Nieces and Nephews!

Last year I posted about my "Nieces and Nephews" night over Easter weekend. I know this is way late, but we had a great time again, so I thought I would put up a few pics. (and some others that weren't from that night, just because they are so dang cute) Here are their finished Easter Eggs



And here what was supposed to be their instructional video of how to make their special "dinosaur" eggs (and a little about whose are whose in less than a minute)




And here are some other pics just of them all being cute:

"The Boys" are getting so big:

Shelby loves "playing" with the younger girls:

This last one is our little "Princess Abby"!

8th grade grad!

Last night our Spectacular Shelby graduated from the 8th grade. The school she has attended for the last 4 years, Channing Hall, ends at the 8th Grade, so it was her last hurrah. It is a very small school, so they only had 70 kids in the entire 8th grade, and over the years the kids have become a tight knit family.
Here she is with some of her closest friends:

It was an epic night, including Shelby's friend "Santa" walking up to the podium when the Principal and Vice Principal had turned their backs and giving his own (not school approved) graduation speech, and Nick and Nathan, some of her best friends who were twins, switching places to take each others diplomas. (They also got past the Principal and Vice Principal but were busted by the history teacher and had to go back and get the right ones)

Here is a picture of Shelby and her Amazing Parents! (hehe)

They also made a DVD and showed it at the graduation of all the kids' baby pictures and then 8th grade memory pictures, it was really fun. Each kid was cheered as their pictures were shown, and it melted my heart when Ezra, who is mentally challenged, got the biggest cheer, and they yelled "Ezra, Ezra, Ezra"

It also means that she is officially a High School student next year. Which, in E.J.'s words "Stinks for you, because now your grades count" (except I edited that first word). I am so proud of the young woman that she is becoming, and I know that she will continue to be SPECTACULAR SHELBY as she starts this new part of her life. LOVE YOU SWEETIE!

Here she is receiving her diploma!

Milestones

I think I am getting more and more nostalgic in my old age.

At 7:12 this morning, on my way home from taking my boys to school, I looked down at my dash board of my Suburban and this is what I saw:

And I said to myself "Self, this is momentous occasion, like a birthday, or an anniversary... I must acknowledge it, maybe even have some kind of party"

Then, when I went to take my girls to school at 7:42, just as I got ready to pull onto State Street, my sub turned 100000 miles.

I think I will treat it to a car wash and vacuuming, and maybe a new air freshener. It takes me, my kids, and pretty much all the other kids/teens who live within a 2 block radius everywhere, it deserves no less.

Actually I should probably take it to Dr. John for a diagnostic/check up... at what mileage is a annual check-up recommended?

P.S. The Sub did have it's first "fender-bender" a couple of days ago, when Troy rammed it into E.J.'s blue Ford Taurus-Boat that is perma-parked in the driveway. Luckily, the sub is bigger, and built better, so the damage was limited to the Taurus.

BYU Walk of Life!

Our family participates in the BYU "Walk of Life" every January. They hand out candles and march across campus and remember the work of life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sometimes it's really really cold, but this year wasn't too bad. This year they lit just two candles and then the light spread as each person turned to light someone else's candle. It was beautiful and touching, I love the idea of spreading the light.

It reminded me of a song I used to sing my kids as a lullaby.

"Pass it on"

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around will warm up to it's glowing.
That's how it is with God's Love, once you've experienced it
You spread His love, to everyone, you want to pass it on.

I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I've found.
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountain tops, I want the world to know,
The Lord of Love, has so blessed me, I want to pass it on.

The Lord of Love, has so blessed me, I want to pass it on!

Anyway, it was a great night! Here's a picture of the family just before we started walking...

Sariah and Shelby were spotted by a reporter from the Deseret News who wanted to interview them, and they asked why we do the march every year. I told her that it is a celebration of those who came before us, that because of them we are able to be a family. Not a huge deal, but here is a link to the article if you want to check it out.... Desnewsarticle

The Story of The Valentines Tree

Once upon a time last night there was a Mother named Heather who was in charge of the "Activity" for family home evening. She decided that they could play a quick game and then take down the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations that were still out even though it was already January the 11th.

