Happy Birthday Garret!!!!

So our youngest turned 13 yesterday!!! I can't believe it... I think I feel another hair turning gray, hahaha...

Anyway, we had a wonderful day... We went out to eat and had given Garret an I-Pod touch for his present (We still haven't figured out how to get the music downloaded yet, but Dan is working on it).

Today Kerri made him a special dessert and everyone loves her cooking so he had extra :)

We had went to my mom's a week ago and had a big family birthday party while we were there so now I think we will just have a few guys over to have a WII tournament in a couple of weeks when things slow down...

I can't believe I have all teenagers now... I am grateful that Garret is a wonderful and thoughtful teenager :)

Happy Birthday Buddy!!! We love you!

Happy Birthday Kerri !!!

Our Kerri turned 16 today!!! What an exciting day this was....

Kerri asked for an old fashion bicycle for her birthday. One of her teachers thought this was absolutely toooo funny since she was turning 16 and most kids her age would want a car, or at least a different one than they have. (she has the bug for now)

Kerri wanted a purple bike, but we looked high and low and found this pink bike. She fell in love with it and so we brought home "Lady Katherine". She is so excited!

Our tradition is to go out to eat wherever the birthday person wants to eat, but since it was Sunday, we did not do that today. Kerri's favorite meal is Steak , so we bought all the fixings and made her the best birthday dinner ever!!! Steak, baked potato, salad...etc...

And on top of everything, we got to stay in our jammies all day and watch conference.

It has been a great birthday. She celebrated all weekend long. Kerri was "kidnapped" by her friends yesterday morning at 6:30 am and taken to breakfast then we took her to her grandmothers in Tulsa for the day where we had a birthday party with lots of family.

I can't believe she is 16!!! She gets her license on Tuesday. She can't wait!!! Excitement is in the air ;)

Happy Birthday Kerri... We love you MORE :)

Dan Graduated!!!!!

So my sweet and dedicated hubby graduated with honers this weekend from OCU. Dan ended his school time with a 4.0 National Honors "Delta Mu Delta". We were very blessed to have lots of family come in for the graduation.

Dan started and completed his undergrad at Phoenix then went to
OCU to do his Masters.

He had promised the kids that his school work would never interfere with their time with him. You would often find Dan doing
homework after 11pm at night, but more often than not he would get
up at 3am and do homework before work, school and kids activities..
oh, and did I mention Bishopric duties :)

He never tired of the school work and may even teach in the
Masters program at OCU during the evening this semester or next.

We are so thankful to all of our families and friends for their support and love!

WOOOOHOOOOO..... IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE... CONGRATS DAN!!!!!!

Time for reflection and celebration... Part 2

16 years ago tomorrow....On July 17th, 1993 I was sealed to my eternal companion in the Dallas Texas Temple. Ashley was almost 3 and I was pregnant with Kerri. I truly believe it is because of this wonderful gospel that Dan and I have such a strong and blessed life together. I love my family soooooo much :)

Dan took me to the Temple this past Tuesday night for date night. It was so peaceful there and I was able to totally relax and focus on the work being done there and reflect on that time 16 years ago that I made those sacred commitments and covenants and celebrate the blessings I have received over the years by abiding by those covenants.

I pray that each of you (my online buddies) will be blessed with time to go to the Temple this week.

Time for reflection and celebration

I can't believe it's been 20 years today that I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What a wonderful and marvelous experience this has been. I was baptized along with my niece, Kiamitia on July 16th, 1989 by Nathan Sams. Now, twenty years later I look back at the moment that changed the course of my life and the blessings that my family and I have received from that one choice I made so long ago....

The words from this song say it best....

I WILL

I've made my choice
You can mark this day
The day I pledge
To take His name

I will be strong
I will be brave
Standing for Him
As I take my place

I have felt the Spirit
Burn Truth in my heart
It's in my heart

Chours:
I will stand
I will not fall
In a world that's weak
I will be strong

I'll be true
I will choose His way
I know what's right
And I will not change
In a world where so many will not
I will

I may be one
But one becomes two
When you stand with me
And I stand with you

As we unit
Our cause is great
We're not just the candle
We are the flame

I will Take the light He gives me
And I'll hold it up high
I'll hold it up high

Chours:


From the cd..."Be Thou an Example"

Sister Hess

Do you remember Sister Hess????

We had a surprise visit today from Laura and her husband Gordan Cooper. We were so excited to get to see her again and meet her husband. Dan gave Laura a ride on our Harley before dinner. She loved it.... Here is a picture of her and her husband. They will be moving from Delaware to Utah in the next couple of months when Laura has finished her internship for Gordan to finish his schooling at UVU and he will be doing ROTC also.

Have fun and good luck Laura and Gordon!!!

Our Graduate....

So graduation came and went... it was a whirlwind week. Ash had 21 family members attend her graduation and 3 more were on the way but had a wreck (they are ok). It was wonderful to get to see everyone. We are glad that Ashley has done so well in accomplishing her goals and ended her year with straight "A's"...

So Congratulations Boog, we love you!!!
Dad, Mom, Kerri and Garret