Young Women's Theme

A good friend of mine change her background and so because of her I have changed mine. It is about time because I have had it for over a year now. Any way I went with a page dedicated to Young Women's. As a few of you may know I'm back in the ward as the President. I served in this calling beginning ten years ago. I have been back in the program now for over three years, serving as a counselor in our ward and then as a counselor in the Stake Young Women's. It was a shock to me. I knew that the release from the Stake was coming but not in the manner that it did.

Needless to say, I'm back and because of the great women that the Lord has called to serve with me I'm excited to say the least. We are already looking forward to camp and all the fun we will be having with the girls. Plus we have new personal progress books and jewelry to go with the program. I now need to begin working towards another medallion for this new year.

I love this program because it's main purpose is to "Come unto Christ". Each of us, no matter our age needs to do this. This is why the church has opened this program up to all women of the church.

So new changes and new beginnings for this new year and new decade.

Happy New Year even though it is a little late.

HE is the reason!!!

It was twenty-five years ago today that my eyes were opened more fully to the tue meaning of Christmas. Oh, I had felt it before but nothing like this day so long ago. I had forotten until in Sunday school class yesterday. Memories flooded my mind of Christmas' past This one brought tears to my eyes as I remembered those events.

All the preparations had been made and with only six days left until that big day, a tragedy hit the area. Paul was working an afternoon shift at Deer Creek when news came that Wilberg mine was on fire. He called me to tell me the news with very few details and that he would be late in getting home. It took until the next morning to hear that my cousin Phillip was one of those trapped. He and I had been close while growing up with our birthdays a day apart. News was sketchy at best. Even when Paul was sent over to the mine to work in the warehouse to aid in the rescue, he still couldn't pass on many details. We didn't see much of him.

Sunday morning, the 21st was bright and clear. Spirits hopeful and cheerful for our children's sake. Because of this the Oveson annual Christmas party was held. Kaye and Lydell were the hosts this year. Paul wasn't able to attend because he was still helping at the mine. Minutes before the party began Richard told me that he had heard there was an explosion at the mine. My heart skipped a beat. The warehouse was located underground. Paul was in the warehouse. Richard tried to assure me that he was safe but I wouldn't believe it until I heard from Paul. Even the kid's excitement couldn't stop the tears. Kaye had arranged for the granchildren to perform the Christmas nativity. It was then my mind and heart was touched with why we celebrate Christmas.

We celebrate His birth for without Him this earth life would be a waste. Families would mean nothing. He came to this earth to show us the way, to pay for our sins, to die so we can live again, to give this life purpose and meaning. Because of HIM and only HIM we can remain with our families forever. He is the reason for the season. He is the light that shines. He is the peace that each of us seek. The greatest gift we can receive or give is love, His love. I pray we all remember Him and reflect His light as the greatest gift we give this year.

Merry Christmas to all.

Kyler's Kindergarten Christmas program

Last Wednesday we were invited to a very special Christmas program. I'm sure this is the first of many to come. Kyler has been so excited about this program. He has been saying his part for a couple of weeks and singing the songs, which I'm very grateful for because we had a difficult time understanding any of them. The program was so cute with the kids telling what their favorite part of Christmas was, Kyler's was decorating. Just watching the kids being their normal little selves with their teachers trying to keep them under a little bit of control was well worth being there.

Kyler at the end of the program. He jumped off the stage into his Grandpa waiting arms. He was so excited and silly.
If you look hard you can see Kyler, second row, second one from the left. The lighting in the gym wasn't very good so this is as good as it gets.

Early Christmas Present for Grandpa and Grandma

First I need to ask you to forgive me for the quality of the pictures. As usual we have forgotten our camera and only had cell phones. For years Paul and I have taken our children to Salt Lake for a day of shopping and seeing the lights. Over the past couple of years it has become more difficult to get everyone together. This year we came very close. We went to Tepyanaki for our dinner. We lacked having Nicholas' three kids plus Cyrena and her family. We really enjoyed ourselves and dinner was great. The kids had fun watching the show before us as our meal was prepared. Family is what Christmas is all about.

Brittany, Hunter, and Nicholas
Alex, Mike, Kassy
Van, who is really growing up.

We wouldn't give Alex anything else to eat so he settled for the table.

Josh, Paul, and Les
Alex picking on Van, so it begins.

I'm so grateful for my family and I love them with all my heart.

These are for Cyrena

I think she is using these pictures for a Christmas present. At least I'm hoping that she is. Cyrena you need to remember Hunter. There are pictures on their FB pages, Brittany has the most. I can't wait to see it. Posting twice in two days isn't normal for me.

