Josanna's Birthday

Conference! Time to Rotate!

Every six months when LDS General Conference rolls around we get out the 72 hour kits and let the kids eat their meals and snacks out of the kits (except for items that won't expire until next Conference.) We did this on Saturday. This time I specifically kept out the fruit leather, granola bars, juice boxes, trail mix, and jerky. Then a week later we took these snacks on the road with us to Arizona---we hardly had to buy any other snacks for the trip! I bought new food items and repacked their backpacks. Another rotation completed!

Josh's Birthday

St. Patrick's Day

We had green pancakes and fried ham for breakfast
on cute shamrock plates. Later that evening we went
to my parents for the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner.
My mom had set the adult table and the grandkids' table so cute.
We had our traditional corn beef, cabbage,
potatoes, carrots and onions, corn bread and maple syrup,
and shepherd's pie.
I always look forward to the meal.

Out of the Cage

It took two months, but the bird were trained to come out of the cage the end of February.

The kids have enjoyed being able to interact more with the birds.

It's been fun to discover how Magic and Believe have their own personalities.

Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Bob recently took care of the birds for us while we were on our trip---we really appreciate that! And just yesterday I took the birds up to the Kindergarten pet show and Josh got to talk about them. I forgot the camera. It went well. Magic and Believe were the only birds, along with two hamsters, two fish, one cat, one turtle and lots of dogs.

Johnson Sisters

Alexis


Amanda

Where do I begin? Sometimes events happen in our lives that jerk us from our routines and schedules and start us on a new journey of learning, loving, and often also grieving and healing. One such event happened yesterday. These two beautiful daughters of God, born only 19 months apart and always close to one another were taken back to Heaven together. Alexis, would be 17 next month and Amanda, 15 1/2 years of age. It affects me personally, but also is affecting our family, LDS ward family, neighborhood and community.

Their family had rented an RV and were on their way to Lake Havasu to vacation. Tragedy struck 20 minutes north of Las Vegas as their RV hit a semi-truck. The sisters were taken instantly. Their mother was injured, but we are grateful that she will soon be released from the hospital. As you can imagine the emotional toll on the surviving family members is heavy and we are praying almost constantly for each of them individually. Besides their parents Alexis and Amanda leave behind an older sister, two younger sisters and a younger brother.

My husband Michael described the Johnsons as part of "the heart and soul" of our ward family. They are always willing to do anything for anyone---and do so cheerfully. The family has the hugest smiles and such fun-loving personalities. They actively seek being together as a family and doing good. The father can make you laugh in a heartbeat. In fact my Aly was telling me just ten days ago how Brother Johnson had made her smile.

I got to know both Alexis and Amanda well through working with them in Young Women's. I easily call them some of "my girls" in my heart. As you see in the picture below we have known them for many years. This picture was taken in April of 2002, almost exactly seven years ago. Amanda, my Aly, Alexis, my Maddie, and Alex (another young woman and dear friend of mine) were playing in our backyard on the dirt piles on the way home from school on this particular day. I have so enjoyed watching all five of them grow into lovely young women.



The young women are my friends. Alexis and Amanda are my friends and I look forward to being able to see their smiles and share a hug with them again. Truly they are my sisters in the Gospel. They were both wonderful examples of righteous young women with strong testimonies of their Savior, the restored Gospel, and of eternal families. I too have a testimony of these things. This past weekend I have had strong impressions of the Savior's life and atonement through attending the Mesa Temple pageant and Easter services at church. I know Jesus Christ lives and all of us will also live again! What greater blessing is there to know that you can be reunited with loved ones in the next life? I praise our Heavenly Father for His love and plan of salvation for all of his children.

We have seen the Lord's tender mercies in this tragedy. Those of you who are LDS will understand that it truly is an amazing thing that our stake president, bishop, past YW president, past YW counselor, current YW president and the next-door neighbors to the Johnsons were all vacationing in the St. George and Las Vegas area at the time of the accident and through cell phones were able to connect. They all have been with the Johnson family during this life-changing event. That does not just happen by chance.

I always tell my children how amazing our bodies are and that Heavenly Father made our bodies to be able to heal. I have seen this time and time again in my nursing career. I know that if He made our bodies to heal physically that he also made them to heal emotionally. That healing will come through our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Please pray for the Johnson family to be able to experience this healing.


Friend Alex and Alexis last summer at Girl's Camp

What a joy it has been to be there with the young women the last 2 1/2 years. What anguish I feel in their loss, but what hope I have in the Lord's plan. Tonight my daughter said, "I hope I will always remember their smiles." I think we all will. I love you, Alexis and Amanda!

By clicking on my "Jake and Justin" link you can read more from another friend.

Switching Gears

Madelyn is growing up. I think she is beautiful.
But the transformation is certainly causing me to switch gears a bit.

Most of the little girl pony tail holders, are just that "little girl".
The quick little braids and cute barrettes I use on Josie won't do anymore.

These particular shots were taken after a Activity Days makeover day.
I took the results to heart. I need to learn some more sophisticated looks for my sweet Maddie.
I went out and bought my first triple barrel curling iron and flat iron.


So, I am learning to style her hair in new ways.
This morning we used the triple barrel and it added a lot more body.
Maddie does her own hair often (ponytails, headbands).
But I still enjoy doing her hair (and Alyssa's and Josie's---even Josh's for that matter. All he requires is a little water, gel, a comb and we are good to go!)