tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154349389132621182024-03-20T01:33:02.815-06:00***The Marsden Family***Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-5040145881501699162012-11-16T13:03:00.001-07:002012-11-16T13:03:14.992-07:00Happy Birthday Sean!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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November 16th, 1989 will go down in the history of my life as one of my happiest days...EVER!! It was the end of a difficult trial that I had endured. For those of you who knew me back then you will remember how my arms ached to have another baby. We had been blessed with a baby girl on October 10th, 1985 and then I just couldn't seem to be able to have another baby. I had one miscarriage before Melissa, but after having Melissa, I just seemed to have problem after problem having another baby. I was able to conceive which was a great blessing, but I just couldn't carry a pregnancy. I had suffered through three miscarriages and then became pregnant for the 6th time and hoped again for a baby. About 17 weeks into the pregnancy I started having problems. I was devastated!! The other miscarriages I had had were long term miscarriages and things looked very dim. The doctor could see through ultra-sound that there was a large tear in the placenta. He gave me a 50/50 chance that I would continue on with my pregnancy. He put me on total bed rest and told me to come back in 3 weeks for another ultra sound to see if the placenta would heal. I can remember receiving two tender mercies during that time that helped me sustain my faith. First, I received a priesthood blessing from my Bishop. In the blessing I was told that I would have this baby and that he would be healthy. Second, I received a phone call from a member of our stake presidency whom I didn't even know. He told me that he had heard of my situation and that he had placed my name on the prayer roll. It touched me more then I can ever explain. During that time I continued to pray and plead and bargain with the Lord to help me have this baby. Much of what when on during that period of time has remained in my heart as some of the most sacred experiences of my life. When I returned to see Dr. Bryner, he told me that all looked well and I could carry on a normal life for the next 8 weeks at which point I would be put back on bed rest to help prevent pre-term labor. So, again in August I went back to bed-rest. At this point Melissa was close to turning 4. It was a difficult time and the medicine I was on to stop labor made me feel terrible. Melissa and I spent our days reading books and watching videos and she went to be cared for by so many people who generously offered. One particular video that we watched was Mary Poppins over and over again. She loved it!! I was told by Dr. Bryner that once I reached 37 weeks I would be able to get out of bed and things would more than likely be safe to have the baby. I WAS SO HAPPY!! I was supposed to still take it easy, but I was okay to get off of bed rest. So, on the afternoon of November 16th, I took Melissa's to King's in Bountiful. We were having fun in the toy department when my water broke. This of course was back in the days of no cell phones. I grabbed Melissa and we made the 2 minute drive home. I called Tim and he hurried home. My labor had hit hard! I started trying to call to find somewhere to take Melissa. No one was home. Finally my nephew Rich answered at their house. Rich would have only been about 10 at the time. I knew that my sister never left them for a long time so we decided to drop Melissa there to be tended by her 3 cousins. I am feeling grateful for cell phones right now. What I learned later was that the 3 boys had strep throat and Kathy had gone to the store to pick up their medicine. What a place to leave your child! We arrived at the University of Utah hospital and I was in a lot of pain. As a side note, my Dr. wanted me to deliver at the University hospital because at the time it was the only hospital that use surfactant which is a drug used if needed to help speed up the development of lungs in pre-mature babies. Tim could tell I was in a lot of pain and insistent he get a wheel chair for me. I was so embarrassed, but thankful when I checked into the hospital and was told I was dilated to a 10 and that my baby had a full head of hair! Needless to say, Sean was born VERY quickly, without my Dr. there and with a room full of people. They asked me if it would be okay if about 6 interns observed and I even had a male nurse. I was rushed into a room and things were done in such a hurry that I remember seeing the blinds open and I could see into the parking lot, but I was in too much pain to let anyone know to close the blinds...I just wanted to have my baby...NOW!! In short order, Sean was born. I WAS SO HAPPY!! That night the U of U was lit on the mountain. I could NOT sleep for hours after he was born. I have felt different and very strong emotions after each of our children were born. With Sean it was pure JOY and HAPPINESS!! I remember laying in bed and wanted to get out and dance around and sing "Let's go fly a kite". True story. After all of those weeks of watching Mary Poppins. That was what came to my mind!!<br />
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Sean has been my favorite son! He is great and both Melissa and Megan have accused me of thinking Sean is my favorite child. For the record, I love all of my children!! I am so grateful for him and for his life. He truly is a gift to me from my Heavenly Father. <br />
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Sean has had great support in his life from his family. This is a picture of Grandpa Alan and Grandma Bea after Sean was ordained a teacher.</div>
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Everyone that meets Sean says he looks like his dad. Sean shares his middle name with his dad...Timothy!</div>
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Melissa adores Sean. She is a very good big sister and they share many things in common! She even gave birth to her first born that has blue eyes just like her brother :) Sean had been the only blue eyed person in our family who I believe he got from his Grandpa Alan and his Grandma Phyllis. When Sean left on his mission, the Stake President called me after he left not to check on me, but to check on his sisters to see if they handled saying good-bye okay.<br />
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Megan and Sean have always shared a special relationship. They are only 22 months apart and have really gone through life together. They have been in the same EFY group without being planned, the same seminary classed without being planned, they have spent their college years together living across the parking lot from each other.<br />
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Best hug of my life. Seeing Sean for the first time after TWO YEARS. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p1DYLGghwicVVSfwK2lMrGCic-7LUrbAmkgOXDogfD39nuBICJ0NgPfmejN5jPWtFTro87vfSjcyp-jrVj-yi9TwE76y6NQeMW9DpKUq0UYjB7L8yiIB1ekHCnNvL-xoyWvyETL7ueI/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p1DYLGghwicVVSfwK2lMrGCic-7LUrbAmkgOXDogfD39nuBICJ0NgPfmejN5jPWtFTro87vfSjcyp-jrVj-yi9TwE76y6NQeMW9DpKUq0UYjB7L8yiIB1ekHCnNvL-xoyWvyETL7ueI/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love this picture. Look at how they are standing together without even being asked to pose.</div>
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For the past several months this is what I see at my front door when Sean is home. These are his work shoes. Every day he walks in the front door and takes them off right there. He has loved these shoes so much that they now have holes in the soles of the shoes. As I walk past these shoes each day my heart feels tender knowing that in just a very short time, I will not see these shoes by the front door. However, I know in my heart that it is time for Sean to move forward and move on. I love Lindsey. Having Lindsey in Sean's life, just makes my life better. She is not just the girl of Sean's dream, she is the girl of my dreams for Sean. So, on this special day, I wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sean and I give my thanks to a very loving Heavenly Father for allowing me the privilege to be Sean's mom. I love you Sean!!<br />
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<br />Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-42360339375545446902012-10-02T14:40:00.001-06:002012-10-02T14:43:53.542-06:00Journal of our trip to Russia: May 24 - June 5th, 2012!!<br />
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Leaving both Salt Lake International and JFK on our way to RUSSIA!!<br />
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<b>Thursday, May 24, 2012</b><br />
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The day had finally arrived!! Even though it hadn't been too many months we had planned to go visit Megan and Aubree it felt so good to finally have that day here. The weeks of preparation before, consisted of Tonya getting a passport, and us working out how to get our visa’s into Russia. A much more complicated process then we had anticipated. We also had to figure out how to get an invitation into the country and figure out where we were going to stay. Fortunately Tonya scored a fabulous Bed and Breakfast for us and we didn't know just how good we had it until we actually got there. We felt watched over by Heavenly Father every step of the process.<br />
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We had a great laugh when we showed up at the airport with black workout pants and pink shirts. We had talked about traveling comfortably but hadn't talked about being twins. It was especially funny since Megan and Aubree had done pretty much the same thing from their hats, boot and watches. Tonya and I both had red luggage too. Tim and Glade dropped us off at the airport and then looked pretty pathetic as we said goodbye. We are both super lucky to have such amazing supportive husbands even though they would miss us, they were more than willing for us to have this adventure and share this time with our girls. Our flight was rather uneventful with a layover in New York’s JFK. We weren't there long before we boarded for Moscow. We both took Tylenol pm to sleep but I seemed to have better luck at sleeping then Tonya did. I felt like I was traveling with Tim in many ways and she said the same thing about me being like Glade. I slept for 5 or 6 hours and I didn't really have any complaints about the travel there. We arrived in Moscow around 10:00 on Friday morning May 25th.<br />
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<b>Friday, May 25, 2012</b><br />
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I woke about one hour before we landed. Tonya had been up most of the night but as always she didn't complain and was in good spirits. As I looked out of the window I was surprised and what a forest I saw. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!! The forest was very dense and the pine trees appeared much larger then what we have in Utah too. I could see parts of the city around the trees and we were both so excited. Before long we landed at SVO International airport!! The weather was somewhere in the 70’s and we had laughed together on the way over because Melissa had posted on Facebook that we couldn't fully appreciate Russia because we hadn't seen Russia thaw and bloom like they had. I was feeling glad I hadn't been there to see the freeze.<br />
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We got off the plane and started to make our way to our luggage. One of the first impressions I had was how difficult it was without any English signs and it didn't appear that anyone spoke English too. We had to go through customs but it seemed super smooth and much easier than I thought it would be since it was quite a process to get our visa’s. We probably looked like little kids trying to figure out where we were going. We found out later that the girls could see us through glass windows as we worked our way to our luggage. Fortunately both of our suitcases made it there!! We talked to a girl who had lived in America and played in a softball team. She was a beautiful Russia girl who did speak English and helped us a bit and even gave us her cell phone number in case we needed her help. We then headed out the door to look for the girls. The girls were right there holding signs that said MARSDEN & JONES.<br />
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It was great to see them and hug them both. They both looked great and it was so nice to have them there to “take care” of us. They grabbed our bags and wheeled them with us following closely behind. Gulya had done a dry run through with them showing them where to pick us up and where to drop off our luggage. We went to this building a little ways away and had to go down some stairs and then went to a luggage check in room. Fortunately the girls knew what to do with their limited Russian language skills and their knowledge of the money system. I don’t know how we could have done it without them. It was a beautiful building and I remember a Russian Orthodox church with the familiar golden spires close by. <br />
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We then took a metro to a train station and again the girls worked up some sort of deal with a guy that was selling train tickets. They were both pretty hungry since they hadn't had breakfast and had left to come get us early and traveled about 2 hours to meet us. They ate the some of the food we had in our backpacks and then we got on the train to head out to their metro stop. I believe it is called Moldosha. The train took about one hour to get to their metro stop and we got off there. It was fun to be there. Megs had told me about going to the “mall” there just about every weekend. I could see the KFC that she had talked about and Tonya said it reminded her of a mall in India. We bought ice cream cones there. It was delicious with layers of ice cream and kiwi sauce and caramel sauce in a waffle cone. The girls were frequent visitors of the ice cream spot and it appeared that these American girls were known to the ice-cream vendor. We also got money out of the ATM there so we would be ready to go. I don’t think I used my credit card the entire time we were in Russia. It felt like we were using monopoly money. The exchange rate was was about 30 rubles to one dollar. The girls had the system down well though. We walked out to the bus and it was already there so we got on and had good seats and ate our cones. It wasn't too long before the bus started to fill up. We traveled about 30 minutes to where they live. It could have even taken longer than that because we were caught in traffic a bit too. It was fun to go along the streets and see the cars and people and take it all in. The further we got out it looked like a Hansel and Gretel fairy-tale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOjSg8VuIGP90PrDq7Da6ijuZetsakv9K3y3mzWNgwNv72X99gbA68aoI832D4jrgdtQTlsCWWHVW-FjRiWc9-6WBb21MDFPsxA175qxfMYdd8tsoExArm8R5U1Vy6wfA-LK0x73H_2k/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOjSg8VuIGP90PrDq7Da6ijuZetsakv9K3y3mzWNgwNv72X99gbA68aoI832D4jrgdtQTlsCWWHVW-FjRiWc9-6WBb21MDFPsxA175qxfMYdd8tsoExArm8R5U1Vy6wfA-LK0x73H_2k/s320/301.JPG" width="240" /></a>The huge trees and winding narrow roads and beautiful forests. The girls told us when to get off and then we started to walk up the lane. We did pass by the store that is sort of like their version of Costco and Megs pointed it out to me. It reminded me a bit of England too. As we started up the lane they pointed out the road the Putin lived down. The lane was beautiful and so was their neighborhood. They girls were supposed to teach that afternoon and it would be our one and only opportunity to go to their school and meet the children and the teachers and staff at the school. We went straight to the school and put our backpacks in a closet and put on the shoe coverings and went upstairs. We met some of the school staff that tried to communicate to us how much they cared about the girls. One beautiful lady held her heart and smiled and pointed to the girls. It didn't take long for us to see how beautiful the Russian people are. It was a lot of fun to watch Megan teach. She did a great job and she said that her class was exceptionally good for her that day. The children were beautiful and it was fun to see and learn more about their school. Both Tonya and I received pictures from children. We were also able to meet Shelby and Chiara and that was great too. I felt like I knew them because I had seen so many pictures of them and heard so many stories too. But there is nothing like traveling with others to get to know them better. We loved them instantly. After school we went to the cafeteria for dinner where we ate two squares of a mashed potato type casserole with shredded beef inside of it. We also had sliced cucumbers and it was surprisingly good. The girls said it was one of their better meals. The portion size was tiny! We then walked to the girl’s house. This picture is the main house and they lived in the guest house.<br />
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It was beautiful and I was so glad that they were able to be in such a great situation. We went on a walk (Shelby stayed back to Skype with Jordan and figure out apartment plans) with them around their neighborhood. There were amazing homes with beautiful foliage around and the lilacs were in full bloom and so much bigger than anything we see around here. We talked to a guard at the gate and he tried to practice his English and the girls said he was always very nice to them. We walked to this store where the girls stopped by buy butter and some chocolate. The store looked like a house in a neighborhood only the store was much smaller than the houses. There was a charming park across the street. The girls accidentally bought cheese instead of butter because it is tricky to read Russian and know what things are!! We also got some chocolate and we were able to get the kind that I had read about with the girl and the scarf on their packaging. We walked around the neighborhood as well and really enjoyed seeing the amazing houses and the large lilacs that smelled so fabulous. The trees were so tall and it was a charming neighborhood. We then headed back to the girls apartment and I waxed all four girls (the girls requested I bring my wax all the way to Russia) and we talked and the girls made pasta and painted fingernails and just hung out together. Aubree and Megan gave up their beds for us and I slept great that night. My memory is a little fuzzy but it seems to me that Megan got in bed with me in the wee hours of the morning because she was cold. Just before the girls went to sleep Aubree noticed a bit of a rash on her skin. They had gone to the Bonya the day before to celebrate Aubree’s 20th birthday. Then Megan saw a bit of a rash too. They stressed half the night that they had picked something up at the Bonya. I don’t blame them, I would have been doing the same thing. <br />
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<b>Saturday, May 26, 2012</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHxBrEAqt7vSpvCgEuglGvAV5VrOqGdh0FhrstzndhYGzz7jZcbQKl5F6OB-6XqAYN6PMRyrBbhfExiIsNv_ddDj7yQdVfNqlNyZmkwMyRBiKKWbcR36s5WWnJxe3pyWTzgaVVUy4T7I/s1600/342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHxBrEAqt7vSpvCgEuglGvAV5VrOqGdh0FhrstzndhYGzz7jZcbQKl5F6OB-6XqAYN6PMRyrBbhfExiIsNv_ddDj7yQdVfNqlNyZmkwMyRBiKKWbcR36s5WWnJxe3pyWTzgaVVUy4T7I/s320/342.JPG" width="320" /></a> I was able to sleep well. Tonya woke up early in the morning. The birds were singing outside of the window and I LOVED IT!! The sun also came in shining warm into the room. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!! I felt so happy and blessed to be there. What a dream to be able to travel across the world to this beautiful country and to be with Megan and Tonya and Aubree and Shelby and Chiara. I felt so grateful. Megan and Aubree had bought grapefruit for our breakfast…so thoughtful!! We had to hurry to meet the group at the Kremlin. Yes, that is right, THE KREMLIN!! Gulya had arranged for all of the groups to meet early to buy tickets at the Kremlin. In retrospect, I don’t know how we could have managed things without the help of Gulya. I very naively figured it would all work out for us. Gulya along with the girls mapped out how they would care for us and our luggage and even figuring out how to get around Moscow. I hadn't realized how much time it took for the girls to get into Moscow. On Saturday morning we left their house and walked down through the beautiful wooded neighborhood to the bus stop. The bus then took us to the metro and then we took a few transfers on the metro and in about one hour and then we were there. We met up with the other groups and a few interns that were there that the girls had met at church. The interns were guys that had served Russian speaking missions and were studying International Business. We tried to figure out getting together with them later on in the week, but it never did work out. Gulya was so good to take us around the Kremlin and explain Russian history etc… We spent most of our time in Cathedral Square and went into The Assumption Cathedral, Archangel’s and the Church of Laying our Ladies Holy Robe. Of all that I saw I think I will remember the ceilings best and also learning about the cross for the Russian Orthodox Church. We also saw a parade of past military and horses marching through the Kremlin. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.<br />
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We also took pictures at the Tsar’s Bell as we walked through Ivan Square. It was such a fun morning. We then went with Gulya to a mall to buy a sim card so we would be able to call and meet up with the girls. We were sort of in a hurry to get things done because we wanted to get to the market. The Izmailovsky is a market full of all sorts of Russian souvenirs crafts and other things to buy. The girls had been there several times and Melissa lived pretty close to the Market and had talked a lot about it too. Megan was anxious to finish up what shopping she had to do there so we did spend a lot of time shopping for what she needed to buy. I had fun too, but sort of am wishing right now I could have had more time to shop there. We did find other fun shopping so that made up for it. I just like to look at everything before I buy. I also have found I am so much more about the experiences when I travel, but it is nice to have something to remember about the trip too. I was able to get some wooden Christmas Santa’s and we also had fun eating kebabs, at a random outdoor grill. The strange thing about it was we sat at a table with complete strangers. I was hungry and I had read that the market was famous for their kebabs so I wanted to try it out. We all had some luck shopping and I did buy some perfume too and a few gifts for others as well. We got some rings that matched too and I love picking up jewelry while traveling. It make for fun memories for me too. After the market we made our way back to where we left our luggage and then headed to find the Vanilla to check in. We had a bit of trouble finding it at first even though the directions were pretty good (of course they are after you know where you are going). We were happy to find things clean and in good order. It’s a good thing Tonya and I are such good friends/family because we ended up having to share a bed. That was the only surprise there but it was a great situation. I was super grateful that Tonya and Glade and figured that out for us. It had been a stress trying to figure out where we were going to stay. Then, I really don’t know how this happened and how lucky we were, but somehow the girls had heard about a Chinese lantern festival in MOSCOW!! I don’t even come close to having the writing skills to describe this amazing night. The girls had met these local Russia guys, Moron and Nikoli. They were two adorable guys that had become friends with the ILP group and had even traveled to Ukraine with them. They were the ones that they had found out about this festival and invited us to join. We made our way towards the part of Moscow it was in and walked for a long time!! We finally made it there and also found other ILP teachers as well as some of the interns from earlier in the day. We bought these really big Chinese lanterns and then sort of hung out at this park. We were getting pretty hungry and decided to walk back and get something to eat. The rest of the group stayed at the park while Tonya, Aubree and Megan and I walked. We walked for quite awhile because we had seen a shawarma stand a ways back. Tonya and I shared our first shawarma and Aubs and Megs had subway. It was so yummy. It tasted as authentic I remembered from Israel!!. We then walked back and we were met by Shelby and one of the Russian guys that had started to worry about us and how long we were taking. The amazing thing was that even though we were in the huge city, we just kept on meeting up with each other when we separated. That seemed to happen a lot and easily. I haven’t even begun to give enough credit to Heavenly Father here. He was watching over us every step of the way. We were so protected and watched over. It seriously felt like we were in this protective bubble not only for our safety but also for our enjoyment. Once we got to the park we had fun talking with locals and others that were just there. There was some really fun park equipment that reminded me a ton of the little park equipment by our hotel in London when we went with Megan. It was sort of like exercise play equipment. We had fun playing on it. By this time it was getting dusk (around 9:30 or 10:00 at night) and we started lighting the lanterns. It was like magic watching the sky light up with Chinese lanterns floating up higher and higher and lighting the night sky with flames of light! It was so beautiful!! What a fabulous night and one that I will not forget. So many nice people to talk to and be around!! It was a night that cannot be repeated. What an experience. <br />
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Since the girls were going to be in Moscow so late and heading to church so early the next morning they had arranged to stay with Robyn and sleep in her floor. I loved that about the girls. They were so willing to do what they needed to do so they wouldn't miss out on an experience. They left late and they were still so careful to watch out for us! A couple of the girls from another group made sure we got off at the right place.<br />
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<b>Sunday, May 27th, 2012</b><br />
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We both slept great Saturday night. We woke up and ate Muesli for breakfast. It tasted good and we grabbed a few things to take to the girls to eat since we knew they had slept at Robyn’s. They had explained how to get to the metro stop we needed to meet them at. It was still sort of stressful, but we made it. It was taking the girls quite a while to get there and there were so many people that we weren't quite positive where they were. We climb up on a bench to see up over the crowd to look for the girls and we got in trouble by a Russian man. We were coming to find out about the dignity the Russian people had. It helped me to learn that the Russian people felt like a smile was aggressive behavior. It was just one culture difference that helped a lot to understand. We were able to call the girls and make sure we were at the right place and that was the only time we were able to use the sim card. Somehow it ran out all of the way and we wouldn't be able to have communication with them through the cell phone. Its interesting because a Russian National has to put the money on the sim card so we were out of luck. Fortunately we were being watched over and all was well. After meeting up with the girls, they took us on another one or two metro’s until we made it to another place to walk to church. I’m just now remembering that even though the girls had slept at Robyn’s they still had to get up super early to go back to their home to get dressed for church. They had already had a long day and it hadn't really even begun for us. We walked into church and it felt like we walked back into America. Everyone was speaking English and there was a familiar picture of Jesus on the wall just as we entered. The chapel had chairs not benches, but it had the same feeling of home. A black gentleman received the gift of the Holy Ghost and he had a smile that lit up the room. The meetings were great and we met in the Relief Society room for both Sunday School and Relief Society. After Sunday School we had stayed for Institute. Brother and Sister Neagley were on a mission in Moscow. They were from St. George and Brother Neagley was an institute teacher at Dixie. They had been very good to the girls throughout their time in Moscow. They were wonderful. He gave one final lesson and it was GREAT!! I t was super interesting to hear having just had Tim called to be a YSA Bishop. Tonya took great notes that she shared with me here….<br />
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<i>Stayed for institute. </i><br />
<i>Institute sang "God be with you till we meet again"...tears were shed.</i><br />
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<i>Lesson on relationships by brother Neagley email: jsnaegle@gmail.com</i><br />
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<i>Head and heart together then hormones. They are all good. If hormones are in control, its bad. </i><br />
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<i>Affection vs. passion affection before marriage, passion after. They are both good at the right time.</i><br />
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<i>Passionate kiss not until engagement. You should not kiss and have an erection.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Casual...no commitment</i><br />
<i>Potential....explore a commitment</i><br />
<i>Steady...make a commitment</i><br />
<i>Courtship...finalize the commitment</i><br />
<i>Engagement...ring</i><br />
<i>Marriage...temple</i><br />
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<i>1. Each is responsible for own feelings and actions</i><br />
<i>2. Go through the process together</i><br />
<i>3. Know where the other person is</i><br />
<i>Never be more than one step ahead of the other person. </i><br />
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<i>12 things to ask during courtship:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>1. Do you have a criminal record</i><br />
<i>2. Do I have any physical or mental problems?</i><br />
<i>3. Has he been involved in pornography?</i><br />
<i>4. Any past moral issues?</i><br />
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<i>If you go through this list together you will have a successful marriage. </i><br />
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<i>Age 16-20 need about 20 casual relationships. 4-6 potential. 2-3 steady</i><br />
<i>1-2 courtships, 1 engagement.</i><br />
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<i>You are entitled to a personal answer from heavenly father as to who you are to marry. You BOTH need to get the same answer. You should feel the spirit and be at peace with the answer.</i><br />
