It's Already the End of November?!!!

Yikes! It is November 29th today! 
We had a wonderful time over the last couple of weeks since I last blogged. We had a great time at the Cattle Convention and an even better time in Jackson if only for two days.  We ended up meeting Lori, Brad and family and the Tribes in the afternoon at Bubba's for a late lunch/early dinner and then took Todd shopping that afternoon for his 13th birthday. I can't tell you what a thrill it was to have all the kids come running when they saw us and especially for Todd to come unprompted to take my arm to help Grandpa help me  across the street, up the stairs and into Bubba's. And that's the way it was the whole time we were together. He was always there to help me in and out of the truck (if Grandpa didn't beat him!), take our belongings up and down the condo stairs and to help me on the slick steps. What a wonderful young man he is and how we love him! We told him he could go look for anything he wanted for this special birthday and we were surprised that he chose to go to Jack Dennis and look for some additional camping equipment for his scout outings. He ended up purchasing a fancy water bladder with pockets to hold other necessities on day hikes and a pretty high-tech compass. Pretty great choices for a 13-yr-old boy, I would say. Thank you, Todd, and we love you so much! We spent Wednesday evening visiting with Brad and Lori at our condo and then joining the whole group at Brad and Lori's condo. It was so fun to discuss the gospel and the handbook with them. Brad was recently ordained and set apart as Bishop of their ward in Rupert. We know he will do a great job because he is not afraid to take the sometimes very painful steps necessary to depart from generation-old traditions which are not in keeping with church policy. He has that beautiful combination of a great love for the members of the ward and a great love for doing things the Lord's way realizing that there are tremendous blessings that result from strict obedience. He is a good man and Lori will be a tremendous support to him.
We packed up Friday morning to come home (in a big snowstorm) and were so grateful we had decided to bring the truck. It took us a long time to get home but we made it safely thanks to my husband's driving skills. But he freely admits he detests driving on bad roads and in nasty conditions and will avoid it at every cost! We are not as young as we used to be and are certainly more cautious!

Anyway, we unpacked and headed to Brigham City to see Mom Rose in her new "home". We were surprised and VERY HAPPY to see how well she is doing and the progress she has made in just the last few days. She is capable of walking even without a walker, but she is supposed to use it! Just ask Grandpa! She recognized us and seems to be regaining at least some of her memory. The hallucinations and paranoia are gone, truly gone! We know that she was having panic attacks because she was unable to breath properly and the medicine prescribed to her for those attacks was causing her mental anguish. I just shudder to think what she has been through but am ever more grateful for those caregivers who realized she had a problem and got to the bottom of it. We have our dear Mom Rose back. Yes, she still has a form of dementia and gets very confused, but she is pleasant and happy most of the time and realizes that she is getting good care. Our hope is that if it is Heavenly Father's will that she can again return to Park Valley, her home. But that certainly remains to be seen.

I love this picture!

After a good long visit with Mom and Dad and some of the rest of the family, we headed to Tremonton for Natalie's reception. It was great to see the Jex family again! They will always be dear friends! Natalie looks so happy! It was a dicey drive home as far as Malad and then not too bad from there.
Saturday was Kate's ballet! What a beautiful little ballerina she is! The Hansel and Gretel ballet was so professional...amazing sets and gorgeous costumes! Kate was a town's girl and a ghost this year. I'll post the pictures I was able to get. We love this little girl so much...Katie Bug with her beautiful red hair and sweet, caring personality...Katie with her love for stuffed animals and dolls, Polly Pockets and Littlest Pet Shop...a little "red-bird"  with a twinkle in her eye and a smile that melts our hearts...a beauty with a talent and definite love for ballet!

Isn't she lovely?

