Easter 2019

It was a perfect Easter Sunday. The sun came out after days of rain as if a witness of the Son of God. 

Things I want to remember:

-The fact that we are back together as a whole family and celebrated Easter without having to take Thavee to the airport.

-Putting my arm around Sean during one of the hymns we sang. It's not really a big deal, but it is something that I want to remember.

-The choir. Sean and Aaron are both in the choir and today's music was the most powerful witness of Christ that I have felt through music since we have lived here. Songs that were sung:

 I Stand All Amazed

 I Believe in Christ

Consider the Lilies of the Field

 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

-I renewed my temple recommend today...couldn't have been a more perfect day to do that

-Making Resurrection Rolls with Leeah

-Kamea, Sean, and Aaron hilariously playing the game of Life.

-Easter dinner which did not consist of ham this year! We changed it up since our family aren't big ham eaters: Kalua pig, potato salad, asparagus, resurrection rolls, carrots, and individual bottles of Martinelli's that I found at the Dollar Tree.

-Easter lesson and reminder that even up until the end, Christ was helping someone (thief on the cross).

How I felt Easter Sunday:
I am thrilled to be alive today and to rejoice in my Savior Jesus Christ and that I have taken upon myself His name through covenants recognized in heaven. I know He lives and I have hope that through Him all will be well with my family and loved ones in the eternities. I rejoice in learning of Him and how with each story we read of Christ, He went to the aid of each individual at the time and place that they needed it. He knew of each's suffering. He came to Thomas as a resurrected being later, not as a punishment and not because He forgot about him, but He came when Thomas needed Him most and He came to Him individually. He came to the woman of Naan by walking all night the day before to get to her as they were about to bury her only living son. He comforted her and raised her son from the dead. He noticed the woman with an issue of blood who touched His garment among the crowd of people who were surrounding Him. He knew exactly who had touched his clothing and in her faith she was healed. He knew the Judas Iscariot would betray Him, yet He still ate broke bread with him and He washed his feet. He knew of Mary's suffering heart when she witnessed her Lord on the cross. Her heart was comforted as she was the first to witness that He was resurrected. 
I know He is aware too, of me and my family. He knows each of my children perfectly and I hope and pray with all my heart that I can share a portion of His love to them. When disappointments and discouragements came, the love of Christ came to me through the power of the Holy Ghost and through the words of the scriptures. I know that though I am not blessed by a variety of gifts that are easily noticed, I have been blessed with the gift of faith and from what I have learned and seen, faith works miracles, so for that, I am grateful. 
The Lord's church is on the earth today. How amazing to be a part of it! It is time to help move the church forward and be ambitious for Christ!

*****

I love everything about this picture...a perfect dose of reality!

Idaho Bound, Martin Harris and Whoopie

Sister Jones

We were blessed to have a former missionary, SIster Madeline Jones ask if she could stay with us for a few days while she came back to WA for a visit and to attend a baptism of a sweet lady who she had taught. I felt honored that she asked us of all the people she could have asked and of course, I said yes!  

I didn't know if it would be awkward because I had never had a former missionary stay with us before, but it turned out really fun and not stressful or strange. It was just really cool and we all love her like family. Leeah is particularly close to her. They have a special bond and Leeah is very animated and alive around Madeline...she is not shy at all. The only thing that was hard for Leeah was calling Madeline by her first name. She is so used to calling her Sister Jones, that she couldn't quite make the switch. :)

It was a pleasure having her here with us and hope she comes back!

A Big Day

A most special moment of my life happened sooner than I thought it would. I am in need of writing it down before the precious feelings begin to be clouded by day to day life. Kamea received a temple recommend to go to the temple for her first time as an 11-year-old. The day she had her temple interview with the Bishop, she was bursting with life and happily skipped from our house the church.

Kamea being very happy and silly on our walk to the church.

After her interview

The following week, the Young Women had a temple trip planned. Because this was a special day for the 11-year-olds going for the first time, parents and older siblings were invited, so Sean and I went along too. Aaron kindly stayed home to babysit Leeah. I didn't know how Kamea was going to react or how she would feel when she went inside the temple...this day came so quickly and I just hoped that all we had taught and shared, experienced and felt throughout her 11 years was preparation enough. And I believe it was. She was so excited to be there with her two friends from church, Jennifer and Miriam, who are also 11. How wonderful for them that they had each other to share in this most special day.

Kamea, Miriam and Jennifer

When we entered the temple I kind of just watched and observed Kamea. Because her friends were with her, on either side of her, she did very well in what actually was an overwhelming experience. My heart smiled as I saw the three friends dressed in white looking through the beautiful glass wall from the waiting room into the baptismal font.

