perspective

This past week we had two deaths in my ward and another death of a friend. While one death was of a 93 year old man, Tony Vaughn, who was reunited with his wife the other two are tragic. A 17 year old girl, Callie Barney, and and 42 year old husband and dad Rob Verhaaren. I attended the funeral of Tony Vaughn there was laughter and great stories. He had lived a good life and was ready to return home. The other funerals haven't happened yet but I imagine they won't be as full of laughter.
As I have been thinking of these deaths and trying to comprehend our Heavenly Father's plan I attended institute today. Mind you I really didn't want to go to institute. It's been raining in the valley and I really wanted to take Kate to school and come home and read. But I went anyway. I am glad I did. The teacher taught about the Plan of Happiness. As she was teaching it she ask the question "Why do I need to teach this? Don't most of us know this?" A few people responded but one in particular commented on perspective. She said when you look at the diagram that was up on the board you realize how little the earth is and what a little part of the Plan of Happiness it is. I have been taught this before but with these three deaths it really hit me again. We are sent to earth to learn and to grow. To gain a body, have great experiences and have not so great experiences. But the reality is this earth life is short in the whole grand scheme of things. I am glad I was retaught this and hope and pray that the three families who are struggling with their losses can find a little comfort in this knowledge. I am grateful for the Plan of Happiness and that we can be with our families forever. I am grateful to know of the truthfulness of the gospel and all of the comfort it brings to me. Even though I don't understand everything in fact I only understand about and eighth of everything and that might be too much. I do know we will live again and can be with the ones we love again.

Hood to Coast

Ryan ran the relay race Hood to Coast. It's a 199 mile race that starts at the Timberline Lodge of Mt. Hood and ends at the coast of Seaside, Oregon. Their team finished in 25:05:54, 75th overall out of about 1100 teams. Not too shabby. Ryan ran a total of just over 19 miles and had a great time. He also got to go to Nike and do some shopping and explore Oregon. He can't wait to go back next year and maybe I will get to tag along next time.  

Here are some pictures of the race.

The starting line. I love that there is still snow on the mountain.

 The finish line. With Ryan, Dave Funk, Steve Shield, Ryan Driggs, Kevin Wolfe, Brian Ricks, and Richard Rassmussan. They had way too much fun together.

 One of the look out points along the way of the race.

 Outside of Nike with new shoes on everyone. It turns out that they got themselves invited to a lunch for the Nike employees that were running the race. The Nike people thought Ryan's group were employees so they got a free lunch and a good story too.

A waterfall outside of Portland. I really want to go there.

Jay's moving out

Apparently I made Jay mad the other night because he informed me he is moving out. (I had asked him to turn the TV off and shower to get ready for bed.) So, I said okay you can move out and so he started packing up. After about 10 minutes of packing Jay informed me he needed a little TV and DVD player to take with him. I told him he would have to get those himself. I then asked where he would be living and he wasn't sure. "Maybe an apartment or someplace." He seemed to think he had enough money to get a place. I told him he would have to work to pay for his apartment and couldn't go to school but he still wanted to go to school so an apartment was out. He was still thinking about where he could go when I told him he couldn't leave because it was dark and he had no place to go. He then settled down and watched the movie with the rest of the family. The next morning he still said he would like to move out and was still thinking about where to go. Anyone have room at their house for a seven year old boy?

What does a seven year old think is important enough to take with him when he moves? His stuffed dog, wallet, play book, water balloons, colored rocks, "Cars" cards, a swimsuit "in case it gets really hot" and about four outfits. What else does he need besides a mini TV and DVD player?

It's cold outside????

I can't decide if it's cold or hot. I asked Kate to get her shoes and she came out with her slippers on. I guess her feet were cold but not the rest of her. Then today she was getting dressed for school and she put her jacket on because she was cold. Like her teacher said it was only 90 degrees outside. I think we are all ready for some cooler weather.

first day of school

It's official school has started for all my kids. I am a little bit sad about Kate going to preschool three days a week but at the same time I will have three mornings of no kids. How nice is that? Here are their favorites for the year.

