Gila Valley Temple

Just saw the posting on the Merrell family website. You kids remember Phyllis' daughter, Christine? Her two sons were chosen by President Monson to help place the cornerstone of the temple. Of course, I was in the noon session and didn't get to see it :(

It was fun hearing the stories from the first session, since Dad ushered there, he could share with me what I missed. Phyllis' sister, Colleen, and her husband (Richard L.)were in the picture of the temple that was placed in the Church News. I think we should go down there as a family and do some temple work, how about it? You can see them better if you click twice on the above pic.

Gratitude

I just finished reading an article about Socialism. I always find it interesting when people feel that they have a sense of entitlement. You know...they should have all the good stuff that they see their neighbor having. Obama wants to cite scripture to impress upon people that we should SHARE...everything we have. In the book of Acts it states that...."they had all things in common among them." Now remember that this was a voluntary, self -sacrificing situation.....NOT ....a situation where the Government proclaims itself to be GOD and then steals from the rich to give to the poor. That's right...that is called STEALING....and COVETING.....and putting someone/something (the government) ABOVE God.

Okay..I am done with my little rant...oh....except for one thing. Some people believe that because they drive an older vehicle...or have used furniture.....that somehow.....THAT makes them righteous. Actually...some of those people need to be more thankful for what they DO have. Until you live in a hut in a third-world country, wondering where your next meal is coming from....you ARE rich. Especially if you live in America ...AND ...have the gospel. Many people are struggling in the world this very minute....even here in America. Sharing....(Obama's word for redistributing the wealth) needs to be done in the Lord's way. If you don't know what that is....go and see your Bishop. Oh yes....and before you judge the people who SEEM to have everything....just remember that you don't know how or where they are giving to others. Only the Lord knows that....

We are dedicating another temple here in Arizona today. I am so grateful for its presence and the thoughts that soon we will have yet another temple in Gilbert. We are all so blessed. We all have so many things to be thankful for. If you can't go to the temple....my advice....get yourself worthy to attend....right away....things are moving forward at an increasing rate....the Savior IS coming. We need to be ready to meet him. I have just completed the temple work for a large number of names from a very distant relative in Idaho. She and I share a common last name from several generations back on my line. Doing genealogy work is so rewarding and so positive in my life that I am so grateful for it. I KNOW that the church is true and that my particular mission on this earth is to get the work done on behalf of all those who have gone before me and not had the opportunity to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel. As I see all the work that is still to be done...I feel a real sense of urgency.

And....on top of all that....I just spent a GLORIOUS few days up at our little retreat in the mountains...just enjoying the beauty of all the Lord's creations. I can't wait to participate in the Hosanna shout this morning. You will all be in my thoughts as we participate together!

Happy Mother's Day to ME!!!

Mark bought me "Indian Stories" from my favorite artist, Morgan Weistling.....winner of the Prix de West. It will hang over the mantel in our master bedroom at the cabin. My grandfather would take us upstairs in the old farmhouse in Illinois and literally scare us to death with stories that he made up. He loved to tell us Indian stories and he would put each one of us into the story as the heroes and heroines. Then he would go back downstairs and leave us "city kids" alone in the dark...and I MEAN DARK...no street lights out on the farm. Then the famous electrical storms.... complete with chain lightning and terrible thunder would start....WHOA! This is MOTHER'S DAY...FATHER'S DAY.....AND OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY GIFT! Sometimes I have to do some heavy negotiating...



Had just about the best Mother's Day EVER! Sonia and Sherman got me a beautiful clock for the cabin. Dan and Keira got me a vintage set of Grimm's Fairy Tales complete with beautiful color illustrations and Lara got me some fab earrings from Anthro. Will gave me a big hug and told me he is saving his money for his wife LOL! I heartily agree...it is going to take bucks to buy her way out of Romania. Drum roll...Dan made me another one of his "handmade" cards. He surprised me again....what can I say? Since I am not a very good photographer I didn't try to capture Lara's earrings...they are tiny and DARLING! Thank you...I LOVE YOU ALL!

