What a week!  It has been a busy one, with challenges here and there but that is how we learn and grow, right? 😊  I was just thinking the other day what life would be like if - you had the perfect family, the perfect husband, the perfect wife, perfect children, the perfect boyfriend, all the money you need in your checking and savings account, a car that never breaks down, the perfect job that comes with annual promotions, a house where all the laundry is done and neatly folded and put away, a swimming pool in the backyard, no dust to wipe away, or yardwork to do . . .  It sounds great but it is not how things really are.  I think Heavenly Father allows us to have those "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days" because those are the times when we reach out to Him. Those are the days when we can rely on the Savior's Atonement and the power it can give us to endure the "messiness" of life.  A couple of quotes I really enjoyed from conference this weekend - 

Elder Tai - "Please know that your every effort matters, and as certain as the stars above us, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know, hear, and love you". 

Elder Cook - "In a world of great beauty, there are also enormous challenges.  As we turn to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, He rescues us from the storms of life through His Atonement in accordance with the Father's plan". 

  Angella had one of those days yesterday, as she was driving to work when her car suddenly quit - she was able to pull off to the side of the road near a service station, and someone helped her push it the rest of the way in.  She called for a tow truck, and then Eilis came to take her to work.  As they were making a U-turn to get back on the highway, the car hit a curb, and the tire went flat 😲.  So, back to the gas station where someone helped Eilis put on her spare tire then she drove on to work.

I don't remember if Angella ever made it to work, but her Roadside Assistance gave her a voucher for an Uber, so she was able to make it home.

When Angella called to tell me this story, she was actually laughing.  It would have been so easy to have felt angry, frustrated, depressed, and to just want to give up - but she was trying to look at the bright side of things.  This was a great reminder to me  - sometimes we just need to have faith that everything will work out - and it always does. 

  School is over for Kim and I this Wednesday - I'll be doing some studying tomorrow and Tuesday, and then I'll take my final either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.   We will have a nice break until May 5th, and then it will be another 7-week class before I am through for the Summer. YAY!

I just want to tell you how much I love each and every one of you! And I am so thankful that we are a family.  I love that Josh, Angella, Emma, Eilis, Hollie, and Ben, and Adam and Cory, Sammi, Paul, Lily, and Jake all live close by so we get to see them often, go shopping together, eat dinner together, celebrate birthdays, cheer at soccer games, and have occasional lunches together. 

I love that Kim and Chris, Spencer, Grant, and Blythe, and Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre all live in places we love to come visit - and the adventures we have had at Target, Portillo's, the Chicage 1st Ward, The Jewel, Trader Joes, Aldi, the Amana Colonies, Clementine, and Gracie, and (now Ralphie), Pedicures, and fireflys. 

I love that Max is at BYU!  What a great place to be with good friends ❤

And I love that Kevin is here with me - always an adventure - Friday bagel dates, walking Sendai, the Temple, working on the house, and always sharing his Institute lessons with me, and lately, it has been visits with Shannon.  We continue to learn and try to be better.

You are all my greatest blessings!  I hope you have a wonderful week ❤

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!  I think we all celebrated Spring Break over the last couple of weeks - even I took a break from the blog.  We have been so very busy and last Sunday by the I could sit down and actually work on the blog I was too tired to put my hands on the computer. 😪

Anyway, we made it through the last couple of weeks enduring - (1) a water leak in the kitchen that damaged the ceiling and wall in a downstairs bedroom, (2) we were hosting our FHE group dinner and had no water in the kitchen (because of the leak) so we had to pack up all of the food and take it over to the Adams, (3) and finally, a phone call from Lark Springs letting us know that Shannon had knocked someone down at the memory care facility, and they were changing her medication and someone would need to be her daytime companion for a couple of weeks. 😫😬😥😳

Thankfully, PACE got permission to place a companion with Shannon from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM so Dad and I have been going over every afternoon between 4:00 and 6:00.  She seems happy so I am hoping the medicine is working.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BEN!   🎈🎉🎂 

 Ben turned "7" on March 24th.  He such a good little guy - so sweet, always wanting to help, and always very busy.

