Empty Nest

Even though it has felt like summer for some time now...the signs of Spring were all around.  Little bunnies hopping around in the grass in the early morning, sunrise before 6am, and babies...yep...babies.  Take a look.

What's this in the little hanging planter?

June 9th, little hershey squirt hatches

Little peanut joins the nest on June 10th.

My little nest buddies

Giving each other loves

Uh...where did the little squirt and peanut go?  4 days and they are huge.

Day 6

Day 8

Day 12, Spread your wings and fly

 I will miss my daily trip outside to see my little buddies...mama bird will be happy to be rid of me though!

The Teenager and the Trek

It's dusty, it's hot, it's physically exhausting...it's emotional...it's Trek.

I was thrilled when I heard Bryten would get to go on the Trek.  They didn't have it when I was growing up, heck they didn't have EFY till my late teens.  I enjoyed Girls camp and Youth Conferences more than just about anything growing up and I think I would have liked Trek...well maybe some of it.

The dates had been mis-communicated so I was not prepared when I found out that she was leaving in 7 days and I didn't have any pioneer clothing for her.  Luckily, I have great friends and family!  Our friends (more like family) Donna and Shawna had just sent Natalie off on Trek and had sewn a really cute red and white checked apron and bonnett for her.  They were nice enough to sew one for Bryten and overnight it to us!  Super duper cute!  We fount a white skirt and navy blue button down shirt at Ross so this became outfit number one.  I think she looks adorable.  You can tell she thinks I'm a dork for wanting the picture!

Grandma Lu and Aunt Mildie (and cousin Stacey too) chipped in and made her a cute white apron for her second outfit and we found a cute blue flower print dress at the Goodwill.  (This apron did not come back white!!!)  She won the bonnett at a trek activity by answering a pioneer question correctly!  It matched the blue really well.

The kids left early Tuesday morning (June 7th) at 6am.  I had to fly to Georgia for work the day before so I wasn't here to see her off.  Scot said it was kind of emotional for him as he and Araya drove off and headed up to Globe.  He couldn't help but worry about her and kicked himself for not giving her a Father's blessing before she left.  The kids each had a 5 gallon bucket to carry all their belongings and necessities in.  They had their extra set of clothing, mess kit, water bottle, pajamas, socks, toiletries and a few other items in there.  They arrived up at trek and they built their handcarts and were assigned into families.  Bryten was lucky enough to have the Sorensens as her Ma/Pa.  They are in our stake and Bryten fell in love with them.  Ironically they are the brother and sister in law to my friends Angie and Justin Speer.  Pretty cool!

They pretty much walked and pulled the handcarts for 2 days, rested the 3rd and continued on the 4th.  They did something called the Womens Pull where the men and boys had to stand to the side and watch the women pull the handcarts by themselves.  They weren't allowed to talk or help them in any way.  The women and girls had to go up a steep dirt hill with many large boulders.  This was to represent the time that the men were away fighting in the Mormon Batallion and the women were left to pull the carts and fend for themselves.  All the young men who talked in church last Sunday as well as the leaders said that this by far was the one thing that really strengthened their testimonies.  Some of the young men were in tears as they watched their "Ma" and "sisters" struggle up that hill.  They wanted to step up and help but were not able to. They were in awe at how strong the women were and how some of the women that made it up to the top of the hill left their handcarts and went and helped the others.  Some of the young men commented that there seemed to be angels helping these young women.  It was very emotional listening to these experiences but none hit me as hard as the actual pictures I saw later that night that they had put on a dvd to one of the hymns.

Bryten called home on Thursday night and was having a hard time.  She had hurt her knee right before the women's pull and had received a priesthood blessing so that she could participate.  She was able to make it up the hill with her Ma and Sisters and complete the pull.  She said that as soon as she reached the top the pain in her knee returned and she fell to the ground.

I am thankful she was able to go on the trek, but even prouder that she wanted to go and that she gained a sense of what our ancestors went through to get from Illinois to Utah.  So many lost their lives during that long trek in the 1850s.  Mothers buried their babies and children alongside the trail.  Many women became widows, and husbands lost their entire families.  Some children were left alongside the trail just wrapped in a blanket because the ground was too frozen to dig a grave.  I can't imagine the trials that they went through, but the stories are almost haunting.  I am thankful for what they sacrificed and even more thankful that Bryten was able to experience just a little of the hardship...I don't know that any of us will every fully grasp the reality of it.

It was so good to have her home!  She came off the bus and ran ...screaming..."Mommy"...jumped in my arms and we hugged...and I cried.  (that's nothing new).  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) there is no picture of that encounter, but I did get the hug between her and Scot...again I cried.

Bryten and Scot

Bryten and one of her "sisters"

Bryten, Xavier, Eric, Tyler (friends from our ward)

Quincie (she's just plain adorable)

The Intruder and the Alarm

intruder [ɪnˈtruːdə] n  a person who enters a building, grounds, etc., without permission


This last week we have had an intruder in our home.  Once in awhile it happens when the kids leave the back door open...but last Friday the intruder got in on her own.