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<i>What is the purpose of passionate kiss? To arouse passion! </i><br />
<i>Its ok to hold hands, hug (vertically), good night kiss (if there is potential)</i><br />
<i>Making out? Engaged Petting? Not before marriage.</i><br />
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<i>It’s possible to go from affection to passion in one kiss. </i><br />
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<i>Wait, wait, wait, wait, go. Not no, no, no, go.</i><br />
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<i>Once engaged have a weekly meeting with dad or bishop..ask how are you? Where is the passion?</i><br />
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<i>Learn from the past, prepare for future, live in present. Repentance! Satan wants you to live in and focus on past. Forsake it and move on.</i><br />
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<i>Life is to be lived a day at a time.</i><br />
<i>You must discuss with them what your goals are, what you are and then ask them who they are and where they want to go. They must have the same potential and goals as you have.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXnmVn9Zhcxi48tOcwG9EVzg7hheQrDeTrUEfmUV_H8vFT7Qbi_pJExy4zATrh039OFNNOctXzNT_dDfNLgj2kQHmnZuYrBAqafFw7CfSXjMIqIh-TKvcJMMRfPngvXFEERW134UrZ3c/s1600/376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXnmVn9Zhcxi48tOcwG9EVzg7hheQrDeTrUEfmUV_H8vFT7Qbi_pJExy4zATrh039OFNNOctXzNT_dDfNLgj2kQHmnZuYrBAqafFw7CfSXjMIqIh-TKvcJMMRfPngvXFEERW134UrZ3c/s320/376.JPG" width="320" /></a>Everyone was sad to leave. Tears.<br />
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The Neagley’s had brought food to share with everyone. It was nice to visit and our two Russia friends were there investigating as well. It was a great feeling and pictures were taken. <br />
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After church we made our way to Arbat Street. It was a blast!! I had no idea that Tonya and I would end up visiting Arbat Street so many times after as well. We had fun walking around with the girls and we ended up meeting Jordan from ILP as well as a brother from the ward. Unfortunately we had to witness the racism that goes on in Russia against black people. It was sad to watch and really and truly unbelievable as someone stopped to take pictures as though he was an animal not a person. Very sad. We then said goodbye to the girls and they headed back to their place. They were good to write down very specific directions for us how to get back, how to get around and how to meet them on Wed. We were on our own for both Monday and Tuesday. I was a little nervous to figure out the metro, but I figured between the two of us we would get it figured out. I’m pretty sure the girls were a bit nervous for us too, but knew we would get things figured out too. We actually got a little turned around on the metro when we got off and we were pretty much lost. We started walking looking for our McDonald’s by our B & B and we walked up to a guy and asked if he spoke English. He did but he had just been in Moscow one day and didn't really know where he was going either. He was super nice though and walked around with us. He was from Philadelphia and was living in Spain. He was in Moscow on business as an Urban Developer. He was a great guy. We ended up walking all around the block when we noticed our McDonald’s and could see what we had done. We had just basically come out of the metro in the wrong spot. We continued to feel so blessed that Heavenly Father was constantly watching out for us! I had been a great day!! I forgot to mention that even though our friend from Philly didn't know how to get us back he told us a really great way to get to Red Square from our B & B. We didn't realize that Red Square was pretty much a straight 10 minute walk from where we were staying. <br />
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<b>Monday, May 28th, 2012</b><br />
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We were so happy our B & B ended up being so close to everything. We decided we would walk to Red Square so we didn't have to ride on the metro. We first went to the Armory. We made perfect time and knew we had so much we wanted to get into that day so we better hurry. We bought out tickets for the Armory ($23) and walked right in. There were amazing exhibits!! Megan had told me that we would love the Armory and we did. We took about two hours to go through even though we could have taken longer there was just so much to do. We saw clothing, jewelry, carriages and the largest silver collection in the world. There were also thrones, horse attire, armor, crowns, gold plates and they were all beautiful. We also listened to an audio tour. One thing that was frustrating is that in Moscow it was a real disadvantage not to speak Russian. The displays were in Russia and even though we did have an audio tour, it would have been nice to have a private English speaking tour guide. We did hear an English speaking guide that a group of dwarfs pulled the children carriages. Two things that really stood out to us was seeing Peter the Greats boots. They were HUGE. The boots resembled what could have been long pants for our short legs. It was amazing to see Catherine the Great’s coronation dress. It was amazing and she had such a tiny waist!! We wanted to stay longer, but we needed to race to the Bolshoi theater to try to get tickets to go on a tour of a dress rehearsal. We didn't exactly know where we were going but headed in the direction of Red Square. The Armory is in the Kremlin. As we were passing through the front of where Red Square is we got stopped by a lion wanting to take pics with us.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80XQqXwojqY9HVuPNwDUY352qnUXVhJWm-QuO-4vb7FFqeSEMnNDg2tbHXIllQFKMMZ0d1EdvdesZn7SDlGx-CUXdCZISTBddworKkI99sHmTFyCLAb28rNDxt15V39K4q-RW8ze8pNg/s1600/392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80XQqXwojqY9HVuPNwDUY352qnUXVhJWm-QuO-4vb7FFqeSEMnNDg2tbHXIllQFKMMZ0d1EdvdesZn7SDlGx-CUXdCZISTBddworKkI99sHmTFyCLAb28rNDxt15V39K4q-RW8ze8pNg/s320/392.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
He was very persistent and at first seemed fun, but soon turned obnoxious as he wanted money for us having the privilege of taking pictures with him. He even picked me right up. We walked away and he tried to get us to pay him 100 rubles ($3). We were super surprised to see the Bolshoi Theater so amazingly close to Red Square. It was basically across the street from the corner of Red Square. It was interesting crossing several lanes of traffic to get on the other side. I’m sure we looked like major tourists who didn't really know what they were doing. <br />
Once we were inside the beautiful Bolshoi (I found out the Bolshoi means big... SHELBY) a very classy gentleman was there to help us. He was not in a ticket booth, but obviously worked there. He politely explained to us that people start standing in line two hours before they even open because they only have 15 tickets to sale a day. All of the tickets were gone for the day. We took a few pictures outside of the beautiful Bolshoi and headed back to the Kremlin for the diamond exhibit.<br />
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On our way back we stopped and looked at the shops that were set up outside of Red Square. We tasted some honey that they were sampling and Tonya bought some pine nuts that were really yummy! We made it back to the diamond exhibit and it was amazing. I cost about $10.00 to get in and we met a lady from Seattle that was traveling on her own and would met up with a tour group later for St. Petersburg. She was saying how frustrating it’s been in Russia because no one speaks English and she can't read the signs. Also how expensive it is. When she left I said “is it really expensive?" Tonya replied that I had no idea. It's all monopoly money. Time and money mean nothing here. When we got into the exhibit they sent us back to the coat room to drop off or cameras and umbrellas. We went back up and Tonya went in and they sent me back because I had my phone. Tonya tried to go with and they wouldn't let her. Tonya joked with me that they couldn't separate us because she was my woman (this gentleman said that to the guard right in front of us as we were going in and they stopped him from going in with his wife) We saw the most amazing crown of silver and emerald. Beautiful!! There were thousands of diamonds – loose and mounted. The largest was 200 carats. Gigantic sapphires and emeralds. <br />
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We were amazed at the number of guards and soldiers everywhere! Constantly see them walking down the street.<br />
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Next we went to Christ’s church. We had a hard time crossing the road, but went down a different road and under a bridge and ended up in the correct place. We bought a candle for 20 rubles so we could light and put in the holder. Beautiful! We were in the basement and heard angels singing. We hurried upstairs and there was a group singing. Their voices filled the gigantic building. Closed my eyes and felt the music in my bones. Singing in Latin I think. They sung deep bass to high tenor. Wow!<br />
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Next we went to Arbat street. So easy to find! We shared borscht soup and this sweet girl heard us talking and asked if we needed help with anything. We said no. Then went outside to eat. When we were finishing up she came out to double check if we needed anything. She told us where to go for shawarma , and blini, and what kind. She was so helpful! She taught English at the university and translated. We took her advice and found the street for the shawarma. We shared a shawarma. Then went to another restaurant for chocolate banana blini. They were both yummy!! Next we found a wonderful store with a wonderful employee. We bought Christmas Matryoshka dolls and a pendant for a necklace made of amber. We got 70% off of it all. Next we went back to the blini place and shared sweetened condensed milk blini. All of our food desires in Russia were filled today! <br />
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It was then time to head home. We got to the bed and breakfast about 10:30 and had to head to the grocery store close by for more money. We Skyped Glade, Tim, and Melissa. We were on such a high we found out later we were keeping up some of the people in the B & B. It was a father and son from South Africa. They were really great about it though! What an amazing day!<br />
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<b>Tuesday, May 29th, 2012</b><br />
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We were awoken at 6:30 am by Aubree calling to check on us since we hadn't had contact for a while:-) Why worry about us? We luckily fell back asleep and got up around 9:30. We were sooooo exhausted. Between walking probably about 8 miles on Monday and jet lag, we needed to sleep!!<br />
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We had breakfast of muesli and spoke to a gal who is Russian and the two gentlemen from South Africa. We got directions from them for the boat ride. We took the metro and made it! At least to somewhere. We weren't sure where to go. Didn't know the name of where we were going, etc. We asked a cute lady for directions. She spoke Russian but called several people over and asked them to help. After we said thank you and she yelled after telling us her name was Emma. We started walking and stopped to ask a vendor where to go. He pointed; we walked, and came to the river. We looked over and there were the boat docks. We continued to be blown away how were being looked over. It was really amazing!!<br />
We bought a ticket, not knowing exactly what we were buying. What boat, how long, etc. We boarded a boat, and it soon left the dock. What beautiful sites we saw. This was the same river they show in all of the movies! The trees lined the side. We saw the Kremlin and St. Basil's. It started to pour on us so we went in under the cover for a bit. Once it stopped we were back out. We decided to get off at one of the stops that was close to the Kremlin. We noted later that week that we had gone by Gorky park because we recognized different stops from the river trip. It was very beautiful!!<br />
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Next, we wanted to catch the metro to Victory Park. Crossing the street to get to the metro stop was crazy. The cross walk was perpendicular to the 4 lane road in front of us. The crosswalk went straight up the middle to a spot in between the two. So we ran to that and had to stand in the middle of the road while both sides of traffic were speeding past us. We made it:-) I've never seen anything quite like that before.<br />
We asked a guy for directions and he said he was getting off at the same stop. We talked to him for a bit and while I was talking to him another guy came over and said that he heard us speaking English and wanted to see if we needed help. Tonya talked for a while to the other guy and we both were trying to decide if we were nervous or not with both of them hanging by us. They were both very helpful.<br />
We arrived at the Victory park station and left the guys. We followed some guys in white that we heard talking in English about Victory park. Very gloomy and rainy weather. Got inside. Lots of school kids. Crystals hanging from ceiling represent those who died in war. Had to go to the bathroom. Died when we saw they were squatters. I used handicapped stall because it had a seat. The smell awful! Realized they put used toilet paper in trash cans located in each stall, not the toilet! It was pretty gross.<br />
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We left and stopped at a vendor for corn on the cob and I got a peach drink. It was 80 rubles for the corn. She laughed when I put two 50 pieces in her hand. It was then I realized that they do have small coins.<br />
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I fed a bird some corn and it loved us, even posed for a picture.<br />
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Next we went to another church. Very pretty. Even had birds in it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMYSP3YUBktLHf4vJL1v4ZvHMf7v_Wf1KLWFxlbuPSFmbzoctvBN6zam-6Cw5RKHvNvC9FbrkffSAc-8LK0lTOt3fMcigQ1COl5_QuQgeaOt00QIuWxRTsly0p-DIiHee9r7m54mBVNQ/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMYSP3YUBktLHf4vJL1v4ZvHMf7v_Wf1KLWFxlbuPSFmbzoctvBN6zam-6Cw5RKHvNvC9FbrkffSAc-8LK0lTOt3fMcigQ1COl5_QuQgeaOt00QIuWxRTsly0p-DIiHee9r7m54mBVNQ/s200/137.JPG" width="200" /></a>We headed to the folk dance. We had no idea where to go once we got off the metro stop. We asked a lady if she could help...charades is wonderful. She looked at out tickets, got out her phone and Google it. She showed us the map on her phone. Such a sweetheart. Found where to go, then went to find food. Found a place and ordered caprese salads. Hurried back to the show. Amazing! Theater was huge! Lady next to us kept yelling "bravo!" There was at least one or maybe even two theaters beneath ours-we had great seats. The show was incredible and they looked like they were floating and the floor appeared to be moving but it wasn't.<br />
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The costumes were amazing and the men did not disappoint with their amazing Russian kicks and dancing. There were lots of children and women and quite a few men and we saw a Russian orthodox priest too. After the show we left commented on all the people smoking and made our way to the metro. We got turned around in the metro on our way home but we were lucky enough to pass an amazing violinist three times trying to find our way out, we went back to the Vanilla around ten so that we could Skype with the girls and make the plan when to meet the girls. Megan had sent an email with directions and we Skyped with the guys and then went to bed.<br />
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<b>Wednesday, May 30th, 2012</b><br />
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We woke up got ready and met the girls. On our way to meet them we got caught in rush hour. We could not believe the crowded metro. As quickly as it filled up and got off a new wave a people would come. When we were almost to our stop an announcement came on the intercom in Russian and of course we didn't understand but everyone else did and they got off. We followed and waited not really knowing what was going on. After a few minutes we were on our way. We were feeling like we were getting the metro down after riding it a lot on Tuesday. We were happy to meet up with the girls at the designated metro stop and they took us to Gorky park from there. It was a little bit of a walk from the metro stop over a huge bridge. I was glad the girls knew where they were going. They had been there just a few weeks earlier. We found a place to rent bikes and the people who we rented them from were super nice. We noticed that throughout Russia safety was NOT a huge priority. No helmets were required and off we went. The girls had to leave by 12:30 to get back to teach. We had such a wonderful time. The park is beautiful. Similar to central park. We rode the bicycles around for an hour singing songs from the "Sound of Music". There was a beautiful fountain in the middle of the park that had the music of Rachmaninoff. It was very beautiful and memorable. When our hour was up a found a Subway to eat at in the park so that the girls could eat before going back. We walked the girls back to the metro so they could leave, and we went to Arbat street to get a shawarma. We split another shawarma and ate outside along the sidewalk. Again we noted the lack of OSHA as we watched window washers dangle of high up above washing windows. We had heard that the Pushkin was quite a famous art museum in Moscow. It was hard to determine which museum exactly to go to. There were a couple of Pushkin museums. We remembered that we passed by one Pushkin that was over by Christ’s Church. It was strange how familiar things started to look to us. We were starting to recognize several different landmarks that we passed by along the Kremlin. It was awesome because it seemed like Tonya remembered some and I remembered others and we were able to help each other out in finding what we needed to find. We walked over to the Pushkin museum and enjoyed just walking the streets of Moscow. We found the Pushkin museum to have a lot of beautiful art and we could have spent more time there if we wanted to. We still had more we wanted to do in Moscow and we knew we just had about 24 hours left to go before we were to go up and meet the girls to catch the train to St. Pete. We headed back up the street to Red Square.<br />
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This is a Russian Orthodox Priest just inside the gates of Red Square hoping to get some money.<br />
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We still needed wanted to check out the Gum Mall and still have plenty of time to spend at Red Square. We still needed to tour St. Basil s and to see Lenin’s tomb. We had decided to save time on Thursday morning to go to Lenin’s tomb so we didn't have to wait in a long line. We knew we didn't have a ton of time left in to tour St. Basil's so we hurried there first. It was really different then I thought it would be inside. Of course St. Basil's seems to be the very icon of Russia. It is quite small and is made up of several different churches inside of a church. It is painted everywhere!! It is a bit of a maze inside and hard to make sense of the building. It was fun to listen to some men sing inside of St. Basil's They sounded great. We also walked all around St. Basil's I was glad that I felt like we were able to see it up close 3 different times and went inside once. It is something I will not easily forget. We then walked over to Gum and went inside the mall. I was expecting it to be a bit more like Harrods and it was in a way, but instead of one huge store like Harrods’s it is a mall of several different high end stores and shopping.<br />
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It was beautiful and we enjoyed going to the different levels and I really enjoyed going into a grocery store type place where we even found green Tabasco Had we known the girls would have been set. We sat down inside for a bit and our feet were feeling all of the walking we had been doing for the past several days. On our way out of the mall we ran into our first drunk man who tried to talk with us. We decided to head back to Arbat street where we checked out new Arbat and we ate at My My with the black and white Holstein cow out front. This time the we went upstairs and just sat and enjoyed our Borscht. It was enjoyable to just sit and talk and talk about our day. We also walked down a ways to get another bilini. When in Moscow you know… It was a fun night walking along and looking at the fountains too. My memory is not sure if this is the night we also took more pictures in front of St. Basil’s we did a couple of different times. I know one day we attempted some jumping pictures in front of St. Basil's We made our way back to the Vanilla and knew we had to figure out how to wash some clothes and get ready to pack to meet the girls on Thursday. We tried to get a hold of the owner of the Vanilla but we couldn't find him anywhere. We asked another guest and they tried to help us get some laundry started, but it just washed things and left everything really really wet!! It was sort of a mess, but we tried to dry things and we just ended up doing what was essential and even at that things weren't dry in the morning. We spent the evening trying to pack and get ready and we Skyped and talked to the girls too.<br />
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<b>Thursday, May 31st, 2012</b><br />
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We still had more to pack and to do and we asked the guy at the Vanilla if we could still leave our things there so we could go out but not have to take everything with us. He was nice and told us if we had our suitcases all packed up he would let us leave them there. We headed to Lenin’s tomb. It was all done very professionally and we had to check in our cameras and bags. We were told not to talk or draw attention to ourselves or there could be problems with getting arrested. There wasn't much of a line that we had to deal with and it didn't take a lot of time to do. The girls had warned us about the smell so I think I was most concerned about holding my breath than anything else. It felt like we were pretty much in and out and he was smaller than I pictured he would be. Sort of a weird experience but as Melissa told me, "You can't go to Moscow and not see it". You cannot take any bags in with you (except a small handbag) and you are not allowed to take in a camera. There is a kiosk where you leave your bag and get a plastic number for collection (no fee). It is pretty dark when moving from bright sunlight to the darkness. Then you are directed around Lenin. You are not allowed to stop, if you do so, the guards click their fingers at you to make you move on. It is all over in a flash. Strange but worth seeing. It is rumored that Lenin will be moved so I’m glad we did it. There is a separate queue back at the kiosk on the left hand side to collect your bag again which makes it efficient. We took more pictures around Red Square and then walked back to Arbat street and this time we both got a full shawarma. I think that was when we both felt like we had finally had our feel of shawarma while in Russia. It was pretty funny because we basically figured that we had seen everything we had set out to do in Moscow but we didn't want to miss out on anything too. We decided to walk the streets a bit after we ate and we were walking past the Russian State Library and we decided to go in. We had actually passed the library about 4 times in our walks along the streets of Moscow. It has an impressive status outside of the library that had caught my eye each time we passed. It was also very large building. It was probably the most random thing we did with our time in Moscow and I doubt many tourists have done it. It was totally different then I thought it would be. Tonya was a super good sport about it even though she probably thought I was crazy!! Having gone to the British Library I was sort of expecting a similar experience. It was NOT! First of all, it was definitely the most security we have been through in Russia. We had to show our passport our invitation and fill out pages of information of ourselves. Then we had to go through a full body scan thing as well. I looked online about the library after we came home only to find it is the 3rd largest library in collection of books in the world!! The thing that surprised us was the old fashion catalog cards. Rows and rows of them. It was THE most unique library I had ever seen. We were dying to get pictures inside and Tonya did get some. We made our way up to the top floor and found this amazing study room. It was large with old fashion wooden desks and individual lamps. On one wall of the top floor of the room it was totally windows. We walked over to the windows and could see it overlooked the Kremlin!! It was a tremendous view of Moscow. I hope I never forget that view in my mind. I could picture a winter down being inside a warm library overlooking a frozen Moscow. It was a really fun memory and Tonya and I have laughed about it since. After the library we headed back to the Vanilla to pick up our suitcases so that we could meet up with the girls. It was going to be tricky and a little difficult to be on our own with our luggage and making our way to the girls. By this time we were feeling pretty confident with our abilities to make our way on the metro. We followed the instructions the girls had given us and made it to Moldoshia (spelling ?). We got out with our suitcases and backpacks that were packed and ready to live out of for almost 4 days. The plan was to meet the girls and then drop off our luggage at Robyn’s apartment. We got out of the metro to walk over to the mall where we had been before and NOTHING looked familiar. I was sure we were at the right metro, but I was starting to really doubt myself when we couldn't see a mall there. We walked around for a bit and then decided to go back into the metro and walk out the other way. I know it sounds crazy, but it can make all of the difference in the world getting out on the right side. Fortunately we recognized where we were. We were at the right place. We were there a bit early and decided to sit and wait and Tonya took the time to update the journal and I had an ice-cream. I don’t think Tonya got one but I’m not sure. We were back at the place we had started the week earlier. Tonya waited with the suitcases while I went looking for a place to wait. I found a place in a bottom corner downstairs and we sat on some steps. Not too much time passed until some mall security guys told us to move. Of course we couldn't speak Russian but we knew what they were talking about. They did help us move to a little cafe place in the mall and we sat at the table there. We were getting close to when the girls were to meet us and so we went back up to the ice-cream place and they came. They had smiles and tears as they had said goodbye to their kids. They had smiles because they had been treated so well and Megan came up with a bottle of Vodka that they had been given by their bus driver. They had all received some nice gifts from the school, the guard, bus driver, teachers, and others. It was a good experience. They looked adorable and ready to travel to St. Pete. They also had their big backpacks ready to travel.<br />
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Time was running short!! We had to catch our train. We still needed to go to subway, drop off our luggage and made our way to the train station. We had to wait and meet up with Guyla too. She was running a bit behind. She had gone to one of the schools to try to go to their program. She had gifts for the girls too. She was so kind and had done so much for the girls. I don’t know if the girls can fully appreciate the important roll that Guyla had in making things happen for them and for us. We said our goodbyes to Guyla and headed to Robyn’s house to drop off our luggage. It wasn't too far from the metro, but far enough that our luggage was difficult to drag along with a super heavy backpack that was packed for four days of travel. It was so cool though. It kind of made me feel like I was 20 again backpacking through Europe on an adventure.<br />
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Robyn’s place was more typical “Soviet Union” apartment complex than where our girls had lived. It was old, run down and one of the elevators had a small capacity for weight and the other was a little larger. We hurried up and dropped our things off and then headed back to buy subway and get out the sleeper train. We had to take another metro stop or two and tried to meet up with some of the other ILP people and we were off. We were all hungry We knew we were running late, but thankfully one of our Russia guy friends Nikoli showed up to help us get on the train. Thinking back it was sort of a Dr. Zhivago moment of trying to catch the train with the Russian military around checking our papers, tickets etc…I kissed the Russian boy that came to help us. We were in a super big hurry to get on the train and we were stressed making sure we got on the right car etc. The train was sort of a rush for me. Totally out of the ordinary of any traveling I had done since Israel and even that it was still different. The train was a bit better then I had anticipated. It was so nice to be with our girls and each other. A drunk Russian tried to befriend us and I didn't have a good feeling about it. Tim has pretty much had to teach me over the years not to befriend people while drunk. A good rule of thumb. The girls had the system down and helped us with everything. The only part about the train that was difficult for me was the bathroom!! It was gross. The hold opened to the outside and yes, it didn't smell good either. My stomach just turned over writing about it. Poor Tonya froze on the train until she got up during the night to go to the bathroom and realized there were blankets. We had also packed our sheet that I ended up being grateful for! They gave bedding, but how could you be sure if it had been washed…I’m sure the wool blankets hadn't been either. It was just nice to know we were sleeping with our own sheets. We loved eating our Subway and it tasted so good!! Both Tonya and I were sure we had lost weight! Our pants were getting loose and we hadn't eaten like one usually would on a trip. But hey, who can complain about losing weight. I slept pretty well all things considering. I’m really lucky that way that I can sleep!! <br />
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<b>Friday, June 1st 2012</b><br />
