Quotes of the Week

 We must remember that the One who was bruised and broken for us will allow mortality to do its work in us, but He doesn't ask us to face those challenges alone. No matter the heaviness of our story or the current course of our path, He will invite us to walk with Him.

-- Emily B. Freeman

We are in the process of trying to prepare ourselves, a day at a time, to be a little better, be a little kinder, be a little more prepared for that day, which will surly come, when we shall pass back into the presence of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

-- M Russell Ballard

The truth is that it is much more exhausting to seek happiness where you can never find it! However, when you yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and do the spiritual work required to overcome the world, He and He alone, does have the power to lift you above the pull of this world.

-- Russell M. Nelson

Winter Celebration Dinner; New Calling--Shock; Valentine's Day

We planned a winter celebration dinner for our Currant Branch Council members to thank them for all their dedication and commitment in serving with us at the prison. 

This event was planned well in advance of us learning we will soon no longer be serving at the prison.

There was a new calling that had just been extended, and we were still reeling from the unexpectedness of it.

We thought we would be serving for at least another couple of years at the prison since Glen is the Branch President. 

Surprisingly, all of our couples were able to attend. We were so thankful for that tender mercy. 

Brenda and Bob Brisko (in the front); Lowry and Kim Redd and Kristy and Steve Belnap (on the left); Mark and Debra Blaisdell (on the end); and Linda and Mike Error (on the right). 

(Left) Clark Burbidge; Marilyn and Kelly Scott; and Paul and Nadine Craig.

Scott and Kim Stebbing; and Leah and Clark Burbidge. The Burbidges had just announced a week earlier that they will be finishing up at the prison the end of February as they have been called to an inner-city mission. 

We were all sad about losing Burbidges, but little did everyone know that we were about to announce we will be leaving the prison two weeks after them due to our new calling.

What we had originally planned to be a celebration, quickly turned somber as everyone was shocked thinking about losing their fearless leader. It was so sad. 

We love these people so much and will greatly miss our association with each one of them. They are such fine, dedicated, determined and loving people who care greatly for the inmates. We urged everyone to keep the news of the departures quiet. We don't want them to get all riled up and nervous about the change in leadership.

It actually turned out for the best that we had planned the dinner as we had wondered when we would tell our group we would be leaving. This gave them some time to process the news before we were all together again on Sunday.

Kenny's mother passed away. Kenny had been so good to take care of his mother these last few years. We went to the funeral and Glen enjoyed being able to visit with some people he knew from the old Roy 4th Ward.

Let's keep the sad news coming as I relive going through not one day of starvation on a clear liquid diet, but two days of starvation on a clear diet. 

Plus drinking that whole bottle of magnesium the first night, with the laxative pills, and both containers of Miralax in what felt like gallons of electrolyte fluid the second day.

It was all done in anticipation of an endoscopy and colonoscopy the following day. Good thing I did it because I had a 7 mm polyp that was removed. That sounded big until I googled it. 

Didn't appear to find much going on in the upper scope. Just got my antacid medication changed to a different one, avoid dairy (that's no fun), and take magnesium capsules every day to keep things moving. 

Glen always chooses Arby's as his after-colonoscopy-procedure meal. After missing two days' worth of meals, I wanted something much more delectable to my palate--Texas Roadhouse rolls.

Later, I researched and found out there is milk in those rolls. Whoops!!!! Already broke my dairy-free diet! And they sure tasted DELICIOUS!!!!

Do I look drugged??!! Well I should! I went home and had two naps that day. It had been a long couple of days and sleepless nights for me.

This was our welcome home scene upon our arrival.

February is the love month for us. Not only is it Valentine's Day, but it is also the month of our anniversary. 

And this is how we spent our 47th wedding anniversary this year. 

Meet the newest patriarch of the Bountiful Orchard Stake. This is the reason why we will soon be no longer serving at the prison. 

What a shock it was for us when the stake president invited us into his office and issued this new calling. 

During these few weeks until Glen gets set apart and will begin giving blessings, we have been talking to as many patriarchs and their wives as we know to learn how they prepare for and give patriarchal blessings. 

