Going to Jesus' House!

 Yesterday for part of our Easter week celebration I was able to take the kids and go to the Jordan River Temple open house! 

I checked them all out of school just a little bit early and we all headed over there with a sweet spirit of anticipation. After all, I had been talking to Kesslyn all day about going to the temple and she could hardly wait! She kept on saying, "I go to Jesus' house!" 

Sooo sweet!

 I loved seeing the new beautiful entry way, the artwork, the bride's room, the new staircase, and stained glass windows... It was very beautiful, and yet still felt very familiar...like home.

 As we came out of the temple and saw this statue of Christ, we were immediately drawn to it. 

Kesslyn couldn't get enough of "Jesus". ;)

 I love that our church really is centered on Christ. After all, it isn't OUR church, it is HIS church, and I LOVE being a member of it. It's where all of my blessings come from.

In fact, that's exactly what I tell my kids every time I go to the temple, 

"I'm going to get our family some blessings at the temple!"

 I love my eternal family and that through the blessings of the priesthood and temples, we can be together for eternity. After all, just like Elder Holland said in the introductory video before the open house tour,

 "It really wouldn't be heaven if we were there without our families!"

I'm so thankful for this Easter and conference week and all of these special things that remind us and prepare us for greater things to come. What a gift it is to be a wife and mother, and to be sealed together forever to the most amazing people on the planet! :)

 (And by the way...in case you couldn't tell, Kesslyn LOVED the bus ride! The bus ROCKS!!!)

My Babies and Their "Lamps"

 I have been fighting an inner battle with myself about the reality of my babies growing up.

It's a hard thing.

I have lowered the side rail on Kesslyn's crib because she would try to climb out, and I didn't want her to fall. Now, she climbs in and out with ease and there is really no reason to keep her in there besides the fact that I love that she is my baby and I wish she could stay little forever...but I've wished that with all of my children, and what good did that do me?? ;)

So, yesterday I made up the 2 beds in Kambriella's room with a couple of new bedspreads and Kesslyn immediately came in and climbed up on the bed and said, "It's mine mama??" 

I kind of chuckled to myself as I thought...well...kind of! I just can't commit to it mentally!

 She climbed up on the bed and hugged and rocked her baby and then said, "Goodnight mama! I take a nap!" I smiled and left the room, and she would lay there for a few minutes and then coming running out saying, "I'm done!" :)

Then she would do it again and again...take a nap..then be done...take a nap...then be done...

And guess where she slept last night??

In her crib. :)

We'll get there...but for now...she's still my baby. :)

 Last night we also made a few of our oil lamps from the Parable of the 10 Virgins for our Jerusalem Dinner that we will be having. These kids are so creative and talented! They are artistic and love making things with their hands. :)It gets harder and harder to make time for all of these fun things we want to do...everyone is always so busy which makes us stay up late to accomplish the extra things.

 But that's OK! It's all worth it to me...and Clint pointed out something very important and TRUE. He said, it doesn't matter when we do it or how long it takes, what matters is that we DO it, and they will STILL REMEMBER.

 Carew didn't have much time to write to us this week but one thing that he did say was...

" I just want to leave you with my testimony that the work I am doing is the Lord's work. I love my Savior so much and I know that he died for me. And as we come upon this amazing time of year, remember the sacrifice that our Savior did for us. I have been thinking about all of our amazing Easter traditions and they are some of my greatest moments with you guys! I love you all and I know this church is true."

Even my sweet missionary in Italy has been REMEMBERING the Easter traditions we have done as a family, and that is sooo important to me!!!

I just really want to be sure that I am giving them everything in my power to build their own testimonies on the Rock solid foundation of our Savior Jesus Christ, and so we will continue to carry out these traditions even if it has to be done at 10:00 at night sometimes!

Beautiful lamps kids! Now let's keep "filling our lamps!"

Easter Celebration In Full Swing!

 Did you know that on the 4th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building there is this amazing map of the world with a light illuminating EVERYWHERE in the world that there is a temple??

It is one of the coolest things I have ever seen and it gave me such an amazing feeling of hope and excitement the moment I saw it!

