Conference Week-end

"For the Atonement of the Lord and His gift of resurrection—for this sublime message of Easter—thanks be to God!" Russell M Nelson

March 30 we drove to St. George to celebrate three birthdays - Arianne, Danielle and James.  Saturday morning I went to Hurricane to watch Sydni, Kourtni, Ally and Jacob play soccer.  It was a great day in the sunshine - unfortunately, I forgot to bring the camera along . . . Ray stayed back waiting for the cable guys to show up so we could watch General Conference. 
Arianne, Will, Charlie, James and Nathanial came Saturday to spend the week-end and we were able to see Damien, Danielle, Jacob, Sydni, Kourtni, Ally and Mason Saturday.  After the soccer games, we had a picnic in the park, then Sydni, Kourtni and I drove back down to the condo, where we watched conference, played some games of Pick-Up Sticks and got ready for the birthday celebration .  Syd and Kourtni were both a huge help in the kitchen and I so enjoyed having them there.

Mason, Kourtni, Ally, Sydni and Jacob~ photo by Danielle

What a great conference it was!  A few of my favorite quotes: 
"Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously. It may seem paradoxical, but that is why recognizing answers to prayer can sometimes be very difficult. Sometimes we unwisely try to face life by depending on our own experience and capacity. It is much wiser for us to seek through prayer and divine inspiration to know what to do. Our obedience assures that when required, we can qualify for divine power to accomplish an inspired objective". Richard G Scott

"This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!  It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children."  Dieter F Uchtdorf


"Wherever you now find yourself on the road of discipleship, you are on the right road, the road toward eternal life. Together we can lift and strengthen one another in the great and important days ahead. Whatever the difficulties confronting us, the weaknesses confining us, or the impossibilities surrounding us, let us have faith in the Son of God, who declared, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”

"How blessed we are, my brothers and sisters, to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and in our hearts. It provides answers to life’s greatest questions. It provides meaning and purpose and hope to our lives. We live in troubled times. I assure you that our Heavenly Father is mindful of the challenges we face. He loves each of us and desires to bless us and to help us. May we call upon Him in prayer, as He admonished when He said, “Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth. President Thomas S Monson

I am so grateful for a living prophet!  I am grateful for the restoration of the Savior's gospel upon the earth.  I love reading the scriptures and know that they are given to us for our benefit, to teach us and lead us back to live with our loving Father in Heaven.

Lovin' those Grands!

"There is a reason they are called "Grand"children - because they are just that!" ~ Sandy O

Wake up, Papa Ray!

 We were so blessed to have Cori, Jesse, Grace, Grant and Eden come up for their Spring Break ~ it was a joy to have them here. 

Can't think of a better way to get up  - wrestling with G & G

 It was a delight to come home to these bright eyed children.  We had a great time on the trampoline, reading stories and playing games. 

Grace and Grant playing Add-On with Grammy Sandy

Eden loved jumping too - but gently

Grace and Grant had special surprises waiting for us when we got home from work - artists in the making!

Papa Ray reads his favorite story ~ Dr Suess's Sleep Book - Grant started yawining,~ and soon we were all following 

"Starring" Eden

 Eden's little face is so expressive - and she is so much fun to watch! 

Here come the Scripture Monkeys!

 Life couldn't be any sweeter than this . . .

I'm not sure how this little tradition started . . . but after scriptures, the monkeys go up on the fan. . .

. . . and they go flying to everyone's delight!

Grace reading Grammie's favorite story, "If We Could Spend a Day With You," starring Grace and Grant

Well, the week just flew by way too quickly!  We loved having you here and miss you, miss you, miss you!

Another Project - Done!

"Life is so constructed that an event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation".~ Charlotte Bronte

Ethan and Megan ~tiling finally begins!

 We started remodeling our master bathroom last summer, a project that got circumvented with Ray's health and then once again by a drip behind the wall in the guest bathroom.  With the whole family coming for Christmas, we decided we couldn't be down to 1 1/2 baths for 28 people . . . so Ray decided a bathroom remodel would only take us the week-end . . . Thanksgiving week-end no less . . . so Brittany and Cory, and Ethan and Megan all came down to help with this "little project."

 The guys spent a whole day plus just redoing the plumbing.  We have a very interesting house - one that always surprises when you get behind the walls. . . and our projects have to get creative to fix the builders interesting and often baffling construction techniques. . . "and where was the building inspector?"  Then the guys worked hard on getting everything else ready to go.  Ethan and Megan came again the next week-end to help us tile~ it was starting to look feasible!

Ray and I worked on this little "week-end project" every night after work ~ sometimes until the wee hours of the morning, then up we would get in a few hours to go to work.   We chose a lovely Bellagio Clay from Contempo Tile. topped with a double bull nose border around Diamond Mix Tumble, for the shower.  WE added glass shower doors to open up and lighten up the area.

 Cabinet and mirror from Home Depot - which entailed a few more creative"fixes" to make it all work.

 The Essence Forest floor tiles are set "on point" with a border. We got this far on the project and we were both exhausted trying to work full time and lay tile at night . . . we had some dear friends come in the week before Christmas and helped Ray finish the plumbing for the sink, put up the mirror, cabinet and lighting.  Tiffany flew in to help decorate for Christmas and she helped a lot on the final touches for the bathroom and had dinner ready for us when we got home from work, as well! (we really did not want to give her back to Brett). It was finished just in the nick of time~ December 23. 

The fun Southwest towels pull all the colors together well and create a warm welcome for our guests.  Voila! Our week-end project was done ~ a month later! Thank you so much to all of you who helped ~ we can't begin to tell you how grateful we are and how much we love you.