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We arrived in St. Petersburg and hung out for a bit at the train station. We played cards and went to this bathroom in the train station that we had to show our train ticket to get in and out of. We tried to freshen up a bit too. We headed down the street to find our hostel. It was pretty miraculous that Tonya spotted our hostel. I wish I had a picture of it, maybe Tonya does of this tiny little sign marking our hostel. The reason we were delayed a bit is that they had over booked our hostel and so we had to first go to the hostel and hang out a bit to figure things out. We ended up eating breakfast there and poor Shelby had an allergic reaction to the cereal. We were trying to get some more sleep there but poor Shelby was having her throat being restricted and she had hives. She thought it was raisins in the cereal but they were cranberries. She drank a bunch of water and we had a prayer and she got better pretty quickly. They let us leave our backpacks there and we headed off to site see. It was easy to fall in love with St. Pete quickly. It is very beautiful!! It is called the Venus of the North.<br />
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There is a beautiful canal that runs through the middle of it.<br />
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Sarah Swain from one of the ILP groups had lived the year before during another ILP in St. Pete. She had given Shelby a list of must sees in St. Pete. We first stopped and met up with some other people in a group at a gorgeous church. I wish I could remember the name of it, but it was quite different from what we had seen in Moscow. It had beautiful pillars outside and beautiful foliage in front! It was beautiful inside as well. I LOVED IT. We next walked down the canal street next to the canal and stopped for pictures on our way to The Church of Our Saviors on the Spilt Blood. It was similar to St. Basil’s on the outside, but a softer look to it. The architecture was just a little bit the same. It was way different on the inside though. It was fun going inside and seeing the difference. I’m glad we did. We then did a bit of shopping at the market that was close by and started to check out prices for a canal ride down the Neva River. We were glad we checked out the prices and found a much better deal a little ways down the canal. We then took a one hour canal ride. It was stunning!! It was one of the main times I really wished I could speak Russian as our tour was in Russian and I was frustrated not being able to understand what I was seeing. It was super beautiful though and we all loved it. We then met up with the group at a cheep hamburger joint. Yes, that is right. The girls loved cheep and the loved finding familiar American food. It was most important to be with them so that is what we did too. The ordering was funny and the lettuce on the hamburger was super tiny and I tried to ask for more lettuce, but the communication was just NOT there. After lunch we made our way to the Hermitage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEYwx6ADUE885kDXokoaT30Dhz0IXNPaznrIAoniIQxoAQ4R2fwAAtmISIZ4KjJDaEAW0ifwA39-k_yP7TLI1iLynZrRGgUtHPWVFotEoF2d05HwoOcBm6E-tNRV7J8tt-BK9XO496no/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEYwx6ADUE885kDXokoaT30Dhz0IXNPaznrIAoniIQxoAQ4R2fwAAtmISIZ4KjJDaEAW0ifwA39-k_yP7TLI1iLynZrRGgUtHPWVFotEoF2d05HwoOcBm6E-tNRV7J8tt-BK9XO496no/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_eVglvBDumfafmoeE-_gGTUpgPt8iPs2ZPu-xZ5hnHizKJLzjyY3JiuGCySJSASCMnW-DK6CWJbt2MYd7TbTFnEyc4qUe1ol14vlijdkhABz5UxT3rbDjQdIvM_o9WKomis8jGHB8HU/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_eVglvBDumfafmoeE-_gGTUpgPt8iPs2ZPu-xZ5hnHizKJLzjyY3JiuGCySJSASCMnW-DK6CWJbt2MYd7TbTFnEyc4qUe1ol14vlijdkhABz5UxT3rbDjQdIvM_o9WKomis8jGHB8HU/s320/203.JPG" width="320" /></a> The funny thing is that it was just after lunch and we had already gotten so much done. The next stop was one of my main priorities. The Hermitage!! Don Lampson had sent a Facebook message to me as he has gone to Russia the year earlier. He told me NOT to miss the Hermitage. It was more than I could imagine. It was like the Louvre, the British Museum and The Vanderbilt house all in one. It exceeded my expectations. BIG TIME. I really could spend an afternoon there once a week throughout a year and enjoy myself. The collection of the State Hermitage includes more than three million works of art and artifacts of the world culture. Among them are paintings, graphic works, sculptures and works of applied art, archaeological finds and numismatic material.<br />
The main architectural ensemble of the Hermitage situated in the center of St Petersburg consists of the Winter Palace, the former state residence of the Russian emperors, the buildings of the Small, Old (Great) and New Hermitages, the Hermitage Theatre and the Auxiliary House. The whole area was massive. We took some fun jumping pictures right out front of the Heritage itself. I LOVED IT!! After the Hermitage we made out way back to pick up our things from our hostel and look for our new hostel. We had a bit of a problem finding our new one, but once we found it we were extremely pleased. It was awesome!! The girls teased and said it was like taking the “s” out of hostel and making it a hotel. It really was.<br />
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We were the first guest ever to stay there so they were hurrying to get the bathrooms finished and we had brand new bedding from IKEA. It was awesome. We fixed up our beds with our duvet covers and bedding and we walked to a grocery store that was close by and we had some fun shopping and buying food for a picnic for the next do to Peterhoft. I can’t remember what we did for food that night. I’m thinking we just ate from the grocery store but I can’t remember for sure. It was fun shopping around at the store. Actually now that I think about it, I think Shelby and Chiara went and got McDonald's for everyone. I don’t think I ate. Back at the hostel and group of school children from another area of Russia were there on a school visit. They were really cute and fun to talk to. Aubs and Chiara and Tonya spent the evening with them. I talked with Shelby and Megs and my phone was working so I sent off some messages and took a shower. The showers were really nice too. It was so great to get clean because we pretty much didn't think we could do that. Then off to bed. We all got to sleep together in the same room. <br />
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<b>Saturday June 2nd, 2012</b><br />
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IT RAINED TODAY!! What a fun memories this day was. We slept in a bit and got ready. We had gathered our picnic stuff together….bread, cheese, fruit, chocolate and water and distributed them in different backpacks. We were meeting the other groups to figure out how to get to Peterhoft since Sarah knew. We caught a small bus and headed out towards the coast to Peterhoft. It was about a 45 minute drive. It was starting to drizzle a bit on the bus drive and when we first got there we had fun taking pictures on the amazing grounds of Peterhoft. There was this beautiful leaf covered area that extended down a long walk way to the Palace. It was beautiful!! We tried more jumping pictures and then left because a bridal party was coming in. Below is a bit of information about Peterhof<br />
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<i>Everybody knows a lot about Versailles in France, but have you ever heard of the Russian Versailles? It is no less famous and even more fantastic. The place is known as Peterhof (modern name is Petrodvorets) and it was founded as early as 1714 by Peter the Great. Peter saw Versailles when he traveled to France and was quite impressed. But he conceived his own fountain complex on a much grander scale. As I have already mentioned, the Northern War with Sweden was going on from 1700 till 1721. In 1709 there was a decisive battle near Poltava in Ukraine which was our brilliant victory and the turning point of the whole war. Peter wanted to commemorate this victory for ages and ages and he dedicated the whole complex of Peterhof to the victory over Karl XII. A lot of talented architects were working in Peterhof (which means "Peter's court" in Dutch). They created a magnificent ensemble that includes several palaces and three parks. The main attraction in Peterhof is its beautiful Lower Park with 150 fountains and four cascades. The main and the most amazing cascade called the Great Cascade is situated in front of the Great Imperial Palace which was the gala summer imperial residence for 200 years - from 1714 up until the October Revolution when the whole estate was nationalized by a special decree issued by Vladimir Lenin.</i><br />
<i>The Great Cascade consists of several fountains. The central and the most luxuriant one is "Samson, tearing apart the jaws of the lion". The whole composition of the fountain complex is devoted to the victory over Sweden. Samson symbolizes Russia defeating Sweden - the lion. The Great Cascade is decorated with gilded statues of ancient Greek and Roman gods and heroes, which all are allegories of different events of the Northern War. When the sun is shining, visitors are astonished at the site of the Great Cascade with its gilded figures glistening in the sun, springs of sparkling water and the whole glamour that is felt in everything. This you will not be able to find anywhere in the world, not even in Versailles.</i><br />
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It was really amazing!! We decided not to tour inside but spend the time we had on the grounds. It was INCREDIBLE!! Once we got into the grounds it started to rain. It poured. It was spectacular. Our clothes were wet to the skin and I worried about Chiara with her sandals and red cold feet. We looked over the upper fountains for a bit and just writing about all of this makes me want to go back. We found this marble arch way below the steps of the fountains and went under for cover and for our picnic. We ate sitting on the ground and it was so much fun. We took some fun pictures there too. We then walked along the cascades and long stretch of beautiful grounds towards the ocean. We could see Finland across the ocean and thought it was pretty cool. We kept taking more pictures and couldn't get enough. The rain made everything a brilliant green…as if it wasn't enough…really. We used some random out houses at the end and headed back along the way talking and picture taking. I LOVED PETERHOF.<br />
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We then caught a bus again but this time there weren't any seats in the back and I had to sit up front with the driver and a random girl. When we got off the bus I asked the others why they never asked for my money. My bad…they had, I just didn't know or understand I just rode up front. We headed back to the hostel and spent the afternoon resting and slept a little and Megs and I walked up to the grocery store for a bit to and sat and ate a pastry together. We then just stayed in and talked because we were leaving at midnight to go see the “White lights” and the raising of the bridge in St. Pete. It was fun talking and hearing so many stories of the girls adventures and I will never forget hearing about the guys on the bus that were negotiating on the phone about the girls. Also, I laughed so hard when Chiara did her scared chi Wawa. They are great and I love those girls. We were lucky enough to be in St. Pete during the short time of “white nights” when it never really goes dark. It was dark from about 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. and so we felt super lucky. It was a fun night walking the streets seeing the bridge raise and being with crowds of people. We walked quite a bit too. We saw someone crash on their motorcycle and then get up and ride away and we stopped by McDonald's on the way home. We ended our night at 2:30 or 3:00 a.m and then went to sleep.<br />
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<b>Sunday, June 3, 2012</b><br />
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We ended up having two birthday girls with us. It was Shelby’s birthday on the 3rd and Chiara’s on the 6th. We slept in and talked to some interesting people at the hostel again. We showered and got ready and packed up our things, but still asked if we could leave our backpacks while we had the day site seeing. We had wanted to see where Anastasia was buried. It was inside an interesting compound of buildings that was frankly confusion to make sense of for us. Even though there was a lot more English in St. Petersburg it was still hard to make sense of things at times. We went in and saw the graves of many famous Russian Tsars. We talked about the Disney version of Anastasia Romanova and also Rasputin. I liked Disney’s version a lot better. It just made me want to be better at my Russian history for sure. One of these days I am going to dig in and do some research!! We also went to a prison that was in the compound and walked around a bit more too. We ended up eating lunch at the same hamburger place we had eaten at earlier and walked the streets of St. Pete. The girls were just content to hang a bit. I would have liked to do more, but I was happy to be with them too. We walked through a couple of really cool parks and along the canal like we had been able to do at 1:00 that morning. We didn't want to miss out on some birthday blini so we found a favorite place and went in and ate. Tonya and I didn't want to have to get more money out so we were combining all of our resources to buy and share blini. The girls were always so gracious with us!! It was a really fun memory. We need to go back to our hostel to pick up our things and again go to subway and get back on the train. The metro stations were quite modern in St. Pete and they didn’t have the beauty of the Moscow metro stations either. The girls were quite protective of loving “their Moscow” and I don’t blame them. St. Pete was such a different kind of beauty, but both were fabulous. I’m so glad we were able to do both!! We made it back to the train station and we were a little stressed because Tonya’s ticket had been torn in half and even though she had the ticket, it wasn't connected. There was this very stern “witchy” really lady that gave Tonya a hard time and it gave us a bit of a scare. But in the end we got back on the train feeling a bit more expert at overnight train rides. We ate our subway and ate a delicious bit of Russian Kit Kat bar that we had fallen in love with too. We slept okay on the train and if I am remembering correctly the bathroom was even worse on this train. I failed to mention that both times we woke up in both cities the Russian women were up early doing their makeup and things were quite dignified about them. They were good to fold their bedding up and make things really nice around them. We were disappointed in a few of the ILP girls who didn't seem to have that same respect. Thankfully we kept on saying how great our 4 girls were in respect and every other way too. Once we arrived in Moscow we had to wait at the train station there for the Metro to open. <br />
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<b>Monday June 4th, 2012</b><br />
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While we were waiting in the metro we had a lady come up to us getting after us in Russian. She was made because we were sitting on the floor. The girls knew exactly what she was saying, they just responded…net Ruski…or in other words…No Russian. We were all feeling tired. Once the metro opened we headed to Robyn’s to get our luggage to head to the airport. A funny thing happened as we were going up the escalator. A man grabbed by leg. A drunk man might I add. I said right out loud to Megan who was in front of me…”that man just grabbed my leg.” Megan whipped around and gave him a sign that looked like the okay sign to me, but her face didn't look pleased. When we got to the top and told everyone I was told that she flipped him off in Russian. My baby girl had grown up. It has made for a great story and one I won’t forget. The girls went to Robyn’s house with us and we said goodbye to Shelby and Chiara. We got our things and they helped take us to the train station. So sad to leave the girls without being able to talk more. The girls had to head home and shower and finish packing. It was so sweet of them to take us to the train after arriving back from St. Petersburg. They were tired and had lots to do. When we arrived at the train station the train was leaving in 3 minutes. We raced to get on the train and barely made it!! It made it get to the airport with plenty of time. We ended up eating at a little restaurant at the airport. We both watched movies and slept a lot of the plane home. <br />
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It was fun to watch parts of Mission Impossible and see Moscow that we now knew and loved. They fed us chicken with a brown sauce, green beans and potatoes for lunch. That's how they described it. It was very good. Snack was a roll with tomatoes, lettuce and cheese but the best was a Russian Kit Kat bar. They are so good I wish I had one right now. We landed in JFK and had to RACE to catch our connecting flight. We were pretty motivated to get on the flight and anxious to see Tim and Glade who had made it clear to us that they were pretty desperate to see us too. We met a couple from Utah that had been in Russia looking to adopt. Their plane was scheduled a few hours after ours and they tried to get on ours with no luck. They told us because our plane came in late we had missed making our flight by 3 minutes. I was pretty aggressive with Delta to get us on that plane. We ran through the airport and luckily we made it. Tim, Glade, Baylee, Ethan and Camden were all there at the airport and it was nice to be together again. We loved this experience so much. I loved being with Tonya and her positive and beautiful nature. I loved being with all of the girls too. Shelby was so responsible and good at watching out for all of us. Chiara was always so cheerful and positive too. I always love being around Aubree and her laugh and fun. It was awesome to share this experience with Megs and one that I will always treasure that time with her. I love my Megs! Even though we didn't get to see Moscow thaw and bloom it was a real treat to experience what we did. It really was a dream come true and a once in a lifetime opportunity as well. I’m so glad the girls were able to do what they did and I hope they will always think of Russia with love…From Russia with love…<br />
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Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-1184497715933244452012-09-09T11:35:00.000-06:002012-09-09T11:35:07.858-06:00LINDSEY AND SEAN ARE ENGAGED!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so happy to announce the engagement of Sean to Lindsey Howell!! We couldn't be happier and we LOVE both of them!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea for the proposal was totally the brain child of Sean. He had actually thought of this idea over one year ago. He has known Lindsey for 7 years now. They know each other well and have been good friends for a long time! They met as sophomores at a football game while attending Weber High School and continued to be friends while he was on his mission in Australia and she was going to school and living in China. They also wrote several letters back and forth during that time. I can still remember Sean coming home from that football game and talking about Lindsey. Sean was Lindsey's first date just one week after she turned 16 and Lindsey was Sean's first date after he returned from his mission. I have known for a long time that Lindsey has been in Sean's heart. He has always spoken very highly of her and we have all loved her since high school days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over one year ago, Sean and Lindsey were on a date while at school at BYUI and they were watching Lindsey's favorite movie "Run Away Bride." The opening scene of the movie is Julia Robert's riding on a horse through a field while the sound track is playing U2's "I still haven't found what I am looking for." Lindsey told Sean at that time that she loves that scene and that one day she really wanted to ride through a field on a horse listening to that song. I also remember for her 21st birthday he gave her 21 yellow roses because of a reference to yellow roses in that movie. Several months ago before Sean and Lindsey were "Sean and Lindsey", Sean had told Megan that if he ever proposed to Lindsey he knew his plan. Well after much thought and preparation we had a front row seat on Friday night to the big event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday night at 2:30 p.m. Sean picked up the ring. He had ordered it about 3 weeks earlier and was very anxious to have it come. As you can see, it is a beautiful ring with one round diamond surrounded by a halo of diamonds in a square shape. There are diamonds on both sides of the band. It is beautiful!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sean's plan for the engagement was not an easy one to pull off. He had the perfect idea in his mind how it was going to go. Since the year previous Lindsey had told Sean that sometime in her life she wanted to ride through a field on a horse listening to the song "I still haven't found what I am looking for" he has had this idea in his mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have copied the first part of the song here....</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">I have climbed highest mountains</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">I have run through the fields</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Only to be with you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Only to be with you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">I have run</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">I have crawled</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">I have scaled these city walls</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">These city walls</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Only to be with you</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">But I still haven't found what I'm looking for</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">From that one comment, Sean knew what he wanted to do. So, here is where it became complicated. 1. Where to get horses 2. How to involve horses in the plan. For example would they get scared if all of a sudden music started playing loudly...would they bolt? 3. Where to find horses AND land to ride. 4. How to get a loud sound system on a mountain side 5. How to surprise Lindsey and get her onto a horse. 6. What to do with the horses once they get off and Sean goes to one knee to propose. The list could continue. But there was no stopping Sean. We have some neighbors that have horses. I gave them a call for Sean and was told that the name of theirs horses were something like Lightning Bolt and Maverick and they no longer let anyone ride them because of their wild nature. I knew that my good friend Tonya Jones had some close relatives that also have horses. I called Tonya to ask her and was told that they only have show horses and are worth over $100,000 they are only horses for show...not for riding. She told me of someone else she knew of that owned horses. A few years Tonya was involved as a judge in the "Miss Rodeo Utah" contest with Kristy Davis. Kristy and her husband Rick live in Pleasant View. Tonya gave me Kristy's number and told me they were super nice people. Unfortunately their number had changed but thanks to Tim, he tracked it down for me. I called and Rick answered the phone. He was super nice!! Without the slightest hesitation he said they had two very gentle horses (they actually own five) and they had a lot of land and they would be happy to help and Rick gave me his cell phone number so that Sean could call and make arrangements. HALLELUJAH!! I told Sean and passed Rick's number on to him. That took place about one month before the actual night! In the meantime, figuring out the music was a problem. Sean was trying to figure out how to get a sound system in the mountains. Mike Leger had a fabulous idea to get a truck that could go off road and that had a loud sound system. The ring was expected to come on September 4th. However the jeweler called and told Sean that the ring wouldn't be ready until September 7th. He told Lindsey that the ring wouldn't be coming until sometime after September 9th so he was starting to get stressed because he wanted the element of surprise for the actual engagement! As soon as he got the date of September 7th, he called to confirm with Rick Davis and asked if he could go up and check out the horses and land. He arranged with Rick to go up on Thursday night the 6th. Sean, Tim and I and Joe who is a friend from our YSA ward and has a truck met up at the Davis home. We all spent about 2 hours on Thursday night mapping out the horses and music etc... Sean rode with their son Stran up into the mountain to find and figure out what to do. Sean was wanting more time to figure things out and have the engagement on Saturday night. However, Friday night was when Rick was able to help. So late Thursday night, it was determined that Friday night was it. We were all to meet again with Rick around 4:30 pm on Friday to set things up and then Sean would be bringing Lindsey up around 6:30 pm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">When we meet at 4:30 pm, Sean had found the perfect spot with a field going up to the mountain where they could approach and then hear the music and look up and see a sign (see below). Joe pulled his truck off road to this spot below. That's where we found this perfect fence to put up this sign. We had to do a sound check several times to make sure the music was PERFECT. Sean hiked up the mountain found the perfect spot and placed a table and a rose on it for the actually place to propose. As I watched him I couldn't tell what he was doing. I found out later he was making sure there wasn't any "cow/horse droppings" around the site so not to distract from the mood :). He wasn't leaving anything undone. He arranged with Joe and Megan and Tayleur (a friend of Megan's) to be waiting at the truck and they had sleeping bags that looked like horse type blankets covering the sign so not to spoil the surprise until the perfect moment. When they saw Sean and Lindsey starting to come up over the hill they were to start the music and unveil and sign. Sean and Lindsey would continue to ride onto a spot where Stran was waiting very dignified with cowboy hat and all and he would hold the horses while Sean and Lindsey walked so they could be alone at the appointed spot with the table and rose. Sean had also called Lindsey's dad Brad earlier in the day to let them know what was happening. They had had plans to attend their son Jacob's soccer game in Provo, but changed their plans to be there when Lindsey and Sean returned on the horses after the engagement. So here is how it went down...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Sean had asked Tim to leave his </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">phone in Tim's car which Sean was driving. Once Sean had picked up Lindsey we were to wait for 15 minutes and then text Sean and tell him that Tim had left his phone in his car and we needed him to bring it to Tim at the Davis home. Sean explained to Lindsey that the Davis family were close family friends and we were with them. The ironic thing is that we had never met these people before Thursday night and yet by Friday night I felt like they were good family friends and we were hugging each other by the end of it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">When Sean and Lindsey got there, Tim and I were sitting on the horses and I told Lindsey that they just had to go on a short ride on the trail because it was so beautiful and I wanted them to see it. She was slightly hesitant since she hadn't been on a horse since she was 12. I told her how gentle the horses were. She so trustingly got on the horses and Rick gave them a quick tutorial on riding horses as they walked down their driveway and headed up the trail. They rode up over the hill and into the meadow where Sean had planned to break the surprise. As they got closer to the banner and truck with the music at the ready, Joe, Megan and Tayleur lifted off the "horse blankets" from the sign to reveal the message and cued the music. Lindsey was very pleasantly surprised and hadn't anticipated the proposal happening just as Sean had hoped. The unveiling of the surprised was just as Sean had envisioned. As they were fulfilling Lindsey's dream to ride through a field to that song, they arrived where Stran was waiting to take the horses and Sean helped Lindsey off the horse and they walked hand in hand to the spot where the rose was waiting. He got down on one knee and after 7 years of waiting they fulfilled their dream of finding what they had been looking for. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sign :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the actual proposal, Megan walked up to where they were and she took these pictures</span>!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love how the horses seem to be giving them their privacy :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Returning down the mountain to their parents waiting to congratulate them</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what we saw as they were returning. I love how they are just looking at each other going into their future :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lindsey posing as everyone is looking at her ring</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The happy couple</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sean and Lindsey with her parents Lori and Brad Howell. They are fabulous people and we are so happy for our two families to join together. The Howell's have four children. Their oldest child is Stephanie who is married to Max and and they are living in </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philadelphia</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, PA where Max is attending school at Wharton. Lindsey is next in the family and then comes Bryson who is serving a mission in Houston, Texas Spanish speaking. Then Jacob is a junior at Weber High school and is a fabulous soccer player. I'm sure Lindsey's siblings wished they could be there as well. Sean is </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">extremely</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> excited and blessed to marry into this wonderful family. We are extremely excited too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As we have told people. Lindsey is not only the girl of Sean's dreams, she is also the girls of our dreams too.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sean, Lindsey, Margie & Tim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Megan also loves Lindsey and already feels like she is a sister!</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Megan and Sean have always been there to help each other!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We wish Melissa and Adam and Hannah & Paige could have been there too, but Melissa was well informed on the events happening and we Skyped on Friday afternoon. She was just as excited as the rest of us and was anxious to see the ring. After telling Hannah that Sean and Lindsey were engaged, Hannah rode around on her bike yelling...Sean and Lindsey are gaged!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just before we left, the sun started to set. It was such a happy night! To top off the evening...Rick Davis walked over and took one of the horseshoes off of the horse that Lindsey rode. He presented it to Sean and Lindsey and wished them good luck. It was the perfect ending of a perfect engagement. So romantic!!</span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-1467843627545262512012-02-10T11:06:00.000-07:002012-02-10T11:06:27.711-07:00The Bare NecessitiesThe theme for Primary this year is "Choose The Right." I have had a few different opportunities to visit wards and watch faithful primary teachers try to teach little children who are as young as 3 to make correct choices. It has made me reflect upon my life and some of the experiences that stick out in my mind of learning about choosing the right. One story that I have told my children over the years and now I have grandchildren to pass this life lesson on to is the first time I remember realizing the our choices DO have consequences. So this experience I pass on to you little Hannah and Paige and hope that you can learn these "bare necessities"....<br />
