Seattle

Awhile back, Adrienne (Darren's wife:sister-in-law) invited me to go with her to Seattle. They had lived there for a couple of years, and she still has some good friends there. So, we made arrangements, and the two of us took off for a girls weekend. It was SOOO FUN! Her friend, Shalene, was a perfect hostess, and she showed us around the area. The weather was absolutely perfect! We went to the Puget Sound, got manicures and pedicures, spent some time shopping in the city, at Pike's Place, and, of course, Target. I LOVE Seattle! The water, the mountains, the trees. It's absolutely gorgeous.

I wished that I lived closer so that I could've taken home a $5.00 boquet of flowers!

LOVED THEM

Seattle, What's with the Pigs?

Mt. Rainier: Next time (yes, we are going back) we're going to do some hiking here.

We had a wonderful time, even though I had to leave Amelia, who had thrown up the night before I left, and, as Nate found out when he took her to the Dr. on Friday, had strep. Then Emma got the runs, and the boys had soccer games in the middle of it all. And, since I wasn't here to tell him not to, Nate thought he would see if he could move our bed (It's huge). Well, he couldn't, and he threw his hip out of place, and he's still not quite right yet. Since the girls were sick, Kathy, our neighbor and friend, took the boys to church on Sunday. They told her that "Our mom is never going to Seattle again."

Well, everyone survived, and perhaps the sweetest part of being gone is coming home because when I got home there was a cake made just for me with the message "Welcome Home, MOM" and a heart and a flower.

(picture coming soon)

And then, the next morning, Clay said"I have something for you." He went downstairs, retrieved his bell, and sang me a song that he had made up for me. It went something like this,"I really missed you mom, I'm so glad that you're home, I really missed you mom, We're so happy to have you back" All to the ringing of the bell. It was soo sweet.

And Sam, in his grown up way, gave me a hug and told me how happy he was to have me home, and then proceeded to tell me about the very exciting football game they had watched, giving me a precise play by play:)

The first thing that Amelia noticed that morning were my painted fingernails. She said, "You have color on your fingers? It's pretty." She was just tickled about it. So, that day we painted her little toes and fingers, and then painted Emma's toes too. It was fun..Amelia sat there so grown up like, and so thrilled to have "color on her fingers" too.

Maybe next time I'll take the family!

Big Sister

Amy & Kristie

1976

Happy Birthday Sis!

Labor Day

We stayed around town this Labor Day Weekend. We had a good deal of fun about it too.

On Saturday, Nate woke up with a bee in his bonnet, and went looking for a trampoline. Well, he found one and four hours later we had it put together, but not before we went to the annual fish catch. Kids gather around this huge pool that they stock with fish, and then they get in and try to catch the fish with bags or their bare hands.

Clay got in and chased the largest fish around the pool. Kids were leaving left and right with fish they had caught, or a "helper" had caught for them. But Clay was still chasing this fish around. Imagine our surprise when he stooped down in the water and came up with a HUGE fish in his arms.

The delight on his face was priceless. What he was wearing was worth a thousand laughs, too.

Sam got to go with the next group of kids. He was a trooper, and even had one in his hands a couple of times. The first one just got away. The second one, well, it "slipped" out into the arms of another child.(see photo: Sam's the one with the baseball cap.) He was a great sport, though, and enjoyed the chase. He came out soaking wet.

On Monday we threw out 824 (give or take a few) toothbrushes at the local parade. That's always fun. And then the Rodeo. Happy Labor Day!

Happy Birthday Grandma & Uncle Dave

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

We love Great Grandma Gaskell. Every birthday and holiday, the children look forward to her homemade cards. They love it that they each get their own. They all know that 9 times out of 10, if they get a letter in the mail, that it is from Great Grandma Gaskell.

They're all celebrating by crossing the Mackinaw Bridge up in Michigan on Monday, among other things. So Jealous!! Have a great time everyone!

(picture taken 5-30-07 in Albion)

Happy Birthday Uncle Dave!!!

We love you. Being half a continent apart, we don't get to see each other very often. However, we are very aware and grateful of the fact that he takes such very good care of Grandma. You Rock!

Odds and Ends

I hope you haven't given up on me. As much as I would have loved to be posting better, it's had to take a back seat on the priority list, which means it doesn't get done. But, I'm staying up late tonight. The talk went well. It was incredibly difficult. I spoke after our Stake President, who spoke on families, motherhood, and told some very personal and touching experiences. So, I had to get up to give my talk with tears already in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I was happy for the comic relief that my first story provided so that I could "catch my breath" before heading into another emotional spell. If anyone is ambitious enough to read, I've posted the talk as I gave it more or less. It was an awesome experience to speak in such amazing company: Elder Hales and his wife Mary, Elder Murdock of the seventy, the mission president and his wife, and our stake president. It was honestly one of the more humbling things I've ever been asked to do.

