Pictures from Fiji...

It's strange that some days I don't think about how far away Tallin is from us, and just feel at peace that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing and other days it feels like he is so far away I can't breathe. I am happy that he is there, but sometimes, especially when I know he is struggling a bit. Tuesday I ran over to Salt Lake for doctor appointments and orthodontist appointments and we went to eat after and saw a couple of Elders sitting outside waiting to go in. While we were eating a group of 10 Elders came in and sat at the table right next to us. I heard them laughing and talking the way carefree teens who happen to have a purpose seem to do. I had been really missing Tallin, worried about him and feeling like he is a million miles away... and it was like the Lord sent this group of missionaries to the very place I would be to let me know the He is aware of how hard it can be, and that Tallin is alright, and that He is aware of us all. And I felt better!!! It was fun to watch little kids as they were leaving with their parents yell out to the missionaries saying, "Hi Elders!" or "Bye Elders!" and I knew that somewhere around the world little ones are yelling the same thing to MY Elder! It just so happened that I got a disc full of pictures from Fiji also and I loved looking at them and seeing what an amazing opportunity he is able to have!!! What a gorgeous place! What a wonderful chance for him to serve others, to give of himself and to become a most amazing man!! We are about a quarter of the way there... I know that the days are flying by and I know that I will continue to feel peace whenever I get a little too homesick, because I know that he is where he is supposed to be, and I am grateful that he is!!!

Easter

Easter was wonderful this year.... really wonderful! It was one of those days when you have to be grateful for all of the little things that make life so good. Jace, Caitlyn and Kassi were all speaking in Sacrament meeting and it was just wonderful! It was Caitlyn's first big talk and she did so well. Sunday Jace gave a talk in Sacrament about the Savior. He bore such an amazing testimony of the atonement and the gift that He gave to all of us, and he shared part of Bruce R. McConkie's talk about the Savior...

I can barely even read it or think too deeply about the pain that the Savior suffered as He took our sins, our pains, our fears upon Himself... but I am so thankful that there is One that can carry everything for us, who knows how to overcome all things!

We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane.

We know he sweat great gouts of blood from every pore as he drained the dregs of that bitter cup his Father had given him.

We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for man to suffer, except it be unto death.

We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name.

We know that he lay prostrate upon the ground as the pains and agonies of an infinite burden caused him to tremble and would that he might not drink the bitter cup.

We know that an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen him in his ordeal, and we suppose it was mighty Michael, who foremost fell that mortal man might be.

As near as we can judge, these infinite agonies—this suffering beyond compare—continued for some three or four hours.

After this—his body then wrenched and drained of strength—he confronted Judas and the other incarnate devils, some from the very Sanhedrin itself; and he was led away with a rope around his neck, as a common criminal, to be judged by the arch-criminals who as Jews sat in Aaron’s seat and who as Romans wielded Caesar’s power.

They took him to Annas, to Caiaphas, to Pilate, to Herod, and back to Pilate. He was accused, cursed, and smitten. Their foul saliva ran down his face as vicious blows further weakened his pain-engulfed body.

With reeds of wrath they rained blows upon his back. Blood ran down his face as a crown of thorns pierced his trembling brow.

But above it all he was scourged, scourged with forty stripes save one, scourged with a multithonged whip into whose leather strands sharp bones and cutting metals were woven.

Many died from scourging alone, but he rose from the sufferings of the scourge that he might die an ignominious death upon the cruel cross of Calvary.

Then he carried his own cross until he collapsed from the weight and pain and mounting agony of it all.

Finally, on a hill called Calvary—again, it was outside Jerusalem’s walls—while helpless disciples looked on and felt the agonies of near death in their own bodies, the Roman soldiers laid him upon the cross.

With great mallets they drove spikes of iron through his feet and hands and wrists. Truly he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

Then the cross was raised that all might see and gape and curse and deride. This they did, with evil venom, for three hours from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Then the heavens grew black. Darkness covered the land for the space of three hours, as it did among the Nephites. There was a mighty storm, as though the very God of Nature was in agony.

And truly he was, for while he was hanging on the cross for another three hours, from noon to 3:00 p.m., all the infinite agonies and merciless pains of Gethsemane recurred.

And, finally, when the atoning agonies had taken their toll—when the victory had been won, when the Son of God had fulfilled the will of his Father in all things—then he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and he voluntarily gave up the ghost.

