Mitt Romney at BYU

Mitt and Ann Romney came to campus yesterday.  He gave an incredible talk and I'm so glad I could attend with Andy and Chelsea.  Here are some excerpts and a link to the entire talk on BYU TV.  He is such a polished speaker who is articulate, funny, motivating, inspiring and a great example.  If only he were our current President.  I can't help but think about what might have been.  Americans who didn't vote for him missed an opportunity to have a truly great leader take the reins of this country that we love.  

What if?

What if this sign were posted outside our church doors?  

 What if the people inside the church really thought this way?

  What if we stopped thinking about/looking for/talking about the shortcomings of others and just worked on our own weaknesses, mistakes, sins and shortcomings?

  What if?

 Our Savior's GRACE is there for us all no matter how imperfect, flawed, stained, unbelieving, angry, or beaten-down we are.

  There is a place for everyone and all are welcome.

"I don't care if you smoke, drink, abuse substances, are unchaste, wear pants to church, hate relief society, don't sustain church leaders,  don't have a testimony, have a weak testimony, wear tank tops, don't know if you believe Joseph Smith was a prophet, have had an abortion, don't love your husband, don't like being a mother, think women should have the priesthood, are LGBT, don't know if you believe in God, don't relate to Jesus Christ, don't want to go to the temple, wonder about polygamy--you belong here.  You belong here.  We need you and you need us." 

Rupert in the fall

We had a lovely weekend visit to Rupert on October 24 and 25.  I always love to return to my hometown in the fall for a visit. My wonderful sister Janet and her good husband Dave are such welcoming hosts.  We had such a great time.  There is just something about seeing all the farmers working hard to get their crops in and passing truck loads of sugar beets and Idaho spuds driving down the roads.  The smell in the air is often of the local sugar factory processing the sugar beets.  I just love the sights, smells and most of all the family associations and the walks down memory lane I experience when I visit Rupert.
Rick dropped me off at a freeway exit in Burley to meet Janet and he, Andy and Chelsea continued on to Boise to watch the BYU - Boise State game.  Not a fun experience for them.  I had a way better time hanging out with Jan and her great family.  We went over to the home where her son Nick and his family live and borrowed a bike for a Snake River trail bike ride.  I loved it!  It was a perfect day and fall leaves and sights of the river where enchanting.  My new knee did wonderful on our almost hour ride and I enjoyed that experience a lot.  We next went to see Nick and Tina's new home.  Nick has done an amazing job building their next new home.  It should be ready to move in to at the first of the year.  We then went over and visited another nephew's wife Susie and saw their new home.  It's beautiful!  Decorated to the 9s and just so warm and inviting.  Their darling girls Marley and Macey were adorable.  We then met Mom and Taylor who had just arrived from Logan and my sister Carol and her husband Robert for Mexican food in Burley.  Nick and Tina joined us for dinner.  We went back to Jan and Dave's and turned on the TV to check the score of the game.  No bueno.  Rick, Andy and Chelsea arrived in Rupert in the wee hours of the morning after watching the game.
Saturday morning we headed to the annual fall craft fair at Minico and looked around and bought a few items.  I ran into two high school friends and enjoyed visiting with them.  Afterwards we drove to Oakley to see Carol and Robert's home and their ranch.  Robert smoked a roast beef and Carol prepared a lovely lunch.  We visited Robert's dairy Disneyland and saw what it takes to milk 3,000 cows every day.  I loved seeing Carol and Robert in their home.  I'm so happy for them.
Andy and Chelsea spent the day studying, but towards evening, they had a few hours to take the bike ride along the Snake river and to visit with Nick and Tina when we returned the bike.  Nick's boys beat Andy in tether ball, so he had to have a rematch until he could beat them.  They are such great kids.  Chelsea and Andy were a good sports and let me drive them around to show them some of the important places in Rupert that hold special memories for me.  Jan prepared a lovely meal of two different soups and rolls and we spend the evening visiting with Dustin and his girls and Nick and Tina again. The peanut butter Reece's cookies were a hit as well.  I loved visiting my sisters and their families and enjoy each one of them so much.  They have a wonderful thing going on in the Magic Valley.
Sunday morning we got up and headed to Cache Valley to attend my nephew's mission farewell.  Elder Cameron J. will make a fine missionary and will serve in the Chicago IL Spanish speaking mission.  He gave a heart-felt talk and shared his testimony and love of friends and family.  I'm very proud of what a good young man he has become. My sister Lee and husband Mike prepared a tasty lunch afterwards for family and friends and it was so fun to be there to support their family and meet their new grandson.

We stopped in Ogden on the way back so Chelsea could see her Grandma who was in town from Las Vegas visiting family.  It was a busy weekend and we enjoyed spending time with Andy and Chelsea and seeing so many of our relatives along the way. 

My 8 little spooks....oh, so scary/sweet/darling/creative

 

My Dave turned the big 30!

Our wonderful son Dave is 30 years old today!  He has been such a delightful son through all those 30 years. I can't praise him enough. He was easy to raise and he continues to be just a good all-around man. Here are some things I love about my son Dave:

He takes his role of husband, father and provider seriously.  He has worked hard in school to complete his education, get and advanced degree, get a good job 

and be responsible in providing for his family.  He is very intelligent.

He and Courtney make a good team.  He shows love and respect to his wife and loves her a lot.

He is an exceptional father.  He takes his turn doing all the needful things as a parent and he is a great dad to little Charlie and baby Maggie.

You can depend on Dave.  He does what he says he will do.

He  and Courtney just bought their first home.  He now takes on more responsibilities for the yard and other manly things around the house.  He is slowly but surely learning how to do more home repairs along the way.

He is loved my his family, his nieces and nephews and the extended group.  Everyone loves Dave.

He is a BYU Cougar fan through and through.   His dad raised him well and he is a stalwart, even wearing his BYU clothing almost exclusively after work.  Now that shows support!  With the time difference, he is sometimes up watching the football games until the wee hours of the morning.  

Yes, even the bad games.

He is a handsome young man with dark curly hair.  His hair use to be really blond in his childhood, but now it is dark.  He currently is sporting a beard although

 I don't think it will be a permanent fixture.

He teaches the youth in their church congregation and does a great job serving when he can.

He is always fun to talk to.  He shows interest, love and support.  

His friends from years gone by remain loyal and true.  Dave is a good friend to many and he and Courtney have many couple friends with whom they enjoy doing lots of fun things.

He loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and tries to live his life in such a way as to follow the example of the Savior.  

He is kind and considerate of me and his father.  He makes keeps in touch with us and truly cares about our well-being.

Rick and I love our son Dave and look forward to many more years and birthdays ahead to celebrate him and the good life he leads.  Happy 30th birthday Dave or V IV as we like to call him!