MAY~MASA ~MEATBALLS

May...Oh my goodness!  May has been a circus...every single day!  No such thing as resting up for a day or two to recharge for the next adventure.  I was exhausted just looking ahead at May, but looking back at May, I can see that although it was crazy, it was gratifying and even fun.  We had seven...count them...seven graduates this year...and that was not even including the four 8th grade graduates and 2 kindergarten graduates.🎓  Among other things that you will see below, we had end-of-school parties, concerts, programs and games, Mothers' Day, a baby shower and a baby blessing (neither of which I was able to attend 😔), and because the other members of the presidency had some health issues and family issues this month, Dad and I have been doing some extra temple service.  That  has been a blessing and has made us thankful that we are healthy and able to do it.  As the oldest of the presidency, though, I'm sure the others never thought we would be the ones that "keep on ticking."

Our family recipes for May are Masa and Meatballs.

Masa is a dish that Grandmother Nora used to prepare and that Dad loved.  Just like the "spaghetti" misunderstanding when we were dating, Masa was a surprise to me.  Dad asked me if I wanted to come over for enchiladas one evening.  "Sure," I said.  Who doesn't like enchiladas?  But these were unlike any enchiladas I had ever had before.  I eventually, after many years, learned that they really are enchiladas...Sonoran enchiladas.  But to differentiate between enchiladas I was familiar with and this dish, I just called it Masa.  Grandmother used to buy masa from the grocer down the street, and roll some into a ball, pat it out and fry it.  She topped it with cheese, lettuce, olives and a sauce made from tomato juice, chili powder, salt and vinegar.   I didn't like the vinegar taste, so I have always eliminated that ingredient, but otherwise, I make the sauce just as she did.  I usually thicken it with a spoonful of the masa mixture.  The masa mixture has evolved through the years.  I used to mix half corn masa and half flour with salt and water to a pancake batter consistency, then spoon it into hot oil.  I have recently gone back to just corn masa without the flour and for some reason I like it that way better these days.  I still mix it to a thick pancake batter consistency and fry it in hot oil.  Then we top it with sauce, shredded lettuce, grated cheese and green onions, and, of course, olives.

The top picture is from Jenn and the bottom picture is mine.

Meatballs is a dish that I started making soon after we were married.  As a newlywed, I was always on the lookout for dishes I thought my new husband would like.  I studied the Betty Crocker Cookbook that I had received as a shower gift and found a recipe for Porcupine meatballs.  That looked good to me, so I tried it and he liked it.  It has evolved through the years, of course, and I don't even remember how it was made in the cookbook, but this is basically what I do:  For a family of 7 or so, a couple of pounds of hamburger, 2 eggs and 3/4 cup of uncooked rice, chopped onions, garlic, (you know me, I also use Tex Joy) salt and pepper.  Form into balls and drop into tomato juice...a whole can, except for a little bit that you save to add just before serving.  Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or so.  The tomato juice is thickened, so add the reserved juice, stir and serve over or beside a baked potato.  A nice salad and broccoli taste good with it.  This time we had corn on the cob that Mary provided.

Our May birthdays are like this year's May...crazy(?), gratifying and fun!

Ellie turned 13 on the 5th.

Harrison turned 18 on the 6th.

Isabel turned 18 on the 9th

Luke turned 15 on the 10th.

Thomas' birthday was the 19th.

Palmer's birthday was the 23rd.

Analynn turned 14 on the 24th.

The 31st was Thomas and Jenn's anniversary

May was hot most of the time, true to form, and so so dry.  We did have some promising clouds one day, but nothing came of them.  We are so desperate for rain.  June is Arizona's hottest, driest month, so we probably won't get any rain until the monsoons in July...if even then, unless the Lord blesses us with a miracle.  We are all praying for rain...in the Temple, in our personal and family prayers and in church and with every breath.

We have had visits from the cardinals that live in Thomas' tree.

