2 Missionaries, 2 Angels , 1 Temple and convictions of the heart...

So first of all you need to know that there really are angels out there.  Those that come into your children's lives and rescue them and tenderly care for them.  I know this because we have Elizabeth and Jessica in our lives.  Elizabeth is someone that a handsome Missionary met in Texas.... and he was allowed to bring her a message that changed her life, and his.  A year ago Elizabeth joined the church.  Jessica is a friend of Elizabeth's and part of the RS Presidency in her ward.  On the 8th of October, Elder Hillary's sweet Mission President allowed him to attend the temple for Elizabeth's endowment session in the Gila Valley Temple.  Jessica drove her there from El Paso.  There were closer temples to go to - but Elder Hillary was serving in the Gila Valley Temple district - and they made the sacrifices to drive there so he could be there.  Now tell me - who does that for someone?  These two angels.  Their families made sacrifices for them to come - they called the Mission President and arranged it all- and the sweet stories that came from that moment in time will forever be in my heart.  If Elder Hillary could not make it to the temple, we were going to drive there and be with her... but since he was allowed - I made sure that at the same time they were going through the Gila Valley Temple, I was going through the Draper Utah Temple - I had their pictures in my hands the whole time... there were many tears.  But not as many as those freely shed in a beautiful Temple in Arizona on a hot autumn night.  Elder Hillary said.... "Mom - we were sitting in the room waiting for them to come in - the Temple Matron came in and asked my companion and I to come into the hallway - Liz and Jessica were waiting for us there - all we could do was shake hands - wink and wave at each other!"  Liz said, "I know that you are suppose to be emotional in the celestial room at the end of the endowment session - but I was crying before anything even started - when I saw Elder Hillary!"  To bring just one soul.........one soul.... he wasn't kidding... oh the joy.  The pictures tell the story.  Now... at the end - you get to see Elizabeth's humor - I do believe that if he wasn't in a suit - she would have done it.  (check out that handsome missionary man!)  His current companion is Elder Kasat from Chile', the companion serving with him when he met and taught Liz was Elder Carter from Logan, Utah.    Enjoy... I love my Missionary.

 Jessica's and her husband will be going through the temple in less than a year - that will be a sweet day., when their beautiful family will be sealed together.  Liz's husband is a wonderful man that we have also adopted - they are the parents of a beautiful little girl.  The rewards of the Gospel are endless... and priceless.... are any of you interested???  Let me know - I've got great connections.  

Tomatoes, Raspberries and such...oh and the dead.

Lovin' the weather - because I just like a bit 'o rain now and then, making everything smell awesome and earthy.  Not so much the wind - because my screens are old and they rattle.  I also love that I don't feel guilty about not being outside working my earth patches.  The tomatoes are turning red, and the raspberries are just incredible this year.  I personally dream of and actually pray that.... the raspberry thorns slash through the tomatoes...and they die a slow death.   I kinda despise them, except in my chili sauce that will be filling up the house with eye watering yum tomorrow afternoon, during a forcasted rainstorm.  Recovery is actually not a word I deal well with - Appendectomy on Saturday 6 AM... home at 2 PM.... back to work and off meds by Monday 3:45 AM... on the Stairmaster by 5:00 PM..... but don't tell anyone ok?  But when the body wins over the mind for a few hours I find myself enjoying pulling out some projects (ok - so a freakin' whole bunch of projects that I've brought home from my mom's house to do for her) (I remind mom that they are 'sit down' projects which goes over a little better).  Last night I was reading about the Bowen/Hunter side of my father's side of the family.  I always thought that the Hill/Murray side of my Mom's family were totally awesome freakish pioneer stock until I read some stories about my dad's family that would make those Hill boys cry like babies.  We're off the tomatoes now - but I think that the Hunter bunch would be guilty of being the raspberry thorns - tough Scots as they were.... (probably why the Hills and Bowens are buried in separate towns)  In his own words - and most of them left out and misspelled - James Forbes Hunter talked about having to leave his sick wife along the trail to Salt Lake - he had to make a choice of his kids or his wife - they both made the decision to make sure the kids made it.  Mary Susanna NollKemper Hunter died along the Mormon trail.  A picture of her indicates that her husband would not have been able to make any other choice - here eyes tell the story - she would not have let him.  Somewhere inside me I pray that there is a tiny gene of hers still alive and well - actually I hope I had at least 5... one to keep - and 4 to pass on to my kids.  In the middle of the night last night, the circus music started in my head like it always does with those from the other side... NollKemper... Nollkemper... Nollkemper.... in perfect rhythm.  When I opened my eyes - I could feel her all around me, reminding me that I was well known to her before I came to earth.  She taught me things there in heaven, I brought them here to earth, quirks known only to her and I - and I have a boatload of quirks believe me.  Strangely enough...... I'm convinced she hated tomatoes.  I hope it rains for another week.  Nollkemper,  Nollkemper, Nollkemper.....  (then I watched Paul Blart Mall Cop and ate raspberries....)(quirks)

