A Haircut...and, Cousin Jacko Arrives...

 

The Rooster has some GREAT hair... Let's just start with that!

 

 

Auntie is a hairdresser... and, thank goodness for that!

 

The Rooster HATES a haircut! I mean he hates it!!!

He will go to great lengths to style his hair in a way that it appears not to be too long...

to avoid a haircut. Auntie has a way with The Rooster...and he "allows" her to

work with his hair. In fact I think he secretly enjoys the attention she slathers

on him while he is in her "chair."

 

 

When it was all done...he looked great!!! Well...he looked great before,

but he was ready to attend AFY,

Adventures For Youth at BYU-I.

 

Cousin Jacko arrived on Sunday, so that he and The Rooster could attend AFY together.

 Cousin Preston came from Mesa with a couple of friends too!

We drove to the Salt Lake City Airport to pick up Jacko.

 The cousins were so happy to be together again!

They really miss each other when they are apart.

 

 

It didn't take long to realize that Cousin Jacko's luggage had been lost.

Holy Smokes!! Everything he needed was in that bag! He also arrived with a sleeping bag on his back;) While we were waiting for the luggage, Cousin Jacko told me that a man on the airplane asked him if he had run away from home. To which Cousin Jacko said "no...why???"

 The man said..."you have a sleeping bag on your back..."

Cousin Jacko thought that was really funny!

 

 

I think these too are in for a wonderful week together in Idaho.

 I love listening to them talk to each other... although I can't understand a word they are saying!;) He have developed a language all their own...lots of grunting...Spanish words and a little English mixed in. Very, very interesting! These two love to spear fish together... it is their most recent obsession.

  I am glad they are cousins...

I am even more glad that they are friends!;)

Missionary Monday....4 More To Go...

 

I cannot believe we have only 4 more Monday's before he is home!!

I realized late last night...that it was exactly one month until our Missionary Boy completes his missionary service. I have such mixed emotions...We are ready to have him back... but it has been an amazing experience to have a child serve a mission. His service has blessed our family!

 

A very special baptism..

.

Too Much Change.....ugh!!

 

I am not good at change.
I guess I find security in things being the same.  I usually order the same
food when  visit a restaurant...shop at the same stores...and lately one of The Darlings
commented that I have painted my house all the same color.  I guess I am not all that
adventurous.  I am pretty sure I inherited this trait from my Father.  He too
finds comfort in what he knows for sure.  The neighborhood he lives in...hard work...
simple meals...church service...family...fruit trees in a yard...and The Gospel.
When the opportunity arose for him to purchase the home of my grandparents...his parents...
a home he spent much of his youth in...he purchased the home.
I would have done the same thing.
So now...I find myself facing a lot of change...and it unsettles me.
It makes me grouchy.  It makes me sad.  It makes me stressed.
A few days ago, The Farmer and I arrived in Utah for a little vacation.  We came here
to help Preshie get set up for school in the Fall and The Rooster to attend AFY.
Utah has become a place of rest
and refuge for us.  Each year...for a few weeks...we are able to leave our worries behind
and rest.  Utah is filled with family and friends who we love to see each year...
and they make us feel that that they are happy to see us too!
As we began our morning walk...on our first day in Utah, we left our temporary home...crossed
the street, and as I stepped from the street to the sidewalk I noticed that something was
written on the ground...a message I NEEDED...at that very moment.
While traveling  last Monday, our journey as a family changed.
I think we will be forever changed as we begin this new and unexpected challenge
together.  I know we will change.  And I guess that is really what it is all about.  Learning
and growing.  The Missionary Grandpa has always been a great example of strength
in troubled times.  He has so often been our strength through very difficult learning
experiences.  Now it is our turn to be his.  We will gather our faith and our strength for him.
We will put into practice the very things he has taught us.
We will combine our faith and our courage for him.

 

 

Pretty incredible...right???!!

While traveling  last Monday, our journey as a family changed.

I think we will be forever changed as we begin this new and unexpected challenge

together.  I know we will change.  And I guess that is really what it is all about.  Learning

and growing.  The Missionary Grandpa has always been a great example of strength

in troubled times.  He has so often been our strength through very difficult learning

experiences.  Now it is our turn to be his.  We will gather our faith and our strength for him.