Marigolds make the perfect summer flower because they are usually so heat resistant.

I had beautiful roses before it got too hot.

Dad, the bird whisperer, was outside and he heard a "plop."  He looked around and saw that a baby bird (not so little any more, but still couldn't fly) had fallen from its nest in our pine tree and landed in his truck.  The mother bird was fluttering around it, but when she saw Dad she tried to distract him with the old "broken wing" fakeout.  The baby bird eventually flopped up to sit on the tailgate and stayed there all morning until we went to the Temple.  Dad worried about it the whole time.  When we got home that night, it was gone.  He hoped it flew away and didn't get eaten by a cat.

Rachel took this picture of our one cloudy day.

I couldn't pass up this picture of the moon in the afternoon at Daniel's.  They have daylight savings, so it is still light at 9:00!

~OUR MAY~

Brynlie and Camille's school program.  They had speaking parts, and they danced and sang.

Shad came to stay one day and we had dinner with him and Parker.

On Sunday, the 6th, we ate lasagna at Thomas and Jenn's house.

Then had a nice Sunday visit from everyone.

The 6th was also Lucy Joyce's blessing day.  This is the dress I made for Allison's blessing, and Rebecca brought it up for Lucy, but Allison decided to dress her in something else.  She is on the blanket I made for her, though.

This is Dad and me when we attended the Mesa Temple before its closure.  Mary and Joel sent us some pictures of the proposed renovations and the original Temple of the 1920's.  The Mesa Temple has been a blessing in the life of our family; it was where Grandpa and Grandma were married, Grandmother and Papa were sealed, where we were married, as well as each one of our children.  We love the Gila Valley Temple, of course, but the Mesa Temple will always be the Temple of our hearts.

Old and new

Dedication day...I'm sure Grandpa and Grandma Driggs and Grandpa and Grandma Brinton were all in this picture,although I can't find them.  But since they were already ordained temple workers, I'm sure they were there.

Future.  It looks pretty much the same, except for different palms, maybe.  Anyway, artist's rendition.

These are pictures I found on line of the planned renovations and also some old Mesa pictures from when Dad and I were young.

The Marquee restaurant was right across from Franklin School where I went to 6th grade.  Dad also went there.  Anyway, my friends and I thought we were way too cool for the cafeteria, so we always went across the street to the Marquee and got French Fries and a pop;  The canal swimming was right by my house on 12th St.  I remember seeing a man who drowned there one day, though, so I never went swimming there  I was on the Mesa Country Club swim team; Then, the New Mesa Theater.  I never knew any other theater, though I think Dad did.  Anyway, we always called it the New Mesa; Also the train depot.  It was from there that my friend Karen Andersen and I left to go to California for our 16th summer trip.  We stayed a week with her aunt and a week with my great, great aunt.  She was Grandpa Brinton's sister and very rich.  They also had two really cute adopted sons.

Southside District Hospital where Dad and I were both born and where Nathan, Joel, Daniel and Rebecca were all born.  They were so caring and kind.  I remember that they came in every night (we used to have to stay 3 days) and rubbed my back with lotion and brought cookies and milk; The Old El Charro.  This one is even older than the one you all know.  I only went there a couple of times with Dad;  Valley National  Bank where Dad got his start; The Rendezvous Park.  It had a baseball field where the Chicago Cubs played once in a while when they were doing Spring training.  There was also a swimming pool where my brothers and sisters and I had a family pass.  We lived close to the park for about a year and would run barefoot from our house to the pool.  It was hot!  But we just ran from shade to shade as fast as we could.  I was on the Rendezvous swimming team until we moved.

Carrie was the Centennial Queen for the Mesa Centennial celebration;  Franklin school where both Dad and I went; Some of our Mesa olympic heroes.  Patsy Willard was a coach of the Rendezvous swim team when I was there, and also an olympic diver, as was Keith Russell.