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"The Jungle Book" came to theaters in October of 1967. I was the ripe old age of 6! I had seen it advertised and I had looked forward to seeing it. One beautiful Saturday morning my Aunt Win & Uncle Stu called my mom and told her that they were planning on taking Ann to see JUNGLE BOOK and called to invite ME to go along!! It is important that I explain a few things here. First of all, you must understand, that things were very different when it came to watching movies is 1967. When one wanted to see a movie you couldn't just go to a store or a "redbox" and pick up whatever you wanted to see. Or you couldn't DVR it or stream it or go to your collection of Videos/DVD's or Blue-rays. You actually had to see it in the theater!!!!! If the movie had been out for years and if you were extremely lucky it just might come on television. If you were lucky like I was, you might get to go to your grandparents house and actually see it in LIVING COLOR. Most the people I knew didn't have a color TV or even access to a color TV. However, you must know, that the these special movies also were only broadcast about once a year. How many of you remember waiting for an entire year to see "The Wizard of Oz" or "Oklahoma" only to find out it is being broadcast during your sacrament meeting time? So, as you can see it was a big deal for me to get to go to the movies. Another important part of this story is that I was the middle child of 6. I had the benefit of always having someone to play with. I also was blessed to have a family that liked to camp and go up the canyon and on different adventures...on a shoestring budget. Ann on the other hand was basically raised as an only child. The next closest sibling to her was 10 years older and her oldest brother was off serving a mission about the time she was starting kindergarten. Between the two of us, we were blessed to live the best of both worlds. When I was with Ann, I got to do things like go to the circus and have my own cotton candy, popcorn and drink. All three treats in one night, and Ann was able to camp and sleep like a sardine with all of us together. It was a perfect match. To this day my sweet Uncle Stu who is now 94 asks me if I remember going on all the Equitable Insurance Company trips with him. It was the life! I got to see the World's Fair in Spokane Washington, and visit places I have always wanted to go back to, but haven't yet like Coeur d'Alene<em style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">,</em> Idaho, Arizona and Vale, Colorado. Ann was able to go skiing with our family every Saturday while my dad taught ski school and spent summers at Brighton in a tiny little cabin with 6 children, two parents a golden retriever and visits from Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, neighbors and friends. My sister Karen who was 2 1/2 years older than I was was always really envious that she didn't have an Ann in her life. To this day, I count Ann among my finest blessings!!<br />
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So, now back to Jungle Book. It was a beautiful fall Saturday when the call came from Aunt Win inviting ME to go to the Jungle Book with them. Needless to say I WAS EXCITED!! My mom told me that I could go with them if I got my jobs done and if I was helpful to her. Suzie would have just been a brand new baby and<br />
Rich would have been 3 and between having 6 children and teaching full time, my mom was always busy. I don't remember being a difficult or disobedient child but evidently on this day I was!! I don't remember what jobs I had been assigned to do but I do remember I didn't do them. I remember thinking to myself that there was no way that my mom wouldn't let me go to Jungle Book because it was such an amazing opportunity for me. I don't even really remember reminders during the day or threats that if I didn't get things done I couldn't go. However, I do remember that I was excited and couldn't wait for my fantastic evening out on the town with Ann. It might even include stopping by the Iceberg on the way home for a shake. <br />
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The time had finally arrived. I was all ready to go. As I was waiting for the honk of the horn my mom came over and told me that she had decided that this time she was going to let Karen go with Ann. WHAT?????? COULD IT BE POSSIBLE?!! She explained that at the beginning of the day she had told me what needed to be done in order for me to go. She said that I couldn't go because I hadn't done the things she had asked me to do. I don't remember trying to change her mind. I knew she was right and I also knew there was no changing her mind. I watched Karen get into the car and wanting it to be me that was the one to get into that car. I also remember it being quite sometime later that I was finally able to see Jungle Book. I learned a very value lesson that day. The true "bare necessities" to have a happy life has to do with choosing the right.Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-38403596160973017742012-01-26T10:36:00.004-07:002012-01-26T10:38:57.513-07:00SHE'S LEAVING ON A JET PLANE<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Megan's bags are packed and she was ready to go as we walked out the door at 3:00 a.m. this morning. She had pulled an all nighter trying Sean's method of staying awake and attempting to acclimatize to the time zone of where you will be going. She is going to try to sleep on the plane from DC to Moscow. I asked her how long she has been planning this adventure and she told me it has been for the last 6 years. Megan has watched both Melissa and Sean leave for their time living abroad and both times she drove back home in the car safe and sound in the back seat. This time it was just Tim and I driving back home without Megan.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Megan will be teaching English at the Captain school in Moscow, Russia. She will be with Aubree Jones and one other girl at the school. They will be teaching the youngest children at the school. Their students will range from 3 - 6 years old. They will teach every week day for about 3 hours and then have the rest of the day to explore Moscow. They will also travel to <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and Ukraine. They will have long weekends to travel as well. I know they will also be going to St. Petersberg, but I don't know when all of this will take place. ILP has coordinated with a native Russian that will help make all of their travel arrangements and plans. It is the same coordinated that helped when Melissa was there and she is fantastic!!! She will also be guarded at the place she will be living. There will also be other teachers that will be part of the International Language Program living in Moscow at two other schools. We meet some of the other teachers today at the airport. They all looked like really cute girls...NO BOYS are in the group. The other teachers will meet up with them in Washington DC and are scheduled to arrive in Moscow at about 1:50 a.m. Utah time and 11:50 a.m. Moscow time on Friday morning. They will be met by Gulia (the Native Coordinator) who will take them to a van that will deliver them to their school. I was so thankful to Melissa as she gave Megan a travel book all about Moscow and then took the time to put tons of post it notes throughout the book marking her favorite museums, and must see places. It will make it really nice for Megan and Aubree to have that valuable information. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">According to the weather report for Moscow this week, she will arrive on Friday with a high of 7 degrees and the low is predicted to be -6. It doesn't look much better the rest of the week. The warmest it is showing is 12 degrees and coldest is reported to be -13. Burrrrrrrr!!! However, Megan is prepared and has boots that are reported to keep feet warm up to -20. We shall see!! She has packed thermals, socks, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, hats, two coats and layers and layers of clothes. She was allowed to pack two bags (she had to pay ($70.00) for one of them...arrrh...airlines these days) and was limited to 50 lbs each. One of her bags weighed in today at 50 lbs and the other weighed in at 49!! Along with all her clothes she was required to bring some teaching supplies and prizes for the students. She also packed some shorts for when the warm weather hits the last part of her trip and two bottles of green Tabasco and some lemon and pepper to help favor the bland Russia food :) She is prepared!!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">I was so happy to see Megan with an appetite this morning. She was eating at 2:30 a.m. and she also ate some food one the girls brought to the airport. This is a good sign. Ever since Megan was a little girl she could never eat if she felt anxious or nervous about something. I have always been amazed by this quality because I can pretty much eat at any given time. The other thought I had as we drove to the airport was when Megan learned to ride a bike. She wasn't like many children that you could sneakily let go of the back of the bike and they would be peddling without even realizing you had let go. You could never trick Megan like this. After both Tim and Melissa tried this trick on Megan, she would never let them help her again. I spent what seemed like hours running behind Megan holding on to the seat of the bike. When she was finally ready she gave me the go that I could let go. And off she went confident in her ability to ride. I knew today that she was ready for me to let go. She has all the skills she needs to be able to peddle on her own. I am proud of her and I wish her all the best!! I send all of my love to my baby girl in Russia!! I LOVE YOU MEGS!! HAVE A BLAST!!!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m0u4GTZY7KAnf2lElWp9wbb_mBkpOi7LVzKkJ3kZNNr9ou71_ctjCYPJVEATItxCswhs_Ay_Zw2eUwkszrJ19UqTJKPmTq8qdeA6botHsBbQpzSy0_-3BYidCsIU9PpTJ4CRDFye56k/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m0u4GTZY7KAnf2lElWp9wbb_mBkpOi7LVzKkJ3kZNNr9ou71_ctjCYPJVEATItxCswhs_Ay_Zw2eUwkszrJ19UqTJKPmTq8qdeA6botHsBbQpzSy0_-3BYidCsIU9PpTJ4CRDFye56k/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XZzsYTsIlFBfJCmAajM2JvZ8iFhyphenhyphenLS_6d4FyXQ2LrLzzcRucXE_JB_-xBgFgkh8tcDbd5hjjd7RlXIw6PqRNidwQjp3M5rrsQcpNgg6FdrRPq7xonqBFdDsCVTrZXsnC8kAOps1X-oQ/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XZzsYTsIlFBfJCmAajM2JvZ8iFhyphenhyphenLS_6d4FyXQ2LrLzzcRucXE_JB_-xBgFgkh8tcDbd5hjjd7RlXIw6PqRNidwQjp3M5rrsQcpNgg6FdrRPq7xonqBFdDsCVTrZXsnC8kAOps1X-oQ/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudyjJksHsq2ThPl1Su6ZYxZIr5v4zEEBQpAy-Xp02X9nODMdzuQDsxeVmJp8Ic8xTRMw0fRhx8n6tna0BJ-XpxZqXye2Al4XIfbemuAF4hhakHOzyx20ZRnjSknLUn8KfGEke89lC5WA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudyjJksHsq2ThPl1Su6ZYxZIr5v4zEEBQpAy-Xp02X9nODMdzuQDsxeVmJp8Ic8xTRMw0fRhx8n6tna0BJ-XpxZqXye2Al4XIfbemuAF4hhakHOzyx20ZRnjSknLUn8KfGEke89lC5WA/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">January 26th 2012!! The Adventure begins :) Do Svidaniya</div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-33096201458351574762012-01-20T10:47:00.002-07:002012-01-20T13:18:58.023-07:00Goodbye 2011 <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are still in January (2012) so I am not too far behind the game. I am going to attempt to do a better job at journaling my life! 2011 has been a great year. The days and weeks and months seems to fly by. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZhuEvIqAAT_v6Znq608E09KBID8NmHNQ1eipJEGpzSdicRUOnAqOJYbXQ4Dv4yXf2SX5CodjvTgZLMItCbBled5vIR3GotqvEFeHpXhw43N62m_jfe408rwDxuG1M7x8WzxFI1AVttQ/s1600/167134_1538983796276_1285328744_31095803_398394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 382px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 280px;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZhuEvIqAAT_v6Znq608E09KBID8NmHNQ1eipJEGpzSdicRUOnAqOJYbXQ4Dv4yXf2SX5CodjvTgZLMItCbBled5vIR3GotqvEFeHpXhw43N62m_jfe408rwDxuG1M7x8WzxFI1AVttQ/s320/167134_1538983796276_1285328744_31095803_398394_n.jpg" width="276" /></a>On Thursday of this week, Sean will have been home for one year!! The very same day Sean returned home (January 26th) we will be taking Megan to the airport <br />
to say goodbye until she returns in June. She will be teaching English in Moscow, Russia. Along with traveling to many countries in Eastern Europe! She will be missed!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love this picture because it is the very first time in two years that Tim were surrounded by our children. In this picture we are still missing Adam and little baby Paige was just a tiny tiny baby. We have been greatly blessed throughout the year to have Sean return and Paige join our family. Below I have included some of the significant events and favorite memories of 2011. </div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsYkp8AaRusLlg6bzFrApcGJ_wEYk-rIdVNH-1q48U7tz-2EBES8gTpCib_EDPo4sK9k3JMX-sZTtU9UgrHVhVPvQw6DlsQMuOvTD09rJPSCgrSF4QhUiMe0vHRHyk8CsIaDWE7WIj_s/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsYkp8AaRusLlg6bzFrApcGJ_wEYk-rIdVNH-1q48U7tz-2EBES8gTpCib_EDPo4sK9k3JMX-sZTtU9UgrHVhVPvQw6DlsQMuOvTD09rJPSCgrSF4QhUiMe0vHRHyk8CsIaDWE7WIj_s/s320/094.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking care of Hannah when Paige was born. I wanted to buy her a pair of sandles but she was interested in boots in September :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCMhFsH7_pOBj31xVruCP489YdjkNXiBZHnzjduvWTQbp2GheFnB36VFlBp7MTwBUr1HDYrfSMOnmw4XXIF-9eYj4NTzCwyOBsZaY768oSV41oWQ-9D8_5Rys9PyQlUmPSqPXlG0cuvc/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCMhFsH7_pOBj31xVruCP489YdjkNXiBZHnzjduvWTQbp2GheFnB36VFlBp7MTwBUr1HDYrfSMOnmw4XXIF-9eYj4NTzCwyOBsZaY768oSV41oWQ-9D8_5Rys9PyQlUmPSqPXlG0cuvc/s320/134.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paige Lily Turney was born September 2, 2011. It was so special to be there. This picture was taken 2 days before I turned 50!! Tim also turned 50 on July 1, 2011!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaeU1kUkg9cE43cVNWeK5pgg6RTq25z4lsiJuTjx4pDTgdcnEg0A0lDVTpafrz9Uhm27jDQwFimZ1Iww_sUZ77xVLBxmRmFJlK9cGvF6SPeuaAjWCtyN-YkESJ66kVMRp_ONIHdZdduk/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaeU1kUkg9cE43cVNWeK5pgg6RTq25z4lsiJuTjx4pDTgdcnEg0A0lDVTpafrz9Uhm27jDQwFimZ1Iww_sUZ77xVLBxmRmFJlK9cGvF6SPeuaAjWCtyN-YkESJ66kVMRp_ONIHdZdduk/s320/242.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were blessed to host different guest from Australia this year. This is Zach Katene who served with Sean in Darwin. He is seriously the tallest man I have ever personally spent time with. You should have seen how he fit in my car. It was a blessing having 7 missionaries from the Australia Adelaide Mission stay at our home during conference. It was also an amazing weekend for me as I watched the primary children from our stake and surrounding stakes sing in general conference. One of the highlights of my life!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4cp0J82F_47WvRxn5J56exEhoTbI8_WOYoqxMiqq0G07wP89lRZ14uhhtbWTWbXU953bAYnPS9vYwo1bz0mwe_Wxja58c8N1ftceQjrgBrBEutOimKzTdicCIId7XdABn8iioUwZJKM/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4cp0J82F_47WvRxn5J56exEhoTbI8_WOYoqxMiqq0G07wP89lRZ14uhhtbWTWbXU953bAYnPS9vYwo1bz0mwe_Wxja58c8N1ftceQjrgBrBEutOimKzTdicCIId7XdABn8iioUwZJKM/s320/248.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was hard taking family pictures without our entire family with us. However we decided we would capture this stage of our life and where we are at right now! Miss you Melissa, Adam, Hannah & Paige!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZktiTNKgIIcKydg4OB5LFd4hb0TUxXltU1e1J11qxl8I0aXRgeu9V8NxJT7_Xm8DVHjATHj73F-vwxfR3p8M5MV3Dxe6537rJKUcRBYpB38nqGSbodDLCQtoJKfKlYIE6HZiuQ9d__us/s1600/249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZktiTNKgIIcKydg4OB5LFd4hb0TUxXltU1e1J11qxl8I0aXRgeu9V8NxJT7_Xm8DVHjATHj73F-vwxfR3p8M5MV3Dxe6537rJKUcRBYpB38nqGSbodDLCQtoJKfKlYIE6HZiuQ9d__us/s320/249.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had Thanksgiving dinner with the Crouch Family this year. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of all of us together. We were having so much fun that I didn't even think of capturing the moment!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQk6yr96WwOYRTgirfQvDjRg0ZJnXUWUC7a3wNMQq5mALhn7TIVgm-EfcJVmmQkIsEdG1LpVecPx2lRLONhWItCflzI48-JCPEVym4UJiXNJSbsB0S3hp74N9zVOdAmU_G7gmtZiTQv8/s1600/256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQk6yr96WwOYRTgirfQvDjRg0ZJnXUWUC7a3wNMQq5mALhn7TIVgm-EfcJVmmQkIsEdG1LpVecPx2lRLONhWItCflzI48-JCPEVym4UJiXNJSbsB0S3hp74N9zVOdAmU_G7gmtZiTQv8/s320/256.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We headed to Las Vegas right after Thanksgiving to be together for Paige's baby blessing. We had a great time together :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2yfZMBUkX1cOY_fGogDU0tjqzArGszNiEjoqHc2kV1JOYgpKQooi7p9KYEHDgA0z2yBSe8ZHf4H1aX3r_FJpB6yAWxuqNtgOrviiTrI_Ymqfs8NGM8Kd2tSazkXsNvjzkC8R_Cf4uNg/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2yfZMBUkX1cOY_fGogDU0tjqzArGszNiEjoqHc2kV1JOYgpKQooi7p9KYEHDgA0z2yBSe8ZHf4H1aX3r_FJpB6yAWxuqNtgOrviiTrI_Ymqfs8NGM8Kd2tSazkXsNvjzkC8R_Cf4uNg/s320/269.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all took turns loving and holding Paige all weekend. She is such a sweetheart. While Melissa talked to Megan and showed her all of her pictures from Russia...Sean spent hours watching Paige sleep in his arms. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4G0QugFjYzmMQNGJpCW-M3Bhhuv15TcqmFbHfxQ_p61U84JXq8lHsUcTJlQwfaGBxLbk2xlJ_lcK0Ov3nLHav9loxkPAe7UVMiJw1PopVoI4lUrjAU9vC86bNyrhyphenhyphendGJH-vbOdAHbTw/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4G0QugFjYzmMQNGJpCW-M3Bhhuv15TcqmFbHfxQ_p61U84JXq8lHsUcTJlQwfaGBxLbk2xlJ_lcK0Ov3nLHav9loxkPAe7UVMiJw1PopVoI4lUrjAU9vC86bNyrhyphenhyphendGJH-vbOdAHbTw/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and Hannah came to Utah in April. Adam gave Melissa (and the rest of us) a wonderful Valentine's gift for a trip with Hannah to Utah. We went to the zoo together for Hannah's first trip to the zoo. We also ate at Hires after. It was a great day. We were so sad that Tim was out of town. Tim traveled a ton the first quarter of 2011!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSPsBecA-wUgDUA3djGwbOK2wlaxcVCxysKWEkv57kNZ3ho0h96DkwdXlM3in419wVaO1LW8IINiGKu4CDg66alj5e65b9_ilfwa1gg85UTBf9b35_IeX1soaP-myg8CrV3MKHxCnqNs/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSPsBecA-wUgDUA3djGwbOK2wlaxcVCxysKWEkv57kNZ3ho0h96DkwdXlM3in419wVaO1LW8IINiGKu4CDg66alj5e65b9_ilfwa1gg85UTBf9b35_IeX1soaP-myg8CrV3MKHxCnqNs/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In April, we took Megan and Sean to BYUI. They have the best set up!! The both lived in the Navuoo Apartments. They were seperated by a parking lot which has worked out great since they share a car. It ended up that they were even put in the same Family Home Evening group. It was a tender mercy. It has brought a lot of comfort for me throughout the year that even though we have been seperated most of the year, none of us were alone or without family. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVRjjy1YsmkfBI6XDwiwPfRUXKRLyrW3sp8vqsGQ0pOObswMXXNtVrB0Yf7VY_p2DMQFQUhv20mZIdxDwR4thiA_X49KUzbl8JvRRnJYHbf1I8flzj52s1t3w11TZoiz2fqEBYXZqAwE/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVRjjy1YsmkfBI6XDwiwPfRUXKRLyrW3sp8vqsGQ0pOObswMXXNtVrB0Yf7VY_p2DMQFQUhv20mZIdxDwR4thiA_X49KUzbl8JvRRnJYHbf1I8flzj52s1t3w11TZoiz2fqEBYXZqAwE/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrian & Janell Rutter stayed with us for two weeks in May. We totally enjoyed showing them around Utah. They quickly became part of our family. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqP5cEt9jyl94eTPdBc-_E_y8MUBbgq_67b5lEKncJEzX-9WQg6koX4k7YDPrbsdApbWEnOMr4-BytMKt7PJ3RHM2mlyIGDDHCGqzkNVsLJF_-UG_m-OUhyC_XmXuuSWAxpNs5bC9EFs/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqP5cEt9jyl94eTPdBc-_E_y8MUBbgq_67b5lEKncJEzX-9WQg6koX4k7YDPrbsdApbWEnOMr4-BytMKt7PJ3RHM2mlyIGDDHCGqzkNVsLJF_-UG_m-OUhyC_XmXuuSWAxpNs5bC9EFs/s320/101.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I see this picture I can't help but be amazed to think that my baby is having a baby. I think this is a beautiful picture and I feel humble to think of the miracle of birth!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60w4mwKgcfzzbL9J04J10wsk1xe5HoYXQfWVtJp8B5WVaQzQZPX_0eh_pkwqiHcBuWkT6tS8HxGg_HnWNG1z5K1fevJAKPtUGsBToDXH2MoiJhQ2QEOMgeBJKMere23RFGHetZ5sxFyE/s1600/180779_1761895978032_1558050021_1759144_6274163_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60w4mwKgcfzzbL9J04J10wsk1xe5HoYXQfWVtJp8B5WVaQzQZPX_0eh_pkwqiHcBuWkT6tS8HxGg_HnWNG1z5K1fevJAKPtUGsBToDXH2MoiJhQ2QEOMgeBJKMere23RFGHetZ5sxFyE/s320/180779_1761895978032_1558050021_1759144_6274163_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah is so loving with all of us. My arms hurt to hold them whenever I see pictures of my Hannah and Paige!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzIszddFAJCHdCSY2fdgYGwhz19NWN_rlAKNkNZoXC0yMhXYEeY66rLV4MTNqgSwEkF1H6RlunEKsYbcLnm7Vg8-Vzhs9RONY8Ha9CGq1-QwD9bUk1QNsA5c3Ami8uOlqiIT-d64Vxv4/s1600/205481_10150234718703569_776363568_8996928_3970464_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzIszddFAJCHdCSY2fdgYGwhz19NWN_rlAKNkNZoXC0yMhXYEeY66rLV4MTNqgSwEkF1H6RlunEKsYbcLnm7Vg8-Vzhs9RONY8Ha9CGq1-QwD9bUk1QNsA5c3Ami8uOlqiIT-d64Vxv4/s320/205481_10150234718703569_776363568_8996928_3970464_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken at General Conference last April. Aaron Hall came with us to conference. He is now serving in Taipei, Taiwan. We ended up pulling up to the conference center and we found a parking spot right accross the street. It was the easiest time I have ever had parking downtown. I figured we were getting early missionary blessings since Aaron was with us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved going to hear the Tabernacle Choir on Mother's day!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron's farewell!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-zvq9VRAxw4_CjyhMRrsCE3r3RBU_3aIOaLeyxjEtm6QhmZjPB588yp3IjBZKPcyQVIN4TiCHcasQ7aWxYsg0AahtrSvG9igchC21-ZOf0_JuxGiSu32PzF-1D4C6NRXT4aiGUNoDC8/s1600/262976_10150392256208569_776363568_10256045_3089726_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-zvq9VRAxw4_CjyhMRrsCE3r3RBU_3aIOaLeyxjEtm6QhmZjPB588yp3IjBZKPcyQVIN4TiCHcasQ7aWxYsg0AahtrSvG9igchC21-ZOf0_JuxGiSu32PzF-1D4C6NRXT4aiGUNoDC8/s320/262976_10150392256208569_776363568_10256045_3089726_n.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favorite places in the world is going to Island Park. One of our favorite traditions is going to Meadow Vue Ranch for a BBQ. Truely one of the best meals of the year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18AfGeXf3nuLPYO1119xIwjQ61sO3M3Z-H1FaiZTW0uEWGFHESGmX0FcOahzrPaS0LNvEcw2_Y05RbG8-kY0-fGrqUMOtNi26OIQfI292LuJD_aWKMtwnXpBrsX4SRty7GAr2Z6hB8fo/s1600/284848_10150392751023569_776363568_10260971_4018747_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18AfGeXf3nuLPYO1119xIwjQ61sO3M3Z-H1FaiZTW0uEWGFHESGmX0FcOahzrPaS0LNvEcw2_Y05RbG8-kY0-fGrqUMOtNi26OIQfI292LuJD_aWKMtwnXpBrsX4SRty7GAr2Z6hB8fo/s320/284848_10150392751023569_776363568_10260971_4018747_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow Vue Ranch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWirP9CwxTQswj8uToYKPsXTmAVHyxb5W1j6PU76yeukaW7A_5m8462XUxFs7JfRSq_au1TFTwioZ74ha_iqOL1tm2Pq6QJ6cJvD51M-TcvLm922yoOG8U4b5eTxk9wWZaLoljS_W_4w/s1600/311799_10150477334763569_776363568_10982881_1365551412_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWirP9CwxTQswj8uToYKPsXTmAVHyxb5W1j6PU76yeukaW7A_5m8462XUxFs7JfRSq_au1TFTwioZ74ha_iqOL1tm2Pq6QJ6cJvD51M-TcvLm922yoOG8U4b5eTxk9wWZaLoljS_W_4w/s320/311799_10150477334763569_776363568_10982881_1365551412_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids were busted on facebook when one of their friends posted this picture of them getting the car stuck in the sand dunes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZiaNK2a8tFyXSii1pnJH9KhAgRqaOdpDwpn3fzkhMpvYRXnIccRSNSSTG-JNt_nqdbDck605ttALtsg9i6wm5UN0vBehQU3ix9-u7GsF2rMACltyQF6IFaIzncbRtk393_wE9N4Y-Ps/s1600/318789_2290452671619_1558050021_2398357_6438054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZiaNK2a8tFyXSii1pnJH9KhAgRqaOdpDwpn3fzkhMpvYRXnIccRSNSSTG-JNt_nqdbDck605ttALtsg9i6wm5UN0vBehQU3ix9-u7GsF2rMACltyQF6IFaIzncbRtk393_wE9N4Y-Ps/s320/318789_2290452671619_1558050021_2398357_6438054_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved this fantastic beach that Alan &and Marivic took us too just North of San Franscisco. I want to go back!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7Hi_MkpbWwgDr7K10cT8wdWyxF7Gl1Rl239kNjiaEGVwWqa-J5gAL9Lis9zMfUcYyYdbjzi8c4tGz0_dcqFHq_v9pEZllx_CemduIDtaKZXeki4T_Of5EdOon38Dlx_GPF_hv24OqAQ/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7Hi_MkpbWwgDr7K10cT8wdWyxF7Gl1Rl239kNjiaEGVwWqa-J5gAL9Lis9zMfUcYyYdbjzi8c4tGz0_dcqFHq_v9pEZllx_CemduIDtaKZXeki4T_Of5EdOon38Dlx_GPF_hv24OqAQ/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it beautiful!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkuCsrqQsOxqyYnwyoDsb7K5FqtV_8UmFcjbiIWdKOQV3alI04IAk12gFhsswTZQkY2-eUrrKl2OWG7CcIiq-ujyvxm4-btjbYt_IW4IgPBmZ08a75-OV5TdStuD_LIyKOv7fIs3LMzo/s1600/DSC_7459-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkuCsrqQsOxqyYnwyoDsb7K5FqtV_8UmFcjbiIWdKOQV3alI04IAk12gFhsswTZQkY2-eUrrKl2OWG7CcIiq-ujyvxm4-btjbYt_IW4IgPBmZ08a75-OV5TdStuD_LIyKOv7fIs3LMzo/s320/DSC_7459-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of beautiful!! Paige is so sweet!! She is also one of the happiest babies I have ever seen. She seems to burst into a big smile just for being noticed!</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love all of these pictures of Adam, Melissa, Hannah & Paige!!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64dCQtCIVWsTQrzxKbmnixw9fe6SThltYNI9vdhF6EWStwCTxJg3h-R5MnSpa0bgQPPDwCqr8LTXQOjn3lniYhQIANECJgEK2oqo2jXOzh-GlO-ek4OtdL4HbFaja7UoErrXGqch4Cew/s1600/DSC_7698-110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64dCQtCIVWsTQrzxKbmnixw9fe6SThltYNI9vdhF6EWStwCTxJg3h-R5MnSpa0bgQPPDwCqr8LTXQOjn3lniYhQIANECJgEK2oqo2jXOzh-GlO-ek4OtdL4HbFaja7UoErrXGqch4Cew/s320/DSC_7698-110.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPAoZhRKHQwGj8_KHuu8xq3abnmFhkvytOZV_l9Iot9hGGcpVBkVQIox5yS-JvLsuon0zEpetGromTS7eDARUxiv8c9kOwDP4aRZ6LRLoi8frpXs6nUlJbd7f3R_gcF5XSVo-nX2bTTk/s1600/DSC_7406-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPAoZhRKHQwGj8_KHuu8xq3abnmFhkvytOZV_l9Iot9hGGcpVBkVQIox5yS-JvLsuon0zEpetGromTS7eDARUxiv8c9kOwDP4aRZ6LRLoi8frpXs6nUlJbd7f3R_gcF5XSVo-nX2bTTk/s320/DSC_7406-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMABYp-bDaR98xenqvwN81_wLwQX3Gc1sRzOUpgPpYomCcqPaKk-CyVAv7eYGI9wOnTueXsiMF4NEM2N9dkeWXmVyzEtAk8aVWGN34hTuNcS-6tFuHiQZLXja2GkJn4ypFAMRUpXNJ1GE/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMABYp-bDaR98xenqvwN81_wLwQX3Gc1sRzOUpgPpYomCcqPaKk-CyVAv7eYGI9wOnTueXsiMF4NEM2N9dkeWXmVyzEtAk8aVWGN34hTuNcS-6tFuHiQZLXja2GkJn4ypFAMRUpXNJ1GE/s640/274.JPG" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Just as we started 2011 being together, we finished all together. Only this time we did have Adam and Paige with us. We had a wonderful Christmas together. Hannah and I went on this train together at the New Gate Mall. She talked about this train ride the whole week. We had a lot of fun together from seeing the lights on temple square to playing games, watching movies, talking, laughing, eating and going to parties. My favorite part of the week was Christmas Eve. It was a very special night and quite magical. When we got into bed that night, Tim turned to me and said, "I will remember this night for the rest of my life." I felt the exact same way. I don't know what 2012 will bring for each of us, but I am looking forward to finding out!</div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-22081016619947390862011-12-14T11:38:00.002-07:002012-01-20T08:46:58.673-07:00My most memborable Christmas gift!<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Christmas is a magical time of year. As a young child, the Christmas I remember best was when I was 7 years old. I remember being so excited as I would watch each present after it had been wrapped and placed under the tree. Coming from my family of 8 meant many many gifts under the tree. My mom would spend all year shopping and buying and preparing for Christmas. I would spend what seemed like hours sitting under the tree reading each tag hoping it would be for me. I didn't pay too much attention to the other gifts, but the gifts that had MY name on a tag I would spend hours shaking the box and examining the gift as best as I could in wonder and anticipation of what special gift awaited my greedy little hands. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">About one week before Christmas, my sister Karen came home from shopping with my mom and told me that she had found the perfect gift for me. You must understand that Karen is my big sister and she is 2 years older than I am. I have always looked up to her. She was 9 and seemed to have much more wisdom and knowledge than I did. She was like the Marsha Brady and I was the Jan. She was who I looked to for fashion and know how to life's demanding questions that a 7 year old girl had. In other words, she had the "it" factor. To this day, Karen is a shopper and an incredible gift giver. I think it is safe to say she is a legend in our family when it comes to gift giving.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Anticipation filled my heart and the suspense began! Not long after she had reported on her find she brought the beautifully wrapped gift and placed it under the tree. It was the most beautiful box I had ever seen. The gift was in a very long, very skinny box. The type of box you just don't see. I don't believe I had ever in all of my 7 years experience seen such a box! The box was about 3 feet long and 12 inches wide. It was wrapped in shinny wrapping paper and tied with a beautiful bow. I was mesmerized!! I remember sitting under the colorful lights smelling the wonderful aroma of pine and examining and trying to guess what in the world was in the box!! I would make guesses and each time Karen would smile and tell me that there was no way I would ever guess what was in the box!! She was right! I never did guess.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">After days of suspense, finally Christmas Eve arrived. We had a wonderful meal that my mom prepared and carried on with our Christmas traditions but all I could really think about was WHAT WAS IN THAT LONG SKINNY BOX! It was finally time to go to bed and wait through what seemed a very long night until we could go into the living room to see what Santa had left us and open gifts. I don't remember even wondering about what Santa would bring me that year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Christmas morning actually did arrived even though I didn't think it would. We lined up from youngest to oldest and I must have been pretty happy at that moment that I would have been one of the younger children. Each of us bolted into the room to partake of the goods. I remember that the first gift I went to that morning was the beautifully shinny wrapped long skinny box that I had held in my arms for what seemed like days in suspense. My moment had arrived. I quickly tore open the paper and opened the box and much to my wondering eyes did appear...a blue snake!! It was the most unique stuffed "animal" I had ever seen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">It has now been over 40 years since this momentous event and I don't believe there has been one Christmas that has passed that this story hasn't put a smile on my face. I have told this story to my children for years. I have never run into another blue snake in my life. Until...last summer when Megan and I were shopping at Pier 39 in San Francisco we went into Rain Forest Cafe for a look around. What...could it be...A BLUE SNAKE!! We just had to take a picture...just a couple of weeks before my 50th birthday finally I found another blue snake. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I learned a lot that Christmas and I have always held that story close to my heart. It wasn't the blue snake that held my heart, it was the love of my big sister and her thoughtful act of finding what she thought would be the perfect gift for me. Merry Christmas to all of you, and may you feel the love that I felt that special Christmas. I hope each of you will have your own version of a BLUE SNAKE this year :).</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">August 2011 - THE BLUE SNAKE</span><br />
