Advice from Elder Busche

Giving up the 6 1/2 minutes of your day it takes to watch this clip will be repaid ten fold by the glorious feelings of the Spirit you will experience as truth is revealed to your heart. What a wonderful message. To read the entire talk, click on the link here: http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=7908

Taven the Terrific

My wonderful, giggly, wiggly, energetic, bubbly, sweet, personality plus grandson.

Just look at those LASHES!

He LOVES his baby sister.

Things as They Really Are

Great counsel from Elder Bednar.

Janessa is here!

This is our sweet new little grandaughter, Janessa Kate Child, born on 12/12/2011. She is such a wonderful addition to

her little family. Congratulations Mike and Brianna!!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in a cabin at Aspen Grove. Kelly Sansom from Gallery Photo drove up and took some pictures. Here we all are…waiting for one more little one to arrive in December into Brianna and Mike’s family.

Mission Accomplished!

Our boy is home safe from his two year mission in Peru! We are so proud of him and the service he gave to the Lord. We hope he will continue to serve for the rest of his life. We love you Garret!

Eagles in Trees

Ross and Landon both completed their Eagle Projects during the month of October…picking thousands of pounds of apples at the Baker’s Orchard in the valley to donate to several homeless shelters and food banks. Each boy did a separate project, but the results were the same...to feed the hungry. What a blessing to serve.

Our Trip to GREELEY

Here are my 3 girls in Greeley Colorado - the place of their births. Now Allyson lives in the blessed town with her hubby and little one, Elsie. Brianna, Taven, Cara and I flew over for a visit the end of August. We had a good time together. This is a photo of an outing picking corn on the church farm. Mmmmm…my family will agree I LOVE corn on the cob.

Church History Tour 2011

The bank of the Susquehanna River where we sang, “

The most exquisite stand of trees ever - the Sacred Grove.

The famous cracked bell…that would be the Liberty Bell. And the less famous cracked Carabell…that would be my daughter.

All the boys gave each room of girls roses…aaawwww. Here Cara is with her roommates: Shaylee Ralison, Christine Cottrell and Kelsie Fedrizzi. The boys behind are: Brett Paulsen, Spencer Shumway, Greg Allen and Dallin Busby.

A room in one of the pioneer homes in Kirtland, Ohio. I LOVED those old homes!

Kirtland, Ohio - the Newell K. Whitney store where Joseph Smith said, “Thou art the man!” (Cara is on the left in the blue.)

Laundry day…somewhere in Ohio??

Cara and friends at the handcart exhibit at Winter Quarters.

Most of the tour kids, up on a rock near the wheel ruts in Wyoming. (I’m pretty sure that’s Ross in the very middle with big long arms.) A beautiful bunch!

Brother “T” our bus driver and tour kids (Ross is on the left end). He was one good man!

Our flag on top of Independence Rock, waving in the breeze while we sang, “Carry On."

The end of the line in Salt Lake City…with our wonderful tour director, Brother Garth Tesch. At times he took us to places where people said, “There is nothing to see”, but in his words, “Everything to feel”. Thanks for the unforgettable ride of a life time!

Snail Mail

We were cleaning out the garage and instead of throwing out this old mailbox…I painted it! I love the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson! I’ll be putting it out in my garden. Do you think the snails will really send me something?

Dayton's Legs

My heart melted when I watched this clip of two boys in completely different situations: one that must accept help and the other who because of the promptings of the Spirit gave help. I know we can all be like Spencer. What a wonderful world we have to learn and grow and lift each other.

My Super-Dooper Adorable Grandkids

I love these two little ones more that life itself. Two totally different personalities, two wonderful people!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all you grandmothers out there!

A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television.

~Author Unknown

Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric. ~Pam Brown

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandmother. ~Joy Hargrove

If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma. ~Teresa Bloomingdale

To The Rescue President Monson and Warm Fuzzies

Shimmering Ornaments Christmas Card

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The E-bunny

Baby bunny Elsie! The cutest critter I ever saw! We found this old rabbit fur in Great-Grandma's old stuffed animals! Such fun, such fun!

She's EIGHTEEN!

Our baby girl just turned 18! We went to the cheesecake factory to celebrate. Fabulous food, great conversation and with an all girl party...lots of laughs!

Charity

This morning I had reason to ponder the word "charity". I have a quote that I keep on my nightstand that I have a goal to read every morning. It got placed under a stack of books and papers for a while, so I pulled it out today and set it again where I can see it and read it DAILY to remind me of what life is all about.

"Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you AQUIRE and make part of yourself. And when the virtue of CHARITY BECOMES IMPLANTED IN YOUR HEART, you are NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. It makes the thought of being a basher repulsive. Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us."

Marvin J. Ashton (Ensign, May 1992)

Thank you Brother Ashton. I needed to read that...again...and again...and again...

Taven's Turn

I took Taven for his one year old photo shoot with Grammy B. He is such a darn cute little boy! Here's what he has to say:

YIPEE!! I'm ONE!

I like to play ball...see how serious I am.

I'm looking forward to Christmas...

I promise...I've been goooooood!

I can WALK!

I can climb onto the couch!

And as my mommy always says, aren't I "beau-ful"?

UEA "Staycation" Hike to Doughnut Falls

Starting out...

two ADORABLE sisters & funny Taven...

dad is always prepared with his backpack full of granola bars and water...

we made it to the top! Cinch of a hike...

not sure how Landon is feeling?

Dad & Taven playing musical hats...what a blessing to have a family!!

"Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted." ~Paul Pershall

UEA "Staycation" BLAST!

Grandpa Bassett is ready to get on the bike and ride!

The lovely road ahead.

All in a row, REV, Set, GO! Cara, Dad, Lan, Grandpa B & Ross.

Cara driving with Landon hanging on!

Cara & Ross celebrating their mud faces.

Grandpa took our family photo with the gorgeous valley backdrop.

Stopping for lunch! What a great time we had.

This is ROSS the Mud Maniac! He must have sped through this puddle at least 5 or 6 times! We all took a turn through that crazy puddle.