Jan 25, 1984

I would like to CELEBRATE ALYSE today because it's her Birthday and I am so happy Heavenly Father put her into our family. I remember very well the day when I had Alyse. She came into the world very quick. I guess she couldn't wait to get here. She came 2 weeks early and my labor was only 2 hours long. Yes from first contraction until I was back in a recovery room, 2 hours. I was so excited to hold in my arms a little girl and she was going to be in our family.

My dad use to call Alyse, "White Lightening." She was quick! Alyse learned to walk when she was 7-8 months old. And as soon as she could walk she was climbing on everything. We were at a park one day and I happen to look at the top of a very BIG jungle gym and there stood Alyse teetering back and forth in front of a steep slide. Terror went through my soul as I tried to get her to sit down. There was no way I could race to the top and rescue her. After much coaxing and prayer she finally sat down on her bum and then came down the big steep slide no year old should be on. As soon as she came down she headed right back up. I grabbed her hand and we went off to try other smaller things. But she was quick and loved heights! Alyse also has the ability to make friends where ever she is. She could tell you all the names of the children on the play ground. Did I mention that she talked early as well!

Alyse is a very smart cookie. She will tell you otherwise but she is very quick at picking things up and learning. When I think of Alyse as a child I see lots of blond hair bouncing as she would run and climb. She was given the nickname Lisse Belle by my mother.

I have been very proud of Alyse as she has grow in her life. She has always had the right things within her sight. A testimony has always burn strong and bright within her soul. The most amazing day came last year when Alyse set a goal and we all went to the temple with her. There is nothing better in this life nor quite as wonderful in this world as to see your daughter standing in all white in the House of the Lord. These are the moments when you understand just a fraction of the joy Heavenly Father feels when we return home to him. This must be heaven I thought that day. She still has blond hair and it still bounces but now in a different way. She returns often to the temple and she loves being there.

I love to hear Alyse laugh and to talk to her about the gospel. She sends me funny stuff during the day via email and sometimes it is just what I needed to make my day better. She truly is everything a mother would want in a daughter. Happy Birthday Alyse!! I love you without measure!

Jan 14, 1986

So today I decided I wanted to celebrate a few individuals who have come into my life. I wish I had thought to do this sooner in the month but alas some great ideas just don't come right away. The first person I would like to celebrate is Robby.

Robby came into the world on his due date. He's always been an obedient child and always done what the Dr. tell him to do even sleeping through the night at 2 weeks old! Robby also came into this world as a fighter. Ya he has had struggles in parts of his life but he has proven nothing could defeat him. This has helped make him who he is today. An AMAZING Person!

I am thankful Heavenly Father sent you into our family for so many reason. Most of all because he is just wonderful to be with. Rob has always been pretty easy going and pretty level headed. I can count the number of times on one hand we have had some issues.

Rob is by far one of the hardest workers I have ever known. For example when he was 14 he got a job as a bagger. Florida Law say that anyone under 15 or 16 can't work very often. I think maybe 2 evening shifts and they must be off my 8:00 I think. When it got closer to summertime Rob started to pick up extra hours. If he heard someone couldn't work he would ask them if he could have their hours. Even the older baggers. He was working a ton of hours and raking in the money.

School had started up again he was in a culinary arts program in high school. Another well known fact about Rob is he is a fantastic cook. He has a knack of walking into a pantry pulling out a few things and making them all work to taste wonderful. Before Rob was 15 he had decided no more bagging. He wanted to cook. He hit the road and I think applied everywhere he could and yet he heard the same thing over and over again. Sorry your too young. He finally met Dick. Dick hired Rob to pretty much do the grunt work in his restaurant. That was all Rob needed was a break and a chance to shine. He worked his way up from brass polisher to Souse Chief. This attribute has been played over and over again in his life.

Robby I know this is a bit late but I just wanted you to know I think you are wonderful and I am so thankful Heavenly Father sent you to our family. Through you we have seen glimpses of Heaven. You are truly a special child of our Heavenly Father's. Happy 23rd Birthday son. Wish you could have been here with us to celebrate it. We love you without measure!

Jan 16, 2009

So it has been 2 weeks since I went back to work. I dreaded my Jan work schedule. Something about getting up in the wee hours of the morning and most days getting home after dark not to mention way to much stress. But I can honestly say that this has not been the dreaded month I thought it might be. This is a great thing! I owe it to a couple of things I have learned.

