Wedding events for McKenzie & Bradley Clawson

Friday, Mar. 9th, Alice-Anne drove me to Kaysville for the family dinner in honor of McKenzie (Randy & Norene's daughter) and Bradley Clawson the night before their wedding in the Bountiful temple. I enjoyed visiting with my wonderful Smith family, meeting Brad's family and hearing the sweet stories of McKenzie and Brad as they grew up and then found each other.

McKenzie & Bradley Clawson 

Grandma Julia and Vivienne

Norman, Meredith and Tom Ashton

Happy parents, Randy & Norene Smith

Bruce & Brecklyn (Smith) Ferrin

Geoff, Peggy & Norene

Jamie, Becca & Jessica Smith

Fun time together with family

I loved being with my beautiful daughters, Emily & Alice-Anne

Emily and I enjoyed spending the night at the Ashton's lovely home in Ogden. On that gorgeous sunny, warm Saturday, we gathered at the Bountiful temple to witness the sealing of McKenzie & Bradley. Beautiful couple, pure and clean. Many family were together at the reception that night. It was a huge event as both families were from that area. I treasure the choice experience of being with family for this important occasion. I couldn't help but think that Mom & Dad were probably there, too.

This cute couple look like brother & sister!

Emily with Aunt Andrea & Andie Smith

I love being a Mom! Emily makes me smile.

Amazingly warm, sunny and perfect for a March wedding in Utah

Meredith, Geoff, Vivienne, Roger - I love my family!

A great family! Randy & Norene Smith Family

I love being with my sister, Meredith Ashton. We missed Kathi!

Cute Cousins! Andie & Delaney Smith

Emily was so happy to be there on McKenzie's special day!

Kute Kenna Johns with McKenzie 

Spencer loved dancing with his Mommy Alice-Anne 

Crismon & Danielle came up from Provo 

Lots of cousins to enjoy. Garrett & Alisha Smith, Crismon & Danielle visiting with Uncle Geoff

Cousin Becca caught the bouquet! Lauren and Emily shared in the fun, too.

We're so blessed to have Danielle in our family!

I went home after the reception with Crismon and Danielle to Orem. I'm grateful I had this time to visit with them. They are living in Grandma Swain's lovely home while she serves a Family History Mission in SLC. They have a wonderful set up. I slipped out early Sunday morning to attend Emily's Sacrament Meeting with her. The student ward meets in a lovely building on the Wyview Apt. complex. It was nice to get better acquainted with Emily's roommates, Bishop, and friends. Then I enjoyed Crismon and Danielle block meetings that afternoon. They have a good family ward just a few blocks from their home in Orem. Danielle prepared a scrumptious meal for after our meetings that we enjoyed before heading for the airport for my return trip home. What a treat to be with this wonderful couple, going forward doing many good things in their lives.

While flying down to Utah and then back, I met two wonderful people. I really enjoyed sharing about our church with a nice lady on the first leg of my trip. She asked, "What does your church have that mine doesn't?" She had lived in SLC for 21 years and wasn't too happy about living by so many Mormons. I shared about the Apostasy and the Restoration and she asked, "Why has no one shared that with me before?" On the way home I sat by a lovely LDS lady from Astoria, OR. It seemed that we had been friends forever. We've already emailed about getting together at the temple someday. I love meeting new people and hearing the interesting stories of their lives. Life is full, rich and rewarding!

Being Grandma to Kenna, Spencer & Elliot

I love every excuse I get to travel to see grandchildren. Another dream came true for me to spend about 3 days with our cute Johns' family. I felt badly about leaving Crismon as he had just been called as the Stake President and he was doing double duty as Bishop, too. He encouraged me to go forward with my plans to leave on Tues., March 6th to go down to Utah for niece, McKenzie Smith's wedding. I had a day to try and win Elliot over as Alice-Anne and Gary were leaving on Thurs. for a 24 hour get-away. Every Grandparent wants something to win their grandchildren over with. Well, we don't have horses, a swimming pool, or a really big yard, but the grandkids love my IPad! Spencer would try and hide from Elliot in the corner of the room so he wouldn't get it.

It's amazing how these kids are immediately fascinated by a "screen." I think they are born with a technology gene that we never had.

Wed. was a beautiful sunny day, but cold! I had arrived the night before in a terrible snow storm. But by the afternoon the snow had melted and we headed out on a brisk walk to pick up Kenna from school.

We stopped at Artic Circle for a free kids cone for the children. They had great fun on the indoor play center.

I love these hugs! Doing the simplest things make kids happy!

Check out this fun picture of Spencer with Kenna behind him.

Spencer showed off his new bike and his cool biking skills. I had fun walking around the block with him while he pedaled away. Cute Mommy, Alice-Anne, makes the most of her precious minutes with each of her children. To my surprise, I was able to get all the children ready in time to make it to Kenna's Honor Roll Assembly by just after 9 a.m. She didn't know I was coming, so she was especially pleased. It was fun to see her being recognized as a top student. 

Kenna, 1st grade, Honor Roll, top row, 2nd from right

That afternoon before Alice-Anne & Gary returned I worked with Spencer on building a Lego house. Did I mention I love being a Grandma? My time to care for them ended way too soon. They were such great kids. They didn't give me any problems.

The timing to be in Utah turned out to be perfect to meet Leslie Hixson and her mother, Verla Hatch. Leslie is from Trenton, MO, near Adam OndiAhman. She responded to our ad in the Mormon Times and she and her mother have joined us in the Reliv business. They are wonderful people. It was so fun to meet her in person as she was in Utah visiting family.

Verla Hatch, Leslie Hixson, Vivienne

Temple blessings....