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<div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWy6X4NB1GAQpFy7kG_uHq3mPeGqw7RRAhTc_spNPvP863PUXm3Wxsr_w0g9AwtbbuMzKbjJHl0I7RXcdcuZjLQyHh-fE3JZamxq5ekPmwwGiUQiZwldR1RwATsDLhHYVq9BUjoJGV2s/s1600/126.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685450536421687138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWy6X4NB1GAQpFy7kG_uHq3mPeGqw7RRAhTc_spNPvP863PUXm3Wxsr_w0g9AwtbbuMzKbjJHl0I7RXcdcuZjLQyHh-fE3JZamxq5ekPmwwGiUQiZwldR1RwATsDLhHYVq9BUjoJGV2s/s400/126.JPG" style="display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-64889592137699247062011-09-25T10:24:00.020-06:002011-09-26T14:16:41.257-06:00On May 5th, 2011 our Stake President received an invitation from the General Music Committee to participate in a Primary choir at the Saturday afternoon session of general conference on October 1st. Shortly after that letter was received I was in a meeting with the Pleasant View South Stake primary presidency when I heard a soft knock at the door and in walked President Brent Keller. I could tell something was up and that he was very anxious to talk. He handed me a piece of paper with the familiar letterhead from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. I was so excited as I read that our stake had been asked to be the host stake in helping to prepare 364 children to sing in General conference!!<br /><br />It has been an incredible journey and one that I knew I needed to journal the details of this experience! The last few weeks I have been super emotional and I have felt an increase of the spirit in a way that I don't have the words to describe. It has been quite the process getting to this point, but everyone involved has felt the hand of our Heavenly Father every step of the way. <br /><br />The choir consists of 6 Stakes from Pleasant View and North Ogden. Each stake will be represented with children ranging from 9 - 11 years old. The process of choosing the children who will participate was done on the ward level and each ward handled things under the direction of the Bishop and Primary President. Each ward was given the number of children who would be able to participate after prorating each ward and the number of children in their ward that were 9, 10 and 11 years old. The children were then called in with their parents and asked if they would be willing to accept the dedicated schedule along with the calling to participate in a General Conference Primary Choir. The bishops explained that they would need to attend several practices that involved many hours of practice and preparation. If they missed one practice, they would not be able to sing on the day of the performance. This direction was given by the church music committee and we were also told that we should not have any alternates because other Stakes had done that in the past and the alternates were not able to sing after going to all of the practices. To my knowledge we will have a full house next Saturday with all the choir seat full! The children/parents have also been responsible for following the outline given them by way of dress. The dress and grooming has been set out by the General Music Committee coordinators. Julie Henley who is the first counselor in the PV South Stake has done a fabulous job checking every single child and working to help the parents track down shirts etc...A dress coordinator has been called from each Stake to help each of the children in their stake with their wardrobe.<br /><br />The girls are wearing collard jewel colored tops with black skirts and tan colored nylons, and the boys will be wearing long sleeved white shirts and missionary appropriate ties and dark slacks. The shirts that the girls are wearing must have buttons that match the color of their shirt. This has been tricky for many of the girls because most of the shirts come with white buttons. Mothers have either used fingernail polish or sharpies or they have put on new buttons to match the shirts. All of the children have gone through three different wardrobe checks to make sure that they look sharp. I have come learned that some cultures find certain clothing and even the layering of clothing offensive, and we are a world wide church and not in the business to offend! The boys have to wear their hair in a conservative manner with no spiking etc... The girls have to have their hair pulled out of their faces and their hair style should not fall over their shoulders. One pair of small non-shiny earrings and one small wrist watch is permitted. Both boys and girls must have black Sunday shoes on. Since we are the host stake, the High Counselor member Brother Denise Holiday who is assigned to the Primary, has been assigned to help us with many of the details. He has had facial hair for the past 30 years. His wife and children haven't seen a clean shaved face in all of those years. He decided he would shave his face so that he would set the example for the children and look like a missionary. We have 30 children in the choir with medical needs. All 30 children have been properly placed in isle seats and medical personal will be on hand if there are any problems. If a child has to leave for any reason during the performance, they are not allowed to come back to finish. All food allergies have been recorded because the church will be providing a snack for each child as well as buses to transport the children next Saturday. They will be leaving Pleasant View at 9:45 a.m.<br /><br />Since I knew I would have to be gone for some of the practices because I would be with Melissa and family while she had Paige, our Stake Music Specialist, Karin Larsen, has been the one that has really followed through every step of the way. She has been incredible and has received inspiration that is beyond the ability of one person. I have been in awe of her inspiration and the direction she has received as well as the many many hours she has dedicated to this opportunity.<br /><br />As a stake we have been privileged to work with Sister Diane Bastian of the General Music Committee along with Sister Crocket who oversees General Conference music and Sister Walkin's who will be leading the children. Sister Crocket's son is the lead singer for VoiceMale who is currently in competition in the NBC TV show "Sing-off." She has been traveling back and forth to California while the planning has been going on for General Conference. Sister Walkin's voice sounds like butter as she speaks to the children. She has a gift and has been able to teach and talk to these children in an incredible way to help them prepare for this experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD487Uo7lyNa5mSxecoS8yKo5MvctRtPCt-CXtBBgkqdB9hMzc4uLQIs-BG6mJEWVLGoAFxRKQgDZzAImUUlUaFN8wpJTexIvzJuUFjnVPbY1gSJT9wzK7nedTVEDKCfD0t2z-rsGw5Go/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656336258355454914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD487Uo7lyNa5mSxecoS8yKo5MvctRtPCt-CXtBBgkqdB9hMzc4uLQIs-BG6mJEWVLGoAFxRKQgDZzAImUUlUaFN8wpJTexIvzJuUFjnVPbY1gSJT9wzK7nedTVEDKCfD0t2z-rsGw5Go/s400/photo.JPG" /></a>We had been asked to submit a seating chart to Salt Lake by Thursday of last week. We decided to put a wrist band on each of the children colored coded according to their Stake. Once the appropriate wrist band was placed on a child, we wrote their names on the band and the color of their shirt. They were then placed according to height and shirt color in the pews in our chapel. An envelope was taped to the end of each pew. At the end of the practice two weeks ago, before the children were excused, we placed a number on each wrist band to know where they were sitting, and then cut off the wrist band. The picture above shows the wrist bands tape to the wall before we had to take them down and translate our chapel seating chart to that of the conference schedule. Height, shirt color, medical needs, all had to be taken into consideration as well as wiggly children and where to place them. Seven hours later and a team of woman working, the task was complete, and submitted to Salt Lake. A special thanks for Karin Larsen and Julie Henley for their hard work as well as their brains!! Another thanks for all of those that have worked on security and registration check in as well as dress and all of the other details involved!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCEq8BIB1s07PWk_j7udf0JDLDuyxj7OwOixeoqYeFgOmLEaRP67QrdSuXKhUtY27y5We_hIm5WE1LiItLDaFC6JqgCckSbjFQgQnJHXns4Zq4oOkSN1y_BcHc9XsqmEWbynM9ePSzuE/s1600/Names+ii.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656335722014306130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCEq8BIB1s07PWk_j7udf0JDLDuyxj7OwOixeoqYeFgOmLEaRP67QrdSuXKhUtY27y5We_hIm5WE1LiItLDaFC6JqgCckSbjFQgQnJHXns4Zq4oOkSN1y_BcHc9XsqmEWbynM9ePSzuE/s400/Names+ii.JPG" /></a> Last Saturday, we left for the conference center at 7:15 a.m. The time we were given inside the conference center was 8:30 - 11:00. It was a beautiful scene as 364 children were dressed and ready to practice. Invited to come along were their parents, siblings, grandparents and Stake and Ward primary people. I wish I could write and express the feelings I had as I watched this site, but I can't. However, I can tell you that I couldn't stop crying. <br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_h-Q3kG2vm0Gn6ZdKYLP09_vdzuDCOvYgJZ_Eu6-92dL42Um6XLLzoLciNH-AD9HQsfXVjiMhxUsqLZsqubaifwbq1_HcAL0p5SuGhoG_CGK9-0eYAVPjxzOZgPg4UubYIenZczu5Rl8/s1600/Picture+from+Genny.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656334829033247394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_h-Q3kG2vm0Gn6ZdKYLP09_vdzuDCOvYgJZ_Eu6-92dL42Um6XLLzoLciNH-AD9HQsfXVjiMhxUsqLZsqubaifwbq1_HcAL0p5SuGhoG_CGK9-0eYAVPjxzOZgPg4UubYIenZczu5Rl8/s400/Picture+from+Genny.JPG" /></a> This group of gorgeous children are my neighbors. I know and love each one of these children. The blond girl bending down in front is Sammi Minnoch. She lives across the street from me. She has always been a good friend of mine. She always greets me with a big "MARGIE". Yesterday was no different. When she said that Tim responded "What am I...chopped liver?" So yesterday afternoon she brought over some peaches from their peach tree. The card read...</div><br /><div>"Margie and Tim (aka chopped liver) I herd you like peches" It was adorable. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>As we entered the conference center, the children's eyes were as wide as the smiles on their faces. All of the children were placed in their appropriate seats with a few adjustments that had to be made. Sister Walkin's began by doing some stretching exercises for the children. She magically had all of their attention as she directed them in every way. She introduced to the children and parents to Brother Robinson who is the director of music and cultural arts for the church. He spoke to the children and told them that over 7 million people will be watching them. He explained that of that 7 million, half of those do not speak English. That it was up to the children to be able to bear their testimonies to all of the people of the world through their smiles. and the light in their eyes. The children proceeded to practice all of their songs. The General Primary Presidency was in attendance listening and watching the children. At 10:00 a.m. each member of the General Primary Presidency briefly spoke to the children. Sister Wixom told the children that while the were singing she had her hand over her chest because she was afraid it was going to jump right out of her body if she didn't hold it in. They showed the children where they would be singing and that they would be cheering for them even though they would have to stay in their seats and act lady like. Many of these children have brothers and sisters who are serving full time missions as well as other family members throughout the world. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Sister Walkin's then told the children that she was going to practice the congregational hymn with them. In her beautiful speaking voice she said, "look at my baton, this baton is made out of the wood that has been taken from church history sites where the Prophet Joseph Smith lived". She then proceeded to lead both the children and audience members with that baton as we sang "Praise to the Man". (Watch for that baton at conference) I didn't see a dry eye in the audience. Many of the children have told me that is their favorite song. It was fantastic!! I too felt like I better grab my heart to keep it inside my chest too.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Finally on a personal note, one of the songs the children will be singing is "I hope they call me on a mission". It was so overwhelming to watch these young children sing that song. As I sat there I was remind of a story that Sean told me after he returned home from his mission. Just days before he came home, his last companion Elder Ricks, had brought a primary CD with him on his mission. Sean had not heard primary music for two years. They were driving together when Elder Rick's put in the primary CD. The song "I hope they call me on a mission" began to play. Sean said that he couldn't help himself and he burst into tears as he reflected on singing that song as a young primary boy and then realized he HAD grown a foot or two and NOW his mission was coming to a close. As those children sang that song, I knew that Olivia, my Chinese daughter that Sean baptised while in Australia would be thousands of miles away watching "my" primary children who had practice that same song in the same building that Sean sang that song professing to the Lord that he hoped he would go on a mission some day. This experience has gone full circle for me. Each week on Sean's mission Tim would close his letters with a quote that from the Prophet Joseph ..."Shall we not go on in so great of cause!!!"</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I invited and hope that all of you, my close family and friends will join with me in watching general conference and cheering for these precious children. They sound like angels and I feel confident that angels will be with them as they pronounce their testimony throughout the world. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivE0nVpC7BHC9OkxDQrfvJkk2t4ZOfsHnmnF9JXEaCBa9WDAtVhiX4-EdeGhIFMZ2lCUQV488j5rMZUOqiEdnIO6f5vcLAr9FFsaBCgPoV4n6e4sefxO7y44VoZJojhZFJkXdhnWaFwU/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656334273988647282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivE0nVpC7BHC9OkxDQrfvJkk2t4ZOfsHnmnF9JXEaCBa9WDAtVhiX4-EdeGhIFMZ2lCUQV488j5rMZUOqiEdnIO6f5vcLAr9FFsaBCgPoV4n6e4sefxO7y44VoZJojhZFJkXdhnWaFwU/s400/009.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-45820211700850529382011-02-25T11:09:00.016-07:002011-02-25T14:34:25.941-07:00The First Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7dgyUo_JwK0rIrb-Ed5SUFJN0HEF8-PIavXrk331JEySQr1_bz3hmrvlG7B3kWTBQ-Rb8apen-bk7sTXLJKG6L8eYj6CZFMr9LvB5Om0OkWTx2PVYwGZ8rIB-299vYMSBENyikHlG8/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577693903514718594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7dgyUo_JwK0rIrb-Ed5SUFJN0HEF8-PIavXrk331JEySQr1_bz3hmrvlG7B3kWTBQ-Rb8apen-bk7sTXLJKG6L8eYj6CZFMr9LvB5Om0OkWTx2PVYwGZ8rIB-299vYMSBENyikHlG8/s400/027.JPG" /></a> I fully intended to post and record the events of January 26th, 2011. Tomorrow marks the one month mark since Sean returned. I am a little slow, but things have been VERY BUSY. So much has happened and I just haven't taken the time to blog. I have posted the pictures we have on facebook, so most have probably seen them, but I thought I would fill in with a little more detail...<br /><br />This is the first shot we got of Sean as he came down the elevator. His plane came in a few minutes early. We were blessed to have a connection at the gate :). David was right there to greet Sean as he came off the plane and he texted us to let us know he was on his way. David and Sean quickly played a treat on the other two missionaries as David posed as in investigator and Sean challenged David to baptism. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577691024523314562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKNT1uIqb2BquAzk6Rj2h6cYbPioGY5651DTU_UOUiErx8ATyY4jB_dPSa_avzb9YBdFUaHkzaaUQq7TZUzkon7WHtBJCJDhEsnAoVE5MUt3nnZvjH_pyyFHr34UWunFn9nJxzl68v8s/s400/029.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577692084599704258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI-ounrybveb_NyrPyW2FTBAwealXOvd1YYvQJDT-6peE4DmeBnmrR1CKsyiGcocaKT8q1SIJO8PR8NmhfK9wyZa6KZU3gLEaLWxfKTdbynWVNnLjDfEcfFa2CAaqh349SNeta_lCuSo/s400/032.JPG" /><br />As soon as he came off the escalator we met each other for the best hug of my life. I was told afterward that the hug lasted for about three minutes. I wasn't counted. It was simply A.W.E.S.O.M.E!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaRPz2mbLR2qI6GYNutvoFdLe8m5hszT7wcZL89_G2DAO8ZQkV9hF551Yw8qqYbRTJkSSHyIhuelG-Rk4WqqYcVXwKPEypuuIJcu6Db_HWh1ZIWQw2AUGC6KLjxpJG2nSPHI1BumOra8/s1600/100.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577693482690444210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaRPz2mbLR2qI6GYNutvoFdLe8m5hszT7wcZL89_G2DAO8ZQkV9hF551Yw8qqYbRTJkSSHyIhuelG-Rk4WqqYcVXwKPEypuuIJcu6Db_HWh1ZIWQw2AUGC6KLjxpJG2nSPHI1BumOra8/s400/100.JPG" /></a> I had to stand a little bit higher on my tip toes because I could tell immediately that he had grown. Sean went for a physical a few days later and my suspicions were confirmed. (When he went to the dentist...he had NO CAVITIES...Way to go SEAN!!)<br /><br />He looked great!! He had been able to sleep for about 8 hours from Sydney, Australia to L.A. He didn't seem or look tired to me. I was surprised. I was expected he would be exhausted after such a long trip home, but he surprised me. We stayed up past 1:00 a.m talking that night :).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Yijti-dnpwiwfstypfYJj_TYoui_gyYgN0NXK0mDuqotlddwVmr5GroGSRyu6mUiRfDoVwYItgaxyaB2rXp1oZtMUaWNeIGy1obyTDAutJsLnYa-QbYc4-zATEH_ogQ8Rw2B6RBKDg/s1600/101.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577693305943002322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Yijti-dnpwiwfstypfYJj_TYoui_gyYgN0NXK0mDuqotlddwVmr5GroGSRyu6mUiRfDoVwYItgaxyaB2rXp1oZtMUaWNeIGy1obyTDAutJsLnYa-QbYc4-zATEH_ogQ8Rw2B6RBKDg/s400/101.JPG" /></a>In all the excitement we didn't get pictures of Sean hugging his sisters but it did happen. Hannah went right to him and then had a little melt down when he tried to give her the kangaroo stuffed animal he had carried home for her. Even Hannah could feel the excitement and it was more than she could take :). </div><div> </div><div>All love together :)<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577691624706527746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRXvqok5X4E3ox3yTel1QonNA0CV9Ely-zdE9zhx4vMNp5UMM3mwhjWJuXZVZ1OmlTVai-UmYW816HWRzGr10FMJJPjWTVsiQZlskxIqAm1ghST-zcvLnU2s9sTSMoDvHDpQ218M1w2c/s400/067.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M5pu9mW-k4M803dBwt1vMU27_NsJtjiZT1URI9SNJ85icow_u_hppNxkPa5_LwwRzUECL0CeUWodVSCPvdRaR0WKAEw6J1zoogZd31bkPuZRfFRISe2MBpyqupgfgd9nQiCIZsUalSQ/s1600/136.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577693109754977234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M5pu9mW-k4M803dBwt1vMU27_NsJtjiZT1URI9SNJ85icow_u_hppNxkPa5_LwwRzUECL0CeUWodVSCPvdRaR0WKAEw6J1zoogZd31bkPuZRfFRISe2MBpyqupgfgd9nQiCIZsUalSQ/s400/136.JPG" /></a>Grandma & Grandpa Marsden helped us drive home. Hannah drove with them. Tim and I and our three children were together on the ride home. We stopped by Kirt's drive-in so Sean could see the sign Megan (and Aaron) had put up for him. <br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Syzqx7CzJRVG4QT0cxRT3H9QIasEltsUoEmAPXCnSN_ROwBjicvyefTDdYB31YVRyjuFaQMWUdYuTc53qyy-YJN0QLhkFI3SkQU6UAcE0kiobJ7h78ApCtHwuBfTGhl-qaDqcGnNdw/s1600/104.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577692765463539170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Syzqx7CzJRVG4QT0cxRT3H9QIasEltsUoEmAPXCnSN_ROwBjicvyefTDdYB31YVRyjuFaQMWUdYuTc53qyy-YJN0QLhkFI3SkQU6UAcE0kiobJ7h78ApCtHwuBfTGhl-qaDqcGnNdw/s400/104.JPG" /></a> It has been quite the month!! Sean was blessed to get a job the week after he returned. He was blessed again as he was offered another job this week that is better pay and better hours. He started that job today. The adjustment seems to be going well. He is very grateful for Skype and Facebook and email as he has been able to stay in contact with the people he has grown to love so much. I enjoyed listening to him talk last Sunday for over an hour helping answer questions and giving encouragement to one of his recent converts. He has been able to go on splits with the missionaries too. </div><div> </div><div>The other day I was driving and I heard the song "You're going miss this...You're going want this back". Tears filled my eyes as I reflected on what precious time this is for us to have both Sean and Megan home for these next seven weeks. It is busy and hectic and I haven't been getting near as much sleep as I would like. But for the meantime, I am going to enjoy. Time goes so fast. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-29956485910298453172011-01-20T18:02:00.054-07:002011-01-21T10:41:39.802-07:00Two Years Ago Today....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-EFjmwAPO-3J8PhlR_lfIJk4aP3PTNMD3rt3uwgFdcp0X9g3C7_lhcjgRpb-ATMbj3l58yCXJz4wg_sUn2A0kP1L_gRx0mD1iR9B5jCgn0YIi4a4scQykDzqBLdWoSKU7nXs6onAcsc/s1600/074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564488842256471762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-EFjmwAPO-3J8PhlR_lfIJk4aP3PTNMD3rt3uwgFdcp0X9g3C7_lhcjgRpb-ATMbj3l58yCXJz4wg_sUn2A0kP1L_gRx0mD1iR9B5jCgn0YIi4a4scQykDzqBLdWoSKU7nXs6onAcsc/s400/074.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yes!! That is right, it was two years ago today that we took Elder Sean Marsden to the MTC in Provo, Utah!!<br /><br />January 21, 2009 we were full of anticipation and wonder as we looked ahead. I can honestly say that my experience of having a son serve a mission has been two of the best years of my life. I have loved having a missionary and I have felt happy and sustained and full of joy throughout the past two years!!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564445111371772146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 377px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_dRxX2vkRzEMoaOSxwrMxDnF5wFyQTv1E1zJwDBd4_RtL0b3SB8OB3gn44A9Xo5YlUGoHw6bOIiVL5s37pEbA_2cdgswXnK7fL-SkzT6bSB69L7SvaD1-LPHWtG4TQQ1iN9Q5j9Amws/s400/099.JPG" border="0" />This was one of the last hugs I gave Sean before we said goodbye!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564488485394741954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TQDr62g3qFf1alJKn5cpqkhvJYUpdQ-IXGGujC6Qv907945ZwIiS2TXZVeUurNsZN5UPd6xeiWC4j_VZGQvATSOcZI1XOw5IgYnZLofwBsX-uvodwgnR9tKOyjpAz_G1LaPxe1qGHeU/s400/077.JPG" border="0" />Sean still has yet to meet Hannah. Melissa was just a couple months pregnant with Hannah when Sean left. Hannah will turn 18 months old the day after he returns. Recently, Melissa had a visit from a director of the Korean program. He had never meet Adam before. As he was looking at a picture of Sean that they have on their refrigerator, he asked Melissa if that was her husband. Melissa told him the picture was her brother, he was surprised because he said Hannah looks so much like him. Many people have commented on how much Hannah looks like her Uncle Sean.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564444863615397970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMutwuUHlVToYhnedOEzzii0YtKSzs7Fcpbxw-OZ__Lv0mjy8SZNwjYjnR1N1y59JISzFjWSb-Jsza2BFJLI3MI-DLrcOmWAaKuG7RKMqp2UJ8dG6phgmgaKC8qh-H3b9jPanIWwuxseY/s400/084.JPG" border="0" />Tim and I have totally enjoyed sharing in this experience together. <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564444458934884562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHETmzMQ6C3PJTWhDQXPRpu0OakcesxWM7ohabzF9Y6xwNsO0PtBSugydrlU-BHCvN94ysqP2iy3y4ST1rx6WtNrvcsQ2_oi2TkNaM8x0YUPvjt_GoymZz8E7VCBZfNAQpj3a7LZtNIM/s400/076.JPG" border="0" /> Megan has missed Sean A LOT!!!! She has gone from being a junior at Weber High School to a freshman at BYUI. She will be so happy to have her big brother home :). It will be great for both of them to be at BYUI TOGETHER.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564444273683062162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxlmxOSrPpUiT_JW095WQrsEakl9XFhrLVovz7XFufNCBfCTCrDBKe-gjM8tRr2aCWpAcrWs9keCdgt812bnOcdaZGMSC5Gqmr6cWu7Sr2z6M2YVsSgM6AmZKOy6opFcR1FnRXfi6bi8/s400/074.JPG" border="0" />I will never forget the big smile Sean gave all of us just after we sang "Called to Serve" and he turned around to say good-bye. He actually had a big smile on his face even though I am sure it wasn't easy. <br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj8ItmKlJSk1sgOzx9Gw9-Ok6K2Qau40JedVIw6QYNwVqOzGW4mEn1zaMfM42eBd0urEB77_QqU9BepfXoF1zGVFOhDCsD9cj8_uaIzaOm79XFrc1aZbeJrxfRQqrGXQ0OvrVpHInjPg/s1600/3+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564444022890170770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj8ItmKlJSk1sgOzx9Gw9-Ok6K2Qau40JedVIw6QYNwVqOzGW4mEn1zaMfM42eBd0urEB77_QqU9BepfXoF1zGVFOhDCsD9cj8_uaIzaOm79XFrc1aZbeJrxfRQqrGXQ0OvrVpHInjPg/s400/3+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Right from the start, Elder Marsden jumped into the work and has had such a positive attitude. He has been an AMAZING communicator. He has never missed one week in writing to us and has wanted to share his mission with all of us. He has sent a personal note to Tim, me, Melissa and Megan each week and we have cherished his expression of love and personal interest in our lives. He has remained positive and happy and even though I am sure he has had hard times, he has taken it like a man!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564443637957386146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX05QgKxTMuYrJxZOVVTatr5Tcj9Blp5HcJVFWZ0dTsAGaGw7dJuMTVBIsSMOmW0iFGdmj3Ia2AJtO_DPI1RbFXBIOlWgq6Tp4cTvQ4NTptp8ZsUo_26UuhM-v7Iq4bb_aOuu-JSF4Nw/s400/PC220197.JPG" border="0" /> He has loved serving in Australia and has loved the beauty of the country, the sport, the culture, food etc...</div><br /><div>He has served from the very southern tip of Australia to the most northern top. He has served with nine different companions in Australia and has served in five different areas. But most of all, Elder Marsden has loved the people of Australia and those he has taught and served. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My heart has ached for him as he has had to say goodbye to those he loves. This little excerpt is from a letter he sent as he was leaving Darwin.... </div><div> </div><div>Hey guys! The big news is sad/nervous/happy news. We got transfer calls last night, and I have to be on a plane today at 12:15. Where I am going I don't know, but I am assuming I am headed back to Adelaide. Saying goodbye is possibly the hardest thing I have had to do in my life. I thought it would be sad, and that I could handle it, but going around and saying goodbye to people has absolutely taken a toll on my heart. This morning when I went to go say goodbye to Roben, he was unprepared, and he wanted to give me something. He was frantically searching around and then in a last resort attempt went to his wallet. He pulled out a considerable amount of money and gave it to me. At that point I couldn't hold back anymore, and I lost all control of my tears. He is the most charitable man! Here I am, this well to do punk from the states, and here a war torn Burmese refugee wants to give me his money. It absolutely killed me. I couldn't accept it, and refused it. He persisted, and he clenched my hands so I couldn't hand it back to him. After we left I gave it to Elder Lyman and I told him to give it to him when he goes back. I absolutely love these people with all my heart!! Leaving them is probably the hardest thing I have had to do. The Nepalese fed us breakfast this morning, and wanted to take pictures with us. I was able to say farewell to many others too. I LOVE THEM ALL!! Please pray for me that the Lord will sustain me. I am kind of in shock still. I really don't want to leave. I know the Lord is in charge, and I am going to where he needs me."</div><div> </div><div>Now Elder Marsden will be saying good-bye again. His heart has grown and expanded in ways we couldn't comprehend. I too have felt sustained and supported. I have truly felt deep gratitude and joy and peace. I attribute that feeling to my Heavenly Father. When Sean was set apart, our stake president asked him when he knew he wanted to go on a mission. Sean responded by saying "I have known as long as I can remember". </div><div> </div><div>So now we enter into his next transfer. The next step in life that his mission has truly helped prepare him for. It has been an incredible ride!!<br /></div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564443860701436722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37CVy94QN47o0BQlRsdfOyJXRAd_34gjtfBhxbPkahHrjfY-pwSk9P_RhGV2wjxQcL6-kD2E15Ezc5QBHMfr1XMRtuFnaKC7UMUK9XlMiPzmAHLfApm5CBKzQSuduPcr9OQVl64vpKwY/s400/P1300017.JPG" border="0" /> Sean's oldest baptism<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564443318000736930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 401px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DWTHg_YzSVgIhMtAIfxi_aBMeT00M78apCmyuZIObhWFIuvMH5BAcgHZb0XlKxk4-tC2A9qVDozMRdlsVF1896aJZImS7y4vqSR1WYvPz0XrxjCFMOj4BWzk6LL77PRiWDyoSZiluTk/s400/PC160162.JPG" border="0" /> Sean has loved teaching people from all walks of life.