1. There is a Heavenly Father who listens to prayers. I pray every morning for miracles to happen in my life that day. I give Him some ideas of what kind of miracles would be amazing and so far most of those ideas/miracles have come to past. I have prayed that time would slow down so that everything I needed to accomplish would get accomplished. It did. I asked that everyone I work with would be able to be quick and the students we worked with would be quick as well so we could get everything done. They were! And then at night when I talk to Heavenly Father again all's I can say is THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Thank you! I know you walked with me today!

2. God's Grace is active in our lives TODAY! I pray for His grace to attend me all day so that I can accomplish more then I possibly can by myself and I do get it all done! Grace is wonderful and is truly active in our lives everyday if we ask. I have seen him extend my abilities many times. In fact sometimes I want to stand with my mouth open as I see it happening. I try to not do that in case it might cause some people to wonder if something bad it about to happen to me.

3. Priesthood Blessings bring peace to ones mind as we walk into the world each day. It is wonderful to have the Priesthood in our home and to be able to seek help with that power. Mike gave me a blessing and blessed me with health... so far so good! Not even a sniffle. 2 weeks down 3 more to go! And I smile as I go into the schools and sit with students who have all sorts of ills!



4. Faith is needed in what we do all day long. I read a short summery of Elder Hollands talk that he gave at BYU on Tues I think. He said something about faith that I had never thought of. He was talking about Lot's wife... (and I would encourage you to seek his whole talk out but it isn't up yet but you can read what I did.) http://deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C705277304%2C00.html

"We remember that faith is always pointed toward the future — faith always has to do with blessing and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives," he said. "So a more theological way to talk about Lot's wife is to say she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord's ability to give her something better than she had. Apparently she thought — fatally as it turned out — that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind."

I love that faith is always pointed towards the future. This still causes me to say... hummmmmmmm I need to ponder more on this wonderful idea.

5. The Lord blesses us with people to help us along the way. I needed to hire more testers. 8 more to be specific. I hate hiring. I think to myself when they are talking... so are you lying to me? As each one would walk in I would say ... Heavenly Father let me know if I should hire this person. I always got the answer and even thought I might have said... wow.. I think I might have missed on that person. I have come to discover they are wonderful! I have 18 people who work under me and so far they are amazing people who support me in what I ask them to do. When we need to get things done it gets done. I have made some good friends who I am glad to know and have in my life. I know they were all brought to me from Heaven!

So there you have it. I have learned some wonderful things these past 2 weeks! Life is amazing!

Airboat ride

Our Anniversary Trip

Our 27th Anniversary get away. Dec 2008

Mike and I ventured down to South Florida for a celebration of our 27 years together. We had a BLAST!!! We wanted to leave early Wed morning but we actually didn't drive out of town until about 10:00 am. We drove straight down to Venice Beach the fun began. We discovered Venice about 5 or 6 years ago. It is the shark tooth capital of the world. We thought we would stop and pick up some more teeth before heading down to Ft. Myers. The weather was perfect and the company heavenly! We stopped at a beach store and picked up 2 sand scoops. We learned about these way to late last time we ventured down there. We stopped at Firehouse Subs and grabbed a bite to eat. We drove to our favorite beach, Manasota Beach. We ventured out to hear the crashing of waves and we knew our perfect vacation had begun. We walked down the beach looking for small black objects(we always hope we will find the one big tooth everyone else has missed). This isn't always so easy since there are a lot of small black objects. When you find what you think is a sharks tooth you need to look at them up close for a few identifying marks. Is it actually a tooth or a rock. Teeth have a shine to them. They usually have a Y or T shape. Some look like fangs with no top and some are very sharp. We used our shovels and dug right in. I found that Mike and I have different styles of looking. He likes to gather the shells with his shovel and bring them up to his level. I on the other hand like to go down to the sand level. We didn't stay in the water too long as we didn't really come dress for the water. But we did leave a bit soaked. We gathered about 40+ teeth and decided it was getting a bit late so headed back to the car.



We still had about an hours drive and since it was New Years Eve we didn't want to be on the road too late. We found our hotel room and were given keys to the room. We ran our stuff up to the room and we were about ready to leave when I noticed while in the bathroom that hummmm some of the hand towels were used. And the box of soap was in the trash can and a robe hanging on the back of the door. I finished business and come out to share with Mike that I think we might be in someone else room. Upon him finishing up the bathroom and me searching the room a bit more and finding the ice bucket filled with fresh ice I told him we needed to leave. We took our stuff and went back down to the front desk were we discussed the things we found and told them... we would like another room. She looked a tad confused but said ok, let me see what I can fine. No such luck did we get an upgrade.. just a room to ourselves. We took our luggage up to the room and decided we were very hungry.

