Our Journey to Forever - Private: January 2017

Sunday, January 08, 2017

January 2016

I was trying to figure out how to load my pictures off of my phone and onto the computer. Different operating systems and programs have changed the process. While I was working on it, I came across all my old pictures and decided to go back and make some collages. Here are the ones I have done so far. They are from a year ago. It's amazing to see how different life was. We are happy where we are but we miss our life in Alaska every day.

This first picture is actually from our visit to Utah We started 2016 visiting family. We had come for Ammon's ordination which also happened to fall over Christmas break. We went to Leatherby's for our final family activity of our vacation. A new Draper location had opened while we lived in Alaska so we decided to try it out. We felt like the line moved way slower and we regretted not sticking with the tried and true Taylorsville location. Now that we live in Taylorsville, we'll stick with our classic Leatherby's experience.

Traveling in and out of Craig could be a beast. Andrew and Ammon had to get back sooner for school and work obligations, but Peter, Laurie and I waited in Utah a bit longer for the cheaper tickets. We flew from Salt Lake to Seattle where we got on a connecting flight to Ketchikan. Then we had to spend the night in Ketchikan. We stayed at the Landing.

On our way home from Utah we stayed the night in Ketchikan and had the majority of they day to hang out - the ferry didn't leave until 3:30. Unfortunately our hotel room was only until 10 or 11. We took all of our luggage, my barely two year old and my eight year old and walked from the Landing to the Plaza. I went and said hello to all our Wells Fargo buddies and they let us ditch our suitcases there. A wonderful friend (Inger Anderson) picked us up from the plaza and drove us to the ferry. (Her husband had delivered us from the ferry to the hotel the night before.) I was so excited to be back home with my husband once we finally arrived.

Peter spent a lot of time at the Library when we lived in Craig. He liked to play video games with his friends. Laurie liked the library too. But not as much as she liked visiting Daddy at Wells Fargo and taking over his desk.

The beautiful island always brought such an underlying peace and serenity to my heart. It was such a soothing place to live.

We had a nice home in Craig that was always filled with family and friends. We loved to spend time with each other. On this particular day, Laurie received some late birthday presents - shoes! She loved them and the boys were eager to help here try them on.

I always love seeing my three children playing together.

For Ammon's first even mutual activity we had a combined YM/YW meeting on a float house in Thorn Bay! It was awesome. We made homemade pizza's and had a great fireside about the theme for the year.

Another beautiful day in Craig.

The power went out so Andrew and I played backgammon in the dark as our own little date night after the kids went to bed. Other then that, these pictures all seem to be just normal parts of the day.

Prior to January, I babysit Raeann twice a week in exchange for the three days Marci babysat Laurie. After I returned from my trip, our schedules changed and we each arranged different babysitting. But we continued to look forward to times when we would have Marci, Raeanne and/or Maelynn in our home.

Peter was very proud of getting perfect grades the entire time we lived in Craig. He got certificates and awards every semester.

Papa's Pizza was a fun little hang out. We went there on occasion but bought their pizza every Friday night. Our family has missed their huge pizza that had it's own unique taste.

Andrew decided to do his own Sprint Triathlon. He thought that he might work up to swimming in the ocean in the summer time but we never got that far. For this January tri he just swam in the local pool. He rode his bike out to Klawock and back, then ran Hamilton Loop and Cemetery trail. It was impressive!

We loved having friends over. Daniel Ericksen came over once or twice to play games with Ammon. Peter loved helping take care of Maelynn when she was visiting.

Here is anther ordinary day with us being in a variety of places including the city gym, the library and our house.

Thursday, January 05, 2017

First Day

Today is the first day since moving in that Andrew has gone to work and the boys have gone to school. It's been a fun day of hanging out with Laurie and cleaning. I love our new house!

Yesterday we had several neighbors come by to welcome us. It was nice! Andrew went to play basketball at the church. Ammon and Peter were able to go to their scout activities. We just need to get Laurie to acclimate to her primary class and we'll be set. I think this is going to be a good home for us - both the house itself, and the neighborhood.

Sunday, January 01, 2017

All New

We've lived in our new house (Taylorsville, UT) for one week now. We love it more and more every day.

Today was our first day in our new ward. We loved it. After Sacrament Meeting Andrew helped Laurie and Peter find primary. Ammon and I went out to the foyer to figure out where his Sunday School class might be. We were approached by the Young Men's President, the Deacon's Quorum President, and one other boy in the ward who gave Ammon a warm welcome and went to class with him. Andrew said that when he went to the opening exercises for priesthood he found Andrew sitting with a group of boys. I asked Ammon if he made any friends today. He doesn't usually pick up on people's names but he at least new that one of the boys had a name that started with the letter B. That may sound funny, but it actually seemed like a huge step for Ammon and as a mom I feel really excited that he was given such a warm welcome at church.

Peter also seemed to enjoy his first day in primary. He knew that we were going to Michael and Sophia's Aunt's ward, but I guess he didn't realize that he would also get to meet some of their other cousins. He was pretty excited about that!

Laurie did not have such a good transition. Doubling up on a switch both in a new ward AND into primary instead of nursery was overwhelming for the poor girl. Especially because primary was from 12:15-2:00 so we were in prime time napping hours the day after New Years Eve! I peeked into the primary room after getting Ammon settled and found that Laurie had latched herself onto Andrew and wouldn't let him leave. I went in and switched him places so he could go to Sunday School. I don't know if she has ever been as clingy as she was today. The primary did a great job and were absolutely phenomenal in doing the right sorts of things to help her relax. But she didn't. I really think she was just too tired. After sharing time, I just went ahead and took her to Relief Society with me. Her teacher gave her all the handouts and treats she would have gotten in class, and today at home she has already been talking more positively about primary. Hopefully next week will go better. She did fall asleep in RS.

After church we had family scripture study. Somehow it turned into a discussion about the spirit of Elijah and before I knew it Andrew was in tears sharing his testimony to our family about the nature and importance of eternal families. It was so unexpected and extremely moving. What a great way to start the year!

Tomorrow is the last day of our Christmas break. It's been good, although hectic with moving, Christmas, two birthdays, Andrew wrapping up his semester, and New Year festivities. There is a part of me that is looking forward to getting back to the routine. Actually, we'll be starting a new routine with a longer commute to school. Hopefully the drive won't be too much for me. I'll get to ease into the new schedule because Andrew has a few days off work this week. I'm looking forward to having some bonus time with him.

2016 was a great year for our family. Not easy, but great. We miss Alaska, but I really do think it was the best move for us to come back to Utah. We're looking forward to putting the transition behind us and jumping into our new life with both feet.

Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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.