Ella Marie

I just had to make a quick post because I am feeling such gratitude for the safe, albeit, early arrival of my newest great niece, Miss Ella Marie Gunn. Ella arrives 2 months early and weighs in at 4 lb 8 oz. Her lucky and proud parents are Ali and Erik Gunn. Ali is my niece and I introduced her to Erik. They are amazing and will be such fabulous parents. So far Ella is doing really well. She is breathing on her own. She is in the NICU and there is not a time frame on how long she will be there, but she is loved and being taken care of. She has tons of black hair and beautiful eyes. She is so tiny and sweet!

Welcome to the world Ella!!

Personal Revelation

We had ward conference Sunday and as a result had the Stake YW leaders come in and teach our girls about personal revelation. I was so grateful for this lesson and that they were prompted to teach this.
When I was called to be the 1st councilor in the YW presidency in July I was so happy. A week or two later I had the impression that I would not work with our YW president for a long time. I was concerned as to why because she had been having some health issues. I also had felt the promptings that I this calling was preparatory to a future calling. I had a feeling that at some time I would be called as the YW pres of our ward. I was grateful for these promptings because when I was in Utah for my moms funeral I got a text from Celeste, our YW pres saying she had been called as 1st counselor in the Stake YW presidency. She was sad to leave her YW and her current calling. She said a new YW pres had not been called yet and that she thought it might be me. I knew at that point that it would be and the thoughts of counselors and such began to run through my mind.  I prayed many times while in utah to know whether or not this was going to be my calling and I had peace about it each time. As I returned home, no phone calls came from the Bishop. No "hey can I meet with you and your husband" etc...It wasn't until a week and a half ago that I got home from YW's and Kris said "oh, the Bishop called, he wants you to call him back" So I did and he asked if he could come meet with us.
At this point, I KNEW that the calling was coming. I was so excited and had many names going through my mind, some of the names were just the same name going through my mind over and over and over. Bishop did extend the calling to me and after asking him if he had any suggestions of who I could choose from he told me...you can have anyone except the Relief Society Pres. :D I was so happy because it confirmed a few names I had thought about.
This past Sunday (yesterday) I was sustained a the Young Women's Pres of the Hidden Lake Ward. My two counselors were called as well as a new Beehive advisor. I am so humbled and blessed to have strong women working with me. I am thrilled and am grateful for the mantle placed upon me as well and am excited to work with these beautiful, amazing girls. There are challenges and concerns and feelings of joy and appreciation for each of them. They will teach me so much. I hope that I can prepare myself each day to teach them, and to be prepared to listen to the spirit in their behalves. What a blessing.
I just wish my mom were still here so I could tell her about it. I think she would be pleased and excited. Let this new journey begin!

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,
      I have with held posting much about your illness or your bravery for that matter, on my blog. I think it was because I didn't want you to worry about how I was holding up. It would have been very hard for me to think you were reading my words of sadness or anxiety about your cancer. As I reflect now, I think I could have written and posted everything and you would have understood.
      I had the opportunity to talk to you the Sunday before you left us, before you were reunited with dad. You sounded tired and your voice was raspy but we talked for 30 minutes about everything. I wish I had had the kids talk to you as well, but you seemed so tired. I am sorry I didn't call the week before. I was having an emotional meltdown and was crying most of the day, everyday. I didn't know how to call you and just cry on the phone. It didn't seem like a burden I wanted to put on you.
     Diane called me Thursday Sept 15th, Alan's birthday  to tell me you could not talk to us anymore. She told me that she was with you and that Kathy was with you too. She told me of your conversations with those allowed to greet you on the other side of the veil. She said dad had been with you but you could not go with him yet. We all just wanted you to be able to peacefully finish your earthly mission without pain or discomfort. It seems very surreal now that you have finished your mission here. That you are reunited with dad and many other loved ones.I am grateful that you were not alone during this transition from earthly life to spirit life again. I am grateful to my sisters who held your hand and whispered in your ear that it was ok to move on. I am grateful to dad for comforting you and letting you know your time was close to join him.
Diane called me around 11 pm, right after you passed and told me she had just witnessed one of the most spiritual experiences of her life. Handing you off to those waiting to greet you. She said you looked like a princesses as those from the mortuary came to take you from your home.
I wanted to thank you for the sacred and spiritual events that took place for me personally after your death. I have written them down and will do my best to live up to what you want of me.
I wanted to share with you some of the pictures from the services we had for you. We all were hoping you were pleased and felt honored. We love you and I am so grateful to have a mother such as you, gracious, loving, full or charity and wanting only the best for your children. You would have LOVED seeing Nate in a suit! As well as Nick. Beautiful grandchildren!!

