all around, a great day

Today we dropped Aubrey off at the MTC. It was the day we have waited for since January 4. It was time to get this thing going!!
I started a blog for my missionary girl and posted pictures of her day on that blog.

Here are a few pictures of how I calmed down from a first kinda nervous, excited, sad, happy and monumental day.

Tender mercies

Saturday Aubrey and I set out early to get food and items. Our first stop we saw Brother Packer from our Lehi ward. We talked about the mission and he wished her well. I started having nagging thoughts about how we should be having the farewell with people that know and love Aubrey, people that have seen her grow up. I was kinda bummed about that. But then some angels got to work and we ended up running into many Lehi loved ones. We saw Sister Ball, Pres and Sister Raines, and one of Aubs HS buds (pictured) then later some more Raines. I think a few more. Awesome!! How often does that happen in one day? It did my heart so !good! to see familiar faces while AJ and I ran around. Familiar! As in family. Tonight the bishop and stake president came over to set Aubrey apart. I partially wished it was Bishop Bailey and Pres Raines. I still long for our Lehi family.
Our current ward and stake are great though and maybe it is the right time for us to be here. I have to believe that. I gotta. Pres. Anderson and bishop Johnson are great and so kind to us.
Being surrounded by so many loving kind people of God is a huge tender mercy.

A new yummy treat

A new friend in my Highland ward told me about a new little snack. The basic ideas is to put about 1/2 c of the frozen berries in a cereal bowl and defrost in the microwave. When it is warm-ish pour on 1-2 tablespoons of the French vanilla creamer. All amounts are really as much as you want, and you can even keep the berries frozen if you want, and you can use any kind of fruit too. Its pretty yummy. It was Ginas idea, but now it's Connie's. ;)

The new water fun

Today the water feature really took shape. The water even flowed for a little while. I was so excited when I heard the water. Dave is going to really be stoked. The water was about 8 inches deep when I saw it but I was told they still had to put more rocks in to cover the liner. The finished depth will only be about 3 inches.

Looking south

Let the water flow

what we have been up to

We are in the heat of May. Don’t worry, it’s not literally hot—Its barely even warm actually. We are in the heat of the end of the school year, and the ever hovering question as to how the grades will pan out. Joseph got a new job that he is training for 7 hours a day for the next 2 weeks! I hardly see him. Kimmie is busy with school, (she graduates in August) Kneaders, and an internship she has with a physical therapist office near our home. Dave is going to be out of town much of the month, and we are of course closing in on the missionary preparation. Oddly, the bishopric hasn’t mentioned a farewell talk for Aubrey yet. I’m not sure what to do about it. We are new here…. It’s not my place….. 8)
We are also fulfilling a commitment on one of the negotiation points of moving to this home. A part of the lot was kind of wilderness area, and not really usable. The boys wanted a place for the trampoline, and we told them we could clear out the wilderness area to give our yard some romping space. We have a few machines out there and the work is progressing even though there is a lot of rain. There was a water feature started out in the yard, which we are going to fully finish and hopefully not regret 
It will be beautiful. I always thought the previous owner, Laurie did a great job with her choices on the plants in the yard. But this spring there is a lot of maintenance that needs to be done. I’m not a plant person. I am not a sun person, and I’m not a mud, bugs, or grime person. But, David is out of town, so I am tackling it myself. Thankfully Aubrey is more than happy to help and she is brilliant. (I do get a little aggression out with the clippers its true) I fear that because I’ve done it once, the job will now be mine……. Oh please no. So here’s a few pictures of my work. I really should have taken before pictures, but please know it was a nightmare before Aub and I took care of it!

A sister missionary shower

Last week my family, my big family honored Aubrey with the very first ever Sister Missionary Shower. We have had several Shirt and Tie parties for the Elders leaving from our family, but AJ is the first Sister representing us. It was such a fun time with yummy food and plenty of Sister Missionary type gifts. Here’s a few pictures for ya.

Once again, a gentle lesson from a stranger.

I'm not sure its appropriate that I write these thoughts.  They have been heavily on my mind, and my heart.  Just the other day there was a recent happening in our community that has been fore front in my mind.  Several loved ones are closer to the situation than me certainly, but as any human being, the compassion I feel is deep.  This was pasted on facebook, so I don't feel like I am breaching any privacy in posting it here. 

As many of you know Wendy passed away Saturday night April 30, 2011. There have been many questions asked about the details of her passing. Instead of having Denny recount the events over and over again the details are being posting here on Wendy’s facebook page and soon on their family blog @ dennyandwendy.blogspot.com.


