RICHARD'S FARM

I LOVED my day with Richard at his farm (the Elliot house). He works so hard to make things nice, trimming the big front trees, getting the grass nice, making a stone sidewalk - and now he's a gardener too! He works so hard at his HVAC job and was still working last night when dad called him. Also, Bailey's mom hired him to cut her huge trees and he did it at 1/2 the cost of the tree companies! Richard, you are an incredible worker!

I got to take Roxie and Maddaux with me and it was like a field trip for them - playing with the baby chicks that Bailey brought to Richard as a gift. Maddaux was traumatized with the cats at first, but soon came out from the corner. Maybe the 3-legged cat was a little too much - but Tripod is a definate favorite!

I remembered something I once heard - "Who you become is an average of the top 5 people and activities you spend you life with". Richard is love - Richard is work - Richard is kind. His life is filled with goodness. We love you Richard!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS GALORE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU SPECIAL PEOPLE! RYAN - JACOB - DEVANIE - MADDAUX! AND ZANDER'S BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP REALLY FAST!

Cambria prepared a huge birthday barbeque for her bunch - and it was a houseful of kids, parents, grandparents and even Grandma Gurney. We ate so much - and the kids played and had a ball! Maddaux was so thrilled with every gift that he opened (his face and his voice showed it), and Devanie was a true princess - so gracious and grateful for everything.

Jonique invited us all to Moreno's Mexican food to celebrate Jacob's birthday - close to their home. Afterwards we went to their home for Jacob to open gifts and for cupcakes and brownies. Now Jacob and Ryan share birthdays - 10 years apart in age! Ryan has been suffering with back problems so Cambria spent the day with him - driving him to do bids, eating out and just enjoying the day together!

FIRST SNOW FOR GRANDKIDS - CAMPING AT CLINTS WELL

Devanie told me that she knew she had been in the snow because we took a picture of her with me at Sunrise when she was a baby. So Maddaux, here is your proof that you were in the snow with Grandma! Maddaux mostly wanted to eat the snow - but, eating is a favorite for this big boy! Jonique and Jacob added alot of fun to the trip for us! Devanie was especially happy to get Jacob to compete in Horseshoes against her! We rode Big Red, Little Red (Zander's quad) and the Ranger to our heart's content! Ryan and his family saw a herd of Elk - so did Jonique and Jacob. The altitude was a little high for Great Grandma, but she was a good sport and never complained. Of course, we always miss the ones who can't come!!!

Great Grandma Gurney (Ireta), Me (the grandma), Rick, Jonique, Jacob - and Ryan, Cambria, Devanie, Zander, Roxie and Maddaux camped where the grandkids got to play in their FIRST SNOW! Ryan and Rick wanted out of the first heat of the year - and coaxed me out of my March Desert plant gathering - and it turned out to be so fun seeing how delighted the kids were!

As soon as we turned into the gate by the Church Property and stopped the vehicles to close the gate, there were patches of snow! We ran over, the kids slid on it, and we threw snowballs at Grandpa and Ryan. I remember Rick saying something like ..."you're going to regret it..." but it died into the breeze! While the men were setting up camp, I took the grandkids in the Ranger to gather wood. Actually I only remember me gathering wood - while Devanie built her first snowman and Zander built a trap across the snow.

We had some terrific fires and Ryan, Cam and I stayed out talking until after midnight. When I got into bed and fell asleep, someone pounded on the door and scared us to death! When I turned on the porch light to the trailer and saw that it was Jonique and Jacob we were so excited that they had found us! We played Horseshoes, Ring toss, Zander did his target shooting, and we built a Frizbee Golf course through the pine trees. It was such great fun!

I INVITE YOU TO THE TEMPLE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLXYxmaHWQs CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LEARN ABOUT TEMPLES.

Why do we have Temples? What do we do when we are in the temple? Who can enter the temple? These are questions that many people are asking - and I tell them: We have temples today because God's original Church has now been restored to the Earth. After Christ and His apostles died the Priesthood was taken from the Earth. The Priesthood that Adam, Abraham, Noah and Melkizedec (and all other Prophets) held was lost and so were the temple covenants.

The original gospel of Jesus Christ was once again restored when Joseph Smith was given the keys to the restoration. Temples and temple ordinances are the crowning glory of the restoration of Christ's gospel.

The Plan of Happiness was created so that Families could be together Forever! In temples we are taught about the perfect plan of Happiness and we make covenants with Heavenly Father to do His work on the Earth. Through His Priesthood power, families are sealed for Eternity (linked through all the generations) and we are taught the things that we need to know in order to pass the angels who allow those who are worthy to enter the highest degree of Glory with our Father in Heaven (once we have finished our lives on the Earth).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a Temple-building church. Those members who are obedient to God's commandments are privileged to enter into the temples and to do the work and be taught therein.

All people are welcome in LDS temples! All people are wanted! However, baptism and obedience to God's laws determine who may enter. It is God who has set His standard, and the living Prophet, Thomas S. Monsen, is to oversee and protect the sacredness of the temples.

I'm so grateful for the privilege to attend the holy temples! I wish I could bring everyone that I love inside! I invite you to learn what is in the scriptures about temples (read the Old Testament), to be baptized, to be obedient to God's laws and to enter His Holy House (the temple) to be taught by Him!

WE LOVE THESE GURNEY GRANDKIDS!!!

Multiply the joy that our kids have brought to us - by adding these awesome grandkids into our lives! Each one is amazing and special - and we love every minute with them - and every moment thinking about them!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing us to know the joys of faamily! Thank you for watching over our kids and grandkids!

WE LOVE THESE GURNEY KIDS-COUPLES!

We love these amazing and beautiful couples! I'm so grateful for each one of you and for the love you have for one another! We are an eternal family - and entitled to all the blessings that were promised even before this world began! The covenants that we have made with the Lord are stronger than anything that the world knows!

Thank you for all of the love you have brought into our lives! Thank you for all the lessons that we have learned as we've been your parents!

Thank you for your patience, thank you for your obedience, thank you for your respect and for your kindness. Thank you for remembering the things that we have taught you, and for the good that you do for others around you. Thank you for your kind hearts and for your thoughtfulness. Our greatest joys are seeing you as great adults who contribute well to society, who are honest, who have strong work ethics, who are great family leaders and members and who live lives of gratitude.

Camping Trip over Valentines Weekend

Yeah for nearby get-aways to the Desert! The beauty of the Arizona winters (Valentines) is spending time with those that you love in the sunshine!

Ryan and Cam's family, Kent and Carolyn, Doug and Leslie Alvey and Rick, Richard went to Queen Valley to enjoy a beautiful, sunny weekend. Richard took me for a ride through the river bottoms, ditching trees, climbing scary places, but I was amazed at how careful and wise he has gotten as a driver! It must be because he pays for his own Jeep now! He is such an awesome worker and he helped his dad load, move, set-up and he didn't really get much time to ride before he had to be back down in the valley.

Zander is a real sharp shooter and he spent a lot of time with his BB gun, setting up targets and practicing. We hiked, rode quads, played cards and totally enjoyed being away from the city.
Maddaux was in his element! He had space to play with his dumptruck, to dig, to haul wood and enjoy the campfires. He and Zander went with Ryan and Cam on an exploring trip and found Indian ruins while we played games with Roxie and Devanie back at camp.

And this is Roxie Baby! That's what she calls herself, because that's what her family calls her. It's awesome that she still loves to be held! Devanie was reading a huge book - and whenever she could, she found a quiet corner and read it. I'm so proud of her love for reading!