This was beautiful Mesa High Old Main that was burned down, we always thought by an opposing team.  Dad's dad went there when it was first built in 1915 or so, and so did Grandma Hiatt in the late 30's.  Dad went there in the 50's and I went in the early 60's.  Breaks my heart.  We were all so proud of our beautiful school.

On the 8th we went to Luke and Thomas' orchestra concert.

They didn't even act embarrassed to get their cute little stuffed toys😉

Lillian and Kelin came to Safford for a visit.  DeWitt was here, too, following his graduation from ASU.  We all went to El Charro.  Kevin liked it.

Stephanie gave Lindsay a baby shower for her little girl, on the 12th.  I wasn't able to go, but I sent her baby's blanket with Esther earlier.

On Mothers' Day, Dad and I attended Mary and Tyson's ward because Tyson was speaking in Sacrament Meeting.  Then we went back to attend our Relief Society and Priesthood meetings.  We had a special Relief Society meeting in which the young men in our ward (including Thomas) served the sisters cheesecake and then recited The Standard of Truth.  It was very impressive.  Jenn and I were very proud of Thomas.

We had a Mothers' Day dinner with Rebecca's family, including Grandma Sherry, Rachel's family and Mary's family.  Thomas and Jenn were celebrating with Jenn's mom who came from Hawaii to spend time with her kids.  She was with Jenn for Mothers' Day, so it was a very special day to Jenn who hadn't seen her mom for a long time.

I received so many nice gifts and cards and calls from all the kids.  I really felt loved.  Also, I think I was only one of 3 women in church (Jenn, Doreen Ford and me) with a corsage.  I guess that's old fashioned, but I love it.

On the 15th, Shadrach drove from Colorado to pick up Parker and take him home.  Parker has another job in the Walmart in Rifle, CO, with an increase in salary.

We had a farewell party for him and a welcome party for Shadrach. 

Brynlie and Camille helped Dad pick beans to cook for the party.  

That night was also Kirtlyn's choir program.  It was very good but I had to leave before I got a picture with her because we had to open the next morning and I had to go to bed.  That seems to be my usual story these days.  But I left a stuffed animal with her family to give to her.

On the 16th, Safford Middle School held their honors assembly.  I left the Temple early so I could attend.  Luke and Kirtlyn both graduated from 8th grade, but Luke didn't attend the assembly.  Kirtlyn and Luke both received honors for being on the Gold Honor Roll, for highest scholarship achievement.  Kirtlyn also received recognition for citizenship.

May is prom season, and Isabel got invited to the Thatcher prom by a boy named Riley.  He picked her up at our house so he wouldn't have to drive all the way to Artesia.  Sometimes they have their dates pick them up at Darlene's, but this time it was our turn.  I loved it.  Deja vu.

The traditional poses.

On the 16th, I went to Brianna and Lindsay's Gila Valley Choir concert.  They both had speaking and solo parts.  

On Thomas' birthday, we asked him where he wanted to eat, and he said, "Anywhere but El Charro!" I guess even yummy EC gets old if you're there every day 😉

The next day, Sunday, we drove to Gilbert, where we attended church in Esther's ward.  It was a treat to see Marlie sing with some friends, accompanied by Harrison.  Right after Sacrament meeting, Shad ordained Harrison to the Melchezidek Priesthood, assisted by Dad, Jimmy Brown and their High Council representative.

Then that afternoon, we went to Baccalaureate for Docker and Harrison's high school, Highland High.  Wow!  Dad and I were amazed at the incredible music coming from that high school orchestra.  Then when  they were joined by the choir, it was even better.

Sitting with the Biggses and Browns.

Our handsome graduates from Highland High School

Docker

Harrison

Then after Baccalaureate, we went to Joel and Stephanie's for a celebration dinner with their family, Jeremy's family, Esther's family, and us.  DeWitt also came as did Shad's parents.  Here are our 3 Gilbert/Mesa Graduates: Harrison, Docker, Tayte, who graduated from Heritage High School.

