A time for reflection...

Many new, but for those who did not, One of my Uncles recently passed away.

Tim was such a great man. When I was younger, him and I had a very close relationship. In some ways he was like a big brother, in other ways, like a second father figure. He will be greatly missed. After 3 years of a lot of pain and suffering, his battle with cancer is finally over. With my understanding of the scriptures, I know he is in a far better place.

The picture below is of Justin and Tim last summer at the lake. They were being funny and trying to reinact the seen from RV (with Robin Williams) with the "HOSE SPREADER".

The same week Tim passed, I had two other Uncles and a cousin go into the hospital. One with a stroke, the other for sugery to remove his spleen and the top of his pancreas.  My cousin was in sever motorcyle accident coming home from work. He is still in the hospital, stable yet in broken shape. The doctors have said he is lucky to be alive. 

Needless to say, the passed week or so has been a very emotional and reflective time for me. I have thought long and hard about the all men (immediate and extended family members) in my life and just how blessed I am. (I am sure you can tell by some of my most recent post.) I am so greatful for each and everyone one of them. I love them all very much, including those special ladies in my life too. It doesn't get much more important than family. And I am greatful to my Mom for instilling that in me from a very early age.

It's a hamster! Not a rat!

This is Lucy. The newest addition to our home. 

She is a very cute and friendly hamster. 

Emma and Grace just love her. And so does Tucker! 

He likes to get up on the chair and watch her run on her wheel. 

The kind of Son parents pray to raise.

Justin is an amazing son to his parents. He is the kind of son parents pray for. He is obedient, extremely intelligent, trust worthy, forgiving, Christ serving, loving and very generous. He is also the kind of son who never asks, wants or expects a handout and never takes his parents for granted.

Here are some examples of just how great he is...

• Justin served a mission for the church when he was 19 years old. To show responsibility and to lighten the burden on his parents, he worked and saved up to pay for his mission clothes, bike and other things needed for his mission.
• Never got in trouble with the law.
• Has never drank or smoked.
• Became an Eagle Scout at age 14. He would have gotten it a little earlier but he was also active with the Masons at the same time. 
• Married in the Temple / church.
• Is a responsible parent to his kids.

Here is a picture of Justin recently serving his parents.

The guy next to Justin is one of our Superintendents / Project Managers that works for us. Both guys worked extremely hard all day gutting Justin's parents kitchen to get it ready for a remodel. 

Bob and Melanie are blessed parents to have a son like Justin. And I am so grateful to be the lucky girl he chose to give his heart too! 

Could I get some fancy foot wear to go with that?

You bet! Here you go....

Justin has been having some pains in his stomach area for about the past year now. After multiple doctor's visits and many test and medications, nothing seemed to be working. They could not find the problem. So a scope down the throat was needed. Justin got some really fancy socks and a super nice blue shirt out of it.

Woo Hoo! All of Justin's fashion dreams have now been full filled!

Doesn't he look so excited??? He just could not contain himself! So much so, they had to sedate him. :)

Turns out...the lining in his stomach has been compromised. (Stomach lining has a raw spot on it.) With 2 different kinds of medication for 6 weeks, he should be all better.

If you build it, they will come!

Girls Camp 2011 has come and gone again. This year, this was our theme...

I am the Brandon Stake Girls Camp Director. I absolutely LOVE my calling. It allows me to work with some really amazing women and spend a week with some super great young women.  I feel so blessed to be trusted by the Lord to help spiritual mold his children. We spend a week with the girls doing spiritually fun stuff.

This year for the YCL's, I thought it would be a great experience to take them on an airboat ride. The girls had some much fun and really got to see just how beautiful Florida's nature is. 



One of our activities was to build a cake based on a story from the Old Testament. The cakes turned out so good. Here is a picture of 3 of the cakes.

Noah's Ark , Jonah and the Whale & The Garden of Eden

The girls are also given the opportunity to get on the shooting range. Wow can some of the girls shoot! I am so impressed. We talk about protection, not only from a physical stand point but from a spiritual side as well. Thanks to Justin, my father-in-law Bob, and Al Russo for always helping with this activity. It is a highlight of the week.


For our service project, we built this...

On the last night of camp, this is what I got out of the shower to find.... my bunk had been attached by caution tape!


Here is a picture of the entire group! I am so lucky to get to know all of our Stakes Young Women! I just love them!