LEAP!!!

It's that time again. Leap Year. Did you realize we have Leap Year, Olympics and Presidential elections all in the same year? I noticed it a few years back. Just another random thought.

Promises, Promises, Promises

A week or two ago, my oldest son reminded me about a promise I made them *years* ago. I told them that as soon as Ronan learned to walk ( he didn't walk until he was 17.5 months old), we would go to Disneyland. Well, life got interesting after that. Brian was laid off from work, we moved 800 miles away to Idaho, I started working full-time, then I got pregnant and was put on bed-rest and we never went to Disneyland. Ronan is 6 now. My, my how time flies. :-)
I am going to keep my promise. I am going to work hard at my Mary Kay business, save everything I can (after paying bills, etc.) and we are going to Disneyland this summer!!! Even Brian is excited about it. He wants to stay in the Disneyland Hotel. His Dad worked at Disneyland years ago (about 39). Brian even met Walt Disney!! It's just too bad that he was too young to actually remember it! It is reported in family legend that Walt liked Brian.
I don't remember going as a child but I've seen plenty of photos. I specificly (how do you spell that?) remember one at Christmas time. Then there was the trip in the '80's ('86 or '87 maybe?). We ran into a guy that my brother, Rick, had graduated with in Oregon! It is a small world after all. The only other thing I remember from that trip is that Dad and Mom were sooooooo "mean". They wouldn't let us older kids go running off to the rides. We had to all stick together. Not a great memory but it's mine.
So, it's time to go and make memories with my own children! This year is the year of a million wishes or something like that. They are giving out tons of prizes. I've heard from friends who live down there and visit often that if a Cast Member stops you and asks if they can talk to you for a minute, DO IT!!! There are prizes like a night's stay in Walt's apartment or another special suite.
Anyway, we're going to fly down (it'll be cheaper than driving), spend 5 days at Disneyland and California Adventure and a day at the beach. It's going to be a great time!!!!!!!!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Our 16th anniversary was on Friday. I can hardly believe it's been that long! This year I planned everything and it was fun! Brian and I did an endowment session at the Rexburg Temple. It was our first together there! Then we ate at Applebee's (thank you Mom & Dad for the gift card!).
The kids knew my plans but Brian didn't so he was really surprized when I pulled around the restaurant to the hotel behind it and parked! We haven't gone "away" for our anniversary in quite a few years. We used to go out to the Oregon Coast but it's a bit far for an overnight trip now!
Several weeks ago I asked Brian to take the whole weekend off but he forgot. We were going to go skiing up at Kelly Canyon but he had to work on Saturday. So, I had a nice day at home with the kids while Brian and Brandon went to Driggs.
It was a very nice anniversary. I'm looking forward to many, many more!

Temple Dedication!

(This post was written on Feb. 10th and I'm just getting it posted here.)
The Rexburg, Idaho Temple is dedicated!! We were able to attend the 9am session. It was foggy this morning and I think that played a part in the session starting 1/2 an hour late. President Monson didn't say why they were late but the fog is a logical conclusion. (I found out yesterday, the 12th, that his plane couldn't land in Idaho Falls and had to divert to Pocatello, about 45 minutes farther south of us.)
I took notes because I knew I wouldn't be able to remember everything!! The first thing to happen this morning (after the opening hymn and prayer) was the cornerstone sealing ceremony. In today's Temples, the cornerstone isn't an actual stone like it used to be. The Cornerstone has historically always been in the Southeast corner. Pres. Monson reminded us that Christ is the cornerstone of our lives and this work.
President Monson's humor is just as quick and cute as President Hinckley's was!! The dignitaries went outside and placed mortar around the stone. Pres. Monson went first and then invited "his physician" Elder Russel M. Nelson to place some and joked that Elder Nelson ought to do better even though the instruments aren't what he is used to. Then he invited Elder Costa (of the Presidency of the 70) to place some "in Spanish". Elder Bednar, Temple President Christiansen, thier wives and other people, including children, took their turns. One of the little boys was a redhead. After they were all done Pres. Monson told a story about a redhead boy he talked to at conference once. He told the boy that he loved to have redheads in the mission field and wanted one in each district because they were pacesetters and really worked hard. The mother of this boy wrote Pres. Monson later and told him that every day since, the boy had stood in front of the mirror and said "I'm going to be a pacesetter"!!.
After returning to the Celestial room, Elder Bednar spoke. He testified that the Savior revealed His will for the location of the Temple. He spoke of leading VIP tours before the public open house began. He recalled a tour he led of leaders of various other denominations. In the baptistry they were all seated and Elder Bednar spoke of the Christian dilema of what happens to those who lived in a time or place that they never heard of Christ or His Gospel. He bore his testimony of the doctrine of baptism for the dead. Elder Bednar quoted from Doctrine & Covenants 109 (which is the dedication prayer for the Kirtland Temple). He then bore his testimony in closing.
Elder Russel M. Nelson spoke next. He quoted Joseph Smith. I couldn't write down the whole thing but the beginning he said "this work is worthy of archangels" (speaking of temple work). In the Temple we lear of God, of the Atonement, Eternal life and the Fall.
The Chior sang again and then Pres. Monson spoke. He said there was no other place he would rather be than in the Temple, dedicating it as his first official act as President of the Church. He told about Pres. Hinckley's involvement in the building of the Temple. Pres. Hinckley approved all the plans and checked in on the process constantly. He was involved in every step and was looking forward to being here for the dedication. Pres. Monson said he was sure that our loving Heavenly Father allowed Pres. Hinckley to be there today. Again, I couldn't get everything written down (I wish I knew shorthand in these kinds of situations!!). Just a few of the things I caught in Pres. Monson's talk- Trust in the Lord and He will lead your paths. The work will go on night and day in this Temple. If we let the Temple touch us, we will be guided and directed.
Pres. Monson then offered the dedicatory prayer. It was beautiful. We all participated in the Hosannah shout. The chior sang the "Hosannah Anthem" and the congregation joined in to sing "The Spirit of God".There were only 18 men and women in the chior (9 each). There must have been angels singing as the sound was so full and glorious that they couldn't have been alone.
It was a wonderful dedication and I am so grateful that we were able to go with our two oldest boys.
The work begins on Tuesday!! I have a 6am appointment for an endowment session. It seems like the Temple was announced so long ago and the building has taken sooooo long. But, of course, looking back on it, it went by really fast and now it's ready and dedicated!!!

