Brandon in his Video Debut!

Several months back and 2 companions ago, Brandon (in the yellow shirt) made this video. A member of his branch added music and posted it on youtube, so I thought I would share it with all of you! It's pretty silly, but I guess even missionaries have to blow off steam somehow. We teased him that he had the "ballerina" moves goin on! Like I said before, it is so great to "see" my missionaries and the wonders of technology are fantastic. Even if the missionaries themselves are a little wacky.

Baptism for Brandon!

Brandon had his first baptism and was so excited to go back to his previous area to be there. They are a super family! This is what Brandon said in his e-mail "So this past Saturday I was asked by the Serrano's to baptize them! I was able to go back to Northville to perform that baptism and it was such a great experience. Yay! They are doing just so great. It was cool, it was bi-lingual service."

He also sent some other pictures and I have missed seeing his great graffiti pictures and his random style. (Lots of graffiti in the Detroit area!)He is a zone leader and just doing great and is lovin' his mission. He was serving with his companion from the MTC and had a fun time with him, he now has a new companion and had to take over all of the "zone leader stuff" as he put it. He made a video awhile back that a member put on youtube, so if one of you great girls out there can teach me how to add that to my blog I would greatly appreciate it. Videos are always good for a laugh, especially when you haven't seen someone in awhile! Sorry I said 'great' like 3 times, I guess it's just a GREAT day!

Jen's Earthquake

So Jennifer was in her first earthquake in Guatemala last week. She sent this video and it was hilarious. She is kind of hard to understand, I don't know if that is because she has her retainer in her mouth or she is trying to speak English with her retainer in her mouth! Anyway, you might have to listen real hard to understand her. I just love being able to see her! Obviously she survived and is scheduled to come home on June 24, I'll keep you posted as it gets closer. Fun times!

Anniversary - 28 Wonderful Years!

Today is our anniversary! Mark and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple on April 18, 1980. I was scared to death! It was really hard because my mom and dad couldn't be in the temple with me, but I was so glad to have my mother in law, June there with me. It was alot to take in at one time. But what a wonderful beginning. After we had been married for 3 months, we moved back to Salt Lake and rented a little furnished apartment just north of Trolley Square. It had 1 bedroom, was sparsely furnished, but it was perfect. We laugh now because the bed sunk in the middle and you couldn't help rolling to the center! That's one way to get to know each other!

It's hard to believe we have been blessed so much over our lifetime. We have 7 beautiful children, a son in law, a wonderful, adorable granddaughter: Sydney and more love than we can contain. Not to be too mushy, but I am so grateful for my sweet husband. I could not have asked for a more perfect eternal companion. He is my strength, my rock and I admire him so much. He does so much for us and is currently out of town on business. :( There have not been many years that he has not worked 2 jobs to provide for our family. I was able to stay home with the kids until we moved here and that was such a blessing.

So Honey, I love you to the moon and back and I am forever yours.
Happy Anniversary!

TAGGED!

So I am sooo slow at getting this done, but here are all the things you ever wanted (or not) to know about me!

TEN YEARS AGO.......I was getting packed up to move to Utah. We were trying to sell our house (it sold the day we packed the truck), finish repairs, saying good bye to my friends for the last 13 years. It was scary and exciting at the same time. We knew this is where we were supposed to be, but it was hard to leave and start over.

FIVE PLACES THAT I HAVE VISITED.........I have never been out of the US, but have been to 15 states, here's a few...Nashville, Tennessee in high school, yes I went to Graceland!(1979), Colorado (too many places to name, one of our favorite places), San Francisco, California (2003), one of our best trips ever, we screamed when we saw the ocean! I loved Muir Woods and the beach, even if it was cold! Seattle, Washington (1993) Mark sent me to visit my friend Carmen for 4 days, Nauvoo, Illinois (1986) we had three little girls then and went to all the church historic sights, someday I'd love to do that one again.

FIVE THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST........Finish putting my pictures in photo albums (forget scrap booking, I just want them organized!)... do my laundry, I have no excuse it's all mine, the boys do their own!... sweep up all the sheet rock mess in the basement... plant the 5 bags of bulbs I bought last week... finish the frames we are making for the Young Women's birthdays in our ward (we started them in January!)

I ENJOY..........Being home with my family, camping, reading, playing with Sydney, baking, watching American Idol, Heroes and Lost (when they're on!) , serving in Young Womens, going out with my hubby.

THREE BAD HABITS........neglecting other things to finish a good book...once I get started I can't stop! Okay! I stole that one from Marissa, but I am the queen of putting off to read, just ask my family!... I am terrible at keeping my bedroom clean, it seems to be the catch-all room...drinking Dr. Pepper, even if it is diet!


FIVE THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME......... 1)I am a "Meals On Wheels" volunteer 1 day a week, it feels good to give back to the community; 2) I collect heart shaped rocks, I have about 60 in every size, from 1/2 inch to 14 inches, people bring them to me from their trips. I have some from Hawaii, Tahiti, Michigan, every vacation we've ever taken! 3) I get my nails done every 2 weeks, I know it's an indulgence, but I'm hooked! 4) I read 1-2 books a week and have read every LDS novel ever written-okay not every one but almost, I read a little bit of everything, my favorites include the Twilight series and Garden Spells and The Fortune Quilt (not LDS novels) 5) My favorite movie is "A Walk To Remember" I have bought 2 of the soundtrack CDs because I wore out the first!

FIVE JOBS THAT I HAVE HAD.............Waitress at Stake and Ale, yes I wore the short skirt and peasant top!...Cashier at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor...Bank Teller at 3 different banks, including Vault Teller at the First Security Bank at Trolley Square...Ironing Lady, I took ironing in when the kids were little, I got really good and now I don't iron unless I absolutely have to!...And now Assistant Circulation Supervisor at Whitmore Library in Salt Lake City.

Well, there you have, that's me in a nutshell! I hope you weren't too bored!

So our basement bathroom is just about finished. We still have to put in shower doors, but we had the sink installed on Thursday. Isn't it beautiful! It is a concrete and and custom stained by Steve Schmid. It turned out exactly like we envisioned. I'm so glad it's done. Spencer and I spent the afternoon putting insulation up in the ceilings of Amber's and Preston's rooms and in the living room in the basement. Hopefully it will keep the noise level down and the energy bill down also. I have never been so itchy and hot in my life. But one more step done and that much closer to being finished. I'll keep you posted!