Disneyland!

We had such a great time in California! Quincy's family and Naomi & Christy were with us!

Quincy and Mo have already emailed me their pictures, so I'll post them here. I'll try to get around to adding ours within the next few days.

When we travel we each buy a post card, and write on the back what we liked most about the trip.

We sat in the car on our way to the beach writing on our post cards while we were waiting for the gas tank to fill. (By the way... filling the gas tank was NOT Redge's favorite part of the trip.)

I handed Redge his post card, and he just sat looking at it, then he started laughing~ uncontrollably. I asked why he was laughing, and he answered, "There isn't enough room!" He proceeded to tell me EVERY single funny thing he and Quincy laughed about the entire trip. I love watching Quincy and Redge together. They are such good friends. That is a total blessing.

As for the kids, here's what they have to say...

Arthur, "We wit to diselind and mi faifthe was the sbas mawtin." This translates to, "We went to Disneyland, and my favorite was the Space Mountain." It's true. Our crazy Arthur rode Space Mountain at least 5 times!

Taite, "My favoite thing in Disneyland and California Adventure was the 2 water boat ones!"

Seth, "Some of my favorite rides are, Screamin' at California Adventure, Railroad, Indiana Jones, and Space Mountain at Disneyland."

Reece, "I went to Disneyland and California Adventure. I loved it! I had a boot so we rented a wheelchair. We got to go on the handicapped line. It was cool. the coolest was the Screamin' and Tower of Terror. I also like Splash Mountain and Matterhorn."

Century

Jeff was here recently here. He came to visit with Mike Dickinson, Linda Taylor's husband. Redge, Jeff, and Mike went to Tooele to compete in the Ghost Town Riders' 2008 Century Bike Race. (A century bike race is 100 miles.) Jeff is an avid bike rider, and rides almost daily. Redge also rides several times a week. Redge was a bit anxious about the race because it was his first century. He didn't need to be nervous. He and Jeff both finished! Their total distance was 103 miles! I'm so proud of them! They were both wiped when they got back to our house, but not too exhausted to be excited about realizing what they had accomplished! I'm so proud of them! Plus, it was so great for me to see my husband accomplish this, and have a great time doing it with my brother. Redge said, "I don't think I could have done it, or had as much fun if I had attempted it with anyone besides Jeff."

Update Regarding Reece's Foot

Reece’s cast was removed yesterday, however he was given a boot like Mom’s. He has to wear that for at least a week. He has to wear it at Disneyland and the beach. He can only have it off for sleeping and bathing. It looks like the bone calcified through the growth plate of one of his toes, so he may have one toe shorter than the others. The doctor told him he will have a promising career in the circus. Luckily, unlike the growth plates in his legs, which still show a large area for growth, his feet are almost completely full grown. He’s wearing a size 10, and the doctor doesn’t anticipate him growing beyond an 11. So, his toes won’t show much difference in size at all~ if any. The effected toe is the 4th toe, you know, the one that “has none.” In Reece’s case I guess it means it has “none height.” He’s a little bummed out, actually, the “little” is a complete understatement. He is so excited to go to the beach, but now he’s sad to have to wear the boot. I told him he can wear the boot in the water. I don’t care if it gets ruined. It’s worth it to me for him to have a good time with his cousins. Especially now that Caleb may join us! I told him if his foot starts bothering him while we’re at Disneyland/California Adventure we’ll just rent a wheelchair for the day. The good news is: the other 3 breaks have all healed nicely~ despite the fact that keeping him completely down for the past 5 weeks has been impossible. This is evident by the hole he created at the heal of his cast. When removing his cast the doctor found rolled up tinfoil, cotton balls, air soft bb’s, and sand. The doctor said he should be fine for football this Fall, but he is definitely out for soccer this Season.

Consealed Carrier's Permit

My class was postponed. I don't want to talk about it.

Jeffrey R. Gochoco

Jeff Gochoco came to visit! Jeff was my boss at the Q and at Red Rock Country Club. He's amazing! We all love him. He only stayed with us a couple of days, but it was so great to see him! We've known him for 13 years, and despite our relocation to Utah, and his back home to Pennsylvania, we've stayed in touch. Three years ago he began taking "The Discussions." Soon after that he was baptized. A Year later he received his endowments and spoke in Stake Conference~ all in the same weekend! His testimony is amazing! He's such a great person. He has been as long as I've known him. It was so great to have him in our home. Not to mention the fabulous thank you gift we received from him yesterday, a huge box from Honey Baked Ham full of what will be the very best Mother's Day Dinner EVER!!! I'm talking a ham and a turkey! Plus all the yummy extras! Thanks, Jeff! You're the best! We love you!

I Am Iron Man!

Over the past two weeks I have realized how much I rely on Reece. When in Vegas and swimming at Quincy's Reece broke his foot. While diving into the pool he kicked himself in the back of his left leg with his right foot, breaking his right foot in four places. He is in a cast from his toes to his knee! Poor guy~ using crutches for 6 weeks! He's so bored! I feel really badly for him! I'm also humbled by the increase in my amount of work since he has been down. He still does more than he should, but I have realized a little bit of all he does for me. I'm so grateful for him. He is such a good boy! He tries so hard. Every one of his teachers has told me, "Lyndee, you can't be so hard on him." My parents tell me the same thing. I love him so much, and I'm so proud of him! I'm so grateful to have him as a son. What a blessing!

