Happy Birthday

Today Whitney turned 18. I can't believe where the years have gone. Now she is a wife, mom and student. We are taking her and her family to dinner tonight to celebrate. I hope she's had a good day. Even though she's married and has 2 children and I'm a Grandma having her turn 18 makes me feel old. Time flies by so quickly.

Happy Birthday Whitney, I love you.

Draper Temple

Today we had the opportunity to attend the Open House of the Draper Utah Temple. We took Scott with us, I was very excited for him to have the opportunity to see the inside of the Temple. He has done Baptims once in the Bountiful Temple, but this would be a whole new experience. I had talked with Scott before and told him that after the Temple is dedicated only Endowed worthy members can attend the Temple. When we got there we walked through the tents and then directly into the basement and right past the Baptismal font. As we started climbing the stairs Scott asked, "is this the part where I can't go after it's dedicated?" I told him yes it was. I could see the reverence in his eyes, his mood, and it was awesome. He enjoyed everything about the Temple, especially the wood around the door frames, and wood tables, the wood was imported from Africa, the chandeliers, especially in the Celestial Room. We took a minute and sat in the Celestial Room and enjoyed the beauty and the Spirit that was there. Next came the Sealing Rooms. As we entered Scott was totally mesmerized by the beauty of that room. The chandelilers are a smaller version of the Celestial room. We sat down and the ushers a husband and wife spoke of the purpose of the sealing room. As he was talking I whispered to Scott that at 6 months old he sat on the alter in the Salt Lake Temple and was sealed to Robert & I. I could tell as he looked at the alter for a minute that he was thinking about that. The ushers had everyone look in the mirrors before leaving the room to see the meaning of forever. Scott was pondering everything in that room. He said to me, "I want to be married here one day and stand with my girl, to look in that mirror with her." For a parent that's an awesome moment. He didn't want to leave the Temple, as we got on the bus to drive away he wanted to go back and go through again. That was another we're teaching him right moment. I told him that we'd go to the Oquirrah Mountain Temple Open House this summer. Hopefully then Whitney, Jesse and children will be able to go with us.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's to the man that I have shared 27 Valentine's with. He still can make me laugh and smile. He's more handsome today than the day we married, he still takes my breath away. For all his qualities that I admire I love you my Valentine.

Sealing Anniversary

We're one of the lucky families that first gets to adopt children, and then to take them to the Temple and have them sealed to us. 12 years ago today we took Scott and Whitney to the Salt Lake Temple to have Scott sealed to us after the finalization of his adoption. It was the most wonderful experience to have both of our children in the Temple with us and surrounding the alter. Whitney sat in a chair next to the alter with her Gran by her side. It was the most wonderful experince that we had. And we got to do it twice. We're so glad that Scott has been in our family for the last 12 1/2 years. We love you Scott!!

Finding comfort

The past 2 days Robert has been home from work sick with a bad cold. Both he and Scott got a cold at the same time. Scott went to school yesterday but today only long enough to take a test, then called and said he wanted to come home, could I come get him. I realized when Scott got home that having them both here is a comfort I enjoy. We may not be in the same room the whole day or even talking all day long, but just knowing their home give me a sense of peace. It makes grateful to have a wonderful family.

Kaiser's blessing

The proud mommy and daddy

Great Gran Stockdale, Great Grandma Whitney,

Grandma Jeana, Grandma Chris and Randi

Grandpa Sam, Grandpa Rick, Grandpa Robert,

Great Grandpa Whitney, Great Grandpa Stockale

Randi looking so cute and big in her

pretty pink dress.

Randi and big sister Randi

Scott and I went to the Young Single Adult Sacrament Meeting with Robert. I enjoyed listening to their Testimonies, I am glad we still get that association with them through Robert.

This afternoon Robert blessed Kaiser at my parents house. It was a small gathering with family. It was nice to spend a few hours with my parents, my brother and his wife and my oldest nephew, Whitney, Jesse and my grandchidren. We did get home in time for Robert to catch the last half of the all important Superbowl.

