Thanksgiving at the Cabin.

My kids with some cousins, Lacy and Tyson

My kids with their Granny.

What would the cabin be with out a good game of Risk.

The clean up crew.

We had Thanksgiving at the cabin. Granny come from Calif. We had all the kids. We had so much fun. It is such a great get away from the world. We eat well, play games, and watch some good movies. I love Thanksgiving at the cabin. The weather in not that great because the ground is always wet, so we don't go out side because it is to muddy. So we have a lot of family time. Scott did take the kids on Thursday to shoot guns at the shooting range. They all had a great time. On Friday Lacy and Tyson came for a few days. We had a GREAT Thanksgiving.

Gratitude: A Path to Happiness

Happy Thanksgiving !

Granny came out for Thanksgiving today. We all went to Olive Garden for dinner. Carlie was at a Liahona basketball game. We missed her. We are Thankful for Granny and so happy to have her here for Thanksgiving.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
I love Sister Bonnie D. Parkin's talk on Gratitude: A Path to Happiness
Quote "Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but to express it. Frequently we are oblivious to the Lord's hand. We murmur, complain, resist, criticize; so often we are not grateful. In the Book of Mormon, we learn that those who murmur do not know the "dealings of that God who....created them. The Lord counsels us not to murmur because it is then difficult for the Spirit to work with us.

The kind of gratitude that receives even tribulations with thanksgiving requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit, humility to accept that which we cannot change, willingness to turn everything over to the Lord- even when we do not understand, thankfulness for hidden opportunities yet to be revealed. Then comes a sense of peace.

I also love Elder Joseph B Wirthlin's talk -Come What May, and Love it.

Quote " I know why there must be opposition in all things. Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it.

As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, as did my mother, "Come what may, and love it."

Celebrating Jason's Birthday.

Sweater from the Elders

Sweater from Jessie

Gifts for Jason

Late post but I have pictures from Jason's birthday Celebration. We went to some BBQ and Pizza place in Provo then we come home and opened Jason's gifts. We all love Jason!

Blessings.

I am not a writer, I think that a picture are worth a thousand words. But I am going to try to write some of my feelings. Yesterday we had family pictures taken. I wanted to share with you an experience I had while having our pictures taken. Our cute photographer Kate Benson just had baby number three. She asked me what I thought, should she have more children? All of the sudden a flood of emotion hit me. I begin to tear up. "YES" I said"have more kids!" As I looked at my four beautiful children, and son in-law. A gift from my Heavenly Father. What great joy and blessings they are in my life.

President Jame E. Faust "While few human challenges are greater than that of being good parents, few opportunities offer greater potential for joy. Surely no more important work is to be done in this world than preparing our children to be God-fearing, happy, honorable, and productive. Parents will find no more fulfilling happiness than to have their children honor them and their teachings. It is the glory of parenthood. John testified, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

All of you know that being a parent is not easy. But at that moment when Kate asked if she should have more my joy was full. I would not be who I am today if I were not a mother, if I didn't have the blessing and opportunity to have children. My children have made choices that have brought me to my knees. ( I am sure my parents were on their knees on my behalf) I have learned to trust the Lord, and turned it over to God. I am very proud of each one of my children. They are not perfect, but neither am I. They are doing good things and we are moving forward. I am very blessed and I thank my Heavenly Father every day to be a mother. I love my children very much!!

Last Night at Twilight.

Stacy and Jessie

Joehanna and Courtany.

How cute are my girls.

We went at 9:00 to get in line. We got so lucky. Our line only had two people in it. Every other line was huge. We only waited about 45 min before they took us inside. The move was fun. I don't need to see it again. The book is much better. If you are in our teens I sure you would love it.

Midnight showing of Twilight

We are going to the 12:13 AM showing of Twilight. Who you say? Well, Me Jessie, Jason, Carlie, Rylie, Stacy, Courtany, Courtany's Mom and two Sister, Mel, Kelli, and Maggie. This should be fun. I hope I can stay awake.
I read the book and believe it or not I didn't love it. I liked it, but didn't love it. I hope the movie is better. I told the girls that if it is not worth watching that we would walk out. I will let you know what happens. The girls are way excited!!

Tyler Stillwell Gray

By: Juanita. Tyler's wife.

Rest In Peace
Tyler Stillwell Gray
February 11th, 1982 - November 14th, 2004

How do I write this? My entire body is trembling and my eyes are swelled up with tears. How do I say that on November 14th 2004 at 10:39 am I watched the great love of my life take his very last breath. Tyler Stillwell Gray is gone. My husband. My best friend. The ultimate love of my life is gone. He went to a place that I cannot even begin to fathom.