I'm grateful for wonderful support from Ondalynn and Vivi's family to have them attend our Stake Conf. last Sunday when Crismon was called as the Stake Pres. After the setting apart, Elder Bowen and Elder Alonso asked for the wives to join them in the High Council room for a brief training. Elder Bowen taught us from D & C 25 about Emma's calling and her responsibilities to her husband. It was a sweet occasion. I was glad to arrive home to have Ondalynn's family there. It was comforting for me not to come home to an empty house on that first day. Although I do it all the time, it was joyous to have them there. After dinner, the Vance's needed to hurry on so Ondalynn could teach her YW's lesson.

That evening was the Bishop's Discussion night at the Institute Building. Crismon arrived home after several hours of training from Elder Bowen and Elder Alonso and then a brief Presidency meeting, for a quick bit to eat before heading to our meeting. We shared the events of Crismon's calling and had a good discussion on gospel topics. A tender time for us as our hearts are knit together with these young people. Today in our Fast and Testimony meeting, many spoke of the love they feel in the ward and the unity among them. It was a very wonderful meeting with strong testimonies of our Savior and His Atonement from the YSA's, and hardly a minute pause in between. We will miss these good young people! There was a ward activity yesterday afternoon and a dinner and the CES Broadcast after our meetings today.

We were surprised to wake to snow one morning this week. Without kids around, we don't know when snow is predicted. I love the beautiful winter wonderland, but it seemed strange as the snow covered our azalea bush that was in full bloom.

Ondalynn brought her boys by on Thursday morning for me to tend while she got her hair cut. Vivi was visiting too, while Daisy was at Joy School. It was a fun morning with our cute grandchildren.

Bryson, Isaac and Kaeley

Isaac knows that Grandpa is in the office and he can't bear it. He bangs on his door and puts his hand under the door trying to get to one of his favorite people.

What could be better than running into your children at the temple! Friday evening we had gone with our YSA's to do temple baptisms, but since they had plenty of adult workers, we did Initatories. I was so thrilled to run in to Ondalynn in the dressing room and Dad spotted Gary in their dressing room. Since we weren't driving any of the YSA's we were able to enjoy visiting with the Vance's at a restaurant near the temple. I can't tell you how fun it is to have family close by! We rejoice in the privilege of meeting our sweet children in the temple. What a blessing.

I enjoyed visiting with many of our children today and a nice conference call with my siblings this evening. What a joy to have family relationships! Heavenly Father's divine plan of happiness is a perfect one.

Crismon called as Stake President

Our lives have taken a big turn of events over the last 36 hours. Elder Shane Bowen and Elder Alonzo of the First Quorum of the Seventy were our visiting authorities for our Stake Conference this weekend. We heard three weeks ago that there was to be a change in the stake presidency at our conference. This caught all of us by surprise since Pres. Richard Hansen had served for only 4 years. Crismon was sustained today as the new Stake Pres. of the Mt. Hood Oregon Stake. He will continue to serve as the Bishop of the Mt. Hood YSA Ward as well as Stake Pres. until a new Bishop will be called. There are many details to share later.

We love our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our greatest desire is to serve in what ever capacity we are called. We dedicate ourselves to this new assignment. Pres. Dennis Baird of the Estacada Ward is his first counselor and Pres. Charles Allen is his second counselor. They were both serving with Pres. Hansen. I don't have a picture yet of the stake presidency. But this is a picture of my wonderful husband who I know him better than anyone. I can say he is a man of God, and worthy in every way to be called to lead this stake. I love him dearly.

1st in the Nation!

Last week we attended the Reliv National Conference in Reno. There were many exciting announcements made, but probably the best for us was being called up on stage as being the 1st in the nation in volume of sales for the month of January. We were presented a $5000 bonus check! We're so grateful that there was an answer to our finances through this great company. Our best month so far, over $9,200. Not bad for working off my kitchen table! Heavenly Father blessed us greatly.

First in the Nation for January in Reliv National Sales!

We enjoyed getting acquainted with Julie Perry from Lakeport, CA. She responded to our ad in the Mormon Times and joined us in the business. Turns out she grew up in Springfield, OR and Corwin and Lynette sang at her wedding reception! She is a wonderful person and we were glad to finally meet her in person as we've been talking on the phone for about 5 months.

Joyce Betita, Crismon, Vivienne, Julie Perry

Julie and Joyce became instant friends, especially when they discovered that Sheri Southworth was Julie's former college roommate and close friend, and Joyce's dear friend as well. We're excited to share with others that our nutritional product, NOW, is enriched with "LunaRich." The peptide lunasin found in soy that reduces cholesterol is now 5-10 times greater in our product because of the nutritional technology that has come about. It can only be found in Reliv. What a neat opportunity to share this news!

We were glad to come back home on Saturday evening in time for our Sunday gathering in our home for dinner and a short FHE in honor of President's Day. What a delight to have family close by! I also got to talk with all of our children today! I love my life!

Bryson with Grandpa

The grandchildren love running the circle through the kitchen into the living room and having Grandpa catch them and smother them with kisses as they go by running back to do it all over again.

Daisy pausing for a picture

Grandma with kute Kaeley

Yesterday was a delightful day as I spent several hours in the afternoon helping sweet Sydney sew her first project, a Christmas stocking. She picks up everything so quickly.

Julia was involved in her own coloring project and I had fun playing with Bryson and Isaac outside.

Isaac is walking now and always has a car in each hand. I love the fact that he'll leave his Mommy's arms and reaches for me. I only get that when Grandpa's not around. I enjoyed spending the afternoon, helping Ondalynn so she could get groceries by herself, help with dinner and tend the children while Ondalynn went for a singing practice. I wish I could do the same for all of my daughters and daughter-in-laws!

Isaac is irresistible!