Christmas Tree 2009

Since Paul and I became a family so many years ago, every year we have gone as a family to cut our Christmas Tree. Oh, there was one year I purchased a tree and had to throw it out on Christmas day because it was worse than dead. I did put up a fake tree after having a bad dream about a tree catching fire but that was over just after I started that. When the kids moved away we started going to the mountains Thanksgiving weekend. This year we went to Cottonwood canyon. We were disappointed that there was no snow. But it did make it easier for the grandkids.

The four oldest grandkids wanted to go with their Dad's and Mark up on the side hill to cut the tree. The problem was I was left alone with them and the sagebrush was as tall as they were. But we pushed on with Josh getting upset because we weren't going faster and Lexie wanting to go back to the Jeeps. Josh wasn't about to get lost and have me leave him. He held onto a string on my coat until his Dad came to help him.

In the mean time Paul stayed with Kassy, Tara, Alex and Van. They went for a ride to the top of Flat Canyon. Alex is now big enough to drive. Tara wanted to climb with the rest of us but Van just isn't ready for that. Plus she forgot her Moby wrap.
The tree that we chose was the second on the left. You can see Nicholas' yellow coat. Also I'm in there with the kids. Each of the kids were able to cut the tree except for Lexie who didn't want to. Josh makes the cutest sawing sounds. Kyler, being the oldest was given the privilege of cutting the tree down. I took video but silly Grandma forgot to save the video. I did get pictures but they didn't turn out very well.
Coming down I had only Lexie and Kyler to take care of. It was almost easier to pack Lexie than have her struggle with the sagebrush. I would like to know when Kyler grew up. He was guiding me back to the road.
Josh and Ashton were able to get a ride back. Mike and Nicholas had the duty of pulling the tree back. Mark decided to follow all the rules but cutting the stump down and spreading out the branches.
It is getting more difficult putting all of the kids on the four-wheeler but so far we were able to do it.
Nicholas said on Facebook that I have a desire each year for a Charlie Brown tree but I don't think it looks much like a Charlie Brown tree. Each time I look at it I remember the adventure we had and it brings a big smile to my face. I worry for the year that we won't have help in cutting a tree and I will have to go back to a fake tree but for now I'm going to enjoy this most wonderful tradition.

I have completed a huge project

This all began back in August with Bauer telling me that he wanted a costume. Last year I didn't make the costumes because of Dad but this year I guess Bauer changed all of that. I put it off, like I do everything else. Plus the kids kept changing their minds. Needless to say I started two weeks ago. Lexie's was first and I think that it took me the longest. She visited me one day and expected me to begin her costume right then, she didn't understand that grandma was tired after working all day. She even said that she was a good cutter. She kept bugging me about it, so I gave in. Plus she also wanted pink shoes because the Tinkerbell on the pattern had pink shoes. What else is a grandma to do. Little did I know, Bauer was driving his mom crazy in Rockford asking when his spiderman was going to be finished. He even called me from a store to make sure that I was making him a mask. He wasn't going to leave in case his mother needed to purchase one. I have decided that three year olds can be very demanding. Bauer really thought that his costume had been delivered yesterday but it was a package for the neighbors and he has been watching out the window for the mailman. He is so excited. He should get the package today. Over the weekend we had Josh, Kyler, Lexie and Ashton here and they had to model their costumes. It was great fun watching them trying to fly through the house. Alex's and Van's had to wait until Monday to be completed. It has been a difficult couple of weeks but it has all been worth it as I have seen the little ones eyes light up and their excitement about pretending to be something else.

Emmett was going to be a lion and I even had the pattern purchased but Bauer wanted him to be spiderman with him. Hence the two spidermans. Mark and Tara wanted Van to be Grrr. They sent me a picture of a robot dog. I don't have the head finished in the picture but you can get an idea of it.
Josh loves Peter Pan. Mike and Kassy borrowed our movie a couple of months ago and I guess he watched it every day, sometimes twice a day. They had to give it back because they were so tired of it. He wants his mom to be Tinkerbell and his dad to be Captain Hook. Alex is a puppy kind of like Nanna but we didn't want him to be a little girl puppy. Josh has a little sword to finish his costume.
Kyler feel in love with Batman over the summer months. We have a few episodes recorded on the DVR for him to watch when he comes to visit. He knew months ago that he wanted to be Batman. I made these same costumes years ago for Nicholas and Michael. They have brought back many memories. Lexie loves Tinkerbell and has for over a year. I had planned on making it green but when she seen a pink Tinkerbell on the pattern that is what I had to do. Of course she loves pink. I was going to make one for Hunter but his mom bought him a transformer, which I'm very grateful for. I don't think I could have pulled that one off.

I'm now looking forward to seeing them all in their costumes. I will only have the privilege of having three of them visit us on Saturday but I know that they will all enjoying pretending for even just a few minutes. It is those smiles that makes it all worth it.