Condo 2009

It was another great year at our Jackson Condo unit. Lori, Brad and kids spent from Sunday night til late Thursday morning there and we joined them Wednesday early afternoon and spent until Saturday before returning home. It was so great to see them again and spend some time with them. They are such a great family! It was a kick watching Kate play with her souvenir from their trip...a stack of black magnets...which entertained her for hours! It reminded us of Matt's love of magnets and the fact that he called his "spencers" after Spencer Stokes who gave them to him one night at a fireside when he was just a little guy. Todd's was a book full of ideas on how not to grow up! It was quite hilarious! I honestly can't remember what Jack's was, but he entertained us with his darling personality and his new little phrase of "I didn't see THAT coming!" It was fun to go out and watch them play in what they call "The Park" which is a little area with playground equipment in the field behind the condos. They love it and will play out there for hours. It tickles me that even though Todd is getting older and gets somewhat annoyed at his siblings, he is still so great to play with them! We just enjoyed visiting, eating, and relaxing...all makings of a great vacation. After they left, Greg and I spent some time shopping at my favorite store, "Coldwater Creek". Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas to me! I love that Greg will bring me clothes to try on and be patient for what seems like hours while I make up my mind. We also bought a couple of things for him for Christmas and did some Christmas shopping for the kids and others. He helped me finish a craft project one day as well. You know, he is just fun to "hang out" with. I love him to bits! We packed up Saturday morning and stopped in Idaho Falls to do a little shopping and go watch Regan play basketball. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of her. She looks so darn cute dribbling that ball down the court! I guess we were so intent on watching her and playing with the other kids, I forgot to get out my camera! Now that is a shock! Well, next time!

Stake Conference & Todd's 11th Birthday

Two of our handsome and wonderful sons-in-law, DJ & Brad

Little Jack-Jack ready for Conference

Katey Bug heading to the kitchen!

Todd with his completed Erector set project!
Our budding engineer who wants to attend MIT

Our beautiful Cindy with little Porter

Jordy finished her dinner! Gotta love that smile!

Regan and Todd sat with their folks and Elder and Sister Clark

Fun-loving Morgan with Jack!

Kaleb and Grampie!

The babies loved Todd's BD balloons! (Oh, and suckers!)

Todd blowing out his candles before cake and ice cream

Todd opening all his cards and enjoying every one!

He was absolutely thrilled with his State Quarter coin collection we gave him as part of his birthday.

Todd opening his IHome
(poor DJ crashed in mid-stream!)

Regan looking at her State Quarters Collection with Gramps!
LOVE THE HAT!

Kami lovin' on Uncle Brad!

Give each other loves! Ohhhhhhh!

Mom with Lori and Cindy

Our boys busy constructing with Legos.

Stake Conference is always as special for me as General Conference. It seems that we receive wonderful teaching from our Prophet, Apostles and Seventy at General Conference and then at our Stake Conferences following we receive very specific instructions regarding those principles. I am so thankful for the wonderful doctrine taught in this conference and for the privilege of having Elder and Sister Kim B. Clark stay with us in our home (our visiting authority and his wife). Sister Clark and I had several hours together here at the house Saturday afternoon while our husbands were in meetings. We yacked about our kids, their spouses, our grandkids and our husbands and felt we were kindred spirits. We are at the same point in our lives, about the same age, close to the same number of grandchildren about the same age as ours, empty-nesters, and last but not least, we both have bad knees! It was so fun to hear a little about their lives living and raising a family in Boston before moving out here to take the position of President of BYUI. They have certainly had their family challenges just like all the rest of us but their faith in Jesus Christ has seen them through just as it has for all of us who will allow Him into our lives .

Anyway, Lori and Brad and our little Todd, Kate, and Jack arrived late that afternoon earlier than expected which was a great surprise! Again, more time to visit and play with the kids before our Saturday night session. Todd tended the kids so Lori and Brad could attend the 7:00 pm meeting with us. Elder Clark made it an interactive meeting, using a white board and a mike and having portable mikes passed to members of the congregation for their responses to his questions. He taught from the Family Proclamation on what it means to preside, provide, protect and nurture and what things get in the way of our doing that well. All I can say is WOW! It was not the same old, same old! We laughed and cried together and were taught from on high! We all came home afterward and visited for about another hour before heading to bed. Our little Wilson kids are so fun to have around and thoroughly charmed the Clarks! Todd was building a crane or something with his erector set, Jack was sending cars speeding down Grandma's race track set, and Kate was just being the cute little girl she is. She even did a few moves from her Hansel and Gretal ballet. They were happy to have a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie while we were gone.

