Thanks to Kevin for being the best husband ever!  Does that mean he spoils me? Absolutely!

 He has happily supported me through 4 years of school assignments (some that last late into the night), 5 years of Primary lessons, 3.5 years of planning and writing the blog every Sunday, many dinner plans that didn't happen, and he doesn't bat an eye when I tell him I'm going shopping, or even when I have gone shopping and tell him after the fact 😁.  He has been great to go along with my travel plans, great to put together last minute meals, and doesn't complain a bit when I change the TV from the documentary he is watching to Master Chef.  THANKS KEVIN - YOU'RE THE BEST!

School is going well - only three more weeks to go.  I am going to start back at Liberty this week, on a temporary basis, until Courtney is able to come back. It is actually working out well, because the time I spend there counts as hours for my last project.  I know I have spent too much time in the office when I can't stand looking in the closet any longer, and completely pull everything out. So I have spent the majority of my time since Monday, sorting, storing, and throwing away bags of papers and odds and ends that I no longer need or want.  It feels so good, however, the rest of the house has been ignored, so I guess I will have to throw all of my effort into the next room on my list. 

One of my favorite things I found when going through one of the storage containers is the booklet Ruthie made for Mom when she turned 90, "90 Reasons To Be Thankful for Grammie".  In case you have forgotten, here are some of your responses:

"She lets us rake her carpet" (Kim)

"For always buying real butter when Holly and I came to town (Kevin)

"She remembered me a called on our anniversary" (Kate)

"Grammie always let me be the "cook"" (Adam)

"For keeping Papa in line" (Josh)

"Sending carrots and Ranch Dressing to the "farm" with me each day" (Adam)

"For making her special fruit that I could get into when we were there visiting" (Josh)

"She was there when I was born" (Kate)

"She had her grandchildren do a nativity play for Christmas" (Kim)

"She takes me to Taco Bell" (Everyone) 

There were so many fun things listed that were so typical of my Mom.  Such a fun thing to look at this week. 

 Hollie called me yesterday and was so excited because she had just been to a job fair and was offered a job at the Broadmoor making pastries.  I am so happy for her because and it looks like her culinary classes are paying off.  

  Way to go, Hollie!  We'll be down for a visit 😁🍰

Jonathan is off to Latvia on Tuesday for the International Trombone Festival. We are excited for him and know he will do well in his performance.  Safe Travels, Jonathan ❤

While he is heading east, Kate and Sayre will be heading west.  We are really looking forward to spending some time with them which of course will include, Rumikub, fishing, baking, shopping, and a morning at Santa's Workshop (weather permitting). 

Also, I am wanting to learn some Spanish so I am hoping Sayre will give me some lessons on using Duolingo 😃

I hope you all had a wonderful Sabbath Day! On the news this week is that the Church is starting construction on the Temple here. The date for the groundbreaking still hasn't been announced but we are told it is coming soon. Literally, I can't wait!!!

Thank you Kim and Chris for the Sunday Selfie! I know this is such a busy time for you, so love you for taking the time to send this.  

 We are looking forward to a busy but good week ahead. I hope you all have the same. Don't forget to send me photos and let me know how and what you are doing.  

You are all loved so very much!

This week has been full of family, and we love it! ❤ 

Joshua was helping Emma with her big move, so we got to spend some time with Ben.  He was patient while I finished some yard work, but after I got cleaned up, he was more than ready to "do something more fun" 😃.  It was just a little after lunch time, so I asked if he would like to get something to eat, and he didn't hesitate to suggest IHOP.  I couldn't remember the last time I had been there so that's where we went, and I have to say that I had a delicious omelet filled with spinach, mushrooms, and diced tomatoes. 

Ben, on the other hand, had 2 chicken strips, 2 eggs, and 4 slices of bacon, and he ate every bite!

He also loved dipping his bacon into maple syrup - does anyone else do that?  It was new to me 😀. After we ate he asked if we could go to the mall to look for a new astronaut t-shirt. I told him we would probably have better luck at Old Navy - but we didn't - so he asked again if we could go to the mall.  Once we got there, he made a beeline for Baskin Robbins.  So he got a little ice cream, and a small toy from the toy store, and then we headed back to the house where Angella had stopped on her way home from working in Denver. We weren't home for more than 5 minutes when he pulled out the Rummikub game and we taught Angella how to play.  Josh and Emma stopped by to pick him up shortly after, and it was so nice to visit with them for a few minutes also.  A great way to start the week, and yes, I went to bed early that night -

TIP OF THE WEEK ~

Also came from Ben - As I was finishing the yard work, Kim called so I sat down on the steps in the garage to talk to her, and Ben opened the door so he could lean over my shoulder and see Kim.  She was trying to decide the best way to dye her white dress pink, and Ben very seriously told her the best way to dye her dress pink would be to put it into the washing machine with a red shirt, and just like that, it would come out pink! 😂  Thanks, Ben - I think we have probably all done that before (by mistake, of course).

I LOVE 8-YEAR-OLDS!

 Sayre has been learning Spanish on Duolingo. Hoping he can teach me some when he is here in a couple of weeks. 

 

AND - he invented "brulunchder." Brunch is a combination of Breakfast and Lunch.  Sayer made his own meal and it had food from every meal - therefore, brulunchder.  Wouldn't it be great if we could just cook and eat once a day????