After the party, Joel ordained Docker to the Melchezidek Priesthood, assisted by Dad, Stetson and Levi.  We made Crew get in the picture too.

Then we went to Tayte's Seminary graduation.   With our 7 graduates, we had to catch each one as we could.  We went to Docker and Harrison's Baccalaureate, Tayte's and Isabel's Seminary graduations and Albert's neither one (😌)  Since we were going to be working on the day of Albert's graduation, we went to CO during our break even though it was a week early.   But we got to see him and give him a hug and a card and take a picture.

On the next Tuesday night we celebrated Isabel's Seminary graduation.  What a year!  This just happened to be the year that we had 5 babies the same age, all graduating at the same time.  We are so proud of them all, including Polly, who graduated from EAC as salutatorian and DeWitt who graduated from ASU with a 4.0 grade average.

When we got home to Safford, we watched the royal wedding that we had set to record while we were gone to Mesa.  It was fun to see all the hoopla and festivities.  Meghan looked beautiful, of course, but I have to say I liked Kate's dress better.

We drove to Colorado on Thursday night after our day in the Temple, stayed in Taylor and drove the rest of the way on Friday, getting there in the afternoon so we had time to see the kids and visit.  Syrina welcomed us with a sign.  It was great to get hugs from everyone.  Devynne and Brock were even there, and Parker and Shadrach...the whole family.

Front porch sittin'.  The weather was perfect; their rooster.

Daniel drove us around his 40 acres in an ATV, followed by his 3 Labs, Flurry, Storm and Flash (?)  Anyway, they loved running alongside the vehicle and marking their territory every few feet.

We also saw the foundation for their new house...5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms.  Their current house will then become a guest house eventually.  For now, though, Porter and Alta and Aila are going to live there while they go to school.

That night they had a celebration for Analynn's 14th birthday.  She loves to draw but always complains that she can't get the eyes right on the faces she draws, so Connie and Alta made her big eye cakes.

The next night we went to the Glenwood Springs Vaudeville Show.  It is a dinner show and very funny.  I laughed the whole night and my cheeks were sore by the time we left.  The whole side of the building was a mural of old-time vaudeville stars.  Dad wanted a picture of the ones that he remembers, especially Tom Mix.  When I was at BYU, and I told people I was engaged to marry Tom Biggs, many of them would say, "Tom Mix???" I had never heard of him, then, but have since learned that he was an early cowboy movie star.

Waiting for the show to begin

The whole clan!  Jonathan stayed with his school aide, but everyone else was there. They even had the whole theater sing "Happy Birthday" to Analynn and shout "Congratulations on your graduation" to Albert.

On Sunday, after their block, we finally got a picture with Albert.  His Seminary graduation was the next Wednesday and high school graduation was the next week.  But we hope this counts.

After we got back I could see that my rose bushes needed trimming, so I got Dad's clippers and went after them.  Needless to say, they fought back!  I had to wear long sleeves to the Temple for the rest of the month and into June.

Mary and Tyson kept the Thomas and Jenn kids while they were overseeing the 4th year girls at camp the last week of May.  Fortunately, the weather was perfect and they took advantage of the pool to break up the days.

On the 30th, Isabel had a wreck.  The car in front of her on the highway, stopped suddenly and she plowed into him, deploying the airbag.  It probably kept her from being killed, but it bruised her face and rendered her unconscious for a little while.  She had to go to the ER for tests to make sure she was ok, but they released her that night and she went home.  The next day, after the Temple, we took her a medicinal milkshake to help in her recovery.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY

~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~

Nathan and Shauna are taking an anniversary cruise to the Bahamas.  Since they haven't returned yet, I'm hoping for wonderful pictures for the June blog.

Josh has taken some picture of some beautiful buildings in SLC and in Omaha.

