January 2016

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.

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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.