A FAMILY SUCCESS STORY! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK!

Can you believe these 2 little girls!  Aren't they cute together!  I can tell that they will be the best of cousins, and that they will even be happier when they get a chance to be with Aurora!  Yeah!  I am so excited that Rory and Heather got a job in Tucson, and that the cousins can play together once in awhile!  Yesterday I told Maddaux that Alex was moving closer, and that they would be able to play, and he was so excited!

This picture was taken the day that we were trying to finish all the details for the Elliot Open House.  It could never have happened without family!  Thanks to each of you for all the hard work it took to finish it so that we could open it as the Millenial Wellness Center!  It was a miracle to me to see it come together so amazingly from all the hard work that each of you did!  I realized that I didn't get pictures of everyone - so I'm so sorry, because Riley spent 2 days installing, cleaning, organizing and making it beautiful!  Richard was so drowning in his own new home and such long hours of work that we lost all of his salt water fish - and we so sad!  But dad helped him build a new aquarium stand between his dining and living rooms in the wall and he started his beautiful tank all over again!  I was so grateful to Cambria for taking several days to search stores for things that would make it look professional and for helping me with paint colors.  The colors turned out perfectly, and everyone that walks in says "It's so peaceful in here!" (which is exactly what we wanted).  The rug from India is a perfect touch, and I especially like the flower-drying rack (herb) that is mounted on the wall (plus so many other details).  Cam and Jonique assembled shelving systems that hold the products we carry, and that area turned out pretty nice too!Grandpa and Maddaux worked on everything - and Maddaux brought his lunch and his toys (the toys are still there) so he could help his grandpa.  Rick continues to install, fix, make signs, build the gate, fix computer systems with internet, and a daily list of things.  I realized that most of our married life we have built homes, restaurants, businesses, etc together - and that construction is "us".  We like to take ugly things (or non-existing things) and turn them beautiful and productive.Jacob and Jonique assembled 40 chairs and the glass tables for the teaching room and it turned out pretty nice!  Actually, they did so much more than that, and Xelly was there to help too - but mostly she just made us happy!  Grandma Bluth and Grandpa Dale came by several times to help, and the greatest help we really needed was that they called and offered to substitute for Rick and I at the temple on Thursday to give us an entire day of work that was critical!Jacob and his dad (Rod) and a friend of theirs installed the cement patios both front and back, and made a rough stone pattern finish on it.  I really like what they did!  Yesterday they came and sealed it.  It made such a difference in the entire look and clean-up of the place!  Rick had jack-hammered old concrete (a foot deep) out, so it was a massive project!  Jacob had to remove and haul massive amounts of dirt and rock, starting at 4-5 am each morning.Jonique and Ashley purchased the food and prepared it for the Open House.  It was definately a family affair!  The day of the opening I had to take an hour or so and prepare the Herb Class that I was presenting that night, and everyone just worked around me and made it happen!  Debbie Papa (Joe McRae's daughter - and my step sister) dropped by and cleaned, arranged and helped all day.  It was truly a miracle provided by helping hands and a lot of love!  THANKS WITH ALL MY HEART!  THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AMAZING FAMILIES DO!  YOU ARE ALL AMAZING AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE AGAIN!

Yes, I have fallen in love again - with another grandchild!  It amazes me how we can increase in LOVE over and over again - each little one so precious and so amazing!  Our newest granddaughter is Xelli Raquel Beach - and she is a cutie!  She is so alert and strong and she follows everyone with her eyes (and has since the moment she was born!  It's been a great experience being the mother of the daughter who bears the baby, even though my daughters in law (who I also claim as my daughters) have been so wonderful to reach out to me and involve me.  I feel the love of our Heavenly Father as He sends these little spirits to our family to be raised, to be loved and to be taught about Him.  I am so pleased and proud of our kids and their abilities to parent their children!  The scriptures say "I have no greater joy than to see that my children walk in righteousness" and that is the truth!  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your amazing plan with FAMILIES being the foundation of all organization here on Earth!  I love my family!

Zander's 8th Birthday with Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and I couldn't wait for Friday to come so that we could have our special 8th birthday celebration with Zander! He had such a cool birthday with his family - and got a real DRILL for his birthday (he likes to be like his dad), so when we went to visit them, Zander had already built fences, ladders, signs and everything else he could think of with boards that were around their acre. It was so cool! Zander had even made a "fix-it handyman" sign to post in front of their home (with Ryan's business phone number on it)

Zander chose his favorite restaurant, Red Robin, to eat at, and they treated him royally!  He tried the 50cent "claw" arcade game that tried to pick up stuffed animals until grandma's change was gone. while we waited for food.  The waiters treated him royally and sang their best clapping happy birthday song when they brought his hot fudge sundae!

A memory picture of Zander with Grandpa - the bikes looked like a good idea until he sat on the sharp iron seat and his fat-free bottom end smarted a little! 

Yep, after dinner it was Zander's choice to come to our home and play some serious Wii games with us.  Grandma is always the loser - and wore out before these two!  After Wii tournaments we took Zander home - and had a ball playing Cranium Hullabaloo with Zander, Devanie, Roxie and Maddaux.  It was loud and fun - and we finally quit when Roxie was dripping with sweat from head to toe.  Such a fun day!  Now we are excitedly awaiting MAY 8 at 9 am for ZANDER'S BAPTISM DAY!  It is at the chapel (Stake Center) here by our home.  We love you ZANDER!

Snow - Valentines - Grandkids!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

MY SWEET VALENTINES

I keep going back to December in my heart and re-enjoying the precious moments that we were all together - and relishing every memory. Since then a lot has happened, yet I am clinging to times that we have together.