Excuse Me Nurse Betty...

 

Well, it's kinda like this....

Not feeling oh so hot on Thursday night - thinking I must have snarfed down the taco I ate... going through the night thinking - could I just die and get it over with.... at 1:20 am I'm walking around the block trying to get whatever is blocking the lower half of my body.... at 2:00 wake up Mr. Hillary and remind him that I'm dying yet again... walking some more.... going into work (what was I thinking)... picking up a few groceries in case I do die, Mr Hillary will have cereal..... sleeping it off for a few hours.... Stupidity sets in as I buckle over and still straddle the Harley for a 2 hour ride around the Provo/Park City loop - oh my it was beautiful though... getting home to sleep it off yet again... deciding that I've found enough change in the laundry bags, between the coushions of the couch, and under all of the beds to afford InstaCare... getting totally chewed out by a doctor (that I've known for many years and why she's at this particular InstaCare I'll never know)... who screams at me that she cannot do tests like this at 8:30 at night.... so I get up off of the table to leave and she won't let me (like I was going to sit there and take that)... reminds me that my bacterial levels should be 2-3 and mine was at 11... trip to IHC in Murray for a CT scan... (remind me to look behind all of your couches and laundry bags to pay for this nightmare)... drink the drink of death, CT at midnight... results show FREAKIN APPENDICITIS and that it has to be removed,  asap - and then finding out that the doctors are are war with each other and I have to wait until 6 am but can't sleep because they think I'm like preggo of something and have to check if I'm dilated or something, no cokes or food or anything - just late night TV.... 6 am - surgery, THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOR!!!!!, I remind them that I have not shaved my legs - they say - that's not what we're shaving and then they say - oh - you already have (Must have been out of my mind), BOOM - I'm gone and awake and they have stripped me of my dignity and my appendix, and they send me home on some great drugs, which is why I can write this whole blog entry without any periods, and have learned the following lessons.

1.  Conference is so much better on drugs  - because it will take drugs for me to get over the texting talk.  Holy Cow people - leave us some joy!

2.  Water skiing at 8 months is a cake walk after this.

3.  Always wear clean underwear.... or ... wear underwear.

4.  If you are going to have an extended visit to the hospital - pack your own cooler of drinks.

5.  Remind the nurse that discharges you to take out the IV before you are wheeled down the hall.  (what a dork this lady was - seriously - she was El Stupido!  (Where was Laurie Canfield when I needed her?)

6.  Love your Relief Society President everyday girls - mine called and asked if she could bring sweets and clean my undies.  I love you MK xoxox

7.  As hot as my husband looked last night - Narcotics make him look like a rock star.

8.  Someone tell my mom that I did not have another baby.  She's so confused at 81....

9.  Ashley can cook - she can buy beautiful flowers and she can be convincing holding a gun telling the stupid discharge nurse that YES my mom WILL need painkillers before she leaves...

