New friends, Reliv Training and Daisy's Graduation

We were pleased to get acquainted with MaryBeth & Brian Wagstaff from Spokane, WA. They responded to our Mormon Times ad, and they recently made the decision to get involved with Reliv. It was a delight to get to know them over the weekend. They arrived Friday afternoon in time for dinner before leaving for the Reliv Special Event and spent the night with us.

Quarterly, Reliv has MATS (Master Affiliate Training School). Steve & Joyce Holthaus , from Chicago, IL, were the Ambassadors that did the training for us in the Portland area. We always come away renewed and determined to do better. Best of all is the association with so many wonderful people that have a heart to help others. We were blessed with another good month in May and earned a Dr. Ted Plaque Award.

Quila & Jim Buhler hosted a BBQ at their home after the training and then we made it in time for Daisy's graduation from Joy School. Those kids were so adorable! One funny moment, while Vivi was leading the children in singing, "I've Got Joy," a little 'graduate' asked, "What is joy?"

Daisy Caudle - have you ever seen a cuter graduate?

Daisy does have joy!

As we were hugging Daisy goodbye, she said, "Thanks for coming." Her Mom wasn't there to prompt her to say that, but she stopped eating her cupcake to express her thanks. She's been taught well.

What did you do on Memorial Day?

A rare event for us...we slept in until 7 a.m.! Then to the "Secret Garden." Where or where is that brick pathway? Where is the dirt under all that grass and hundred of weeds? We were on a mission to find that Secret Garden today. We hacked away, pulling, shoveling, hauling, and everything else that goes along with it from 8 a.m. that morning, until....

By 12:30 p.m. it looked like this

Slight headway by midday. Listening to "Conversations" on the Mormon Channel kept us going.

We finally called it quits by 3 p.m. 

It was a 7 hours project to get this far - drinking a Reliv drink for lunch and not stopping! We're crazy!

Just as we were putting away our tools, Alice-Anne called and asked me to guess where they were. They had stopped at the Fielding Cemetery on their way home from Blackfoot to visit Grandma & Grandpa Smith's graves. Other family members had been there before them as the graves were decorated with many flowers. We always went to Fielding on Memorial Day when I was growing up. Thanks Alice-Anne and Gary for carrying on the tradition.

Fortunately we had cute grandkids to go see early that evening. Clark & Daisy having fun.

Isaac unable to control himself until Grandpa could finish eating his dinner.

Catching Julia with her mouth full.

Cute Caudle Family!

Sweet Sydney's Smile!

Irresistible Isaac!

Sydney loving her time with cousin Kaeley.

Grandpa shared a Memorial Day message, Ondalynn led us in the actions of the "Preamble," and our day was complete with a BBQ on the Vance's patio, and FHE together. We expressed our gratitude for many who had sacrificed their lives for our freedom today. Going to and from Vancouver I read to Dad the article in the latest Time magazine about Mitt Romney's mother, Lenore, who ran for Senator in the early '70's and lost, but the many lessons he learned from his parents, especially his mother have shaped his campaign today. 

Blessings that came from Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

We decided that after our cruise we didn't want to travel home on Sunday. Instead, we rented a car and found the closest church house to the Orlando airport. We slipped into a pew on the side close to the back as they were singing the opening hymn. The ward was very diverse. It reminded me of visiting Seth & Tiffany’s ward in Miami with a variety of nationalities.

When we stood after the meeting was over, the lady sitting in the row in front of us and off to the side turned and looked at us and said, “I know you!” It turns out it was Donna Anderson Bingham. She grew up in the same ward in Phoenix that we attended and she was Delon’s best friend. She and her husband were in Orlando, he for business meetings, and two of their children and grandchildren had come from Georgia to see them. What a small world. We chatted for a few minutes and learned that her husband, Dan, had been recently called as a Stake Pres. They are from Helena, Montana.

Later we drove to the Brandon where we lived in the early years of our marriage near Tampa. We visited friends Sunday afternoon and Monday and Monday evening we did a Reliv presentation for some friends and they had invited guests to come, too. There was much excited about the products and everyone there wanted on them. They then shared with some friends. That one evening resulted in $8,000 worth of sales. We had also had a good month, despite the fact that we were out of town for a week for the cruise. We ended up being 5^th in the nation in volume of sales for the month of April and Reliv sent us a bonus check for $2250!

