Bon Voyage!

Well, here we go. We are headed to Europe this morning. Wish us luck...

We are going to Brussels for a week to visit Ben's grandparents, aunts, uncle and cousins. Then onto Paris for Euro Disneyland and a few days in the City of Lights.

If we can survive the flight with three children then let the good times roll... Au revoir!

Kids Say the Darnedest Things...

Ben wrote me this email this morning...

In the car last night Dylan said you told him it was OK to shave his head when we get back from Belgium. He’s very excited. He wanted to know if I wanted to shave my head also. I said maybe. He asked if my hair would grow back fast or slow. I said it would look like slow at first, then fast. Then he said…!!!!!!!

“What does Bob do to make it so his hair doesn’t grow back?” I just about peed my pants. I said that Bob’s hair wasn’t going to grow back. He asked why. I said there was this thing called male pattern baldness and it means the hair is gone for good.. He was satisfied with the answer. I was laughing so hard inside. (PS We love Bob M. and knows he's laughing inside too...).

Kung Fu Dylan!

Dylan turned seven last month. He's been asking for about a year to start karate. For Christmas this year we signed him up for karate and he loves it. A few months later we signed up Kate. They are quite darling in the karate uniforms. Dylan recently tested for his orange belt...and passed!!! Here he is at his test.

When Dylan heard there was an animated kids' karate movie he wanted to see it. I saw a Kung Fu Panda chapter book (about 150 pages) at Barnes & Noble about 2 weeks ago and bought it for him. He is already such a great reader and we are so excited to see our first child's love for reading. I figured that a little motivation might help since sometimes he gets overwhelmed with the length of chapter books. I told him that when he finished it we would go see the movie.

He read about 1 chapter a day for a week or so and then last night he started reading and about 2 hours later he'd finished the last 70 pages and announced at about 11:30pm that he was done! He was so excited! We went on our date tonight and loved the movie. I think it is the first time he hasn't asked, "is it almost over" in a movie. I also think it made a difference that he'd read the story and knew what was coming next. He almost seemed disappointed when it ended.

We are so proud of Dylan. He is such a sweet boy and it is a joy to see him developing and learning.

Madi is such a comedian!

After eating dinner (check out her filthy face for proof) Madi played with glasses that Dylan brought home from a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's. Our friend, Kim Longhurst, got us all laughing when she held them up to Madi's face. I couldn't resist grabbing my camera!

A Faithful Farewell

On Saturday, Ben and I attended Erik's funeral. Erik and Emily are neighbors of ours that lives about 6 houses away. Of course, in our area, that means that we aren't in the same ward and really didn't know each other well. Our children attended the same school for the past two years and we have wonderful friends and neighbors in common (Mark and Ruth H.).

Last year our kids' school sent out several emails to the school's families telling about the Erik's situation and his fight with leukemia. We were saddened by the news that such a young father was battling this life-threatening disease. I realized later in the year just how close we really lived to their family. We gladly supported the many fundraisers that neighbors and friends did to help with Erik's expensive bone marrow transplant but other that than we just kept our eye on the blog to see how Erik and Emily were doing.

Late in the summer last year, I emailed Erik and Emily telling them that they were in our prayers and that we were inspired by their courage and the humor and perspective that Erik showed in his blog postings. In the emails we exchanged Erik and I joked about how we hadn't actually even met. In some strange way, this sweet family was a part of our lives without even knowing it. Mark Harris and I talked often about Erik and he was always great to keep us posted on Erik's health. We were so excited to hear on the 100th day following the bone marrow transplant that Erik was clear of the leukemia cells in his blood. I suppose it was especially meaningful to me because I lost a brother to leukemia when I was a child and now as a wife and mother, my heart ached for his wife and children.

Even though the post-transplant infections were on-going and very challenging, the bone marrow transplant provided by his sister gave him the gift of more time. Erik found out at his one year check up that there was some bad news. His, and our, friend, Mark called us on vacation to let us know that Erik was in full relapse and that his time was short. How could it be? I had just read a blog about how Erik and Emily had traveled to NYC together and how Erik was so grateful to have beaten the leukemia. But it was true and with each test the leukemia cells were multiplying. How quickly things can change. How fragile life is. In just a matter of a few weeks Erik was told that there wasn't anything they could do.

