Book of Mormon

Today has been a BIG day for me, as this morning I officially finished reading the whole Book of Mormon from beginning to end for the first time ever in my life. For me, it is a HUGE accomplishment! Something I have tried to do my whole life, but for one reason or another I hadn't been able to do it. Yes, you heard me correctly...the first time ever!! I have started reading it more times than I can count. And tried reading here and there in it MANY, MANY times. I really, really believe it is because I was ready...spiritually, mentally ready! I not only read it, but felt the spirit as I read it daily and I understood what I was reading as I read it.

Back in January I received a new calling as the Young Woman's Secretary in our ward. And they were already 15 days into their Book of Mormon reading challenge...so I was behind and had A LOT of reading to do to catch up. I am SO thankful to my Young Woman's Presidency for doing this Book of Mormon reading challenge as it gave me the push I so badly needed. 

I am so proud of me ha ha...is that awful...but I really am. I wish I could shout from a mountain top...I DID IT!!! 

Now, I am going to read the Doctrine and Covenants from beginning to end...and now, I am looking forward to all that I will learn from it.

Easter

We usually do Easter on Saturday at our house. But, since we were down in Cardston at my Grandma's funeral it didn't happen. So we did it Sunday morning instead. 

bottom left: Nathaniel and Bella's baskets

bottom right: Cole, Tyson and Bryn's baskets

I can't show any of the other pictures as Bella and Nathaniel are in them, so this will have to do. The kids were all smiles and happy to get their baskets.

Nathaniel (our 6 year old foster boy) had never had the Easter bunny come to his house before, so he was pretty excited to wake up to all this excitement. 

Cole had come to me last week asking for a new John Bytheway CD instead of candy in a basket. How cool is that! He has 2 of John Bytheway's CD collections and he really likes them...he listens to them as he goes to sleep every night. He has listened to them over and over and is wanting something new to listen to. We were more than happy to get him something new. In fact we bought him a couple of new CD's by 2 different guys:

 Cole said they are both REALLY good and they made him laugh.

I LOVE that he connects with these kinds of things and learns so much from them :)

 Easter Story

 I bought this childrens book from our church book store and it is the cutest book. You can't see it in this picture, but it is all glittery and such a pretty book. We read it to the kids Sunday morning as it explains what each color symbolizes in the basket and walks you through the Bible story of why we celebrate Easter...really, really neat!

Hope you all had a GREAT Easter!!

another new addition

Wednesday, April 20th we got a call from our foster agency and we now have another addition to our family for the time being. He is a sweet boy and 6 years old. He has great manners and is doing as good as can be expected. Actually, he is so sweet and is typical for his age. He asks SO many random questions... 

Why is the cement gray? 

Why do you have a deck? 

Why does Bella cry so much? LOL 

Why does Brynley kiss you so much? 

you get the point...he asks A LOT of questions :) 

Being a family of 7 has its challenges, but seriously he is so good he really does make it easy. He is learning to say prayers (he didn't know what they were) and he really likes me to say them every night with him now after we read a book. 

We don't know how long he will be with us, but for now we will just enjoy having him in our home. He came with us down to Cardston to my Grandma's funeral and had a great time at the hotel swimming and playing with our boys. At one point he was standing beside me at the family dinner and he slipped his hand in mine and held my hand...it was the sweetest thing! So I am glad he is getting comfortable with us.

Easter Break...

Our boys don't have school this week and we don't have any plans really. I feel bad about not going anywhere or doing anything, but this year we are just going to be home doing nothing. 

We did take them to see the movie Rio and they really liked that. Cole might be going to Strathmore Wednesday night to stay with his buddy Tyler until Sunday. Tyson has been hanging out with friends as well and having a good time.

Paper route...

Cole started a paper route last Wednesday, April 20th.

When the papers got dropped off at our house this is what we saw when we opened our front door. How cool is that that they left a Chocolate Easter bunny for him? Very thoughtful of them I thought :)

This is only a small amount of the papers he delivers.

Once the papers get delivered to our house Cole has to roll them up and put an elastic around each one and bag them if the weather is wet out. My front room gets taken over every Wednesday after school with all the newspapers as he is rolling them all and preparing to go. Then he goes and delivers them. He has about 109 houses that he delivers too.

