We MISS Those Days!

HAPPY FALL TO YOU...

From one pumpkin to another!!!!!
A woman was asked by a coworker,
“What is it like to be a Christian?”

The coworker replied,
“It is like being a pumpkin.
God picks you from the patch,
Brings you in and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.
Then He carves you a new smile face and
Puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

This was passed on to us by another pumpkin.
Now it’s your turn to pass it to other pumpkins.
We like this enough to send it to all the pumpkins in our patch.

Presesrving the Devine Institution of Marriage

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA

Where has the time gone???? Lisa started her birthday last week with each of her children waking up and first words out of their mouth, "Happy Birthday Mom". That night Dan took the family out to dinner, then this past Saturday she went out with the Clinger's who were also celebrating their birthdays, and again on Sunday we celebrated with the Merrill side.....happy birthday girl!

I had to go outside to finally get this shot of the family...all 15 of us enjoyed a "Mexican" style dinner which is what Lisa wanted. Carnell brought his hometeacher for dinner as well.
The next day Mel and Lisa went on a school field "trip" to the pumpkin farm while I took care of Chelsea. Before Lisa left Chelsea announced that "grandma and I are going on a trip". So after breakfast we went for a walk to Albertson. We first helped a little girl who was lost in the parking lot, then got some animal cookies for later. I told Chelsea she could pick any dessert she wanted to make for family night. She headed right for the brownies and said "chocolate". On the way back home we stopped at Longs for a new decoration for Halloween. Here is Chelsea after she finished making the brownies and they were in the oven. Another activity we did was paste some pictures in a little book and played a couple games. Thanks Chelsea for a great day and a very fun "trip".
We had received a call from Lisa Saturday saying the stove top did not work anymore. So, after helping Carnell with some things, dad started to work on the stove top. He found the problem right away and had it all repaired in just a few minutes....yea, dad! Saving us a tone of money. He cleaned it all up like new.These kids really do enjoy music.

Hey kids, remember the house on our street that had a tone of rose bushes all over the front yard? Well, this is what the yard looks like with the new owners....and the children have become some of Spencer's favorite friends.

THE DIVINE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE

A YES vote on Proposition 8 protects our freedom and the divine institution of marriage, which has been in existence since the world began with Adam and Eve. It is the no vote that is trying to change the meaning of marriage. Under California law, same sex couples that register as “domestic partners shall have the same rights, protection and benefits as married spouses” (Family Code 297.5). Proposition 8 will not change this…it just won’t be called marriage, and public school teachers would not have to tell children it is the same as marriage.

Voting NO takes away our freedom:
1. Public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage.
2. Churches may be sued over their tax exemption status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their own religious buildings.
3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and father.
4. Private school may be required to provide student housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine.
5. Free Speech will be taken away from church leaders & teachers who preach against same-sex marriages.
6. Litigation…the change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits against those who believe marriage should be between a man and a woman: photographers who refuse to photograph gay marriages, doctors who refuse to perform artificial insemination of gays even when given other willing doctors names; ministers who will not perform same sex marriages, and many more.

Marriage between a man and woman is a sacred institution put into existence by a loving Heavenly Father and is the corner stone of his great plan to bring children into this world. Please join us and many others in voting YES on Proposition 8 and keep traditional marriage safe.

Matt's Girls Break Dance

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General Conference Weekend

Joseph and Heather opened their home to us this past weekend to enjoy their family and also general conference. And a big thank you, Miranda for letting grandpa and I use your room for the four days. It started raining late Friday night and continued through Sunday. The sky was beautiful and they have several beautiful views from their home. These two pictures are from their front porch.

The Wii was a favorite in between sessions....they have it all.
At age four, Benjamin is already putting on the full armour of God. He is such a cutie!

Alyssa is full of fun and laughter. This is a shot of Alyssa and Meg having a "feet" fight which included lots of laughing. Megan is still playing the piano and has such a gift...you can feel the words as she plays.

Miranda and Allyssa both enjoy using the computer for their "Web-kinz", building houses, decorating rooms, planting gardens, etc. Lisa has another one she uses besides the Web-kinz" called "Handy Points" which helps her children with their chores. She will explain in one of these days on her blog. Daniel also enjoys computer games, but even more is his art...he loves to draw and is quite good.. Heather is an amazing cook and Joe is right in their with her. They make a good team and delicious food! Sure we must have gained some weight while we were there....afraid to get on the scales.

And yes, we finally met the famous Jason. A very nice young man as are his parents. Gerri and her family also came over to help celebrate Joe's birthday.

The hole gang was there Sunday to celebrate...Happy Birthday Joe!

Is Miranda trying to light the candle or set her dad's face on fire...you guess?

This is Sunday afternoon after the rain stopped and the sun came out...see the snow on top of the mountain? Beautiful scenery all around their property. The hills were also dressed in red, gold, brown...beautiful!

Primary Sacrament Meeting Program & other stuff

This is the banner that is on the wall where little Ashlyn attends Nursery each Sunday. We attended a Primary Sacrament Meeting Program where three of our grandchildren performed. After the sacrament, Christian, Brooke and Madison sang "I Will Follow God's Plan". Christian wanted to be sure everyone heard the words clearly as he pulled the microphone down lower...it was beautiful! [I sat there visualizing each of our grandchildren in their own primary programs in different parts of the USA]

Brooke talked about how Nephi loved the scriptures and taught them to others; and how we too will learn from them about Heavenly Father and Jesus. Christian said "Jesus Christ loves me". Madison wrote her own talk about temple blessings, how she is preparing now to go to the temple, about how grateful she is for her brother, sisters, dad, mom and grandparents. And how she looks forward to when her grandpa will perform her marriage by sealing her in the temple some day. Brooke also sang a song with her Primary Class in French.The next day was Monday and we spent most of the day cleaning and helping Carnell. In the afternoon and morning of the next day dad performed some little tasks Lisa wanted done around the house and yard. And the grandchildren and I were able to enjoy the SPA! No, he was not putting a hole in the wall...but hang a white board for her monthly calendar and bulletin board for all those papers that come home from school. The girls put on their 'dancing clothes' and music...they sure do love to dance and sing.Later the girls were busy painting their nails and grandpa thought maybe his hands needed some repair after working in the yard. Ooops...'NO grandpa'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Brooke, Chelsea, Marrianne

Chelsea, Marrianne and Brooke celebrated Sunday with family after church.
John barbequed for this special birthday celebration...mmmmm delicious! I think Brooke had more whip cream than she did ice cream.

Crazy kids!

E-mail and Build-A-Bear Fun

Each time I sit down to the computer I can hear that little voice "e-mail, nanna, e-mail". Ashley would climb up on my lap and then say "JibJab". E-mail means to look at each and every one of your blogs every day. She knows several of her cousins names. She loved the pictures of Becki on the "horse". When we went to Build-A-Bear the computer was very familiar to her.

Her baby doll needing a diaper change.
They do love their "Build A Bears"....Ashley & Annika seems to like MONKEY

Christa, Ben-jamin, Jenna and Christopher like bears best.

Ashlyn and Steven are next....then come the twins & Gavin.