02/23/15 Proposal

2/23/2015

Happy Couple!

Weather didn't cooperate but the engagement must go on!

Just out on a Sunday walk

He's asking her...

I think she said...YES!!! 

So Sunday was different...took a trip to the temple and watched as Dallas proposed to McKayla in front of the St. George temple in the rain.  They are pretty excited.  Wedding is planned for June 18 at the Salt Lake Temple.  They are busy making plans and notifying everyone and just pretty excited about the whole thing.

Look ma...she said yes!!!!

Been a pretty usual week...all the activities etc. Katie got a fever and cough Wednesday night and was "grounded" from going to her activity.  She was in charge and had been planning it for quite some time.  So she was pretty unhappy with us.  But she had a 101 temperature...I couldn't in good conscious send her up there!

She is still hacking a bit but she is on the mend.

When something exciting happens...phone a friend. 

Dad went down with it on Thursday afternoon.  He has been pretty miserable ever since.  He missed playoff game Friday night because he couldn't even talk without hacking up a lung.  Bleh.  He went to bishopric meeting yesterday but they invited him to take the afternoon off of church since he coughed so much. Poor guy. I told him if he didn't feel better this morning to go to the dr and get some antibiotic.

Max Harrison gave his farewell.  He leaves Wednesday morning for the MTC and then he is off to Japan.  He seemed pretty excited and a little emotional.  He did a great talk.

The girls and I volunteered at Dog Town Marathon on Saturday and that was fun.  The weather was perfect...like 70+ and sunny.  

Down on one knee.

This morning woke up to snow.  And it's sticking!!!!  Seriously...how do you go from 70 to 35 in 2 days?!  It's been pretty awesome here for some time so all the trees were budding, people have needed to mow the laws. Etc.  I don't know what this snow is going to do to our vegetation!

Katie is doing SUPAF saxophone solo performance this afternoon so hopefully she nails it.  She is pretty nervous!  

Early out all week for Holly...fun day to have early out.  She can play in the snow!!!

They are pretty excited

Hope you are doing great.  I'll try to send pictures tonight.  I'm at work since yesterday morning got away from me and I didn't get your letter sent.  

Quote of the week:

On occasion we need to make a second effort - and a third effort, and a fourth effort, and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.

Thomas S. Monson

XOXO  Mom.

Sharing the news with the Brenneman parents

02/14/15 Beehive President & Valentine's Day Party

2/14/2015

So I decided to write tonight since it's quiet and I have a minute.  

It's been another busy week.  Katie is getting put back in as Beehive President.  (not surprising since she's one of the only ones that comes regularly!)  I think another girl moved in though and another girl just turned 12 so she may have a girl or two to hang with now.  

Katie has been staying busy with church ball and YW and piano.  I think she is doing SUPAF performance next week on her saxophone so she has been practicing lots for that too.

Friday we went to Holly's class for a Valentine's Day party.  We had some outside games.  One of them we had all the boys sit in one circle, girls in another.  I gave them bean bags and had them throw them saying the kids name.  Within less than 1 minute the boys were throwing the bean bags as hard as they could at each other and a couple of them were crying.  Oh yeah.  It was kind of funny.  

Another game I had them do was put them all in one big giant circle.  They threw a bean bag at a poster that had exercises on it and all the kids had to do that exercise until the first kid ran around the circle and tagged the next kid.  And then it started all over again.  They were doing burpees, and jumping jax and arm circles and stuff like that.  Pretty good stuff.  

We went inside and they made treats and bags and a big poster for their teacher.  Pretty fun I guess. Lot less work than the Christmas party was!

Holly and I went to RS on Thursday.  Our ward is about 1/3 what it used to be.  There used to be like 70 ladies.  We had maybe 25.  It was a nice group though.  They had yummy treats and told stories of times when someone had done something nice (visiting teacher type stories)

Friday we went to Paula's with Gma and pa for our date.  We had a nice visit.  They appreciate that you send them short little notes every week (is it every week?)  Anyway they like that you do that and it makes them feel loved and special.

Dad and Dallas went with Robert Hoppie to Provo at 7 a.m. to cover the swimming and wrestling that is going on up there.  I expect them back by 11 p.m. tonight. Long day!  They took the company car that has no cruise control so dad should have a sore foot!

