencer breakfast this morning even though she had to leave the house at 6:30am.  She definitely loves her brother as we all do!!!!  Spencer took a final on his birthday!!!  What a fun birthday present.  For Spencer's birthday present he wanted money to go to Fiji!! He also wanted a camera so he can take lots of good pictures!!!!!  It is a great cause so hopefully, if you get a letter asking for a donation to his cause you might consider it.  He will appreciate it as he has spent over 5k of his own money to help others.   He also had to sell his car.

 I love the passionate person Spencer is.  I love how he is involved and knows so much about so many things.  He is so fun to talk to as he has an opinion about everything, seriously!!!  I love his quick wit and his humor he brings to every situation.   I love  how he shows each family member his love for them and how he is willing to help others so willingly.   He is a great example to me of dedication, hard work, and being the best you.     Spencer please know how much we love and adore you!!!!!!