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0VGjcsGLYiymIrfk9SIRZ22vqWdvFip2PiUc5CEoQ2khqDL77f1-TXfO5M6cOZaWi2o0AIUk3iJ3Wi_3EyKI809mKX31e-A9L4BnduPsct7zRIHoXjcmIgkPmW79b-OpjgrgGGQU6Bo/s1600/PC230202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564443099510791106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 356px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0VGjcsGLYiymIrfk9SIRZ22vqWdvFip2PiUc5CEoQ2khqDL77f1-TXfO5M6cOZaWi2o0AIUk3iJ3Wi_3EyKI809mKX31e-A9L4BnduPsct7zRIHoXjcmIgkPmW79b-OpjgrgGGQU6Bo/s400/PC230202.JPG" border="0" /></a>Baptising Olivia on Christmas Eve 2009<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7hP4AJvNNTzJB-obQgSbPvhOzlc5mnKjXwhXbhAaxGydEE9F2JFtADPkj_IzCf-L8iWXXysglDieEHRmXUde3j8symmyhgcsJ9zQTVA8HWwShACcCDLeqIIRr-GPuXanjqFBTFc0K-E/s1600/P1030003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564442860399063186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7hP4AJvNNTzJB-obQgSbPvhOzlc5mnKjXwhXbhAaxGydEE9F2JFtADPkj_IzCf-L8iWXXysglDieEHRmXUde3j8symmyhgcsJ9zQTVA8HWwShACcCDLeqIIRr-GPuXanjqFBTFc0K-E/s400/P1030003.JPG" border="0" /></a> Adelaide, Australia<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564442638818063394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9S3NG3gjpxtS8M7lLNbVxaQaGQR2t_UXrBI39fiFxMr3976Xj58c97jOcqTWb4d_vgevb8Okx74kzjnuJyhUvClka4htxPTFLciNST48daYpKYKNV3EBWallY3lUbNCXhPx-RSwwif0/s400/048.JPG" border="0" />A tropical rainstorm and welcome relief from the heat in Darwin.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564442297683529938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI1vf02RL3xeTGdSaSpzdpAFjDkyQZ_-HXLktHRxwoUHFO48UMCWbkLXp1gGv-Z0sUUJnMpQ4IBH97U8MIRL5AXD3SQBoQByF1F1RlTaWXWDrcBo4NiCcExATYUqUWAxtbeR54MqOtmk/s400/P9050231.JPG" border="0" /> Elder Marsden & Elder Dittmore<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lPcjPFhw8d_VBWN4y5d-wEeUpiLz6WtPDKw1YmDOmqtqINjId9aS26BlUvRiGVoSyDLkjV8q3hnPkt0TSp8S16Tyw8MTCMfekIPwGbh7qTYGMCLSntcRK0t_mFEXXru-1RDG3BU7feI/s1600/P7110284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564442052198113698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lPcjPFhw8d_VBWN4y5d-wEeUpiLz6WtPDKw1YmDOmqtqINjId9aS26BlUvRiGVoSyDLkjV8q3hnPkt0TSp8S16Tyw8MTCMfekIPwGbh7qTYGMCLSntcRK0t_mFEXXru-1RDG3BU7feI/s400/P7110284.JPG" border="0" /></a> Elder Marsden with President Poulton<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564441812616954898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yt7EiPHuw5RAgoaQB3WuwR2FT9vbdiVvPnA1-yE6fgN6fpDX0COx9LhJCryzT5RLbQqAQP-mkxwANJQw2lkkFP9ljX1Z5xDkj9aitGmvLGwA29glT7ZxB1urx-8VtxAWQmBDxdON6DY/s400/P6280248.JPG" border="0" /> Enjoying the wonders of Darwin<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FXV1ekHLXvma8nPWDfqzlW4KIAJm_999hz1MwC_fGXsaRhP835P7Q83KHnFVq-gZxMAOH-yYo5QUkTnN2o7m3ULyIjUZVqTVIGjIUSB1FdGTc699obM7wV5mmgKz_wrD4Q7C30jRbiw/s1600/P6140088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564441449886200226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FXV1ekHLXvma8nPWDfqzlW4KIAJm_999hz1MwC_fGXsaRhP835P7Q83KHnFVq-gZxMAOH-yYo5QUkTnN2o7m3ULyIjUZVqTVIGjIUSB1FdGTc699obM7wV5mmgKz_wrD4Q7C30jRbiw/s400/P6140088.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sean holding the Didgeridoo that an Aboriginal family made for him. The Didgeridoo was painted using their own hair. It is really cool!! He mailed it home slow boat and we have it home waiting for him.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlHgmMVE3Pitxq1vxv4hPESEWq_J-_Fd3mKY6-4DCCig6tYB-7QJ2Yk18KomUdjGjVpEceNGlBdLhpWDg_sElFbNIAV23MaNU9eosMAj4hxJgEAc3uNxgrtne5E_eWLBtdx4yFjQc8gc/s1600/P6070016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564441157963996274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlHgmMVE3Pitxq1vxv4hPESEWq_J-_Fd3mKY6-4DCCig6tYB-7QJ2Yk18KomUdjGjVpEceNGlBdLhpWDg_sElFbNIAV23MaNU9eosMAj4hxJgEAc3uNxgrtne5E_eWLBtdx4yFjQc8gc/s400/P6070016.JPG" border="0" /></a> A group of missionaries went out one P-day to explore!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64Q4fe6BzpzVdleR3YmMXKC79Qu2UGQmaXCCOJEliY-DctNRqePkv1rbTsJCHcIkCWmjITL1OFLnPIf6OypDZqrv5rgLfyCT6zRUA9bAuV_d0NYNtkqxuDKWdJFE-SBktvtOLEqFD6Q4/s1600/P9130234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564440909298319890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64Q4fe6BzpzVdleR3YmMXKC79Qu2UGQmaXCCOJEliY-DctNRqePkv1rbTsJCHcIkCWmjITL1OFLnPIf6OypDZqrv5rgLfyCT6zRUA9bAuV_d0NYNtkqxuDKWdJFE-SBktvtOLEqFD6Q4/s400/P9130234.JPG" border="0" /></a> The beautiful coast of Australia!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczlbIyKrsPXYpWOD58YvBk1FbjRwisSdXTxZzVqdxYpryivKjxPsqH8GK1m_BVa0zKfKl6t68nBwn_C7gV-Epq2aesPDDbHu4vH20Z0mjH-Mbbv9XzhZrGD9JHOrM8PqQ6NQG4It8j2w/s1600/PA096362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564440719523926402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczlbIyKrsPXYpWOD58YvBk1FbjRwisSdXTxZzVqdxYpryivKjxPsqH8GK1m_BVa0zKfKl6t68nBwn_C7gV-Epq2aesPDDbHu4vH20Z0mjH-Mbbv9XzhZrGD9JHOrM8PqQ6NQG4It8j2w/s400/PA096362.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sean has loved meeting people from all over the world! And they have loved him.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1v5NYwb_omgoF81mFRTzNTKsyPk0CJaTMiTKXE1nseYlrDVqMJiIrQCe8iVAo0YnFqf8P89n6BZzoBTWrp_cA92LlIrH44NSpLXRcS3CGEEhZ5ZhUBqMgVG83D-uv_O-Jzn68zVFXcI/s1600/P9040212.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564440278799728066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1v5NYwb_omgoF81mFRTzNTKsyPk0CJaTMiTKXE1nseYlrDVqMJiIrQCe8iVAo0YnFqf8P89n6BZzoBTWrp_cA92LlIrH44NSpLXRcS3CGEEhZ5ZhUBqMgVG83D-uv_O-Jzn68zVFXcI/s400/P9040212.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sean's youngest baptism<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jgv-pPgVChztR5-mfGUR_DGVDp6FyMkCtdnjPWWfQynR0NHO3f_hFTyV7fPWcdcaNQlJmR7dBpyVYLwTANA0n5Oj0z8PVSGw8IuANqVmbMbY3m764bhQr4oCNSBlHYs-hrUvQqN2j6c/s1600/P4040075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564439863099995090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jgv-pPgVChztR5-mfGUR_DGVDp6FyMkCtdnjPWWfQynR0NHO3f_hFTyV7fPWcdcaNQlJmR7dBpyVYLwTANA0n5Oj0z8PVSGw8IuANqVmbMbY3m764bhQr4oCNSBlHYs-hrUvQqN2j6c/s400/P4040075.JPG" border="0" /></a> He has loved and learned from each of his companions.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Rfv65_8pa-DhV3-VBVtC9Y0fx_2Syj36lytSwZvlqpcQ6QJpLRElz2urhLv4ia0fjE7r6ktK6jIWcMXxrcNLa5V-sbn1jBR_HluasPGlOeYDYtOohp6BVxb2ECJlwZAblImVV_Wv3cQ/s1600/P3010057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564439599544732722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Rfv65_8pa-DhV3-VBVtC9Y0fx_2Syj36lytSwZvlqpcQ6QJpLRElz2urhLv4ia0fjE7r6ktK6jIWcMXxrcNLa5V-sbn1jBR_HluasPGlOeYDYtOohp6BVxb2ECJlwZAblImVV_Wv3cQ/s400/P3010057.JPG" border="0" /></a> Adelaide, Australia temple<br /><br />This has been an incredible journey for our family. I just five days I will be able to hug and hold Sean. I am so excited!! I get butterflies in my stomach every time I think about it. I have been dreaming of this day for a long time. Even before he left I have thought about what it would be like to have him come home. My heart is full!! </div><div> </div><div>I express thanks to you, our wonderful family and friends who have come along on this journey with our family. You have been a great support to all of us. Thank you for your prayers and the interest you have taken in Sean. Your support has meant a lot to all of us. A big thank you to Melissa and Megan who have been such dedicated and devoted sisters to their brother and have sent emails each week to him and have been totally into his mission. Finally to my sweet Tim!! He has put up with me shoving him out of the way so I can read the emails first. Tim has written a letter and mailed a letter to Sean every week of his mission. In every letter he has quoted Joseph Smith and concluded each letter by writing... "Shall we not go on in so great of cause". I add my AMEN to that. We shall!! I love you all!!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-80686128945657070972010-10-19T21:33:00.032-06:002010-10-20T20:30:38.738-06:00The Marsden Family Makeover :)<div><br /><div><br /><div>In January it will be fifteen years since we moved into our home in Pleasant View. I must admit it has been the fastest fifteen years of my life.<br /></div><br /><div>When Sean left on his mission, I determined that by the time he got back, I wanted to make a few changes. I figured we would get started sometime after our trip to England. Last May, I started to make my list of what I wanted to do. After making my list I decided there were so many things on the list, we better get started...and I am so glad we did. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The first thing we did was we replaced our old linoleum in our bathroom and we had new tile put in. I LOVE IT!! My bathroom feels like it is new again!! We also replaced the accent tiles around our bathtub and in our shower as well as in the kids bathroom. The tile setter removed the old caulk and put in new caulk to make everything clean and new. I also found new rugs and towels!</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530174662850089970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwAsaCfpXTjzssSldpfhFm_WaF5rvYg4m5u1QSftimwOxYWkj9xYUUSahJEbEtCT0mi9ozk8UgLZGNWZnT7RHqjaeUcaUGw__xeBdIM6sH787lIBV9wNtz95iP_vWKa_pr6pas83mmg0/s400/011.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>Have you ever seen the I Love Lucy episode when she wins new furniture and then she needs to repaint and paper since the new furniture makes the old paint look bad? Well, I can relate. So, the next thing that needed to be done was to paint the kids bathroom and hall. We made the mistake of painting the hall with semi-gloss paint (I will explain later) and so I wasn't so happy. However, I loved the paint color.<br /></div><br /><div>I forgot to note that even though tile was put in last June, the shopping and decision making began the month earlier. I am SLOW and detailed when it comes to picking out colors, furniture, tile etc... </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Since Megan was getting ready to go to college and would soon need new bedding for her college dorm, I decided we would get new bedding for home, and she could take her old bedding to BYUI. What the heck...while we were at it we bought her a new mattress and a sleigh bed!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530174326115619778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumlIy5JD-qiVK6EVDalu2KwpfPOw1H0ixCue0SUxTeRXU_IpPhwjaHNv0MDvZYcYOI3_hn72LTJOH81Y-PhgeXUcDReN9w_xQd7-KBr4-QVziLqSFDFOSDAma_iZbUyGUV4WDVgWtvq4/s400/008.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>The first time I started seriously looking for living room furniture was in May. Since it had been a long time since I had been looking for living room furniture I was surprised at what I found. To be truthful, I was having a hard time finding anything that I liked for our living room. I found some things I liked for other homes, but where our living room is a more formal space, I wanted to go with more formal furniture. What I was finding is that much of what is out there is representative of the 70's and of a more casual nature. The more formal furniture...like wing back chairs etc...cost A LOT of $$$$ and could only be found at the higher scaled furniture stores.. However, thanks to some suggestions from Lesley, I decided to recover my wing back chairs and have pillows made to match a couch that I had already found.<br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529968590052147538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A9XBsfRPHjCV27IiY_kIIrOZ5ZHTpYFaxnEnr4NQAUchfJHEvKsJrwV7SxbIOvmEurqpU2EVYZcgvVj6A1606X2xz2iGDBTEdAx45yur1ds8IdV3VfX2TtbTj_EzkFrzit_9kEfv0NA/s400/020.JPG" />Our furniture was delivered in August/September! The chairs were finished in August, and the couch came in September. This picture was taken after the furniture was delivered and before we painted. I put this picture in to show you my new painting and how it brings the room together. I found this painting in August and immediately fell in love with it. It is an original painting overlooking Jerusalem. It looks to me that the artist painted this picture from the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden on the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem. Orson Hyde is my Great Great Grandpa and he dedicated the Holy Land in 1841. The Orson Hyde Memorial Garden is right next to the Garden of Gethsemane. I spent many hours sitting in that garden over looking Jerusalem and still to this day I dream of being in that spot. So, when I saw this painting immediately tears came to my eyes; I'm not kiddin! Yes, that's right...right in the store I started to cry. When I looked at the price....the tears continued... it was a lot of $$$$! However it was on sale for $$$ and so I called Tim to ask him what he thought. He said he was just going into a meeting and he couldn't talk just then. But I thought to myself...I don't care...I am buying that (are you proud of me VicVic?) I justified it saying it could be my birthday and Christmas present this year and next. Luckily Tim loves the picture just as much as I do. Different times of day make this picture light up!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530175377376411490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GmGy85L87Z2VAWfcXyC4q2Dq_bhth8ewPCvv9Zfm1wV_rgfsNybfkVJgL3Ij6Kqgaq9OsUVpV6ksisMR-7n-WZM0r-H8803XNCrpJOzPTRHH4O7IfguicxZ20JT3CTz5FYvF2i1pX6E/s400/007.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>We had three daunting tasks on our "things to do list". </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The first was to remove two fourteen year old trees from our yard that had died. The second was to fix our garage (another story) and the third was to paint our house. All equally difficult tasks, but the painting of our entry with its nearly twenty foot ceilings was something we were not looking forward to. We ended up hiring a professional painter to paint our entry way. We are still doing the happy dance and high fiving each other over our decision! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529968478705864530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gwkc6XtnL0yoZ-Vpd6rOLY2IT0NpaPhCW13BYYrnlEY7hmuTrOpt2GRvyx-LnKcYh0sZXOHqXDm7Rv63zP0zgZ-mX75Rm1UVS0XnxZSseGmxGAqRQFpAKeCmWKTxp6lNzUNvwkTI0oI/s400/017.JPG" /></div><br /><div>This is a picture of our entry way before we painted!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsWCguRIcEJcytVZTE5uQnPshBY90Lu1iiNylU0trOGtcEIsqQ_xYozoPs6LNN7Dkk2q92dTcoD0E5CJ6PajIB6ohbV5LvBPTWstBok59XFauDNDrzdCJHizfd6I-SGcWxuc504zEXu4/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529968210173454610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsWCguRIcEJcytVZTE5uQnPshBY90Lu1iiNylU0trOGtcEIsqQ_xYozoPs6LNN7Dkk2q92dTcoD0E5CJ6PajIB6ohbV5LvBPTWstBok59XFauDNDrzdCJHizfd6I-SGcWxuc504zEXu4/s400/026.JPG" /></a> This is what our family room looked like before we painted!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlXOBEGwr-gJzPhJjceeqA0MLS_28DQeZdOzwjvzjxzzvrgHohNJvhKXDqApUurITEKCu18C_EV3as6FncAgWNQarKkuIeXR1MbDWp9CBeHhWMzvBJecuo01TZG7OzVaplmDYhtcZo1g/s1600/036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529967990388033330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlXOBEGwr-gJzPhJjceeqA0MLS_28DQeZdOzwjvzjxzzvrgHohNJvhKXDqApUurITEKCu18C_EV3as6FncAgWNQarKkuIeXR1MbDWp9CBeHhWMzvBJecuo01TZG7OzVaplmDYhtcZo1g/s400/036.JPG" /></a><br />This is the beginning of the painting prep and mess!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Week one... we painted our pantry and our laundry room and the ceilings in both of those rooms as well as in the bathroom on the main floor.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qx2EozMuARiy7pfjXjv1y3DTfa-1IDstrcadE260He7qOwQ1MbYk1UU8_0Ge3aMaFr61jxDcwq7gwxoVtUOAXREvVAZ7IzLnGTCmZRJC3yRRtOzaoGJNkdXLXuhunvoRdNe2-4_w8WA/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529967788524312130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qx2EozMuARiy7pfjXjv1y3DTfa-1IDstrcadE260He7qOwQ1MbYk1UU8_0Ge3aMaFr61jxDcwq7gwxoVtUOAXREvVAZ7IzLnGTCmZRJC3yRRtOzaoGJNkdXLXuhunvoRdNe2-4_w8WA/s400/037.JPG" /></a><br />Week two...I painted just the book shelves in the family room. I painted from 7:00 a.m. and finished at 9:00 p.m. While I was painting the book shelves, Tim worked on painting the ceilings in the kitchen, family room and hall way. Oh...and how can I forget...I painted the moldings and door frames throughout the main floor through the month of September :) I had painted the doors in July!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhp4Yvlk1k861UDCY6kzN2rVzaKlC48l60DBLIGsnjbtKcv4gMkVVVFS9h_sA9WLSXofKV_xwcXzB7kdeoiAVagHTSlxe_ahOYmBBY3jzStSIMUs38IJeMJm0H_zo5SSoC5w27E7TOcE/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529967562673663554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhp4Yvlk1k861UDCY6kzN2rVzaKlC48l60DBLIGsnjbtKcv4gMkVVVFS9h_sA9WLSXofKV_xwcXzB7kdeoiAVagHTSlxe_ahOYmBBY3jzStSIMUs38IJeMJm0H_zo5SSoC5w27E7TOcE/s400/039.JPG" /></a> Week 3 began with prepping the family room kitchen and entry area. To help save $$$ we did the prep work for the painter who brought his two "little giant" ladders to reach the high ceiling. Each ladder cost him $800 so as you can see we were really equipment challenged.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTuxmlRI68Ryj4bmG4MkXeclRNGJbpMJfP_oS7l90qmcdWegIr-SICJWwPoB4AnQzjLHbVe1Q7DxVpyqVRq5lH7FM5B9lYPUNsYvF7BhIxnagQFYg4DA4aQW0P0LVedNwVqPluQiucro/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529967379525442482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTuxmlRI68Ryj4bmG4MkXeclRNGJbpMJfP_oS7l90qmcdWegIr-SICJWwPoB4AnQzjLHbVe1Q7DxVpyqVRq5lH7FM5B9lYPUNsYvF7BhIxnagQFYg4DA4aQW0P0LVedNwVqPluQiucro/s400/041.JPG" /></a> Week three and four we continued on with the kitchen, main floor bathroom, family and living room. BTW, the bathroom is a different color as well as the ceiling and moldings being a different color. Then last Friday, Grandpa came to help!! He painted the ceiling from the entry way down the upstairs hallway and remember when I said I didn't like the semi-gloss on the hall upstairs. You got it...he repainted our hallway for us with satin (no more paint lines) and now I am happy :) Thanks Grandpa!<br /></div><br /><div>Finally at last...after four weeks of major work...Every afternoon and night and every Saturday along with Tim taking some time off of "work"...The painting was complete!!<br /><br />Dutdadadu.....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pa-Agel0R9YJ_fHDVE8dKTKvA56NG1o1Qc17O4Kp_DmuSLip-oVNg__3X_9v4PUoLEIvR5vsbwBmZL8r6wiwFVFrso0IiQUfY9b6ok9Acx4aB2cGYd68pL0T_aWrXo6rJuefgREC3ns/s1600/058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529967186608002082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pa-Agel0R9YJ_fHDVE8dKTKvA56NG1o1Qc17O4Kp_DmuSLip-oVNg__3X_9v4PUoLEIvR5vsbwBmZL8r6wiwFVFrso0IiQUfY9b6ok9Acx4aB2cGYd68pL0T_aWrXo6rJuefgREC3ns/s400/058.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrKyT8Sj785exHaiTaUieybbxukBvi6kz7_i-UA6bY1TTP3XVoj6osvSLnttgTFinVOgAXOSJBa0vSF935N3HjGVURXhZN3oRWKAGhOYQND4XrRwHH-yPNkVpSEHIbNuPIYtSw6E0BG0/s1600/056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529967024465310130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrKyT8Sj785exHaiTaUieybbxukBvi6kz7_i-UA6bY1TTP3XVoj6osvSLnttgTFinVOgAXOSJBa0vSF935N3HjGVURXhZN3oRWKAGhOYQND4XrRwHH-yPNkVpSEHIbNuPIYtSw6E0BG0/s400/056.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRDS0b7CQYsvh0lat-9ZTXBIf4t_5Dwul9e7FEqGwKiDVJmcQK79fxpxzbxrXJoqAp5bpflyKmQvMThLSsb3m54u_n8DuAd6i3oiCzyxepHgoE16nl7EUdoqNyCNvEil1eLsVaFp4Udk/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529966809902050210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRDS0b7CQYsvh0lat-9ZTXBIf4t_5Dwul9e7FEqGwKiDVJmcQK79fxpxzbxrXJoqAp5bpflyKmQvMThLSsb3m54u_n8DuAd6i3oiCzyxepHgoE16nl7EUdoqNyCNvEil1eLsVaFp4Udk/s400/050.JPG" /></a><br />The jury is still out whether we should keep the stenciling in the kitchen. So far those that have seen the finished product have given me a resounding YES!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmv-JIWLsANMxmC6rEQvJdoyjaAEN0ICiAcbJp9jxjH0OMp7XX2oWv13d5wNR_ro9S1mntWfaIXXNWqK74_nCQQdk66gVzXQ99IfoU06INt47D0vvhJrxk9M6wY9twMYMjdhpcaeUQhM/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529966608519097330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmv-JIWLsANMxmC6rEQvJdoyjaAEN0ICiAcbJp9jxjH0OMp7XX2oWv13d5wNR_ro9S1mntWfaIXXNWqK74_nCQQdk66gVzXQ99IfoU06INt47D0vvhJrxk9M6wY9twMYMjdhpcaeUQhM/s400/044.JPG" /></a> Can you picture it with my beautiful painting hung? Do you like my new rug? I love how the rug makes my hard wood floors pop out!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgSnhu0zLjHnEIFcYcyh3GAcPNKtp96vrwuB_xRCQFUJh-Tw4GDEWICgvxDxnGgMFOYzkI6O9XepJEnguYCs0vBYVBomkgFwmUh4cXNhoJhqHLMpWs8emSCQqw6C-WcLI3qGCdPDMBUg/s1600/043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529966410343335506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgSnhu0zLjHnEIFcYcyh3GAcPNKtp96vrwuB_xRCQFUJh-Tw4GDEWICgvxDxnGgMFOYzkI6O9XepJEnguYCs0vBYVBomkgFwmUh4cXNhoJhqHLMpWs8emSCQqw6C-WcLI3qGCdPDMBUg/s400/043.JPG" /></a><br />We can't hang our pictures for one week (we are waiting 10 days) because the we were told by the professional painting that the paint needs one week to cure before you hang pictures. After all that work, who wants to take a chance. It feels so good. My walls are painted, my blinds are clean, my windows are washed, my shelves are polished, my leather couches have been cleaned and conditioned, my kitchen cupboards have been cleaned... even behind my fridge there isn't a crumb...yet! And now it is time to work on decorating. Does it ever end?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-10998537773825319262010-10-08T12:06:00.002-06:002010-10-08T12:15:56.123-06:00FYI<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX_Bb6HTOfF5SwznkQIBw1lhsrG6mrkOUKg2pGCYfDdBM_8mePdMAH4vlnoGYOIZsjn4MUENiJJqISLM_dpuT5_3HGa-MIXMbWW3iUR-jJ63g1aUjhFHJ4dODO1dTueNSnEluwZj6KuA/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 116px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 62px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525738717080013506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX_Bb6HTOfF5SwznkQIBw1lhsrG6mrkOUKg2pGCYfDdBM_8mePdMAH4vlnoGYOIZsjn4MUENiJJqISLM_dpuT5_3HGa-MIXMbWW3iUR-jJ63g1aUjhFHJ4dODO1dTueNSnEluwZj6KuA/s400/untitled.bmp" /></a> I just thought I would report that ever since we have been painting our house, two squares of chocolate at lunch just doesn't cut it. I have needed to up it to a minimum of three squares, and even at that, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">some days</span> three doesn't satisfy. So if I keep this up...there will be more of me to love :). I just finished my third square and I am looking for more. Any suggestions?Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-13577497722337617472010-09-07T12:42:00.008-06:002010-09-07T20:53:31.675-06:00A NEW ADVENTURE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mTEo9mhadE_zbdwmQU0X9_3l5JB8Xl61P6HAzsF9rkk0knN0rJ-Xxro3W38yc53J2xh1u0SKpANz50czxAsoQV1xJ3h1nDqnUMlDW90VHKpcYh5z8GFQTeMgH3jmmu176h6S5yrzFrY/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514244839963838722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mTEo9mhadE_zbdwmQU0X9_3l5JB8Xl61P6HAzsF9rkk0knN0rJ-Xxro3W38yc53J2xh1u0SKpANz50czxAsoQV1xJ3h1nDqnUMlDW90VHKpcYh5z8GFQTeMgH3jmmu176h6S5yrzFrY/s400/003.JPG" /></a> Yesterday we took Megan to BYUI!! It was a BIG day for all of us.<br /><br />It was the first time that Tim has been able to come with me to help move in one of our children as they have gone off to college. It was awesome having Tim there to pack the car. He is a master packer. It is like watching someone put a puzzle together. He does a fabulous job and he was able to fit everything in to our car. Megan has been working on packing up her room since we returned from our trip. Throughout the summer we spent time buying dishes and bedding etc...then throughout the week the shopping and preparations continued. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBuZlQZpD_SwCHW0uTEPEToNKLnLxp4BfCmPj1-YBcWNEVjUZ6Iellz8ZPGIzoNOdEZIUA6vp9L7ZSSGhqWYZA-rOsPMSoiyqhNTE_4WTWiPMHoyFnGqAnzfVffiVDUw_9vpDoCr_WDw/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514244668746243346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBuZlQZpD_SwCHW0uTEPEToNKLnLxp4BfCmPj1-YBcWNEVjUZ6Iellz8ZPGIzoNOdEZIUA6vp9L7ZSSGhqWYZA-rOsPMSoiyqhNTE_4WTWiPMHoyFnGqAnzfVffiVDUw_9vpDoCr_WDw/s400/002.JPG" /></a> By about 8:15 a.m. the car was all pack and we were ready to go. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbmEOQfsSqQcKX3NA8miHe69h0rdmuEzNniTqi6WUtzX2jcJzF9u7m3CDGmaslZ6qZeMCjRZvujPFpry4cEP2zCaS8l8iTDu75Wd2uo_UOiqkvDMUsE9a7mmeszY_84-DH2j56o2YTlQ/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514244476810772498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbmEOQfsSqQcKX3NA8miHe69h0rdmuEzNniTqi6WUtzX2jcJzF9u7m3CDGmaslZ6qZeMCjRZvujPFpry4cEP2zCaS8l8iTDu75Wd2uo_UOiqkvDMUsE9a7mmeszY_84-DH2j56o2YTlQ/s400/001.JPG" /></a> We began our drive to Rexburg, Idaho! We talked, listened to music, shed a few tears, laughed and took deep breaths as we were preparing to send our baby away. Again, it was a HUGE DAY for us. When we arrived in Rexburg, Megan went to check into her dorm and pick up a key. On our end, we were lucky enough to score a parking place right in front of her dorm. We all carried in boxes, clothes, towels, sheets, her "Grandma Bea quilt", I-dock, computer, shoes, dishes, cleaning supplies, food, more shoes, books, computer, coats, make-up, flat iron, iron, a laundry basket etc... We then spent a few minutes unpacking and meeting her roommates. We didn't have much time because we needed to go on campus to pick up her books (that is an expensive trip), get her "I card" and then to the grocery store to pick up the rest of the food she needed (an attempt was made to pick her up too) and eat a late lunch at Subway... on the go. We went back to the dorm and did some more unpacking and talking to roommates before Megan and her roommates were meet by their "I team" leader to take them to a special students meeting while we went to a parents meeting at 3:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m. we were able to meet back up with Megan so we could finish unpacking. We stopped to get an ice cream at Dairy Queen, paused at the temple for a few minutes, and we picked up an Ethernet cord and set up her computer as well as help two other roommates that were having trouble setting up their computers. </div><div> </div><div>By 7:30 p.m. it was time to say goodbye. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBHggKPk8bXSzoPZcO2hUmfup3UdzJnVEnRbYzhD9ZOU-RPFc6Ait5xJtShKicAPla4JNZ_gNT7oIe_hgi6V6AnNlY1ItyfqJrCWkTEorDUMtkYzBGZeEq-ClUbx_Of4CBH82xOKP2cA/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514244284676921778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBHggKPk8bXSzoPZcO2hUmfup3UdzJnVEnRbYzhD9ZOU-RPFc6Ait5xJtShKicAPla4JNZ_gNT7oIe_hgi6V6AnNlY1ItyfqJrCWkTEorDUMtkYzBGZeEq-ClUbx_Of4CBH82xOKP2cA/s400/005.JPG" /></a> A few tears were shed on the ride home. Okay, quite a few...and it wasn't just me. However, I know without a doubt this is the right thing for Megan to do. I am SO proud of her. She has worked HARD. She has PREPARED herself well. She has been blessed with a wonderful scholarship! She is all grown-up, but she will always be my baby. Even Melissa called today freaking out that Megan had left the nest. All I can say now is this day came really fast. <br /></div><div>When we arrived home close to 11:00 p.m., we found two letters placed on our pillows from Megan. It was a nice treat and surprise. We smiled, hugged and held each other tight and went to sleep. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-65134122670089019252010-05-27T08:01:00.018-06:002010-06-02T16:20:25.907-06:00Weber Warrior...Megan Marsden 2010!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOV4gQJ9OptxLen94EsvJHmYs5-ZSD_lqo-fLMAA9qQa92-ji5S8_nGMQZlvktPd7wKWsGxFgLY0PhhRJ0xhRSWPdVjfJI2zjKEnyTEMkpBNh7p2rYKyxq-BbHjn9htcotBYavoJcBIE/s1600/Megan's+kindergarten+.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478297135973079762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOV4gQJ9OptxLen94EsvJHmYs5-ZSD_lqo-fLMAA9qQa92-ji5S8_nGMQZlvktPd7wKWsGxFgLY0PhhRJ0xhRSWPdVjfJI2zjKEnyTEMkpBNh7p2rYKyxq-BbHjn9htcotBYavoJcBIE/s400/Megan's+kindergarten+.jpg" /></a> Kindergarten feels like it was just a few years ago...<br /><div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478291807715992690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vu3-4NzjQkwqs7ZO3i7Mcq42qXiiElwvTGt3LW7uP_BUZ8zb_6FNGv85yAAPhrZ-YCsZcKYjWFRqJ1k1EJeW_IEFmwl93I-oHiUeYT76tHKRIOsyG212JTyLPCjP3bqWSnWrHwCgiE8/s400/scan0002+(2).jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7Z4aUs6GbhwhtO8wVRPVpcZuVOUOCS4trXhIHW9axglfX38kpf0suj53VzKVE3mRe3J0e91rdrsmFiuCWafVMss41OSZ2th-EdCLMD3aM2aaEaMjuT3N0tO885YqE7F2-uf1Og-BaN8/s1600/100_4459.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478287992691099442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7Z4aUs6GbhwhtO8wVRPVpcZuVOUOCS4trXhIHW9axglfX38kpf0suj53VzKVE3mRe3J0e91rdrsmFiuCWafVMss41OSZ2th-EdCLMD3aM2aaEaMjuT3N0tO885YqE7F2-uf1Og-BaN8/s400/100_4459.jpg" /></a> A very wise person (Lesley) told me years ago... "just wait until your children reach high school that is where time starts to fly". Megan was just in elementary school when she told me that and I am here to tell you; Lesley is right. The time has flown by!! The above picture was taken in May of 2008 when Sean was graduating. Megan put on his graduation robes anticipating the day it would be her turn. It seems like yesterday I took that picture and now Megan's turn has come and gone.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n9qjENZkqDsyLCbn_PkqFmaUwK4WuF2up0rhmPcOuMxhHqFNHX_UMAlL_h52WUBpU7cOv2U4thD4Fe5-JhSLFCSeliWW7OOWFLVEKdyPSnFQP1-owGpMgzOZmT42QpHMbpCIhk5SW9M/s1600/scan0004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478287424178709570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n9qjENZkqDsyLCbn_PkqFmaUwK4WuF2up0rhmPcOuMxhHqFNHX_UMAlL_h52WUBpU7cOv2U4thD4Fe5-JhSLFCSeliWW7OOWFLVEKdyPSnFQP1-owGpMgzOZmT42QpHMbpCIhk5SW9M/s400/scan0004.jpg" /></a> Megan is now a Weber High alumni as of May 25th 2010!! </div><div> </div><div>It has been a fabulous spring with many incredible experiences. We were blessed to take a "senior trip" with two of her best friends and the three moms. The six of us have all been friends for many years. When we first moved to Pleasant View, Megan meet both Aubree and Heidi and it was instant friendship. All three girls will be going to different Universities but I have no doubt they will be life long friends. We have had a tradition to go to lunch together just before Christmas since the three girls were in pre-school. We have not missed once and we plan to continue the tradition. Megan and Aubree Jones are already planning on going with ILP to Russia in January of 2012.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn6_V1SauouYU9eMocEWlw8xcwAgyWHTsbQTu1oy8wOZ_m3ISYR_2pjtWW_OPwsqrEyv-w9yxBDD0X5hkMVxuJl_TuyQIb7VuJnMMuYYx1Dqx5neVbk2FO64LrnuKRTE0DQzeXAroIpM/s1600/276.