For his birthday dinner he ordered pizza with brownies for dessert. 😄

When it came time to unwrap his gifts he got lots of t-shirts, a hoodie, pajamas, a train set, and 2 Cybertrucks - one of which was remote-controlled (and he spent half of the evening chasing Amos with it).

 

 We love you so much, Ben! ❤

KATE, JONATHAN, AND SAYRE spent a quiet Spring Break doing fun family things at home. Kate had to work part of the time, but they enjoyed a picnic at a nearby lake and Sayre has become a champion dog-walker

I talked to Kate today and she said Sayre has the day off of school tomorrow. I asked her why and she didn't know, so I looked at the calendar and tomorrow is Cesar Chavez Day.  I don't think we usually celebrate that but he was an interesting man and did a lot for American migrant farmworkers.  Just so you know . . .

THE ELLSWORTH FAMILY (Kim, Chris, and Grant) were dog training over Spring Break, and Spencer kept super busy with his work.  Kim says Ralphie is doing better but they are still working through the sharp baby teeth, biting and chewing!  Blythe outdid herself with a school trip to France! She has taken French in school for the last three years - loves the language and apparently fell in love with Nice.  She said it reminded her of Florence, which was our favorite city in Italy last summer.  

ADAM, CORY, PAUL, LILY, AND JAKE traveled to Moab for their Spring Break adventure.  They took two cars and pulled their trailer behind one and the ATV's and dirt bikes behind the other.  They had a really fun time which you can tell by their photos -

Samantha stayed home because she had to work, but she stopped by a couple of times during breaks and we went out to lunch.

ANGELLA, HOLLIE, EILIS, AND BEN spent Spring Break

packing!  They will be moving over the next couple of weeks, to a larger apartment located within the complex where Angella works.  It will be nice for them to have more space but I don't envy them the packing  -  and especially the unpacking!  However, it is the best time in the world to declutter (something we've missed since we have been in our house for so long).  Angella says their living room is so full of boxes they can hardly get around them.

DAD AND I finished our Spring Break going to Jake's soccer game yesterday. YAY!! Jake did so good!

We also got to play (and sleep 😄) with Milo while Adam and Cory were gone and dehydrated 9 lbs. of lemons from my Dad's lemon tree.  And, best of all, Friday we went to the temple and did a session and sealings ❤

You can see someone has got her nose in the middle of everything 😁

  THANK YOU Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre for the beautiful Sunday Selfie!  You always make me smile 😀❤

I can hardly believe we are heading into April this week - It is really springtime in the Rockies - all week we had sunshine and temperatures in the high 60's - low 70's, yesterday we were back in the 50's with rain, and today in the 40's with rain.  I Need The Sun! 🌞

We are also getting close to the end of the school year - my term is up in just 10 days. I have loved my class and have learned so much. It hasn't been a hard class but just lots of reading, and writing to do in a short amount of time.  This week we have focused on nonprofit organizations and I wanted to share a couple of stories from Turning Point videos that I loved so much!

https://www.byutv.org/player/df8ab9a7-80cc-4340-a8e4-607ea14b0224/turning-point-camp-to-belong

Turning Point—Acres of LoveLinks to an external site.

After watching these I am reminded of how blessed we are to be a family and know we can count on family love and support through all phases of our lives and through all obstacles.  

GENERAL CONFERENCE - I am so excited for General Conference next week!  I know it is just what I need after this past busy month.  

                 EXPERIENCE HOPE AND PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

Love you all so much! ❤

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM

  Kim has a birthday this Friday, March 21st.  

An amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister, and partner in crime.  We love you so much, Kim, and are so blessed by your compassion, service, and sense of humor.  Each day we thank Heavenly Father that you were sent to our family ❤

HAVE A HAPPY DAY!