He overdosed on heroin Saturday night. I spent the entire night with his mother and father. We sat by his side till the very end. He was a vegetable. The only part of his brain that was still functioning was the part that told him to breath and even that part needed help. He had tubes and wires everywhere. I knew exactly when he left his body. His mother Judy and father Russell and I had just barely walked into the room. He opened his eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes of his. Judy and I walked closer to his bed. Judy called out Tyler's name. The nurse came in and we asked her if he could see us. I knew that he could. Then his heart stopped and he left his body.

If you would like to read more click here.


The hard things we must go through in life. Tyler is my nephew. This is a very sad thing that we had to go through, DRUGS ARE BAD!!! I am so sad that my sister had to experience this trial in her life. This has been a hard thing for my sister and her family. My sister is a rock. I love her dearly and am glad, for the things I have learned by just being her sister. God bless you for the example you are to me and others. I love you tons. Sisters are the BEST!

Happy 26th Birthday Jason!

Jessie loves Jason.

My three boys.

Jason helping with the Christmas tree.

Jason being Jason.

10 reasons why we love Jason.
10. He is GREAT at math. (he always helps the girls with math homework, because no one else can.)
9. He is alway up to play games. ( that's because he always wins)
8. He will eat anything and never complains.
7. He fits in our family perfect.
6. He loves to go to the cabin and is always willing to help Scott with anything.
5. He is a hard worker and love to save money.
4. He is a good balance for Jessie.
3. He helps clean the kitchen after our big Sunday meal.
2. He loves Disneyland and sometimes takes the girls.
1. He loves Jessie and treat her with respect and kindness. He is very good to Jessie.

Rhino Riding

Scott, Geoff, Geoff's friends from work and Matt Gallend (a friend of Scott's from our ward) went up the canyon last week-end for a day of rhino riding. They had a great time. When I was gone on my Sister's trip to Seattle Scott, Geoff and Geoff's friend Scott went to Moab for some Rhino riding. I haven't been able to to down load those pictures yet. When I do I will share. I am so grateful that Scott and Geoff enjoy each other. They have a great relationship.

Mark, Geoff and Nick

Geoff, Nick and Mark

Celebrating Rylie's 14th Birthday!

We had some friends over for crepes and a little bop-it.

Crepes

YEA! a cell phone.

Geoff and Carlie texting.

Jason with his bowling ball.

Jessie and Rylie with their bowling balls.

Happy birthday from Brick Oven.

The Happy Birthday song.

We Celebrated Rylie's 14th Birthday in a big way! We had so much fun. We went out to dinner at Brick oven, then we went bowling at BYU. It was a blast! We also had her friends over after school for our tradition, Crepes . Rylie has been long waiting to get a cell phone. Thanks to her dad she now has one. Rylie is a sweet and kind teenager. I hope she stays that way.

Hang on Folks: By Annie Ashton.

I got this off of Annie Aston's blog. She says it so well.


I've got to get this off my chest. If you voted for Obama, I still like you. Really.

First of all, I want to acknowledge the fact that it is remarkable that a black man has become President of the United States. I appreciate that our nation has been able to get over race in a civil rights aspect. That truly is historic. I wonder how many people voted for him because of his color and that history, or because of Obama's change-themed campaign.
Well, America, what kind of change are you going to get, exactly? You just voted for President of the United States, a man who has only been a senator for 4 years. 2 of those have been spent campaigning for this office. Seriously, the guy is just words, just speeches, aside from the following votes that are quite defining:
You just voted for a man who voted against the partial-birth abortion ban, a practice that is vile.
You just voted for a man who voted against helping a baby who survived a botched abortion, claiming that that might make the mother rethink her decision. Ya think? How is that any different than murder?
You just voted for a man who is pro-gay marriage. If people in this country think that that values of their leader is inconsequential, I would beg you to consider otherwise.
In addition, I don't believe it is the right of anyone in this county to decide how much is too much to make, financially. So many people in this race are looking to him for hand-outs, not hand-ups. I am happy to give hand-ups, but not the other.
Unfortunatly, the only way Obama was elected was through the darling lens of the media. If this race had been covered fairly and Obama's potential problems and questionable past given any scrutiny, if Obama was not a thin, hip, handsome, Oprah's guy, this race would likely have had a different outcome.
I really hope that my doubts will be proved wrong. But if not, Mitt in 2012, PLEASE.

And I almost forgot yesterday's ray of light:
It's looking like Prop. 8 has passed in California! What a victory for families!!

Thanks Annie very well said. God bless America, We Need it!!

Tomorrow's Memories Made Today.

I have a cute niece who is doing blog books for other people as a side business. She is good at it. She lives in Arizona. You should check out her web site @ tomorrowsmemoriestoday.blogspot.com.
Let me know what you think. Great Christmas Gift idea.