The other day I answered my phone and it was Alex saying, "Thank you Grandma" for a little box we had sent to them in Texas, then when I listened to the messages on our home phone, his little happy voice had left a message there. It's always so fun to talk to Rory or Heather and have him bouncing with delight in the background!

When these Arizona grandkids come over Maddaux runs into the house, looking for Grandpa, and nearly bulldozes him over as he rushes for a big hug.

Last Friday night after we were all together visiting with Kent, Carolyn, Lena Gean and Jim, the hours were late and we convinced Ryan and Cam to leave the kids - who were asleep in "their" room. In the morning I woke up to Roxie whispering in my face with her warm breath (so cute) "Dwamma, Dwamma, wate up". They had awaken at 6:30 am and it was 8 am - so Devanie had led them in making the beds, folding the blankets, folding their clothes and changing Maddaux's pullups. It was amazing! They are so well trained and so easy to care for - actually I think that they tend me - because I'm so darn happy when I'm around them!

We LOVED our days tending Brailyn while Riley and Ashley were in Cozumel! She just waits for us to look at her or talk to her so that she can smile - and now she is trying to talk back with a lot of expression. It was so hard to take her to her other grandma's when we had to drive to Las Vegas to Whitney's mission farewell. She looked at me like "where are you going Grandma?" and I knew that she was connected to me as much as I am to her!

Of course, I know that we are all eternally linked, and that we knew each other in our premortal lives, but sometimes I am overwhelmed with the "familiar"-ness of each of you! I think about in 3rd Nephi when it was just before our Savior's birth - and in America Nephi went and prayed to Heavenly Father, asking Him to send the sign of the Savior's birth, or the people would be destroyed "on the morrow". Jesus Christ came to Nephi - a God, a glorious King, and said, "...don't worry Nephi, for on the morrow come I into the world". It amazes me that each of you (each of us) were powerful, amazing spirit beings, with great knowledge and understanding, yet we each needed to enter into a tiny little innocent, helpless body, with knowledge of our pre-existence taken from us - so that our mortal experience here could be a true growing experience. Even Christ - who is God's own Son - had to take on a little, baby, mortal body.

I think of this story (truth) each time I see a grandchild, or see Jonique in pregnancy, or remember the births of you children.

I'm SO grateful to be your mother - and to have the charge from our Father in Heaven to teach and guide you - no matter how old you may be - I will always be your mother and have that responsibility. I LOVE you each SO much and am grateful for your GOODNESS and efforts to what is right and honorable before our Father.

HAPPY VALENTINES TO EACH OF YOU! YOU ARE THE LOVES OF MY LIFE! Besos from Mom

RICHARD IS A FARMER!

This picture was captured off Richard's phone, so I know that he's not staying between the white lines on the highway! Insane! There is only one you, and we'd like to keep you around for awhile!

I was so excited to receive this beautiful gift of EGGS from Richard's chickens - that I had to take a picture before we eat them. These chickens have a "chicken king's" diet of chicken hash, bugs, scorpions, and other varmits found in the yard - instead of the fake stuff that us fed at the chicken yards. Also, they don't have the hormones or vaccinations that the store eggs have. Awesome! I'm going to be so healthy! Thanks Richard!

AURORA TURNS ONE, HALLOWEEN FUN AND A ZEBRA TREAT!

Halloween Happenings all over the place! We were excited to be invited to see Ryan and Cam's kids perform in their Primary Program - and then to enjoy an awesome breakfast that Cam prepared. The kids carved their pumpkins - and Maddaux decided that grandmas take too many pictures! Can you believe that Roxie's hair is real - great job mom!

It's Aurora's 1st Birthday - Happy Birthday princess! I am so excited for your cousins to meet you next month and to see your precious smile and your gorgeous blue eyes! Sounds like your family did fun things to celebrate - and your mom has definately kept you kids doing awesome activities! Lucky you! I didn't realize that the pictures I had saved from your blog were all small! I better figure this technology out! Anyway, it doesn't seem like a year since I was in the hospital, holding you for the first time since you arrived from Heaven - and I can't wait until I can hold you again!

Jonique and Jacob had arrived on the scene with decorations for a terrifying Halloween night (they told me not to say it looked cute)! Grandma Bluth and Grandma Gurney came also and brought taquitos and we ate out on the driveway in a perfect, full moon, Arizona fall night. Jacob kept us laughing as he scared the kids - and especially the older kids who loved that he chased them and kept them screaming down the road!

Ashley and Riley brought me a special little Zebra Package - Brailyn, who is now 12 days old (and technically not born yet if it were according to due date). I got to hold her all the time that they were here, and she mostly snoozed. However, she peeked her eyes open a few times, enough to get her picture taken and to say goodbye.

It was such a fun night - thanks to you kids! Last night dad and I missed the Ward Fall Festival Chile cookoff because we're such duds - so it's great that Jonique gets us motivated and into the game! We're so happy that she and Jacob are settled in their cute new home. It was fun to help her sort and organize things and to turn it into a home with their pictures and personal items. it was like Christmas to open their wedding gifts and to use them again!

Riley and Ashley are such cute parents and they have definately received one precious bundle of joy! They are waiting to move to their new home in Queen Creek. I went there with Riley when he planted his winter lawn and got to see the home. I loved it and think it's just perfect for them!

Today Richard went quad riding with Taylor Frost and Jason Payne. I hope to get to talk to him tomorrow and hear all about it. We LOVE each of you so much! Happy Halloween!