We bought this little cart for him to use...but it doesn't hold very much. So for now he is loading it and a back pack and making due by coming back and loading back up when he needs more.

Cole's friend Nathan and his brother Tyson were nice enough to help Cole deliver the papers for the first time.

The boys out in our cul-de-sac starting the route.

Cole is wanting to save up for a scooter, so he figures doing this paper route will help contribute towards getting one. When he is 14 years old (which is this coming January) he will be allowed to ride one around town.

 This isn't the exact one he wants...but you get the picture :) How fun would that be for him and his buddies to all have scooters and be driving around??? I think it would be wicked fun LOL!!

Grandma Woolf

My Grandma Ethel Ruth Schow Woolf passed away Thursday, April 21st 2011 in the early morning hours. 

At the funeral I was asked to sit at the table with one of the registration books. My son Cole sat with me. It was neat when people would come in and tell us who they were and how they knew Grandma and hear their stories of her. So many had tears of love for her as she had done kinds things for them as kids or was a wonderful cousin to others.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day out! The funeral was wonderful.

Once again, I forgot my camera. So I will wait patiently for my Aunt to pass along pictures that were taken.
  
Lethbridge Herald Obituary

Ethel RUTH SCHOW WOOLF, beloved wife of Lee Ronald Woolf (deceased 2009), loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed on Thursday, April 21st, 2011 in Cardston at the age of 91 years.

Ruth was born June 21st, 1919 in Burley, Idaho and raised in Cardston, Alberta. She graduated from the Henderson Business School in Lethbridge and worked in the Department of Lands and Mines in Edmonton until she married Lee November 27th, 1941 in the Cardston Alberta Temple. Ruth returned to Cardston while Lee served in the Armed Service overseas during WW II. Here they resided on his return in 1946. Ruth worked nearly ten years as secretary of the Cardston High School until they moved to Lethbridge in 1963. She worked twenty years as executive secretary in the Purchasing Department at St. Michael’s Hospital. Upon her retirement they moved back to Cardston. Ruth was married to Lee the “light of her life” for 67 years.

Ruth was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving throughout her life in positions as teacher and leader in the Primary, Young Women, Relief Society and Sunday School organizations. She loved singing in the ward choir. Ruth treasured the years serving with Lee as a Temple worker in the Cardston Alberta Temple and in the Temple Visitor’s Centre.

She was a devoted, loving and supportive grandparent. Her favorite avocation was to be involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Cookie jars were always full and available. Hospitable, caring and generous, she was quick to bring solace with her famous home made rolls and angel food cakes. Gardening was her pastime, and roses particularly flourished under her care. Known for her friendly, cheerful nature, she was a friend to all.

Though restricted to care in Grandview Nursing Home and the Auxiliary Hospital for her last eight years, her genuine smile, occasional flash wit and constant words of gratitude endeared her to family, visitors and care givers alike.

She is survived by her children: Sharon (Jim) Walker of South Ogden, Utah, Peggy (Ross) Ash of Cardston, Gayla (Terry) Holt of Cardston presently serving an LDS Mission in SLC, Utah, Gordon (Marilyn Selman) Woolf of South Ogden, Utah; 21 grandchildren and 59 great grandchildren. Ruth is survived by her sister-in-law Lois Schow, Freeda Schow, and Nadine Schow.
She is predeceased by her parents George Sidney Schow and Ingeborg Olesen Schow, and siblings: Celestia Hornberger, Sidney Schow, Rex Schow, Virginia Clarke, Paul Schow, Mark Schow and a grandson, Ben Holt.

The Funeral Service will be held in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, CARDSTON ALBERTA WEST STAKE CENTRE ( on the Waterton Highway), on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Elder David Olsen officiating.

Friends may meet the family at the Church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the Service. Interment in the Cardston Cemetery. 

My Grandma Woolf and I 

(January 2011)

My Mom and her 2 sisters had been with her all week and the last 3 nights as well, staying vigil by her bedside. My Mom's only brother had also been there earlier in the week and unfortunately had to leave and go back to Utah for some work related things that just could not wait. 

