Thanks Brooke!!

It's no secret that Brooke is an excellent photographer. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to take pictures of Cash.

She is so tender and knows just what to do. Brooke had a heater going and we also used a blow dryer to keep Cash warm.

Cash did not like the whole process. But he was brave and we can't wait to see the pictures.

OK, we're done!

Minie and Poppy woke up from their naps and asked for the chalk. They were busy drawing rainbows and dragons. No time to look up at the camera! Darling girls!!

Ooooooh, I love Fall!

I love the seasons in Utah especially the Fall. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach just thinking of the crisp air, the cozy sweaters and marshmallows in a mug of hot chocolate. I think I am actually more motivated to set goals in the Fall than I am at the first of the year.

Tim and I took our annual drive up American Fork Canyon this weekend. It was a perfect Fall day.

And then there's Cascade Springs, so beautiful!


Grandpa Tim wanted to bring this caterpillar home and show it to Cash!

20 things I love about fall:

1. chilly mornings
2. acorns falling on our deck
3. pumpkin muffins
4. sipping hot chocolate
5. morning walks with leaves crunching underfoot
6. sweaters
7. jackets
8. conference
9. honey-crisp apples
10. homemade soup simmering on the stove
11. red, orange, yellow, brown and green
12. extra blankets on the beds
13. mums
14. pumpkins
15. the harvest moon
16. fresh from the garden tomatoes
17. peaches
18. scarves
19. decorated porches
20. raking leaf piles to jump in

Five years...

For the past five years I have been serving at the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Winter

Summer

Spring

and Fall you can find me at the temple on Tuesday.

I love the sisters I served with. It's a privileged to be there each week. I have also been serving as coordinator on my shift for a year now.

Along with my wonderful assistant Susan, we prepare the schedule. We have about 65 sisters who serve on our shift. We also try to make sure those who attend have a wonderful, peaceful experience. It is a good feeling at the end of the day when things go smoothly. When problems occur, we have been blessed to find quick solutions and have seen many miracles.

President and Sister Brown are currently serving as temple president and matron. They are at the temple everyday except Sunday and Monday. They are amazing examples and I have learned so much from them, especially Sister Brown.

One of my favorite quotes about temples comes from Elder Boyd K. Packer:

No work is more of a protection to this Church than temple work and the family history research that supports it. No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness.

Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people.

So come to the temple—come and claim your blessings. It is a sacred work.

For more information on LDS Temples, click HERE.

Quote for the Week - Trials and Experience

"President Brigham Young offered the profound insight that at least some of our suffering has a purpose when he said:" 'All intelligent beings who are crowned with crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives must pass through every ordeal appointed for intelligent beings to pass through, to gain their glory and exaltation. Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. . . . Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation' (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A Widtsoe [1954], 345). "We have much reason to hope. Joy can be ours if we are willing to sacrifice all for the Lord. Then we can look forward to the infinitely priceless possibility of overcoming all the challenges of this life. Then we will be with the Savior forever and, as President Brigham Young also said, "anticipate enjoying the glory, excellency and exaltation which God has prepared for the faithful' (Deseret News, May 31, 1871, 197)."

~ James E. Faust, 2004

Pickles!

I don't know if Cash will like them but I canned some dill pickles for him!

It a great recipe that my family really likes. I haven't made them for a few years so it was time. Johnnie Belle gave me the recipe, it was from her friend Elma.

I was also going to can peaches but we ate them all. They were so juicy and delish. Maybe another day. I would rather hold my grandson!

I made a wonderful peach dessert two times with some of the peaches. My friend Teri Mitchell shared it with me and it's yummy. So just in case you don't have it:

Peach Dessert

Crush about 1/2 box vanilla wafers (I use just a little more than 1/2 a box) ~ set aside
Cream together: 1/2 cup very soft butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar

With butter mixture add crushed wafers, mix well. (Save 1 cup of mixture to sprinkle on top of dessert) Pat in bottom of a 9x13 cake pan. Peel and slice 8 to 10 very juicy peaches. Add to top of crust. Whip small carton of whipping cream with 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold together whip cream and a small container of Cool Whip. Add to the peaches and sprinkle with 1 cup of reserved vanilla wafer mixture.
Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.

One week...

I can't believe how my world has changed since Cash was born last Tuesday.

Tiff asked me to come over while she took a shower and hold Cash. I was in the car with the speed of twenty year old! Not only do I enjoy the time with Cash, it's also great to spend time with my daughter-in-law. I am so proud of her. She is feeling better everyday and becoming more confident. She is the loving mother I knew she would be.

Cash had a doctor appointment on Monday and he gained 5 ounces!

My one week old grandson... he is changing already. He had his eyes open and was looking around. We talked and I sang to him. Oh, this is FUN!!

Thank you for letting me help you today Tiff!

To quote again my friend George Durrant, It's my best day so far!

Over the river and through the woods...

Thankfully (for now) Grandma and Grandpa's house is just down the hill!

Cash visits Grandma and Grandpa's home for the first time and he is hungry!

Grandma's turn

Still Grandma's turn

OK, silly Grandpa can have a turn!

Dinner and gifts to celebrate Christopher's birthday.

Time to go already, hurry back!

Quote for the Week - Grandbabies

Grandbabies...

Who instructs these tiny thieves
To steal our hearts
and take our breath away...

Cash and More Cash...

Our pocket full of sunshine!!

Mark has got the wrapping skills down!

Happy Family!

This Grandma gig is absolutely fandoubletastic!

Christopher's birthday present!

Let me just pause for a moment to say how wonderful Pam is. She is a first responder... always the first to offer support. She is there for the good times and bad. She has a great capacity to love and serve.

Cash has a little red mark on his forehead. Mark says it's a check mark from Heavenly Father, approved and ready to go!

Cash (Mark calls him his "Little Lad") is home now and he just keeps getting cuter everyday. The forever family is happy to be home... there's no place like home.

I'm so proud of Mark and Tiff. They are a great team and wonderful parents!

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Uncle Chris

College grad

Lover of all things Asian

things i love about you:

September 18, 2010

That you were born on September 18^th

Your ability to laugh at yourself

Your self confidence

You have the biggest heart

And your capacity for compassion and forgiveness is immeasurable

For that I am thankful

You have an endless amount of patience (for most things)

That you are a leader, not a follower

But you are not bossy

You are quick to apologize

and mean it

You will help me with anything

You need a lot of sleep

You know that I am not a perfect mother

And that’s okay

No one is

You have beautiful eyes

And an infectious smile

Everyday I am thankful that you are my son

You have a personality that other people gravitate towards

You love to cook

And enjoy dining out

You still ask me to buy your clothes

I

love

you

very

very

very

very

very

very

much

Phew.

Happy Birthday Christopher Glenn.