TWO PEAS IN A POD  ~

On Monday, before we left for California, Dad kept super busy getting clothes washed and the house cleaned, while I tried to complete school assignments.  By the time he got to the vacuuming, he was beat and needed to sit down to finish the job.  It reminded me of a photo Kim sent a long, long, time ago of Spencer laying down to do the vacuuming.  Love these two guys who always make me smile!😁

WATCH OUT WORLD - JAKE, LILY, AND SAYRE ARE ON THE ROAD 😳

I think Adam, Cory, and family are gearing up for an adventurous Spring Break trip to do some exploring and mountain biking.  Jake got a new scooter to ride to school, and if you watch the video below, Lily is riding her mountain bike like a pro (though she will not be joining a motorcycle gang anytime soon (while I'm alive)).

SAYRE also not only got a new haircut, but he also got a new bike this week!

WHAT??? KATE GOT A SPA VACATION THIS WEEK?

Ok, I guess it was only for a couple of days, and she was being a great friend to someone in need.  Kate's friend Miranda is the mother of Sayre's best friend, Jackson.  She recently has gone through a divorce and Kate has reached out and given her a lot of support.  Miranda's birthday was this week and she invited Kate to a couple of days at Lake Geneva (in Wisconsin) and they had a wonderful time - pedicures, massages, lovely dinners . . .  I'm thinking this sounds like a great girl's trip (Me, Kim, Kate, Angella, Cory, Sammi, Eilis, Blythe, Hollie, and Lily) Who votes yes? 😀 

FAMILY TIME IN CALIFORNIA ~

The only nice thing about going to a funeral is being with family that you don't get to see too often.  We loved visiting with Francie, Jenny, Steven, and Matt and their family and friends.  HollyAnne drove up from Fresno, and Ruthie and Ken were there.  I am just sad I didn't get more photos. I texted Jenny tonight to see if she can send me some and if she does, I will post them later.  Francie is doing well.  She said she had prepared herself and knew that Ray wouldn't be able to last much longer.  

 Jenny is taking good care of her, and both she and Matt live within walking distance of their home.  Steven is there also, but he works most days.  I know Jenny is concerned about leaving Francie alone during the days, but the Relief Society has promised to have sisters stop by often for visits.  I am grateful and Mike is close by as he has told Jenny he can help with the mortgage, or insurance benefits - anything that needs sorting out.  

On Thursday, rain and wind had been forecasted, but what a blessing it turned out to be a sunny day (Francie said Ray arranged it for us) for the graveside service in Marysville.  You might notice that we are all in jeans and that is because that was what Jenny said we were supposed to wear - so we did (although it didn't seem quite right).  

Ray is buried very close to where my mom and dad are so it was a sweet time to also be with them. 

 We left Sacramento Friday afternoon and were able to spend an hour with Ruthie and Amy at the airport because we were all leaving from the same terminal.  Jenny just randomly booked Amy's flights and she ended up on both of the same flights as Ruthie and Ken. 

Ruthie has been so great to take care of all of the Provo cousins.  She has them all over for dinner one Sunday a month. ❤

AND ONCE AGAIN - 

Thank you to Samantha for keeping Sendai company at night and to Eilis who stopped by to play with her before she had to go to work.

FINAL THOUGHTS -

We spent Thursday night with Mike and Barbi, and Mike always has the best stories and thoughts.

He shared this quote from President Joseph F. Smith - 

 In the April 1916 general conference, President Joseph F. Smith said this:

If we can see by the enlightening influence of the Spirit of God . . . beyond the veil that separates us from the spirit world, surely those who have passed beyond, can see more clearly . . . back here to us than it is possible for us to see to them. . . . I believe we move . . . in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. . . . We begin to realize more and more fully, as we become acquainted with the principles of the Gospel, . . . that we are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors, to our friends and associates and co-laborers who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break, that we can not dissolve or free ourselves from.

From a BYU Devtional

The Gardener of Gethsemane

RUSSELL C. TAYLOR

I think I feel this every time we are in the Temple - that our loved ones are truly close by ❤

REMEMBER TO BE EXTRA KIND THIS WEEK  - YOU ARE ALL IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS EVERYDAY!

 HAPPY DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME -  I don't love when we Spring Forward and lose an hour of sleep, but I do really love when we have light later in the day.  I hope someday someone will pass a law to make it permanent! 😊

  In our Temple Prep class tonight we were talking about what a gift it is to have the Sabbath Day when we can rest, forget (even for just a little while) the busy work we do every other day of the week, we can spend time with family, read without feeling guilty, and do family history work - like maybe a blog ❤  It's been a much needed day after a very busy week.