So, the other day I was buckling Amelia into her carseat and what I saw just made me laugh.
She had in her hands: a doll, a maraca, a spoon, and a bag of cheese nips. I thought of how she always has a purse, backpack, bag, or even a plastic baggie (today it was a treat bag she found left over from a birthday) filled with the most random things you could ever imagine. And why she thought it was so important to take with her a doll, maraca, spoon, and a bag of cheesenips, I don't think I will ever understand, but I will laugh. In fact, I am sitting here chuckling to myself as I write this. She is such a joy!!

And then there is Clay. He has been bugging me about getting him a SpiderMan costume for several weeks now. (2 months until Halloween) So, when I was at Costco on Tuesday I saw one for significantly less than the ones in the catalogues. I was quick to get it since there was really no question in my mind that that is what he wants to be for Halloween. I thought I could surprise him with it. Well, there was really no surprise to it because that night, Clay started to pester me again about "when are we going to order my costume? Can we do it tonight?" All thoughts of a dramatic presentation and any surprise element just lost itself in my desire to not have to find yet another excuse for not ordering it. SO, I directed him to look where I'd stashed it, and let me tell you, you've never seen a happier boy. Well, just imagine the scenario the next day after school. Mom, can I try on my costume? Yes, but just to see if it fits. He came running out of the house, Emma screamed in terror, I ordered him to remove the mask, and noticed how well it fit and asked him to take it off. So, a couple hours later, after dinner, costume still on, he goes outside with a neighbor that had come over to play football with Sam. I walked outside to call them in and this is what I saw. Again, I laughed out loud.

And then Emma. She thinks she's just as big as the rest of the kids. Really. If you ask her how old she is, she says, "I tree" (3). She dances like crazy to every song on the radio, and even sings along to her favorites. One of my favorite things she does is call Sam "Awsome" or "awsammy." She's pretty much got us all calling him "awesome" now. Not a bad nickname. Did I mention she cries alot in the mornings? It's getting better since we introduced time out for this particular thing, but she's a girl, melt downs are inevitable.Then Sam, the first born. I've mentioned all the rest. He likes to tell jokes and stories. He is such a cowboy. He's curious and active. Last Saturday we went on a "little" horse ride with Ron and Kathy and the boys. Sam had a new saddle whose stirrups were a little long. So, for the first 1/2 hour he kept asking when we were going to stop to fix his stirrups. He had quite the pout going on for awhile. Sad thing, it reminded me of certain times when I should have been having fun, but was so fixated on that ONE thing that was not quite right that I was able to completely spoil it all. Why do we pass these things on? Well, he did get over it and we enjoyed our 15 mile ride over rocky terrain through the Uintas.

Enough for tonight. Maybe I'll be back before the end of September!

The Talk: Peace

Last month our family had an interesting experience that I want to share with you. We were returning from our ward campout at Flaming Gorge when we saw a sign for a camping spot that some friends had told us about. We thought that it would be nice to check it out as a potential spot for a family outing sometime. It was not a short drive, but it was beautiful, and we saw a moose. But, as anyone who has every traveled with children knows, pit stops are inevitable. So, we stopped, backing up a very rocky hill, to be out of the road. Well, business over, we continued on our merry way, now anxious to be back on the road to home. We hadn’t traveled very far before we hear an awful sloshing, hissing sound emanating from the back of the car. Flat tire. Once again, we pulled off the road, this time onto a sandy ATV trail. There was not too much complaining, because this was a new adventure we had not had before. Nonetheless, the children were worried and suggested that we say a prayer. We did, and then Nate got to work on the tire as I tried to keep the children happy. Well, after 2 hours, the jack had been stuck, we’d dug holes using rocks and contrived methods of changing the tire, but the task was finally complete. And all the while Sam wondered over and over to Nate, Dad, how do Nascar Drivers do it so fast? We were happy and still anxious to be back on the road to home. I think we hadn’t even driven 100 yards before that awful sloshing and hissing sound started again, this time from the passenger side of the car. Anyone who drives a car knows that cars only come with one spare tire. This time we really needed some extra help. As we sat there trying to get service on the cell phone, and this time praying much more earnestly than before, a truckload of people stopped and asked if we needed help. We very quickly learned that they were acquainted with Nate’s uncle who is a bishop in the building where they attend church, which immediately put us at ease. They took us to their father’s house where they were able to fix the flat tire. We felt so blessed by their kindness, their service and their willingness to help. We knew that Heavenly Father was watching out for us. We very soon learned that He was watching out for them too. One of the sons who helped us out is a college student with a small family, and he had been experiencing pain in a tooth that needed a root canal, and it was not in their budget to have it fixed right then. Nate, wanting to provide them with thanks for their assistance was able to fix the tooth, free of charge, the next day. With the wife assisting, Nate did a root canal before they had to return to school. The full scope of this miracle came full circle when we recently received a thank you note from the spouse of this young man. It said “I had been praying that we would find a way to fix that tooth.” We were sent to each other through the promptings of the Spirit, although in a rather inconventient way, in order to bless each others lives.