Luckily for me we have an alarm system.  We got a great deal, no monthly fees, no batteries, no secret codes to punch in...just one little protective....Yorkie!


Here is a video clip of what happens when the intruder tries to get in:


You'll need to pause my music on the bottom right so you can hear my blah commentary!

Princess Ray of the Rescanance (Renaissance)

A few weeks ago we went to the Renaissance Festival and Araya was set on getting her hair braided.  I had not charged my battery on my camera so unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of our Renaissance escapades but I did manage to snap a few shots of her beautiful hair.............and her sweet kisses.  That's her new favorite thing...to smother me with kisses.  I think we'll keep her!

Sometimes there are NO WORDS!

 Sometimes you come across a picture....o.k...maybe 5 pictures that were taken with your camera and you can't help but wonder what kind of drug someone got slipped that day....I'm pretty sure there are no words to explain these...but I can tell you this.  I'm sure that this idea was derived by my deranged yet very much loved cousin Bree.  Bryten...just because she does it doesn't mean you need to.  O.k. really...you should because I look at these and smile!  Do it again!  I have no idea when these were taken but they are not even recent!

                                                                                     

4th of July in April

I had a couple of project kids I'd purchased from a friend.  She cuts the wood and vinyl and I buy the kit from her, paint and put it together.  These have been sitting on a shelf for almost a year now...and whew...got them done this weekend just in time to put them out in a few months!

Spring Fling on the Trampoline

O.k. so technically it is spring although it is feeling a tad bit like summer!  This last weekend was General Conference and the kids were obviously not interested in it.  They were more interested in this kind of weekend....wet....fun....and springy (as in trampoline springs).  Makes me wish I was a kid again!  Sure looks fun.

90 years...that's a LONG time

March 1st was Grandma Salladay's 90th birthday.  She is sure getting up there in age and she is having a rough go of it but she still has that spunk about her most of the time.

We all gathered over at her house for a semi surprise party.  Sharon ordered mexican food and we ate and visited.  It was a good time.

Grandma is one of the best cooks that I know.  Unfortunately she can't stand and cook any more.  She is on oxygen and spends most of her time in her chair watching her Phoenix Suns play or her other shows.

We love you Grandma and hope that you have many more good years!

Family Day at Temple Square

Bryten and I have been to Temple Square multiple times during our visits with family in Utah.  Last April Scot and I went together and it was his second time although his first was when he was a young child so it was a new experience for him.  One of the things he has wanted to do for a long time is to take his 3 kids (note...I say his to mainly identify his/hers in the post) to Temple Square.  His younger son John has wanted to go for so long and one day dreams of directing the MOTAB.  So this was quite exciting for him.  The other kids had a good time but I think Araya just wanted to get done and find a hamburger somewhere.  She has an obsession with hamburgers.

Here are a few pictures of our wonderful day at Temple Square!

The kiddos - can you tell it was cold?

Getting the tour at the conference center.  Araya is sending me hamburger distress signals!

Me and my squinting husband!  This is where we want to be sealed!

Our little family!

A Temporary Goodbye

As long as I can remember, this amazing woman was there for me.  She babysat me when I was young, read me stories, watched movies with me, played card and board games with me, cooked tasty meals for me, gave me advice, shared her love for her ancestors with me.....the list goes on and on.  This amazing woman is my Grandma.

Grandma was diagnosed with colon cancer at least 5 years ago.  She began a journey of research and of healthy eating to combat the cancer.  I am confident that this change helped her to remain with us for such a long time.  In early February my Aunt let us know that the time was near and so I made more frequent attempts to communicate with Grandma.  You could tell her mind was still there but yet so tired.  You could have a conversation with her for a few minutes and then she would start to make a little less sense and you knew she needed to rest.  On Febrary 11th my Aunt phoned and told me that if I wanted to see her before she left this earthly life, I better come quick.  I flew to Utah on the 12th and surprised Grandma.  She was so happy to see me and we sat and visited till she needed to rest.  I stayed the entire day and didn't leave till late that night.  I went back the next day and we had talked in between her naps.  She was so tiny, only weighing about 55 - 60 lbs and the Grandma that I remembered was no longer in front of me.  It was as if I was looking at a tiny skeletal shell of the woman she once was.  She was however still alert on and off and able to communicate.  That night she made it known that she was ready to let go.  She talked to each of her children and most of her grandchildren/great grandchildren and said her goodbyes.  I sat with her for a few private moments to tell her goodbye.  I told her how her testimony had been a building block and source of strength in my life and how it would carry on throughout her posterity.  She told me how special I was and how happy she was for me in my new journey in life with a family of my own.  I asked her to keep her promise that she would give my mom a special hug when she saw her on the other side of the veil.  She looked at me and noticed I was wearing a BYU sweatshirt (she loved BYU).  She said, "I will as long as you give me your sweatshirt".  I laughed and told her I would be happy to.  Then she said, "O.k., I will do it as long as I have such a nice sweatshirt to wear".  Yes, she was a little on the loopy side at that point and I'm sure she didn't have a clue what she was saying in regards to the sweatshirt but her humor was there.  That was the last conversation I had with her as the next few days she was asleep and pretty much non-responsive.  She passed from her earthly body riddled with cancer to the presence of her Heavenly Father, and all her loved ones that had passed before her on Wednesday the 16th of February.

