He Knows Who I Am....

Lee was having a conversation about this and that when someone asked him this question. When does divine intervention come into play? And if there is divine intervention then why do any righteous die at all by the hands of their enemies? If the Lord does not esteem, one flesh above another then why is one watched over and protected while another is not?...

My husbands answer:
I testify to you that I have been witness to divine intervention in my life countless times. Yet, when I have been in the heat of life's many terrible storms I have looked heavenward and asked, "Where are you?"
To my own shame I have found that the Lord has never left me, and I continue to strive to be worthy of the intervention I have witnessed by his hand in my life. I am truly blessed despite the challenges I have experienced in my life. In answer to your question in my own small way and perspective.

My wife and her sister were both victims of terrible sexual, mental and physical abuse almost from the day they were born. Abandoned by their father, their mother soon met another man who turned out to be a pedophile in the worst sense of the word. In essence, my wife's childhood was stolen from her by this monster, and her own mother knew about it and did nothing. Thus she was abandoned by both her parents due to poor choices made by both.
Now as terrible as that sounds, God was working in her life and she was protected nonetheless. After becoming a mother herself, at fifteen, she met and married her first husband who despite his own poor choices, after getting her pregnant was eventually baptized by him. She became a strong member and after 7 years of marriage gave birth to 5 more wonderful children before divorcing him due to many years of infidelity on his part.
Once again, how unfair, how cruel, that the man who introduced this beautiful spirit to the Lord's true gospel would he still choose to treat her in such a manner. However, her testimony remained strong and after a period of recovery, returned to her activity in the church with renewed intent to make it to the temple.

This is where I came into the picture,, more or less. Here was this woman with 6 children and I was lost in my own wanderings. Though I had been born in the covenant, I had fallen away as a teenager. It was her light that showed me the way, and when I was re-baptized I was given a small glimpse of her true spirit. This is what drove me to take her through the temple to be sealed to me, I couldn't help but believe there was something important about this task.
The day I took my wife to the temple was the day the Lord opened my eyes to all the troubles in this life. I was allowed to see my wife for who she really is. This language is insufficient to explain, but suffice it to say, when you hear the phrase, "I am a child of God" how many of us I wonder understand the true ramifications of this statement?

That day in the Lord's Temple my eyes were opened. I saw my new eternal companion's true essence. I was shown who she was before she came to earth, and who she will be when this life is over. She was so great and valiant, that she braved the terrible situation she knew she would be born into, because she knew the Lord would guide her back to his kingdom. What Faith!!!

My wife is my spiritual superior. I am awed that she accepted the gospel after what she has been through, and has stuck to it despite the betrayal of those who should have shown her love. Her monster of a step-father has never seen justice, he is still married to her mother and lives in society despite what he deserves. To this day I have not stepped foot in their home because I fear my actions to being around this man.

I testify that the trials of this life though hard as they may be will truly be seen as a thing of naught when we finish what is our own unique tests here on earth. The Lord put it best when he said these words to comfort our beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith druing a particularly trying time of being imprisoned for months unjustly...

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8
My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

This life is supposed to be hard. It is supposed to try us to our very core and we are expected to triumph, especially if we have been given the truth of the Lords gospel, and his saving ordinances. We are here to learn to have joy in a life of terrible trial...

Anita's Answer:

I decided to post this because sometimes I am so hard on myself and when my husband shared this with me, all I could do was cry. Not cry for that lost little girl, but because the Lord had worked in my life. I don't always see that I am staying strong and faithful I see myself as tired, weary, and giving in when things get hard. I see that there is someone who really knows me and knows my strengths and weaknesses, and still loves me the same. I am humbled to know that the Lord has seen fit to show my husband who I am and maybe one day I will see it too...

Our Beautiful Kids

We were sad that Liana and her family couldn't be here. And Christopher and Emily, they spent their first Christmas as husband and wife in Virginia. And of course Krysia, she was in Washington, we miss our kids so much and hope that they all had a wonderful Christmas.
Love you....

stylin' gifts from my sweetheart...

me and my new coat

how cute is that...I love green. Lee also got me that cute hat and scarf. Which I also love. My sweetheart suprised me this year with that, thats for sure. I feel so lucky to have a husband who loves to make me smile.
I love my new coat, thank you honey.

More Christmas...

