Two birthdays this month.

River and Andrew both had birthdays this month.  River turned 9 and Andrew turned 10.  I had not realized they were almost exactly 1 year apart.  Annie invited us out on Saturday to be in on some of the festivities.  Andrew didn’t want a cake, he wanted a pizza cookie and for his party they played Minute to Win It challenges.  Here are some pictures of his party and opening his presents.  Annie made some scratch invitations.  I didn’t have one that hadn’t been scratched but you can see where the silver is scratched off to reveal Andrew Gerton’s Birthday Party.  Very clever.  I might add here that Lynda Ann sent me a text later that evening that said, “That is the last time I throw a party for a bunch of boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”  Neal and I got a good laugh when we read that.

Just a cute picture of Mallory and Emmi.  They get accused of being twins often and I think they like it.  They have grown to be best of friends.  If you notice, Emmi has Charlie in the bag at her waist.

I didn’t get any pictures nor did I hear what River’s celebration was like.  But, I’m sure he had a fun day.  Happy birthday to both grandsons! 

Lynda Ann gave her first Relief Society Lesson

Annie called me a month ago to tell me that she had been called to be a Relief Society teacher.  She is teaching from the book of the life of President Benson.  I decided that I would surprise her and drive out to Stansbury on her first Sunday of teaching.  She did a beautiful job and I was proud of her.  Emmi was there and Abby slipped in as well.  I had Emmi sneak a picture of her. 

This was her handout.  I have mine on my fridge.  I love handouts to take home.  It reminds me during the week of the lesson and every time I reread them it helps me align myself with who I am and what I am and what I should be about.  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.

She did a beautiful job and I noticed that after her lesson she had many ladies giving her hugs and thanking her for sharing her thoughts and testimony.  My buttons were popping.  I had to leave right after to get back to Salt Lake but not before I was able to see all the kids and give them a hug.  This was a picture Emmi took of Andrew and I.  What a handsome missionary!!  You notice he is almost as tall as I am!  It won’t be long until I am the shortest one in the whole family.

Valentine’s Day

I never know what to expect from Neal.  He will usually always give me flowers and a box of candy.  But when he chooses to give them to me is always a surprise.  Thursday afternoon he was all of a sudden standing at my desk at work with a huge bouquet of flowers.  I loved them and was delighted that he would bring them over to work.  The next day he showed up with two more yellow flowers.  Really!  He didn’t think the arrangement had enough yellow in it.  Now, do you know any man who would study a bouquet of flowers and the next day add more colors to it!  With or without the extra yellow flowers they were beautiful and very much enjoyed.  I brought them home from work for the weekend and may take them back tomorrow because the better part of my day is spent at work.  My favorite part of the bouquet were the two bees that were included.  At home a box of candy was waiting for me.  Neal is very thoughtful and I love him for that.

Neal and I also sent all the grandchildren their Valentine with a $2.00 bill in it.  A funny thing happened with the cards.  Maren told us that all the kids got their valentine except for Jaden.  So she told him that he was too old and that is why he didn’t get one.  The truth is that Jaden’s came back as undeliverable.  So we gave it to Maren to give to Jaden.  We would never leave you out Jaden and one is never too old for a Valentine!

Maren and Greg came by on Valentine’s Day and brought me a beautiful bouquet of while roses with little purple flowers.  We haven’t seen them since Christmas so it was so nice to visit with them for a few minutes and hear about their cruise.  They apparently had plus and negative to say about the cruise and taking the kids.  All in all it sounded like they had a good time.  Thanks Maren and Greg for the flowers.  They are gorgeous and I love that you would take the time to bring them by.  Love you both!

This is what I gave Neal.  The problem with the picture is that he ate the “O” cookie before I had a chance to get a picture of it.  Neal does love cookies! 

Breaking News

I thought these two writings were soooo good.  Couldn’t help but post them. 

A Random Post

Tucker and I were texting back and forth and he sent me this picture and said that Peyton’s group dance took first place overall in her category.  The girls did a duet and received a ruby which was equivalent to second place (not overall, but in their category) and Jordyn’s solo also got that same mark.  Tucker said that between the three of them they had seven dances.  Wish we could have been there.

Now on a completely different subject.  I saw this cartoon and fell in love with it.  I wear fuzzy slipper socks from the moment winter sets in until summer is fully here.  Mindy called me and asked what I would like for Christmas and I told her fuzzy socks!  This is a Sandra Boynton cartoon and it says:  “Whatever the question, fuzzy socks are the answer!”  LOVE IT!!