It just turned out to be one of those days that felt so good... when everything felt wonderful. I am so grateful for my family and the blessings that have come because of them!

Tanner even helped Nate dye eggs after dinner...

Somehow the Easter Bunny found his way to our house while we were at church and it looked like an explosion of candy happened all over the living room!

Gabriel is telling grandma, "Cheeeese!"

My little man... oh how I love this face!!!!

I am thinking that a lot of candy will slowly disappear over the next few days...

2 of my favorite little guys... they had matching suits for Easter!

Checking out the candy... wayyyyyyyyyy too much candy!

5 of the most amazing boys EVER!!!

All dolled up in their new Easter dresses...

My girls... who always brighten my day! I feel so blessed to feel of their amazing spirits and to just be in the same room with them. There is rarely a dull moment when they are around. They have taught me more than I will have ever taught them!!!

I love to see the temple...

This trip to the temple has been planned for a while now...

it is something that we have looked forward to,

something I looked forward to so much.

It was going to be a very special time

with my teenagers,

and with Caitlyn and Jace.

A youth temple trip to the Salt Lake Temple.

It's funny that my only real desire for my kids

is like the scripture in the Third Epistle of John that says,

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

And to know that they are doing all they can to be worthy

to enter the temple of God

is truly the greatest joy of all.

It always seems like there is opposition to the good,

and special things that you are planning and this was no exception.

It was like the devil himself was trying to keep us

from the work,

the experiences

we looked forward to there.

It seemed like every road block,

every atttitude,

every reason you could think of came up before we left.

But once we walked inside the temple,

it all went away.

It was powerful from beginning to end.

It started with the youth,

and leaders

meeting in the tiny chapel

and singing

He Is Risen.

How much more appropriate could it be

than to sing about the Risen Lord

on Easter weekend.

To hear our bishop,

and the temple worker

share their testimony of Jesus Christ

and

know the importance of being inside the temple.

Thayne had been worried about being able to do the baptisms

because of his back.

I believe we witnessed a miracle as I watched him perform the baptisms.

He said the strength he felt was overwhelming.

To see my children doing baptisms

was beautiful, amazing!

To feel the spirit of the Lord took away every worry and every care

and made me look at my life from an eternal perspective.

It gave me hope, and joy, and peace,

and an incredible feeling of love for my family.

Our bishop talked about being at his youngest sisters wedding,

where for the first time his mom had all of her kids in the temple.

And how she was beaming the entire day.

That... THAT is my ultimate dream!

I can understand that joy in a small degree

sitting with my husband and seven of my kids inside the walls

of one of the most beautiful places on earth.

If that isn't heaven,

I don't know what is!

I look forward to the day that I have a picture of every single one of my children ready to go inside the temple of the Lord.
The bishop talked about always living your life in a way that you can enter the temple...
that is, more than anything else in life, the thing I hope for the most for my children.
There is joy in choosing the right,
you can see it in the faces of the youth who are trying hard to do what is right.


Big brother is going to make you smile if you won't do it on your own! :)

There truly is beauty everywhere around the temple...

Wyatt...

Sisters...

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden threade to the meaning of life
A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.

~For when sisters love each other with such sincere affection, the one does not experience sorrow, pain, affliction of any kind,
but the other's heart wishes to relieve, and vibrates in tenderness...

like a well organized musical instrument.



Having a sister is like having a friend that you can't get rid of...
You know whatever you do, they'll still be there.

You can kid the world... but not your sisters!

I'm smiling because you're my sister...

I'm laughing because there is nothing you can do about it!

How do people make it through life without a sister?

More than Santa Claus, your sisters know when you've been bad and good...

My sisters and I, friends are we, best of friends we will always be!

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.

A sister is God's way of proving he doesn't want us to walk alone...

Sisters remember things you would rather forget, in graphic detail... with PROOF!

It's a fine thing when sisters love each other...

Girls like you come around once in a lifetime!

A sister is someone who knows everything about you,

and loves you anyway!

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips.

When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?

Be kind to thy sisters, not many may know the depths of sisterly love.

To my sisters:

Remember every day

No matter what I've said,

Here's what I want to say...I will always love you,

be with you till the end.

When noone else is around,
I will be your friend.

A sister smiles when one tells one's stories ~ for she knows where the decoration has been added.

Sisters function as a safety net in a chaotic world

simply by being there for each other.