We figured the lines for the restaurant might be long so we ran over to Target and got a few snacks. Ever heard of the line.. don't go shopping when you are hungry! Well that is still true. We bought a few things and decided to just stop to eat Red Robyn was the place we chose. It was perfect and we walked right in. No waiting- no lines. The hotel we chose to stay at had a shopping mall right next to it. Complete with stores and restaurants. It was great as we ate at one of these different restaurants each night. The food was great and the company heavenly!

We both tried to wait up until the New Year. In fact the plan was that I would go to sleep and Mike would wake me up when the counting started. Well I heard in my sleep fireworks and music from the TV. We both woke up at 12:30 and said well we missed that... turned over and went back to sleep. We are such wild people!



The following day we had booked a boat ride over to a private island where we could go shelling. We had to be at the Marina by 8:45 to set sail at 9:00. The wind was cold and the weather was about 60 deg. So it was cool as we moved along on the water at 18 miles per hour. The company was still heavenly. As we traveled along we saw dolphins. That was a treat to see. The Captain would stop the boat and put on some Jimmy Buffett music and the dolphins would swim towards the boat.



I fortunately brought a warm sweat jacket that use to be Mikes. I put the hood on and it was great. We sat in the sun when we could to get warm and that worked great.



It took us 1 1/2 hours to arrive at the designated beach and the captain docked the boat almost on the shore. We climbed off the boat and started our search for shells. Mike bought for us some shell bags that clip onto our belt loops. We found some cool shells and a hunk of coral. I found some dead sea anemones and I plopped them into my bag. I happened to be bending over this huge pile of shells and the water came up and ran over the shells. It made a sounds I will never forget. It sounded like heaven. The tinkling of the water and shells was amazing. I listened for a bit longer to make sure I captured it forever in my mind.



We had to be back to the boat by 11:30 so we could go and eat dinner at a place on Cabbage Key. This is a restaurant inside an old home. The only way to get to this island is by boat. Inside the house you will find thousands of one dollar bills taped everywhere. They are signed with a message and left behind. It is something to see all this money taped everywhere. We were told that the money keeps getting taped up and when a tragedy occurs the money is taken down and given to the cause. Hurricanes, 9-11... and the such. We also climbed the last standing water tower on the island.



We started for our way back and saw more dolphins and heard more music and the company was heavenly.

Since it was almost 4:00 by the time we finished that we drove over to Sanibel Island. Mike and I were looking a bit sunburned so we found a store and bought very expensive sun screen. We looked for more shells along the beach. I finally said I need to rest my knee. I sat in a chair and Mike walked down a bit father. We left and headed back to the hotel and to grab some dinner.

We talked about what our lives were like 27 years ago and what we were doing that day. We both commented on how we were very glad to be on this side of life. We planned our adventures for the following day and thought of the days events and how blessed we have been. The day was amazing and the company heavenly.



We woke up and discussed which Air boat ride we might take. There were many to chose from and we had no idea which one to do. We finally decided on Jungle Erv's. It turned out to be a good call. We drove down to Everglade City and and within 15 mins we were out on our first air boat ride. It was so much fun. The boat was very loud and so each of use wore the ear muffs you see Mike with.



We didn't see any animals in the wilds of the Mangrove area but there was a ton of directions we could have gone and did go. Sometimes the boat driver would go slow and some times we zipped right along going back and forth over the water. It was a crazy ride but so much FUN! We then went on a Jungle Safari ride in an old yellow school bus painted in camo. It was made me laugh to see the site and it was a bit hoaky but still fun. We saw lots of pigs, gators, birds and a male bear and a momma bear with her 3 cubs.

We ate at the waters edge at an old fishing cafe. It was rustic and wonderful. We had gator, shrimp, grouper to eat. We left to return back to Ft. Myers and came across a State Nature Boardwalk. The walk was about a mile long and it took us through lush trees and plants. We saw some wildlife along the way. We ended up at a secluded pond that was home to a mother gator and her two babies. We walked our legs off this day. We found a Prime Outlet mall and walked until the stores closed. It had been a long time since my legs were that sore. Once again we found the world an amazing place and the company heavenly.

We slept in on Saturday until about 8:30. We got dressed and checked out of the hotel. We stopped for breakfast and headed back to Venice for some more shark tooth hunting. We stayed on the beach for about 2 or 3 hours and then decided it was time to head back home.

We talked about all we did and the fun we had and how we were so glad to be together. I told Mike I was going to cry all the way to work on Monday. We needed to return to our normal activities since that is what our lives are made up of. One must ponder how do you keep these golden moments in the for front of our minds. So when life gets tough you can take them out anytime and replay them time and time again.