Picture of Ashley and I and the Mayor

We fondly refer to him as Opie from Mayberry – You would have to be old enough to remember the Andy Griffith Show.

Dinner at James and Lyndsy’s

This is how Lyndsy greeted us when we got to their home.

Cute Desmond was right there to jump in our arms.  He is such a cute happy baby.

After a delicious dinner that James had prepared we were able to play Mah Jong for a few rounds before Neal and I had to leave.  Neal had a scout meeting at 5:00 and then we had a stake baptism at 6:00.  Thanks Goss’s for a fun afternoon.  Lyndsy text me a few hours later and said that she got sick just after we left and ended up in bed for a few hours.  I hope she isn’t having gall bladder issues.  By the way, Neal won.

Super Bowl Day

Jeff and Annie invited us out to their house to watch the football game.  Lynda Ann had prepared great finger food snacks and Neal and I brought out a bunch of chips and dips.  It was almost a perfect day until Seattle lost!  That was a disappointment.  Andrew was excited to show us his desert turtle that he got for his birthday.  Somehow there doesn’t seem much entertainment with a turtle but he seems thrilled.

I was at Fresh Market the other day and just had to snap this picture.  I tried to be discreet but was kind of chuckling when I took it.  This cute little couple in front of me made me think of Neal and I when we are in our 90’s.  Oh my gosh!  Scary, isn’t it!!!

Speaking in Stake Conference

I think this is the 3rd or 4th time I’ve been asked to speak in Stake Conference.  I’m always taken back when the Stake President calls me and asks me to speak.  This time my subject was “I Am A Child Of God”.  I’m not going to type my talk but will share a couple highlights.

In my talk I said that if there is anything more precious and helpful in life as I progress and endure challenges it is the knowledge that God is in control, and that I am His daughter.  I know that god is the creator and Father of each one of us.  This knowledge blesses my life every day and gives me perspective when I am in the midst of a problem but also when I am experiencing the greatest of joys in life. I quoted comments from Peyton, Andrew and Hayley about why they knew they were a child of God.  I said that life is interesting.  Sometimes I feel like all I do is run uphill.  Then other times I get to coast downhill for a bit.  but I keep moving because I know who I am, and that makes all the difference, because I am a Child of God.  I know He loves me without reservation.  I can go an extra hundred miles on an empty tank just knowing this.

Sometimes before I say my personal prayers I will close my eyes and I think about the fact that I am a Child of God.  It can pull at my very soul.  It makes me long to bask in his light, his goodness, and his love.  As I look back at my life and remember some of the struggles, I can see his hand in my life and I am so grateful.  The trials have been blessings in disguise.  Even though they’ve brought me to my knees, I wouldn’t trade them for what they’ve given me; a humble understanding of the love of my Father in Heaven for me – little ol’ me.

I said that one Saturday when I was doing the laundry and filling the washer, I pictured taking a laundry basket full of my life’s problems and giving it to Him because I know He can help me clean them up, make them right.  I don’t know how it works, but it does.  I know it’s this gift of the Atonement, which is so huge that it’s beyond my comprehension.  So when I feel like my load just tipped the scales and I can’t carry it one step farther, I go to Him and ask Him to help me lift it . . and he does.  He always does.

There is more that shared but this is enough.  I would just end this entry in my blog by saying to my children and posterity that I testify to you that we are children of God.  Our potential is unlimited.  Our inheritance is sacred.  It has been said, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line.  You are a child of God. 

“Death comes unexpectedly”

The above statement comes from a line in Pollyanna and I couldn’t help but think of that this past week.  My goodness!  What a week it has been.  In the past two weeks we have had three people from our ward pass away and then Neal’s good friend Rick Perry and the last one was my brother-in-law, Max, who is married to Lila Mae. 

Friday night Neal and I traveled to Midway for the viewing of this great, gentle giant.  I loved Max and will miss him.  He was the one who stepped in and took the place of my father.  He was the only one that I would allow to baptize me.  I trusted no one else to be dunking me in the water.  I was scared to death of water and didn’t want to be drowned!  I spent every summer at Lila Mae and Max’s home.  I would go with Max every day to the fields to mow the hay and then bail it.  Went every morning and evening with him to bring in the cows.  Max always let me straddle the hood of the tracker and ride up the road or stand behind him by the wheel.  I loved being with him and always felt safe.  He was a good man and will be missed.