Sunday morning we had breakfast prior to the 8:00am youth session. Lori and I then cleaned up and set the tables for dinner so we would be ready to eat in a timely manner after the 10:00am general session. I prepared the food the day before so we were just able to enjoy the day and not fuss over dinner. My mom arrived and we headed to the church at 9:00am to get good seats. There were over 90 more people in attendance this conference which was so gratifying. Again, it was a great session. Jessica Loveland, a beautiful young woman from our ward and our this year's Homecoming queen spoke and did a beautiful job. Greg spoke and the spirit bore witness. He spoke on the use of our leisure time, that some of our activities are taken to an extreme and take priority over the things of an eternal nature; that as Pres. Monson said: "We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we're doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the "thick of thin things." In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes." We put recreation, television, internet use and entertainment, etc. ahead of those spiritual commandments that truly have eternal consequences. Also that some of what we watch and participate in we do at the peril of our salvation and that of our families not realizing that we have left the "high ground" and are being "poisoned by degrees". I am totally paraphrasing here but you get the idea. I spoke to one sister this morning who told me they went home after conference and had a family counsel and discussed together what things they were doing in their home that were offensive to the spirit and what they could do to alleviate them. She said the kids were actively involved and on board and it was exciting!

Elder Clark called on Lori to speak on the spot. She was unruffled and bore a powerful testimony which increased the spirit at our meeting even further. She is a sweetheart. How we love her and Brad and their kids and treasure our relationship with them.

Elder Clark spoke on three patterns of Zion:

1. Be good! Live your life so the Holy Ghost can be with you at all times! Do not do, say, or listen to anything that will drive the spirit away!
2. Serve the Lord by serving each other.
3. When adversity comes, look into the mirror of Christ and not the mirror of fear! Through the mirror of Christ you can see yourself on a journey, in the mirror of fear you see the adversary speaking discouragement to you. Turn to Christ ALWAYS because He knows exactly what we need.

I am not doing any of this justice, but I want to record it so I can refer back to it often. Just a wonderful conference...such a good spirit there with our members. Our hearts are full!

Brad and Lori and kids, and Sister Clark and I headed home while Elder Clark and Greg met with the bishops and high council for a "wrap up" session. Cindy and DJ and the kids arrived soon after for dinner and time to visit with the Clarks before they headed home. We missed Julie and Stanton and kids so much but Julie as their new ward choir director was directing their choir's number in Sacrament meeting. The time schedule just didn't mesh and we completely understood. There will be other times. It is always these times when we get together as family that we also miss Matt and Sara and the kids even more than usual! But December is coming quickly and we are so excited for their arrival!

When Elder Clark saw DJ he made the connection that he was an employee at the college and was so pleased to know he was our son-in-law. He is doing a great work for BYUI and its students and we are proud of him. I was so happy that the girls, their husbands, and my Mom had some time to visit with the Clarks before, during, and after dinner.

Now, another very fun thing as can be seen from the pictures is that we were able to celebrate Todd's 11th birthday here this weekend. I think it was pretty special for him...a special occasion for a special young man! Happy Birthday, Todd! We love you and know that Heavenly Father has great things ahead for you as you keep his commandments! Hope you enjoy all your fun books, legos, etc. as well as your state quarter collection!

Before Elder and Sister Clark left, Brad, DJ and he gave Greg a priesthood blessing. We are so grateful for the power of the priesthood and appreciate that special moment with so many of our grandchildren there to feel the Spirit that is present on occasions such as this.

(PS. A humorous little addition to this post. Can I say that I am grateful every two years to have conference visitors stay with us because it insures I will DEEP CLEAN my guest bathroom and bedroom at least that often! Oh, no, what happens after Greg is released?)