Mom and dad came up from Utah Monday, April 18th as Grandma hadn't eaten or drank anything in about 5 days by this point...so we knew the time was going to be soon. My sister Emily came up with them. She is a nurse, so Emily helped them understand things that were going on with Grandma. We couldn't believe how Grandma was holding on. I am thankful my Mom was able to make up to be with Grandma during her last few days...even though it was tough.

It is SO incredibly hard to watch a loved one deteriorate not matter what age they are. Nothing can prepare you for it! My Mom said when Grandma finally passed away there was a smile on her face and a tear rolling down her cheek. She was the last of 7 kids to pass away. So I bet the reunion with all her siblings and her parents and other loved ones was bitter sweet. Mostly I am so glad she is no longer suffering.

The family get together was held Friday, April 22nd and the funeral was Saturday, April 23rd 2011. Things had already been arranged and ready as we all knew it was her time to go. 

It was all so neat and fun to see family and hear about everyone's memories of her. The weather was beautiful and what a great weekend to celebrate her life...Easter!! At the family get together the night before the funeral it was like a family testimony meeting really. It was so great to listen to my sibling, cousins, Aunts, Uncles and my Mom reminisce about this special lady. My Grandma Woolf was really my only Grandma I knew my whole life. She was the best! We ALL felt like we were one of her favorites. Never an unkind word came out of those sweet lips. She had quick wit and such a fun sense of humor. Family dinners were always fun as she would have us all laughing. SO many good memories! I have A LOT to work on to even be close to what she was like...but, she is a good role model of what to try to become like.

Grandma looked so peaceful. And the talks as well as the music was so perfect...it all went really well! There were so many beautiful flower arrangements (my Grandma LOVED flowers- especially roses). Grandma always had the most beautiful roses and flowers in her flower beds. As I went around and looked at the cards that were on each arrangement and read who they were from I was shocked to see that one was from my Mom and Dad's 2 other Missionary couples who they serve with down in Salt Lake City. Mom said when the arrangement arrived and she saw who it was from it brought her to tears...how cool is that that they would do that!

This was one of the hymns that we sang at her funeral. It is one of my favorites- I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

Every song that was sang at Grandma's funeral made me cry. Music is so powerful and the spirit was so strong. My Grandma loved the church hymns and when asked what her favorite one was she said, 

"all of them."

I must get my love of music and church hymns from her. As I am not musically inclined in anyway...but singing hymns or listening to uplifting music really touches me. 

Even though we knew it was her time and she was 91 years old and she needed to go as she was suffering...it is still tough to say good bye to someone you love. Thursday evening as Kent and I were trying to get things ready to go we went for a drive to get us some slur-pees and on the way into Airdrie the sun was setting and it was so nice out. I looked at the sun set and all I could think was how beautiful it was and what a beautiful day it had been for Grandma. Tears began pouring down my face as I was so happy for her to not have to be suffering anymore. 

My Grandma and I

(Sunday, April 10th 2011)

Being Easter weekend it has been a time of reflection on my Grandma but also what Easter is really about. It really was a perfect weekend and made Easter all that more special to us all.

As we sang the song I Know That My Redeemer Lives at my Grandma's funeral Kent broke down in tears and I knew he was thinking of his Dad. 

Kent and his Dad

After my Grandma's funeral was over,  and while we were already at the cemetery, we walked over to were Kent's Dads graveside is. The kids and us laid flowers there and talked. 

Happy Easter everyone!

This and that...

I found this on you tube the other day and I find myself playing it over and over and humming it through out my day. It is just one of those songs that make me feel happy!

For me, I find that music can really affect me and move me. How about you? 

 
Stanford happenings...
For the past week, we have all been working hard around our house trying to get things better organized and doing some painting. We moved our computer room/craft room downstairs in the spare room down there. That way the bedroom upstairs is now made back into a bedroom again and opened up for another foster child if and when needed. Their bedroom has to be upstairs if they are under 12 years old. So that room is now emptied out and Kent patched and sanded the walls and then last night we painted the first coat on the walls in there. We are hoping to get it finished by tomorrow night...here's hoping?!


