A PERFECT DAY - THE BEGINNING OF AN ETERNAL FAMILY

Two become One - They met the evening of October General Conference and four months later are an eternal family! Jonique told me the morning after she had met Jacob that she had met the man she was going to marry! Yes, it certainly was not an ordinary thing to come from her mouth, since she had just told her dad that she was on the "5-year plan".

The joy of Jonique and Jacob's wedding day is beyond my ability to express, from the 5 am awakening of my daughter standing by my bed saying "Mom, it's time to get up - we need to be at Chanteal's at 6 am to do my hair". I reached over and held her hand, looking up at our baby girl who today would become Jacob's wife - and said, "Sweetie, this is the most important day of your whole life!" People have often asked in these months if we were stressed or if either Jonique or I were riled - and I always could answer that we are so thrilled and so joyful that neither of us would allow the busy-ness to detract from the importance of making our focus the temple marriage.

Family had come into town, the spring weather was perfect, Jacob's prayers were answered and he got a good joy before their marriage, they found a little 500 sq ft home near the Mesa temple (yes, the Swat Team already came - when they took Grandma Bluth and Aunt Antoinette to show them their home - and broke down the door of a home, arresting a man and taking all his possessions), and everyone is overjoyed at this marriage! These 2 kids love and adore one another (yes, they are each better together than alone)! Uncle Evans Heywood was the sealer that they chose to perform their temple marriage and it was an amazing and beautiful experience to witness, as he taught them about the covenants they had made, as well as the covenants that they were making over the altar in the House of the Lord. These are pictures from Rick's camera, and I will add more when the photographer's are available. This is for Heather! I love you Heather! So sorry that you were home with 2 sick babies!

JONIQUE RECEIVES HER TEMPLE ENDOWMENT!

My heart is filled with gratitude tonight for the experiences that I have shared with Jonique these past weeks (months) ((lifetime)). I have seen her grow from a little girl (baby) into an amazing, obedient, humble and powerful (does that sound like a dichotomy?) woman. It has been a joy to see her make choices that will bring her eternal happiness - especially the choice to marry in the Lord's House, with the power and authority of the Priesthood, and to begin her family under Heavenly Father's covenants and His direction.

Rick and I have enjoyed Jacob and Jonique being with us a great deal of the time in the couple of months that they have waited and planned for their marriage. I have been so proud of them as they have kept themselves worthy of the great privilege of eternal covenants. Also, I've been so impressed at how little they ask for or want (materially) and how happy they are for each little thing that we plan for them as we are trying to make their wedding day one of happiness and beauty!

Seeing Jonique walk through the door, all dressed in white, more pure and clean than anything earthly can be, took my breath away - and the joy that filled me was beyond what is communicable by words. Watching her sit beside Jacob in the Celestial Room and listening to him teach her of the meaning of the endowment that she had just received, let me know that she would be cared for in the most important ways that she could possibly be cared for in their eternal marriage together.

Jacob explained that the "exactness" of what happens in the temple is a symbol of how we learn to "obey with exactness"- one principle at a time - as we go back out into the world when we exit the temple doors.

As Rick and I have served in the temple during this past year+ I have often had impressions in different areas of the temple that I was with one or another of my children. I'm sure that it's Heavenly Father's way of blessing and encouraging me. One of those impressions became a reality as I sat by Jonique in the endowment room as she made sacred covenants. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your constant love and constant miracles! Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being a mother!

The year+ that Rick and I have served at the Mesa temple has been an amazing experience - one of great learning and great joy. Many times during this past year I had impressions (in different areas of the temple) of our children coming out of the Celestial Room, down the 2 levels of stairs - while I was standing there at the bottom of the stairs, filled with incredible love and joy for them and for the privilege of being their mother.

FAMILY GROUPS AT JONI'S BRIDAL SHOWER

JONIQUE was showered with love and gifts at a family- and -close -friends celebration - hosted and designed by Cambria. It's so awesome for Jonique to have sisters now - Ashley, Cambria, Heather (not shown) and Bailey. And now, 2 more sisters - Chelsey and ___ (Beach) - Jacob's sisters.

Connie and her 6 girls were able to come (surprised us because we thought they weren't able to) and Marianne and her 5 girls came! It's so great to have all these cousins nearby and awesome when we were all able to land in the same spot at the same time!

After the Family Shower Jonique and I went to a Ward Shower given by her Young Women's leaders at Marty Jones' home. It was fun to visit with close ward friends - and Jonique was "showered" with such a great array of gifts that will help her to start life! On the way home (she was driving) and she said, "I can't wait to get home!" I asked why, and she said, "I've been smiling for so many hours this week (temple endowment day and showers) that my face hurts - I just need to go home and frown!" I had to laugh!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

Early on Christmas Eve Richard showed up at our door to show us the nice tires that Santa had brought him. We were happy to be able to see them under the mud! Yes, he knows how to have fun - and even more, he knows how to work - because it took lots of work to cut his Jeep to get them to fit!