Katie, Holly and I went with Cathy Hill and her 2 girls (from girl scouts) to Zion National Park.  We did Angel's Landing hike.  Only we didn't go all the way to the top.  Just to the part that everybody talks about.  I guess it was free day so there was a grundle of people so even if we had wanted to continue on we thought better of it.   There were loads of people and we were hearing the wait was super long.  It was pretty strenuous (pretty much up hill for 2 miles) but not near as bad as I imagined.  It was paved all the way up there and actually a pretty decent path.  Not scary at all.  But beautiful for sure!  When we got up there we hung out for 20 minutes or so and a whole bunch of the PVHS track team came up behind us.  (Cathy's son is on the team so she knows them all!)  They said they had asked her son but he didn't want to go.  

I'm doing super good on my Book of Mormon listening.  I am right where I should be.  I have been scrubbing the floor or driving up to the gym while I listen and it's going better than I thought it would.   I have never really read it continuous like that.  It has been really interesting and good and I think it makes a little more sense than when I read it more slowly and broken up all the time. So thank you for the challenge.  Hopefully I can keep up on it!

AJ got accepted into both U of U programs he applied for and is still waiting to hear from BYU and USU.  He has so many decisions to make right now.  

Well I hope you are doing well and enjoying your mission.

Katie and Brooke Hill

Katie & Holly, Brooke and Jessica Hill going up
Angel's Landing

Kathy Hill

Living on the edge...

Going up or down Walter's Wiggle

The scripture that stood out to me in my listening today was Alma 7:27.  It says, And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever.  And thus I have spoken, Amen.  

Griffin girls on the way up to Angel's Landing

I found that really comforting...like God will take care of everything and we will have peace if we just have faith and do good works.  Sounds easy.  And assuring.  Just believe and do what's right and Heavenly Father will take care of you and all that you have.  

I love you!!!  Can't wait to hear about your week!  Love you! Mom

02/08/15 Mission call and Maturation

2/8/15

Exciting News...Bryce Taylor got his mission call to Lima Peru and leaves June 2.  (He is up at Snow College until toward the end of May so he'll really only have like 2 weeks home and then he turns around and leaves again.)  The Taylor mom and dad came and told us yesterday 'cause we are family!!!  

Since Bryce is up at school and the call came here they actually opened it, took a picture of it, sent it.  Then Bryce read it over the phone to them.  (He didn't want to wait 3 months until he comes home again!)

Pretty exciting and scary all at the same time.  They don't even get the drop off at the MTC experience.  (Or the couple of months knowing the kid is just up the road in Utah, no big thing!)  He goes right to Peru and gets busy.  AND he took French, not Spanish. So he's got some learning to do!

So if you have his email you'll have to congratulate him.  We told his parents to have Bryce write but not sure if he will or not.

Katie had her YW this week --- a progressive dinner.  They went from Clark's to Allgood's to Hafen's to Binder's.  Pretty cool they all live so close and can accommodate the group.

While she was there dad was doing a game. Holly and I went to the church and I got set apart for my primary job.  I got a beautiful blessing by the bishop.  I wish I had recorded it or written some of it down but I didn't.  Some of the things he said was that I would have the holy ghost with me to help me to touch the children through my music.  That I would be able to balance my work and home life and continue to be a good mother. That I would be helpful to the presidency.  It was very beautiful.  

The bishopric has been setting people apart like 10 a night or something so it's pretty amazing they are still able to give something so personal and beautiful.  

Holly had her "maturation" program at school this week.  So I got to go over and sit by her while that was going on.  The presenter did a really good job.  Holly said she already knew everything they said and she wasn't too freaked out by the whole thing.  Me too, haha.  

Thursday Katie and Dad went to a girls game together and Holly and I stayed home.  Seems like there has been a lot of Holly and me time lately!  Saturday morning she and I went shopping together and hung out for a couple of hours.  (She really doesn't love coupon shopping day!)  

Saturday when we got home (around noon) we found Katie and Dad kinda having a "sick day".  They both have colds and coughs and were kind of bleh.  So Holly joined them (why not?!) and they watched movies and snuggled in on the couch all day.  

I worked on a budget with Dallas and McKayla (they are leaning toward getting married this summer...)  No official announcement. Yet.  

Then I worked on taxes for awhile.  