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478286879929153410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn6_V1SauouYU9eMocEWlw8xcwAgyWHTsbQTu1oy8wOZ_m3ISYR_2pjtWW_OPwsqrEyv-w9yxBDD0X5hkMVxuJl_TuyQIb7VuJnMMuYYx1Dqx5neVbk2FO64LrnuKRTE0DQzeXAroIpM/s400/276.JPG" /></a> Megan, Aubree Jones & Heidi Olsen on Alcatraz Island.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r8D_CfgabA9O2xWeAHVHLtgvxONHIuCABUFuOo7ny6EpPr6MYcGgWbpPQsv6LCfSWwoj3LRUCKYrVIIm5GjcmHlN0mN8IBUrxnxTH8wjIQyuCMouW3fbE5B2qklfv6-QnrwG8JCAVeA/s1600/216.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478286592110683570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r8D_CfgabA9O2xWeAHVHLtgvxONHIuCABUFuOo7ny6EpPr6MYcGgWbpPQsv6LCfSWwoj3LRUCKYrVIIm5GjcmHlN0mN8IBUrxnxTH8wjIQyuCMouW3fbE5B2qklfv6-QnrwG8JCAVeA/s400/216.JPG" /></a> We were all excited to meet a real 60's hippie on Sausalito! It was a wonderful trip for the beginning of the end of Megan's senior year. </div><div> </div><div>Some of May's activities included a party given by the bishopric for the grads in our ward, a scholarship assembly where Megan received two different scholarships. She will be using one of them to attend BYUI this fall. A spring choir concert, baccalaureate where John Bytheway spoke, a Marsden family graduation party to celebrate graduation with her two cousins Taylor and Aubree (go 2010), seminary graduation, another party with the Jones & Olsen families and last but not least graduation! Megan received great support at her graduation from Melissa and Hannah who came from Las Vegas and from her grandparents for the big event. There were 540 other Weber High graduates in attendance. It was the best graduation ceremony I have ever attended. </div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475950826012993410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6zdORILeGUtesa9LaQ6U4RL91l3dIsR5AmN53kAwxAnzeLQ65-9GbU8WooqRxsU5QAiA8QI-_RvCneqDXx2lTBKS6b6Ti5DsPyWdfnOzbzqGTAsWLR_nEVuWFONPBYsMUl08P9SFP48/s400/P1030311.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmSvmK99F3R-e1BU7Hi6-Q2ny-5eYikXEhSJ1gmXFT2yPDlLPJVfMJool92rEVe2zAgMFUfNQx9qlWgj9CsgeBNHLTXzVb3E9J_7numcTiVWoa8xRzZ_Y9zd67_YYODvdQ3LDwwIQeSw/s1600/P1030336.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475951491300982978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmSvmK99F3R-e1BU7Hi6-Q2ny-5eYikXEhSJ1gmXFT2yPDlLPJVfMJool92rEVe2zAgMFUfNQx9qlWgj9CsgeBNHLTXzVb3E9J_7numcTiVWoa8xRzZ_Y9zd67_YYODvdQ3LDwwIQeSw/s400/P1030336.JPG" /></a> Thanks to her Aunt Marivic who gave me the idea, I was able to compile letters of love and advice from the significant women of Megan's life. Megan loved the gift and has poured over the letters. Thanks for all of you who helped make this possible.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-tA8r6jOxU9d5Aol4R-xy7R9PqMqPNlZztTGexkhZfvuaWEgLc8yd9Tqg5Lr6gKcVsVixvpfYlMRTFQy-ATYrvavEbR1EufVMnopbKNEPcY2-CLZq_pYYOmN4LxpJmshqXTnl5UsnqA/s1600/P1030292.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475951165585124018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-tA8r6jOxU9d5Aol4R-xy7R9PqMqPNlZztTGexkhZfvuaWEgLc8yd9Tqg5Lr6gKcVsVixvpfYlMRTFQy-ATYrvavEbR1EufVMnopbKNEPcY2-CLZq_pYYOmN4LxpJmshqXTnl5UsnqA/s400/P1030292.JPG" /></a> It was a great day and one for the memory books!!<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmkUBUlIN53etUf7NQ2OFqx1LlSONpohLYkXPHmviV4npfGmlID2vPE2Qwy-c_G91uXSX8cbtSWp5AD-njh4OL5uGNQZxTZoIzxgkWOz5A-00hAzkFbOIJ_2vK301Qm3NNo8kVZVwJh8/s1600/P1030316.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475950312430431954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmkUBUlIN53etUf7NQ2OFqx1LlSONpohLYkXPHmviV4npfGmlID2vPE2Qwy-c_G91uXSX8cbtSWp5AD-njh4OL5uGNQZxTZoIzxgkWOz5A-00hAzkFbOIJ_2vK301Qm3NNo8kVZVwJh8/s400/P1030316.JPG" /></a> Megan has made many good friends throughout her years at Weber High...From the cute boys to...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeSYB2GXBzTb6n4xnOAnBfHcDUmGe2bPeFJxNuRDzm9N_fUBcAcqNeCvCaoLvqyJi_ps_kmb4tjpHg7JJFqlTvo-ARe3LNVuOT7WLe65-rVELPgRtC2pg7xI-3ooDG2fknrMKkXmGH5I/s1600/P1030320.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475950105770971778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeSYB2GXBzTb6n4xnOAnBfHcDUmGe2bPeFJxNuRDzm9N_fUBcAcqNeCvCaoLvqyJi_ps_kmb4tjpHg7JJFqlTvo-ARe3LNVuOT7WLe65-rVELPgRtC2pg7xI-3ooDG2fknrMKkXmGH5I/s400/P1030320.JPG" /></a>Many wonderful friends and experiences. Megan arrived home at 4:20 a.m. after celebrating with the Weber High class of 2010 at a graduation party at Toad's. You can imagine how happy I was to have her home safe and sound. </div><div> </div><div>It has been one heck of a ride!! I love you Megan! Congratulations!! Now....WE HAVE ENGLAND & IRELAND TO LOOK FORWARD TOO!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-32714677177733714712010-05-06T20:34:00.007-06:002010-05-07T14:25:40.309-06:00Random facts you may or may not know about me!I have decided that I do certain things that see perfectly normal to me, but seem to be strange and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">usual</span> to others. So here are just a few random fact that you may or may not know about me. <br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 142px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 94px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468351194553691170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIf6WrZBZyEW6V15saG9z-wCa03Hm__4ak_7ii-GVy7RZmVywDfd3Yvoz7_60WA-wAjkN77S_NLutIfsSM6hLJ1wNWwhhEGmMYjqccHrhRdCCSLcTiQ5WY8xdOG8ZwNh-S656__Jp_hQ/s400/sandwich.bmp" />I like to eat sandwiches. I most often have a sandwich at lunch. On any given day my sandwiches consists of anywhere between seven and ten ingredients. Recently one of Megan's friends came to our house and I made her a sandwich. She acted like she had never seen a sandwich before. You would have thought she was eating at a five star <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurant</span> by her reaction to my sandwich. </p><p>Another unique thing about the sandwiches I eat is that 95% of the time, the top layer is lettuce not bread. This seems to be of great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fascination</span> to the students who come into class and see me finishing up my lunch. You may ask "why do you do that"...the answer is... because too much bread takes away the taste of the rest of the sandwich for me. It also leaves me feeling less guilty when I have my daily intake of two pieces of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Symphony</span>. </p><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 120px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 94px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468350967906951538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn2B0d0eFsJgg44zjAT6clpSt7AzhCHPADKBhHI0RJucwm7qe2VS_hf2vkpfK91aNP6EitRAuOsuBtQAiR_BSVORDLoL850DQSVN4WZhYcyZ6GDM6LDe4I_s42_sCoHRMrgVZQG8QMac/s400/lemon+water.bmp" /><br />Now, I would guess that most of you know without a doubt that I love lemon in my water. When I go to school, I always take a plastic cup (because plastic tastes better than paper but when I am at home I think glass is the best) and I fill it with ice and two slices of lemon and water. For whatever reason, this practise causes great fascination among the students. It is very <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">usual</span> if I go a day without someone making a comment about my lemon ice water. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoioj9ffW1QqAOn80ANVwjNaxkiiVB8qMGlTX-CKTCo8FHOofVZcm13Dd9UpPE6egh2MnE38CIroH1E8J5uMcxwLr7CIuyRgq0X8ahf95HfYqFl8m9lZS4SDdjTLzm8K4f7MY3Ud13bDs/s1600/flowers.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 125px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 94px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468351081150370146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoioj9ffW1QqAOn80ANVwjNaxkiiVB8qMGlTX-CKTCo8FHOofVZcm13Dd9UpPE6egh2MnE38CIroH1E8J5uMcxwLr7CIuyRgq0X8ahf95HfYqFl8m9lZS4SDdjTLzm8K4f7MY3Ud13bDs/s400/flowers.bmp" /></a> I love this time of year. I am so happy it getting close to planting flowers. I feel so happy when I am on a walk/run outside and I can hear the birds sing and I can smell the flowers as I go past. My soul feels renewed as I enjoy this beautiful world we live in.<br /><br />One random fact is that I love to dig in the dirt. This has not always been the case with me. This has become an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">acquired</span> passion. I have three neighbor girls that come over on a regular basis to help me in the yard. We talk to the plants and make sure they are well taken care of. We enjoy giving them "Georgia juice" (a fertilizer) and miracle grow too. I always end up getting really dirty and my neighbor girls don't. The girls don't like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">vegetables</span> but they like helping me plant my garden. When I am by myself working in the yard, I often preach a sermon to myself. For instance when I am pulling weeds I may think about repentance. <br /><br />I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">suppose</span> we all do things that may be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">unusual</span> to others but that helps make all of us unique. I like learning new things about different people. I have adapted many new things to my life because of it. Would you like to share something random you do?<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-55828045881850622372010-04-06T10:00:00.018-06:002010-04-06T16:32:37.355-06:00100 DAY CHALLENGE<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 108px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457149283324963266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWJUzWqh-6ibf5C5s1n2UVRH5k2LkO7mENWRczJ3LwygKidAzYpNfuqDQHYKdIan69eyx77BgOe3Irxbj4rp4AB8dL4sQKE1F9f1Sf3GDbuFZc8-hKA9Gax7qAqfmup9qq0DXvwScQoI/s400/Book+of+Mormon.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 363px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457145531384756962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC2zbFjDZ6dXn79ti8FPnSlhuHnwpvXjxG8q0ss_3M0nYlrIGkrzINtHBMn-j4ryL0B5muQC4BEic6hyOn46DHD9NTTfNg2QXcaI7_WVAtDnCDLc6iJWYoamzZ-Tn66mIPr7nDgv2URE/s400/scan0001+(2).jpg" /><br /><div><div>At tithing settlement in December, our bishop, challenged each member of the ward to finish the Book of Mormon by April 10, 2010. As a family, we were already about half way through the Book of Mormon because we started reading out loud together on the first day of school and we figured out that we needed to read three pages every school day in order to finish by the time Megan graduated. However, we decided to take on the 100 day challenge in addition to our family reading. Tim, Meg & I decided to map out our individual plan to complete Bishop Woodfield's challenge. It wasn't too hard to decide what to do since the bishop had already given us a suggested schedule to follow according to how many chapters a day etc... Tim decided he was going to read the BOM in Portuguese. Megan decided she wanted to read just before she went to bed. I just knew I needed to keep on track so I didn't get behind. So, On January 1st, 2010, I started.<br /></div><br /><div>I would like to share a few experiences and things I have learned and re-learned this time while reading the Book of Mormon in 100 days. (I did finish a little early :)</div><br /><div>My first experience happened while still in 1st Nephi. I exercise at 5:30 a.m. with five - seven other friends and many days the sister missionaries join us. Even though not all of the women I exercise with are in my ward, some of them had decided to take on the challenge. At exercise one morning, one of my friends (remember we exercise at 5:30 a.m...so often times we can be grumpy due to lack of sleep) commented on how she could really relate to Lamen and Lemuel. She said that she too would have been very annoyed if her YOUNGER brother was acting like he knew it all. The day she said that, just happened to be a day that the full time sisters had come to exercise with us, at the church too. They listened to her complaint along with the rest of us. A few days later, Sister Jordan and Sister Sutter came to exercise, and the first thing Sister Jordan said (in the very kindest voice) was "Sister Rawls (name changed) how is your attitude today?! I have been praying for you."</div><br /><div>I have learned there is a lesson in this example. Much of what we learn is based upon where our attitude is. Are we prideful or are we humble and teachable? I have learned that when I am prideful, I don't learn very much if anything. Also when we rely upon our own strength and not the help of the Lord, we can only do so much. It is much better if we turn to the Lord for strength, for He can do all things for our good. </div><div> </div><div>Another reoccurring theme and word that jumped out to me continuously throughout the entire Book of Mormon was the word contention. I don't think anyone would argue that we live in a very contentious world. One would be hard pressed to turn on the news, read the newspaper, and listen to talk radio or bring up MSN on the internet and not find a story that had some element contention. I have had to do a lot of introspection while reading. By nature, (we are taught a natural man/woman is an enemy to God) I can tend to be a feisty person. There is a difference in disagreeing and being disagreeable. As I have gotten older I have tried to remember that not every opinion needs to be shared...especially if it can hurt or injure another or even cause a wedge between a relationship. Last week, someone I know, was in a parking lot. Someone cut him off in the parking lot so he decided he needed to teach this person a lesson. He blocked the woman's car so he could show her he was mad. Then he got out of the car and kicked the side of her door while she was still sitting in the car and he was walking past. So as he proceeded to walk into the restaurant, she decided that she would drive forward going 5 mph and hit him with her car. At that point, a bystander had called the police and the police came. Then the police had to "break up" the yelling match and talk to both parties individually to get both sides of the story. What a mess!! This was all over a thoughtless act and the wasting of ten seconds. The Book of Mormon has been written for our time. Hearts have waxed cold and none of us have to go far to witness this. Pride and contention are two ugly twins that feed on each other. As in Moroni 9 we read; "they have lost their love one toward another."<br /></div><div>Now, contrast that story with this example of charity, patience and long suffering. My sister Suzie and her husband Steve just took a dream vacation to the Virgin British Isles. They were gone for twelve days and had asked a relative and her husband along with their small children to live in their home and take care of five of their six children. The mom of the small children told Suzie that she would do all the meal planning and that she expected that Suzie's children NOT have any snacks after school. Even though Suzie thought this was an unrealistic rule to place in her own home, rather then put up a fuzz, Suzie figured since it was still her house and her children, rather than put of a fuss of this rule that belonged to this other mom she would hide some easy snacks (that don't make a mess) in a secret spot so that her children could still have access to food in their own home without making an additional mess for the other mom and causing the other mom's children to feel bad. One day, one of Suzie's children was not sneaky enough and this secret food stash was discovered by the mom that was caring for Suzie's children. This mom decided that she would take all of the food out of the stash and replace the food with dog food and left a note (that I don't think was too nice) inside with the dog food. Okay, I don't know about you, but I would have been bugged!! But not Suzie!! She took the higher road. She was generous to take into account that this mom had not yet had older children who are busy growing and get super hungry after eating school lunch at 10:50 a.m. and have a hard time waiting until 6:00 p.m. to eat anything. She did not feel angry or mad towards this person. Can you imagine what could have happened to relationships in this family if charity hadn't been applied? In Moroni 7:42 we read and charity suffereth long, and is KIND, and is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniqutiy but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. What a difference Suzie's actions made not only with her relative, but also the example she set for her children (and me).<br /></div><div>Another reoccurring theme that seemed to jump out at me continually was the patience and love that Heavenly Father has for each of his children. Over and over again through out the BOM story after story demonstrates Heavenly Father's patience for His children. </div><br /><div>I have often called 3 Nephi the dessert of the BOM. It is wonderful to read of the miracles and words of our Savior Jesus Christ as he appears after he was crucified. The words of comfort and hope and love rang powerfully to me. </div><br /><div>I have really enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon. The Lord has been merciful to His children. He stands with his arms stretched out to each of us. The invitation is ours to come unto him.<br /></div><div>As the words state in one of my favorite hymns "Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, upheld my my righteous omnipotent hand.<br /></div><div>I would like to bare my witness that the Book of Mormon is a divine witness of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom it testifies. I would also like to share one of my favorite scriptures with you. It is found in<strong> <em>Heleman 5:12. And now, my sons (and daughters) remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when (not if) the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall</em>!<br /></strong></div><div>I love you all!</div><br /><div>Note: You don't have to be a blood relative to Grandpa Ditty to pound the pulpit!! And I admit, I am definitely a work in progress and I have a long way to go :)! Thanks for being patient with me and forgiving me along the way too!</div><div> </div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-13000226947372524582010-03-13T18:39:00.007-07:002010-03-13T19:05:47.816-07:00I'd be crying right now if life wasn't eternal....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnJyyAt4pddHaWSpOaHE4VDUIfoNpKqAEG-OvAAsNpFIuEMLeFUqaYeojPqw-d46yvKWbtAc6TCAhOY8V2YDTj3M48fpVsvMg_u5JA0NKWzmFwRx_hWKU_u-DsqKaqfyZRx-fJ6M1Q0c/s1600-h/064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448298594799975346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnJyyAt4pddHaWSpOaHE4VDUIfoNpKqAEG-OvAAsNpFIuEMLeFUqaYeojPqw-d46yvKWbtAc6TCAhOY8V2YDTj3M48fpVsvMg_u5JA0NKWzmFwRx_hWKU_u-DsqKaqfyZRx-fJ6M1Q0c/s400/064.JPG" /></a> This is what Tim said as Megan was getting ready for her last Prom!! The years have simply flown by and we don't know where they have gone. Our baby was just yesterday playing dress-ups and doll house.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpOvN1Pbyur6xweD50sqPHiYs6GqdrVDVxBGHpeJ1ivebTIEnCNrl2fOiGGfSfmg50eP1C6okye2-1nn3DyjgnLpdq9ebN_ef9edR3BY7D5i5EAzSAe3HG5b21d0D7WpF42fi1CVK4f4/s1600-h/058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 384px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448298509853235634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpOvN1Pbyur6xweD50sqPHiYs6GqdrVDVxBGHpeJ1ivebTIEnCNrl2fOiGGfSfmg50eP1C6okye2-1nn3DyjgnLpdq9ebN_ef9edR3BY7D5i5EAzSAe3HG5b21d0D7WpF42fi1CVK4f4/s400/058.JPG" /></a>In my opinion :) the pictures don't do justice to how beautiful Megan looked tonight.<br /></div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448298379649432050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmCeqoCYTRwk-RyzuMwiLhNectC5Azx37ARC_Q5VPaafRFoyFfZWTDZHHIcqpwkL51z-iiQhnWc6xFdl7DVhf8nvyI3pxUDj7Ilbof6tzCZNHtUrwCTU00KcjJDUfzNxRctJnUcSU4Dc/s400/077.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlYQIdDU6wERD-5ROWJvYXjbxtx55Mb_ApIm-FvcYzvoobhR3NhWqGOLz5fbpEKSmm96PvCq9UUpHdZanyM9YZE7R6whKUAbAQRQNrZVmKtdb6zbMMqp2GbmuC4sb-FVMBpKZjBSuo8E/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448298265940798306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlYQIdDU6wERD-5ROWJvYXjbxtx55Mb_ApIm-FvcYzvoobhR3NhWqGOLz5fbpEKSmm96PvCq9UUpHdZanyM9YZE7R6whKUAbAQRQNrZVmKtdb6zbMMqp2GbmuC4sb-FVMBpKZjBSuo8E/s400/061.JPG" /></a>So here's to eternity!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-15233803333360624382010-02-12T10:59:00.013-07:002010-02-12T12:10:18.266-07:00Keeping up with the Marsden Family<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ys0U0azlm6EVX9znj9NPkP-pkEUbd8bbyPkrlGA-xNoganGnG1mBrWEqK_gojaPNpemXW3-BpSq3kOdWeTj62iXd1eJy8H_vt5iUlRXgs9zCcwEUZlFqJPwHKfXYSWkywQO7Kky6UIg/s1600-h/scan0003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437421050957795954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ys0U0azlm6EVX9znj9NPkP-pkEUbd8bbyPkrlGA-xNoganGnG1mBrWEqK_gojaPNpemXW3-BpSq3kOdWeTj62iXd1eJy8H_vt5iUlRXgs9zCcwEUZlFqJPwHKfXYSWkywQO7Kky6UIg/s400/scan0003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD1Q9RBfmt_QCPEK3UxQPLkylvFTyUTTlvHjDgJq5OFOdFXbKxKS217QDbt5OnfvZDGh-6wLP7B3_Gx5Kdka3Lt9BQiArlTPDM2JayczwWfX0MdAaERsr2h0xuX1VIHcCIkzIIgBC4uI/s1600-h/scan0002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437420797017938594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD1Q9RBfmt_QCPEK3UxQPLkylvFTyUTTlvHjDgJq5OFOdFXbKxKS217QDbt5OnfvZDGh-6wLP7B3_Gx5Kdka3Lt9BQiArlTPDM2JayczwWfX0MdAaERsr2h0xuX1VIHcCIkzIIgBC4uI/s400/scan0002.jpg" border="0" /></a> I got a scanner for Christmas. I have had a lot of fun with it and I now that I have one, I can't believe it took me so long to get one :). I have been working on a project for my family for the past several weeks. I decided that I would scan several pictures of our family, so that our children could have a copy of the pictures on a CD. We are so lucky to have the capability to share pictures with each other. I have gone through several pictures of Tim and I growing up, our wedding, and our extended family and our immediate family. I have mostly been focusing on pictures that will tell of story of our lives. I have also been taking the time to name and date each picture. Even though we live in a digital world, it was nice to be able to scan Megan's dance pictures from last Saturday to share those too. </div><div> </div><div>Below are a few of the pictures that I am collecting for the CD. Any suggestions or ideas for this project are encouraged and welcomed!!<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKodwnw9afuFmRc19ybUGVJIwIhIHcC4AtFSYlwFsimS1-1-F0deloWPKnryqZPnZfLJM7nc35oG119KxvsyBb9C1FhXLNRu8wnM8K8PETuODQ05MtJ6V3iK7j_B1zZ_d0C8UhLWt8fo/s1600-h/Marsden+Family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437420668859562754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKodwnw9afuFmRc19ybUGVJIwIhIHcC4AtFSYlwFsimS1-1-F0deloWPKnryqZPnZfLJM7nc35oG119KxvsyBb9C1FhXLNRu8wnM8K8PETuODQ05MtJ6V3iK7j_B1zZ_d0C8UhLWt8fo/s400/Marsden+Family.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Marsden family...was this 2003?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0Pcx2e246RncKVsU_OGcdcYD2fqv1a8flUUsI0SXsigS-cc-1_jOOoHhy2H7mJCHfUHiQHZE6WlgPAyCP8KLwOafjul44jTxDSGFJv4BegMl7Dv7HAgaLayfsQ4CM6Kdo7aeXDKSwbI/s1600-h/Tim+%26+Megs+winter+2000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437420418355608114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0Pcx2e246RncKVsU_OGcdcYD2fqv1a8flUUsI0SXsigS-cc-1_jOOoHhy2H7mJCHfUHiQHZE6WlgPAyCP8KLwOafjul44jTxDSGFJv4BegMl7Dv7HAgaLayfsQ4CM6Kdo7aeXDKSwbI/s400/Tim+%26+Megs+winter+2000.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Tim & Megan<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gjm1lpfjU8xLY4S-RwhF5QMZERNQn6_9T1NG9wdyKHr78fvwwiPxwcu6BNTkCykpLPsx3gI7AwWJKRdsZwWymvLKzhg8KJuVhi2G71jMrTmm7_l3c6HIwA0appFWR9cLJZgd3VQK5wY/s1600-h/Tim+in+Elementary+school.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437420324558587746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gjm1lpfjU8xLY4S-RwhF5QMZERNQn6_9T1NG9wdyKHr78fvwwiPxwcu6BNTkCykpLPsx3gI7AwWJKRdsZwWymvLKzhg8KJuVhi2G71jMrTmm7_l3c6HIwA0appFWR9cLJZgd3VQK5wY/s400/Tim+in+Elementary+school.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Tim (Isn't he hansome)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-466XOa4qEzRTbqV68OQAfG6Ue_bcrexWinZ1ZQsuuhkSmBWWwQmfj0PMwQ91lOlFe3JchzGxAM33hyZytb85o7yKyd6siro0yJuABRIWhPC9AG4J2hi9n-0nMnVA7D7WA8Tzk6IatII/s1600-h/San+Clemente+1991+with+Melissa+%26+Sean.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437420184468759730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 346px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-466XOa4qEzRTbqV68OQAfG6Ue_bcrexWinZ1ZQsuuhkSmBWWwQmfj0PMwQ91lOlFe3JchzGxAM33hyZytb85o7yKyd6siro0yJuABRIWhPC9AG4J2hi9n-0nMnVA7D7WA8Tzk6IatII/s400/San+Clemente+1991+with+Melissa+%26+Sean.jpg" border="0" /></a> San Clemente 1991<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID_Yxx21mSHJtjdfLOey-c1XlgkJeIZPe7Ssg_Jlze95_RhYWCGOoM0vcRtye5UI-d_4SVNSoX8wc-bkaklGgiC3ZUy5aRPEueDGomRFTXtxigLaQ-Ryxeq0rv42BUEWtknxM1hT1M_I/s1600-h/Mother's+day+1998.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437419184610315730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID_Yxx21mSHJtjdfLOey-c1XlgkJeIZPe7Ssg_Jlze95_RhYWCGOoM0vcRtye5UI-d_4SVNSoX8wc-bkaklGgiC3ZUy5aRPEueDGomRFTXtxigLaQ-Ryxeq0rv42BUEWtknxM1hT1M_I/s400/Mother's+day+1998.jpg" border="0" /></a> My Mother's Day gift...they planted my garden<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35RT5jN8MoJcA-Ui4_Icnef0Wea-22Irlq6Xx9Q9XgwyC9OadRfdg6rfKgnDUHkXukJNSWTeUUJ6nNCvuKPtAzyzF3_4GSmuBOPn4uj6SWFLRoPrazknGg478Nzhwh7p21x8sEUw4-B8/s1600-h/Israel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437418937812897810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35RT5jN8MoJcA-Ui4_Icnef0Wea-22Irlq6Xx9Q9XgwyC9OadRfdg6rfKgnDUHkXukJNSWTeUUJ6nNCvuKPtAzyzF3_4GSmuBOPn4uj6SWFLRoPrazknGg478Nzhwh7p21x8sEUw4-B8/s400/Israel.jpg" border="0" /></a> Israel 1981 (I am sitting down on the bottom left)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KxxeQuF7yD9xA1VAZKe39s5mPAMpuIXQbQirKyQprt0AU0FtmbERMOgk9EDi-3IPQuS2jcFrEfTImxJnyYQ0fF_pPS05kZ7P62qc91HqycGPK7TNqyjqQofaEjzTtMohKlT7-EinR0M/s1600-h/Engagment+picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437418736047121538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KxxeQuF7yD9xA1VAZKe39s5mPAMpuIXQbQirKyQprt0AU0FtmbERMOgk9EDi-3IPQuS2jcFrEfTImxJnyYQ0fF_pPS05kZ7P62qc91HqycGPK7TNqyjqQofaEjzTtMohKlT7-EinR0M/s400/Engagment+picture.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The year we got married - 1982<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEBOrPIv0gD8QUkXpf55r4tEj14-MysndF05IPr71UqDhImr9Z0W0c7FkTHjdMr_mA2YLvWqQQRq0LtAvAI2nSoS4NAZG6g44NRuWYTrUVeF7ELX6_x-U9YQI_ttzv4QUNq9SqbJmEQA/s1600-h/Bea+%26+Margie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437418531218843794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEBOrPIv0gD8QUkXpf55r4tEj14-MysndF05IPr71UqDhImr9Z0W0c7FkTHjdMr_mA2YLvWqQQRq0LtAvAI2nSoS4NAZG6g44NRuWYTrUVeF7ELX6_x-U9YQI_ttzv4QUNq9SqbJmEQA/s400/Bea+%26+Margie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This was taken at a shower given to me by my Aunt Winn & Ann Jardine (Bardsley)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBbVXex_k4ortZuZncXZt_Mfru2qfxuTp8utTLeDSd0GmxxQLdUYs7-ZDpRHEDXJRjK7AIAMwb5nE7Kg-QLlYjkF3Ir7wBYHmJr3JOwTZPMvX8LJtIp2lSdkUkgmwpeLPGCyErzpQyc4/s1600-h/1996.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437418416572098514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBbVXex_k4ortZuZncXZt_Mfru2qfxuTp8utTLeDSd0GmxxQLdUYs7-ZDpRHEDXJRjK7AIAMwb5nE7Kg-QLlYjkF3Ir7wBYHmJr3JOwTZPMvX8LJtIp2lSdkUkgmwpeLPGCyErzpQyc4/s400/1996.jpg" border="0" /></a> Where did the time go??<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-34708198349672005012010-01-29T11:30:00.014-07:002010-01-29T14:32:03.688-07:00Heavy Heart turned HopefulWarning...this blog contains very sad events<br /><br />It has been a hard week :( I try to be happy and positive, but this week has been a heavy one. To make matters worse Tim has been gone to Atlanta all week and I have really missed him. The good news is he does get home tonight :).<br /><br />My week started out with a meeting with a member of our Stake Presidency who had served his mission in Haiti. My heart has been turned to the devastation and destruction of that country. Our meeting was meant to be a fifteen minutes with the Stake Primary Presidency that turned into a two hour conversation on Haiti.<br /><br />On Monday, I went to lunch with a dear friend of mine, Sharon Butterfield. I have known Sharon since high school, and I have always admired and looked up to her. She has always been a true friend to me. On December 19th, Sharon's twenty-two year old son Jordan committed suicide. It was a complete and total shock!! I didn't even know he had died until January 9th. Sharon sent me an e-mail of her husbands talk at Jordan's funeral. I quickly called Sharon to express my sympathy, but for whatever reason I could not bring myself to ask her how he died. It just didn't feel right over the phone. I had assumed it was a car accident since I knew his girlfriend had died the same day. We set up a time for lunch and so Monday we meet for lunch. My heart just broke as I listened to my dear friend talk about the circumstances surrounding Jordan's death. To make matters worse, Jordan's girlfriend Missy, found Jordan and committed suicide too. Missy's mom found both Jordan and Missy dead. Two beautiful healthy people making such a tragic choice. I have lost many hours of sleep over this sad event.<br /><br />Then if that wasn't enough for one week, a forty-four year old man in the ward next to ours was playing basketball on Wed. night and he dropped dead during the game. The paramedics came, and tried to revive him for over twenty minutes, with no success. He leaves behind a beautiful wife and three beautiful children. Their oldest child is fourteen years old and is severely handicapped and too heavy for her mom to lift. Our community is mourning the loss of this man.<br /><br />Last night I came home from a church meeting. Because of the time zone and our schedules Tim and I hadn't been able to talk. All I wanted to do was to hold him and never let go. I was very grateful Megan was at home and I was able to give her a big hug and talk to her. I was also grateful to know that Adam, Melissa and Hannah were all safe at home in Vegas and had each other to cling too. But I still had a BIG black cloud following me. I was feeling very anxious about not having all my family home with me. At 10:00 p.m. I e-mail the mission home and asked them to reassure me that Sean was safe and all was well. I did not want to have to wait until Sunday night to know he was safe. This is the first time I have done something like this. I told them and I am telling you, I don't want Sean to know I did this because I don't want to worry him because I know he would be concerned about me. I knew it was a moment of temporary insanity, but I just needed that comfort. At midnight I woke up to check my e-mail and thankfully I had received an e-mail from Sister Poulton (the mission President's wife) reassuring me that all was well with Elder Marsden and she described him as a "magnificent Elder who is engaged in the work and performing his duties wonderfully."<br /><br />When I climb back into bed the words from John 14:27 came to my mind. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."