Extreme Excellence!

This picture needs no caption.  How can you explain perfection!

Tis the Season

Jordan and his companion at the Maryville Branch Christmas party.

Jordan's first Christmas away.  

Katies Kute Kids

I got to tend Katies super cute kids Sunday night.  I guess Ryan should get a little credit for their cuteness since he was involved in their creation.  Luka is absolutly darling and the fact that he had a screaming, throw up, melt down, for about 45 minutes does not make me love him less.  That's how cute he is!  Spanky ate his binky and there was nothing Lenny and I could do to console him.  We even tried driving around the block. 

Frosting cookies is my favorite baby sitting activity.

 

If you come to Grandma Owens you get to play with the hat bag.

 

We did a treasure hunt, played jacks, old maid, and pick up sticks.   If I could just bottle their energy and sell it we would not have to worrry about a national energy crisis. 

“Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old.”

 

I got to spend Friday evening with Alex while Jeff, Lenny and Rashan went to the Aggie game. If you come to dinner on Friday lately you get all beef weinners since Lenny bought a ton of them.  

                                                          

I know everyone will think I am saying this because I am a Grandma but honestly, Alex is unbelievable cute and sweet.  I had so much fun playing baseball, dressups, puzzels, and watching cartoons.  The love a grandmother has is quite astonishing. 

Faith precedes the miracle!

I had lunch with some incredible women.  We ate at Paradise Bakery.  Kind of ironic because life has not been exactly a paradise for them.  They are Steel Magnolias.  They have all had a huge impact on me as I have watched how they handle mortality.  I love each one of them "more than my luggage."

 

LaRue is passionate about life.  She is nursing Brent through chemo and getting a real perspective on the refiners fire. 

                                                                

Karla has done really hard things but always remains  tenaciously cheerful. (Just a little side note.  One of the most fun things I have ever done is watch Steel Magnolias with Karla.)

                                                                  

Heidi has a demanding job with liability around every corner. I like her common sense approach to life.

Julie is learning to get back up when life knocks her down.  It isn't easy to be a single mom but Julie is doing it and going to school to boot.  She has goals and is moving forward.

Visitors

Halloween night we had visitors on our door step.  Monica Streeter George, Chris (her husband) and their three little spooks.  We had a spontanious all beef weiner dinner and even got to read some stories.  Monica and Chris are really, really good parents.  It is amazing to listen how patiently Monica talks to her energetic, all boy kids.  

  

Isaac

Adam

  

Jason  

Standing with the Brethern

Wanting to do something, but not able to be physically there, I sent some money to the protecting the family organization that supported Proposition 8.  I have heard the opponents are now going to dig up anything bad that they can find about donators. It sort of reminds me how Satan threw a temper tantrum when Moses would not worship him. Let them have at it.  My only regret is that I did not donate more money!

Bruce R. McConkie:

The Church is like a great cravan -- organized, prepared, following an appointed course, with its captains of tens and captain of hundreds all in place.

What does it matter if a few barking dogs snap at the heels of the weary travelers?  Or that predators claim those few who fall by the way?  The caravan moves on.

Is there a ravine to cross, a miry mud hole to pull through, a steep grade to climb?  So be it.  The oxen are strong and the teamsters wise.  The caravan moves on.

Are there storms that rage along the way, floods that wash away the bridges, deserts to cross, and rivers to ford?  Such is life in this fallen sphere.  The caravan moves on.

Ahead is the celestial city the eternal Zion of our God, where all who maintian their position in the caravan shall find food and drink and rest. Thank God that the caravan moves on!

Transfer

Jordan is in Maryville Missouri

I got a call from a Sister Tubb yesterday.  She said she and her husband picked Jordan up in Clinton and took him to Maryville.  I wondered why he had been trasferred so quickly from his last area.  She said that Maryville has a college with 150 Indian students and one of them is investigating the church.  Good Luck Jordan!

In his last letter he said he gave a talk and now he knows what it means to have "the power of God unto the convincing of men".  He has grown leaps and bounds.

Blessing of supporting a missionary

A great way to begin a recession.

What a day this has been!

Heidi and I had a great day Tuesday October 7, 2008

We got up early, exercised and then headed for Salt Lake (talking the whole way) where we took in the Body Worlds exhibit at Library Square.  Go see this if you have a chance.  We came away with new prespective, gradtitude and awe for our bodies -  how they are created - how they work - how they fit together.  Thanks to the body donners and the artists who made the exhibit possible.

We had lunch with Jeff.  He is so fun to listen too.  He talked about politics, the financial crisis, and life in general.  He argued a landmark case in front of the state supreme court the next day (after being tutoured by Nikki who does it frequently in Idaho) and won, even getting a little news time as the lead story that night.

We got to see Audrey in her bride costume!

We drove through Katies neighborhood to see if we could recognize her home from the pots she posted about on her front porch.  What a cool house she has.  We loved the floorplan and the way she has decorated.

Swiftly Fly the Years

Happy Birthday Heidi 25 Years