We made potato soup and fresh bread for dinner and then continued a quiet evening hanging out with blankies.  

So not much to report here.  

I did see a report that there was lots of rain up and down the coast.  Are you getting flooded in your area?

I hope you are doing well and enjoying your mission!!!  We love you and think of you and pray for you often.  

Quote for the week:

The principles of living greatly include the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and trial with humility.

Thomas S. Monson

Love you!  xoxo mom

02/01/15 Happiness is a lifestyle...

2/1/2015

I hope you have had a great week up in Spokane!

Things have been the usual here.  Monday night pizza.  We tried little Caesar's again.  Meh.  Aunt Laura had said she really like the deep dish but it's just ok to me.

Tuesday after another super long day of court (about 85 cases handled) I went over and got my old job back from the other ward...I'm primary pianist again. That should be good.  I've really enjoyed that so far.  And Holly has another year of primary so I can keep an eye on her.  She sometimes gets a little out spoken so it's nice that I can come behind her and doink her on the head...jk.  She's been good but it's good to have me there too!

Wednesday Holly woke up not feeling good (cough going around).  I thought she might skip school but she had a talent show that night so she pulled herself together and went.  She did a great job.  Her and the twins danced to Istambol.  They were definitely one of the best if not the best act.  I'm not just saying that because I'm her mom either.  They had practiced quite a bit, they had costumes.  They knew what they were doing.  It was good!

Katie got to go to YW and meet the bishopric and have root beer Wednesday night (our new YW night).  So that was great.  I thought the YW presidency would be there too but nope.  Surprised me.  

Thursday Katie overcame some of her worst fears.  She went to the dentist and had her baby fangs removed and got a cavity filled and she was so brave.  No tears, no nothing.  Just went in there and got it done.  Afterward we went to walmart, picked out some birthstone earrings and shot up her ears.  Voila.  Again, no boo-boo hissy fit just walk in, getter done.  WOW!  Our lil girl is growing up!

Friday dad and I went out to lunch with gma and gpa to Golden Corral.  Haven't been there forever.  It was good.  Gma and pa seem to finally be getting over their coughs.  They lasted forever seems like!  We had girl scouts and Katie was awarded the silver scout award and then the kids came over and did their friday night late night.  They went to Emma Christenensen's house (the neighbor down the street) and got her dad to buy pizza and they watched a movie.  Katie and Emma Dickey hung out and talked for awhile.  Dad had games of course (all week, every day!) I scrubbed the grout in the kitchen.  

Saturday the girls had their last basketball game of the season and I know Holly lost and I think Katie won.  Neither was too concerned about it...they had good treats at the end. Cupcakes for Hol, Donuts for Katie.  Haha.

The girls are selling girl scout cookies.  I gave Holly and the twins the list from last year and told them to make some phone calls.  They spent like 2 hours on the phone and sold maybe 70 boxes I think.  Pretty good.  I really didn't think they'd keep after it but they did.  Holly made all the calls, the twins wrote down the orders.  Holly is a pretty good pushy salesman!  Haha.

Gracie Scott got baptized last night and then we had a nice evening at home.  Got Del Taco and played wheel of fortune and Catan with Dad and the girls.  Afterward watched the BYU basketball game and sent everyone to bed.

Church should be interesting today as we find out what's left of our ward...!!!  Dad's been busy making tons of phone calls and as far as I know they have pretty much everything called. Primary, YM &YW, Elders, High Priests, Sunday school...all the presidency filled and most of the teachers called for primary etc etc etc.  Busy, busy, busy!

When I got called Brother Clark said usually we ask you to start the week after you are called and not talk about your calling.  He said this time you are called and get busy on it!  Be ready to go on Sunday!  

Quote from President Holland...

Happiness is a lifestyle

“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”

Sometimes we focus so much on the gospel making us happy that when we forget that turning outward to others is a prerequisite to our own happiness. If you want to be happy, you need to stop worrying about your own happiness. Chasing your own happiness and doing things for you in the end will leave you with nothing.

He had a whole article on Happiness.  It love it!  This is a small excerpt.  

I hope you are happy focusing on the gospel and the work that you have to do and not worrying about things here.  Everything is good and we love you and miss you and pray for you and are so proud of you.  

I hope you have a wonderful week and continue to do great on your mission!  Love you!!! Mom.