Me's Papa

I haven't posted for a while. We have been busy with sickness, church, and lots of other things. Probably the biggest thing though has been the death of my Grandpa Belnap. I have pondered alot about if I should post anything about this because it is very near and dear to me. We had known that he was probably going to die for awhile because he has had Alzheimer's disease for a long time, but things seemed to progress pretty quickly the last couple of months. Then about a week before he died he stopped eating and drinking. So this wasn't a sudden thing. I haven't had anyone die that was so close to me before so it has been a new experience for me. I had some neat things happen, but I have decided that I will keep my personal experiences to myself in my written journal, but I have a bunch of pictures and a few thoughts that I do want to share here for my family and friends to see. I got to make the display of pictures and some of the things that remind me of my grandpa for the viewing and the funeral. It was a good opportunity for me to remember my grandpa and the wonderful life that he lived.
My Grandparents lived through the field and then later next door to me until I went to collage. My grandparents teased me that I called my grandpa "Me's papa" when I was learning to talk and it stuck. They really have been a HUGE part of my life. I know that I am the person that I am today partly because of them and their great influence in my life. They are the sweetest kindest dearest people that I have ever known.
My grandpa had a wonderful sweet tender heart. He loved the simple things in life. He was a wonderful dancer and a beautiful singer/musician. He was a huge tease too! He always had a story or a rhyme or a huge squeeze for me. He would come up to me almost every time he saw me and whisper to me "Ya wanna know something?" I would know what was coming but I would ask "What?" anyway and he would say " I kinda like you." And I would say "I kinda like you too Grandpa." Probably every one of his grandkids felt this way but I know I was his favorite! hee hee He was such a wonderful man!! He had a strong testimony of he gospel and the temple. He was so jolly and giggly and had an infectious smile!
But his example to me of endurance is the thing that sticks out to me the most.
Because of his disease my grandpa lost alot of the things that he loved. He slowly lost all sorts of things that he loved to do. He couldn't go hunting or fishing anymore, he wasn't able to write or build things anymore, no more driving or going on walks anymore. And then things got worse to where he couldn't speak or remember things. He had to stop going to the temple and then finally to church. I remember seeing him being so frustrated with himself and not being able to say what he wanted to say. It was a heartbreak for me to see him struggle with that. I used to go and just hold his hand in silence and I knew that he knew it was me. He would give me that little squeeze and I knew that he loved me.
It was hard BUT can I tell you that the things that were so near and dear to him he got to keep!! He could still sing. My grandma would have him hum a hymn to me on the phone or when I came to visit and he still could hum the tenor part to most of the hymns. He also LOVED my grandma. He used to tell me alot that she was the best decision that he had ever made. And even though he couldn't talk he still showed everyone that he loved her. He was patient and kind to her and he never as far I saw said harsh things to her. AND there was not a day go by until about 3 weeks ago that he didn't sit and read the Book of Mormon. Even when I am positive that he couldn't read or understand the words he still sat in front of that large copy with a ruler in hand to keep his place. He also could pray. Right up to the end I still got to hear some simple, quiet, humble prayers from him!! Really he was a miracle! And what a great example. He to me is the epitome of enduring to the end in righteousness. I will miss him alot, but the things that he left me with will stay with me forever; his love and his example. And I will see him again. I know it!! I love you me's papa!

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YiKes

THIS PLUS THIS

EQUALS


$%#^&(*$#*%#(*&##^#@**$#@!!!

Yes somehow a crayon got into the dryer. And it was dandelion yellow to boot!! And this wasn't a small batch of clothes either--it was one of those ones that you probably should have done in two but to save time you just cram a little more in. AND it was mostly ALL of my kiddos clothes ya know the pastel ones!! -Needless to say I spent the rest of the day trying things to get it out. I tired the warm iron and paper towels, spot remover, purex, oxiclean, vinegar, tide, soaked overnight and in hot water, and even some suggested using hand sanitizer. Some of the things look ok but mostly they still have it on them. So if you have any suggestions let me know other wise my kids will either be yellow spotted or be naked until spring when I can buy a new wardrobe!