Here's a sad story of a very sick little boy...

Two days later, Ben took Kade back to the doctor because he was not getting better. He got diagnosed with Influenza A. So that must be the diagnosis for the rest of the sick family members. UGH!! Not fun to be so sick!! And then Ben got it, too. YUCK!!

Now on to some fun stuff to finish up this post. 

Brooke and Caroline shared their sweethearts school dance photos and told us all about their respective dates. It was a costume dance with the theme of "through the ages."

Our dear friend Jan ensured we did not have a boring, uneventful Valentine's Day. We could have been down in the basement vegging in our easy chairs (with me falling asleep)...

But instead, we were invited to a festive, Valentine's Day dinner at Bill and Jan's home. 

What a great way to celebrate sweethearts day with delicious food and our friends we love so much!!

Bruno is missing from the photo because he was outside in the car on a phone call. The Winders were absent because they were in Hawaii. 

Look at this group of Valentine gals all decked out in Valentine colors.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Quotes of the Week

 Waiting upon the Lord can be a sacred place -- a place of polishing and refining where we can come to know the Savior in a deeply personal way. It is also a place where spiritual perseverance requires us to exercise faith in Christ by intentionally choosing Him again and again and again.

-- Amy A. Wright

Oh, how I love you. What a glorious experience that's been -- to look into your faces, be in your presence, and feel your love that you have for the Lord and for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

-- M Russell Ballard

I have invited the youth ... to enlist in the Lord's youth battalion to participate in the greatest cause on earth today -- the gathering of Israel. ... because they are unusually gifted in reaching out to others and sharing what they believe in a convincing fashion.

-- Russell M. Nelson

Quotes of the Week

 It behooves each of us to do whatever we can in our spheres of influence to preserve the dignity and respect every son and daughter of God deserves.

-- Russell M. Nelson

I've had the opportunity to see and know that if we are faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, God will not only bless our lives individually, but will also bless the countries in which we live.

-- Dale G. Renlund

Today I testify of miracles. Being a child of God is a miracle. Receiving a body in His image and likeness is a miracle. The gift of a Savior is a miracle. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a miracle. The potential of eternal life is a miracle.

-- Donald L. Hallstrom

Abe's Family Ski Utah Trip; Laurie and Logan Visit

We had some happy cousin bonding time at Sunday dinner when Abe's family (minus Abe) came to town. 

The next day was President's Day so the children were all out of school. They all came to spend the day with their cousins. Of course it had to start off with a French toast meal.

As I was having a hard time remembering why the grandchildren were begging for hot chocolate, I asked the girls to remind me.

Rebecca's response: We forced the kids to go outside and play in 15-degree weather. 

Klarissa's sister Jen and her five children also came to town for the big ski Utah trip. They arrived the next day.

Abe then arrived after everyone was here. It worked out well that we were able to pick him up at the airport and take him out for a nice dinner at Mandarin. 

Klarissa, Jen, and their respective nine children were busy attending a Jackson family dinner at Golden Corral. 

Then it was time to get serious about the ski part of everyone's vacation. The ski rental equipment was secured.

The warm ski clothes for every person were laid out. After going to all this work, Klarissa said this is why she is a beach girl--because all you need to grab is a swim suit.

Ben joined up with Newland, Abe, and the rest of the ski group for both ski days. It was beautiful, blue-sky weather for them on the slopes. It was also very, very cold as we were experiencing a deep freeze for weeks.

It was Magnus's first time to ski. He attended ski school. Monty spent the two ski days with Grandma Jackson since she was in town and those days were the only two days we were busy and could not watch him. 

Adelaide, Augie, and Newland.

Klarissa, Magnus and Newland.

Adelaide, Wynne, and Clara. 

It was sad that Jen had to stay home the second ski day with a feverish Maggie. She kept Peter with her as well. Not as much fun to be on vacation and all cooped up inside the house with sickness.

A treat for the newest skier on the slopes.

After working our shift at the temple, we came home to a pizza party. The skiers had invited Rebecca's and Sarah's families over for pizza and more cousin bonding time.