But when it came time for the activity, and the beautiful mother told her children that they would take down the tree all three of her darling teenagers cried "No, please don't take the tree down...we like the light it makes!" And her youngest child said "yes, please please please leave it there!"

The dashing father of the family had a great idea.... he said "Why don't we just leave it up and call it a Valentines Tree?"

Mother didn't know if she liked the idea because the tree was taking up space and they lived in a very tiny house. (plus she suspected that the real reason father wanted to leave it up was because the boxes would have to be gotten from the garage)

Her good and sweet children cried "Please mom, please can we have a Valentines Tree?" And so she finally gave her consent. (She had also realized that it might be fun if "Cupid" left presents under the tree for the family on Valentines Day - but was careful not to mention this to father)

So all but the red and Silver Christmas ornaments were removed from the tree, and hearts were cut from red paper. The tree was re-decorated for Valentines' and Mother went to sleep dreaming of what could be shopped for.

The End.

Our Valentines Tree:

My turn!!

Okay, it has been way to long since my wife has updated our blog! Not that I am really into blogging, but if you start it then keep it going! No offense Honey, I really hope I don't get in trouble for making that comment!!

Our life has been pretty busy since I last look at it, with me and my crazy schedule and my darling wife supporting me! I have looked back over this year and I owe my wife a lot for supporting me! To all the women that will read my first BLOG, I want to personally THANK YOU on your husband's behalf! If he has thanked you then great, if not he is still working on it! Let me tell you WHY I want to thank you! If has to be hard to stay home with your kids or to just support your husband in all that we do in one day. Not to mention what we do during the week! You are the glue that keeps your family together, because your husband is somewhere doing service, at a meeting, coaching someone's else's kids or just working late! I just want you to know that even if you don't get that thanks at the end of the night before he falls asleep, is very happy to have you as the love of his life! So try and be loving and patient with us, just as you are with the kids. There is hope that we get better at showing you our love and appreciation for all that you do as Hero Support!!

To the best wife I have ever had, Heather, thank you for the bottom of my heart for all that you do for me and our family!

Now to Blog!
We have recently be accepted to be in the cast of Hill Cumorah Pageant "America's Witness of Christ" in Palmyra, NY this summer! We will be gone for 3 weeks in July to be apart of this amazing experience. The pageant runs on July 9, 10, and 13-17! So if you are in the area during July, stop in and see us. We get to experience one of the world's great outdoor theatrical productions. In July, we will do seven evening performances presented on the beautiful Cumorah hillside next to the Visitors' Center. A beautiful story on an enormous 10 level stage, twelve-tower lighting, state-of-the-art sound system, Hollywood special effects, and a costumed cast of over 650 provide a truly spectacular show.(Okay I pasted that in so it would look cool, so here is the link if you want to see more: http://www.hillcumorah.org/Pageant/)

I owe this all to my wife, she took the bull by the horn and made me and my Bishop sign the application! She sent the application in and we we are now headed to Palmyra, NY for the summer. The family is excited and can't wait to get there and be apart of this great pageant and see our old friends again. Well I think I am finished with all of my small talk for now, this was fun! I may do this again soon, as they say in the movies.....THE END!

Mr. Eddie Gist

A genetic roll of the dice...

I have spent this morning considering how lucky I am that my kids are healthy and happy.
Actually, I don't just feel lucky, I feel incredibly blessed. The economy is struggling, and our business has been hit hard, life is hectic and stressful all the way around. But we have each other, we have love, our kids are healthy, and we have peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All this was brought on because I have been e-mailing and chatting with Eddie's cousin-in-law Michelle, who I think is an amazing woman. Two of her kids have a devastating genetic illness called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Their story was featured yesterday on a blog called Journey for Jess... you can visit it here: Journey for Jess: The Gist's Story. I just bawled reading it. I can't imagine going through the trials that they are facing. You can also read about "Jess" here: The Jess Marie Beecher story.

In her memory, Jess's parents are working to bring about awareness of seizure disorders. I don't have much, but I am determined to make a small donation to try to help. If you feel like you can donate anything, I am sure they would appreciate it. But more than that, I would appreciate it if you can please keep our "Gist Cousins" in your prayers.