🎉 This week, to Lily on Tuesday, Aug 19th, and to Kevin on Thursday, Aug 21st! 🎈
  Though it is hard to believe, Lily is turning 14 and has just started her Freshman year of High School.  She was born with a smile that can light up any room and has brought so much joy and fun into our lives.  

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LILY - We love you so much ❤

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVIN - Best Husband ever 🏆

Kevin will turn 73 on Thursday and has filled my life with adventures from Okinawa to Italy.  He is my rock, my gelato partner, and more than anything, I love going to the Temple together.  We are squeezing in as much fun as we can over the next few weeks, because it looks like he will be having another shoulder replacement surgery soon 😢.  

Field of Dreams, IA

London

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (AND WORK) FOR THIS CROWD ~

Ben's 1st day of 2nd grade

  

Blythe started her Senior year at Maine South High School, and Kim is back at work at Roosevelt Elementary School.

 Jake's 1st day of 4th grade

Lily's 1st day of 9th grade

 Paul's 1st day as a Senior at Ascend College Prep. (so happy he remembered to brush his teeth before leaving for school 😂)

 OVER THE WEEKEND ~

 We celebrated Josh's birthday on Saturday with breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  So happy the girls and Ben were able to join us! 

 Not only was the food good, but it was fun to catch up with these busy girls.  Emma is going to L.A. in a couple of weeks with friends, including a trip to Disneyland.  Eilis is busy with work, doing amazing things for Canes, and looking forward to her next promotion.  Hollie attended her Senior Sunrise early Saturday morning before breakfast and is always on the go, either at school or working. 

THE TEMPLE WAS THE PLACE TO BE THIS WEEK ~

 Cory and Paul made a trip to the Temple this past week.  We receive such wonderful blessings from going to the Temple!  I  am so looking forward to the day we have one here in Colorado Springs! 😀

 Kevin and I went on Wednesday and took one of the sisters we minister to with us. We printed up family names and did as many sealings as time would allow.

NOTES FROM MIKE AND BARBI ~

Mike sent me a story I wanted to share with you this week. 

This was sent to me by one of my team about 3 years ago.  I asked her to resend it and got it last night.  She was born and raised as a young girl in Vietnam… this is a story of hope, service, and seeing the hand of Father in Heaven in our lives

Good morning Mike,

I’m sorry for your loss. It’s such a beautiful story. You and your wife are amazing and wonderful people. I’m sure you’ve been told many times that you have made big different in your sons’ lives. I can relate to this story. It took me a while but I would like to share with you a story of a young girl who was taken in by a German couple at 13.

My family escaped from Saigon after the collapse of Viet Nam in 1975 after many failed attempts. We were separated as my father, my sisters and brother left Viet Name first in 1977. After they had escaped,  we received no news from them nor that we knew if they had survived.  With helps from my father’s friends who used to work in the Navy, my mother, my youngest sister and I left Viet Nam by boat 2 years later. My mother was not well mentally after the ordeal thinking her husband and her three children had died. As a young girl, I was pretty much on my own. We were rescued by a German ship and placed at a refugee camp in Singapore in 1979. There I had met a woman who worked for Red Cross. I asked her for help to locate my Dad, my two sisters and my brother. It was almost hopeless since millions of people left Viet Nam after 1975. Many had lost their lives at sea and hundred thousands of “boat people” were scattered all over many different refugee camps in South East Asia at that time.

My mother, my youngest sister and I arrived in Germany a few months later. We started a new life and there was no news from my Dad. I stayed with my mother and my sister but a German couple took us in. We learned German and tried to move on with our lives in a new country. One day a man showed up and he told my mother that he had tried to locate us for almost a year. He was a photographer on the German ship which rescued us at sea and I remembered talking to him briefly. He gave my mom a picture he took of our little boat from which we were rescued from in 1979. As he left, I told him my story and that I was desperately looking for my dad, sisters and brother. Again I was told it was almost impossible but he promised that he would contact Red Cross and the UNICEF for me. I did not get his name and I’ve never heard from him again. But this man kept his promise and I will never forget what he did for us. 

I came home from school one day and a man from German government was there. We were told that the Red Cross had located my dad, sisters and brother and they were staying at a refugee camp in Malaysia. The joy was short lived as we learned a  few weeks later, my dad had left Malaysia for a 3^rd unknown country. At least we were happy that they were alive.

Some months later, that same German gentlemen came again with wonderful news that my dad, sisters and brother were living in Canada. Long story short… after 4 years of separation, our family was reunited in Canada in 1981. I stay in touch with my German God-parents until these days which explains my many trips to Germany over the years. Ilse, my god-mom passed away last year. Werner is 95 and he is living at a nursing home whom I hope to visit in May.