Christmas Day

I was so happy that Juanita, Andrea, Eric and Alan made it here safely from Salt Lake. The snow continues to fall, and Kevin even got stuck, Lee, Kevin and Eric had to help push their car out of the snow, fun...
We had our traditional Christmas breakfast made by Lee, yummmm....I love the way he cooks our fresh eggs from the chicken coop. Then on to opening presents, my favorite, I like to see the expressions my family makes when they see what they got. What a surprise! I love it...
Lee got me a beautiful green coat, my favorite color and I don't mind saying I gave a little hint, hehehe
Tiffany and Kevin got me a lovely purple cashmere sweater, wow! What a nice surprise. I got books, Jane Austen Collection, Jane Austen Illustrated Treasury, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. I also got a lovely surprise by Eric, he got me a beautiful frame by Vera Wang, wow! I think I got some really wonderful gifts this year, and some quite unexpected. But my favorite gift was getting to talk to Christopher and having some of my family close by. It was so great to have Andrea home this year for Christmas.

I hope one day our family will be able to come together again, now that would be the best gift in the world to me.

Merry Christmas

I have been really lazy this year and decided not stress about getting those Christmas cards out I always wait for myself. So to those that were waiting for your card from the Waldon family here it is...

I think you all know how life has been for us if you check out our blogs and facebook. But for those who have yet to catch up with the age of technology, I am sorry...

Let's see where to begin, hummm. Our son Christopher got married to a wonderful girl, Emily Berg of Highland, Utah. We love her. They are living in Norfolk, Virginia while Christopher serves the Navy.
Andrea moved back to Utah and is living with her big sister Juanita in Salt Lake. We are so happy to have her close by.
Tiffany and Kevin moved into our little apartment for a while, till they can figure out what to do next. We just pray that it will be close by.
Krysia was in a car accident and has been dealng with pain and physical therapy. She sounds good and I hope that we get to see her soon, we love and miss her. I was so sad to find out that she would not be moving back home.
Liana and her family are still in Idaho, too far for this mom. The grandkids are growing up to fast. We can't believe that Damon is going to be 8 in May, oh my...
Juanita is continuing to try and focus on her talents more, she writes, paints and is an amazing photographer. She just got her Diploma, we couldn't be more happy for her, she worked so hard.
As for Lee and I, we have had to deal with more health issues but we are trying to rely more on our Father in Heaven. We know that these things happen for a reason.
I have been really trying not to get to stressed out about stuff, not an easy thing for me.

We hope that you all have a very Merry and Happy Christmas
From Lee and Anita Waldon

Oaklie and Snow don't mix...

finally starting to look like Christmas out there today. Though I don't mind the snow I can't say the same for our little baby, Oaklie. I put on her cute little sweater and off we headed to the backyard to play, but she would have nothing to do with the cold wet snow. She was shaking and shivering for me to pick her up. So I only got a couple cute pics with her in the snow. She is a little spoiled that way...

Pizza, pizza...

I love having Tiffany around. She loves to cook and is enjoying having a kitchen to work in. We were going through some magazines and we found a recipe for pizza, yeah.
We were off to the store to get our goodies for pizza...

We did a half/half pizza so we could use up some stuff we had in our fridge. Like barbeque chicken, olives, onions, feta cheese, and alfredo sauce, because Lee can't handle tomato sauce anymore. The pepperoni was turkey pepperoni, did not taste any different. It was so yummy and only took about 10 minutes to put together and another 20 to bake, yuuuuuuuummmmmmmm

Thank you Tiffany

Happy Birthday to Me!

I am still having a hard time believing that 42 years have gone by. And that I am still here, hehehe....

You know when I was little I used to think all the adults around me were old, oh boy I wonder what my grandkids think?

Can I Just Tell You...

...that at the ripe old age of 15 I became a mom, yes, I said 15. Not something I recommend by the way. I grew up in a family where love did not abound, and where abuse was rampant. But I like to think that I turned out for the better, most of the time that is, and that I am not a product of my upbringing. Life was not easy growing up, and I used to ask myself a lot of question, like, "where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Why did I get this family? Is there a God, and if so why would he put me through this? Just some of the questions I used to ask myself. I found those answers at age 16 when I was introduced to the church (that is a story for later). I have had to fight for a good life, a life without pain, and hurt, and not always achieving it.

At the age of 25 I got my GED. I know I didn't get to graduate with my class and walk up to the stand and recieve my diploma, but I did it and I can't tell you how it made me feel. My husband never pushed me, always supported and loved me just the way I am with or without it. Because it wasn't about him, or the fact that he was with someone who did not graduate high school or go to college. It was about me and what I wanted for myself. I knew if I did it for anybody but me it would be worth nothing. My effort would have been in vain. I wanted to finish school, I wanted to accomplish that for me, nobody else, I wanted to be a great many things...But the one thing I am not, is a quiter!