The computer room/craft room is all moved down and almost all set up. A few more things need to be put away and then it is done. It has been A LOT of work! BUT, it feels good to be getting it all done. 


A couple of weeks ago Kent painted the basement as well...the main living area. It looks so much better and not so dark and dreary. Our basement is all developed, but it definitely feels like a basement. The color on the walls before were a dark green type of color that was there when we moved in...so it was pretty dark down there. Now we painted it a lighter tan color and man did that make a difference...feels better and lighter now. One day we would like to put bigger windows in the basement. 


Birthday card funny...
It was my sister in law Melanie's birthday last week and I was out trying to find a bday card for her. I had Brynley and Izabella with me so it was a tricky process...I was trying to be quick, as they were grabbing at all the cards as I was reading other ones. Brynley had grabbed a card and kept saying, 

"hi Daddy, hi" 

and then she was pulling on my coat saying 

"Mum, wook Daddy" 

 (in other words, Mom look its Daddy) 

I looked down to see what she was talking about and this is what she was holding...BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

 Oh my goodness I laughed and laughed as she kept pointing to it saying that that was Daddy. I took a picture of it and sent it to Kent's cell phone showing him what Brynley thinks he looks like :) So funny!!

 Well, this is what Brynley was doing one day as we were driving somewhere...she was giggling so hard when I looked at her. Silly girl, so lady like LOL!

 Tyson wearing some 3D glasses that he popped the lenses out of while we were driving somewhere in the van. He thinks they are pretty cool ha ha! What a kid :)

First night gown...

 We bought Bryn this nightgown down in Utah when we were there. Brynley LOVES Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast. PLUS, she likes to dress up and she likes the feel of silky things on her skin...so this is all that wrapped up in one :)

If you click on the collage to make it bigger you can see in the top right picture she is doing the funniest cheesy grin...she was one happy girl to have this nightgown.

She was hilarious to watch as she gasped when she saw it and she was so excited to put it on. She just kept watching herself in the hallway mirror saying, 

"Hi Belle...oh pretty, pretty. " 

She can't say nightgown...what she does say is,

"my gow" 

(my gown) LOL!

This is the Brynley and Buddy the very next morning we had gotten home from Utah. They hadn't seen each other the night before so when Bryn saw him that morning she went running over to him squealing as she was so happy to see him (she hadn't seen him for almost a week). She laid right down with him and kept saying to him, 

"I me you Buddy, you me me?" 

(I missed you Buddy, you missed me?)

It was so sweet to see them together and so happy to see each other...ok, maybe Brynley was happier to see Buddy than Buddy was to see Bryn LOL! 

 Cole's new glasses...

Cole's old glasses were literally falling apart so we needed to get him a new pair. Cole is a creature of habit and staying with simple is better guidelines as he doesn't want to stand out. So in other words he doesn't like too many trendy things :)

 New glasses

When we went to a few different places to try and find him some new glasses we found the perfect ones...AND, they were even a little bit trendy and stylish. He was really happy with them and so was I...change is always a good thing! He looks great in them!!

 Old glasses

Weather... 
 I keep threatening we are going to move if this weather doesn't go away already!!

This was a couple of weeks ago. We got stuck in Jeff's driveway as the snow was so wet and so deep. Jeff is standing in the hole we were stuck in in our van...it is almost up to his knee. We were lucky as a guy was driving by with his truck and he pulled us out. 

 Izabella...

Our sweet Bella is so, so sick! She has 2 ear infections and strep throat...poor girl. Plus they think she has asthma since her cough and runny nose just won't go away. She has been coughing and had a runny nose since they day she came here...almost 2 months ago. SO, needless to say I think she as a crappy immune system and we are trying to get this little girl better. We tried giving her some natural stuff to see if that would work (for about a week) and it didn't seem to be helping. So therefore we went and got the medicine she was needing...hopefully this will help her get better ASAP!

 This is what the AeroChamber looks like and how we have to give it to Bella.

