On the mind

I've been thinking and praying a lot for this one particular family from the last ward Abe and I were in. I've been thinking what can I do to help! She and her husband had five fabulous kids. They were so involved in the Ward and in the community.

Last Tuesday the Mom was moving the family van under the carport when she accidentally struck her two-year old daughter. 2-year-old Akayla followed her Mom outside unnoticed. Akayla didn't survive the accident.

I saw the news story on KSL that night, Jan 18 and thought that that family had to be in our Stake. Then this past Monday I found out that it was a family that Abe and I knew in our previous Ward and they are in fact still in our Stake. It really hits you hard when something tragic like this happens to someone you know, have had conversations with and have heard them bare their testimony about the gospel on several occasions. These kinds of accidents could happen to any of us at any time.

Please help! The family is in need of funds to help with funeral costs and other expenses related to the tragedy. http://akaylasfamily.blogspot.com/


The news stories:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=14055644
http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-toddler-2-run-over-in-driveway,0,697239.story

The obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=akayla-ferguson&pid=147982174&fhid=11609

Nieces

I was going through some pics tonight and found these pics of our nieces from our wedding 2 and a half years ago. The girls are so young in these pics. Aren't they the cutest things in the whole world!! Then again I am their Auntie and am totally biased. In fact, my sister-in-law is pregnant right now and i'm so excited to be an aunt once again!!

Visitors... eight to be precise

This past Sunday our neighborhood got EIGHT furry visitors. I was driving home from Church meetings when I found the deer. I never thought that we would see deer in our neck of the woods because we literally live in the middle of the valley. However, I saw eight deer hanging around Tai Pan and then four or five of the eight ran right across the street while these deer hung around Tai Pan. I nearly missed the dang deer that darted across the road. They must have been coming down far into the valley to get some of the good stuff... GRASS.

Tis the season to be grateful

I love the holiday's because I feel like I am constantly surrounded by reminders of the things that matter most. Such as ... family, friends, good neighbors, Ward friends, co-workers and the Savior. When I get in the elevator at work and head up to the 22nd floor I love seeing the thoughts that are posted on the walls. Right now they are ALL centered around CHRISTMAS.

One says: "The Christmas season, with its special meaning, inevitably prompts a tear and inspires a renewed commitment to God."
President Thomas S. Monson

While another says: "Three days of light without darkness was the sign God gave to the descendants of Lehi, heralding the birth of His Son."
President Henry B. Eyring

How grateful I am for this time of year!
I am especially grateful because come January I will be going to full time employment at the LDS Church which is where I currently work. I love my job in the Audiovisual Department and will remain there when the new position begins in January. I will maintain my current duties and will be adding some new ones as well. After searching for full time employment for over a year now (b/c I was laid off last November) I can say I am so happy to be where I am now! Many times I felt discouraged about the job situation and MANY many MANY times I referred myself back to President Uchdtorf's talk "Continue in Patience." In fact that is what life is all about waiting and while doing so using patience.

Making the list

Abe and I have been discussing Christmas gifts.

(P.s. we had a great Thanksgiving real busy and real great. I'll blog about it later.)

Now for Christmas.

The tree is FINALLY up and it appears that no lights will be adorning our Home this year. It's too cold now and last year I hung the lights. That's right me ... a girl! And I don't feel up to it this year and Abe doesn't seem to want to go out in the cold and do it either.

So, onto the gifts. Last night we were talking about things we really need. This is what I want ... I would even call it a need ... I sure need to make room on my kitchen shelves if I actually get the gifts I want.

A new Crockpot ... with a timer on it. I love the one that my fabulous family gave us as a wedding gift but I need one with a timer so my food won't cook longer than it needs to while i'm away at work.

Next up a pressure cooker.

But what size to get? Six quart, eight quart, 12 quart... I need to do some more research. But I can't wait to start pressure cooking. In the meantime, I am borrowing my mother-in-law's.

I hope Santa sees my list!!

Better late than never

Two days until Thanksgiving and I have yet to post Halloween 2010 pics. SO here we go!

This year Marie and Ryan hosted the High School friend Halloween Party. We had a great time playing games and eating some good grub.
Of course it was a COSTUME party. Abe is my prisoner and I am his police officer.
I loved Katie's outfit and that we sort of kind of matched. Besides the fact she was a "male" police officer... with a baby bump?? So great!
All of us posing for the camera.Then it was off to Farmington for the annual Parker family Halloween Party. Abe loved holding Simon the python. As for me i'm not a real fan of snakes... especially the way they feel so I passed on holding the slithery guy.
We also got to see Simon eat his dinner. It sure made for a rather interesting Halloween Party. Here he is finishing the rat off.
Then we had some of Abe's friends from High School and their wives over to our place for some Halloween fun.
And yes costumes were a must!
On Halloween Eve my niece had her fifth birthday party. It was a princess party and my Mom wanted me to dress up as Belle and to see if my friend Allison (who dresses up as Cinderalla for kid's birthday parties) could come. Sadly, Allison couldn't come because of her work schedule! Maybe next year we can be a duo. I loved dressing up as Belle. It was real fun and the little girls loved it. We played games, ate yummy food, did a craft and opened presents.
I do love how my Belle costume turned out. I think Allison and I need to go into business together attending Princess Birthday parties. Belle and Cinderella make the perfect princess pair.

Trip down South

It seems I forgot to write about the trip Abe and I took with my family down to Lake Powell. As they say in the blogging world.. better late than never!!
We headed down the end of September/beginning of October. Just in time for some Fall boating before it got too cold. The water was chilly for Lake Powell but it was a fun vacation and we didn't deal with the crowds that are usually around in the Summer time. We even got to celebrate my sister Heather's 30th Birthday on the Lake. We haven't gone on a Young vacation for a while so it was a much needed family trip.

We stayed in Page, AZ and one of the days we went to explore Antelope Canyon.
This pic is of Nicole (my niece) and me waiting for the truck to take us to Antelope Canyon.
Aboard the truck with my parents.
The "heart" of the canyon
We spent much of the afternoon exploring Antelope Canyon. It's located on an Indian Reservation so you can only see it by taking a tour. What I learned on our tour: that many of the professional pictures taken of Lake Powell come from this very canyon.
The next two days we spent on the lake... exploring, tubing, skiing, wakeboarding and just relaxing!Eating plums off of Grandma Gough's tree.

Abe trying out the double ski for old time sake
My sisters and niece Cooling off!
While the water had cooled off a bit the air temp was still in the 90's.
Like I said we celebrated Heather turning the big 3-0 at the local Mexican Restaurant in Page. It was actually real good!
We did some exploring. Here we are heading up Sheep Canyon. It's definitely one of my favorite things to do at Lake Powell.
Laura was sure a trooper trying to get up on the double ski.
Nicole sure loves tubing. She discovered it at East Canyon and she took turns with most of us.
Abe doing a little wakeboarding.
Me slaloming.
My mom getting ready to ski.
My Mom's still got it!! She sure showed up my sisters. Maybe next year Heather and Laura will get up on either the ski or wakeboard.
And of course we made a stop to Dangling Rope for Ice Cream
Yep, while we there Abe had to surf the tire.
We had a fun Young family vacation. Hopefully it won't be too long until we get to go down to Lake Powell again. I sure do love love LOVE that place.