Spring, Smiles, and Spires

Last night for our Young Women beehive activity we went down to Temple Square to see the beautiful flowers. The girls were a little (a LOT!!) hyper, but once we got them calmed down we were able to wander around and enjoy everything around us:  the temple, the reflection pool, and the flowers.

I found out that two of my favorite girls (Who am I kidding? I have lots of favorites!) are going to be leaving within a month to go into Mia Maids. Dang it! I came in too late. Abby and Olivia - we'll miss you!

The girls HAD to run up the stairs of the Salt Lake Temple. (Little Miss Sarah in the back there is just a big cheeser 24/7.)

We decided for the second photo to have the girls make faces or do silly poses. As you can see, Abby really let loose--not (she's the one just below Sarah)! Aren't they cute?

My favorite part was the reflection pool. How cool is that!?

Bobbi was so good - she had donuts for us afterwards, AND water to wash them down. She's such a good mommie.

Loving my calling!

2013 Moulton Family Reunion

On Saturday Mom and I drove up to Perry, Utah, for the Moulton Family Reunion. My mom was really excited to see her only living sister, Aunt Maxine. She is 91. (Mom is 84.)

We had a great time! We heard some funny stories, we heard testimonies of faith, and we enjoyed each others' company. I got to spend time with my cousins and some amazing aunts and uncles. I am so blessed to be part of this family. My heritage is one of amazing stories and hearty people with unwavering faith.

The ladies decided we are going to make some more temple aprons using the pattern our moms were given by Grandma Moulton. We decided to get together some time in the fall.

The reunion was held at the home of David and Louise Daniels. (Louise is one of Maxine's daughters, and Maxine lives in the home next to theirs!) After most of the people had left, David asked me to listen while he played a few original songs he had written on the piano. They were beautiful. Then - for some crazy reason - he asked me lots of questions about my life, and he gave me such love and support. I was so thankful. Turns out he is the bishop of his ward. In my opinion, he was one of the many tender mercies from a loving Heavenly Father letting me know I am on the right path, and to keep trying and doing the best I can.

Aunt Betty Montgomery and Karen looking at one of Grandma Moulton's old bed covers and bed jackets. There was a note attached explaining that these bed covers were put on the mom's bed after having had a baby since they stayed in bed for ten days back then. It was very cheerful and bright. 

These are a few of Grandma Moulton's hats. What a classy lady she was!

There was a display set up in Aunt Maxine's house of all these amazing photos and antiques from Grandma and Grandpa.  

Here are Brent and Lane Montgomery and Aunt Maxine. She was so excited to see all of us. I could not believe how sharp her memory was. I walked in with my mom and she said, "The last time I saw you you were doing my nails." (We were at my mom's home I believe and I was polishing her nails.) What a MEMORY!

My Miracle Kuzzin Nancy LaMont and her hubby, Sheldon. Nancy was diagnosed with CF (cystic fibrosis) at age 3 and her diagnosis was five years. She has defied the odds and will continue to do so. She is an angel here on earth!

Guac!

One of my favorite homemade treats -- or anywhere anytime treats for that matter -- is guacamole!

My Flowers - 2013

Ironically, after having just posted my comments about how NOT a green thumb I am, I am still very proud to say I planted flowers again this year. My mom had given me two small planters but I hadn't used them last year. This year I did!

Here are the two planters and some of the perennials that have recently bloomed. I also planted some marigolds around the edges - because apparently they're good at keeping the snails out of the flowers!

What can I say? I love pink. 

This is the little area in front of my windows. I planted marigolds along the front here as well. Those bushes were teeny tiny when I planted them in 2009. So I guess I CAN actually grow SOME things. 

My Mommykins

All of us children went in on one gift for my mom for Mother's Day. When Leslie and I went with her to the Home and Garden Show a few months ago, she had seen these raised-bed planters, and she liked them. So I brought it up to my brothers and sister, and Sterling's daughter Gayle, and it was a go. So we ordered one.

Gayle and Peter were kind enough to deliver the finished product to Mom's deck on Friday - and surprised her - and she LOVES it! Gayle said she ran her fingers through the soil over and over...it's almost therapeutic to her. YAY! 

Today Rylan and I went up to visit her for Mother's Day and she had to show us her planter. She was in her moo-moo. She has always loved moo-moo's so this was no big surprise. She took us out on her deck and started running her fingers through the soil again. It will be fun to see what she decides to plant. She has such a gift. I am good at killing plants. Even silk plants. Yup. I'm a pro like that. But I TRY and that's what matters. 

Here are my mom and me. Love you Mom. Happy Mother's Day!

The Race for The Cure 5K

I love walking in 5K's. I don't know why, but I do. I am NOT a runner by any means but I do love to walk. So when I found out we could test drive a Ford and register for free for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (for breast cancer) I got on it!

My friend Cindy Allen and two of her daughters, Tiffany and Crystal, walked too. We had a great time! We took TRAX downtown so we wouldn't have to deal with finding a parking space.

There were hundreds of people there all in PINK! Some people wore tu-tu's. Some brought their DOGS in tu-tu's! They had "Get Pinked" stations along the route where they had pink chalk bombs they would toss up in the air to land on you. I opted out of that one, but Tiffany and Crystal did it. 

I held up my phone and tried to take some pics of the crowd but these don't do it justice (because I'm so short). There were people as far as the eye could see -- both ways, a stream of pink, pink, pink. 