I have not shared my story with that many people but your email has touched my heart. I am grateful to have known the amazing people like you, your wife, the nameless woman from Red Cross at the refugee camp, the nameless photographer on the German ship who kept his promise to a young girl and many other people who had helped to reunite my family years ago. Just like those people who have made a different in my life, you and your wife have made the different in people lives in a way you may not imagine the magnitude so I want to share my story. Thank you!

My parents and Ilse are in heaven now. It will be a quiet Thanksgiving this year at my house but I have a lot to be thankful for.

 We all have so much to be thankful for! I hope we can all be mindful each day this week of our blessings and recognize the Lord's hand in our lives ❤

 EVERY DAY IS A GIFT!

 This is my new favorite thought to live  by.   Sometimes when I look back on what I have accomplished during the day, I realize just how much time I spend on things that have very little value - physically, emotionally, spiritually, or socially.  Life needs to be balanced.  How are you doing?

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOSH!     On Thursday, Aug. 14th, Josh will

 turn #%@ years-old 😁. 

 From the time he was born, Josh was always a step ahead of me.  He ran before he walked and was known for his climbing skills - which he did, and found a tube of super glue that I thought I had put in a safe place 😳.  

We hope you have a wonderful day and know that we love you ❤   

 

  

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, JAKE IS COMING!  

If ever I were to envy someone for their energy and ability to multitask, it would be Jake.

 We had such a fun week with Jake.  He mowed my yard, sprayed weeds, pulled weeds, helped pick out flowers at Lowe's, and then came home and planted them for me.  He built a fort (twice, because the first one fell apart), and helped Ben pick out all of the supplies and clothes he would need for school.  We celebrated all of his hard work on Friday by going to Urban Air, where he played laser tag, rock climbed multiple times, took the go-karts for a spin, and made his way through the ropes course! Whew!!

 

Watch out, Prairie Winds Elementary School, Jake is on his way . . .😄

  EVERYONE AGREES - pancakes are just a little bit of Heaven 😋

Jonathan taught Sayer the art of making pancakes this week, and it looks like it was a great success! 

I think I would have the same look on my face as Sayre - a bite of pancake with peanut butter on top and dipped in syrup - that really is Heaven 😇

GUESS WHO STARTED THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL THIS PAST WEEK?

Hollie is on her way with a busy schedule at school and still working (not quite so many days) at Dairy Queen.  

All of our other grands will start school next week, except for Sayer, who gets an extra week of vacation (though he would really like to be back at school)

Just for your information, the number of our kids in school is dwindling - 

Blythe, Paul, and Hollie are all Seniors this year.

Lily starts her Freshman year at Palmer Ridge this week

Jake will be in 4th grade at Prairie Winds Elementary School

Sayer and Ben will both be in 2nd grade.

Kim and I start our Senior year on  Sept 1 

    There is a light at the end of the tunnel ~

 MUCH OF THE FAMILY gathered in Utah this week for Owen and Tahlia's marriage and sealing in the Orem Temple.  Thank you to Kim and Mike for sending some fantastic photos.

 

Kim, Mike, Barbi, Aliana

Heather, Kim, Zack, Holly

Lindsey, Abby, Cally, Aliana

Mike and Ruthie

  

 Also, I know how busy everyone is, but if you find yourself with a few minutes to spare, I know Francie would love to hear from you - a note or a phone call.   Jenny is back in school now, and Steven is no longer living there, so Francie spends a lot of her days alone.  She has friends from her Ward who stop by occasionally, but she still has a lot of minutes during the day when she is by herself.  I have set a goal for myself to call her at least once a week.  Last Wednesday, I ordered a meal for her from Panda Express and she was so happy.  Small things matter when you are lonely.  Her contact information is below - 

Francie Lindsey

2830 Sierra Gold Way

Riverbank CA 95367

(209) 505-0995

😀 I ran across this photo this afternoon and it made me smile from ear to ear -

It is so fun to remember the kids when they were this little ❤

LOVE YOU!

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KATE TODAY!!!

 

Our baby girl has grown up to be a wonderful wife, mother, shopping partner, friend, and artist - oh and not to mention, a lovely daughter.

She brings joy to our lives, and we love every minute we get to spend with her.                       

We love you Kate!  Have a wonderful day ❤

 THIS WEEK ~

 We always compare calendars at the beginning of the week so we know who needs the car when, what kind of appointments we have, and then plan things to do with our free time.  SOMEHOW, we always end up with a surprise that reminds us how important it is to be flexible. 😁

MONDAY, we went to see Shannon.  We had stopped by on Sunday, after Church, but she was pretty drowsy, so we didn't stay too long.  On Monday, we went again in the afternoon, and again she was so tired we didn't spend a lot of time with her.  They told us that she gets some medication around 2:30 every day, so I think we just picked the wrong times to go. We are going tomorrow morning, and hopefully she will be more awake.  