When we allow the spirit to be with us always, in the ways we discussed with Elder Hales last night, we will be blessed, we will be blessed with the opportunities to bless others, and lives will draw closer to the Lord because of it.
In other words, D&C 19:23 aLearn of me, and listen to my words; bwalk in the cmeekness of my Spirit, and you shall have dpeace in me. When we have the Spirit, we have peace.
Any time we allow the Lord’s Spirit into our lives, we will feel peace.
However, we all have challenges and trials that seem to threaten our peace. The reality is that these challenges are given to us so that we may understand the source of the peace we so desperately seek, the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Some of that understanding comes from my own experience with Amelia, our gorgeous, spunky, and fun 3 year old. We were told that she would not survive outside the womb. A radiologist, who is a leader in her field, suggested that we terminate what she called “a disaster.” Tears, troubling questions, and fear crept into my heart. I wasn’t prepared to acknowledge that kind of news. But, once I was alone with Nate, we were able to pray, and we felt peace. We did not know if the peace meant that Amelia would develop properly and be born, but we did know that in the Eternal Plan of our Father in Heaven, everything was going to be ok, and He would take care of us. With this peace came a feeling of gratitude and the clarity of mind that we needed. It was very clear to Nate and I that we needed to step it up. I knew that the Lord needed me to continue to serve Him, and I rededicated myself to my calling in the RS in our Mayfield, Ohio ward, and most importantly, to my Father in Heaven.
We need the Atonement. We need our Savior.
“The atoning sacrifice of Christ, and our full acceptance of it, is the spiritual antidote that heals the wounded soul. It is such an antidote that replaces despair with hope, darkness with light, and turmoil with peace.” Tad Callister p. 203

.The Atonement is the vehicle for change, purification, and refreshment, and it is the key to peace in our lives.
When we begin to understand the scope of the Atonement we begin to understand our capacity to feel peace.
There are three ways in which my Savior consistently provides this peace for me.
1. I find great peace in the knowledge that HE KNOWS. Alma7
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind;
What pains do we suffer – what things, ideas, or feelings tempt us? With what are we afflicted? What burdens do we carry? He understands
he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people…and he will take upon him their infirmities,
what sicknesses of body, mind, or soul have we been given to endure? He understands
that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccor his people
OUR SAVIOR KNOWS!!! That is why he suffered. “TO SUCCOR his people according to their infirmities.” Just as President Matthews said last night, to succor means: to run to the rescue ;give help or assistance; be of service; consolation, solace, comfort, give relief in affliction, alleviate distress; show great kindness toward the distressed.
This knowledge alone gives me great peace. But even greater is the peace that distills upon the troubled soul who seeks out the Lord for relief.
Elder John H. Groberg, a member of the Seventy, said: “I testify
that no one has or ever will experience any set of circumstances, be
they disappointments, betrayal, pain, persecution, suffering, or
whatever, that cannot and is not swallowed up in the Savior! You
can feel no hurt, emotional or physical, that He has not already
felt. There is no combination of human emotions or physical illness
or suffering that cannot find refuge in the Savior’s sacrifice for us.
He knows how to help us. He wants to help us. Please let him”
(“Trust the Lord” [CES fireside for young adults, 1 May 1994], 6).
2. I find great peace in the knowledge that the great mercy of our Lord satisfies the justice of a loving Father in Heaven. Because of the Atonement of the Savior, we can repent. In repentance, there is peace. Spencer W. Kimball, in The Miracle of Forgiveness wrote, “The essence of the miracle of forgiveness is that it brings peace to the previously anxious, restless, frustrated, perhaps tormented soul. In a world of turmoil and contention this is indeed a priceless gift.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.363)
D&C 64:10 I, the Lord, will aforgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to bforgive all men.
I know from a profound personal experience that equal is the peace that comes when we let go of grudges and ill-feelings and forgive, as it is required of us.
3. I find great peace in the knowledge given in
Mosiah 15:20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.
After Christ died upon the cross, he was laid in the tomb. After three days, his spirit was reunited with his glorified body. And today HE LIVES. The Primary children ought to recognize this: I Know That My Redeemer Lives. What Comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives, he lives who once was dead, he lives, my ever living head. Christ stands at the head of our church today. We have a prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, who bears witness of him. There are Twelve Apostles, as there were in the day of Christ. They have been called as special witnesses of Christ. I know this. Several years ago, as a college student at BYU, I had an amazing experience. I sat in my apartment watching conference. As they read the name of Elder Robert D. Hales to sustain him as an Apostle, they showed him on the television. A warm feeling of peace flooded through me, and into my heart. I know with a certainty that Elder Hales, sitting here today, is a special witness of Jesus Christ. What a privilege to be able to be taught by him today, and to feel his testimony of our Savior, who lives.

I know that when we follow the spirit and work to make the Atonement a part of our lives, we will be blessed with great peace. I know our Savior lives and loves us.

Stake Conference

OK, tomorrow morning I have to speak in Stake Conference. I have about an hour's worth of material and 12 minutes to talk. I think I'll post the talk after it's all over. Elder Hales is here for the conference. So humbling, exciting, and I already have butterflies. Whew!