Bethany and Palmer and sweet little Jovie.  Mothers' Day.  What a beautiful mother for such a beautiful baby .

Hannah and friends joining in the spirit of the royal wedding. 👰

~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~

Lindsay at her baby shower.  It looks as if she could start a baby store of her own!

Docker played and sang at a recital, and Stephanie sent me the video.  He was so good!  It was a song he wrote with his band.  I think if he had wanted to, he could have caused a lot of swooning among the girls at his school.

His High School Graduation announcement. I love the pictures through the years.

After Baccalaureate.

After his ordination to the Melchezidek Priesthood.

The whole Joel and Stephanie Biggs family...until the middle of June, that is 👶

Highland High school Graduation-there were nearly 900 students!!  Docker and Harrison are down there somewhere.

~DANIEL AND CONNIE~

So Devynne and Brock are having a baby girl...Theo is having a sister.

Mothers' Day.  Devynne is loving motherhood.

And why not, with such a darling child?

Raymond and  Alonzo were baptized.  Albert baptized them in the Bishop's pool.  

Almost the whole family were there, including Patti, their friend whom Parker baptized before his mission.  She is just like family to them.  In fact, it was at her house that Devynne, Brock and Theo stayed while they were in Colorado.

Shannyn and her high school friends.  She goes to school in Rifle instead of Glenwood where all the other kids go.  She likes to sleep in a few minutes longer and not have such a long drive to school each morning.  She likes her friends there too.

She has a job as a lifeguard at one of the pools close to their home.  Shadrach is lifeguarding at the hot springs pool in Glenwood.

It was such a great visit with Daniel and Connie and their family.  Every single one of them was there...including Devynne, Brock, Theo, Parker, Shadrach and even his girlfriend Hannah.

Connie and Alta making Analynn's cake, supervised by Jonathan and Raymond

Whenever we got into their ATV to go anywhere on the property, everyone who couldn't fit inside just jumped on the side and hung on!  Aila always sat on Papa's lap and helped him drive.  The last day we were there, Theo even shared Papa's lap with Aila.

The dogs running along with us and investigating all they could see and smell.  The view of their house and the foundation of their new house from the top of their mountain.

Emma on Thomas' old scooter; Brock fishing in their creek; and a view of the creek from the top.

Aila, playing in the dirt, dug up for their house.

Ok.  They have geese.  Three baby geese.  Guess why they have geese.  Give up?  To keep the coyotes away!

They are incubating eggs to see if they can hatch their own crop of chicks.

Analynn's birthday celebration.  The flowers are from her YW leaders in the Rifle? Silt? Ward.  It's confusing because their mailing address says New Castle, they actually live in Silt, I think, and their Ward is Rifle...I think.

At the Vaudeville show.  We ate before it began.  Connie got ice cream to try to keep the babies happy.

It was just so comfortable and cozy.  The flag flies every day, Daniel says, not just Memorial Day.

The whole family...almost ready...Porter had to kiss his baby first 😊

Here we go.

As we were driving home, we got these pictures on our phones.  Fishing in the creek.

After we left they had a great time fishing and playing ball.

~REBECCA AND SCOTT~

May for the Rebecca and Scott family started with tennis...of course.  Polly's EAC team won their regionals and got to go to Waco Texas for Nationals.  They had a wonderful time even though they didn't win.

Rebecca and Scott leased a condo in Tempe, close to where DeWitt lives, I think.  They move in sometime in July.

They went to Washington for the blessing of Lucy Joyce on the 6th.  They loved having time to play with both babies.  They took DeWitt, but Polly was in Texas.

She looked beautiful in her blessing dress, even though, I think she looked even prettier in Allison's blessing dress that Rebecca had saved for her.  What happy and proud grandparents, and uncle.

With Taylor's parents too.

Beautiful family

DeWitt graduated from ASU with high distinction, having a 4.0 grade average. I think his major has something to do with chemistry.

