General Conference

I had a wonderful day today, taking in General Conference. I think, no I know, that General Conference weekends are my favoritest. What a wonderful opportunity to hear prophets of God speak to us, and recommit to living a better life. I loved it.

If you happened to miss it, make sure you check out the church website over the next few days, all the talks will be available there to watch or read. www.lds.org You will especially like the talk by Elder David A. Bednar, "The Parable of the Pickle" and also the one by Sister Bonnie D. Parkin on gratitude. She was released today as the R.S. General President. The tabernacle was also rededicated, and they held the afternoon session there.

We are so very blessed.

Happy Birthday Gram!

My Gram is 89 years young today. [89 and holding she told me]

She has always been an example to me of someone who knows how to serve others. She is now a great great grandma. "GGG", "Triple G" or "G-cubed" for short. Love you, Gram!

A Blessing?

So, the plumbers came today to finish up on the bathroom. This is what it looks like now. Do you like the new look?

They found when digging to put in the new drain for the shower that the old tub was placed dirctly over the cleanout and the main water line...So...that means that if we ever had a plug or leak, they wouldn't be able to get to it unless they tore up the whole bathroom. It is A BLESSING that we have never needed to find it before now, and also that they discovered it before getting any further. So we needed to do a quick redesign of the bathroom, so we can leave that accessible from now on. Our previous "developer" was such a ...... [I can't even think of a word] They had to jackhammer a whole bunch more floor out, and we don't have the bin anymore, so we now have a huge mess, and the plumbing is no further along today than it was yesterday. They are supposed to come back Monday.

And the gas guy on Tuesday.

And we leave for our holiday Tuesday morning. They will work on the kitchen while we are away. Kipp helped finish up the kitchen packing today after conference, and we moved out the fridge and stove. The stove is in the garage, and the fridge is in the dining room. Lovely. My new decor is boxes...Everywhere...This is FUN...Just in case you were wondering.

Reno Update...The Ongoing Saga

The renovation is moving along...at a snail's pace. Most of the framing is done, but yesterday they jackhammered the floor for the plumbing in the bathroom, so we have a huge mess once again. I think the electrician might come today or tomorrow, and maybe the plumber, but so far today I am in the house alone. I can't get the gas guy to call me back and we are waiting on him. My kitchen is half packed, so not much cooking going on around here. The living room is full of more boxes to be filled. I think I will just throw most of it out...it is easier than moving it. (Sigh)

ASHLEY

Ashley lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband, Trevor and daughter, Elizabeth. She is my very favorite daughter. How would I define her? Well, let me see...

Fortitude--she has great strength, to get her through whatever comes her way.

Loving--Ashley's love is unconditional. I look up to her for her great example to me.

Kindness--she is always willing to serve others and light their way

Capable--she sells herself short on this one. She is talented and able in so many ways. If you ever need something done, and done well, ask Ashley to do it.

True--she is true to her values and will uphold them, whatever tribulation may come.

Mother--Ashley is a natural when it comes to being a mother. Loving care and charity have always been an important element of Ashley, ever since she was little. Elizabeth, you are extremely blessed!

A True Friend--what more can I say, Ashley is there for her friends and family, and knows how to make their days better. I am blessed to call her my daughter AND my friend.

I love you Ash! Have a wonderful day!

xoxo

ETHAN!

Ethan

-my favorite 15 year old

-really is alot of fun, and I enjoy having him to hang out with

-has grown taller than me, and enjoys showing off that he can pick me up

-is the proud possessor of a learner's license, but complains we don't let him drive often enough. (He is probably right about that)

-sometimes finds that living as an only child is a bit lonely; or shall I say boring, but is learning that it does have perks

-attends Rundle Academy in Grade 10, and is doing great this year. (Hooray!)

-attends early morning seminary, and never complains about the early hour

-works part-time at McDonalds

-plays violin

-always mischievious

-enjoys scaring people. (I have been the victim of this cruel prank on too many occasions.)

-I had a hard time finding a good picture of him, because his favorite thing to do is to pull a face in pictures

-is coaching me in Wario Ware Smooth Moves...I think sometimes he wonders if I will ever get it, but I have managed to pass all the beginning levels

-is an avid reader of anything fantasy.

-loves to make his own movies with his friends

-tackled and conquered Kicking Horse this year

-likes to play with his niece, Elizabeth

-did I say he was my favorite 15 year old?

Elder Craig

We love our missionary. P-Day in his mission is Tuesday. Except for the occasional week when it is Wednesday. This week it was MONDAY! Needless to say, our email had not been sent yet. We will have to be more careful to make sure we write on Sunday nights EVERY week. That is what we try to do, but it doesn't always happen. I arrived home from the office yesterday to find his letter in my inbox. Luckily HE thought it was all rather funny. Luckily there is a wonderful thing called DearElder.com. We sent him off a letter last night, and it should arrive in his snail mail before the end of the week. He is doing well, and is being transferred to The Dalles, Oregon today. He is happy to be back in a car. He took out two pairs of pants with the gears on his bike in his last area. Fortunately we bought his suits at MissionaryMall.org, so if he sends a picture of the damaged pants, they will send him new ones for free! Hooray!

Tearing Down and Building Up

We are beginning a renovation. As you can see from the pictures, a bomb was dropped in the basement. Once it is totally taken apart, we will begin again from scratch. We would like to open it up down there, and are adding a fireplace to get some warmth. The renovation will also include a revamping of the kitchen. More counter space is my priority. We will add hardwood flooring and reface the cupboards. It is funny how things we thought were so absolutely wonderful 13 to 17 years ago we are now ready to change. We will tear it all down, and have a terrible mess, but the end result will be a new and improved home. I am excited for that.

This morning I have been pondering this whole process, and it made me think of Hugh B. Brown's talk, "God is the Gardener". I often feel like the rose bush in his talk, sad that I am being torn down just when I thought I was growing so well. But God is the Gardener. He knows so much better what we can become, and if we will let Him, he will make of us something so much better than we could ever accomplish on our own.

Here is our little family. Although the distances between us are growing we are still a tight knit bunch. We love to spend time together and to keep in contact.