At age 36 I got my drivers licence, and that was no easy task for me. I have been in a total of 11, count them, 11 accidents...Yep that is not a typo you're reading, I said 11...
I won't go into detail, but to say that one of the last accidents I was in left me so emotionally traumatized that I would cry on the way to my doctors appointments, to the store, etc, etc. You get the picture...
Needless to say I was ready to conquer my fear, for it had overtaken me long enough. I signed up for a class, had a great instructor, was surrounded by kids who didn't care about safey or rules and laughed at the horrific videos of accidents they played for us. When it was time for me to learn to drive the freeway my instructor did not give me any warning, just gave me directions and I was off, and then I realized where he was leading me. I got so nervous and scared, I wanted to turn around, but he said to go and I did. There just happened to be a big rig in my way as I was merging and I have to tell you it took all my strength not to pull over and cry. Yep, cry, have had too many close calls with those things and I was afraid I was going to kill us. But I said a little prayer, "just get me home safe to my family please, and don't let me fall apart" The peace that overcame was instant and I got home in one piece and so did the other passengers that were with me that night. Once again, I did not drive for anyone but me. I made a commitment to myself and asked for the Lord's help in overcoming my fear, and there it is. ME DRIVING, YEAH!!!
It did not matter that it took me all this time to do it, what matters is that I did it. With the loving support of my husband,and my children.

At 40 I got on a boat, in the ocean! I am afraid of water. I can't swim. But I did it, yes I did. I loved it, it was so amazing. And I had the added pleasure of sharing that experience with my sister Cecelia who I love like no other. She is my best friend, my sister, and I love her for being there for me and helping me through that fear.

Why did I feel the need to write, to express these things. Because sometimes life isn't easy. Sometimes you have people pushing you to do things you aren't ready to face. People who want for you to succeed but don't allow you the room to do it yourself. Because sometimes you just have to say "stop, this is my life and I can do this, not for you, but for me, so let me do it and shut up" Thats all...

Thanksgiving

I am so grateful we were able to have our kids over, even if it was just for a couple of hours.
Just a few photos, rare for me...

I Am Humbled...

Sharing an email that was sent to me, I just couldn't keep it to myself. This is not a statement released by the church, but someones own experience in the Temple.

I am grateful to be a member of this church. I know it is true, I know that President Monson is a true prophet of God. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that He loves me. I know there is power in believing in righteousness. I took the photo above in December of 2005. It was a clear night, no mist, no fog, and no one really close by, as I took the photo I did not see the mist you see. But if you look closely you will see what appears to be an outline of an Angel. I believe there are Angels at the Temples and I believe that the following account attest to that. I bear you that this is my testimony that these things are true.
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen

My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:

My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you.

As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz - the new assistant Matron's - message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM (from sister Arnazzi)
be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the Saints, the Lord has protected His house." She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant.

After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started.

The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, Sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst - ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room.

Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease.

Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing..."

But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchtdorf of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: "The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks. One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the Mormons before said "I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!"

I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe." He has said, and also "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ.

Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.

Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

(Please share this appropriately)

Sky is 8!

Hard to believe that 8 years have gone by. Sky is such an amazing little boy. We love him so much. Here are a few of my favorite photos of Sky, enjoy...

My life of late...

You know ever since we moved in with Lee's parents a couple of years ago I have been ill. We moved in here to help Lee's family, and I feel Like a burden. I have felt pretty useless...
I first started with just a cold and the flu and since it was winter I didn't think much of it. But it kept hanging on, or I never really felt good. When I finally got to the doctor he said I had a viral infection and I was just going to have to ride it out. Well then I was hit with some other stuff, won't go into details here. But after a while my doctor ran some tests and said I was immune to Epstein Bar virus, but the thing about that he said was under stress those systems would present. Well, geez, I think for anybody who knows our family knows that we are a pretty stressful bunch. Soooo, I have been doing my best not to stress, easier said then done. And to top it off I have had to deal with pain from an old injury to my hip that causes me constant pain. I am begining to think our ward thinks I am inactive, I miss church so much. I have been dealing with the pain and going the past month, but it hurts, it hurts when I walk, it hurts when I sit, it hurts when I climb stairs, it hurts to go shopping,it even hurts to drive.

So for the past two years it has been one thing or another, and it is really frustrating to not feel in control of my body. And it has been really difficult to not give in to depression, really hard.
I think about Lee being in pain for years, and I mean years, since as long as we have been married. I am humbled by that knowledge. I am also very lucky to have a husband who is patient with me and my moods. Beacause I can get pretty cranky when I am in pain, and sometimes it can go on for days...agghh...

