My Woodworker

Tim has many admirable skills but I think woodworking is his favorite. For him, it is more than building things with his hand, it is a way to express creativity. He has created many beautiful things and I hope he will get inspired to start a new project. It has been too long.

Tim dusted off his tools the other night. He volunteered to help the eight year old cub scouts learn some basic woodworking skills.

The boys were so darling and eager to learn.

They made a cool tool box and Tim made it a fun project.

He will be a wonderful grandpa!

I thought of my own cub scouts who became eagle scouts.

I have so many happy memories of Chris and Mark's scouting years. I was a den mother, cub committee chairman and Tim was the scout master. Time goes by so fast!

Quote for the Week - Infinite love

"Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God's love for you."God does not look on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). I believe that He doesn't care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He love us perfectly, Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely."

~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Lisa!

Christopher and I decided we needed to see for ourselves how the mommy-to-be is doing. We were glad to see that Lisa is in good spirits and so positive. We have always loved her happy personality. She is so fun to be around. She is "hooked up" to three monitors, one for Ellery Michelle, one for Beckham Mark and the other for her uterus. We watched the monitors and the babies heartbeats are holding steady.

She didn't want us to post her picture but you can see she looks beautiful!

We are so excited for Lisa, a baby changes EVERYTHING but two babies ... double the joy and twice the fun!

I was ready to send out the invitations for Lisa's shower when I got the news she was in the hospital. We will have a shower before they leave for California!

Love, prayers and good thoughts for Lisa, Hayden and the babies.

Quote for the Week - Grandmother's

A few of my favorite quotes about grandmother's:

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~ Marcy DeMaree

Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.
~ Author Unknown

Grandmas don't just say "that's nice" -- they reel back and roll their eyes and throw up their hands and smile. You get your money's worth out of grandmas. ~ Author Unknown

"If I'd known grandchildren were so much fun, I'd have had them first!"
~ Author Unknown

My grandma stash ... this is just a portion of the things I have collected in anticipation of having grandchildren!

You can't be too prepared!

I am going to be a grandmother ... it takes a few days to process this! I really was so surprised after hearing this news on Sunday. Rarely does something surprise me like this did. I was completely caught off guard and completely thrilled.

My reaction included being a little shocked, then happy and then thinking, I need to go shopping ~ I will wait until I know if it's a boy or girl!

The average age of women becoming first time grandmothers is 47 so I am just a bit past that and oh so ready. I have reflected, as I am sure most women do after hearing the news. I'm a mother, a wife, a sister, a Relief Society president, coordinator at the temple, occasionally a dreamer ... but a grandmother? What a thrill!
I loved my grandmothers and was especially close to Grandma Federer. I was able to spend time with her almost everyday. I knew she loved me. No matter what she was doing, she would stop and make time for me. She often included me in what she was doing.

Currently 35 to 40 million women are grandmothers. By 2020 another 40 million Baby Boomer women will be grandmothers. There is literally a “Grandmother Population Boom.” Having a grandmother actually reduces by half an infant’s chance of dying. This advantage, is often dubbed “The Grandmother Factor.” It seems that grandmothers’ goodness and loving involvement with grandkids existed long before anybody called it “spoiling.”

So it is my turn to be a grandmother and I'm happy to be among the millions who are already grandmothers. I want to be the kind of grandmother that I had. I want to share time with my grandchildren, give them a feeling of complete acceptance and love, and make them feel special. I can't wait to read a story together and go to McDonald's for lunch! And, yes I am afraid I might spoil them.

Valentine's Day!

The table is all set and ready for Valentine's dinner with my family.

I made "Lover's Lasagna" and all the trimmings. Dessert was chocolate pudding, Tim's favorite and strawberry shortcake.

You will never guess what Tim and I got for Valentine's Day... that's right our first grandbaby!!! Tiffani put the ultrasound picture in a pretty Valentine box and when I saw it, I am sure my heart stopped for a moment. Can you believe it?! We are so happy!

Tim has been lamenting to EVERYONE how much he wants a grandchild.

Grandpa Williams is sooooo excited!

Mark is going to be a daddy. When Tiffani came in the house tonight we all commented on how beautiful she looked. She really has that glow! They will be wonderful parents.

I hope I can sleep tonight, wonderful news, Tim and I will finally be grandparents come September. Let the crocheting and quilting begin!!