We will put into practice the very things he has taught us.

We will combine our faith and our courage for him.

 

And so I move ahead with Faith...understanding that I am not in control...

I never was,

Even if I thought I was at times;)

*The painting speaks to me...

"She will find what is lost" by Brian Kershisnik

A Sad End...

 

It really was a great week at the beach. Restful...peaceful...

 Great family time, yummy food, Everything you could ask for in a family vacation.

 

 

 

After a very, very long drive home... we arrived in our "neck of the woods..."

So relieved to be so near our home, we stopped for dinner.

 The whole family stopped together. It was a quick stop...at a well known chain restaurant.

We ate a quick dinner...and headed for our cars.

 

 

It only took a minute to realize that anything of any value, had been taken from our car.

 Purse...all electronics...you name it, It was all gone!

As we were assessing our loss, another family member also realized that they too had been robbed.

 It was late, we were all so tired, it seemed pretty impossible that this had happened to us!

All we were left with from our trip, are these few pictures that other family took during the week. I am grateful, however, that no one was hurt,

 "Things" can be replaced. Sad as it was...it sure could have been worse.

And now... We piece our lives back together...a little at a time!;)

 

 

High Wycombe...

Our Precious Graduates...

 

June 14, was graduation day for our Precious.

I have been holding it together emotionally pretty well... until...

I caught here eye as she walked into the graduation ceremony, and then I lost it!

She looked beautiful...and very grown up!

  She looked ready to take the next step in her life.

 

Her graduating class was 60 kids.

 Some have been with her in school since the day they entered Kindergarten.

  In fact, one young man was with her in Pre-School, where they were the king and

queen of the school when they graduated. He wore a little mini suit... she sore the puffiest

pink floor length dress...layers and layers of tulle, with a huge crystal crown on her little head.

  That little king and queen practiced a waltz...for weeks...to preform at the graduation dinner following the ceremony. It was pretty great!;)

Now...those two friends, who have been together for a very

very long time...are off to accomplish their own goals...in different directions.

 

 

After the graduation ceremony...the graduates were met with songs by the

Mariachis...a tradition at the JSA. The family gathered for our balloon launch...

a symbol that our Precious is ready to fly...

 

The afternoon was filled with lots of hugs...lots of good-byes...

great food...and a big welcome into the JSA Alumni Association.

One of the things I love so much about our communities and the

 JSA is the deep rooted traditions that they are so loyal to!

Preshie is a 3rd generation graduate of the JSA...and that is a special thing.

The day was hot...it was long...but it was wonderful!!!

 

 

Auntie came from lands far away...(Utah) It was great to have her with us!

 

 

PreShie and Grandma C. one of the two grandma's that she is named for.

 

Missionary Update...

 

The Missionary Boy sent us a few photos last week...

I say, we NEVER tire of pictures of him

!

 

He loves his area...and he loves his companion!

He is having so many wonderful experiences and has grown so much!

 

 

He recently had the opportunity to travel to the adjoining mission for a special conference with Elder Ballard. He sure was happy to have that experience.

 

This is a special family that he and Elder Jones have become close to. He mentioned when he wrote, that the pictures might be blurry...because the Sister who was taking the picture began to cry as she saw her son in the middle of two missionaries;) I thought that was sweet...

and the pictures were a little blurry!;)

The Family Party....Part 2

 

While everyone was swimming...

The Farmer waited patiently for The Grill Master...aka,

Uncle Clayt preformed his magic on the grill!;)

The Farmer took a break from church meetings to join us for the festivities!

 

 

The food was fantastic!!

We have some great cooks in this family;)

We NEVER have a shortage of yummy food to eat!!

 

 

See what I mean??? Too much great food to eat!

 

 

PreShie was gifted with the "family gift." It is a beautiful Silver ring that each of the Lovelies has.

It has a sweet message of love from a family who loves her very much!

 

The Lovelies and their rings!

 

 

The evening ended with a piece of tasty cake... Pina Colada Cake!

It was a very fun evening! These children of ours are blessed kids!

They are surrounded with many who love them very very much!!!