 Thursday, Angella and I went to the Temple.  We had the nicest time - no traffic going or coming home, just a relaxed time to be there - to focus and ponder on those things that are most important to us. Paul had gone with some friends and we just happened to be in the same session, so I got a Celestial Room hug from him. I am so happy that he likes to be there too -

  Lily was my partner on Friday.  She went with me to help clean out Helma's bedroom closets.  Wow! The majority of her clothes we left hanging because they are really high quality (though maybe a little outdated) and Donna wants to take them to a consignment shop.  In spite of that, we still filled up two huge leaf and lawn sized bags with sweaters, shirts, more sweaters, fuzzy pants and tops, and bathrobes. We filled up another bag with shoes. Donna's boys loaded them in the back of our car, and Lily and I took them to a Catholic thrift store that uses their profits to support retired nuns. After we dropped the clothes off, we had to do a little shopping of course.  We both came home with some fun things and stopped at Dutch Bros for a lemonade (one energy, and one not) and might just make a repeat of it this coming week.  Actually, Lily was a great help in sorting and bagging up the clothes, and Donna needs all of the help she can get. She has such a hard time breathing here and the sooner they can get the house cleaned out, the sooner she can moved back to Tennessee, and a lower elevation.

Adam brought his crew over yesterday, and they worked so hard pulling weeks, putting down some weed barrier, and covering it with mulch. Thanks so Paul who spent time during the Summer with his friends working in the landscape business.  They all worked so hard, and even Jake didn't stop after hauling bags of mulch to the backyard.

Thanks so much for all of your hard work! We love it so much ❤

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MIKE THIS WEEK!

 He is such an amazing brother, husband, father, papa, uncle, and friend.  We love you Mike!

SUNDAY SELFIE ~

 This is Ben, before and after Church (notice where the tie is 😁)

REMEMBER GRAMMIE CAMP? 

Cory sent me this photo when she was over yesterday - How I miss those days . . .

AND FINALLY - I think this might be me 😊

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!  PLEASE SEND ME PHOTOS AND STORIES OF YOUR ADVENTURES AND MIRACLES THIS WEEK ❤

 Today in Primary, we talked about the miracles performed by Elisha, the miracles of the Savior, and miracles we see everyday in our lives.  One of my favorite stories has always been one shared by the survivors of the Willie-Martin Handcart Company who felt the presence of angels helping them push their carts during the harshest of conditions. 

President Russell M. Nelson has taught that our God is a God of miracles. "The Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, doubting nothing. Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith."  Many of you have witnessed miracles, more than you realize. They may seem small in comparison to Jesus raising the dead. But the magnitude does not distinguish a miracle, only that it came from God. 

 I have always said that Sayre is our "miracle baby", because Kate and Jonathan didn't think they would be able to children, and then 10 years after they were married they were blessed with this beautiful little guy.  But then today, I was thinking really all of you are miracles in our lives - you were wanted and prayed for, you have beautiful bodies and spirits, and we consider. you to be special gifts from Heavenly Father.  

You each have a special place in our hearts.

You are special to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior.  You are all at places in your lives where the choices you make will determine your future.  Remember how much you are loved, stay busy with good things, recognize your parents for the many sacrifices they have made for you, be happy, and above all, find joy each day ❤

  

FAMILY NEWS ~

I think EVERYONE has had a busy week!  

Angella and girls have been busy with work. Emma is moving tomorrow to a home in Fountain.  Even though we don't get to see her too often, I will miss not having her closer. 

Eilis stopped by for a short visit this week - She brought Jacob along and we had a fun lunch at Mod Pizza.  We also got to see Ben for a few minutes this week.  He has grown so much over the last couple of months, and is so much fun to have around.

 We are excited that he and Sayre will have some time to spend together when Kate comes later this month.  We are hoping for a trip to Santa's Workshop and time they can spend on their devices together. 

Blythe, Grant, and Spencer are all busy working this summer.  Max is still working at the MTC, however, he spent this past weekend in Atlanta with Amelia and her parents. 

Kim and Chris are busy getting ready for Max and Amelia's wedding (and finding a pink dress for Kim).  

We are excited, and know it will be a wonderful day❤

Sayer finished soccer this week by scoring four goals!  He is hoping that he might bet to kick the ball around with Jake when he is here. 

He talked Kate into helping him fish in the canal that runs behind their house this week.  They got the corn on the hook, and Kate said it took less than 3 minutes and he caught a fish, and then had the trauma of getting the fish unhooked.  Jonathan wasn't home, so a neighbor offered to help.  They put the fish in the water while they were waiting for the neighbor to bring some pliers, and when they pulled the fish out it had swallowed the hook. They cut the line, and gave the poor fish an honorable farewell 😢

Fishing is just not as easy as Jake makes it sound . . . 😂

 Adam, Cory, Paul, Lily, and Jake left with their trailer Thursday afternoon for a few days in the mountains.  Once school starts Adam and Cory are always so busy, I'm glad they get this chance to enjoy some family time before Paul leaves on his mission. And it looks like they are having a wonderful time -

Adam said that one day they went on a hike and Milo was so tired, he had to lay down in the stream to cool off.  ❤  AND watch out world Jake is driving 😳 👇

FINALLY - this has always been a favorite video of Lily, which Kim calls the "birth of an influencer"

Well, today, Lily decided to give us a 2026 version 😂. Love you Lily!

It is getting late, and I haven't had my Sunday ice cream yet 😁 (it really doesn't look like this) 

JiChan and I love hearing from you - your adventures, your challenges, things that make you happy, or things that frustrate, lessons learned (good or bad), or just what's going on in your life. Please keep us up to date, and send photos, after all, we are making history here.

Love you! ❤