The kindest people...

I'm tremendously blessed to know so many people 

who are kind and loving, 

helpful and thoughtful, 

people who go out of their way on a daily basis to bless others. 

Kind friends who share their yummy baking skills, 

friends who'll play pickleball, 

friends who leave their very busy lives 

to go walking, 

friends who love and care about our twigs,

(Stake Girls Camp) 

(Girls State) 

(Mission Homecoming) 

(Mission meetings) 

  

and send us fun pictures! 

(Fort Knox)

We love and appreciate you, kind friends!

<3

San Fran with honors...

Zac needed to take an honors class for one of his scholarships. 

The honors class that was highly recommended to him 

came complete with a field trip to San Francisco!

The class was called "The Beat Goes On" 

and the field trip was over spring break. 

Zac was awesome to send pictures each day!

Here are some of my favorites. =D

The Class Description says "From On the Road to the Summer of Love to Woodstock with several stops in between, this class explores the events, trends and personalities that illuminate this explosive time in America. Central to the class is a “field trip” to San Francisco where the students explore many of its neighborhoods that are on the forefront during these decades of change—places like North Beach, Berkeley and Haight-Ashbury. The class will also examine what of this revolution in thought and action has endured, as well as what has not, into Twenty-first Century America."

I believe one of the objectives of honors classes is 

to acquaint students with diversity of thoughts and actions. 

Some of the class experiences were a little too diverse 

for Zac's liking but he's an optimistic guy 

and found lots of things to love. 

This picture's for you, Hunter. <3

Zac found Alcatraz's audio tour quite interesting.

This is one of the two professors (taking a 360 photo) who led the field trip. Thanks men!

A memorable experience for sure.

Gone to Carolina, together forever because of Him...

When Zac left on his mission to The Carolinas, 

people were so thoughtful and generous. 

They gave him money to help with the expense of his mission 

and they gave me treats and flowers. Hahaha! 

What fabulous friends! 

Susannah gave us this plaque and we hung it 

right where we could see it most often. 

It was perfect and after all, 

that's what Zac's mission was all about for us. 

<3

I've had experience upon experience 

which has confirmed to me

 that families can be together for eternity, 

that life goes on beyond the grave, 

that everything will be made right.

Joseph B. Wirthlin,

one of my favorite people ever, 

explained it like this...

"I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. 

Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind 

was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

I think that of all the days 

since the beginning of this world’s history, 

that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, 

the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. 

He ascended from the grave 

and appeared gloriously triumphant 

as the Savior of all mankind.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days 

when the universe itself seems shattered 

and the shards of our world 

lie littered about us in pieces. 

We all will experience those broken times 

when it seems we can never 

be put together again. 

We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—

Sunday will come. 

In the darkness of our sorrow, 

Sunday will come."

I feel such power in those words!

<3

A bridal shower for the perfect girl...

A few weeks ago our girlie and I were jazzed 
to be invited to a bridal shower for this precious girl.

Her name is Jessica and she is marrying our super cool nephew, Joe. 

We always knew the girl that won Joe's heart 
would be totally fantastic and Jessica is that girl, the perfect girl for Joe!!

One of our favorite parts of the shower was this little activity where Joe 

was asked questions about their relationship in advance.
Questions like: 
what was your first date,
when was your first kiss,
how did you propose,
what could Jessica not live without?

His responses were recorded and played for all to see. 

Jessica was asked what Joe's answer would be.
If she got it right she got a lindor chocolate, 
but if she got it wrong she got a great big chunk of hubba bubba. 
The chocolate she could save 
but the hubba bubba she had to eat all at once. 
Oh boy!!!

When Joe was asked what Jessica couldn't live without, 

he answered three things:

1. Heavenly Father

2. Cottage Cheese

3. Hopefully she'll say me    :)

She did say him!   Aaahhhh...

She giggled when she heard him say cottage cheese 

and admitted that she really does love cottage cheese - so cute.

One of the sweetest interactions I noticed was 

Jessica introducing her friend/roommate to Joe. 

She loves them both so dearly and was excited to have them meet each other.   :)

Congrats Joe and Jessica - we love you!!!

Christmas Village 2015 "North Carolina" Theme with help from the Full-time Elders, Alex, Joe, and Jessica :)

With our Zac on a mission teaching people about
Jesus Christ and His restored gospel
 in the Carolinas, 

we decided to make our Christmas Village theme "North Carolina" this year.

We had sandy beaches, blue water, a lighthouse, 

and the Wright Brothers airplane on the Outer Banks side. 

Moss and snow-dusted trees surrounded Chimney Rock on the other side of the village.

The missionaries serving in our area were able to drop by for a few minutes 

and make houses for the Village.
How neat is that!

They were from Fiji (Elder Koroibuica), Finland (Elder Sohkanen), and Florida (Elder Philips). 

Notice the awesome Finnish flag.

They had to leave before the village was all put together. 

I noticed later that someone made little missionaries, 

name badges and all, 

out of sour patch kids and placed them on the missionary's doorstep.   :)

Alex stayed with us for his college Thanksgiving break.

This was his first time helping to make the Christmas Village

and we were totally impressed by his imagination and speed!

Not only did he come up with the Outer Banks Lighthouse, 

but he also worked with Joe on the Wright Brothers Plane

and made the U.S. flag atop Chimney Rock.  

His two, experienced village-making sisters would be proud!

This was Joe's second year helping with the Village and he brought the best addition, Jessica! 

They're getting married in December and we couldn't be more thrilled!   :) 

She's totally a keeper! 

She's creative too - check out her fun licorice boat complete with life ring bumpers

and sour patch kids floating along in style.

Their house had a boat dock, a pumpkin patch, fishermen, an alligator, etc. etc. etc.

Our girlie's house won our hearts with her little tufts of moss on the roof tiles and sides. 

Her wreath bow was made of hot glue and then colored with a marker.   :)
Love all her frosty icicle touches and chimney smoke too.  

Hunter and Joe made cars with life savers for wheels so they really rolled.

Joe's 4-wheelin', hill climbing, graham cracker car

I loved Hunter's rooftop balcony with views of Chimney Rock.
That's his 3-wheeled car in the carport on the right.

Our dog loved Hunter's front door we believe, 

as it mysteriously disappeared last week 

but there are some teeth marks left on the sour candy sharks. 

The Mr. had a totally creative roof and a bright rock path into the sound.

I went for a wrap around porch and a house on stilts so we could be in the water.

Thanks everyone for the fun time
and Merry Christmas to Zac in the Carolinas!!