Jack

Color: Blue, Animal: Ball Python, Food: Steak and TK Burger, Best Friend: Steven Smith and Brandon Marble, Book: "Beezus and Ramona, Activity: Baseball, Toy: DS, Movie: "Transformers 3"

What do you want to be when you grow up? a singer or a X-games guy

Jay

Color: Black and Red, Animal: chipmunk, Food: ice-cream sandwich, Best Friend: Carson Campbell, Book: "The Avengers", Activity: Boogie Boarding, Toy: Avenger toys and superhero toys, Movie: all superhero movies. What do you want to be when you grow up? a baseball player. 

 Kate

Color: blue, Animal: unicorn, horsie and Jewel (from the movie "Rio"), Food: rice and chicken, Best Friend: Keelie Goodman and Lexi Ricedorff, Book: the number book, Activity: swim, Toy: my ring, Movie: Jewel Movie ("Rio"), "Tangled" and "Shrek",

What do you want to be when you grow up? a surfer

California

I love California. It's one of my favorite vacations. We went this year for an entire week and pretty much just hung out on the beach. We had a big group with us, Randy and his family, Karrie's family, Joe's family, and Cassie's sister Brittney and her family.  We stayed in the dorms at Concordia University in Irvine and had a great time. Here are some pictures in no particular order.

 Abby and Jay, I love that they hang out and get along so well.

 My family in front of the Newport Beach Temple. I wanted to do a session but it took away from my beach time so it never happened.

 Lexi, Kate and Hannah. I loved that Lexi is so willing to play with the girls. This trip was so nice because my kids could pretty much take care of themselves, especially if Lexi was there to play.

 Kate getting ready to boogie board. She says she wants to be a surfer when she grows up.

 Kate riding the wave in on Ryan's back. She did not like boogie boarding and refused to go in the water the rest of the trip. I guess being a surfer is no longer an option for when she grows up.

 Jack and Jake laying down trying to stop the waves. I was laughing so hard because they were trying to build a sand castle and the waves kept taking it out so they tried to build walls around the castle and then even resorted to laying down in front of the waves. It didn't work and a wave eventually got the castle.

 Dyan, Jay, Ryan, Lexi, Rebecca, Kate, Jack and Rhett at Knotts Berry Farm. We had a great time. We all totally split up. Jack went with Rhett, Lexi, and Rebecca to ride some rides, I had Jay and Ryan went with Kate to Snoopy Land. We all had a great time and I am amazed at how much my kids love roller coasters.

 My family at our new favorite beach, Corona del Mar. We have always been Huntington Beach fans and still like it but this time it was so crowded and had a lot of swearing and drinking there so someone told us about Corona del Mar and we checked it out. I loved it and we will be going to that beach often.

 The little mermaids. It's so nice for Kate because she has all these cousins about her age. Keelie, Kate, Hadlie, Hannah, and Annie. I even got Jay in the background smiling.

Ryan relaxing. He was asleep but the boys started burying him in the sand so he woke up. If you look close he has boobs. 

Mesa'a Summers

Summer in Mesa is HOT!!! It hits 100 degrees in May and stays that hot until September. July and August are not fun. It is always hot. But in a weird way I really like it. I like the sun. I like swimming and I really like knowing that in October when it's only 85-90 degrees winter is coming and we will enjoy sunny days of 70 degree weather. It's so nice then. Even with it being 100 degrees I still find time to go hiking. Yes, it's early in the morning and yes I'm tired for the day. But I love hiking so I still go. Here is the view from the top of "A" mountain one morning. It was a random day of rain and the humidity was about 60% but it was so nice to be outside in the drizzle. As I was hiking I was reminded about how nice I have it. I really have a very blessed life and I am grateful for my health. I really appreciate the outdoors and I always seem to have a prayer of gratitude as I am hiking. I know I am truly blessed.