She is now using a puffer for her asthma and we have to use a AeroChamber mask thing to spray the medicine into it while it is covering her mouth to make sure she is getting it. She surprised us by taking it really well and not freaking out. She is also on penicillin and Tylenol. 

She wants to be held constantly since she isn't feeling good...so Bryn, Bella and I spend a lot of time on my bed cuddling watching T.V. and my house looks like a bomb went off LOL!  At least she is still sleeping through the night :) 

My sweet Grandma

While we were down in Utah with my Mom, she got a call from her only brother and one of her sisters telling her that her Mom (my Grandma) was slipping away and that she would be leaving us very soon. My Grandma is 91 years old and now only weighs 79 pounds. She has suffered most of her life with Arthritis. The past 8 years she has been in a nursing home and there have been a few times we thought she was going to be passing away and she would always rally and then be fine. But, this time things are very different.I told Kent that if Grandma was still with us, that on our way home from Utah I needed to stop and see her. 

When we arrived in Cardston at the hospital auxillary where she is now staying my Aunt Peggy (my Mom's sister), Uncle Ross and their kids Amy, Aaron and his wife Jen, Natalie and her husband Paul and Spencer were all there with Grandma. We didn't know it at the time but they had just given my Grandma a blessing of release. When we walked into her room they were all crying and the spirit was VERY strong! I was so humbled by the spirit and feeling in the room. 

I walked over to my Grandma and she was wide awake (normally she is sleeping) and told her who I was and she smiled and said hi. She has the best smile and twinkle in her eye. I put my hands under her blankets and grabbed her hand as I wanted to hold her hand. It startled her as my hands were so cold :) She asked me how come I am so cold and I told her I was sorry they were so cold, but they are always like that and she said it was alright that it felt good. 


I have to apologize for how these pictures look as they were taken with our cell phones since we didn't have a camera. So the pictures are fuzzy looking...but I am still thankful I have them.

 My Grandma and I

Kent and I last saw my Grandma in January and  there is such a big change since then. She was skin and bones then and now she only weighs 79 pounds.

Kent giving my Grandma a drink of water. When I turned to see Kent doing this it melted my heart. He is such a good man!

Grandma and I visiting.

I told Mom that even though Grandma is physically sick, to me, it was very evident that her spirit was there and was aware of all that was going on. I loved holding her hand and her telling me my hands were so cold and her smiling at me. Her and I would just stare at each other and I would keep reminding her who I was and each time she would say something different. One of the times she said,

 "Oh Barbara, there you are, I have missed you."

It made me cry cause I knew for that moment she really did see me and know who I was for the first time in years. I told her how much I loved her and she smiled and said,

 

 "we love all you kids so much"

(she was talking about all the Grand kids). She even looked at me  and said,

 

"you like to play house"

my cousin Natalie and I laughed and I said yes Grandma I did. And then we talked about playing house and dress up under the stairs in their basement. She was smiling as we talked about it.

Saying goodbye to my Grandma was very emotional. I was kissing her forehead and telling her how much I loved her when she looked at me and said,

 

"tell them to do as the spirit guides them."

I smiled at her and tears were pouring down my face as the spirit was so strong. Kent and I were shocked by her saying this...but it just goes to show how aware her spirit really is. You could feel the peace she was feeling. I told my Mom that it was like for that brief moment our spirits were connected. I will treasure that last precious time I had with her ALWAYS!!


I am amazed by this woman- her spirit that is so strong when her body is failing and so weak. It is wonderful the words she said to us and the precious time I could spend with her before she leaves us. She has always been in pain and suffered, but has always been such a good example of perservering and dealing with it.

I love you, you sweet, sweet precious lady!

Tears have been constantly running down my face on and off all week. So many thoughts and memories of my Grandma are just pouring in and my heart is SO full. I don't want her to suffer anymore and I know she will be leaving us very very soon. I can only imagine the sweet reunion she will have with our Heavenly Father very soon....she will no longer be hurting...I am so excited for her! 

This song "Goodnight Sweet Dreams" is what my Grandma would sing to her kids at bedtime and they all passed it down to all of us. So fitting for her right now :)

Our memories of Grandma Woolf...
My Aunt Peggy asked all of us Grand kids to email her our memories of our Grandma so she could put something together for her funeral. This is what I sent to her.


