Be Worthy & Clean in 2013...

Back in 1995 we decided to figure out the date for the soonest time we could all be in the temple together for the first time. Emily would be turning 21 in 2013. We came up with the theme "Be Worthy and Clean in 2013," or "Keep Dad Alive Until He's 65." This was a promise we would often say as a family before family prayer or different times throughout the day. Dad made a reminder of our promise and put it on our refrigerator while we lived in our first home in Gresham. Despite the move in 1996 and 16 years going by, we still had that promise reminder, although tattered and worn on our refrigerator all these years.

When the age changed for sister's to go on missions from 21 to 19, it opened the door for Emily to serve sooner than expected. 

All the family was gathering for Julia's wedding. Emily was so happy she would be able to be there for the wedding, too. Since the wedding was going to be such a busy day, we wanted to attend an endowment session where we could enjoy that special time in the temple together. The date was set for the afternoon before the wedding.

By noon on Dec.28th, everyone was in Portland. Many met at the temple for lunch and then we enjoyed a most wonderful temple endowment session where each of our nine children were present. We were also happy to have some of our wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws, Gary Vance, Tiffany (Gee), Brett Caudle, Danielle (Swain), and Austin Doutre who would become our son-in-law the next day, there with us too. We missed having Gary Johns, Janelle (Otteson), and Bryan Williams who were all home tending children so we could be together. 

Dad and I looked at each other as the endowment session began. Surely, there was "joy" in our posterity. Then as we waited in the celestial room for each one to enter, it was an overwhelming experience to see them come in to that glorious room one-by-one. I felt like I had witnessed a glimpse of heaven as our family circle continued to grow as each one joined the circle.

When we had all gathered, we went upstairs to visit quietly for awhile. I just sat there in awe, looking at each of our beautiful children and feeling overcome with gratitude for their faithfulness. I could hardly speak as I was humbled by this priceless moment where time seemed to just stand still and the blessings of eternity were more real in the temple that day.

Before we went our separate ways, we gathered in the foyer of the temple where Crismon and I presented them each with a handkerchief to remember this special day. That promised came about 3 days before 2013!

Of course, we had to have a picture of our family before leaving the temple that day. We are blessed!

One side note, you'll see the initials "BYOG" added to the bottom of the card. We asked the family if they could remember why those letters were added. Meredith confused, that after Ondalynn and Alice-Anne both married "Gary's" she penned that onto our motto, "Bring Your Own Gary!"

The next da,y in my personal scripture study, I read this verse that expressed the desire of my heart for each of my children, from Moroni 8:3   

"I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end."

Christmas 2012

We celebrated a quiet Christmas with Emily, Crismon Jr. and Danielle. It was the calm before all the events of the wedding happening just days later. Julia took the Amtrak train to Seattle and met Austin to be with the Doutre's as all their family was together. We missed her, but we were happy she could be with Austin. We relished the joy of the season together and remembering the humble birth of our Savior in a manager long ago.

Vivi brought over a huge 20 lbs. ham for me to put in our oven on Christmas day. Later all the family would gather for a Christmas dinner in our home. Vivi planned everything and she and Ondalynn did most of the meal, which was a nice break for me.

Crismon was a help to me in the kitchen.

Crismon & Danielle were in charge of the preparing the Christmas Eve dinner and doing the program. They prepared delicious scalloped potatoes and ham.
We were taught well by Crismon from the scriptures, along with many good insights that he shared.

Danielle filled our home with beautiful music.

Christmas morning we took time to have breakfast together before opening gifts. Emily made some "melt-in-your-mouth"cinnamon rolls for all of us to enjoy! Notice the bouquet of flowers on the table. Crismon gave those to Danielle for their 1st Anniversary that they celebrated on Dec. 16th. They went to the beach for a 3-day "Honeymoon trip," thanks to a gift from the Swain's.

There was lots of hugging on Christmas morning as everyone expressed their thanks after each gift. 

With Emily leaving on her mission to Argentina in just a month, this was a missionary Christmas for her. Luggage was definitely needed!

Emily excited to receive a "Argentina" blanket.

 Danielle worked for weeks putting together a picture book of their wedding for Crismon. It was beautiful!

We enjoyed many Christmas greetings from friends and family, and it was fun to post them on the door in my kitchen.

My Christmas Card Door in my kitchen

What a delight to have Crismon and Danielle with us as we got better acquainted with Danielle. We feel so blessed to have her in our family. They both were a great help during the busy days of the wedding. Danielle was also spending hours typing up recipes for a bound recipe book for her Mom for Christmas of family favorite recipes. She is a hard worker!

Dad Crismon and I took a gal I Visit Teach, Melissa McMullen, to the airport Christmas morning and then we met Emily, Crismon and Danielle at the movie, Les Miserables. It was tremendous! Before the movie, Dad and I visited the Caudle's to see those cute kids and enjoy the excitement in their home. We were blessed to be able to use Melissa's home during the time of the wedding. We took care of her cats and the Doutre's were all able to stay in the home together without having to have several motel rooms. It was just minutes from our church building and it was such a blessing to us and them.

I didn't get a picture of everyone on Christmas Day with the Vance's and the Caudle's, but this is Paxson who was patient on the floor while everyone played games.

Emily is a fun aunt and her nieces and nephews loved playing games with her on Christmas night.