Great Times with the Wilsons

Because Todd got a new bike, Kate got his old one and Jack got Kate's.
Happy Days!

The chef at work (after work)

Pics from Story Book Park

I wish I had videoed them when they got off after begging Grandpa to spin them!
It was pretty funny!

A Polly Pockets Modesty Fashion Show! (24 little dolls-some made the grade, others didn't!)
Kate is a pretty tough judge!

What a great visit we had with Lori, Brad, Todd, Kate and Jack Thursday night and Friday! We arrived about 7:00pm Thursday night. The kids couldn't wait to show us their new bikes and ride them around for us. Lori had prepared a delicious meal of garlic mashed potatoes, tossed salad, and homemade corn, bean, tomato, avocado salsa with chips. Brad was busy cooking trout on the grill that some neighbors had given them. Um, um good! We ate outside in their beautiful back yard and then all jumped in the pool and had a great time racing with the kids and splashing each other. Kate and Todd are amazing little swimmers! I think they can do pretty well all the Olympic swimming strokes. It is wonderful to see the family enjoy their beautiful back yard, pool, and the bounties of this year's garden...and we had fun enjoying it all with them for an evening. We then watched a very cute movie called "New In Town"...Pretty funny with some great one-liners. Saturday morning we had a mountain man breakfast made in the crock pot that was delicious, fast and easy cleanup! Then off to Burley for haircuts for the boys, some sale shopping at Penney's and fun at Story Book Park. Kate rode with us and we had a ball playing car games with her to and from Burley. Todd rode with us on the way back and got in on the fun. It brought back memories of the things we used to do with the kids when we traveled to make the time pass more quickly. We enjoyed lunch and ice cream at Gossner's Cheese (The Upper Crust Restaurant) outside Rupert. The afternoon was spent resting and playing with the kids while Lori practiced to sing at the Cassia County Fair. Kate and I played Polly Pockets for a couple of hours and Todd made sure we had great music to listen to via ITunes downloads on the computer. Jack is so content just to be left alone to drive his little jeep and trailer all over the house! We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the kids and look forward to taking Todd to General Conference in October. (I've got some new car games, Todd!)
Lori just received a call on Wednesday or Thursday asking her to sing on the free stage at the Cassia County Fair along with some other veterans of the Oakley Community Theater. We had no idea when we got there that we would have the opportunity to hear her sing. It doesn't happen very often so we were thrilled that it fit right into the schedule. Brad met us all there after work. He is such a gem...so supportive of Lori. The group sang and performed from 6:00pm to 7:00pm and put on a very entertaining show. Such talented people and so willing to share even on such short notice. I have included a video of two of the three numbers she sang. Lori has a beautiful God-given talent and has had many opportunities since moving to the Rupert/Burley area to develop and share that gift. Even in a county fair environment she was amazing (from our very unbiased parental point of view! No really!!) Here...judge for yourself! (See above video)
We love you all and thank you for what turned out to be another great vacation!

Quick Stop at Lori's!

Jack knows exactly what he is doing and runs the mouse like a whiz! Lori helping Jack get set to play!
"This is my bug's house!" Jack on the tramp!

We had a quick but wonderful stop to visit Lori and Jack on the morning of April 23rd while waiting to meet Brent and Janet for a little get-away to Boise! Lori is the consummate hostess! We had a fabulous time visiting and even talked her into singing for us! You should hear the girl sing the Kristen Chenowith song called "Girl in 14 G". If you have never heard this song, google it and watch Kristen's version of it! Hilarious and amazing and Lori does it just as well!

It is always fun to see little Jack...he reminds me of Lori so much; very intelligent and serious about whatever he is doing at the moment! He was so thrilled with his little bug's house and just couldn't figure out where the little guy went! Why would he want to leave those wonderful living quarters!

We were sorry we missed Kate and Todd but my mom and I are going to Lori's on Wednesday, May 6th and will stay overnight. Lori is singing at the King Theater (not the right name) in Burley that night so we will have some time to visit with the whole family! Thanks, Lori, for a great time! I have the most amazing daughters!