I am trying to endure, but it would be nice to have some releif, maybe if I knew why I was going through this right now I would be more understanding as it is I am just getting by.
I want to say to my family and friends, "I am sorry if I have been short with you, or if I haven't been by to visit, or if I have just plain forgotten about you, I am sorry. Know I love you and miss you all...

Trying to smile when I want to cry...really I am...

Remembering Tyler...

I know that this time of year is hard on my daughter. I can only imagine how difficult it is for Tyler's family. There is nothing I can do to ease my daughters pain. The love of her life is gone, and I know how much she misses him. I know how much they loved each other. I was able to take some beautiful photos of them, and I could see it in their eyes, the way they looked at each other as if I wasn't even there, I felt like I was spying on them. I hope you enjoy these photos, I will post more tomorrow.

We love you Tyler

Our Navy Man

We are so proud of him. And to all those who are serving this great and beautiful land we live in, we thank you...

Sharing an Experience Close to My Heart

Conversation about Mens Roles

I too have felt that the world has degraded the status of man to that of a bumbling baboon for quite some time now.

We are portrayed as boys with nothing more than more expensive toys and tossed aside as simple minded with only one thing on our minds.

Could it be that we are less simple and more single mined. We tend to focus on the task at hand whatever it may be. This is part of our psyche to help us get through the tough times of battle or the hum drum of everyday labors to support those we love.

I know this can be a touchy subject so I will not say too much. I just would ask anybody who may read this post to contemplate what is said, for there is truth in it based on a clear understanding of how un-simple the male of the species really is. We really are conscientious in our duties, especially to our families. We speak to languages, both the spoken word and the language of action, and it is that action which is most often un-noticed.

Wives, please watch your husband a little closer. Unless he is a truly selfish person, (And there are some out there.) just about everything a man does is done for the people he cares about. When we go fishing or hunting, we are honing skills intended to feed and sustain, the list can go on and on.

Now, to be fair, yes, there are men out there who have given the rest of us a bad name. All we ask is that we be judged individually on our own merits. We are not going to always feel a need to explain ourselves for in all honesty; we find it hard at times to justify our sense of duty. Please, be patient with the silent part of us and speak softly and you will get the answers you are looking for without the excuses we tend to give when put on the spot.


I apologize if anything I have said may have offended anybody. I have been married 16 years and I Love my Wife dearly. I would without hesitation give my life to keep her safe. I honor her Womanhood and the uniqueness that is her as I honor all good Women.


It is only when we can comprehend the true purpose of each, both male and female can we all begin to experience the harmony that God intends.


Because I felt so strongly about this post I asked my wife of 16 years to read it too because I wanted to know her feelings and opinion on the matter.
When she read it and then read my initial response she proceeded to pull out her journal from a couple of years ago and shared with me the following entries, and then asked me to share it with all of you…

Excerpts from my wife Anita’s Journal dated April 2006:

At about 3:00 am this morning our daughter asked Lee for a blessing. She was feeling very depressed about the loss of her husband about a year before.
She later shared with me the experience she had before, during and after she received this blessing. She said that she had been feeling a dark and heavy presence when she called us asking for a priesthood blessing. As she waited for us to come down stairs she saw the outline of a man and an incredible fear that dissipated the moment Lee and I came down the stairs.
Then she described a powerful experience while receiving her blessing. She described images of seeing her departed husband standing next to Lee while he spoke and could feel the Savior’s love as if he were hugging her. She said she felt the presence of angels and finally felt safe. In the blessing it was also said that our family was being hit hard by the adversary because we are becoming who we are meant to be. And that the Lord was aware of those struggles and is with us, with her…
She expressed to me how grateful she was to have a priesthood holder in her life. Sharing her experience with me touched my heart and I finally saw my husband through my daughter’s eyes. I felt the spirit testifying to me the truthfulness of her experience and the depth of her gratitude. I saw my husband in a completely different “LIGHT”.
This was powerful for me because we had been seeing a marriage counselor up to this point to resolve a lot of issues. This experience helped me to finally see my husband not for his imperfections or his shortcomings, but for who he is capable of becoming. I was able to see him for who he really is a, son of God, a holder of his Priesthood.
As a divorcee with 6 children I couldn’t believe he married me let alone took me to the temple. For years I struggled with the pain my former husband put me through being unfaithful and abusive. I had also been through abusive situations with my step-father and so put a lot of those mistakes on Lee’s shoulders. I couldn’t believe he might be capable of being better than they were, I was so afraid of being hurt again.
I cried as I told him how sorry I was for holding onto things and being so disrespectful in the things I had said and done to him in the past. I felt I had hurt him in unforgivable ways. To my surprise he held me as I cried being sorry for pain I had caused him, kissing me and saying how much he loved me and expressed forgiveness and apologized as well for his own mistakes. He held me close letting me cry and for the first time in our 14 years of marriage I felt peace with my husband.
…End Journal excerpt.