 SAMMI stopped by to give us an update on Stevie, and apparently, she has "cat asthma".  Didn't know there was such a thing, but it's amazing what I learn from our grandkids. 

 She also showed us her new car - She has been working a lot of double shifts this summer to help pay for it.  She has also made a change in her college plans and has decided to switch from UCCS to Pikes Peak State College and go through their dental hygiene program.  I asked her if it would bother her to put her fingers in other people's mouths, and she replied rather quickly that she does that every day when she has to dig out random paraphernalia from the kids' mouths that are in her class. 😂

WEDNESDAY, Dad had an appointment with the ENT doctor.  This was his second visit with them, and while he was there, they offered him new hearing aids.  He is trying them out for a month, but so far, he feels they are better than his previous ones. YAY!

 THURSDAY, I worked in the Human Resources office for District 20. It's always frun to be there and catch up friends from the past.

When I got home, our neighbors across the street wanted us to go out to dinner with them.  Tran (Ho Chi Minh), our Vietnamese friend, got in BIG trouble with his wife when she came to visit.  She lives and has a good job in New York.  Tran lives here because he doesn't like New York.  Polly, Tran's wife, is actually Chinese, and she moved to New York when their son started college at Cornell, and her parents had moved there.  Anyway, Tran has been living by himself for the last three years, and the house was a disaster.  Polly said all she can do is sell the house "as is," furniture and all, and she is making Tran move to an apartment. YIKES!  She wanted to take us to Olive Garden because Dad has been so patient and has helped Tran so many times. 

FRIDAY, our weather was beautiful so I took Sendai for a really good walk.  We were heading down the hill to some nearby apartments when Sendai stopped to "do her business".  While I was trying to pick up her "business," she wandered and began snapping at a bee. The next thing I knew she had bees swarming around her head, she was rolling in the grass, and I was trying to pull her on to the sidewalk when she pulled herself out of her harness, ran through the houses, and left me with the bees and her "business".  I was trying to carry her leash, her business, and phone Dad at the same time when a bee got me right on my ear.  As Lily would say, "I got a bee bite on my ear".  I forgot how badly they hurt, and then how much they can itch.  We all survived, and by the time Dad found us, Sendai had come to me and I was able to get her back in her harness and leash.  ( I recorded this video when Adam and Cory were out of town and Lily told me she got a "bee bite" - it's a must watch 😀)

CORY stopped by with Lily and Jake for a few minutes.  They both had new shoes for school, and as much as I can't believe it, Jake will be in 4th grade this year, and Lily is starting her Freshman year of High School. 

YESTERDAY, Dad and I took Sendai to the groomers, and then went grocery shopping together - we haven't done that in a long time.  It was great and Dad got his Krispy Kreme donuts 😀.  Then yesterday afternoon, just for fun we went to an Amish furniture store nearby.  We were actually hoping to look at outdoor furniture but wandered through the main bulding first and wow, did they every have some beautiful pieces.  When we finally made it to the outdoor section, we found just what we were looking for - only it costs 4x more than what we want to spend - so we are going to keep on looking . . . 

FAMILY NEWS ~

KIM, CHRIS, AND MAX, were in California this weekend, visiting Max's mission and the members he worked with.  Chris said they had a wonderful time, and he mentioned how much the members miss Max.  

 It's so nice that Max can go back and visit a place that will always hold special meaning to him.

SAYRE AND SOCCER!  I have never seen one of these gadgets before, but Jonathan bought one for Sayre and he loves it.  I love that he loves soccer 😀

BEN AND HIS NEW MAN CAVE!

Apparently, Ben has had all of the "girl" power he can take so he made himself a man cave downstairs in the garage 😊

MIKE, BARBI, AND ALLYANA  are on the road again -

this time to Utah for Owen's wedding, and to visit some of Barbi's family. On there way today they stopped in Elko and took a photo in front the the Elko Temple. 

 Hope they will come back to Colorado sometime soon!

WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND ARE SO GREATFUL FOR THE TIMES WE GET TO SPEND WITH YOU.  I ALSO KNOW HOW MUCH HEAVENLY FATHER AND OUR SAVIOR LOVES YOU - PROBABLY MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.  DON'T EVER FORGET THAT, AND KNOW IF YOU ARE HAVING A ROUGH DAY (OR WEEK) THEY ARE ALWAYS NEAR AND READY TO HELP, COMFORT, AND GUIDE. ❤