President's Award

Michael has always loved to volunteer and serve our community. He started at the age of 14 when he became a Gilbert Police Explorer and he did until he was 21. Last August, he joined the Mesa Fire Department as a volunteer with the Connector program and committed to volunteering for 25 hours a month for one year.

Well, he far exceeds that commitment and last week he was honored by the Fire Department and received the President's Volunteer Service Award. He received a lovely certificate, pin, briefcase with the Mesa FD logo on it and a letter from President Obama.

On a funny note, when I told my mom of Michael receiving a letter from President Obama, she said that if Obama knew of the bad things Michael had said about him, he might not have sent him the letter. True. Also true is that Michael would have preferred to have a letter signed President Mitt Romney! Still, I'm very proud of him and his service to the community.

Got the bird?

This cute little man was walking on the wall outside my kitchen window today. He sure looks mighty fine with that plume on his head! Taking a picture through the window really doesn't do him justice at all though. He was so much more handsome in real life!

I think he is a Gambel's Quail, but I'm not quite sure!

Strike A Pose

We had Danielle overnight on Friday and she is growing up so quickly, you wouldn't believe it. One good thing is that she has just decided she likes to have her photo taken. Gone is the "pose for 5 seconds then turn away before the camera shutter has captured it" and in its place is "stand with a model pose and say cheese".
I must say, I prefer the latter approach.

Here she is posing under a tree at the Queen Creek Olive Mill. We went there to look at the advertised Farmers Market which they hold there every Saturday but it was a complete waste of time. Instead of the "market" that I envisioned, there was just one stall of highly overpriced organic produce. I think I'll keep on with the Superstition Ranch Market instead.

Oh, gotta have a profile shot!!!

Back at her house she decided it was time to accessorize and out came her pink flower headband and her pink heart sunglasses. See how they match her pink butterfly?

Aaahhh, the full effect. Of course it helps if you also strap yourself in to your baby doll's stroller.

Here is the said baby doll who looks like she is a victim of child abuse, but it's really only felt tip pen. Can you see the lovely shade of purple on Danielle's nails? It matches Grandma's toes!

Pool Time

It's still way too cold for me, but with a little bit of pushing and a whole lotta fun, Michael and Cassie got in the pool on Friday as the temperature outside reached about 100F. Brave souls!

My thoughts on Easter

Yesterday (Thursday) I woke up at 5 o'clock. Ironic really, as that was the time my father in law was due to be buried in England. I woke up filled with intense sadness and grief. As it was early and I didn't want to wake Brent up, I lay there silently willing myself to go back to sleep. It didn't work. I checked my phone and read some heartfelt comments that some of my family in England had made regarding their own emotions. Still, I couldn't sleep and still I felt so, so sad.

I believe that this life is not the end. I believe that my father in law had lived a full life and that he was happy where he now was. I believe that he was reunited with his beloved wife. Why did I feel so sad and grief stricken?

When Brent got up, I tried to busy myself by cleaning the house and doing other mundane chores, but I just got sadder as the morning went on and found it difficult to stop crying. Along with the sadness and grief I felt an intense disappointment. Disappointed that I couldn't be there at his graveside, disappointed that I hadn't been there sharing the last years of his life and disappointed that I wasn't able to be surrounded by family as we mourned the loss of our patriarch.

Perhaps it was love. Now don't get me wrong. Anyone who knew my father in law well would probably agree that at times he could be a very difficult man, but he was my husband's father and I loved and respected him for that. He taught me a lot about the Gospel and the church as we discussed scriptures together, did genealogical research and attended the temple. I also witnessed the love he had for my children, the happy times he shared with them as he taught them to fish and swim and walked in the Doggie Woods with them recollecting his own childhood.

Then, in the afternoon, something strange happened. I began to feel his presence very strongly. I rarely feel things like that. It's happened a few times before, but not often. My heart began getting full, so full of emotion, and all I could hear was my father in law telling me to focus on the Savior. Over and over. I was still crying, but my sadness transformed into happiness and a focus on my knowledge that my Redeemer lives. He has the power to calm my troubled heart, to wipe away my tears and to bless me beyond all measure.

I saw this picture on Pinterest (don't you just love Pinterest?) and thought about it a lot as the afternoon wore on. Our human life is just a moment in our existence. We came from God and we will go back to God. We're spiritual beings. We need to feed that spirit. We need to come to know Jesus Christ as our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that! I've known it for some time now, but yesterday my testimony grew.

By experiencing intense sorrow and grief, I was able to be in the position to listen for the whisperings of the Spirit. In my life they have sometimes come from answers to prayer, from reading the scriptures, listening to the prophet's voice or listening to the counsel of others. By listening to the voice of my father in law, I was able to turn my thoughts and emotions around and feed my spirit at this Easter time.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that when he went to Gethsemane, he did it for me. I know that he died and that when he was resurrected on the third day he opened the way for me to be able to live with my Heavenly Father again. He knows me by name. He loves me.

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you too feel of the Savior's love at this blessed time.