The Blessings of the Temple

Every Friday I am privileged to serve in the temple. It has become one of the highlights of my week, to be there in that sacred place which has been dedicated to the work of our Savior Jesus Christ. The atmosphere there is conducive to learning from the Holy Ghost ~ receiving personal revelation. I have had sweet and tender experiences in the temple; I have been tutored by the Spirit, been given insights and knowledge regarding our Father's plan for us, and felt the joy of serving others who have passed on. I have found the temple to be a refuge from the cares of the world, a connection between heaven and earth, a place to focus on things of eternal importance, and a place to feel more intensely the love our Father and our Savior have for us.

Rachel

Some favorite pictures of Rachel ~

with Scott back in the day

a long time ago, but seems like yesterday

angel cousins

ballet recital


3 generations

with a handsome baby

Rachel is a beautiful woman, we are so proud of her.
She can do just about anything:
she is the best friend anyone could have
she is a creative cook ~ I have more than one original recipe from her
she loves her family and we love to see her in action as a mom
she has a fun sense of humor
she is a happy, optimistic person who makes things better just by being there.
We love you Rachel!

Surprise!

On Monday Scott showed up on our door step! What a wonderful surprise. He was just passing through, going to a convention with 3 co-workers. On their way back home today we saw them again, this time I was prepared with cookies and a goodie bag for him to take to the boys. He didn't stay long enough, but I got some pictures and more than one Scott hug.

Love this guy!

Steve and Cache were here

three of my all time favorite people

Steve

Steve is our youngest child. He was born a few days before he was expected, labor and delivery were about 2 hours, he was born during business hours so I had makeup on and my hair was done. He is our only child who didn't come in the early morning. I have told him since he made his very considerate entrance into this world that I expect much of him, and he has not disappointed me.

Steve has grown into such an impressive man. He loves his wife and their darling baby. He is a hard worker, a great student and he learns well and quickly. He is quick to laugh, and sees the good in life. He loves the Lord, he blesses his home by honoring the priesthood he bears, he is a strength to our family because of the testimony he has and the way he chooses to live.

I have probably used this picture before, I love it!
Steve and Robin on our back steps in McCall.

I think this was his 5th grade picture.

The night Steve went to the temple for the first time.

Right before the wedding ~ that's Krista's little sister.

Steve is a great dad.

We love you Steve, you make us proud. We are so grateful to be your parents.

What I like best about being a mom

Mother's Day is sometimes a difficult day for me. I feel that I don't measure up to the ideal, more than a little inadequate, and frustrated with my weaknesses and failings.
This year I feel gratitude; I love being a mom!



I have learned everything I know about mothering from my own mom. She continues to teach me about mothering adult children, being a grandmother, and a mother-in-law. I will always be grateful for her teachings and, even more, for her constant example of love and service.

Today I want to share a few of the things I love most about being a mom.
* I love seeing my children succeed. From school work, to sports, friendships, work, marriage, and being parents themselves, my kids make me proud.
* When our children were living in our home, I loved to occasionally catch a glimpse of them kneeling in prayer in the privacy of their bedrooms.
* Five of the best days of my life are the days I first held my babies. My love for them started long before that day, and I treasure those first few moments when we met face to face.
* I love hearing the voices of my children on the phone. They often call just to touch base with us, make sure we are still getting along and haven't gotten into too much trouble. I love that they call to share their joys, heartaches, frustrations, and fun little things that happen in their day.
* I love to see my kids, and their families. We look forward to time we can spend together, wherever and whenever we can. They are definitely our favorite people to be with.
* I am grateful for the lessons I have learned about love, service, unselfishness, and focusing on what is really important that motherhood has taught me.
* My kids all have a great sense of humor. They are so much fun to visit with, and constantly surprise me with their comments and outlook. I love laughing with them.
* I love that our children have made us grandparents. Being far away from most of them is hard for us, but we love the phone calls, Skype, and our visits. We think about and pray for each of them every day.
* I am so grateful that our children often turn to us when things get difficult for them. They have grown to be such capable and confident people, so when they call with heartbreaking or disappointing news we know they can handle whatever comes their way. We love to share their burden, give encouragement and reassure them of the power at their disposal within our family and from their Heavenly Father.
* I love what being a mom has taught me about loving. My capacity to love has grown with the birth of each baby, with each of our childrens marriages, and addition of each grandchild. Learning to love as our Savior loves is my goal, and being a mom has taught me more about this than any other experience I have had.

My New Life

This video has a beautiful message of hope and faith.
Please take a few minutes to feel the strength of this family and learn a little bit how to face adversity.