Tender Mercies

As I have just completed probably the hardest 6 weeks of my personal life, I look back nearly two years to my last entry, and realize the blessings and the 'tender mercies' that I have received over the past two years. Because I have been so slack in writing, I don't have pictures for everything, but I would like to list some things that have been a blessing to our family.
I am grateful every day for our children, their wonderful spouses, and grandchildren. At the end of last year I wrote myself a note saying,
" At the end of this year,I am thankful for
Who we are and
What we have."
We truly have been blessed. I love each member of our family. I am so grateful for their lives, and for their blessing in mine.
I am grateful for our two new little grand babies-Samuel, born in December, and little Abby born in March.
I look at each of our grandchildren and are so grateful for their health, their strength in the gospel, and their love of the Lord and of their families. They are each a wonderful tender mercy in my life.
I am grateful that Roberts CT scan in April came back clean. His life is a blessing that we count as a tender mercy.
What a blessing I have had so many times in my life, to have a husband who has been such a support to me, who has stayed near me to help me, to give me strength,and who has blessed me and our family.
Most of all during these last hard weeks, I am grateful that at some of my darkest hours, when I was afraid, and when the pain was so bad in my leg, that when I called out to the Lord, I was able to feel Him there.
Thanks so much to each of you that I love for blessing my life.

A Haircut Like My Dad's

A couple of weeks ago Noah was talking to his dad, and said,"Dad, I want you to grow your two beards back." After quizzing him as to where his 'two beards' were, he pointed to his dad's chin and said, "here", and then pointing to the top of his head said, "and here".



A couple of days later his mom was triming his hair, and Noah said, "Mom, I want a haircut like my dad's". She said, "Are you sure Noah? Your head will be cold, and your hair will take a while before it grows back" He was insistant though, and said he wanted it off, he wanted a haircut like his dads. He has been so cute. He loves looking like his dad.

Lil' Reindeer-Christmas 2005

This holiday season Noah was playing with this little reindeer toy (potato head type) that I have had forever in my Christmas decorations. He took off the antlers and said, "Hey, he looks like my dad!"



I guess after Robert lost all his hair after his chemo/radiation treatments he is pretty slick on top.

Thanksgiving at the Condo-2005

We were able to have our condo in Midway over the Thanksgiving holiday this year. We reserved the clubhouse Thanksgiving afternoon, but we were able to have a little touch football in the morning, and were able to swim and play games in the afternoon. All of our Utah family was able to be there this year except Angie and Chad. We also missed our Florida family. Here are some of the pictures from Thanksgiving Day.

Natalie's Baptism Day!!

Natalie got baptized today into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The baptism program was so beautiful. Her mom Kim was one of the speakers, but the sweetest time came when the four little girls who were being baptized, all dressed in white, sang together, "When I am baptized." She was baptized by her dad Gregg. Her grandfathers, Phil Barney and Steven Finlinson were the witnesses to the baptism. Her dad made sure she was totally immersed in the water...he nearly laid her clear down on the bottom!!



Natalie's confirmation was beautiful. Her dad, her two grandpa's, Uncles Ted, Doug, Robert and her Bishop laid their hands on her head, and her father gave her the Holy Ghost and then a blessing from our Heavenly Father. Her dad told her that her Heavenly Father loved her. He blessed her heart that it would be sensative to the spirit, her mind that she would have an understanding of the scriptures and of her Heavenly Father. He blessed her hands that they would be busy in helping others, and her legs and feet that they would be strong in endurance. He told her of her families love for her, and blessed her with all other blessings the Lord saw a need for her to have. What a sweet little girl.




Natalie following the baptism with her parents.



Wow! There are still roses and beautiful weather the 5 November! Following the baptisimal services, everyone went back to Gregg and Kims for lunch. Angie and Chad joined us there. (Angie had a masters presentation earlier that day.)

The Skeletons in our closet!!

This year Eli decided that he wanted to be a skeleton for Halloween....So with Tarali drawing the bones, and grandma painting them, he soon had a beautiful set of new bones!! This year though we did something different and added 'glow in the dark' paint to his. It was so fun to see those dancing bones glowing in the dark!!

Here are the original set of bones---Tarali's got altered this year...She got a glow in the dark transplant.

Jared wanted his turn to wear the 'bones' costume. Next year he might just have to get his own set!!

Our Amazing Autumn!!

This has been such an amazing autumn! With the recent snow, the contrast is beautiful. I have pictures in my mind, but they don't transfer to the blog very well, so I had to borrow some of them from KSL's website. Here are a few of my favorites!!