Birthday Wishes

Tyler is my little brother. I was sixteen when he was born and I got to hold him first. He was an adorable baby and I feel blessed that he is part of my life.
We hope you have a great day today Tyler.
We love you!

Our beloved Prophet has died

President Hinckley died tonight at 7 PM, January 27, 2008. He was 97 years old.

I am so SAD!!! I loved President Hinckley. Yet I'm sure he is happy that his work here on earth is done. He has gone home to be with his beloved wife and I know he fulfilled his calling. I feel that our last great generation is dying... President Hinckley will truly be missed by millions all over the world.

For more information:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8095453
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695247937,00.html

Thoughts:
One day on my mission the Elders called us before we left for the day. They said they needed to meet with us and the other sisters to tell us some important news. They said to meet them around noon in the park because we all had plans to be in that general location. So around noon we waited for the Elders in the park and it began to snow, heavily. (It was Massachusetts after all) The Elders didn't want us sisters to stand out in the cold while they told us the news so they searched around and found some old water pipe, pumping shed. They ushered us in and began to say a prayer. Then they proceeded to tell us that President Hinckley was coming to the mission. We were so ecstatic!!! We felt so blessed! They began to tell us the rules our Mission President had for us and for Heaven's SAKES... we were not allowed to tell anybody.
So the day came and all the missionaries in the mission were packed into the chapel and we had been sitting there for 30 minutes waiting for President Hinckley to arrive. Our Mission President had laid out some pretty scrict rules... Don't shake hands unless the Prophet offers his first, Shake his hand firm, but gently, Be quiet, Be attentive.... etc. Our Mission President had us so scared that President Hinckley looked out at us and the first thing he said was.. "SMILE". Our message is one of good news.
My Mission President always had the sisters sit in the first two rows and the Elders in back of us. I was sitting on the very first row, right in front of the pulpit.
All of us missionaries sat very quietly and all of a sudden we heard President Hinckley's voice. We heard him chuckle and then came swifly down the aisle, holding his cane. He turned to glance at Elder Packer to say, "Hurry up".
The meeting was absolutely wonderful. One of the greatest highlights of the entire mission. The spirit was the strongest I had ever felt it and seemed to envelope our Prophet. I felt the strength of President Hinckley, his humour, and love.
When President Hinckley concluded and left, our Mission President let us sit for fifteen minutes in silence to contemplate and write down impressions.
I loved President Hinckley. I am grateful for his service, his example, his humour, and the love he showed his wife.
What a remarkable man.

Snow?

We got a little snow today, but nothing that stuck... mostly rain, rain, rain, and more rain. Supposedly we are supposed to get snow tomorrow.

Good bye Hopscotch and Happy..

This is Hopscotch

This is Happy

Well I re-homed my sweet bunnies today. I really loved them and wished I could have kept them, but my Dr. told me last year to part with them. She said my asthma was not under control and the only way to help me feel better was to give them away. At the time I thought no way am I going to do that. After our trip to Seattle, I came home and had lost all the little tolerance I had left of the hay. I've been having an asthma attack every day since we got home and have been coughing and wheezing all night long. I knew it was time to sterilize the house a week after we got home. So we re-homed our bunnies with two different people and they are both great and will be loving and sweet to them. We will miss them very much, but are happy they have good homes and that I'll finally be able to breathe.

sickness

James is so SICK! I think he's thrown up more times with this illness than I've thrown up in my entire life. Mom is really sick too. Everyone get lots of rest and keep your immune system up, there is some nasty bug going around!

The old armchair by Eliza Cook

James has an ugly armchair that I dislike. It reminds me of some of the chapels that were built in the 70's that had burnt orange upholstery. This armchair is orange and yellow striped. I was rearranging furniture today and cleaning stray pine needles up from Christmas when I looked at the chair and thought... I am going to reupholster that thing. I had contemplated getting rid of it, but James' sister has held onto that chair for James and he loves it even though it is ugly. I am in a poem class at school and found this poem on armchairs and thought it was really sweet.

THE OLD ARM-CHAIR
I LOVE it, I love it ; and who shall dare
To chide me for loving that old Arm-chair ?
I've treasured it long as a sainted prize ;
I've bedewed it with tears, and embalmed it with sighs.
' Tis bound by a thousand bands to my heart ;
Not a tie will break, not a link will start.
Would ye learn the spell ? -- a mother sat there ;
And a sacred thing is that old Arm-chair.

In Childhood's hour I lingered near
The hallowed seat with listening ear ;
And gentle words that mother would give ;
To fit me to die, and teach me to live.
She told me shame would never betide,
With truth for my creed and God for my guide ;
She taught me to lisp my earliest prayer ;
As I knelt beside that old Arm-chair.

I sat and watched her many a day,
When her eye grew dim, and her locks were grey :
And I almost worshipped her when she smiled,
And turned from her Bible, to bless her child.
Years rolled on; but the last one sped--
My idol was shattered; my earth-star fled :
I learnt how much the heart can bear,
When I saw her die in that old Arm-chair.

'Tis past, 'tis past, but I gaze on it now
With quivering breath and throbbing brow :
'Twas there she nursed me ; 'twas there she died :
And Memory flows with lava tide.
Say it is folly, and deem me weak,
While the scalding drops start down my cheek ;
But I love it, I love it ; and cannot tear
My soul from a mother's old Arm-chair.

Check out my Slide Show... This is Seattle!!!

The Boeing air museum

On our trip to Seattle, we went to the Boeing Air Museum. For anyone that is interested in the pictures, I posted them on James website. Scroll up on the right hand side of the page and click on the green letters that say James' Journeys.

Leavenworth to Seattle

Leavenworth was a blast. Definately a beautiful and fun place to go around Christmastime. We went on a sleighride, went window shopping and playing in the snow. Then after buying snow tires because our car cannot be chained!!! We finally got over the pass back into Seattle.

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Seattle/Leavenworth

James and I just got back from Seattle and Leavenworth. We did so many awesome things and enjoyed taking some time to get away before I start school. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Hopefully everyone is ready to start a wonderful new year.