What a woman!  She is a spiritual giant and will always be such an inspiration to me.

I will regret not calling her more during the last year.  I talked to her on Christmas and I apologized for not calling more frequently but I had a hard time with the Goodbyes and the whole death experience after losing my own mother just shy of 3 years ago to the same horrible disease.  She told me that she understood how hard it was but reminded me....this is just a "temporary goodbye" Sherri.  This is not the end for us.  It was those words that reminded me and renewed the power of my testimony in eternal families.  It wasn't that I didn't know this and it wasn't that I didn't look forward to the reunion on the other side with my mother, it was just that fear and sadness that sometimes creeps in.  How amazing it is that a few words can open our eyes a little wider to see clearer what is already in front of us.  She always knew what to say....and when to say it.  Sometimes she would say more than others wanted to hear, but she was honest and gave her opinion.  More than likely if we look back at those times, she was probably right on most of them.

I spoke at her funeral.  I will post the talk at another time as to keep a journal of it here.

I love this woman more than words can say.  She raised such an amazing daughter who became my mother and gave me life.  I couldn't have been more blessed!  I couldn't have had better examples in my life than these 2 women.  I thank the Lord for them in my life and look forward to the day that our "temporary goodbyes" turn into an eternal reunion.  I love you Grandma.

Ballerina Bryten

Bryten has always loved music, downloading it, singing it, dancing to it, playing it on the piano...if it's music, she lights up.

This year at her high school, her counselor put her in dance (I guess it was a class that had openings).  He looked at her and said, "Is dance o.k.?"   She looked at him and shook her head yes.  She has loved it.  Her first semester she had a  performance (in a group) and so we went to watch her.  First of all, she looked so dang cute in her dance outfit.

I NEVER had a figure like that!!!! *JEALOUS*

Second, she did awesome!  I could not take my eyes off of her!  I was so impressed and so proud of her.  She had really nice lines, never forgot her steps, and she looked so dang cute in her outfit.  OH, I already said that. *smiles*

I am looking forward to her next performance.

I also love to listen to her practice the piano!

Christmas - Family picture - 2010

Baptism - Araya Hope

Araya had been asking for months when she would be able to get baptized.  She turned 8 back in October but it was after the stake baptisms for the month.  We thought we'd do it in November but with Thanksgiving and family events, both November and December crept by.  Again she asked, "AM I EVER GOING TO GET BAPTIZED?"  It's one of those moments that you know you need to get your REAR in GEAR because this little wonderful spirit wants to do what the Lord wants her to do!  We got her in for interview with the Bishop and her date was set for January 15th.

We started out with the dress.  I was excited to get out Bryten's dress that she wore when she was baptized and it fit Araya perfectly.  We took her pictures at one of the little parks in our neighborhood and we sent out invites to friends and family!

I kind of miss the days when the baptisms were a little more personal.  Not a big fan of the stake baptism setup but I completely understand the need to do them all in one day.  There is no way that you could schedule the stake center for that many baptisms in a month, have people there to fill up the font, have the Bishop there to conduct, etc...etc...etc...  So we had 4 baptisms in our ward that day and the RS room was jam packed.  Many people had to stand and even though it was January, the room was HOT HOT HOT.  Araya was so scared to go down into the water and the little girl before her had to get dunked twice which really freaked Ray out.  She did great though and I was so proud of her.

Scot gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  I felt so bad for him because there was no stand to put his scriptures on, no  microphone, barely any standing room and the temperature felt like it was 90 degrees.  He stood up there and was sweating so bad that he started to feel like he was going to pass out right there so he promptly ended his talk half way through it.  Definitely not like him as he has talked in church many times, sometimes even last minute when someone had not shown up.  He taught in the Elders quorum for a couple of years so he felt like quite the failure by not being able to finish his talk.  Poor guy!

Afterwards we had a lunch at our home for family and friends...I think I had something like 32 people there!  Yikes!  It was fun, a little crowded but it was one of those times that will be remembered!

I love this little girl with all my heart and know that she made such an important decision in her life.  I remember how I felt that day...remember that the next morning I wanted to do it all over again.  I am so proud of her and know that she will be a strong young woman someday!

Bradford WHO?

If you'd like to view my previous blog you can find it at www.jacklins-two.blogspot.com

Not sure if I can merge the two or bring over my other posts so I want to be able to look back and see the slideshows and pictures that are there!  Hope you enjoy and welcome to the new blog.  I hope to keep it updated!