 These flowers, from friends, were so beautiful

 This particular arrangement is from your children. A little bit of classic with the roses, a little bit of organic with the greenery and the "twigs", I think you would have enjoyed this

 

 And what a tribute to have your grandsons and sons carry you to your final resting place. Until we are reunited again, this ground is dedicated for you.

 Simply sweet and humbling to watch these men take off their flowers and lay them on top with your other flowers. I cried during this.

 I think all in all, you would approve and would think this was beautiful

 Another classic and stunning floral tribute to you.

I love you mom. I love all the things you taught me from being a mother to being a leader and to remember when things get crazy, get out there and give service. I am grateful for you teaching me to cook and clean, to pray and read my scriptures. I am grateful for your support as I told you and dad I was going to serve a mission. I am grateful for all you did to give me the wedding of my dreams. I am grateful that you never wavered from being the most amazing grandma around. Thank you for allowing me to be born on your birthday so that we could share that throughout our lives. I love you mom. Til we meet again

Ninja

So.... We finally bit the bullet and got the blender supreme. I have looked long and hard at the Vitamix, the Blendtec, etc and when the Ninja came out, I really looked at all the reviews etc.

 Every one I know that owns one LOVES IT!

So, with my trusty 20%off coupon, I marched into Bed, Bath and Beyond and got the blender.

So in the past week, I have lost 3.5 lbs and have more energy. Some of the great drinks I am making are the "green drink" which consists of grapes, orange, banana, apple, spinach and kale

the beet and berry smoothie, which is part of a beet (fresh) blueberries, strawberries, organic honey, and lots of ice

but it is blending EVERYTHING. 

I made homemade peanut butter the other day and it was fabulous. I am going to try a vegi drink later today.

I have learned how to do carrot juice and almond milk as well.

I think the biggest thing is that I am getting MORE than my 5 servings of vegies and fruits every day and I FEEL better....more energized which is GREATLY needed right now. 

So...it may not be running a marathon, or doing yoga or conquering the world,

BUT

it is changing my life...a day at a time!!

HIIIIYAAAA!!!!! 

Fathers Blessings

I love the Sunday before school starts because it is the time for Kris to give a Fathers Blessing to our kids before their school year starts. I am always in awe of how much Heavenly Father knows my children and the things they need to hear that your so unique to them. I am also in awe of how different each blessing is. What a blessed opportunity to give a blessing of comfort, strength, inspiration, counsel and wisdom. And what a cherished memory for our kids to know of the great love of their dad for them.
Each blessing was amazing and powerful.
I am grateful for the power of the Priesthood in my home and that my husband honors his priesthood to give our children blessings when they need them and ask for them. I am grateful for his insight and his ability to listen and understand what Heavenly Father is communication through him to our kids. I am always very humbled on these day.
I am the scribe and get to write down as much as I can so our kids can have something to reference and look at.
I am not ready in most ways for the kids to go back to school. I will miss them during the day. I have enjoyed our lazy summer, our busy summer, our crazy summer. Now it is back to routine,homework, graduation preparations, a year of Caitlyn turning 16, Nick turning 18 and Nate turning 20. I am sure this year will provide many interesting, challenging and amazing times.

Young Women's Camp

Welcome Back from Young Women's Camp!!!  I LOVE Young Women's Camp. This is the first year I've been in a while...about 4 years. I missed it. Our Stake does a Stake camp every year and it is very successful. The divide the girls up by age group/camp level and they stay with those groups the whole time at camp. They do not meet together for ward time except for Friday night when the Bishops come up to meet with their young women. It is really nice because the girls get to meet friends their ages and they get to work on their levels together the whole week. When you are asked to serve at camp, it is a calling issued from the Stake. I was called this year to be a cook. It was a TON of work. Posted below are a few pix of the camp and the kitchen.
This is the cooks cabin. We were one of the few groups that got to sleep in a cabin...and might I add....it had its perks and its downfalls. :D

Wildflowers brought up just to beautify our cabin

So this is the inside of our cabin..one room slept 5 and the other room slept 3. My bunk mates were fabulous women who all seems to snore a great deal. I do not deal with snoring very well and had no place to escape to so as a result, I spent most nights not falling asleep until after midnight..which may not seem late but it was after the long days of cooking. 3 meals and 1 snack for 220 people...we kept busy.