10.  Texting after above mentioned narcotics - is hysterical.

Well - up and at 'em and back to work tomorrow

(you think I'm kidding)

(we have couches at work with money in them somewhere I just know!)

Back sale to be announced for funding of

above mentioned events....

Nie and You - mark the date....

I'm not missing this - you all in?

Don't know who she is?

She's my inspiration.

Make her yours.

Sugar.....aw... Honey Honey..... Somethin' sweet to think about today

............DAYS..........

as immortalized at the right of your screen today

Elder Hillary has

THIS MANY SPRINKLES LEFT

mmmmmmm......

get the candles out quick!

Love you Ryan!

We love Mommy Yesseree.... We're wondering about Daddy.... can't you see.... I think that's how that song goes... This title has nothing to do with my post....

It's interesting to me how much I talk to my kids daily on Facebook.  It's such an obsession - but a sweet one at that.  I am reminded of their humorous side - their devotions - their fears - their sadness - their loves.  I randomly remember when they were younger (after I was the meanest mom in the world to them - made them do their work, practice their piano, and homework)  what kind of relationship I would have with them when they were older.  Now one is 26, one 25 and one is 22, and the baby will be 21 soon, I have been blessed with the experiences of life, and the occasional reminders that I got my wish.  Then again - it's not something that I particularly did - wish I could take credit for that in every way - but rather - who they are, who they have carved themselves into being.  I see that bits and pieces of their hero's coming through in their personalities.  I see the things they avoid because they recognize consequences.  I feel the tremendous amount of love they are capable of having, but rather give it away - their cups empty at night, because God fills them up for the next day.  I have seen buckets of tears, and the arms of the comforter ample in their lives, because of the kind of lives they lead.  I love that they have tempers, and get all screamy at times - and I'm reminded that so do I.  I acknowledge that where there are many personalities in a family and at times things can get touchy, but a phone call and a sweet reminder of the love we have for each other, is sufficient to fix all the woes of the day.  I witness compassion, and trials, and failures - because that's what builds character.  I rejoice in the massive amounts of years piled up behind their schooling,  and remember the endless pencils and pens thrown at the wall in frustration, and the looks in their eyes while wearing a cap and gown from their college graduations.  Because those were the standards they set for themselves, and conquered.  No one can take that away - ever.  Now we are starting to pass those things on to grandchildren, some here, some waiting to come, some in the 'I had better be ovulating in November' stages, and some that the last thing on his mind had better be reproducing...until he returns from his mission.  I amazed at how God found just the right person for them to marry - after all this time separated - they found each other, they promised they would in heaven and they did.  Somewhere out there is the next Mrs. Hillary and we all can't wait to see who the baby of the fam marries, then we'll love her just as much as we love Bethany, Ryan and Mike.  This morning I held up a picture of my grandfather - William Clair Bowen, he left us many years ago - but I asked him, "Grandpa - you always wanted to cut my ears off with your pocket knife - and you called me Pinkie, because no Bowen had ever had red hair.....but am I doing ok in your eyes?"  Instantly - and almost freakishly, a picture of my children fell from my magnet board to the table I was working on - the picture posted at the right of my blog - my favorite picture of my children.  How silly of me - I'm not doing ok in many things - but being the luckiest mom in the world?  Heck - I hit the jackpot.  The best gift my children can give to me.... is.... pass it on, all of it - don't leave anything out.  You are all Crack Spiders in my eyes.  Loff you.

Dear Santa....

You know those Relief Society Good News Minutes?

Can't wait 'till Sunday so I'll share now...

Guess what I'm getting for Christmas?

I think he's excited too....

December 22

I must have been very very good in 

Santa's book this year.....

(unless he's read my blog and then we're in trouble)

I know this particular Elder has been!

Let's just freakin' start setting the tree up now ok?