To Manti and Back....

Well there are somethings that happen when you where a kid that you want your kids to experience. This weekend I got to let my kids experience some things that I did as a kid-- I dragged them down to Manti!
 And then I dragged them around the entire town and showed them where they come from, and where their ancestors carved out a living.

They got to listen to all of the little old ladies talk about what it was like a long time ago, they got to hear about what it was like when the pioneers settled Manti and what they had to go through to survive and to build the temple. We also went through the cemetery looking for headstones, and finding those that belong to the people that are important in our families past. 

Then we went to the temple and talked about how their grandpa used to build go carts and race his cousins down temple hill (by the way the kids think that you where NUTS!!!!) Then they got to roll down temple hill just like I did when I was their age-- and find out what I meant when I told them that you cannot roll straight down you always turn sideways!

They also got to play on the school playground across the street from my Great Grandmothers house just like I used to as a kid- however they have updated the toys quite a bit and they are a far cry from the merry-go-round and tires that I played on!

We got rained on Friday night but it didn't dampen our spirits, we had a blast! Andy and I also got to do a session at the Manti Temple which I have seen my entire life but never been in, and it was so amazing! The entire session it kept hitting me that I could be sitting where my ancestors have sat, touching the same banister that they touched, seeing something that they helped to build, it was such a touching experience for me. And the Temple is so beautiful! and its live so you move 5 times! Also you sit on the same wooden benches that my ancestors help make and put there originally which was amazing! 

 The white dress on the far left is the wedding dress of my great great grandmother Mary Henrie the coolest part about it is that the museum had no idea who it belonged to, other than they had her picture, but they didn't know what her name was. However, I did! thanks to all of my mothers dragging, I had seen the dress right after it had been donated to the museum and I was even able to match a picture of Mary at her wedding to the dress and the picture that they had on the wall so that they where able to authenticate it and now it is labeled as her dress! The DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, who's museum it is) is going to see if they can restore it (as its not in great condition) but now they know that its authentic and worth saving!

It is something that I am definitely going to do again, but next time we are going to go with my grandmother and get it first hand. And the good thing is that the kids want to do it again too!

It just takes time---

Well it has been hard for me to think about writing this post. But in the end time does make things easier. Just in case you didn't already know I had a miscarriage about 2 weeks ago. While it has been really hard to wrap my head around the fact that the thing I had just gotten used to was gone, I think that I have finally come to terms with it. We have done a lot of praying and we still think that there is a spirit that the lord has for us, its just that right now was not the right time. But maybe we needed this time to get used to the idea. As my Dr says if lightning can strike once it can strike twice, and if that is what the Lord wants, that will be what happens. Until then we will just keep standing by :)

Stand By for News--- (I am channeling my best Paul Harvey)

So they say that the lord works in mysterious ways... and sometimes when you pray for an answer to one thing you get something you weren't expecting. A few of weeks ago Andy and I went to the temple because we were trying to figure out if we should keep our van or not. Well the answer that we both got was that we couldn't get rid of our van because we needed it. I just said ok and took it at face value, my darling husband had the sense to ask why we where going to need it. That answer got us somewhere we had not planned! Apparently after having my tubes tied 8 years ago, my tubal has failed (with some Heavenly help) and we are going to have another baby!
I admit that I have been a little freaked out but the idea is growing on me, in more ways than one! I have never been one to be able to hide pregnancy at all, and this one is proving to be no different. I am about 6 weeks, and already have grown out of most of my clothes, I have no waist, and have morning sickness like its going out of style! I am due right around March 17 and it should be a pretty good anniversary present. There is going to be 15 years between Cole and the new baby but at least that is a gap I know how to deal with, because that is the amount of time between Amanda and I.
So next time you ask the lord a question remember that you don't always get the answer that you think that you will get!

When you get to the end of your rope you tie a knot and swing right...