We finished the walk in just over an hour. 3.31 miles. Not too shabby for walking. They had fresh cold oranges waiting for us at the end and a few freebies at booths. It's one of my favorite things to do. 

Afterwards, we went to lunch at Famous Dave's. As you can see, Tiffany went for the ribs. And they made a -- lasting impression on her. LOL

See you again next year!

Mother's Day

This morning Rylan called me from downstairs and said, "Mom - come eat." I came down to find eggs and toast! Then during church, Ry started not feeling well... he has gotten progressively worse through the day. I think he must have Grandpa Walter's flu from when he was in town in for Aunt Juli's funeral. Poor buddy.

Thank you for being my son! I love you, Ry. 

Cuttin' Those Apron Strings

I guess there comes a point in every mother's life when she has to loosen her death grip on her children and let them learn to figure things out on their own. Now, I don't THINK that means we can't have input; it just means we need to give them the information we feel they need, and then let them take those steps without holding their hands every step of the way (as we watch from the sidelines silently cheering them on and hoping the scrapes and bruises they will SURELY acquire along the way aren't TOO painful or long-lasting).

Rylan is in the process of making a very important and potentially life-changing decision right now. I think when he asked my opinion and I didn't TELL him what to do or what not to do, he was shocked. And now I think he might secretly wish he didn't have to make this decision "on his own." He is trying to figure out how this whole personal revelation thing works, and it's not coming as easily as he had hoped.

I'm grateful for the advice he has gathered from our home teacher, our bishop, close relatives, and his seminary teacher.

He has been counseled to make a list of pros and cons, and to read his patriarchal blessing.

He has been referred to the Doctrine and Covenants where it discusses studying it out in your mind first, and then going to Heavenly Father for confirmation.

We both fasted this last Sunday, and he has prayed and prayed.

We went to the temple together last night so he could take some quiet time to think about everything.

I'm proud of him for taking that opportunity, and for taking the time necessary to process all his thoughts and feelings.

He is trying to do the right thing, and I'm glad that's important to him -- even in the midst of WANTING the answer to be one specific thing.

Man, this motherhood thing really ISN'T for wimps, is it?

PB &... B?

Anybody else ever had one of these? I remember eating them from time to time when I was little, but it has been a while. Yesterday I was hungry at work and I hadn't packed a lunch so I rummaged through my little fridge to see what I could find.

I had bread.
I had peanut butter.
And I had a banana.

Voila!

The Dove Gods Have Spoken...

Yesterday afternoon I indulged in my Dove chocolate from Aunt Juli's funeral. Here is what my message said:

Gotta say, I like it! I feel like I'm always on a road to self-discovery. And I'm happy about that.

Here's to Dove chocolates, and here's to discovering who we are...

Mother & Son Temple Night

One of our favorite things to do is to go to the temple. We started inviting other mothers and sons to come with us a few years ago, and now that's how we always try to do it. It's awesome. Normally all of us do baptisms, but this time the ladies did initiatories, and the guys did baptisms. We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was a beautiful evening! Afterward we went to Marble Slab Creamery at The District for some ice-cream. It's always nice to have a treat to look forward to. :)

Zach and Aimee Davis, Rylan and Kathy, Kaden and Kenda Millett

I love seeing Rylan throw his arms around his buddies. It's so great that he has good friends.

I was trying so hard to get the Angel Moroni in this one, but I didn't QUIIITE get there.

Springtime

I don't know what it is about flowers, but they amaze me. I love the shapes, sizes, colors, varieties...

Last week I was able to go to the temple to do some initiatory work. When I came out I had to stop to look at the flowers. And at the funeral yesterday, there were so many beautiful flowers! Bill and Juli owned "Shanks Floral" in Bountiful for 30 years, so I'm sure there were connections. They did our flowers for our wedding and they were gorgeous.

Here are some of the pictures I took at both places:

Could this hydrangea be any more beautiful?

The Circle of Life

Over the last few days I've been faced with a lot of sadness, but also a lot of joy.

Yesterday Rylan and I attended Juli Shanks' funeral. She was such a great woman! She was so funny and sarcastic - which is what I loved about her. She was someone who helped me deal with some of the "Shanks men" while I was married to Darren. Especially when Great Grandpa Shanks told me my morning sickness was "all in my head."

She was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago with breast cancer; then was cancer free for some time. Until it came back with a vengeance in her spine and her bones, and unfortunately it took her life this time around. She was a young 63. Her daughters paid tender tributes with just the right amount of humor mixed in, which is exactly how Juli would have had it. She had such a great sense of humor. In fact, the song she had played as they were wheeling the casket out of the chapel afterward was the graduation theme song.

So that was a sad, but sweet moment for us all. We worry for Uncle Bill, but we're grateful Juli is not in pain any more.

When I came back to work today I noticed my little rose plant (whom I have affectionately named "Rose") had sprouted a bunch of new starts. It made me think about new life.

We know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness Juli is going to be once again reunited with her Bill and her children and grandchildren - and that will be a new life. I remember thinking when my dad passed away that I was happy for him because he wasn't in pain any more, but I was sad for those of us who were left behind without a husband, father and grandfather. But I know I will be able to see him and live with him again someday.

For that, I am so thankful. I don't know how families survive a death without that knowledge.