My wife also asked me to include the following comments…

As a woman I ask myself, “Why is this a touchy subject?” Could it be we have embraced too much the worldly notions of feminism? Do we need to belittle or demean the men in our lives in order to feel better about ourselves?
It is a sad day indeed when we have to question respecting the God given roles of Men, Husbands and Fathers. We are all children of a Father in Heaven, a being whom each man is capable of becoming like. We can help them become the greatest of who they really are.
The scriptures say we cannot have a fullness of joy without that most important of relationships, that of husband and wife. There is no room to waiver in this we cannot truly serve as daughters of God if we continue to embrace these worldly views.
The scriptures ask, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve….as for me and my family we will serve the Lord…” For me the choice is easy.
...End Comments

In the 2 years since her journal entry, though we are both far from perfect by any means, we have both come to know a greater peace in our relationship and our lives together because we have both strived to encourage and enhance each others unique qualities.
“ Battle of the sexes”, it never needs to be a battle if we can come to understand the unique roles we all play, both male and female. This is, I believe a very important precept our Father in heaven wants us to learn as husbands and wives, fathers and mother and yes, brothers and sisters.

Update: I still feel this way. Why do we feel the need to belittle men, fathers, husbands? I am far from perfect and yes, my husband and I still have our weak moments when we argue. But it does not change how we feel about each other, it does not change my respect for him. I love my husband very much and he is one spiritual man, hasn't always been, but he has grown a lot and so have I. This life would not be worth it if we didn't grow, if we stayed the same. There is no need for division in a family, in a marriage.

I love to see the temple

When I think of protesters at Temple Square or any other temple for that matter I think of those families that went to the temple that day to be married, to have children sealed to them, etc...
I think they started their day out thinking how wonderful and beautiful it is going to be, and then to walk into someones political agenda. My heart breaks for them,their special day will forever be marred by someone else's ugliness and hatred for their beliefs. Tell me how that is fair?
When will our right to believe in God and live up to those standards be cheered? That is the question I ask?...

No! Snow!...

I am so not ready for winter and this snow. I am not ready for my feet to get so cold my husband doesn't want me cuddling with him. I am not ready to be scraping the ice and snow off my car.
No, not ready for snow...

The Family Proclamation

A Proclamation to the World
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 102

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I think back to when my beautiful daughter placed her lovely children for adoption, and that they were sealed to their parents in the Holy Temple of the Lord for time and all eternity. I think of those two beautiful children being raised by a mother and a father to bring them up in this amazing world we live. A world where we have a living prophet who councels us. A world where we have the truth before us as Latter day Saints. I am so blessed to know that Sky and Solee are growing up in this faith and that their parents are faithful members. I know how much they love them. I know how much Juanita loves them for that as well. I love this church, I love the prophet, and I am so grateful to live in this time knowing that the Savior is coming soon. What an amazing time to be here...

Oaklie Got a Haircut!

We love it when Oaklie get a haircut, she on the the other paw does not. The girl that cut her hair said she was so cute, and a little on the squirmy side, but not too bad. When she got home she just couldn't sit still, running and jumping everywhere. Like she thought we dropped her off and and weren't coming back for her. Poor baby...

I couldn't help but take some photos, so I hope you enjoy our little baby. Some were hard to take, because everytime I went to take a pic, she turned her head, or jumped up on me to get closer to the camera, or like my kids, run the other direction...lol

Halloween from the past

This was Damon's real first Halloween, back in 2002. He made the cutest little bear. I loved halloween when we had children at home, with carmel apples, trick or treaters coming to the door, costumes, vampire teeth, witches hats, and angels wings...

Happy Halloween

Fall in Love...

I love Fall, I love the smell of a fire burning in the air. I love the scent of cinnamon in hot apple cider. I love the feel of crisp air around me. I love snuggling on our warm couch with a mug of hot chocolate with whip cream.
But my favorite is the colors of fall...the reds and oranges of the leaves, yellows, and embers, in the trees...love, love, love the fall...

Our Anniversary

Ok, it's not our Anniversary. But I did not have this blog set up then. I love these photo's of me and my honey. Can't believe that over 17 years have gone,(May 31, 1991). It was a very small and simple ceremony, we had our best friends there. It was sweet and simple, and pink was my color at the time.
In those years we have lived in three states, and about 14 homes, yikes, all those moves were so stressful on us, especially with six children.
Even harder to believe is that we have known each other since Lee was 13 years old! This guy married me knowing I had six children before he married me, wow, what a man...

The love of my life...