When it was their turn to go into the font room, the moms accompanied them. We each were there to wrap our daughters in a towel as they came out of the warm font water. When it was Kamea's turn to be baptized for 5 women on her grandfather Weller's side of the family, Sean was dressed in white standing in the water waiting to baptize his sister. I was overcome with emotion as I stood and watched this young man, my oldest child with his little sister, performing an ordinance through the power of the priesthood that can be traced back to Jesus Christ. He was worthy and he was there. What more can a mom hope for? I felt as if I was being swallowed up in a moment of pure warmth and peace...kind of hard to describe. When Kamea came out of the water and walked to me for a towel, she was all smiles, and said that she wanted to do more!

I am beyond thankful that I had witnessed such a special moment in both my daughter and my son's life and I hope not to forget it.

Sean and I left earlier than the others so that I could get him to his YM activity.

All About Leeah

Leeah was the VIP in her class and was to design a poster that represented her. I think she knows herself well and did a great job on her poster! 

We love how creative Leeah is and how she likes to save random things from being thrown away because she says she can "make something" with them. She loves to make up her own crafts. She loves raspberries, stuffed animals and she loves to be happy! She prays about happiness in every prayer and she doesn't like it when others are unhappy. We are beyond happy that she is part of our family and can't believe she is almost 9

Leeah was determined to make clothes for her American Girl doll and used the sewing skills she learned at Activity Days last year to make this skirt! 

Priesthood/Temple Preparation and Super Blood Wolf Moon

This evening was another special one for these kids moving up to Young Men and Young Women's and for the boys receiving the priesthood. We had a sweet meeting just for them to talk with them about what to expect as they move forward going to the temple and receiving the priesthood. It was a nice evening. On our way home, Kamea pointed up at the sky and said, "I can see the moon!" I was then reminded that it was the night of the lunar eclipse and that it was already beginning! So, instead of changing into comfortable clothes, I ran in the house, called for the boys and parked myself on my porch to watch and wait as clouds teased by covering the moon and then moving a bit to give us a peek. The boys were as excited as I was. Though it was freezing outside, we stayed determined to see the total eclipse and to get a picture. 

After a while, Aaron brought out his longboard and eventually coerced Leeah to sit and ride with him down into the cul de sac. She loved it and it was cute to watch them and get a break for starring up at the sky.

I like this view of the eclipse from my front porch, even though the camera doesn't do justice to what my eyes actually saw.

What a wonderful night and experience with the kids!

PRIDE Award

When I picked up the girls from school, Leeah told me that she was awarded one of the PRIDE awards today for her grade. Her teacher awarded her the Independent learner award: "Leeah is a model independent learner. She carefully listens to directions and is eager to help her friends when she can. I know I can count on her." Mrs. Moisant 

Good job Leeah! Keep up the great work!!!

First Sunday 2019

Today was the first Sunday of the new year 2019. We have spent all winter break going to bed late and waking up late, so no one was looking forward to waking up for 9 am church. I knew it was going to be a struggle for the kids. Sure enough, after many failed attempts at me waking them, they finally started getting up and I found myself assisting all 4 kiddos with their different needs at 8:45am, but luckily for us, we live so near to the chapel, that we got there on time!

I have to admit, it was a bittersweet day for me at church. I thought that I had 1 more year until Kamea moved on to the Young Women's program, but last week we were informed with the change in when children move on from Primary to the Youth Program. Traditionally it was when they turned 12. But now it is the year they turn 12 beginning in January. So, that means that since it is January of the year Kamea turns 12, she has now moved up to the Young Women's program as an 11-year-old. It hurts this momma!!! But I know she is ready and needs this in her life right now. She needs other strong women besides me to guide her and love her and help her find her testimony. I am excited for her!!!

(Kamea's last day in Primary)

Halloween 2018

Halloween breakfast!!! It's awesome to eat food with eyeballs!

I'm going batty...literally. :)

Aaron and his friends made an interesting costume with these heads and a white sheet. I didn't get a picture of all of them, though.

This was the first year that Leeah and Kamea did not go trick or treating together. Kamea was invited to her friend's neighborhood and didn't really want her little sister hanging around with them. It's not fun going trick or treating with just your mom, so I texted the mom of one of Leeah's school friends to see if she would like to go with Leeah. She immediately said yes. Later in the night when we met up, the mom expressed how grateful she was that we had invited her daughter out trick or treating. Every year, they usually get an invite from friends in their neighborhood, but this year they didn't, and she was a bit sad to tell her daughter that they weren't invited. That's when she received the invite from me, and all was well!

Cowgirl and red riding hood/fox

Kamea(giraffe) with her friend Jimena(deer)

Loot!!!