I couldn't have spent 4 days with anyone else and had as much fun as Mike and I did. It truly was Heaven!

27 Years Later!

When I was a kid I wondered the same thing every other person wonders and that is where and who exactly is the person I would marry someday. Of course as a teenager you dream of your favorite movie star and hope that they will be that person. You have your local crushes during high school. I remember one guy who for a full year we smiled and nodded at each other never saying a word the whole year. The following year we were in an English class together and became good friends and laughed about our year long glances only to find out we each were attracted to one another.

Some girls look for boys who are like their dads. And I suppose I probably did as well. I was just a babe when I met Mike. I was 17 but would soon be turning to the ripe old age of 18. I look at girls who are 17/18 and think wow by that age I was dating my future husband.



My roommates had met Mike's roommate a week before school started and the following Saturday night met back up with him (his name was Mike as well) and they invited Mike and his roommate over for dinner in between church. Yes we had split church meetings way back then. We went to Sunday School in the AM and then to Sacrament in the PM. I had arrived in Rexburg just a day or two before the weekend and they informed me that they had invited a guy and his roommate from our ward over for dinner. (Seems to me there were 3 guys. But for the life of me I don't know who that 3rd guy was.) Anyhow Mike and Mike arrived. I remember Mike walking into our apt in a gray suit. I thought he has to be a RM he can't be my age since he looked way older then I was. They were both cute and since all of my roommates(4)were in the kitchen cooking dinner I took it upon myself to entertain the male guests. I knew I entertained better then I cooked so I was good with that.

I think Mike and I talked pretty much the whole time. Ok I probably talked the whole time. Mike tells me that I can carry on a conversation by myself. We ate dinner and he and I walked to Sacrament meeting together chatting about Rexburg and the surrounding area. That is pretty much the beginning of our relationship. I was currently writing to a guy I had dated in Ca who was on his mission. Mike knew about him and didn't like him. I figured all was ok because I wasn't going to fall in love. I was already in what I thought was love with someone else.



Never before have 2 kids from Ricks College walk so much around Rexburg. We walked everywhere and I mean everywhere. Mike would spot me on campus and the next thing I knew he would be standing next to me. We did everything together and had fun doing it. I remember the first time he held my hand. It was after we had gone running. I wasn't going to tell him I hated running and couldn't run. Our first real date was to see the movie Grease but it left the small theater and we ended up seeing the Sound of Music. Our first kiss was under a tree on 2nd Avenue, I believe. We went to all the dances on campus and attended all the devotionals together. I discovered something I truly liked about Mike- I liked how the pockets on his pants danced when he walked. I use to find myself walking behind him often. :-)



By Christmas time I knew I didn't want to leave him for the Christmas break. I thought it just might kill me to not see him for 2 whole weeks. I was in love! We would have one more semester left together before he would leave on his mission for 2 years. Remember I was already writing one missionary and now I would have to start that process over again? UGH!!! I just kept thinking... why couldn't he have been a RM to begin with. Well he wasn't and we continued to date and fall deeper in love. I'm sad to say that I would have been happy for him to forgo his mission and marry me but Mike knew what was right and he always kept that in his site for which I am very thankful he did.

The walking and the talking continued. Our favorite thing to do was to walk and play in the snow. And during the winter in Rexburg there is snow everywhere. We ran around in more parks and went down more snow filled slides then any person in their right minds would and should do. We would swing on swings and go as high as we could and jump into the new piles of snow to see who could go the farthest. We got very cold and our clothes would be so wet they would turn to ice but we were having a great time. We would run back up to the school go inside the closest building and stand between the double sets of doors. Inside those double sets of doors were wall heaters and we would sit on them to thaw out. We sat on the heaters until our pants were thawed and our bottoms were almost thawed and then we would run to the next building only to sit on those space heaters repeating the same process. That is how we survived the cold Rexburg winters. Running from Building to building with frozen clothing and very cold bodies and red cheeks.

Well the end of the semester came and I was very sad. I knew this would possibly be the last time I saw him for over 2 years. We said we would write each other but writing doesn't replace hugs and being together in any way. My best friend would leave to go serve the Lord. I will always be thankful Mike knew what he needed to do and he never wavered in doing the right thing.