Snow in May!

It snowed three times last Sunday up in Heber. The sun came out in between. It was like living in Scotland again. Love to watch it fall....none of it stuck, though.
The kids trying out the new King size bed. That's my super duper savings from Big Lots! Boy did I wait for this one....first 50%...then 70% off. Woo hoo......I went back a week later and the other one was gone. I rescued mine just in time!
Well....happy Mother's Day to me. Mark bought a new quad for Father's Day. I didn't realize that Tatoe enjoyed posing so much. Will have to use him more in the future.

Lara's Baby Shower

There she is.....the little mother.....
I can't believe we made all that food...and had so much left over.....
I love diaper cakes.....so few calories!
Lara's friends from grade school....BFF....!!!

My New Favorite Song

I love my job...no...I LOVE MY JOB! The newest song this week is really growing on me....here are the lyrics....

IN SHORT

My love affair with you, is over, it's through.

We loved and then we lost, and while it came at quite a cost,

we both had the chance to grow.

I've collected my thoughts and once before I go,

there's just one thing I want you to know.

I want to punch you in the face, rip out all your hair.

I want to burn you alive and if you survive

I'll strap you to an electric chair.

Or lean out a window a little too far.

Don't look both ways and get hit by a car.

Fall out of a roller coaster, take a warm bath

with a plugged-in toaster. In short...

I hope you DIE!

Maybe it's wrong to wish death on someone you had so much love for.

But since we shared so much...it makes me want to kill you more.

I hope you both are doing great, new couples always are.

I hope this won't make you sad, I did something bad.

I played a tiny joke that involves her car.

I pulled out my knife-I slashed every tire.

Smashed in the windshield and set it on fire.

Then I left a little note, which said,

"Leave town or I'll cut your throat _itch!"

In short....I really hope you die! Okay...so maybe I've gone too far.

Maybe I'm saying this out of spite.

Maybe I think these things to cope with sleeping alone each night.

Cause obviously I'm still thinking of you, and wishing we could just

start over new.

What if we both give it one more try? Sucks that we can't...

cause you're a jerk that deserves to die.

Die, die, die, die...dysentery, die, die, die, die, gangrene, die, die, die, etc.......

All of this is sung to a perky little calypso rhythm that gravitates to a samba. I LOVE IT! Watch in on youtube under In Short Pasek and Paul (music and lyrics.) HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE and beware of scary upset women. LOL!

Government Gangsters

The Democrats are hiding behind closed doors. They are bribing our Senators and Congressmen...they are making back room deals. America, as we know it, is going down. I guess it was to be expected...these are, after all...the last days.

Loved my week-end in the mountains with my Simada sisters. We have spent the past year studying the Supreme Court and its history-making decisions. I played my program on the spiritual lives of the Great Composers. The Bar 13 Ranch is totally awesome and they thought of everything...including a basement for the children to play and nursing mothers to watch TV. The play area had a rock schoolhouse complete with bell to ring in the belfry. It looked like something right out of posh tots....of COURSE....I forgot to take my camera. Everyone was snapping pics like crazy. It is three stories high. We also got a tour of the neighboring cabin that Dan and family have been in. It has nine bedrooms and is about 1/3 the size of the Bar 13. I had so much FUN. Can you imagine a cabin with a GRAND PIANO??? Well...that place is not a cabin...it is a RESORT! I drove up to my little nook on the hill, in Heber and relaxed and enjoyed thinking about all the ideas I got from the big place. She even has three paintings of my favorite artist...Morgan Weistling. I am saving to purchase his Indian Stories..winner of the Prix de West.

AAAAHHHHHHHHH! I get to serve as secretary for the coming year. Lucky me... to rub shoulders with great women. I have finally found the "sisterhood" I have been searching for.