Rexburg Temple Cultural Celebration!

Our 2nd ds (Jonah) was one of the performers so he had to be to the gym really early. I dropped off some dinner to him and wandered around the lobby just to see what was going on. I found out there was a stand-by ticket line. We were just going to watch at the Stake Center because we hadn't gotten tickets for the gym. We (Brian and I) decided it would be worth waiting in line because it wasn't very long at that point and we really wanted to see it in the gym instead of on tv. We knew there would be seats left because the weather has been so bad that some people from the Teton Valley couldn't get here. My sister was with me and we saw lots of people we knew so the hour and a half that we waited in line wasn't so bad. :-)
The ushers started taking people from the line in small groups. We were the 4th or 5th group to go in. We had to split the family up because they had 2 sets of 4 seats. Brian and I were led to our seats but we had to wait because we had to go down the aisle right next to the music conductor and the opening hymn was being sung. Then the prayer was said. We were told to "wait right here" until the dignitaries finished speaking. The lights came up, and lo and behold, there we were behind Elder Bednar on all 3 *huge* screens!!!!!! Talk about embarrassing! I don't know how many people last night and today have come up to us and said "I saw you on the screen last night!!". The ushers decided to change our seats because we were having a difficult time getting to them. So, we ended up sitting behind and just to the side of Elder and Sister Bednar! We were on the first row of bleacher seats which was good for Isabeau and Ronan. Isabeau was especially cute. She would go up to the railing right next to Sister Bednar and watch the program. Sis. Bednar would look over and Isabeau would smile back at her. Such a precious memory for me to give her when she is older!! She's only 2 (3 next month) so it was okay for her to be cute. She wasn't bothering anyone because the seats right below the railing were empty. And it was easier to let her do that than try to hold her on my lap the whole time!
The program was so amazing!!! They started by telling how the first pioneers came up from Cache Valley, UT. It was hard those first few years. President Woodruff gave his "Wagon Box Prophecy" and told the people that he could see into the future of the valley and saw productive fields, meetinghouses dotting the land, schools and places of higher learning and temples (plural) in this valley. The Rexburg Temple is part of the fulfillment of that prophecy. The Saints, of course, did prosper. Thomas E. Ricks was a tremendous leader who got things going in a big way with canals and other infrastructure.The program had a lot of dancing from different eras and styles, a barbershop quartet, a brass band, and even a dance with irrigation pipes!! It was fun!! The chior and wind ensemble were incredible!!!
There was one part about the Teton Dam Flood disaster. They said that despite the flood on June 6th, one month after the flood, the town held their 4th of July Parade to the amazement of many. A marching band came out on the floor playing "Stars and Stripes Forever". Several young men came out and started throwing candy to the crowd just like at a real parade! It was fun. Ronan was able to get one piece and then Sis. Bednar handed him one that had fallen at her feet. After the program, she found another piece and gave it to him, also. Elder Costa (presidency of the 70) also found one after the program (he was sitting next to the Bednar's) and handed it to Isabeau. They are so sweet and always considerate of children!! I love their example!!!!!
The last number was "The Spirit of God". A Primary chior came out onto the floor. A young boy began a solo of "I Love to See the Temple". The Primary Chior joined in. Then a young girl began to sing "The Spirit of God". The regular chior joined in and it was powerful!!! Toward the end, hundreds of Primary children all dressed in white came flowing onto the floor. They filled the floor completely!! They each had stalks of wheat in their hands. At the end they all raised their arms toward the picture of the Temple that was showing on the screen, symbolizing gathering the wheat of the Lord to His Holy House. I can't even express in words how powerful it all was!!!
Representations of wheat fill the Temple from banisters to the stained glass windows. It is a "theme" of the Temple and the celebration had several segments devoted to it, also. There was even a large motif in the center of the floor painted to look like one of the s tained glass windows with wheat in it and there were wheat stalks painted everywhere on the floor.
It was wonderful and such a huge success!! I saw the performers faces as the danced. You could see the joy in their eyes. What wonderful memories for them!!
I didn't mean to write a book but there you have it!!