Our sweet neighbors the Mortenson's are serving a service mission there and took us for a quick tour behind the scenes while we were there for part of our family's Easter week celebration.

Kesslyn was so happy to see them because not only are they our neighbor's and he used to be our bishop, but NOW they are Kesslyn's nursery teachers!!! :)

 Did you know that this statue of Joseph Smith stands about 9' 3" tall and is about the same actual size as Goliath was from the scriptures? They say that Goliath was actually a little taller at about 9' 6"...no wonder why everyone was scared of Goliath!

 We saw the private Ambassador's suite and a view of the Salt Lake temple that most people don't get to see...and some of the rooms that are used as gathering rooms for the apostles and their family's when they want to get everyone together for family home evening or some other special event...

we walked around temple square and also ran into our other old bishop Trent Higgins too! He is serving a service mission there too and quizzed my kids on all kinds of interesting facts about the outside symbolism on the Salt Lake temple.

 We also went to the top of the building where you can get the best view of the temple...

 And then we headed toward the large Christus statue which was one of the main reasons I wanted to bring my kids to temple square. There is such a sweet spirit and feeling that exists when you stand in this room underneath the majesty of this beautiful sculpture. It's so still and inviting, and with the peaceful music playing in that room, it was hard for me to want to leave.

(And Kesslyn was in heaven. :)...but very concerned about Jesus' owies...;(

 After we saw the Christus statue and all of the beautiful paintings of Christ, we walked across the temple grounds to the Lion House Pantry where we all ate a nice home style meal of salmon, rice, and broccoli, a famous Lion House roll, and a slice of apple pie for dessert. The little kids ate chicken strips of course and chocolate pie...:)

 After we finished our dinner we walked back over to the Legacy theater in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and watched a Meet the Mormons movie called "The Craftsman." It was one that I had never seen before and of course it was beautifully done. I felt the spirit so strong and had the witness once again that this is the true church of Jesus Christ and that it is only in and through Him that we can find REAL joy, and eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, and with our families.

With Easter, the reminder of Sheri's husband that passed away this time last year, my own father's death, and the legacy of others who have gone on before us, I felt an immense amount of gratitude for all that has been done in our behalf... That's just one of the many thoughts I had, and it's just one of the many reasons I'm so grateful for the gospel and for my knowledge and testimony of  my Savior Jesus Christ...all of this...all that we have is because of Him!

As we are in full swing of our week long Easter celebration we have been enjoying Bible movies every morning, this visit to temple square, a Mormon Message movie night (with kettle corn of course ;), tonight we will be making our oil lamps for our Jerusalem dinner, and tomorrow we will be going to the Jordan River Temple open house as a family...more traditions and fun to come...it's one of our favorite times of the year!!! :) 

Monday March 26th

 Since Dallin's birthday wasn't really until Monday, but Clint was going to be gone to St. George for a few days for work, we celebrated Sunday too before Clint had to leave. Also, in the picture above, Clint took these handsome boys and the youth in our ward to the Jordan River Temple open house on Saturday where they all got to see the beautiful interior of the newly remodeled Jordan River Temple.

 Dallin got some pretty nice gifts that he wanted... some new clothes, shoes, a Switch game, and a membership to the gym so that in his words, he can get "Buff." :)

 Sunday after Clint hit the road for St. George, all the kids found some good quiet Sunday activities to do...

Kambriella built the "K&K Kozy Kottage" :)

(Oh my gosh this is Kierra 12 years ago!!!)

 They built the fort, added pillows, blankets, dolls, books, and snacks...

 ...and Kambriella sat there reading out loud to her little sister all of the Easter books they could find...

it was so sweet to watch and listen too...

 When Monday finally came, we had already celebrated Dallin's birthday, so I sent him off to school with a birthday wish and good luck on his speech (we already know how that ended ;) ;), and I headed out the door to spend the morning with Sheri. Dallin's birthday is also the day that Sheri's husband had his accident that put him in the hospital that he also never recovered from. Although Dave passed away on the 30th, this day for Sheri was probably the most traumatic and she did not want to be alone.

