NO SUMMER VACATION---YET!!

Brynna is taking a summer PE class so that she doesn't have to take it during the school year. It started the Monday after the regular school year ended for the Summer. She attends Monday through Thursday for 4 hours each day. After school, she goes to babysit four little kids for a couple of hours. She is feeling like she really doesn't get a summer because of her busy schedule everyday. But one thing she does like----the money she is making from babysitting. She is looking forward to when she doesn't have to be up at 6:30 and she can sleep in just like James and Kae Lee. Your turn is coming Brynna!!! July isn't that far away!!

HUSBANDS MAKE SACRIFICES TOO

I was checking my email yesterday when I noticed an invitation to attend the rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's concert tour that night. I was so excited thinking that this was a great opportunity to see them perform all the songs they were doing on their tour back East. And better yet----it was FREE!!!! I have truly grown to love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and it is mostly because of a wonderful choir director we had in Alabama. Her name is Sarah Draughon and she was an amazing choir director. She helped me to gain a greater appreciation of this wonderful choir. I love watching and listening to MoTab---they are just so talented and they blend so well together.

I knew that Michael had much to do last night in preparation to go to Zion's Camp with James. I called him up and told him about the concert. He knew that it was something that I really wanted to do and plus--he knew that I had missed out on both of their Concerts last year. So, my wonderful husband cancelled everything just so that he could drive back to downtown Salt Lake and watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform--just because he loves me!!! I can not even say in words my thoughts and feelings of the concert----it was just amazing!!! I cried through so many of their songs. They sang so many of my favorites---I think it was mostly the Lord's Tender Mercies for me: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Homeward Bound, Climb Every Mountain and so on. They are an amazing choir and the spirit was so strong and I was just so thankful that I could be a part of it. Thanks Michael for making those sacrifices for me----I love you!!!

I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE!!!

Our family planned a trip to the new temple at Daybreak---who can spell the name of it? It was a cloudy rainy day but we didn't let the weather stop us. We have so few days and nights that we are all together especially with James' work schedule, my meetings, Michael's meetings, and other church activities that we decided that this was the day to go. What a beautiful temple it is. We felt such a beautiful and peaceful spirit once we entered the doors. I was surprised at how small it seemed once we were inside, all the endowment rooms were quite small but very beautiful. Then we entered the Celestial Room and wow----you can just feel the spirit so strong. Brynna was crying and felt such a peaceful feeling in there. We went into a Sealing Room where a sweet couple explained what took place in this beautiful room. I couldn't help but feel so thankful that we are sealed together as a family. Everyone left the room but we stood together as a family and looked at the huge mirrors placed there to see how your family just goes on and on--a Celestial moment for us---what a great blessing the Temple is to us. I love my family and I am forever grateful that I have the Gospel in my life. I couldn't bear the thoughts of eternity without them. Heaven to me is having no empty chairs.

GRADUATIONS HAVE BEGUN!!!

It was James' Seminary Graduation last night. Michael's parents came up to have dinner with us and attend the graduation with us. It was a very nice evening with Michael's parents and our own children.

It was a very nice program and there were some great things said to the graduating students. They were admonished to keep going, don't stop now that you have finished Seminary--continue on and take institute--be involved.

So much emotion involved with having your children grow up----move on. It is a very difficult thing for me. I know that James is feeling a little bit of the emotion of all of this, too. I think that he is realizing that in a few months, he is going to be all on his own and there won't be a mom or dad to tell him what to do.

I think that he will do well. He is strong in his testimony and he is obedient. Seminary has been a great tool for him to learn more about the Gospel and learn how to recognize the Spirit. He has had amazing teachers--one of them including his own Dad. It has been a great experience for him to have had both Early Morning Seminary and Release Time at school. Now he appreciates what a great sacrifice it is for the youth who have Early Morning Seminary to make it to Seminary every day!!!! Someday he might be a Seminary teacher---it would be a great calling for him. I hope that he will continue to nourish his testimony through prayer and scripture study everyday.