<br /><br />My friend Sharon told me that two weeks after Jordan died she did a sharing time in Primary( Sharon is currently the Primary President in her ward). She sat in front of the children with a blanket wrapped around her. She told the children that she felt as though she was being wrapped in the love of the Savior. She said all of the children were silent and listened carefully to what she had to say.<br /><br />So, amidst the difficult week I have had, I have thought a great deal of the importance of turning and trusting in the Lord no matter what happens to us. When we turn to the Lord we CAN find peace, joy and happiness.<br /><br />I love all of you and I am grateful for all of you. We must all remember and never forget...<br />"that it<span style="color:#000000;"><strong> </strong>is</span><span style="color:#ffff00;"> </span>upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12.Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-38012287303008058532010-01-21T11:19:00.018-07:002010-01-21T12:55:52.705-07:00One year ago today!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmEEWUzw3XAvv5H6RprleYxe6dsGVrUrYaZm0KsaOFrUQ-AHUUrv-hjL82yL1KxrV30nqqqr-4VeBPVlVu58r1qU4WepTU8aepldzHVjY1YtEJNaJ-mAHSOnHKDRp2kI65iZKEqH_P3A/s1600-h/103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429263856212393682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmEEWUzw3XAvv5H6RprleYxe6dsGVrUrYaZm0KsaOFrUQ-AHUUrv-hjL82yL1KxrV30nqqqr-4VeBPVlVu58r1qU4WepTU8aepldzHVjY1YtEJNaJ-mAHSOnHKDRp2kI65iZKEqH_P3A/s400/103.JPG" border="0" /></a> That is right!! On January 21st 2009, Elder Sean Marsden entered the MTC!! I can't believe it has been one year. I can truly say it has gone by fast. I can also say it does feel good to be at this point. I clearly remember how my heart felt one year ago tonight. However, I wouldn't trade this last year for anything. It has been a great ride for me. I feel great joy each and every day and I thank my Heavenly Father for Sean and for his decision to serve a mission. He is happy! He has done a fantastic job at communicating with us and sharing his mission with us. There has not been one week that has gone by that we haven't received an e-mail from him. We have also been blessed with several tapes and written letters. He has done a great job at sharing his experiences with us and answering any questions I have for him.<br /><br />Every Sunday night is an event at our house as we wait for his e-mail to come. You may remember that when the first e-mail from Australia came, I pushed Tim right out of the way so that I could get to it first. Tim has graciously stepped aside each week to let me at it first. Elder Marsden sends his weekly e-mail to the family (immediate & extended) and then sends a few sentences to Tim, Melissa & Megan & I each week either answering questions or commenting on our e-mail. I truly feel like I get to "talk" to him each week as I write and he writes back.<br /><br />So today I am celebrating!! I'm not just celebrating that it has been one year. I am also celebrating what a great experience this has been. I look forward to this next year too...more e-mails, phone calls, pictures & letters!! I plan to cherish this time as I do look forward to January 2011!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCQBynZqZZZvS7KddfFusQ93q8NgTXi0fgey0iDvuoWeacYfdJAZQqgp7qZ3UlsR1yDLw5ifcQUk5xf4Y8x77cO5GwmHQYCWsXjv6xS7FuWlm86Q6jBEOAH0c7v4-vwXlJuOu3FaITSM/s1600-h/PC220197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429263453524683986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCQBynZqZZZvS7KddfFusQ93q8NgTXi0fgey0iDvuoWeacYfdJAZQqgp7qZ3UlsR1yDLw5ifcQUk5xf4Y8x77cO5GwmHQYCWsXjv6xS7FuWlm86Q6jBEOAH0c7v4-vwXlJuOu3FaITSM/s400/PC220197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uc5fSm1Stz7TgbtjVok59LGhbR4-16Qn7T-jid685eg21p2GFiRcRTM5SrElOiGtbXRYRhcX_Zci8lXkY5LqQDsehT46wMmV90_1jCXGaOPo8izDo8HULqM59x0VQ1aADCQI90lO-Lc/s1600-h/PC230202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429263127728080642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uc5fSm1Stz7TgbtjVok59LGhbR4-16Qn7T-jid685eg21p2GFiRcRTM5SrElOiGtbXRYRhcX_Zci8lXkY5LqQDsehT46wMmV90_1jCXGaOPo8izDo8HULqM59x0VQ1aADCQI90lO-Lc/s400/PC230202.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDidyRXPpzpRUbRtFyHuqrhsMkoJZ18pOavmtyxJZhDy5Ry7Fe6PrEmwQYB4ElzkBrmX-fhbVPi5Z_7nG9bMTNMB0sg1qYaMmwQfNtomTs-vZGRAXq3octxPcfiXgI4kk3RPZWwlCG5xw/s1600-h/PC090160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429262892978436370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDidyRXPpzpRUbRtFyHuqrhsMkoJZ18pOavmtyxJZhDy5Ry7Fe6PrEmwQYB4ElzkBrmX-fhbVPi5Z_7nG9bMTNMB0sg1qYaMmwQfNtomTs-vZGRAXq3octxPcfiXgI4kk3RPZWwlCG5xw/s400/PC090160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_p9OT-5VL08TedSHLLiymOqOZCojgtaU_FUmOUAbhO9yT9xEBdBORRYO5rmOB6bTO53TMTL7QAKnd6IYi4qtSiswmGTb_c4vo0AyyvnHv5wO_cG7vXmaFas28d-btPnj3hJIPf0aDAA/s1600-h/P1030003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429262648466392786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_p9OT-5VL08TedSHLLiymOqOZCojgtaU_FUmOUAbhO9yT9xEBdBORRYO5rmOB6bTO53TMTL7QAKnd6IYi4qtSiswmGTb_c4vo0AyyvnHv5wO_cG7vXmaFas28d-btPnj3hJIPf0aDAA/s400/P1030003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJKhBZOpoX9ep-X71kXMTqVqDB4_QQfudyAaTrWdiQlgm1FwgdkgZ_EoX4Br3SPzAt7iKAo7DggS1F2GzXhEq1F07cZ9v89mqjXYvd9lZfPbP4o86mLMqSGZ5IHCAoH-JmKY96lAdCXU/s1600-h/P6140092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429262192185166802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJKhBZOpoX9ep-X71kXMTqVqDB4_QQfudyAaTrWdiQlgm1FwgdkgZ_EoX4Br3SPzAt7iKAo7DggS1F2GzXhEq1F07cZ9v89mqjXYvd9lZfPbP4o86mLMqSGZ5IHCAoH-JmKY96lAdCXU/s400/P6140092.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ5uNZN22XSainyqmFMu8qljj5tIi2S0VqMCYpGIlM6c7VwtMj_8ZT7jWC_tGEJIw3HPHinQ5lpjY5VXFg-k05IYMJz3c8ZEM0UMIyUu_UDFnTS9RbHMrC1Y6Jp3yKoRcCfg8hKshsJg/s1600-h/074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429261872940231122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ5uNZN22XSainyqmFMu8qljj5tIi2S0VqMCYpGIlM6c7VwtMj_8ZT7jWC_tGEJIw3HPHinQ5lpjY5VXFg-k05IYMJz3c8ZEM0UMIyUu_UDFnTS9RbHMrC1Y6Jp3yKoRcCfg8hKshsJg/s400/074.JPG" border="0" /></a>Last year....January 21, 2009<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfUV3lbgIhhbiI9Dal_hQohviuRdidtfaXhxfvafiVMarKduh2BRYmCRyvD0id4AjdsbQfriM2x0Ty_Za5EWUxHFnD-Vlj6Ue0nia2VTXWzsASTmDCq0lWbmi-ym-CGi6wwKFtK47hyphenhyphenU/s1600-h/101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429261335695102642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfUV3lbgIhhbiI9Dal_hQohviuRdidtfaXhxfvafiVMarKduh2BRYmCRyvD0id4AjdsbQfriM2x0Ty_Za5EWUxHFnD-Vlj6Ue0nia2VTXWzsASTmDCq0lWbmi-ym-CGi6wwKFtK47hyphenhyphenU/s400/101.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLv2gq7uAfrIUZr3-u36NGkeO6-s1xIGVc4MOvO_TR9F1mPw0vYiFE3Z98Ufhk0_PMGCRMhUZPtQ1_nQn9p_aqcF1eTFt6SXEQwdu0Daas9sbMDbTUPlPISnIgZZcZGQ-7C8t3BhKRRc/s1600-h/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429261065233528738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLv2gq7uAfrIUZr3-u36NGkeO6-s1xIGVc4MOvO_TR9F1mPw0vYiFE3Z98Ufhk0_PMGCRMhUZPtQ1_nQn9p_aqcF1eTFt6SXEQwdu0Daas9sbMDbTUPlPISnIgZZcZGQ-7C8t3BhKRRc/s400/077.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRlXN-iiK6o7W8zwme-yRoh3D7DCGo1eexPP25onZa8-FQBIpE-vJcqXrCB4oSkS-9WPVAulUDFySqTG8S0d8HYLmDIdyWyQJcVdhY8DkaPeLRT27jn7Z5VK2-Ptgk2r_ryxGXP4o5iI/s1600-h/076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429260744553780210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRlXN-iiK6o7W8zwme-yRoh3D7DCGo1eexPP25onZa8-FQBIpE-vJcqXrCB4oSkS-9WPVAulUDFySqTG8S0d8HYLmDIdyWyQJcVdhY8DkaPeLRT27jn7Z5VK2-Ptgk2r_ryxGXP4o5iI/s400/076.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh06r7lwfdE7HVuTJXuqLP0JtNxou5GlVQPqLY7jD4PjzjMh2vx9_eIgt2xH3je2KgSIjUwWEyD6RiHacN9bpu78ZrKHcK0BhMH5UspGntr4S1vIBgh82G5fe_4XMvBk-72bdaOxvIiPI/s1600-h/098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429260181979336626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh06r7lwfdE7HVuTJXuqLP0JtNxou5GlVQPqLY7jD4PjzjMh2vx9_eIgt2xH3je2KgSIjUwWEyD6RiHacN9bpu78ZrKHcK0BhMH5UspGntr4S1vIBgh82G5fe_4XMvBk-72bdaOxvIiPI/s400/098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqOdDaPHT9BYHjEW93yhDjhi-SOTKZvpuGA4YxMOkSPWQ7UZu2W6sw5nBFUvnCuBi1fyrnyk_DY_AEVm0yOc5VMwfV5EBx2wxUUP1YxHPDQU8tzhrKX4jQ-kdPL1xFp81EcFid9AW0jE/s1600-h/074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429259932445031570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqOdDaPHT9BYHjEW93yhDjhi-SOTKZvpuGA4YxMOkSPWQ7UZu2W6sw5nBFUvnCuBi1fyrnyk_DY_AEVm0yOc5VMwfV5EBx2wxUUP1YxHPDQU8tzhrKX4jQ-kdPL1xFp81EcFid9AW0jE/s400/074.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-88546704272606811892010-01-13T13:51:00.006-07:002010-01-14T10:47:43.705-07:00Post inspired by Lilian!!It dawned on me that out of Tim's siblings, we will be the first family to have all of our children finished with high school. Archie and Julee will follow about one week later as Aubree will graduate. To tell you the truth, the time has gone way too fast, and I don't know if I am ready to be at this stage of life. However, because of Lilian and her post, I am starting to recognize a few things I will not miss. In the past few days I am realizing...no more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">SEOP's</span>, no more Federal Survey Cards & my personal favorite...NO MORE ACT test!!!<br /><br />I have gained a very unique perspective of the school system. I have now substitute taught for about eight years. The first few years it was here and there, but the last several years, I have taught an average of 3 times per week. My favorite place to teach is at Weber High School and I am there most of the time. I even made the yearbook!! However, I also sub at North Ogden Jr. High and Orion Jr. High and I enjoy the diversion and change. Jr. High is a very very unique time in life. I have labeled this time of life "caught in the middle of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">in between</span>". It is almost like a human zoo watching the different ages and stages of development. I say that with the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">utmost</span> of love and concern for the students and this time of life.<br /><br />I take what I do seriously. I strive to watch out for the students and often times I feel like I have a "grandma roll". Let me explain. I don't have the responsibility for the students that the teacher does, but I have the opportunity to watch out for and help and lift those I come in contact with. All three of my children have been shocked at times when we have been at the store and a "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">druggy</span>" comes up to say "hi" to me. I have had countless conversations with countless students about countless experiences and trials they are facing. To be very honest, many of "those students" (students that don't always fit in) have been among my favorites. A lot are ignored by the happy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">successful</span> students, and they need a friend. It is amazing how many students can go throughout an entire day without one person smiling at them, let alone saying "hi". On a number of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasions</span> Sean has encouraged me to become a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">psychiatrist</span>! All three of our children have been very generous to me by not being too embarrassed at having me at their school.<br /><br />Generally speaking I usually prefer having to discipline boys to girls. This is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">especially</span> true for the j<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">r</span>. high set. The reason for this is if I have to be strict or discipline someone, boys generally "forgive" my strict discipline or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reprimand</span>. Girls however will oft times hold it against me for months...not so much in high school, but for sure in j<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">r</span>. high. It is a very rare occasion I have to do any <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">disciplining</span> in high school. If I do, I usually start by saying something like "please don't force me to treat you like you are in j<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">r</span>. high". That comment is enough to stop the unwanted behavior.<br /><br /><br />I love how each time I go to school my day is very different. I often time don't know what to expect that day, and so I don't get bored. The teachers at Weber know I can bluff my way through most any <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">PowerPoint</span>, so I do a lot of that and I enjoy learning along with the students. Sometimes the teachers send me home with homework to prepare for taking their class. One time I taught a gym class and ended up telling some of the students they were a bunch of wimps and even I could beat them. Recently I was teaching a class called Adult Roles.<br />The teacher had arranged for a guest lecturer to come and talk about date rape. He brought a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">PowerPoint</span> presentation and I felt like he was showing something that was too graphic. I could feel and sense how uncomfortable it was making the students. I reached right over to the computer and pushed stop on his presentation. I told him it was too graphic and he needed to move on. Tim told me "you are like BATMAN" (quote from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Seinfeld</span>). I have been known on several occasions to stop in the middle of class when an appropriate occasion arises and say something like "okay its time for a life lesson now", and then proceed to tell a story or experience that I feel will benefit the students for life. I have laughed so hard at times that tears have run down my face and I have cried as I have listened to heartache and shared life experiences with the students and said my goodbye to the seniors as they move on.<br /><br />I'm trying to decide if it is time for me to graduate in May or not. Right now I am just taking a day at a time and hoping that I will know when it is my time to graduate. I have a greater appreciation for teachers and administrators. The system is not perfect, but in general there is still a lot of good out there. I do feel a love for the students and they have taught me many life lessons too. I have a much greater compassion for growing up. It isn't easy out there.Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-86951332551168644412009-12-15T09:15:00.013-07:002009-12-15T10:15:47.654-07:00POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE... (Guest Blogger: Tim Marsden)<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415502196330201442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN5NST-ZdBWlskBllEgTPy21tpp_RAh51C64tQPBPwlaFnmv9suisnkjsiVWI9s2S4Zj5q7fqI5KLEEbf0dM1C0G0P29QN9-sI7YmArdn76GLXgSz5XkXa7WVDq0MgsgUgGHFLNsVGZM/s400/Melissa+%26+Hanah.jpg" /><br /><br /><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Today Melissa will graduate from the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Nevada Las Vegas</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She will formally accept her diploma and forevermore be listed in the annals of UNLV as an alumnus of the University.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I am so proud of Melissa and I am impressed with her tenacity and determination.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I am not surprised at all by this accomplishment but I am so thankful for it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>When Adam and I had a talk before their engagement (nearly four years ago) I told him that it was very important to Margie and me that Melissa finish school.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He assured me that it was also very important to him.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I appreciate Adam’s love and support for my daughter as she fulfills not only her dreams but mine as well.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Melissa has always been a very smart girl from the very beginning.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>On her first birthday Margie and I made a list of words that she knew; we wrote down over 100 words and did not complete the list.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She was very bright and learned things you didn’t even know she had learned.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>For example, when we woke up on Christmas morning of 1986 (she was 14 months old) we walked into Melissa’s room to see if she was awake.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>She was standing in her crib and when she saw us she exclaimed “<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Tanta</st1:city></st1:place>, ho ho.”<span style="font-size:0;"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415498357468835122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8cROMyMYusr7x1gNTKH5sYgrnU7QWYmdB9xxVVGpB6WGQCyBw4PFlRgHj1vfhCjTOwR5pocel-NxIxIki1aEoYWR9z9Gq5-YNRC_YIUCn4sRcJ6SC_yIIcy1-4THQikmZlu5tLYbayY/s400/12-15-2009+07%3B54%3B10AM.jpg" /></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">She has always loved books.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>When she was in elementary school I began reading Charles Dickens’ <u>A Christmas Carol</u> to her each year.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It is not an easy book for a child (even for many adults) to read.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I always tried to make it fun by doing the voices of all the characters. Many times we took turns reading but I think she liked it most when I read to her.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>This weekend she sent me a text of a photo of her reading the book to Hannah, carrying on the tradition.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I never let an opportunity to teach Melissa go by.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>When she was two years old we were driving to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Salt</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place> on a Sunday afternoon to visit Margie’s parents.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We had our friends’ daughter with us (they were out of town) and she was about 2 or 3 months older than Melissa.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>As we drove by the refinery in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">North</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Salt</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place> flame was shooting out of one of the stacks.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>This little girl said “fire burn.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We said “yes that’s right.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Then she said “like Abinadi.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We looked at each other absolutely stunned.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Not to be outdone by our friends, on my lunch hour the next day I walked to Deseret Book and bought the “Book of Mormon Reader.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>That night Melissa and I sat down to read about Abinadi.<span style="font-size:0;"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415506128733386210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHmpoKGijiwRZuNEgihvUvZMj7wrGr2YdGl2xyTtowjbbcaUr3btRnIBebEjPowP5WMdsS_-KHGj4IhpxeFpM9qastroukyDvnHPVXPkIjzgk1hdYMfpu7JPNHhyISl-zm7DvzhWtiyU/s400/12-15-2009+08%3B48%3B51AM.jpg" /></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I love you Melissa!!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>What you have accomplished has required discipline, dedication, sacrifice, determination, patience, faith, perseverance, intelligence, humility, and a lot of mental toughness.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Today is the formal recognition of your achievement.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>There will be a lot of pomp and circumstance (as well there should be).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Drink it in and soak it up; today is your day to stand up and be recognized.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Don’t ever forget the very first word you learned…. “Daddy.”<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415498583090788338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi812_Qgia3BB8f1kJuRiXSP7eX79o7eTaG7jsUY6hM0pUbOmskwjzdGIUE4xgryE7w2FN2i7_QDuzK9xGgy6vVVTP1KZw5NFxkz44obMvrB7KWU02f6USHKQEpqO4UO7cTUbblQouc4-g/s400/12-15-2009+07%3B57%3B08AM.jpg" /></p></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-26314693597141631862009-11-15T18:47:00.004-07:002009-11-15T21:29:38.890-07:00CALLED TO SERVE HIM...Elder <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marsden</span> in front of the Adelaide, Australia temple...November 2009<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpSXHxOvd_Dyxtai1a7FI5Se5J1_P6YD-xCf-A92A_KBYEt8owS9NivpnrLA6NFBtXM83E3PL66thH8Udb8uJYDGkwQqbGjnBwJClUXTUhuhAbtRHM3JKPX_8y16sfVa82KHRa7Q46IE/s1600/103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404512264920659746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpSXHxOvd_Dyxtai1a7FI5Se5J1_P6YD-xCf-A92A_KBYEt8owS9NivpnrLA6NFBtXM83E3PL66thH8Udb8uJYDGkwQqbGjnBwJClUXTUhuhAbtRHM3JKPX_8y16sfVa82KHRa7Q46IE/s400/103.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sean turns twenty years old today...that is if you live in Australia. It never fails that every day and of course every year when Sean's birthday comes around I can't help but thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing of Sean.<br /><br />Over twenty years ago when I was pregnant with Sean, I started to develop some serious problems. The doctor told me I had a severe tear in the placenta. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">threatening</span> to miscarry Sean. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">devastated</span> and discouraged. Previous to Sean's birth I had suffered multiple miscarriages and things felt hopeless to me. I can very vividly remember where I was and when it was when uttered a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fervent</span> plea and started to bargain with Heavenly Father that if he would allow me to have this baby, I would do everything in my power to raise that child up to Him. I continued that prayer throughout my pregnancy and when Sean was born at 6:06 p.m. on November 16, Dr. Steele showed me the miracle of the scar tissue that had formed to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">strengthen</span> and save Sean's life. I remember the Dr. being very surprised by the miracle. He was not my regular Dr. that delivered Sean because Sean had decided to make a quick entrance into this world.<br /><br />We had two names picked out while I was still pregnant. The deciding factor for me to choose the name Sean was when I learned that Sean means "God is gracious." My joy is very full this day as I know God is gracious and I am thankful for Sean. I am thankful Sean is serving on a mission. I am grateful he is happy. I am grateful that he is where he is and is doing what he is doing these 20+ years later after my plea to a loving Heavenly Father who answered my prayer.<br /><br />P.S. I love all of you too, and I so appreciate all the support and prayers in Elder <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Marsden's</span> behalf!Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-88338587663901130932009-11-08T06:51:00.000-07:002009-11-08T06:51:46.295-07:00Happy Birthday Carly!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZFNLAZmIbudSkCCdRc2E6Tf9Ta3JZUz7mgF3C2XRHjzEckAi_FjEqamyaFfjayVGjxZApkNtZWf-VHwACklRUaw1dpRiy_8kpxWbxOobEEBad0PrONeMrVqxT9OR3M1XoFHYyKnDtT8/s1600-h/P1010840.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401560384257522834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZFNLAZmIbudSkCCdRc2E6Tf9Ta3JZUz7mgF3C2XRHjzEckAi_FjEqamyaFfjayVGjxZApkNtZWf-VHwACklRUaw1dpRiy_8kpxWbxOobEEBad0PrONeMrVqxT9OR3M1XoFHYyKnDtT8/s400/P1010840.JPG" border="0" /></a> I am not trying to make Carly feel uncomfortable or putting any pressure on her, because she is Sean's "friend", but hey, Carly is my friend too. I don't know what is ahead in the future and I realize that this could potentially be an awkward post, but I hope by now Carly knows me well enough and knows my heart is trying to be in the right place.<br /><br /><br />I just wanted to tell you a little more about this wonderful friend that has not only been a good influence on Sean, but has also been a good example to me.<br /><br /><br /><div>The first time I remember meeting Carly was in a class at Weber High. I was subbing her class and I had heard about her from a friend of mine (Suzanne M) that knew her dad when they were in high school. My first impression of Carly was how friendly she was. I noticed her around school and noticed how kind and friendly she was to everyone. Then at the beginning of Sean's senior year, he had a short list of girls he wanted to ask to Homecoming. Carly was on his list. He ended up asking someone else, but by the time Homecoming came around, I think he was wishing Carly was the one he was taking. Carly was a senior class officer at Weber. At the homecoming assembly she involved the assembly and was on the gym floor and Sean was up in the audience and I had the opportunity of being a fly on the wall. I watched the two of them flirt with each other as though they were the only two in a room of 2,000. Neither of them were aware I was looking on. From that moment she had caught my attention, because I knew she had caught Sean's attention. By Halloween, Carly had asked Sean to the Halloween girls dance. I was now paying close attention. But then somehow, I felt like I started to develop a friendship with Carly. She was always very friendly with me at school and I knew she had a good reputation among not just the students but the teachers. </div><br /><br /><div>Carly is a good example of the scripture in 1 Timothy 4:12... "but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Carly is the type of person that always sees the good in others. She is kind in her conversation and carefully chose her words. When Sean and Carly were seniors, it was obvious to me that Weber High had elected the right person to be an officer. It was not a popularity contest, but she was someone to serve and represent. It was at that point I noticed how charitable Carly was. She was good to reach out to help and be kind. As I write this post, she is in Mexico (like our Ammanda in China and our Melissa in Russia) serving young school children and teaching them. When Sean took Carly to Prom their Senior Year, I was so grateful to see her in her beautiful modest Prom dress. She looked like a Princess. </div><br /><br /><div>But I have to tell you, I personally have so appreciated her example and support of being just the type of young woman to encourage Elder Marsden in his decision to serve a mission and be a missionary. I have not taken this lightly. She has kept a smile on her face and has given Sean great encouragement with his mission. It is what she has wanted for him too. </div><br /><br /><div>I was talking with an old (she is my age lol) friend of mine yesterday and she was telling me about her son that just left for the MTC. She went on and on about how glad she was that her son didn't have a girl writing to him and how awful that would be. She didn't know about Sean and Carly. I just listened to her and then she was embarrassed and tried to back pedal as she remembered that I wrote to Tim when he was on his mission. I am the first to admit, that girls can be a big distraction to boys!! However, Carly has tried to do her part in helping keep Sean focused. She has been supportive of Sean in every way. I appreciate how anxious she is for Sean to keep all the mission rules and doesn't try to distract or tempt him to break rules. </div><br /><br /><div>A few other things that impress me about Carly is she is a very smart girl. She is on an academic scholarship at BYU-I. She is a hard worker and is not afraid to work. She is thoughtful of others and she is not afraid to have her own opinion. She is not afraid to try new things. She has high goals and aspirations. Carly...I think you are great and I hope you have a very Happy Birthday!!</div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615434938913262118.post-53556695557681980292009-10-27T13:03:00.011-06:002009-10-27T18:02:58.506-06:00I am overwhelmed with gratitude!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov8iq1QvD8QcqhyCx-UiCP7nzyPxzSGJ0rddhOPjs4sjovCStarU3xs06Cc3lxv90dF8J9imh3O0TUwV2DlgC2YFikwWPMuT1ZkJJD7FRKvfDagE7yjBMTghgKYuICcffsOMMmrf_Uvg/s1600-h/P1020952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397394774426590594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov8iq1QvD8QcqhyCx-UiCP7nzyPxzSGJ0rddhOPjs4sjovCStarU3xs06Cc3lxv90dF8J9imh3O0TUwV2DlgC2YFikwWPMuT1ZkJJD7FRKvfDagE7yjBMTghgKYuICcffsOMMmrf_Uvg/s400/P1020952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Thank you all so much for your love and support in writing Christmas letters to Elder Sean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marsden</span>!! I have assembled the package and I will be sending it in the morning. I counted up the letters that he will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">receive</span> from all of us and it came to a grand total of 38!! What a special Christmas this will make for him. All four of Sean's grandparents and all ten of Sean's Aunts & Uncles FAMILIES (Mike & Lesley, Archie & Julee, Alan & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Marivic</span>, Lilian & Cory, David & Chris, Kathy, Stephen & Colleen, Karen & Jeff, Rich & Margaret and Suzie & Steve) participated in sending love. Not one family was left unrepresented. To me that is amazing!! As the years pass, my appreciation increases as I become more and more aware of how supportive our family is.<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397390692377050434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-Z84NrbRrsbwvkf3vYn5MEa_Mgh3ng13mVulXcOh2x1HiHDGPDjkQLfiiuIQJsXO9bWbcwHMyqGrNzgoxWaJD4Fk0PdnDmlAwMA272kWnQobRDeusAiS-QHFcCltQV0BhnEx0Ysti30/s400/P1020960.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>In Sean's package I included 92 printed pages of "Family Feature Friday" that Lesley has so generously given to our family for the past seven months. What a family builder that has been for all of us to learn more about each other and strengthen our family. Way to go Les!!</div><br /><div>I can not imagine a more memorable Christmas than this will be for Sean. You will all be a part of that memory for him.</div><br /><div>My most memorable holiday was a Thanksgiving that I spent on a train in Egypt. Meanwhile, all those miles away, my future mother-in-law, was running all over town looking for pickled onions because she knew I would be thinking about them having pickled onions while I was away.</div><br /><div>I want all of you to know at this time of Thanksgiving (almost) how much I love each of you. You do inspire me to be a better person. I am so glad that I have the blessing to go through life and the eternities with each of you!! I love you all!!</div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567232280502602904noreply@blogger.com4