I wanted to really enjoy this Christmas Eve with our traditional Dinner, Luke 2 Video and Music, Grandkids finding the symbols of Christmas, putting them on the tree, and putting Baby Jesus in the Manger under the tree, matching pijamas, gifts and games - because as our children marry, our children have their other families to join. This year we missed Rory, Heather, Alex and Aurora - but next year they will come and we will celebrate earlier in December all together! We chatted with them on the telephone several times - missing them - but the party had to go on! The best laugh was Cam's - "...but the sleeves are perfect!" (you would have to be there!)

We invited Bailey and her mom, Sheri, and Gary and Debra Brooksfrom down the street to share in our dinner and Christmas program. We love sharing with others - and hope that they enjoy our noisy group.

This year Grandma Gurney was with us - a great gift in itself! We took her with us to "The Forgotten Carols" where Jordan Bluth (cousin) sand the lead role. It is another great way of feeling the Christmas spirit! Grandma Bluth was in Las Vegas with Antoinette's family - recovering from her surgery. We have some amazing 82 year old great-grandmas for our grandkids!

Riley and Ashley brought Chloe (our quassi granddaughter) so Richard would have someone to play with due to shortage of Wii controls!

Looks like Dad (Rick) is separating Riley and Ashley from tough competition - and also, like Jonique and Jacob will only need one chair when they are married!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

Jonique says that her favorite night of the year is when the family gathers for Christmas Eve. We have some priceless memories, traditions and a lot of fun. Yes, a family that plays, works and prays together is a family that is strong! Everyone pitched in! Rick made the potato casserole (that the kids call Funeral Potatoes, because they are often served at the large luncheons after funerals), Riley grated piles of carrots for mom's carrot salad (that Cambria calls "The Depression Salad"), Ashley made the green salad, Rick glazed the ham, RileynAsh brought the pies, and Cambria brought the caramel popcorn (not to mention all the other treats and food that we have stuffed ourselves with.

The grandkids arrived in their new pijamas and robes - all dressed up for a party and a good night sleep to await Santa's arrival. They party with us until 8-9 pm, then they go to bed at Grandmas until their parents carry them out of the house to their own beds (after the adults have fun).

Zander and Devanie always create amazing Lego projects that we try to protect from the quick hands of Roxie and Maddaux. Ryan and Cam left for home at 1 am to help Santa come to their home - in hopes of a couple of hours of sleep before the kids were awake to see what Santa had brought!

Richard fell asleep in the chair before we played Russian Rummy - so he got the good night's sleep! In the morning Richard and Jonique woke Rick and I up - jumping on our bed - - yes they are 20-21 years old - and we came in for prayer, to open gifts - and then Richard treated us all to a yummy breakfast of biscuits, Gravy, eggs, juice and milk! It's awesome to have good cooks around! That is a great gift to me! He called Riley, Ashley and Grandma Gurney and they joined us for breakfast and some Wii games.

At the end of the day there are 4 of us - Rick, Jonique, Jacob and me - and this is our last year of kids at home - because Jonique and Jacob will marry in one month! I will forever be grateful for the knowledge that I have of a loving Father in Heaven, who gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ! That knowledge, that they live and that they love us is the greatest gift that I have been given in this life - and I will spend all my days sharing it with others! My other greatest gift is my eternal family - for as I look around the world, I see that it is not something to take for granted - because so many people are not surrounded by this amazing love!

SAND DUNES DECEMBER TRIP 2008

Yeah! After 2 years, high gas prices, struggling economy - we felt we could justify a family trip to the sand dunes (outside of Yuma). Ryan and Cam's kids had a school break (Chandler School schedule) so the rest of us juggled our schedules and decided for some great family time!

Jonique and her fiance, Jacob Beach drove over a day later due to work schedules. Jacob was the winner of the accidents this trip - luckily only his leg was "damaged" when he landed bike first into a witches eye. Yes, that is what you don't want to do at the dunes!


Ashley got a substitute teacher for her little "English-as-a-2nd-Language" students - and she was back on the quad seat again (as powerful as ever)! OOps, she's sitting on my 250 - and that is truly humbling for this power rider!

When we ran out of water Rick remembered that he hadn't filled the trailer, so Riley, Roxie and Rick drove with him to fill the trailer. Roxie played in the water and got to change into one of Grandma's shirts. Roxie can control a whole crowd with her personality!

SAND DUNES DECEMBER TRIP 2008

This was Jacob's first dunes trip - but the rest of these guys are old "has beens". Richard was here last week with Paynes and some of our other friends. Taylor Frost is like our son and he has been back from his mission for a few weeks. Fun group!

Richard is a pro with the Ranger - a whole lot better than 2 years ago when he took me on his test ride and we rolled down a big dune 4 times! Now he knows exactly what this mean machine can do - and he takes it where no man has ever been before! The ride he took Roxie, Devanie and me on didn't end soon enough for Roxie - it was beyond the big rides at Disneyland and she couldn't get back to camp fast enough!

Devanie Doo learns to ride the big quads! She was amazing in following Grandma through the small dunes - like a little duck! Actually, there were some big dunes that shook her up a little - but she did them! Way to go girl!!! At least I didn't find you crashed in the sand (and passed out) like I found Jonique!