Bridal Shower for Julia

Our dear friends, Lisa Tapasa and Mary Lindhorst, (Julia's YW leaders) hosted a Bridal Shower for Julia on Dec. 20, 2012. It was a lovely evening, and so fun to enjoy it with many who had blessed Julia's life.

Julia with two of her best friends, Marjorie Allen and Hilary Munger.

Everyone dressed up in crazy costumes before leaving for a silly picture with Julia. Oh...aren't we beautiful!

Ondalynn, Julia, Mom, Vivienne and Emily.

Marjorie, Julia & Hilary

Julia, Mom & Emily for a more normal picture when we returned home.

This was her cute invitation that Lisa made for her.

Julia's Temple Endowment

A simple prayer offered by Julia all her life was to go to the temple someday. That dream came true for her the evening of Dec. 18, 2012, in the Portland OR temple. Austin came down from Puyallup and I went with them to the Records office in Oregon City for their marriage license, then on to the temple. As a parent this is one of those most wonderful occasions to see your daughter, pure and wonderful in every way be worthy to enter the House of the Lord and to be ready to receive her endowment. She was the only young woman that night to receive her endowment and we had a sweet experience meeting with the Assistant Matron of the Temple while she shared important truths with Julia.

Also in attendance was Dad, Emily, Crismon & Danielle, Vivi, and Ondalynn. That evening completed the circle of having all our children endowed. A humbling, sweet time for Crismon and me.

Ondalynn isn't in the picture as she had to leave to feed her nursing baby and her in-laws were flying in that evening for the Christmas holiday and Emily was taking the picture.

Dad, Mom, Crismon Jr., Danielle, Austin, Julia & Vivienne

Sisters...and...best friends!

Pre-Christmas Events with Family

We were so happy to have Crismon & Danielle come to our home for the Christmas holidays. We caravan coming back from Julia's graduation. They were so good to help us in many ways with things around the home and other needs. It was a treat for us to get better acquainted with Danielle. Sunday evening, Dec. 16, 2012 the Vance's and the Caudle's joined us in our home for dessert and a FHE. I was getting use to my new iPhone 5 camera and the pictures weren't the best but I wanted to remember that lovely evening together, kind of crazy, too, with the children excited about Christmas coming.

The first thing we did was hand out the Christmas letter from the Johns' family that they sent back with Crismon & Danielle, so we all had fun looking at their pictures and reading the funny Kid Kwotes.

We had Julia show us her cap and gown and let us cheer for her for graduating from BYU-I.

Sydney played some Christmas songs and Julia directed the singing.

I'm grateful for Thanksgiving (Nov. 2013)

I love my family! I especially love Thanksgiving because it is so much about family. It seems the world stops for a day and everyone gathers in the home to help prepare the most delicious food. I love to have my children come home from college, from another state, or even across town to all be together. My day started out by myself and our 20+ lb. turkey. He was soon in the oven and I had time to hug cute granddaughter Evelyn who was staying in our home along with her family from Glendale, AZ.

Austin & Julia came from BYU-I, arriving just the night before Thanksgiving. Always a relief when they get here safely during the winter months. Avery long knitted scarf that Dallin made years ago was in the dress-up chest. Evelyn became bound up in it.

She loved the teasing from Grandpa.

Emily was a great help in the kitchen. She made the most delicious mashed potatoes!

Meredith made yummy pumpkin cookies to take to their William's Thanksgiving dinner. All the William's were in town for Ashley's wedding reception.

The happy engaged couple about 5 weeks from their wedding!

I really liked the method I tried this year of baking the turkey at a very high heat for an hour and then on a low heat. Yum! Very moist!

Cute Sydney putting on the finishing touches before our feast.

We loved having Emily, Julia & Austin, and the Vance Family with us.

We were having such a lovely, clear day that after we ate we all went on a walk around the neighborhood.

Grandpa had to take time out for kisses

Sydney was in charge of planning the Thanksgiving program. She and her siblings had a cute skit for us to enjoy.

Lots of smiles and laughs at the kid's table later when the Caudle's and Williams' family joined us later that day.

Balderdash was a fun bluffing games that we all enjoyed. Many memories of being together to feast together, sing together, laugh together and rejoice together in our bounteous blessings.

A New Year...2013

It's always very exciting to welcome in a new year. The latter part of 2012 year was extremely busy, but wonderful! I'm catching up on some events that happened in November and December of 2012 in the following posts.

One of the joyous blessings that came to me in January of 2013, was to begin working in the Portland, Oregon Temple, located in Lake Oswego. This picture was not taken during the dark, cloudy days of January, but at another time.

This is what I recorded in my journal on that day:

January 9, 2013

This has been such a wonderful day for me. I was set apart as a temple worker by Pres. Myron Childs, Pres. of the temple. I loved my first day working in the temple. This is something I've wanted to do for such a very long time. A dream come true! I loved it! I'm especially grateful that Crismon has allowed me to take the time to serve away from our business.

I felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost this morning as I woke up. I heard in my mind those words from my Heavenly Father by the spirit. "I love you. I am special in His Eyes." He is well pleased with me. It was that assurance that He was well aware of my service in the temple that day and He was expressing His love to me. What an incredible experience to feel of His approval of me.

I hope I can always remember the feeling of joy that I experienced at this time and have it be a foundation of strength for me throughout the year.