A Beautiful New Granddaughter!

Juniper came a week earlier than planned! We drove up to Provo last night to meet her. She and her mom are both doing wonderfully! From "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," we read, "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. 'Children are an heritage of the Lord' (Psalm 127:3)." I am grateful that my new granddaughter has a loving mother and father. She also has a big sister, Lily, that wants to keep holding her. When I think of Lily wanting to hold Juniper, I think about us wanting to hold on to each other and to the covenants we've made so that we can be together forever.

An Impenetrable Army

On Monday, I attended the funeral of my brother-in-law. My sister is way too young to be a widow...she turned 47 on Sunday. The support she and her children had from her ward and her family was amazing. Another little sister summed it up beautifully. She posted the following along with a picture of my 14 siblings and me, "If anyone ever wondered about the benefits of a big family, look no further than this picture. We have not been together as a collective group in over 20 years. We are heartbroken that it took such a tragedy to get us all here, but here we are. And as I looked around today, I saw an impenetrable army that would protect, support and love each other through anything. I am so thankful Laura and her kids had this army around them today as they faced the hardest challenge of their lives. I am also glad I have this army behind me, should I ever need them for anything." What is amazing about this "army" is that the oldest 5 are all "whole" siblings. The next ten are half siblings to the first 5, but 6 (of the 10) are not related at all to the other 4....long story; but they all love each other. I love FAMILY!

Three More Children! :)

I have posted pictures of all of my children except three. There's Joseph who returned home from a mission to Guatemala a year ago, Caroline (long brown hair) who was just called to serve in the France Paris Mission, and Anna (purplish hair) who is expecting her second daughter any day now. (Alyssa, the bride, was in an earlier post). All of my children have such different personalities, strengths, and gifts. I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to guide, teach, and love them and watch them blossom into wonderful people. Parenthood is hard, fun, hard, rewarding, did I say hard? and the best thing I have ever done!

My Heavenly Father, My Earthly Father, My Husband, My Sons...and the Priesthood!

From the Proclamation on the family, "In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father... By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families." I have been blessed to have been raised by a loving father. I married a wonderful man who is a great father, and I have four awesome sons, three of whom are now fathers. I love these men. They provide for their families, love their wives and children, and teach their children to love Heavenly Father and His Son. I love my Heavenly Father who has made it possible for us to make and keep sacred covenants so that we can be eternal families.

From The Family: A Proclamation to the World, “'Children are an heritage of the Lord' (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations." Our children are precious, and we must protect them, nurture them, and love them. These are a couple of my grandchildren at our family reunion this week at Bear Lake, UT.

Marriage Between a Man and a Woman

In our class we have been talking about the importance of marriage between a man and a woman. This video of Elder David A. Bednar covers, beautifully, everything we've learned.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me!

I'm sorry for posting so many videos, but I really like this one. It doesn't really have anything to do with my class, but I had "moment" with it. When I was little girl, my grandparents had a cabin at Lake Arrowhead. I would rather go there than Disneyland. Being at the cabin with my grandma and grandpa was the greatest feeling ever. When I watched this video and Sheri Dew asked, "If you've never asked the Lord how He feels about you, that is a great question," I immediately felt those same feelings I felt as a little girl at my grandparents cabin...loved, protected, and that I was capable of great things.

Cedar City Temple...Steeple is in Place!

We've been watching the temple being built. The steeple is now in place. This video is so awesome!

Being a Grandma...

Look at these beautiful children. I love being a grandmother...or "Nana," as they call me. I forgot how fun it is to have pictures ripped from coloring books hanging on the refrigerator or to have a little one ask for one more story. This week in my class we studied the first paragraph of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." This paragraph states, "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." I am so grateful to know that I can grow and learn with and love my family now, and that God wants us to be a family forever. It's part of His plan!

A Tribute to Moms!

Sunday is Mother's Day! This video is a tribute to mothers everywhere. There's not a greater calling in the world than motherhood. Mothers sacrifice their bodies, their time, their money, their energy, and whatever else is required and give it all willingly because of their love for a child! Mothers can come in the form of an aunt, a grandmother, or even a friend. There are so many, many great women out there who give so much. Thank you to all the mothers in my life. I love you all!

Thomas S. Monson, Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches about the Plan of Salvation.

Have you ever wondered about Mormon temples?

Fulfill Assignment!

The real reason for this blog is to fulfill an assignment for a class I'm taking, but I hope it becomes something I enjoy and want to keep doing. The class I'm taking is called "The Eternal Family." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that we can be families forever. We can be sealed together in holy temples by priesthood authority. I love my family and want to be with them forever.