Caitlyn found a leader that was willing to braid her hair daily. Yeah! She looked fabulous. She was a YCL 1 (youth camp leader 1) this year and so she worked with a group of 2nd year campers. She and her friend Kayla had to do devotionals every night and help them with their camp skills and such every day. They did a fantastic job.

This is a picture of the MASSIVE potato salad we made to serve 200+. It took 2 grown men to lift it down to the eating area and it was yummy

This is a shot of the amazing kitchen we got to work in. It had tons of prep space, tons of cooking space and in the other room was a walk in pantry, a walk in fridge and freezer. They had a separate dishwashing space as well.

Another cute shot of Caitlyn at night...such a beautiful girl!

The scenery was breathtaking. There are bears in the area so they are diligent about no food in the campers cabins and they are diligent about burning the trash and even have a huge cement building for the wet trash to be stored until the garbage pick up just so the bears cannot get into it.

 

This river was about 2 or 3 miles down from the camp but was also spectacular. Just had to include it.

All in all it was a wonderful camp. The theme this year was "Construction Zone, a testimony in the making" and there were things geared to the theme every day and night. Lots of work for such a worthwhile cause of building up Young Women to become leaders, mothers and to strengthen them to withstand this world we live in

Lessons in Life

I want to share a favorite quote that I have posted on Facebook, but it has once again come up this past week. My sister shared with me the fact that she had read this and shared this,this past week.

"May I share some suggestions with you who face...the testing that a wise Heavenly Father determines is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to His commandments. Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11-12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain" (in CR, Oct. 1995, 18;).
- Elder Richard G. Scott

We all share this common thread in mortality of trials. Some trials are large and some seemingly small. Why does one family lose a husband and father far to early? Why does another struggle with infertility, when all they want is a baby in their home? Why do some struggle financially and some face the trial of infidelity? Why,when we are doing all that is required and asked of us do we still face trials and are caused to be humbled further? When we have eternal perspective we begin to understand Heavenly Fathers hand in our lives. I have heard of all the struggles I listed in just the past 2 months. So what do we do in the midst of the lowest part of the trail? I believe we have to keep remembering the fundamentals of the gospel of Christ. We must PRAY daily, communicating with our Father. We must STUDY his word and how blessed are we as Latter Day Saints to have both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We must exercise our FAITH and sometimes just put it out their first and couple it with HOPE. We must SERVE one another and LOVE one another. Realizing that Heavenly Father will hold us closely as we go through the necessary stretching and growth, or as I like to say : as we "level up" in this mortal station.

Now, I have NOT been going through any big trial, but had a couple of wonderful experiences lately. Last Thursday night, a member of the Bishopric met with Kris and I and the first thing he said to me was "I would like to honorable release you from your calling as teacher in the Relief Society". He did not ask if I wanted to be released, he just did it and I felt my heart twinge a bit. I was taken aback and I was SAD! He let me tell him why I loved Relief Society and what I had learned in my calling and then he said "I don't think you will be sad for very long" and then he called me to be the 1st councilor in the YW Presidency. I was so emotional and have been all weekend. When I was released from YW's a few years ago, my heart broke and with each move I have secretly hoped and LONGED for the opportunity to serve in there again. When I was called to be in the Relief Society presidency in Maine, again, I was sad, but was willing to serve and learn and grow. When I was set apart for that calling, I was told in a blessing that although my heart was with the Young Women, my time was to be used in teaching their mothers. Well, OK, that sounds good. So when this calling came, I began to realize just how much I had missed the young women and how much I love them. We have an amazing group of YW and of leaders, cream of the crop!!!! It was a testimony builder to me that my Heavenly Father loves me and knows that I am prepared again to serve in this capacity. I have felt very strongly this weekend where I need to help and teach and how I can serve and sustain. So, although the trial of NOT being in YW's may seem miniscule, it was something I struggled with and am grateful for the stretching I have been able to go through to prepare to serve them again. :)