Find the good in each day

We found out about 2 weeks ago that a dear friend could have cancer. He and his wife are awaiting the test results after going through several different tests over the last 2 weeks. I visited with his wife tonight to get an update on everything. She had such a positive attitude, her husband has the same. She said to me, "why get worked up about the unknown?" I told her I wish that she could send some of that positive attitude my way. I let the little things get to me, and in the grand scheme of things they are nothing compared to what are friends are going through. We all have trials to deal with, some harder then others. My family has been blessed with good health, amongst many other things.

Whatever the outcome of our friends tests I know he and his wife will make the best of it. That's the kind of people they are. So if you are among of those whose family is healthy and life is good count your blessings. The three words that describe it all; LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dad's 69th birthday. Happy Birthday Dad, I am proud to call you Dad. I am grateful for the example he is in my life. Thank you for teaching me the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for raising me in a home where that was the center of our lives. Thank you for always being an example in your service to the Lord. Even with his busy schedule he still tried to spend that one on one time with each of my siblings, making sure we knew that we were important to him. He's always been in tune with the Spirit and knows when one of his children needs him. Thanks for listening. Thank you for loving our mom and showing us how she should be treated. Even though at times it was difficult to have he and mom away I appreciate his example in wanting to be of service to the Lord through a mission. He continues today to be that stalwart example to his children and grandchildren. I love you Dad very much and am proud of his life, I pray that the Lord will allow many more years for me to say, "Happy Birthday Dad, I love you."

Just rambling

I read a cousins blog this morning that caused me to reflect on my own life. We can't go back and change the past, we can only make the future better. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Human nature takes us back with regrets about the things we didn't do and rids us with guilt. If there were only a sure fire method to make it go away. I wish that I had spent more time with Whitney laughing and enjoying the small things, spending more time listening and less time yelling. Those 16 years she lived at home flew by, and I hope that despite the bad times, that there were some good things for her to remember. Now she been married for 14 months, has 2 babies and a life of her own. I guess I feel jipped that I didn't get to enjoy more time with her, being able to watch her go to her first dance, teach her to drive, wait up for her after a date and then talk till wee hours of the morning. We still talk, she'll share things about school and other events happening. I am proud of her for sticking to the end and finishing high school, she'll graduate in June. Plus she'll have her CNA. Now I get to enjoy my precious grandchildren, and see life through their eyes, and they bring me so much joy. I need to make it better for Scott, I get so stressed out with him. He's 12, pre-teen and all that goes with it. He tells me that I forgot how to laugh at things. He's always trying to be a clown. I guess that I have forgot about the small and simple things of life. I have a great husband who provides for our family, gives me support in PTA and other things I do. I guess I need to work harder on enjoying the simple things in life, not getting so stressed out, and finding the good in each day, even when it's in the middle of a snow storm (which I'm tired of). I don't want to have Scott leave and have the same regrets all over again, and not being able to do anything about. At his age spending time with family is the last thing he wants to do, it's being with friends. I just have to make sure they are good friends. Life is a learning process, and it can take our whole life to figure it out. I just hope I can figure it out before it's full of regrets again.

Happy Birthday

Yesterday was my sister Debbie's birthday, and today is my sister Tiffany's birthday. It really stinks that they both live out of state, so we don't get to celebrate with them. Hope they both had a great birthday. I remember when Debbie was born, mom had to come home from the hospital the next day to celebrate Tiffany's 4th birthday. Now here we are ___ years later and they beautiful moms, my sisters and my friends. Love you both.

Kaisers' blessing tux

Whitney ordered a tux for Kaiser over the internet. It was a size 0-6 months. Without seeing it you take a chance on it fitting. It came yesterday, and guess what? It is huge for him. It is big enough for Randi to wear, and as you can see from the pictures it fits ok, and she's almost 2 years old. So hopefully Great Grandma can use some of her magic and taylor it to fit Kaiser. He's being blessed Feb. 1, so it has to happen fast. I guess that's the risk of ordering on line.

The joys of being a Grandma

Just me and Kaiser hanging out for a few hours. I can hold him and talk to him, he was actually awake for an hour or so while I had him. He is starting to recognize my voice, and even gave me a smile. Being a Grandma is so fun, to actually be able to enjoy these sweet babies, love them and cuddle them. What a blessing my grandchildren are. I love you Randi and Kaiser.