Mark and I talked about the possibility of holding a celebration of his life before his passing. In fact, Mark's ward came together in just a few days to hold a beautiful picnic in the park on Monday to celebrate Erik and to let him and Emily know of their love for them. Although we were not back home to attend, Mark told us of how Erik came out his back fence to see all the family, friends and neighbors as they sang to him his favorite hymn and released balloons to Heaven as a tribute to his life and their love for him. Erik Rudy passed away at home with his family the next evening.

I am grateful for the influence that Erik's life has been on our little family. Even from a distance we were able to share in his journey and to be blessed by his faith, devotion, courage and eternal perspective.

On Wednesday, while leaving flowers and a gift on their front porch, little Milo opened the door and asked, "what ya doin?" We did not knock or intend to intrude but Emily came to the door and was so kind and gracious. Her testimony and strength was again shown when she stood to speak at the funeral. Although all could feel the sadness and loss, Emily faith and love was clearly sustaining her. It was a blessing to be there that day to "mourn with those that mourn" but Emily's courage did much to "comfort those that [stood] in need of comfort." We have been reminded to count our many blessings and to live in the present enjoying this beautiful life we've been given. Our testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father's Plan for His Children has also been strengthened. Please see the link to the family's blog and please keep Emily, Mason, Milo and Erik's family and friends in your prayers.

*Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.serenicare.com/. Donations can be made at Mountain America Credit Union to benefit Erik's wife and children.

Our First Summer Field Trip

I am in charge of scheduling summer field trips for our ward this summer and today we went to Art City Days. They had a Children's Art Festival that was wonderful. The kids got face painting, courtesy of Aunt Kimmy. Kate loved her rainbow.
Dylan was so thrilled with is all over face paint...until it started to dry and get a bit uncomfortable.
Oh, sweet Madi. She is so a doll to take places. She just laughs and smiles at everyone!
Sometimes they can get along so well...and then there are those other times...
Kate and Dylan both got the experience of throwing pottery and getting to take their creation home.

A Warm Summer Day at Burnt Cedar Beach!

We had a relaxing day at the beach and pool today and yesterday. The kids climbed on the rocks and buried each other in the sand.

I won a trip for 2 to Peru!!!

Oh my goodness! I don't even know where to begin. Yes, I really did win a trip for two to Peru! I don't think I've even won a cake walk before! Wow! I am still in shock! I always said that if I ever won anything I wouldn't be one of those people on the phone calming saying, "I'm so excited, Regis" without any excitement at all in their voice. But when I found out I'd won, I started shaking and kept saying, "Oh my gosh!" over and over again. I felt like those people who I had made fun of because I couldn't muster any screams of excitement when I was talking on the radio.

OK, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me back up. A few weeks ago I was on my way home from attending my parents' sacrament meeting where my mom was being sustained as her ward's new relief society president. (That is another blog entry...wow, that was a shocker for all of us!) Anyway, I was driving home alone (how rare is that!) and was able to listen to the radio. I was listening to the Travel Show that airs on Sundays. The host of the radio show was telling the listeners about how she was going on a trip to Peru and was collecting donations of crayons and coloring books to take to the impoverished village of Wuilloq, Peru. I was in the middle of the book drive at the kids' school for orphans in Zambia and so that struck a cord with me. I knew Ben would also want to donate crayons or coloring books so I kept listening. The host went onto say that they were giving away a trip for two to Peru. To enter you needed to submit an entry in 200 words of less why you deserved to win. The winner would be selected today, when she would broadcast live from Peru.

