National Junior Honor Society

After submitting an application with a letter of recommendation, Kailan was selected for membership in the Northland Preparatory Academy Chapter of Nation Junior Honor Society.  Her selection was based upon her leadership, service, citizenship and character.  On the evening of April 28th she attended the induction ceremony.  Congratulations Kailan on receiving this honor! As they went up to the front one by one, they each received their certificate along with a white rose.

Gila Valley Temple

What an exciting day to walk through the Gila Valley Temple! 

I can't even begin to tell you how much it means to me to see this Temple just a little over a mile from the home I was raised in.  This is the first open house I've been too.  I went with all of my kids except Jordynn who was in California for a school music competition.  Mark was not able to come down with us either, so he and Jordynn will make a special trip to go down in the next couple of weeks.  We toured the Temple with my Grandma Pearl and my parents.  It was so beautiful.  I'm so grateful my kids were able to share in this experience.  I love the Temple and the blessing we receive from going there.  I am so thankful we can be together as families FOREVER!

Today was also my mom's birthday.  She would have been 57 years old.  I'm sure she has been very busy on the other side helping this Temple come about! This would have been a dream come true for her! I was glad to get to go through this Temple for the first time on this special day.

This is the Sealing room.  In the temple, families can be united in the most sacred of all human relationships - as husband and wife and as children and parents - in a way that time cannot limit and death cannot end.

Through priesthood authority from God, marriages are performed that can endure throughout this life and for all eternity.  Children are "sealed" to parents, creating eternal families.  To share these blessings with our ancestors who have died, we perform temple ordinances in their behalf.

Understanding the eternal nature of families makes it easier to bear the trials of life, including the death of loved ones.  As Jesus said, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 16:19).  With the promise of eternal life and lasting relationships with loved ones, temples are an earthly manifestation that God is indeed love.

Chase's Ordination

Grandpa, Grandma & Chase and Dad & Chase

Dad, Mom & Chase and Grandpa, Grandma & Hallie

What a big day! Chase was ordained a Deacon.  He has been so excited to receive the Priesthood.  We are grateful for all of the family support and the fun weekend we had.  Along with Grandpa and Grandma, Kimberly and her kids, Cody, Emily & Jackson and the Blackwell family all came up.  We enjoyed a yummy lunch beforehand with Grandpa & Grandma's green chili, chicken enchiladas, nachos, salsa, guacamole and Kimberly's Texas sheet cake!

Jordynn's 1st Prom!

Jordynn went with Matt Caskey to Mormon Prom.  They've become friends through the Teen Tumbling class at Summit Gymnastics.  After their evening class, some Circus performers as well as those interested, practice their silk rope/ribbon tricks there.  Matt has talked Jordynn into staying for several of those classes with him.  The instructor was performing at the Circus the evening of Prom, so after Matt picked Jordynn up, they went to the Circus all dressed up! Matt was called up from the audience for a 'belly dancing' lesson.  Jordynn said it was really funny.  After the circus they ate dinner and went to the dance.  She said they had a great time.  

Jordynn pinning on her first boutonniere.

The corsage was much easier to put on!

Doesn't she look beautiful?

Cute shoes!

Silk Rope

Here's a picture of Jordynn and Matt after gymnastics at their silk rope class.

Tennis Match

In between school and Prom, Jordynn had a tennis match.  This is her first year playing.  It's fun to see her improve and learn something new.

Today she played one game of doubles and one game of singles.

Chase's Birthday Party! Airsofting of course!!!

Chase loves having air soft wars with his friends! He let Taige invite some of his friends as well to go airsofting so they would have more people.  They played several games of Capture the Flag and Protect the President.

Everyone seemed to have a great time.  No injuries, so that's always good! Eye protection was a must!

Quinn kept Hallie safe near my van.

Thank you Mickelson's for the binoculars!

And Jeremy Hansen for the football!

His friend Cole Clark made him a really neat wallet.  Chase loved it and it was great to have for his birthday money and gift cards!

Storybooks!

What could be better than falling asleep to a good book?!

Chase is 12!!!

Twelve is a big birthday!  When I realized he wouldn't be in Primary anymore, I wanted to start crying.  My little boy will change over these next few years into a young man! He has always been such a good kid.  I have enjoyed him so much.  I feel so extremely blessed to have him as my son.

Can we say DREAM birthday present! He has been hoping for this present for a couple of years now!

The Mickelson's invited us over for dinner (taco bar) and F.H.E.  Chase opened his present then.  It was the first time that day that all of our family was together! We did let him open his card from Grandpa and Grandma before school! For breakfast he chose pancakes with chocolate chips and cool whip in addition to the syrup.  For lunch, Hallie and I brought McDonalds to him at school and ate with him in the cafeteria.

Actually I'm not sure who was more excited about this particular birthday present.

Father or son??

The bow is set at 38 lbs.  He's almost able to pull it back, but not quite yet.  Daily practice and he'll have it soon!

He requested a football cake.  Mark did the actual decorating for me!

After cake we went and sat in the Mickelson's Jacuzzi - it was a great place for our FHE lesson!

12 Years Old

Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

General Conference!

Mark projected it on the wall and through lds.org we were able to enjoy both sessions on Saturday as well as Sunday.  We enjoyed homemade blueberry muffins and Orange Julius's Saturday morning! That was only the start of the many, many calories I enjoyed throughout this Easter weekend.  I loved all of the talks.  I thought it was an excellent conference.  There were a lot of wonderful talks on mothers as well as daughters.  Today (Sunday) after a really good talk on Mothers, Chase turns to me and in a very sweet and sincere way said,  "Well, now you know how important you are."  It definitely makes me want to take my role as mother up a notch!