The Feast

Well I am super super duper full!! That is spiritually full!! Wasn't General Conference awesome! I know that I probably say this after every conference but I just think that THAT one was the best one I have ever heard. It is probably because I am getting older and the messages just really hit home or maybe now I listen more intently than I used to. The session that sticks out in mind is the Sunday morning session! Especially Elder Hollands talk on the atonement. There seems to be a talk that sticks out to me more then the rest and that was the one for me. Then Present Monson's talk was right after and then the choirs song and pictures of our dear prophet! It was especially weepy for me and I noticed the others by me were as well. hee hee (you know who you are). I love this time of year, especially the Easter season, to reflect on the Saviors life, mission, and atonement, To celebrate life and rebirth.

I also had the opportunity this year to go to the Young Women's Broadcast last Saturday! It has been a super long time since I have been to that--I don't know if I even went as a youth. What a neat experience it was. I knew before that the attendance for our ward would be super low because there were alot of people out of town, so I was temped to just stay home as well, but I know all to well that when I feel that way is when I need to go the most. So I called Shari and we went together and were the loners of our ward. But I felt super glad that I went and that Shari came with me.
The broadcast was really neat. They talked alot about the new value virtue and how important it was in preparing you for the temple and for your future. The YW President, Sister Dalton shared an experience that really struck me. Some of you may have seen this broadcast and I know I don't remember it perfectly but this was what I got from it. She said that when she was a young women they were asked to pick a symbol that would represent their life's purpose or goal if you will. Sister Dalton picked a white rose, because a rose was always becoming more beautiful and white because it was pure and clean. I wondered what I would pick for my symbol or what my young woman today would pick. She went on to talk about virtue and the importance of goals. At the end of her talk she told us that while she was leaving the office of President Monson after he had just called her to be the new young womens general president, he stopped her and pulled a white rose out of one of the boquets that was in his office and gave it to her. How could President Monson have known that this was the symbol that she had chosen as a youth? This simple gesture that would hold such meaning to her? She said that she took it home and looked at it everyday a symbol to her own virtuous life.
It was such a sweet experience for me as I thought about how the Lord truly truly prepares us and really care and loves and watches each and every individual. That even as a young girl doing a simple thing as a youth, could be preparing her to later be a leader to millions of young woman who need to have a stronger testimony of virtue, of the temple and of our Savior Jesus Christ. I thought of how President Monson's life is full of stories like these, that he is so in tune to the spirit he lives directed by it every minute of every day. That the Lord loved Sister Dalton enough to have that florist put white roses into the prophets office that he could be prompted to give her one to prompt her to reflect on this principle so that she would teach it to the young women of the world. Is anyone still following this? I am just in awe at the mercy and love of the Lord. I am so grateful to be apart of HIS gospel because it really is His, he directs it and leads it and I know that if I will just let him He will lead and direct me too.

Give her a HAND

The second week of March my mom had surgery. For anyone that knows my mom knows that this is a big deal. She is terrified of Doctors. Granted she has had some bad experiences but I cannot remember her to ever go to the doctor growing up, let alone now. SO I am super super proud of her for finally doing something for herself.
She has had carpal tunnel syndrome for a super long time and has need to do something for awhile. So she finally did it! She got both of her hands done and then came to stay with us so that I could help her cause if you can't use either of your hands there is alot of stuff that you cannot do for yourself. . . dressing, eating, driving, ect. She stayed for two weeks and the kids loved it!! I hope we didn't drive her too crazy. She seems to be doing really good.

My parents went to pheonix this last week and will get back on Saturday, then it is her BIRTHDAY on Sunday! So we are going to have a little HAND party for her. Josie and I "Hand" made invtations of Josie hands and inside put this little poem:

Cheryl’s back from the land of Sand

So let party and give her a big HAND

Be sure to “NAIL” down the date

Sunday, March 22, 5:30 ‘til late

At her house we’ll have FINGER food and cake

You can give her a THUMBS up and a HAND SHAKE

We’ll sing Happy Birthday till she feels gay

Hope to see you all OK?

Give me a RING if I’ve forgotten something!

I think that I will have finger sandwiches and chips, some relish trays and dips. I want to make tumbprint cookies...but I don't know what to do for a cake or activities (other than thumbwars hee hee) so if any of you have some good suggestions of how to make this little party cooler please let me know!! Hee hee I think that it will be fun and will let her know we love her!

Ahhh NUTS!!

I have wondered if I shouldn't post this cause I don't want anyone to be offended so if you find an innocent girl's comment to be offensive please don't want read on.

