Young Women's at last!

Allison is now 12!How can my baby girl be so old? I miss her little self dancing and being silly around the house. But I am thankful that she isn't as grown up as many of her friends. She still likes to cuddle, likes me to do her hair, and on quiet Saturday mornings can be found watching cartoons while holding her one of many baby dolls. She has gotten a little "hormonal" this last little while and I'm not sure if I can handle the full blown stuff that is coming our way.

She wanted to invite a ton of friends over for her birthday which was a lot of fun (and loud). Nothing planned worked out because they have their own ideas of fun and games, but it was a blast watching them. We were all excited that she picked Cafe Rio for her family birthday dinner!Allison was very ready to graduate from Primary, but very nervous for Young Women. She is the oldest in our ward for her grade so that meant leaving all of her friends behind and taking a giant leap all by herself. The Beehive class was so awesome to come over on her birthday and brought over a candy bar poster to welcome her. They came by to pick her up for their next activity and made an extra effort to make sure she was surrounded by new friends in YW opening exercises on Sunday.

Saying good-bye

Today we said good-bye to my mom and dad for 18 months. We were a little spoiled in that they went into the MTC 2 weeks ago, but they got to come sleep at home each night and say good-night. But tonight Brendan and I drove them to Salt Lake where they are staying in a hotel for a few days as they complete their training at the Church offices and then they catch their plane to Colombia early Saturday morning. Tonight they came back from the MTC and we had a nice family dinner. Ed's family was here too for a few hours. I made soup and rolls. We took a few photos with all the grandkids, then we loaded the car with LOTS of luggage, and then Allison played, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," which she just learned to play by herself from the hymnbook. It was not easy to keep our composure during the song. We had a family prayer and then the kids said a tearful goodbye and had to go to bed since it was almost 10. Brendan and I drove them to their hotel in Salt Lake and helped them get situated. It was so hard to let go of our last hug for 18 months. We looked up from the parking lot as we drove away and saw them waving from their hotel room several floors up. I'm so thankful that they are in good health and have such a desire to serve this mission. They are going to be working in Bogota Colombia to help establish the Perpetual Education Fund that President Hinckly started a few years ago. It won't be a typical proselyting mission, but a perfect one for them. They will also be helping teach institute which will be nerve wracking for my mom, but my dad will coach her through it like he does everything else. He's such a people person and I know so much good is going to happen through them being there. They will miss a lot while they are gone, specifically Noah's baptism and Jordan's high school graduation (hopefully no births), but they felt an urgency to leave so they could be home to say good-bye to Jordan a few months before he leaves on his mission. We are all going to miss them, but I'm so thankful for their example to all of us. I love them so very much. What a blessing and privilege to be their daughter.