We couldn’t believe the blessings that were poured out upon us. We truly felt that we were being blessed for keep the Sabbath Day holy.

Brandon Ward Building 4/12

Mother's Day Memories

I’m enjoying a beautiful Mother’s Day. The sun is shining brightly and for that I rejoice! Nothing is more beautiful than Oregon around Mother’s Day when the flowers are in bloom everywhere. Our kind Heavenly Father created such a magnificent world to live in!

It was a treat to have Crismon home this morning. He spent nearly every minute serving me. I’m grateful to be a mother and to have the joy having good children who are passing the legacy of faith on to their children.

Its now a week later since I started writing. I’m finally getting back to writing my thoughts. I was happy to speak with each of our nine children on Mother’s Day and some we did “Face Time.” As a young mother living in Florida, I longed to be able to share my cute children with my parents. We could write letters, but if we called, because of the cost of long distance, the one receiving the call would immediately ask, “What’s wrong.” The distance between me and many of my grandchildren is still too far, but the distance doesn’t seem as far thanks to webcam, Face Time, email, and free long distance!

Asher enjoying one-on-one time with his Dad (Seth)

As a new stake president, Crismon was brave, but I know inspired, to encourage Bishops to keep Sacrament meeting on Mother’s Day a day of worshipping, where the talks were on the Savior and not the typical “Mother’s Day” where so much emphasis was on women, giving out gifts, food and so forth. A letter was read to the members ahead of time. I heard a number of comments where sisters enjoyed it instead of guilt feelings or sadness for those who don’t have children, or who have sad situations in their families. The honoring of mothers should be done in the home.

Asher holding the book that they sent me

I loved the cards, notes, and sweet messages from my children that day and into the week. I was thrilled to receive this beautiful book “Mothers of Faith.” Tiffany wrote one of the chapters. She has an amazing Mom, and Tiffany did such a great job. It's a treasured book!

Norah, Janelle, Ruby & Dallin 5/12

We're anxious to have Dallin & Janelle and their 3 adorable girls visit us this summer! Can't wait! Dallin and Janelle are planning our CS Lewis family reunion that will be held before our MW Lewis reunion in June. Dallin feels a big burden lifted after passing his major exams and orals in his Doctorate program. He nows has his Dissertation which will take several years to complete. Way to go Dallin! A big cheer for Janelle for her incredible support. She received a much deserved break for several days to visit a friend in Colorado.

Ondalynn and Gary's family came for dinner. Dad came a little later after setting Kevin Milburn apart as a missionary, to the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission. Gary set to work preparing a delcious dinner along with Sydney's help. Have I mentioned how much we love having this family close by? It's fun to see them all growing up and developing well in many aspects of their lives.

Grandma Lewis, Isaac, Gary, Ondalynn, Julia, Sydney & Bryson

Vivi and Brett's family joined us later. After dinner the mother's were treated to Mother's Day songs. It was the hottest day of the year so far. We pulled out the fans for the first time since last summer.

Julia played so cute with cousin, Kaeley

My first Mother's Day with Ondalynn as a Mommy herself.

Everyone wasn't too excited about singing, but they did it!

Isaac was devastated when he had to leave Grandpa!

Alice-Anne had a special Mother's Day, too. She is such a good Mommy, filling her day with growing activities with her children, planting a garden, making bread, making freezer jam, etc. She added in her blog: "Can you tell how thrilled Spencer is about this picture taking session? This makes me laugh because this is his personality!" 

Kute Kenna, Mommy Alice-Anne & (slightly cooperating) Spencer

Julia Joy calls me each Sunday and I love our chance to visit and get caught up on her week. She has a nice friend who is away for the summer while she's at BYU-I. She's exciting about graduating in Dec. She is such a good aunt to her nieces and nephews.

Julia with Elliot 4/12

Beautiful Vivi, is such a good Mommy. She and Brett were helping me last night with a few projects. I offered the children some candy, but they told Daisy she couldn't have it because she didn't eat her dinner. I was amazed Daisy accepted it without tears or whining. They are consistent in their parenting.

Vivienne with Kaeley 4/12

Crismon recently was hired to be a Chinese patent researcher with Multiling, a translation company based in Provo. The job entails reading over Chinese material that describe computer and engineering inventions and finding key words to see if a similar invention has already been developed. He's excited to use his Chinese in a job situation.

