Happening NOW!

 

Jordan's incredible green thumb on display.  This is just astounding to me.  He's so talented and he knows the names of all these plants.  This pond is actually on city property, but they don't mind...they probably appreciate that he keeps it weed and overgrowth free.  He spends MANY hours out in this yard.  As you can see!

Landon and Halsey just bought a dental practice- it is time consuming and all such a lot of work.  Jenni volunteered to tend for them on Monday's.  I asked her for a picture and look how cute Lola and Scottie are.  Truly delightful little girls.

Bridger at a youth conference in NYC.  HE said it was a lot of fun.  TOO bad the guy on the left in glasses didn't get the message.  HAHAHA.

Bri's first soccer game.  Fun to watch, but hard.  She was not a good sport!  HAHAHAH

DEVASTATION!

 Jenni called Sunday night to talk to Allen.

She told him the women in our family do not feel comfortable around him.  He tells them they are pretty and he wants to take their picture!  

There are no words to describe my shock.  In fact, I think my body was going in  to shock while he was sitting across from me on the phone.  

I'm in total shock and disbelief.

BUT, I'm trying VERY HARD to understand, focus and not be angry.  

I'm trying to use the Atonement to heal my aching heart - not just for ME, but for Allen, as well.  TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE.

And now, onward and upward.  

Help me, Jesus.

Small, but Dynamic BOOK CLUB!

 

Here we are discussing Theo of Golden;

Cari Nance, faithful Katrina Householder, Emily Blount, and Tammy Oliver, who always allows us to come to her home.  

It was a good discussion and everyone enjoyed the book.  Positive, feel-good; that's what we like!

THOUGHTS While THINKING

 God answered a prayer I had recently.  IT almost makes me chuckle.  But, I am so grateful.

Here's how it played out.  Allen was kicked off Amazon, so he couldn't make his puzzle books any more.  

It has put him in a funk.  And, left him rudderless.  NO hobby or something to do each day.  Pretty sad to see that.  I"ve been praying that Allen would find a hobby, something to fill his days.  But, I was hoping it would be meaningful..   He decided last week to work on a book he had previously written.  It has kept him occupied, busy, engaged and it's very meaningful, in my opinion.  (I had actually suggested he write another history book about an early pioneer!)

THANK YOU, Heavenly Father, for answering again one of my many pleas to you.

Also, just a little thought I had recently.

Many many years ago, Sister Johnson called faithfully EVEry MONTH to record our temple attendance.  The answer was almost always the same - DIDN'T GO.  (Too far, too busy, too far, too busy, HAHA!)

Now, I wish she would be calling because I try to go every week.  It has been glorious to have a temple so near by.  To have Allen go with me.  To take Gigi once a month.  I do love going to the Red Cliffs Temple.  I feel like I am learning so much.  I'm grateful.  

If you are in heaven looking down, Sister Johnson, the answer is, YES, I went to the temple!

The Four Year Old Princess

Bri turned four.  She's a REAL PRINCESS! 

Back To School!

WOW!  Aren't they all so ADORABLE and smart looking/  I LOVE these kids. 

In Days Past

Before I show and tell about these pictures, I have something very important to TELL...

Our Sunday School teacher, Mike Thompson, suggested that we each write in our journal that we had spent the last 50 MINUTE class of our lives in a church Sunday School meeting.  So, I'm doing that.  Starting in September, meetings will be held for 30 minutes each week; both Sunday School and Relief Society will be 25 minutes long.  They are to be focused on Christ and there will not be a lot of time for meaningless chatter.

So, I did what he suggested.  And, now on to last week.

We went to see our financial advisor and this is right outside his office.  It's so incredibly lucky.  Allen wanted a picture with Mark Armstrong.  So, here it is, and more beauty outside his office!

 

It was Erika's birthday.  SO FUN!  She is a delight and it was just such a wonderful time spent with these other remarkable and inspiring women.   

Sad to say, the tree is dying.  I love this tree.  SMOKE BUSH.  Allen will try to get it back in shape by watering it a little more.

And, to the next sad news.  I am down to 2!  It shows 3, but I lost again tonight.  It's kind of depressing.  

But this will cheer up a person.  There's Erika showing us what she made for the Primary kids to play as they pick a song to sing.  She said they loved it.

The Trip

 

Happy First Birthday, Blaire!

It's All Bout Family!

Kristi just quit her 2nd job as a critical cared doctor in Lynchburg, Virginia.  It was a VERY HARD job!  Terrible hours, VERY SICK patients.  She wondered what she should do, but decided in the end that it was a good time to quit.  

This was a card she received from a patient's wife.  To me, it says the kind of doctor she was in that hard situation.  While others may not have written, This one expresses what many of them felt, I'm sure.  So VERY PROUD OF HER.  She has girt and does HARD THINGS.  

 

And, on another note; here's Jeremy's entire family in Florida celebrating Carisa's birthday and just enjoying SUMMER.  Love these cheery pictures.  Life can be hard, but her's to having FUN!

Such fin times for teh Jeremy and Carisa Hackworth Family!

CAMP FISHER

 

That Day We Went to Lunch

 I laughed so hard.  I was having such a great time.

I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for putting these ladies in my path.  Oh, I do give thanks.  They have blessed my life tremendously and I'm grateful.  

HAPPY 4th!

 

Fisher kids on the 4th of July!  So much fun.  And, I love America!

Jenni's celebration dinner with some family members.  Looks so yummy...

For My Ears Only

We had been to the temple to do baptisms.  We had done it for one year the year before.  But, now we didn't get to do it because I was not part of THAT group.  SO, I suggested that we go....the two sisters and me.  And, of course, that meant a trip to FIZZ afterwards. 

She was getting out of the car.  She didn't say thank you.  She didn't say let's do it again.  She simply said quickly before she slammed the door, "Loni, you are my favorite person in the world."

Well, of course that isn't true, by any means.  She has a great mother, marvelous father, a sister that she is so close to, friends, other family.

But, what I think it means is that: I LISTEN to her chatter.  I ASK her questions about her life.  I COMPLIMENT her and BUILD her up.

I'm the only one who will ever know she said this, and I realize it's a 13 year old girl who is impressionable, and silly, and talkative, and a delightful chatterer, but  it was good for my soul.  

And so I say, "Thank you Heavenly Father, for that calling in the YW which allowed me to get to meet and be with these young girls for a year out of my life.  It meant everything to me."

And, thank you, Kenzie, for that brief moment in my life.

The Latest Happenings

Kristi with her poker friends enjoying BIG HAT time.  Look how cute she looks.
 

I've always wanted a picture of me in the RED chair, but not much of the chair is showing. 

 I'll try again another time.

It was so fun to go watch Calder play ball.  He's a good base stealer and he's also about the littlest kid on the team.  And, also the CUTEST!

Look at this lovely real estate PERSON.  It's Janessa and she's got a great resume!  Good luck to her!