Saturday started as a normal day. Wendy and her family had fun attending Dallin’s soccer game in the morning, she played with her family all day, and ended the day with a fun church activity. After putting the kids down for the night Wendy and Denny laid in bed together and watched some television and talked excitedly about their future plans with Denny’s recent acceptance into medical school. Around 9:30 pm Wendy complained about lower back pain. She got out of bed and started pacing the room to try and relieve the pain when she told Denny that something was seriously wrong and then she collapsed to the ground. Denny immediately jumped to her aid. Wendy wasn’t breathing so Denny started CPR and chest compressions and continued until the paramedics arrived. Wendy was transported by ambulance to American Fork hospital where they performed an emergency C-section to try and save her baby girl. Wendy was pronounced dead shortly after they took the baby. The baby, Maylee Wendy Mack, was in critical condition and was flown to the NICU at IMC in Murray. Little Maylee continued on life support until early Monday morning where after a beautiful blessing given to her by her father the breathing tubes were removed and she quietly and peacefully slipped away to be with her mother.


Our hearts are broken with the loss of these two precious lives.


Wendy is survived by her husband Denny and their three children; Dallin (6), Kenna (4), and Evan (2).


There is nothing more important to Wendy than family and at this time her little family needs your help. Due to Wendy being born with a heart condition a life insurance policy on Wendy was out of reach for this young family. Medical bills are sure to come on top of the normal day to day expenses. We can provide a little relief for Denny and the kids by donating financial assistance giving them time together to heal without a stress that daily life brings. A memorial fund has been set up at Wells Fargo under the name “Wendy Kimball Mack Memorial”. Please take the time to donate at your nearest Wells Fargo Branch. You can also make a donation through paypal.com @ account "hoverlover75@yahoo.com" which is Denny’s brother’s account and then all donations will be transferred from there into the memorial fund. No donation is too small!


You are very loved Wendy and little Maylee! You will be deeply missed!

I didn't know this family at all, yet sweet Wendy is teaching me.  She's teaching me and reminding me the truth, and of my gratitude, for forever families.  She's teaching me that my "worries of the day" are so livable and doable.  She's teaching me to build my faith on the rock of my Savior so that when the dark clouds crash and and the storms descend, I can be reassured of eternal peace and a loving God.  And though all may seem hopeless there is a bigger plan and a wiser purpose for things that happen here on earth. 

David may be committed to giving a presentation in Canada on the 25th, (the day we were supposed to go to Disneyland j/k) water came out Jacobs electrical outlet last night when I was taking a bath (?!),
grades from LHS are a little worrisome,
we cant get our family together for family pictures before the mission,
life is full of inconveniences and problems---- 
but they are so okay, so livable. 

My life is beautiful, full of beautiful and loving people.  Things are wonderful.  Thank you Wendy for reminding me.  I pray for the peace of your husband and your parents and your big family.  My heart is heavy for them.

Day whatever 19? 20? Whatever

A favorite memory. Yep our engagement photo!! Love love love it. Davies brother in law took our pictures for us at Bridal Veil Falls in June or July 1983. On that afternoon he accidentally dropped his lens cap in the little pond where he was standing on rocks to get a nice shot of us. He told us it had fallen and the water was kind of swirling and moving. He reached down to to see if he could find it and he pulled it right up- cool miracle. But that isn't the best memory part, just a fun little memory. The best part is how happy I was to e engaged to my good husband!
What! A! Catch!!
This last weekend I saw lots of tv coverage of a royal wedding. The bride was beautiful, her dress was gorgeous and classic, her wedding guests were plentiful and famous, her chapel was traditional and majestic and her groom would one day be a king of their country. But, sorry Kate, I really took the prize when I got married. My dress cost 100.00 and it was sewn by my loving mother. My wedding guests all really cared about me and my David and our eternal union. my "chapel" was built by pioneer forefathers and was and is very sacred. My groom will someday be king of a celestial country, and his vows with me were also with God, and David will be honorable to all those vows.
What an amazing blessing and memory!

Look what came in the mail

So! We are inside the one month mark on the countdown to the big MTC date. It's hitting both Aubrey and I. Part of me is so ready for her to get on her way! Get to that mission experience! But part of me is kinda faltering. I've been reading other missionary's blogs that are serving in AJs mission, and they refer to all the rain there--- and it's now May--- and old memories of the past creep in.
It's a test I tell you. I've already decided to give this heartache to God, but I have to keep reminding myself.
So! We are checking off things on the list and almost ready!! It really is exciting. I realized this month that I now enter into the Missionary Mom phase of my life. I've seen sisters and friends do this over and over and now it's my turn to be string and faithful and 100% whole wheat! This is my goal. I'll try to wither my sniveling over sensitive inexperienced part of my self away--- hope I get to go to Disneyland