Passing of a prophet

Last Sunday night after all of my parents friends had left and after my mom and dad were set apart as missionaires, I was downstairs helping my dad with something on their computer when I heard Brendan scream, "OH NO!" It's not like him to do that so I immediately got up to see what happened. He ran downstairs and told us that he was watching TV and it was just announced that President Hinckley passed away. Tears rushed to the surface as we all sat down to absorb the news. Of course this was inevitable as he was 97 years old, but it was a day we all dreaded for a long time. Not President Hinckley. I love him so very much and had adopted him in my heart as my grandpa since I don't remember my own. His genuine love for all of us deeply touched me. I loved his humor and his "normalcy." He was so knowledgeable about the things and problems of today. He said things without any sugar coating, but in a way that made me want to obey and do it, just because he said it. His life was so full of good works. He built almost 100 temples during his presidency. He also built the conference center. He tuned the way the church was viewed by the world by being simple in his words and meeting with the press on many national interviews. He was a sweetheart. He was an amazing example. He was kind. He was faithful. His love and service was never-ending. He was good. He was a hardworker and always optimistic. He was a great leader. He was our beloved prophet - a man of God. His memory and words and teachings will forever be a huge part of my life. His request for all of us to read The Book of Mormon a few years ago changed my life. Before the night was over, both Jordan and Jake had received several text messages on their phones from friends suggesting they all wear white shirts and ties to school the next day to honor his memory. Only in Utah...it was so neat to see them all the next day. Love these kids!
Yesterday morning (Feb.1) was a no school day. Brendan and Ed were going to take the kids skiing. But 1st...Brendan wasn't able to get the day off work, 2nd...Ian spent all night throwing up, so Ed's family was out, 3rd...We woke up to yet another huge snowstorm. Jake was so sad. Since skiing was out, we all went back to bed and slept in a bit. It felt great! As the morning wore on, I kept feeling that we should go to Salt Lake and pay our respects to President Hinckley. His viewing was from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. I knew the crowds and lines would be huge, but felt like we needed to go. Jordan had to work, but I asked Jake and Allison if they wanted to go. Allison immediately said yes. Jake said that he had always wanted to see Pres. Hinckley. He knew that was his one and only opportunity. We quickly changed and grabbed a peanut butter sandwich and walked out the door right about 1:00. Brendan was able to get off work a few hours early and we all met at the Sandy Trax station. We got there just in time to park and literally run across the parking lot to make the train. We were all so excited, yet a little saddened to have the oppportunity to go to President Hinckley's viewing as a family (minus Jordan). We walked the two blocks to the conference center and arrived shortly after 3 pm. We got in the back of a ridiculously long line which was thankfully moving rather quickly. Only to be told 15 minutes later that we had to get in a longer, slower moving line becuse I had a purse and had to get it through security. It was about 25 degrees outside and we stood in the cold for just about an hour exactly. We finally made it in and were led to warm comfortable seats! There we waited and sat with thousands upon thousands of people as the ushers escorted section by section, row by row, to the viewing of his casket. We waited in our seats for 3 1/2 hours! We saw a video of President Hinckley's 95th birthday celebration - twice. Jake and I loved watching as the workers arranged hundreds of plants and flowers for tomorrows funeral. The podium was transformed before our eyes. It was finally our turn! We went up 3 flights of escalators to the Hall of the Prophets. As we approached the room where he was, I squeezed Jake's hand and he whispered, "I can feel the spirit so strong already." That alone was worth the wait and the cold. The smell of fresh fowers permiated the air. The line was split in two and we walked on either side of President Hinckley's casket. Tears filled my eyes and the words "thank you" rang out over and over in my mind.His small, fragile body looked hardly the same as the man who had lead our church for the past 12 years. I noticed that he was wearing his trademark black stoned wedding ring. We had to move quickly through, but all of us agreed that those few seconds of being able to be so near to our beloved prophet and feel of the spirit was worth our 6 hour journey. I was so thankful that we went. I was so thankful that Jake and Allison had this experience. It is one that we will never forget - ever!

It was almost 8:00 pm when we boarded the trax train to come home. We were starving! Jake suggested we go to Chuck-a-rama in Sandy since it's all you can eat. He was talking about all the things he wanted to get before we even got there. We talked about President Hinckley and other past prophets over dinner and had such a great time together.

I loved and will always love President Gordon B. Hinckley! It has been said that Joseph Smith has done more for the salvation of man, save Jesus Christ. I agree, but I have to add that I believe President Hinckley is a close 3rd. What a legacy he left us all.

Mom and Dad's mission farewell

We spent last weekend cleaning and re-arranging our house in preparation for my mom and dad's farewell brunch/open house. I did their invitations and we sent out over 50, not including their current ward members so we were expecting a large crowd. We stayed up late last Saturday making egg casseroles and all the final little details. Their farewell was at 9 a.m. the next morning. My mom asked me to be in charge of giving headphones to all the non-spanish speaking guests. I was so touched by my parents' testimonies and their excitement to serve. My mom paid a beautiful tribute to my grandma and said that she was serving this mission to say thank-you to our Heavenly Father for her many blessings and for all the mercies that He showed to Teta during her last few months. They had been planning to go a few years back, right when Teta got sick so it was a blessing that they were still here for that and postponed putting their papers in. My dad's tender emotions touched us all and I just know how great he'll be in helping and serving. Our house was filled to capacity and beyond with all of their friends and past ward members that came to support them. I'm so glad that we had enough food. They have had so much fun this past week at the MTC. They loved being with all the Elders and being a part of the MTC family. They have been able to come home each evening afer dinner so it's been nice to not have to say good-bye for good yet. Last night was especially fun because it was my mom's birthday. I made her a pumpking/cream cheese roll. I had prayed for weeks to know what to get her. She can't take more "stuff" with her and already has all that she needs. The night before her birthday I had the thought to buy her a locket that she could wear while on her mission and put Teta's picture in it. I found the perfect one at Kohl's with Teta's birthstone on the outside. I was so grateful fo that inspiration.