This is the scene that was happening upstairs in our bedroom. A big group of boys all huddled around the TV playing/watching video games. 

They were unable to hang out in the basement as usual because of Jen down there trying to keep Maggie's illness from spreading to anyone else.

The next day Maggie was feeling much better and was able to go with the group up to the Eaglewood Golf Course and go tubing. A company had set up some great slides and let the group go down in whatever configuration they wanted. 

The best part was there was a conveyor belt that hauled the tubes and the people back up the hill after each run.

As the older kids and adults were getting ready for their evening out going to dinner and to see a play, we picked up a sushi order to feed the little ones left in our care. 

Maggie had eaten leftover pizza (that would have been my choice) and was already in the basement waiting for the three boys to join her to watch a movie before going to bed. 

Newland had so kindly moved out of one of the bedrooms to make room for yet more visitors. Laurie and Logan arrived in town very late that evening. Abe was excited to see Logan in the morning and wanted to take a photo to send to Jacob.

The hello only lasted a few minutes as it was the day Abe's family was heading out to the airport. Jen's family had left earlier that same morning. 

So long, farewell. Until we get together again Abe, Klarissa, Newland, Wynne, Magnus and Monty!!

Laurie and Logan were on their way to Provo for the day. They came to town so Logan and Emma could spend their shared January 25th birthday together. Natalie joined them for dinner and a late BYU basketball game. 

But first, Logan was insisting he is now taller than his mother. 

Glen even pulled out his construction level to see if the bubble proved Logan right.

Laurie and Logan got home very, very late that night. We had gone to bed and had gotten up early to go to the prison on Sunday morning, so we didn't see them until after we all got home from our respective Sunday services. 

Because of their late night, Laurie and Logan wanted to go to a later sacrament meeting at our church building. Turns out it was our ward meeting at 10:30. And turns out the couple who were speaking had recently moved into our ward after moving out of Dallas and Rebecca's ward.

The husband, Mike, told a story about a very Christlike Relief Society President from their previous ward (Rebecca Golden--daughter of Glen and Kim Thomas who live in this ward) who so lovingly took care of the needs of the people in their ward. 

An example he used was when she helped a sister in the ward deal with her bedbug situation. He was the Elders Quorum President and remembered how Rebecca had presented him and everyone else with a hazmat suit so they could help with the situation in this woman's home. 

Afterward, Rebecca continued to befriend this woman by sitting with her at church and being a good friend to her. 

Laurie came home from church so excited to tell us about the talk and to express her thrill about actually knowing the person Mike was talking about. Fun for us to hear good stuff about our daughter. 

Natalie and Emma came up from Provo for our Sunday family dinner. 

We needed all three of our family members who share the same January 25th birthday to come together for a birthday celebration. 

I like to call these specific family birthday people the triplets. 

We not only had Logan, Emma and Sarah blow out birthday candles, but also included the other two January family birthdays--Lincoln and Dallas.

After the other family members went home, Logan pulled out a new game he had just gotten for his birthday. Their family loves to watch Survivor--which Glen and I have never watched. But, we had fun playing the Survivor game with them.  

The next morning we took Laurie and Logan to the airport to catch their plane home to Omaha. It was a short trip for them, but they felt like it was very worth it so the birthday sharers could spend their day together. And Laurie always loves having Thomas family gatherings. We were so glad they came. 

Our train-loving Lincoln received a special gift for his birthday.

We heard all about Wesley, Emma's new boyfriend, over the birthday weekend. Glen was excited to meet Wesley when he invited Emma to bring whomever she wanted with her to a BYU pre-game dinner at Outback.

Emma chose to bring her roommate Olivia and Wesley. Laurie and Logan had been able to meet Wesley when they were in town.

Kenny also got to meet Wesley and apparently really enjoyed talking to Olivia. He was the one going to the game with Glen and I was glad he was there so he could take this photo.

I had to laugh at the two photos Glen sent (per my request) when he, Randy, and Kenny went to the BYU/Utah basketball game together earlier in the month. 

Then I really got a chuckle when that same evening I received this text from one of our missionaries.