DeWitt at the graduation party at Joel and Stephanie's.  Daynen and Jori in the background.

Polly graduated from EAC as Salutatorian.

Lillian and Kelin came for a visit and Rebecca, Scott, Polly and DeWitt showed them around our neck of the woods.

Then they had the yard sale of the century!  Cleaning out all the furniture and appliances from their apartments.

Back in Cedar City, Lillian and Kelin go from monster trucks to Temple attendance.  Good job.

Allison and Taylor with a friend at a Mariner's game.

~JEREMY AND ERIKA~
I was so impressed with the video that this screen shot was from.  Tayte, who I didn't even know could sing, sang Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better with this girl.  They were at a school choir concert and I think it even surprised his parents.  He was amazingly good and comfortable on the stage.

Thank goodness for Reygan.  She posts pictures once in a while.  She looks like a crack shot, and also with her friends at a concert. 

Tayte's Seminary graduation.

And Graduation from Heritage High School

~RACHEL AND TONY~

This has been Isabel's month, until the end, that is.  She joined the NRA to start with.

Isabel's 18th birthday on the 9th.

Luke's 15th birthday on the 10th

The local paper had a picture of the twins at the Cinco de Mayo Parade.  Of course.  I'm sure they were the cutest ones there.

Luke went to state Student Council Convention.  At one point they all sang to him for his birthday...looks like all the pretty girls sang to him.

All of Rachel's girls got to go to Relief Society with her on Mothers' Day.

I was able to go to the twins choir program.  They had speaking parts, as well as dancing and singing.

They brought me beautiful tulips for Mothers' Day.  

Luke, at the welcome/farewell party for Shadrach and Parker

After Luke's orchestra concert.

One day, Luke was the only one at home when their dog, Karen, started having her puppies.  They didn't expect them for another week or two, so it was a surprise.  He had to take care of everything.  He called his mom, who called the sister missionaries.  One of them graduated in animal science before her mission, so Rachel asked them to go over to see if everything was ok.  Karen took care of herself and her puppies just fine.  She had ten, I think! 

Isabel and her date for the Thatcher Prom.

The twins helped Rebecca set up her yard sale.

At their high school closing assembly, the principal got a hold of a video of Isabel dancing with the dance game video and showed it to the entire student body.  Isabel didn't even know they were going to do it, but instead of being embarrassed and hiding, she stood and took a bow.

At Luke's 8th grade promotion with all his loving sisters.

Isabel's Seminary Graduation

And graduation from Safford High School

Brynlie and Camille went to Girls' Camp for the first time.

Isabel, in the hospital after her wreck.  All her aunts came to check up on her and give her moral support.  Also her dad, and her friends.

She is crying because she had the sudden thought that "what if Clio (her German Shepherd puppy) had been in the car with me?"

The next day.

~ESTHER AND SHAD~

Soren getting an award at a Scout court of honor.   Esther couldn't be there, so Marlie filled in and he pinned the mother's pin on her.

Brody is playing little league

Helping mom shop at home depot.  You're never too grown up to act like a kid!

Harrison's 18th birthday on the 6th.  He got books, which he loves, and made his own prime rib and birthday cheesecake.

Mary's babies stayed with them while she and Tyson went car shopping.

They loved the turtle and the chickens, but got so dirty.  Esther had to give them a bath.  They loved that too.

Bridger's choir concert.

One of the teachers for whom Harrison is an aide at Bridger's school.

Marlie's date; awards for being section coaches for the younger choir.  She qualified for the top symphonic choir next year.

Soren's school play about Arizona.  He was a cowboy.

After Harrison's ordination.

After baccalaureate.

Graduation from Highland High School  He is down there somewhere, among the almost 900 graduates.