Josie has some allergies. She has mostly grown out of alot of them, but the Nut one remains. She is really good about staying away from things that have nuts in them. And even is a little dramatic about it but I am glad that she knows. We are careful too to not keep them around our house.
My sister lives on the other side of town. She had 4 boys and Josie loves them lots. She calls them "my boys" or "the boys".
The other day she really wanted to go and play with them. So I dropped her off at Tara's house so she could play for a little while. Tara called a few minutes later to tell me that there had been a bag of unshelled nuts out and Josie had gotten them on her hands and had a rash. So I went over to pick her up.
As I walked through the door Josie runs to me and says in a pouty little voice,

"The boys made me touch their NUTS mom!"

I couldn't help but laugh. She didn't think it was funny but it was just the way she said it. I made sure to tell her later that she shouldn't touch anyones nuts. hee hee

Personal Progress Pirates

I know that it has been a super long time since I blogged and I have my excuses like everyone else but I am going to post one here.

We had our New Beginnings last week, and I have been super busy trying to get things ready for it! I think that it turned out a HUGE success and hope that everyone there had as much fun as I did.
We decided(or shall I say I) hee that we would do something a little different and fun this year. We did not have any new Beehives come in to YW this year to highlight and so all of the parents already know about the young womens program. . . . so I thought that we could "review" the values a little different and spunky way!

We did a treasure theme. We had the YW and their parents shipwreck on Value Island!! We gave them invitations in bottles with sand and had them hand-delivered by two very handsome pirates--(thanks again Nick and Joshy) Our decorations where super cool. We had 10 footish palm trees around, waves on the stage, tables with sand, seashell, treasure boxes (with candy jewels and coins that the girls later got to take home for a jewelry box) pineapples, and scroll programs. We then had our program, where the leaders were personal progress pirates and we each dressed in a color and did a little pirate jig to sing about each "Value" as a Treasure. Since there is a new value Virtue, Brother Johnson was our "Gold Captain". He really made the skit!! Then Sis Martin (thanks Beck) gave a wonderful talk about virtue treasure and Bishop gave some closing remarks. We then had some fruity drink with umbrellas and some pineapple cake!! I think it was pretty fun and really hope the girls will remember it. If nothing else hopefully they remember that they have leaders that love them enough to make fools of themselves. hee hee

I really love our young women. I am so grateful that I have gotten to know them. We really don't have very many, but it is so fun to get to know them so well. I am so impressed by their talents and perspectives. They really do have testimonies and are living the gospel!! I only wish that I could have been friends with them in my YW years! They are great examples!!


P.S. So I tried for a whole day to get the skit video to load on this page but it won't so I guess you'll just have to trust me it was super cute and super funny!

Giraffe tongues and poky plants

So here goes another one of my purges.
In Mid-January we went down to Arizona with my parents for a vacation. I was semi-excited about it cause well, we were going to fly which I wasn't so sure about and we haven't really traveled much with Troop--he isn't a trooper when it comes to car rides--hee hee and I haven't ever been to Phoenix before. However we had a blast!! Of course there were some funny stuff but all in all we had a great time.

The flight was of course nerve racking for me. Both our kids on that tiny plane, pretty early in the morning, You just never know what to expect, and of course you never know how the other people will react too. I have been on airplanes with other peoples kids--it is just different when they are your own--you know what I mean?!! Anyway our kids did great!! And the people on the plane were great to them. Makes me want to be sure to be more helpful to others when I am flying. Joshy would disagree with me but our flight attendant was super rude. Even the lady behind us complained to me afterward that she was MEAN. Seriously I was almost in tears one of the times she made a comment to me, but soon that sadness turned to rage. Luckily the flight was short and soon we were in Sunny Arizona!


It was high 70's to low 80s the whole week, hich in January is freaken awesome! The house where we stayed is really fun. It has a nice HEATED pool in the backyard, it is in an awesome community that has these groomed bike trails, and super cool parks for kids all over. We mostly just spent lots of time play and relaxing. It was so fun. We did manage to go to a wildlife park and we got to hand feed the giraffes and pet stingrays!! Josie and Troop loved that. We went to the Mesa Temple and also did some Shopping! We ate tree riped oranges and examined the "Poky" plants. We had a great time. Josh and I even thought about moving there--but then we decided that we had better visit in the summer months when it is like 120 before we make that decision. hee hee
Thanks Mom and Dad we cannot wait to go again.


My only regret! WE didn't take hardly any pictures!! So sorry there were very few to choose from!!!
Josie wouldn't look at the camera when the giraffes where around so we tried to ask her about it later--this is what we got!


Here is the petting of the string rays Josie says that they were all waving to her.