Baby news!

We will always remember this Valentines Day!!

Hakuna Matata!

Tim had meetings in St. George again so I tagged along. The weather was so nice and I got to exercise outdoors!

I finally got to try out my new Sketcher Shape Ups. I love them, I so want to shape up and be the biggest loser. Is that too much to ask?!!

I walked to the St. George Temple and participated in an endowment session. It was a wonderful morning.

After Tim's meetings, we were off to Vegas for an early Valentine's celebration. We had a wonderful dinner and the appetizer was the best bruschetta I have ever tasted ~ so savory!!

Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze
It means no worries for the rest of your days...

I always wanted to see the live show of The Lion King. So after dinner, we went to the Mandalay Bay Theatre to see it. In a word, WOW!

With my valentine of almost 29 years!

The opening sequence is dazzling. The performers come from the back of the theater, costumed as elephants, cheetahs, zebras, rhinos, gazelles, buzzards and ostriches and proceed onto the stage. It was a breathtaking sight and it gave us chills.

Rafiki can chant!

It doesn't matter. It's in the past.

Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or ... learn from it.

Timon and Pumbaa steal the show!

It's a love story!

The wonder is how much the actors look like animals! We were in awe of the creativity that can take simple sticks and fabric and create the idea and beauty of a lion or giraffe.

The costumes were amazing. Most of the actors essentially played two parts-delivering their own facial expressions and spoken lines and also as a part time puppeteer moving the gorgeous costumes that melded with their bodies.

My favorite new song is "They Live in You," which reminded Simba that his father Mufasa (and all the great kings of the past) live on within him.

They live in you
They live in me
They're watching over
Everything we see
In every creature
In every star
In your reflection
They live in you

All the music was wonderful and performed by a live orchestra, with drummers on both sides of the theater. They used every kind and size of bongo drum. It really rocks you! You can feel the deep rhythms in your heart. Can you tell we enjoyed the show?!!

Thanks to my sweetheart for a fun night!

Quote for the Week - Broken heart

"Parents who have surrendered the sweetest and smallest flowers from the family's garden need to remember our Heavenly Father. He has promised a special reward to those who now suffer in silence, who spend long days and longer nights through their trying times of bereavement. Our Creator has promised glory. He said, "For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but nigh at hand." (D&C 58:4) That promised glory includes the blessing of reunion with each child who has left the family circle to help surviving members of the family to draw nearer to God. Those children still live and are a heritage to the Lord."
~ Russel M. Nelson

Elder McKay Burrows McKay and his family

My heart was broken last Saturday. My neighbor and a counselor in our stake presidency told me the sad news that a missionary in our stake had passed away. It was unexpected news that left me numb and thinking, it just can't be true.

Elder McKay Burrows and his companion died last Saturday from an accidental natural gas asphyxiation due to a gas leak in their apartment in Romania. He was just 20 years old.

Christopher and Mark happened to be at our home for a visit Saturday and I could hear them laughing and talking downstairs. I paused for a moment to give thanks that they returned safety home (as I have many times) from their missions to Taiwan and Denmark. I also offered a pray for McKay's family, especially his mom. I know Shirley and was at her home for a visit not too long ago. She is from Malaysia. She greeted me at the door in a beautiful Asian dress. She had made scones and herbal tea. We talked for a few hours. Most of the conversation center around McKay. She loved him dearly and was a very proud mom!

So I find myself clinging to my faith again and the hope that we will be reunited one day with those we love.
"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those that love the Lord will be added unto them in his own way. While it may not come at a time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."
~ Joseph B. Wirthlin

Quote for the Week - Angel Mother

"All that I am or ever hope to be,

I owe to my angel Mother."
~ Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

I found these cute pictures of Mom the other day. I miss my Mom and wish everyday she lived down the street. My Mom gave me religious instruction and taught me why it is important to choose the right path. She taught me say my bedtime prayers when I was little. She took me to church each Sunday and showed by her example how to live a Christian life. She had enough love for all her children ~ a bottomless well of love. She sacrificed her own life for all of us in countless ways. Life has not always been easy for her but she is optimistic and an inspiration to me.

Thanks for all you taught me, Mom!

I am so grateful to be a mother and mother-in-law. It's all I really ever wanted and so my dream has come true. Thankfully there is no expiration date on my job as a mother!