Grandma Swain, Danielle & Crismon, Jr. 4/12

I love talking to my sweet daughter, Emily, who does so many little things for me although she's many miles away. She keeps me smiling! She will be a fun Mom someday. She loves Family History and she's been working on the 1940 Indexing and helping edit some chapters in Grandpa Grant G. Smith's History. She's patient with my computer problems and other technology issues.

Emily with Evelyn 4/12

Meredith is a busy Mommy with her two little ones. I often talk to her as she is walking to the park. I love our Sunday morning Face Time where I can "see" those darling children.! Meredith has been extremely supportive of Bryan who just finished his 1st year of medical school. Congratulations, Bryan! She's serves in her ward as an organist and Bryan as a counselor in the Elders Quorum. Meredith is to be commended, too, for carrying on so well at home while Bryan studied endlessly.

Christian & Evelyn with their cute Mommy on Mother's Day

I feel very blessed to have these wonderful children and grandchildren. I'm so very thankful to be a Mother! They are my jewels! They honored me on my 60th birthday with this special necklace in the shape of "infinity." Ondalynn's birthstone is at the top and the jewels gradually get better with Emily's at the bottom. The children tease that it is appropriate that Emily's is the biggest! My joy is full! Thank you, my precious ones, for making me so happy. I love you, Mom....

The Disney Dream Cruise was a delight!

We felt honored to be included among the 35 top distributors in volume of sales for Nov. & Dec. of 2011, ending up as 15th in the nation. Reaching that level earned us the right to a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas from April 19-22nd with the other distributors. We flew out of Portland on Wed., the 18th and were treated well at the Hilton Hotel at the Orlando airport. We met up with the others the next morning where we took a bus to Port Canaveral to board the ship. What an awesome sight to see the ship looming in the distance!

Highlights included sitting on the deck chairs on our own veranda and enjoying the ocean just the two of us, sleeping 9 straight hours two nights in a row, being with wonderful friends, sharing the gospel and similarities with new friends who are Jewish, reading, swimming in the pool on board ship and in the beautiful ocean at Castaway Cay, the Disney island, having meals prepared, but best of all, enjoying this with my wonderful husband and relaxing from our very busy schedules.

First stop on board - food and visiting with good friends, Jacque & John Hayes (AZ), Mike & Lou Ann Pecorelli (UT), Karen Turner (UT)

I was all smiles leaving FL, no cell phones, no computers, just relaxing together!

Friday morning we docked at Nassau in the Bahamas

Relaxing aboard the ship

Dinner at the Royal Palace Restaurant

Leaving the Micky Mouse Theater after a terrific Broadway caliber show

Enjoying our last evening with Reliv friends at the Animator's Palate Restaurant

Visiting with good friend, Sue Lippens-Brusa

Saying good-bye to Mickey on the last evening

Thank you Reliv for another "dream" vacation

All the Reliv Distributors on board the Disney Dream

More celebration turning 60

Wed., April 4th, I officially turned 60, but I had such a great day that turning 60 was quite delightful! I hope that each of our children will have the blessing of having wonderful children to honor them as they reach those milestones in their lives. What joy I felt as I heard from each of the children and felt their love. My day started out by 4 dozen roses delivered by some sweet family members! Oh my! I couldn't believe it, along with two boxes of chocolates! 

 The Vance children were out of school for spring break so Ondalynn brought the children, and Vivi came, too, with her three for a day of fun. Being with family was the best part of the day.

Beautiful daughters, Vivi with Kaeley and Ondalynn with Isaac

Just the girls went out for lunch at a delicious Thai Restaurant in dowtown Gresham. Sydney managed all the children in the basement while Grandpa worked in the office.

Ondalynn made a delicious cake with whip cream and strawberries on top. Yum! It was fun to share it with the grandchildren.

Then the children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt in the basement. 

Crismon treated me to a romantic dinner at Truffle Hunter. I appreciated him keeping his calendar clear as it was typically a night he did interviews. 

My Sweetheart presented me with a very treasured gift. Each of the children wrote a paragraph of a special memory that they loved about me, and Emily had put it together in such an artistic manner. I loved it! We rented the movie "Courageous" to finish the evening." We highly recommend this terrific movie about fathers being great Dads to their children and stepping up to be the best that they can be. I feel so truly thankful for the many blessings that are showered upon me. Life is wonderful! I love being a mother and grandmother to this precious family.