Today in church I got my (second) Young Womanhood Recognition Award. I got the first one back when I was 15, but they have changed the program, so when I became a leader in the YW organization, I started the new program. It took me three years of goal-setting, studying, and projects to finish it (kind of like an Eagle for girls). My award is a necklace with the temple spires on it like the one to the right, except mine is silver. Nicole Carter (age 16) also got her award today, after a special evening in her honor last Wednesday night. I am glad I finished the program, but like I always tell the YW, personal progress continues for life (at least it does if we're doing what we're supposed to be doing).

You Are My Sunshine(s)

Today we have enjoyed our first real spring rain, so we have mostly been inside all day. After naps, the girls played in Ad's room for awhile, then they brought their play things to my bed where I was resting. They were being so cute and funny, I grabbed the camera. Although it hardly does justice to the moment, here are some pictures (Heidi is all wild-haired and rosy-cheeked because she had recently woken up).

Here's Heidi's pageant smile...
...and here's a silly face...
...and here she is being her wild-eyed, turning-two-in-nine-days self.

Addie is singing to Heidi through her Blues Clues microphone
Addie's Big Grin

How the Flowers Looked Last Monday

Here is our first daffoldil bud...
These are the same flowers I took pictures of two weeks ago.

Today we have had lots of rain, so they should be blooming soon!

Eventide

Well, it has certainly been a nice weekend. I always enjoy General Conference weekend, especially now that we have (a) our own comfortable home with (b) three TVs tuned into BYUTV--church in our jammies, four hours Saturday and four hours Sunday. Actually, Saturday we had lots of little chores to do and Rich went out to the ranch before each session to take care of business (we are getting ready to build our fence and we re-seeded our boulevards where our neighbor kids have been riding their bikes over our poor new grass). But it was truly a joyful experience to be folding and ironing clothes and making lunch for the extended family to the sounds of inspiring talks and the MoTab choir's serenade. It really made me think about making my "regular days" and chores a more joyful experience. The girls were even well-behaved and happy to have their grandparents over to visit (we really should have them in our home more often!!!) During Saturday's afternoon session of conference, Heidi napped while Addie sat on our couch between Grandpa Tom & Grandma Rosalie. She colored in her new Easter coloring book (thanks, NanaLyn) for almost a solid hour, then played quietly after that (four is turning out to be so much easier than two and three-years-old).

Last night I got a babysitter while Rich went to General Priesthood meeting and went out with my mom-in-law and some other women whose husbands were at the meeting. We went out for Mexican food (I had yummy tortilla soup) and then played Hoopla afterward. It was a lot of fun and a welcome break. I didn't feel very good all weekend, but good enough to eat food and take Tylenol for my aches and pains, so I feel grateful for that.

Today, my in-laws came for lunch again and brought Vivian Ellison (our adopted great-grandma who lives out at the ranch--we bought it from her). They brought two delicious pies for dessert (Swedish Apple and lemon) and Rich & I made a post roast with carrots and mashed potatoes, gravy, and some fresh bread. We had a really nice time together and played "Don't Eat Pete" with Addie afterward. Also between sessions, one of my former YW, Kim, who is in college now came over to visit and brought her roommate. They are on spring break from BYU-Idaho and it was so fun to Kim & meet her friend. Kim worked a lot on our house when the kids came over to do service here, so it was fun to show her the basement all finished out. She remembered scraping and sweeping the concrete floor about a million times, and now it's all SUPAH-DELUXE! I told her she could house sit while we are in Missouri in June.

There were a lot of things about conference that I wanted to remember and note here, but I'll wait until I can post actual quotes. I love Elder Hales' & Elder Holland's talks about making your way back and building your relationship with the Lord...I always love those messages because we are always on the mend in one way or another. I also loved the talks reflecting on missionary service, and how it was repeated--every good thing in my life today can be traced in one way or another to my choice to serve a mission. I got caught up in thinking about that and shed a few tears remembering my mission experience and all that it taught me. It put me on a whole new path, and even when I tried to stray, the lessons I learned there in the mission field kept me moving in the right direction and led me to the totally peaceful and blessed life I live today. The plans I had for myself pale in comparison to what God has given me since then. I have certainly learned that "he can make more of a [wo]man than any [wo]man without him ever can."

Anyway, I'm gettin' pretty rambly and I need to go love on my family some before bed time (bed time already??? Happy Daylight Saving Time!!). Have a great week, all y'all!

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY: 3/30/1981

I was in the fourth grade in Weatherford, Oklahoma and our class was in the basement of a church because they were repairing the school. Our teacher turned on the TV in our classroom and had us watch the news. Ronald Reagan had been shot. I was mostly worried about my three-year-old brother who worshipped Ronald Reagan...this would rock his little world (and it did). But Sam turned out fine and so did Reagan....thank heaven!

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY: 03/29/1925...

...My Grampa Bill was born in Los Angeles, California.

Here he is taking a stroll with his mom, my great-grandma Jayne.

Grandpa Bill with his sister, Marietta (this photo was always one of my favorites and a child because of Gramps' knickers and his Mickey Mouse/Steamboat Willie shirt).
Marietta & Bill
My Grandpa Bill with his Grandpa Thatcher

(I ADORE his chin & cheeks hanging over his collar...my babies do that, too!)

This is Heidi with her great-grandpa Bill in 2004
This is how Grandpa looked when I was a little girl (this photo was taken in May 1973).

I never realized how young Grandpa & Grandma were, but I am sure glad I've has so many years to enjoy them! Happy Birthday, Grandpa! We're so glad you were born!

Family Night

It has been way too long since I posted, but really, not much has been happening. Rich & Addie took a fun little trip to Utah this past weekend (he had to photograph a bride, I didn't feel well enough for a roadtrip, so he took Addie with him). Addie stayed and played with her cousin Liam (thanks for watching her, Audrey) and had fun--I'll post some of those pix later. Daddy took ADdie to Build-A Bear on the way home and she was so excited to bring her new bear home and show us (of course she and Heidi fight over the bear every day now, but Heidi does have a little collateral--we went thrifting whiel they were gone and she found a "sparkle stick"--a baton filled with liquid and glitter--so sometimes they trade peacefully). I missed Rich terribly, especially every morning when Heidi got up too early and I was still tired and nauseated. But we made it through and had a fun fmaily night last night--we had an enchilada-and-friut salad dinner followed by a walk down to Washington School's playground and some hot cocoa at bedtime. Here are a couple of pix--Enjoy! Addie swinging
Addie with her special bear, Tinkerbell
Heidi sliding

PS: There are 3 new houses being built in our neighborhood--one two lots to our "south" and two facing the side of us on Summit street. Ahhh, the happy sounds of construction--still gives me nightmares and a nervous twitch!

How the Flowers Looked on Monday

The drainpipe had beautiful icicles on Monday afternnon...
...and this was our equinox sunset...the tops of the mountains were getting snow!

The snow melted nicely into the ground to water the daffodils, tulips, and aliums on the first evening of spring.

Today (March 23) it was so sunny and warm, we went out in cropped pants and clogs and weeded the flowerbed along the driveway and re-potted the geraniums from my bedroom window (a gift from Gramma Suzie Blatter, who is now on a mission in Croatia). We will try hard to keep the flowers thriving so they are still beautiful when Gramma Suzie comes home! Heidi ate dirt as usual, but it was refreshing and gorgeous outside. Hooray for spring!