I read a book last year, "The Peacegiver", which I highly recommend! We had an opportunity to meet the author at my parents' ward's book club discussion with the author. It was a life-changing experience for Ben, who hadn't even read the book at that point. There is a part of the book where one of the characters in the story talks about the word, "DESERVE". Another character in the story is complaining about how he doesn't "deserve" to be treated the way he's being treated, etc. The wise grandfather says in essence, "you don't want what you REALLY deserve. What you DESERVE is hell." The grandfather goes on to explain that without the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ we would remain sinful and the atonement would not have been available to us. Because of our imperfect nature, we could not dwell in the presence of a perfect God, and would thus, be consigned to hell as our fate. Fortunately, the good news of the gospel is that the atonement allows us to forgiven of our sins and thus we don't have to suffer in the place we "deserve"...

So, because of that powerful aspect of the book, my immediate response to the question "why do you deserve to win a trip to Peru" was, "I don't". Here is what I wrote in the email entry:

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I don't "deserve" to go. Really, does anyone? Travelling is a gift. It's a unique opportunity to experience a different culture and people that leaves us the better for it. Yet I always discover by the end of a trip that we, no matter the culture or geography, are more alike than different. Of course, I would love to see Cuzco, Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and the Sacred Valley. But more than that I would love to be able to personally take donations collected from my children's school to orphans in Peru. I just completed heading up a service project with donations from the 3-9 year olds at my children's school. The children generously donated nearly 800 books and over 200 book bags to send to orphans in Zambia this summer. However, due to the high cost of travel I will be unable to accompany the volunteers to distribute the books and bags to the orphans. I would love to be able to do the same for children in Peru and then return with photos and video of the children that were helped to show the children the difference they made in the lives of other children.

********

And so, there it is...I won. On Saturday, I received an email from the host saying that they were in Peru and did not have a copy of my entry and could I resend it. That tipped me off that maybe, just maybe I would be chosen. After church I came back to my parents' house in Tahoe and listen to the show via the internet. When Carlos started reading my letter, I was stunned. They asked me to call in.

We are very, very excited about the trip but more than that it really feels like a gift from Heavenly Father to be able to make a difference for these children, both in the village of Wuilloq, Peru and the kids at the school. We've been given no weight restrictions on our baggage by the airline. Just think of what that could mean for the children!!!

If you have any ideas of what we can do please let me know. I have some ideas and some contact but I know that there are others who will be able to provide suggestions to be able to make something amazing happen for the children. I know that my life has taken on new meaning and purpose this past year and I am excited to provide my neighborhood, community and the listeners of KSL with an opportunity to do something that transforms this village and impacts the lives of the young children at Dylan and Kate's school too, so that they see how they can make a difference in the lives of other children. What amazing people they will grow to be if they can get that fire of love and service when they are young.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share my good news. I am up to the challenge of collecting donations and planning how we can make a difference for this village. Let me know what you think.

Summer Kickoff at Lake Tahoe!

I spent many vacations at Lake Tahoe growing up and now my kids are creating their own Tahoe Memories!!!

The first day we went to the beach but it was not too warm. That didn't stop Madi from getting in her swimsuit and enjoying the sand and water.

The kids all had a great time playing in the sand. We went back to Nana and Papa Roger's to warm up in the hottub.

Dylan loves Lake Tahoe! The morning that we left I had to wake him up and his eyes popped open and he exclaimed, "Today is the day! We're going to Tahoe!" His enthusiasm was so sweet!

Kate was so excited to be able to make "real sandcastles."

Our Sweet Kate

Kate was a princess for Halloween last year. Isn't she adorable.
In March, Kate and I went to Disney Princesses on Ice. She loved it!
I love spending time with Kate. She is like having a little best friend with me all the time.

Kate fell asleep listening to my iPod. She love anything High School Musical, Alvin and Chipmunks or the Enchanted soundtrack.
Kate and I love to go get our nails painted for our dates. She is such a little lady!

Our Amazing Madi

Kate loves Madi so much! Madi is learning to tolerate Kate affection and Kate is learning that Madi's grunts and squeals mean, "I don't like that! Stop it!"
Madi is so busy all the time! She runs practically everywhere!
Madi says, "Hi" and Helyo" to everyone. She can also sing the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Apples and Bananas".
She is loves to get on the dishwasher. Why is it that all kids seem to do this?
Madi doesn't want to miss anything but she eventually runs out of steam and has to recharge her batteries.