WHAT HAS EVERYBODY BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK?

 Lily's soccer team came in 1st place in their soccert tournament last week!

Such a busy girl - she also celebrated her 14th birthday on Tuesday.  Samantha picked her up early from school and they headed to Sephora, Barnes and Nobles, Qdoba, and to our house. Happy 14th, Lily ❤

Samantha started her 1st year of college classes at Pikes Peak State College.  She is in the Dental Hygiene program and this semester she is taking Chemistry, Sociology, and a communications class.  She also just got a job working in a dental office + working at Lifetime Fitness on Fridays and Saturdays = another busy girl!

 Eilis has been so great to stop by and visit this week.  I think we have seen her twice.  She is busy with work at Canes as a shift manager, and looking at another promotion soon.  Sendai has been super spoiled by all of her visitors this week. 😁

 Paul reminded us that we hadn't been out for Gelato for a long, long time, so he came over on Friday after school and we enjoyed the delicousness of this sweet treat.  YUM!!! Thank you, Paul!  By the way, Paul has not only started his senior year of high school, but he has also started the missionary application process.  He will be an amazing missionary ❤. 

 Sayre had his back-to-school night this week, and tomorrow will be his first day of 2nd grade. I think he is our last one to get started.  (Kate says that none of the schools in Iowa can start until after the State Fair)😊. I'm guessing that everyone will be happy to get back into a routine of school, study, and sleep! 

 Mike and Barbi recreated this scene from the movie, "Holes", this past week. . . "You take a bad boy, make him dig holes all day in the hot sun, it turns him into a good boy."

They found this spot on the way to Francie's - big holes for planting orchard trees. 

(I guess Mike must have been a bad boy!😀)

Kevin celebrated his birthday with a visit to Scheels, and REI, 2 pairs of new shoes, lunch at Panera, peach cobbler, and Mission Impossible -The Final Reckoning (part 2).  Kate told us we needed to watch this movie but that we should watch Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (the movie that preceded this) first. So we watched the first movie, but movie but forgot to watch the last one (yes, age is overtaking us), so we did - however, it was so intense, there was a point when I had to cover my eyes for a few minutes. It was a good day and as you can see, Kevin got to hold hands with a Grizzly Bear. 

 Miss these handsome fellows!!!  They don't come see us near enough!  However, I did get to talk with Spencer this week. He called one evening and we had a great visit.  He is doing well, and reports that Grant is busy with work and college classes.  Thank you, Spencer!  ❤

 MY FAVORITE KID STORY OF THE WEEK  - 

 

Apparently. Ben was tired of Angella talking to him, so he told her that he had "switched her off".  😂  I'm not quite sure where he got that from, but on the other had, wouldn't it be nice if we could "switch off" the kids once in awhile 😀 

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK -

Before starting on the blog this week, I was watching videos of the kids when they were little.  They are so fun, I decided I want to add one or two each week.  This made me laugh today - Sayre is showing Clementine who is really the boss 😄

FINALLY -

Over the last couple of months or so, I have been rereading The Work and The Glory. I think what fascinates me the most is how viciously the Saints were treated, condemned, ostracized, and virtually forced from their homes multiple times.  I know some may say that the same thing is happening to people (those who are in the country illegally) today, but I think the difference is that the Saints, even those who had come from overseas, were living in the United States legally.  However, that is not really the point I want to make.  Through all of their trials, the early members of the Church showed amazing strength and fortitude, where I am sure I would have given up - especially crossing the plains, leaving Iowa and heading for the Rocky Mountains.  Can you imagine sleeping in snow or rain, without adequate shelter, clothing or blankets? I am in awe of our early pioneers and how strong their testimonies must have been that they could persevere in the worst of circumstances.   I think we take for granted what our lifestyles have become - easy access to central air, cars, clothing, education, vacations, etc.  We are blessed with so much and so I will repeat myself from a couple of weeks ago - remember each day is a gift - what good things can you fill your day with?

*Next week I have a story to share about my great, great, great-grandmother, who helped break some men out of jail 

 🎉 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!