 Samantha brought some sunshine into our home on Tuesday when she stopped by after school to "hang out" for a while before she had to go to work.  You can see she doesn't come by just to spend time with Ji-Chan and I 😁

 She also brought some beautiful tulips for me.  

 Funny story . . . or maybe not 😮 on Friday, Sammie went dress shopping in Denver with a friend and it took them 3 hours to get home because of icy roads.  She got off the freeway on County Line Road only to find out that the police had closed a large portion of the road because cars were sliding off the hills.  She decided she would walk home - I'm picturing a pioneer here - blowing snow, cold, no hat or gloves, her socks and shoes were wet.  I don't think she got too far when she called Cory who came to the rescue.  She was brave enough to get back in her car and drive down to our house so she could spend the night as she had to go to work early the next morning and was worried that the road conditions might get worse.  Love this girl!!!

Hollie and Ben also came on Friday so it was almost like a mini Grammie Camp!  How fun to be together - Saturday we went shopping after Sammi got off of work.  We started with lunch at Mod Pizza because we were all hungry and it was the one place where everyone would eat the food.

After lunch we went to the Mall, then the Shops at Briargate, Ulta, and Paper Source, and Ben was such a good trooper - but he was done by the time we left Ulta. 

 We came back to the house and dropped the girls off, and I took Ben to get   a haircut.

 Such a handsome guy!!  With a birthday in just two weeks (turning 7) and so fun to have in my Primary class today 💕

 Hollie came through with flying colors this weekend also - I asked her if she would brush out Sendai for us and she didn't miss a beat.  Sendai is at the end of "blowing her coat" and we were finding fur everywhere.  

Hollie did a great job of getting that undercoat brushed out. She looks so much better - and we don't have to walk around with lint rollers in our pockets😀.

 BONJOUR LA FRANCE ~

 Blythe will be off to France in a couple of weeks on a school trip.  She has taken French for the last three years of high school and has worked hard to save her money for the trip.  Bon Voyage, Blythe - we will be looking forward to lots of fun photos.

And, speaking of Blythe . . . I had a dental appointment this week and I couldn't help but remember the video of Blythe after her dental appointment with the dentist who had "B O" - 

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

We love you so much Blythe!  You make my heart happy and I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip ❤. 

Kate had an adventurous week attending a work conference in Reno.  She arrived Wednesday (after a flight delay) and Thursday morning she got up and was able to go to the Reno Temple. 

 I am so happy she had time in her schedule to go, though she did say it was a little awkward taking an Uber from the Temple to a casino. 😀

 She made it home this afternoon after getting up at 1:45 AM to catch a 3:45 AM  Uber to the Airport for a 5:30 AM flight to Cedar Rapids - Sleep good tonight, Kate!

  And thank you Jonathan for taking this great Sunday Selfie! 

 (Jonathan said Sayre really missed his Mom 💖)

Chris was back in the kitchen yesterday, stirring up some blueberry muffins to help celebrate Grant's birthday.  I love this recipe and it is so easy to make - 

  

 

I converted Ben to eating peanut butter and syrup on a waffle 😋 YUM!

And I was able to spend a little time with Helma this week. (Donna had Piper dyed pink for Valentine's day) 😳

I had a super challenging day on Wednesday.  I was the host for my group Zoom Meeting and recorded the meeting only to find out that I couldn't post it to our discussion board - I know I had this same problem a few weeks ago and that was my fault, BUT this week I did everything correctly and it would not post - I contacted BYU-I IT for help but they said I would need to contact Pathways Help Center, so I sent an email, but am still waiting for help in resolving the issue.  I can't remember the last time I have felt so frustrated and stressed.  The lesson I learned?   Wednesday, I absolutely let stress and frustration take over my day, my thoughts, my actions, and my mental and physical health.  I refuse to do that again!  I think I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, that Heavenly Father can and will help us with even the smallest things in our lives.  He could have helped me that day, if I had stopped to ask.  I know He lives and He loves us ❤.

LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!