~THOMAS AND JENN~ 

Thomas borrowed a handcart...he will borrow several more...for our stake's youth pioneer trek in June.  However, due to critically dry weather, the forest service may close all the possible venues.  We'll see in June whether they got to go or not. The handcarts were made by Brother Jacob who is one of our shift coordinators at the temple.

At Thomas' orchestra concert.

Mothers' Day.  Jenn's mom, Anna, came to visit from Hawaii.

Mothers' Day flowers from Thomas.  They stayed beautiful for a whole week!

At Kirtlyn's choir concert.  I took this picture of Maya and Anna at the concert because I think they look so much alike.

At the 8th grade honors assembly where Kirtlyn got certificates for being on the Principal's Gold List and for exceptional citizenship

Thomas' birthday present

Henry graduated from kindergarten...one of our 13 graduates 😉

Two graduates...8th grade and kindergarten

Thomas and Jenn are the 4th year leaders for Girls' Camp this year.

Their 15th anniversary was on the 31st, and they spent it, roughing it, with a bunch of teenage girls!

~MARY AND TYSON~

Lindsay won "Best Actress" again, this time for her role as Peter Pan.

Mary's "Mothers and Daughters" Relief Society night.  She decorated it like The Greatest Showman.

Carson has accepted the job of yard man for the spring and summer.  He keeps our lawns mowed; They got a BMW(Big Mormon Wagon) just like  Thomas' and Daniel's.

One morning, before school, one of Tyson's customers flew his hot air balloon right over their house, at one point coming close enough that Jared could almost touch it.  Pretty exciting.

Carson earned his green belt in his karate class...well on his way to black belt.

Brianna and Lindsay were at the house when Isabel was waiting for her date.  They wanted to have a picture with their beautiful cousin.

On Mothers' Day, Mary's family gave her their Dollar Store gifts via a fish pond game.  Each of them chose what they wanted her to have.  Look at Alex's gift.

Tyson got an old boat from someone, fixed it up and took it for a test cruise at Roper Lake.

Brianna and Lindsay's Gila Valley Choir concert in which they had speaking and solo parts.

Brianna got the lead in her drama class' play.

Jared was also a kindergarten graduate.

While Thomas and Jenn were taking care of the 4th year Girls' Camp, their kids, minus Kirtlyn who was at camp, stayed with their Richins cousins.  Definitely a good thing they got the BMW!

Ahh, the fun of having 10 kids...9 of them 12 and under!

They took advantage of good weather and a nearby pool to break up their long days.  Mary bought this wading pool to keep the babies happy and out of the big pool.  The huge chickens are for "chicken fights?"

~SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE~

Little boys and puppies always make me smile.

So, Isabel, you've joined the great unpopular!  Congratulations.

I love seeing cousins bonding.

~COMING UP~

The Hiatt Reunion is coming up the 28th-29th of July.  They put it on that date specifically because we have that weekend off.  Jan and Kent are in charge, so Emily and Melissa will be doing a lot of it...it will likely be creative and fun.  Please let me know if you can go, even for a day.  We will be there both days.

~LAST WORDS~

In a "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast, it was said that in our lives we need three kinds of bones: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.  A wishbone is one that focuses on the desires of our hearts and our hope in Christ.  A backbone helps us keep our covenants and the Lord's commandments even when facing opposition.  And a funny bone helps us see the joy in life...even the humor in difficult situations.  I believe that is true.  No matter what we face in this life, we have hope in Christ.  He is with us through everything and His sacred Atonement compensates for our human weaknesses and faults.  Then even when we do our best and our best is not enough...it never is...His Atonement makes up for our falling short.  Of course, we need to try to have a backbone and be valiant in our lives and in our testimonies, but even then, only Christ takes our meager efforts and sanctifies them to be enough. Even in the face of sorrow, sickness, despair, we can find joy that only comes through our Savior.

We love you all so very much and rejoice in the good things you and your families are doing.  Thank you for letting us be a part of your activities and your celebrations  We certainly feel a "joy and rejoicing in our posterity."