Snowmen...
and Gingerbread
(Aug) Celia...
My niece, Celia, is going to be living with us and attending school at Orem High!
(Aug 3-4) Mother/Daughter retreat
Teresa hosted our first ever Mother/Daughter retreat at the city center where she lives. It was a lot of fun! (We've decided to make it an annual event! -smile-)
I purchased some crazy matching pjs for me, Monica, Melinda, and Liz to wear... what a hoot! I'm definitely looking forward to next year's event...!
Summer Birthdays...
(July 11) Happy Birthday Liz!
It's so great having another "daughter" in the family and another birthday to celebrate! -smile-
(July 7) Monica is SWEET 16!
The morning of Monica's birthday, one of her good friends, (Katie), came over and gave her a "make-over". -smile- She cut Monica's hair to give her some bangs, and taught her how to apply makeup... Monica was thrilled!
Later, Liz and Andrew showed up at the house with a few formal dresses that Liz had. She helped Monica select a dress and get all fancied up. Meanwhile, Andrew and Tom, also dressed in formal attire, prepared the garage for an impromptu ballroom dance. They cranked up the tunes and had a blast dancing the afternoon away...
(June 27) Melinda is 11-years old!
Melinda with her new friend, Emma.
Grandma Walden made a fun wardrobe of clothes
and accessories for her new doll,
as well as a tent, backpack, and sleeping bag!
(see below)
Meanwhile, Liz made this cute owl cake
for Melinda's birthday celebration with the family.
It was a huge success!
When she saw it, she let out a squeal of delight! -smile-
Happy Birthday Melinda!
(May 5) Graduation Day...! (Cinco de Mayo)
Well done son! Thanks for your example to our family! -hug-
(April) A Bird Farewell...
It was with mixed feelings we bid farewell to our faithful hens this month as we loaded them into a waiting van to go to their new home in Salt Lake City. They have taught our family, (particularly Monica), lessons in responsibility and stewardship the years that they have lived here.
For a couple of days during spring break, we welcomed a visitor to our yard... a Helmeted Guineafowl! We have no idea how it got here as they are usually found in Africa!
(April 2) Bucket Lists...Recently some friends brought up the subject of bucket lists, (a personal wish list of things to do before you die). After some serious contemplation I've come up with a few things I would LOVE to do...(in no particular order)
...visit Nauvoo and the Church History sites!
...meet Pres. Henry B. Eyring and/or Elder David A. Bednar in real life!
...find a worthy Eternal Companion, go on a real honeymoon, (I've never been), serve a mission with him, and grow old together! -smile-
...experience being a "Grandma"!
...see all of my children fully embrace the Gospel and live up to their potential!
...go to college and just learn!
...own a car for once in my life that I don't have to worry about breaking down! -sigh-
(Feb 25) Birthdays...
All of the children were here for President's Day, so Liz made this awesome cake and we were able to celebrate Tom's (early) birthday together before he left to go back to school!
Then Annette, another dear friend, made sure I had plenty to do on my birthday... -smile-
"Lynette, You say you don't have any plans for your birthday...well let's see what we can do. How about a brisk walk around the track at the recreation center? (gift 1 was an OFC track card) then come home and shower and put on these yummy... (gift 2 was a pair of fuzzy socks) put your feet up and enjoy your new... (gift 3 was a DVD entitled, "Facing the Giants") then enjoy your healthy...(gift 4 was a bag of Raisinets) and then have the happiest birthday ever!"
After walking the track with Monica, I found this art work from Spencer on my computer screen when I got home, along with a delicious mac and cheese dinner that he had prepared!
Thanks to so many friends and family that helped make it such a great day! It sure helps take the edge off of growing old... -smile-
(Feb 16) "Then sings my soul..."Earlier this month I had the opportunity to share a small part of my testimony of the LDS Hymns and their effect in my life. I've continued to reflect on it and feel impressed to share another experience I had...
I remember one day several years ago, I was struggling in my marriage, as well as under intense pressure from Brian to turn to alternative sources for answers. I didn't feel right about it and was so confused! I decided to attend the temple. As I lingered in the Celestial room and pled for direction, a Hymn came distinctly to my mind..."Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole? When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart searching my soul? Who, who can understand? He, only One. He answers privately. Reaches my reaching. In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend! Gentle the peace He finds for my beseeching. Constant He is, and kind! Love without end!" It was my answer! I needed to turn fully to the Savior and rely on His counsel in my life. I am so grateful that I did! Later I realized He had known of things that were going on that I wasn't aware of at the time... He truly walked me through my own Gethsemane!
(Jan 1) Happy New Year! (Hope...)
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