We both went to our respective homes writing and calling when we could. I remember when Mike called me to tell me he had gotten his mission call. Italy... where in the heck is Italy? Oh the boot shaped country??? I think I have seen that before. He then invited me out to his farewell. I jumped at the chance to see him one more time. I don't remember how many days I went out to SLC for but we had a great time. Nothing like being with your best friend again. See we didn't make any promises that I would wait for him. We just said if we were each around in 2 years we would see what might happen at that time but we both knew we loved each other very much. In fact in each of our letters we signed them with Forever and Eternity. We still use that today.



Mike left in July for Italy and I went back up to Rexburg in Aug. Mark was coming home in Nov. I dated a few guys while up in Rexburg but my heart was in Italy. Mark came home (Mike said he knew when Mark came home because my letters stopped for a month. I don't remember that) and he came up to Rexburg to see me. I drove down to Provo with him to listen to his homecoming talk. I remember thinking he is one wacky guy and I wasn't sure I liked him! I did talk to him one night for 5 hours long distance and hoped my phone bill wouldn't come and the funny thing is it never did. I secretly hoped Mike wouldn't come home the same way Mark did.

I remember one night kneeling down and praying and asking Heavenly Father about Mark. I didn't stay on my knees long to hear the answer but jumped right up and climbed into bed. I had a dream that night and in my dream a person came and sat on my bed and told me that I would marry Mike. Mike was to be my husband. This happened not once but about 2 or 3 times that night. I woke up that next morning thinking... hummm I guess I got my answer I'm going to marry Mike and I hope he would know that as well.

I never told Mike about that dream until he came home and maybe even after we were engaged or married. Mike had business to do with the Italian people he didn't need to hear about me and my dreams. Anyhow, we continued to write and about a month or two before he came home I wondered if I should go on a mission. I asked Mike what he thought about that idea and since letters were taking about a month to get the answers back he would be close to coming home when I received a letter from him. I remember reading it in my front yard. It simply said I don't think you should go on a mission. Lets go together when we are older. Come to Utah and please be at the airport when I get home.

Wow- I remember telling that one to my Mom. She said you can't go ... you will look like you are chasing him. I was so put out because she just didn't get it. As luck or the Lord would have it my family decided to have a family vacation in Utah the same time Mike would be getting back. How convenient that was for me. It would be too late to tell him I would be there. He would be home in 2 weeks.

The day came when he would be flying into SLC. I had hoped he told his family I would be there. I was staying with my family out in Bountiful at my uncle's house. I got to the airport and saw that his flight had arrived. I walked towards the gate. I didn't want to barge in on the family welcome so I lingered a little around the corner. I thought surely he has gotten off the plane by now and so I slowly walked to his gate only to be greeted by his parents. Who informed me Mike wasn't on the plane. He had eaten some peanuts on the plane and was still in NY. He would be on a flight the following day and to come back at that time. I remember thinking gosh... I have to do this again?

The next day finally arrived and I stood back as he greeted his family- I was still in love and I saw him come towards me and he gave me a big hug. I remember saying.. I have missed you so very much. He whispered in my ear I'm back and I'm not going away again. Mike invited me over to the house and as we walked to the cars and I asked if anyone wanted to ride with me. I didn't quite know how to get from the airport to their house. Thankfully Wendy, Mike's sister said she would ride with me. We drove to their house and Mike patiently waited to go see the Stake Pres so he could be released. He finally got the call and was gone in a flash and back in a flash. I heard him yell to me to come down to his room for a minute. I walked in and he grabbed me and gave me a big kiss. Boy was he out of practice!



It didn't take long for us to figure out what we wanted to do. We were both still around after 2 years! We went on a picnic lunch 3 days later in Cottonwood Canyon I think. I remember Mike laying on a blanket and I was sitting up getting stuff put out for the lunch when he said... well what do you think we ought to do now? I said well I don't know what do you think? He said lets get married. I said great idea!!! We decided we wouldn't tell anyone for 2 weeks after all he had just returned from his mission the a few days earlier and thankfully not weird. We first needed to find a date the temple would be open and picked the month of December. We found out that Dec 30th would be the date we would venture inside the Oakland temple and become husband and wife - Forever and Eternity!



So here I sit almost 27 years later and still in love and still glad I married my very best friend. The Lord has blessed us with so many things these past 27 years and just one of those many blessings is 4 amazing children.

Sometimes I look at Mike when he is far off and I think to myself- you chose well girl, you are truly loved by Heavenly Father because he gave you Mike! Mike has been a wonderful man in my life. He is all things I hoped for and even more. Yes he is much like my father in many ways and I have determined he is just perfect for me.

Thanks for being in my life all these years and for being you! I love you without measure and can't wait to venture into eternity with you! Forever and Eternity! I love you Mike.