Well here we are we have made it through soccer season! The kids won 2 games (not bad for a team that most of the players had never really played much soccer!) Coulton made a goal (which was amazing!) and we all survived the weather, because they didn't cancel one game or practice due to it.
Last week in our attempts to finish the basement (which I think I talked about on my last post) during the last couple hours of framing Andy and the nail gun had an incident known now as really putting your blood and sweat into the project. He basically, nailed his finger to a 2x4. I would like to thank my Heavenly Father first directing the nail gun away from fingernail and bone. Next for making the 2x4 that they were trying to nail the other 2x4 to move out of the way, so that there was a way to get the nail out of the board enough to cut it off to go to the Instacare. I would also like to thank him for my amazing sweet neighbor who has been helping us and for the fact that he was there and could drive my shocky husband to the Dr (because he passed out on the way there and that would have been worse). I am thankful that the Instacare told him that they would just bill us, because we had no money the day before payday.
Andy’s Grandfather is still hanging on which totally and completely amazes me. He is even getting better and has not fallen for a couple of weeks. We are so grateful for every minute we get to spend with him and know that he is still with us.
As for us, school is over in just a couple of weeks and I think that I have finally reached the point where I desperately want a new job. My company really has been good to work for but the stress level that I am carrying around is not healthy for me. I am timed every second of the day and every item of work that I process could possibly be audited. I understand why they do it, I just can’t handle it any longer. Andy is also looking for something else, and I am hoping we can find something for him that will pay more so that I don’t have to work as much and can stay home with the kids more. The kids are doing amazing right now. Taylor just turned 12 (I know can you believe it!) and has started going to Young Women’s. They even did baptisms for the dead the Saturday after she turned 12 and she got to go with them. It was a great experience for her. Coulton has passed me height wise, an accomplishment that he is extremely proud of. Mara and Lexi have been making lots of new friends and spend hours playing outside when its been nice and in the basement when it hasn’t been. I am so glad that they have been able to find some nice friends.
I am so glad that my Heavenly Father loves me and has put me in the position to be here in our new house. We are really starting to get to know our neighbors and soon we will have new ones (they have started building on one side of us and should start the other house on the other side of us sometime this summer). I really feel like I am where the lord wants me to be. So even if its hard right now I know that this too shall pass and things will get better soon!

The life of a So-Called Soccer Mom....

Well just when I though that life really couldn't get much crazier between the 2 callings and 4 kids and Andy going to school and trying to finish the kids bedrooms in the basement - Coulton and Taylor made the Rockwell Junior High co-ed soccer team! They practice 3 days a week and have 2 games so count them that is 5 days a week! I am starting to think I might just go crazy and like it. The last month we have had some of the yucky colds that have been running around, but on top of that we found out that Lexi doesnt have to have heart surgery this year! Its nice to know that we have at least another year before we have to worry about it again.

We also went and sealed alot of Andy's family together. It was somthing that we have been working on for about 2 years now and it was such an amazing thing to get done. It has really been a priority with us, becuase Andy's grandfather is not doing very well and we wanted to make sure that when he gets to the other side he has tons of his family around him. It has been amazing how the spirit of Elijah has been working on helping us with the geneology. It seems like everytime I get to the point where I am going to give up and say there is nothing more that we will ever be able to find about the lebanese side of the family, we make a break through and have more names. Andy's grandfather is the last one of either of our grandfathers. He fell about a week ago after blacking out and was in the hospital for a couple of days. He fell again in the hospital (because he was trying to get out of bed by himself) and then he has fallen again since he has been back home. Its very hard to think of him being gone. He has been my grandfather for about 1/2 of my life, and its hard to think that he won't be there. It makes me so incredibly greatful for the sealing power of the priesthood, and that we can be together forever someday.
I found out something interesting when we started our new calling. Our Stake presidency is really focusing on missionary work, but not for the living, for those on the other side of the veil.  I never thought of family history work as missionary work, but after listening to our stake presidency I really do understand how it is. All of the missionary work that is done on the other side can only have meaning if we carry out the ordinances that they need here on this side of the veil. Here missionarys challenge investigators to be baptised, on the other side they challenge them to accept the baptism that when it is done on our side of the veil. There is a great work that we need to do so that the ordinance is there when they are ready to accept it. I know that the family history work that we have tried so hard to accomplish, and the temple work that we have done has been accepted and was so very important to those for whom it was done.
So while I run around like a mad woman attending soccer meets and practices one after another, I know that the lord has a plan for me. And even if I dont know what it is I know that he loves me and I will be able to endure until things get better.

Well I suppose it had to happen sometime

The Stake Presidency has finally caught up with us. I guess its what we get for going in to get our temple recommends renewed and talking about how we love to do family names. They have called us to be the Stake Family History Directors, the assistant Multi Stake Family History Center Directors and the Stake Extraction/Indexing Directors! Its a mouthfull and the calling is even more daunting than the name. I hope that We can live up to the Lords expectations and fulfill this calling up to what he would want us to do. From now on the meetings are going to be endless and I hope that I am able to learn more about doing Family History!

Birthday Party!!!!

I know January has been CRAZY but we are doing Cake and Ice Cream for Mara (her birthday is Friday and she is turning 10) and Coulton (his birthday is Tuesday and he is turning 14!) on Sunday Night at 6:30 pm at our house. For those of you who haven't been out to see us yet this would be a good chance to come and see our new house and help us Celebrate! Please let me know if you are going to come so that I make sure we have enough cake (because I wouldn't want to run out with this family!! :)




Also they will be ordaining Coulton a teacher either the Sunday after his birthday or the Sunday after Just after that keep it in mind and I will let you know more when we get closer

YEA Birthdays!!