Back into the light

Wow, that was a really dark, scary, awful, dark place. I don't know where it came from (then again I have a pretty good idea) and why but Sunday and Monday were not good days. I'm doing much better today and hope to never see that place again.
One of the things that really helped was a hymn. The 2nd verse of "We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet". It says "when dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us and threaten our peace to destroy, there is hope smiling (or is it shining) brightly before us, and we know that deliverence is nigh. We doubt not the Lord nor His goodness, we have proved him in days that are past". I know that it was the tender mercies of the Lord that pulled me out of the valley. The clouds were indeed dark and threatening and without the Lord, I would still be there.
The light is brilliant, hopeful and peaceful. I hope you, too, feel of it.

Usher update

Well, on Sunday I was talking with the Ward Ex. Secretary and he said 'oh, by the way' (I really don't like it when people start like that, it usually doesn't end well). He told us last week that we were being ushers in the Temple. He was wrong. We'll be at the Stake Center. I'm having a really hard time with it because I am so disappointed.
I just really don't understand the whole system for handing out tickets and assignments for both the dedication and the Cultural Celebration. The Hart Gym (where the celebration will be held) seats 6-7000 people (I don't remember exactly how many, maybe more than that). About 2000 Primary children, youth and young adults are taking part. Yet, for some reason, they don't have enough seating to allow the parents of the performers sit in the gym to watch their children. Our bishopric told us that they had 3 seperate letters telling them that parents were *not* to get tickets to sit in the gym. I don't understand and no one seems to be willing to explain other than to say 'you can go to the dress rehersal on Friday'. Why can't other people go on Friday if it's going to be so great?
The Temple will have seating for about 1800 people per session (4 sessions, 7200 tickets total). Who is getting those tickets? I know I'm not more special than anyone else but I also know that I'm not any less special. Why can't I get tickets? I know there can't possibly be that many "vip's" in the area. I talked to the man in charge of the ushers for the Temple and he said there was nothing he could do.
When I was a teen, the Portland, Oregon Temple was built. I graduated high school just before it was dedicated. I was soooo excited!! This was *my* Temple!! I helped at the Open House along with many other youth. Then I left for college a week before the dedication. My Mom sang in the dedication chior and I would have been able to go if I had been there. So, when Rexburg was announced, I was ecstatic thinking that now I have another Temple that is '*my*' Temple and I would certainly be able to go to the dedication. I tried for several weeks, in vain, to find out who was in charge of the chior. No luck there. That was disappointing because I wanted to sing in the chior. Then to be told that I'm not allowed to attend the dedication in the Temple is devestating. I'll keep trying this week to see if I can find tickets but I'm not expecting there are any left.
If you've made it this far, please don't judge me. I have struggles you don't and I know you have struggles I don't. This is mine this week.

The photos are two of the many I have taken. I was able to crop them and they look fabulous as 8 X 10's on my wall.

Sad News

The first exchange student we had come live with us this year (Sinthu from Norway) is being sent home tomorrow. She went to live with another family after Thanksgiving. We still aren't sure why other than she wanted to.
Her new host family found out that she was throwing up a lot. She told them several different stories but what it has all come down to is that she has a problem that she isn't admitting to and EF Foundation isn't willing to be responsible for her health to that extent. I have no proof but we are pretty sure she has bulimia. It didn't start after she got here, it's been going on for quite some time. It's sad that she is sick in that way and it is ending up getting her sent home. She really needs to get help and the only way to get that is to send her home. She is upset and angry (understandably). I just hope her parents will get her the help she needs.