"The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed"

The day has finally arrived, or nearly arrived! Saturday morning at 9 AM I will be sitting in Payson taking my Concealed Carrier's Permit Class! I can't tell you how exciting this is! Yes, I am a member of the NRA. I joined a couple of years ago. I called Redge at work, and said, "Congratulations! You are now a card carrying member of the NRA!" Although Redge supports our 2nd amendment he was a bit shocked at the news. Besides BB Guns and Air Soft Guns we don't own any firearms. In the words of Wayne, "I don't own a gun, let alone many which would necissitate an entire gun rack." However, we are looking into purchasing firearms. I want a pistol of some sort. I intend to buy a shoulder holster. But, there is something, oh I don't know, intriguing and attracting about purchasing a hip holster, and wearing my gun Marshall Dillon style. What do you think? Let me know of your votes regarding how I should wear my soon to be purchased, 2nd amendment supporting, Mariska Hargitay looking personal weapon!

Sleep

Sometimes I can't sleep. I just can't. I lay in bed trying to sleep, but it doesn't happen. I go through a couple of weeks of this, and then I'm okay for about a month. I'm in one of the non-sleeping periods right now. Friday Night I fell asleep at 2:30. Saturday Night I was awake until 5AM. Last night I finally slept at 2:00. However, at 5:15 I heard a quiet, little cry, and then Redge ask, "Are you scared?" I then heard Arthur answer something. I couldn't quite get what he said, but Redge did, and he repeated what he believed our boy to have said, "You were scared by a bear?" Relieved he was being understood he replied, "Yes." Then, with as much strength and volume he could find in his tiny, frightened body at 5AM, he said unmistakingly clear, "I got aten by a bear, and Daddy didn't even care!" Redge reached down to help Arthur climb into our bed, all the while assuring our boy of his love and concern for our youngest child. Arthur snuggled in with us, and whimpered as I whispered to him of his importance in our family. Arthur listened intently, and occassionally asked questions like, "Do bears live in this state?" "Can bears really come in our house?" "Mama, do bears know how to get to our house?" We created a bear attack plan which is: If a bear comes to our house and tries to get in we will lock the doors, and run to a bathroom with a cell phone to call the following people to come to our home and shoot the bear; 911, Brad Sneed, Tony Hansen, Brother Metcalf, Brother Dedrickson, Brother Judkins, Brother De Grey, Bishop Farrer, Brother Beratto, Brother Lee ("He has a bear gun AND a sword! Remember, Mama, he bringed it at pack meeting?), Grandpa Bird, Uncle Jeff, Uncle George, and Uncle Heath ("Because he has sharp machetes. Right, Mama?")

I was so grateful to learn that despite the fact that Arthur was afraid because of dream he had in which his Daddy could have saved him from pain, Arthur still knew to come to his Daddy for comfort. It made me think about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I; like everyone who has walked, will walk, and is now walking on this earth; have experienced pain, anguish, fear, etc. Every single time I experience adversity I find myself on my knees begging my Heavenly Father to spare me the pain. Sometimes He does, sometimes He doesn't. During the times He allows me to feel the pain I get to make the same decision Arthur did. "Do I lay here in my own bed being scared, or do I go to my Father (who could have prevented this pain in the first place) for comfort?

It's really humbing to learn such a cool lesson from my 5 year old. Especially when it's my job to teach him to go to our Savior. I love the scripture,

2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Everytime I fear I know I need to look to my Savior. I know I shouldn't fear. I know all is well. I know when I fear I need to look to the Lord, repent, and lean on my faith, testimony, and knowledge of the atonement because I have been promised,

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7, "7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

It's nice to know my kids are around to teach me.

Family History

Redge finally entered a post on his blog! I haven't read it, but I'm sure it's interesting, so I suggest you all take a look.

We got a new High Priest Group Leadership in our ward. Our neighbor, Brad, is the Top Dog. He's a great guy. His wife, Kristen, is my friend and visiting teaching companion. They have a great family! Their son, Caleb, is Seth's very good buddy. At any rate, Brother Baker is following the directives given by the First Presidency by encouraging us all to continue with family history and genealogy. Yes, Redge, there is a difference. Luckily for me, our Edwards Family Lines have the work of Little Granny (may she rest in peace~ but the fact of the matter is, she's not resting~ she doesn't know how), as well as the work of my uncles, and my amazing 2nd cousin, Jill! However, on Redge's side, "There is work enough to do!" Gratefully, Uncle Pag is hard at work trying to get McGuire stuff completed.

So, I am trying to motivate my kids to at least journal. So, if any of you have any great tips for getting kids to want to write in their journals~ or great tips regarding husbands' journals, please pass them this way. Or, if you run into any Hudson names, and you think it might be a family in Redge's line, please send that information TO REDGE!!!

Brynn

I have this great friend, Brynn. She's in our ward. She moved here about a year ago with her parents, brother, and sister. She is deaf, but I didn't know for months! I saw her hearing aid, but she communicates so I well I thought for sure she was just "hard of hearing." Nope, she's deaf. Without her hearing aid she hears nothing. She tries (and succeeds) reading lips, and she speaks really well. I sign for her during Sunday School and Relief Society because it is still difficult for her to hear, and it's hard for her to read lips from a distance. At any rate, my signing has gotten so much better because I get to sign for her on Sundays. I think she helps me a lot more than I help her. She is amazing. She spoke in Sacrament Meeting today, and my kids were absolutely mesmerized! She closed with signing, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," and I got from her that she does~ she really, truly does know that our Redeemer lives!