I arrived at her house right after getting all the kids off to school where I walked in to this beautiful and MEANINGFUL gift from Sheri.

She was in tears and so was I as she explained to me how she wanted to give this to me and thank me for bringing "light" into her life during the darkest time she had ever experienced.

The beautiful blossoms in the glass are also fresh cut from the same tree that she stares at out her bedroom window, the same tree where Dave would pick the apricots and make their family fresh apricot jam...

This sweet gift is really priceless to me...

 Sheri also shared with me a very touching letter that she had received from the Intermountain Donor Services that  thanked her for the gifts from Dave's life and body that also have blessed others and helped them to live...another paper that she shared told specific numbers and places of who benefited from these donor services. It was sooo touching to see just how many peoples lives have been touched all over the world. Dave's legacy lives on through others in many ways...

 Sheri and I spent a long time at breakfast together talking and trying to understand life...we also went and bought flowers and then took them to the cemetery to Dave's grave. 

Sheri is a strong and beautiful woman who's example gives me strength. I have been blessed to be by her side and to watch, and learn, and grow from her.

After I left Sheri, I spent the day serving other members of our ward, and it was a beautiful day.

As soon as Dallin got off the bus and told me the news of making it into student government I felt so happy for him because it was such a great gift for his birthday! We left the house once everyone got home and spent the evening at Temple Square. It was a part of our week long Easter celebration and was such a fun night. I'll write all about that tomorrow! So many good things are happening with everyone and I feel so many of Heavenly Father's blessings pouring down on our family.

We are grateful and blessed and definitely recognize where it is all coming from!

Happy week of Easter and General Conference Prep!!! The heavens are open! :)

A 15th Birthday at the "Beach"

 Dallin celebrated his 15th birthday at the Beach! 

At the Provo Beach that is...;)

 Since there was no school  for him on Friday, it was the perfect opportunity for me to take him and a few friends to the Flow Rider simulated surfing there in Provo!

 They started off waiting for their turn to go in and passed the time with a little video gaming...

 Playing the WORLDS LARGEST Pac-Man!

Super fun and super cool to watch! (After all, this was the game that I played when I was little! ;)

 They earned a few tickets and got a few treats...

 ...took out some dangerous dinosaurs in Jurassic Park...

 ...and then headed in to the Beach!

 Dallin was a stud muffin and took to the surfing after just a few tries! (That was once he decided to just give it a go...at first all they wanted to try was staying on their knees which was a piece of cake for them!)

 There was a hot tub you could go sit in to stay warm, so while the friends were there, Dallin took advantage of the time and surfed over and over again!

 They had a rope that you could use to help you get started, but honestly they all did much better without it...

 Hayden Stone, Anson Bagley, and Kobe Hilton all joined the birthday boy and they all had a blast!

 Wipe outs were common...some funnier than others... :)

 But these boys were cute and brave doing something hard that some of them had never done before. 

 Awesome job Dallin! :)

 Riding the waves...

 Getting warm and relaxing before it was time to head out...

 While the boys all went to change out of their wet clothes, I took Kesslyn on the little Merry-go-Round and SHE WAS IN HEAVEN!!!

 After we left there, I took the boys and we went to The Pizza Pie Cafe for lunch, grabbed 3 boxes of Krispy Kreme's for the ongoing party over the rest of the weekend, and headed home. Dallin and his friends also ended up going to Airborn with some other friends, and back to Anson's house for more games and fun. Needless to say, Dallin had a WONDERFUL birthday!

Happy Birthday Dallin!

Happy Birthday Dallin!

 Happy 15th Birthday Dallin!!!

We have had a blast celebrating YOU this past weekend! With so much FUN to report I'm going to write about it in a separate post...but for now, 15 candles...

 ...time with family and people who matter most...

 ...and the most AWESOME present ever... Dallin made SBO!!! Speeches and voting were done today, ON Dallin's birthday and HERE again, is the happy smile of a very happy FIFTEEN year old!!! :)

Happy Birthday to you Dallin!