Our Trip to the Winter Quarters Temple

To celebrate our 10th Temple Anniversary, John and I went to Omaha, Nebraska to the Winter Quarters Temple. It is one of the smaller temples, but absolutely beautiful. The sessions can only accomodate about 20 people each, so you have to call ahead and schedule a time. The stained-glass windows you see right in the center are beautiful pictures of Brigham Young and the pioneers. It is a beautiful and meaningful part of our LDS history. You cannot visit here without feeling a renewed appreciation of our pioneer heritage.

John in front of the Winters Quarters Temple. It was such a gorgeous day.

This is John enjoying the beautiful sculptures and the amazing feeling of peace and strength we felt on these lovely and hallowed grounds.

This is the beautiful Winter Quarters Temple, and if you follow the steps to the right it leads you right into the cemetery.

This is a beautiful sculpture in the Winter Quarters Cemetery which is connected to the Temple Grounds. Over 600 Latter-Day Saints lost their lives during the course of that winter when they were forced to flee from Nauvoo and cross the Mississippi River into Iowa. And over the course of the next few months they made their way to Council Bluffs. When Pres. Hinckley came to view the property where this temple would be built, the saints were told that this ground would not have to be dedicated since it was already sacred ground. It is the only temple site ever that did not have to have the grounds dedicated.

This picture was taken in front of the Winter Quarters Visitors Center across a tiny little street from the Temple and Cemetery. This is an amazing sculpture of a handcart pioneer family.

Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes!

Thanks to all my wonderful family and friends for remembering my birthday. You are all so dear to me and I'm grateful for your love and thoughtfulness. It's almost worth turning 55 to get to hear from so many of you at once.... almost.

Tyler's 18!!

Well, it's official. Tyler is an adult. Wow, that was hard to type. And on his birthday yesterday, we were all at the St. Louis temple because it was our Ward Temple Day. While the adults were doing a morning session, the youth in the ward babysat 30...yes 30...children at the nearby ward building and Tyler helped. He grew very close to a cute little 5-month-old punkin named Eli, who only wanted to go to Tyler. The Young Women showed me pictures of Tyler holding Eli that they had taken on their cell phones because they thought it was so cute. And then the youth did Baptisms in the afternoon. Tyler was quite a bit taller than the baptizer, but it all worked out. Anyway that's how we spent Tyler's birthday. It really was a great day. So anyway, here's a picture of Tyler with his favorite kind of cake (strawberry jello cake) just before he blew out the candles. Sure love you, Tyler.

Tyler and great friends, the Jones family

Our great friends, the Jones family, from our ward joined us to celebrate Tyler's big night. It was awesome!

Best Friends

Tyler and one of his great friends, Nick, shared this milestone together....glad to get graduation behind them and prepare to move on.

Tyler's Graduation Night

I know I'm a little late in posting this, but better late than never I say. Tyler graduated from Olathe Northwest on May 16th, 2010 and it was a day to celebrate. It is such a rite of passage for a young man to graduate from High School, but it was also a rite of passage for us because he's our last child to graduate from High School!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Family and Friends!!

Guess who got to be chaperones for the Stake Youth New Year's Eve Party? Oh well, it gave us a chance to dress up! Do you recognize the dress? Mark and Jaymi, you should know this one....yes, it's the dress I wore at your wedding reception....and this is the first time I've had it on since that lovely and memorable night. And doesn't John look dashing in his festive red shirt. I tried to get a picture of Tyler, he looked great, but he ran away from the camera screaming, "Enough pictures already!" Anyway, it was a fun and verrrry icy night with temps at below zero....brrrrrrrrrrr.

Our Ward Ice Skating Party at Crowne Center

Every year our ward has their ice skating party at Crowne Center. This is not a night for the faint-hearted...it is COLD!! And since the ice-skating rink is outside, we bundle up, and take lots of HOT CHOCOLATE!!

Tyler talking to some friends. The lady on the right is Sis. Tietjen...her husband is in the stake presidency.

Tyler and his friend, Preston, at the Ice Skating Party.

I did it...I survived a night of ice skating after not having done it for at least 30 years!!

I needed a little assistance at first, but then I got it.

Here's Tyler with a couple of his friends. That's our Bishop,

Bishop Wilkes, on the right.

It's really a beautiful place...a great backdrop for an amazing night of memories.

Our annual Ward Ice Skating party is held at Crowne Center in Kansas City each year. It was really an awesome night.

Christmas 2009 - Reflections

Just wanted to share a few pictures that John took...they're beautiful.

Well, our dream of a White Christmas came true this year. This was taken on Christmas Eve...

Our dining room table full of light blocks...reminding us of the light our Savior brought into the world.

Looking out our front door sometimes seems like another world...a very snowy, white one. But I love it!! I think it's just beautiful!

This was our beautiful tree this year. I used gold ribbon to decorate it this year because Brooke made fun of my tree full of red bows...okay, okay, I guess it was time to update. Brooke has always been great at attempting to keep me current.

Choosing a Christmas Card photo....not an easy task!

For our Christmas card this year, we asked one of my Laurels, who loves photography and has started a small business of her own, to take our portrait. She did a wonderful job...well, considering her

subjects. She was so patient with us, but no matter how hard we tried, we were a little awkward....not knowing where to put our hands, or when to smile...and so she took a ton of pictures and we'll share a few with you. Needless to say, the one we chose is the one you got in the mail. But just for fun here's a few of our attempts...

We tried a black and white portrait....but someone forgot to smile...we won't name any names :)

We tried for that outdoorsy festive look while standing outside in front of the Christmas wreath...just didn't feel right...

We tried took one on the stairs hoping for that casual, relaxed look...

We tried a shot in front of the fireplace...

We tried a shot in the entryway...