I love the Temple
Yesterday, Dad and I had an amazing experience at the Temple.  Our friend, Ruth, and her amazing new husband KJ were sealed in the Denver Temple.  We first met Ruth when we were called to facilitate in the Finance class of our Stake's Self-Reliance Program.  She is from England, and when she was 19 years-old her mother packed her bags and gave her a one-way ticket to Provo.  Without transportation or money, she managed to find the social security office so she could get a social security card and then found a job on campus at BYU.  At some point she got married, had two children, and then divorced.  She has been on her own ever since, and has managed to not only survive, but, thrive.  She is a great example to me of someone who has overcome challenges, and has moved forward with quiet faith.  She met KJ just a year ago, and they are so happy together.  A couple of weeks ago Ruth sent me an email and asked if we could come to their sealing.  Eilis came to house-sit for us (thank you Eilis!) so we could go.  When we got to the Temple we were waiting in the marriage waiting room and were surprised that as time when on, no one else came.  I thought there would be a lot of people from their Ward in attendance.  About 10 minutes before the sealing was scheduled to begin, the sealer (Pres Muirhead, our former Stake President), and the sealing coordinator came in and told us we were the only people on the list who would be attending and that we would be the witness couple.  The one thought that he shared was taken from a talk by Elder Bednar - 

As each of us work to have a deeper relationship with the Savior and to become more like Him, we become closer in our relationship with our spouse. 

He illustrated this with the marriage triangle. 

    So happy we could participate in their special day! 

  Remember last week, when I said Dad got a new suit for his birthday?  Well, here is the before and after 😁

Before

After

So handsome today as we went to Church!

Kim, Chris, and Blythe also went to the Temple this weekend - they took a 2 day trip to Oakland to attend the marriage of their special friend, Arden Dubiel. 

Such a special place to be ~

I was blessed this week to get Jake all day Thursday and Friday afternoon due to school testing.  What a super, fun, and busy 7 year-old!  Thursday morning, we had to take Sendai to the beauty shop at 7:30 - so of course we had to stop for a doughnuts 😋

Once he was nourished and felt strong enough we tackled the freezer we inherited from Cathy R.  It had been down in Chris' garage since before they moved in, and had food dated back to 2012.  Jake wanted to earn some money for a remote control car, so I told him if he would help me clean out the freezer we could negotiate his wages.  

I really had to laugh when he found a mask of Dad's on his work bench and wore it the whole time -

I took this photo when we were almost finished, but you couldn't imagine the food we had to throw away.  It was sad to think of hungry children in the World and how wasteful we can be.  Of course, Cathy thought the food would be fine, but I don't know anyone who wanted to take a chance on chicken dated 2013 - 10 years-old.

First Day of School for Sayre!

Happy School Days Sayre!

Got to have lunch with this cute girl on Wednesday!  She is busy working and just started classes at Pikes Peak State College.

You Go Emma!

And wanted to thank Eilis again for being here with Shannon while we went to the Temple.  These girls are always so willing to help out.  Eilis has been self-teaching herself how to play the piano, and guitar.  When we got home this is how I found the piano -

pink sticky notes on each key 😃. I love her perseverance and dedication.  She told me her favorite classes this term are AP Lang, and Physics - and of course, you know she is all over robotics.  When it's time for college, she said she would be interested in an Engineering Degree - JiChan is always holding out hope that one of his grandchildren will go to Utah State, and Utah State has a great Engineering Program - so maybe . . . . . .

GO AGGIES

Also, Eilis is selling these super cute, never-been-worn Doc's for $80 (negotiable) Size 9

If you want to know what my true feelings are when I watch the kids place soccer, click on the link below - this is what i really want to do

https://fb.watch/mHw068gade/?mibextid=XJr6Im

I love you all so much.  There have been a lot of ups and downs over the last couple of weeks, so I have a plan in place to stay busy with good things this week, to get done the things I really don't want to do, and to take some "me" time when needed.  Hope you all have good days ahead ~ 💖

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF OUR AUGUST BABIES!

Josh's birthday was August 14th and we celebrated with a small dinner but lots of food!

If Josh doesn't look too happy in this photo, it's because he realized he just turned 45 😃

He is kind, with a great heart, and most importantly, loves his family.

He also just taught us about the most amazing Dutch bakery in town - according to Dad, "the best eclairs I have ever had."

Lily's birthday was August 19th.   She celebrated all week - going to see the Barbi movie with friends, and hanging out at the Mall.  She got breakfast at Kneaders on Saturday, and Sunday she and Ji-Chan shared a cake and candles.  

Lily just started 7th grade, and is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  She is kind, always asking what she can do to help (and is good at helping me figure out how to find things on my phone - the easy way).  She is an amazing soccer player, and has a smile that lights up any room she is in.  I tried to add her soccer video but for some reason I can't get it to load but this is one we quote all of the time.  Her parents actually weren't aware she was making this. 

"I accidentally forgot my face wasn't paper"

Watch out World - Here I come!

Ji-Chan celebrated his birthday all month!😊  I finally got him out shopping and he got two new suits, so he no longer looks like Tom Hanks at the end of "Big" - you know, little boy in a suit that is way toooooo big.  

He was surprised and love the refrigerator from all of you - Has it in the garage all stocked and ready to go.

We enjoyed a really good Sunday dinner and he and Lily tried to see who could be first to blow out the candles on their side of the cake - Lily won 🎂

MORE BACK TO SCHOOL PHOTOS

Lily is in 7th grade this year

Jake is loving 2nd grade

I don't think this is the 1st day of school for Sammi and Paul, but it does show school spirit.  Paul made the Lewis-Palmer varsity soccer team this year and this was their first game - which they won - and which Paul was able to play long enough to earn a letter.  Way to go Paul!  And Sammi, and Lily, and Jake for cheering him on!

And if you didn't already know, Adam is coaching Liberty's varsity soccer team, so yeah - the competition is real. 

Then there is Blythe's back to school photo - 

She told her Mom after the 1st day that she was done with school and and didn't want to go back.  (I think someone had too much fun this summer)

However, after a short trip to L.A. a few weeks ago, she also told her Mom she wanted to go to USC.  

You Go Girl!  Everyone should have a dream and then decide how to accomplish it.  

OTHER ADVENTURES THIS WEEK ~

Cathy R. was with us until this past Saturday, so she offered to be the house-sitter on Friday so Dad and I could go to the Temple.  We had a really nice day and have missed going up more often.  It really is the best place to be! 

And on Saturday I talked Dad into visiting the Fabric Mill.  I have heard about it for so many years, but have to say I wasn't overly impressed.  It was still fun to visit, and of course, I couldn't walk out empty-handed 😁

When Cathy was here she came home with three huge zucchini that she had picked from Lana's garden.  I used one, but wasn't sure what to do with the other two so I sent them home with Josh.  He passed one on to Emma and she made these delicious looking zucchini chips.

Emma - you need to share your recipe!

AND FINALLY, OUR MISSIONARY 

Elder Ellsworth is a Zone leader now and learning such great leadership skills, besides teaching and loving the Vietnamese people in his area.  His companion is actually a cadet, taking leave from the Air Force Academy to serve a mission.  

My thoughts to live by this week ~