Grandma taught me (Barb) many things I can remember:

• Grandma was someone that showed me unconditional love- when I was doing things I shouldn't, she would tell me, "I love you, but you are too cute to be doing that."

• How to properly spread butter, jam, peanut butter on toast..."you must spread it from corner to corner so the whole top of the toast is covered, otherwise it won't taste as good."

• I can still hear her say, "oh honestly"...she said that a lot whether happy or not happy about something.

• Her teaching me how to wash my hair really good, by using my fingers to scrub my scalp....I remember her giving me baths and teaching me when I was a little girl and staying at her house.

• Her teasing us and having such a fun sense of humor- always new how to make us laugh.

• Whenever we would come over to their house she would greet us with the greatest smile and always showed us so much love. She had a softness and a twinkle in her eyes and a smile that was always so nice and welcoming.

• Grandma always had cookies in the cookie jar that was on the table.

• I loved helping Grandma clean or do whatever she needed done since she couldn't do things cause of her arthritis. Helping her meant that I got to spend time with her and have good visits.

• I had the best time helping Grandma make HUGE batches of cookies or banana bread or whatever she wanted to make at the time. Stirring these huge batches our arms would get SO tired, so we would have to take turns stirring. We would have the greatest talks during this time with her.

• Grandma taught me to always put lotion on as it was good for my skin.

• I can still picture Grandma out working in her flower beds. Her roses and flowers were always so pretty and she took such good care of them.

• Grandma also taught me how to make a bed properly. How to put on a pillow case and bed sheets the easiest and quickest way possible.

• Grandma was always exercising it seemed. She told me that we always need to exercise and keep moving as that is what our body needs.

• playing dress up and house under their stairs in the closet. Grandma would always motivate us to do this and to use our imaginations.

She was always such a lady and always looked so nice from head to toe. I loved looking at her old pictures from when she was younger and she would tell me the stories about each of them and how she would light up.
Cole and Tyson's memories:

1) playing with Grandma's canes with Nikk and Austin at Grandpa and Grandma Woolf's house

2) when she was in the nursing home and we would go visit Cole and Tyson loved rubbing lotion on Grandma's hands and feet for her since they were so sore and she loved lotion. She would just watch him quietly and smile and say thank you, that felt nice.

3) Tyson said he remembers pushing her in her wheel chair to go take her to eat and sitting with her while she ate and they just sat and smiled at each other...he said, that was great!

4) always had cookies in the cookie jar.

To be honest I have really struggled and have been having a hard time putting these last 2 posts together. It has taken me over a week to finish both of them. It was such a wonderful experience down in Utah with my parents and my sister and her family and I was finding that I was struggling to say all that I wanted to say and how to say it. And then on our way home seeing my Grandma and saying goodbye and all that was felt there as well. How do you describe such happiness, peace and sadness?? 

All I keep thinking is my cup runneth over, my soul is so happy with all that transpired last week. Oh how I needed that trip and that precious time with my Grandma. I am truly blessed and I have SO much to be thankful for!


Reading all the messages from my Mom about her memories and thoughts of her Mom have been so touching. I can't imagine how she feels. My Mom has been such a good example to me of how to serve someone you love when you are needed. Watching her take care of her Mom has been so neat and I hope one day that I can do all that for her when she needs me. She has always been such a good example to me in so many ways!


My thoughts are with my Grandma and her kids these next couple of days as they get to spend such sweet precious time with her. My Mom and Dad and my sister Emily will be driving up Monday morning and arrive in Cardston Monday evening.  

"May each of us remember this truth; 'one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God.' Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one."
— Thomas S. Monson (Pathways to Perfection: Discourses of Thomas S. Monson)

A GREAT surprise!

First off I need to say I have the greatest husband...last Monday, April 4th Kent surprised me by telling me that he and I were heading down to Utah Wednesday, April 6th morning until Sunday, April 10th. He had made all the arrangements for the kids to be taken care of. Our 3 kids went to Kent's Mom's house up in Innisfail. Izabella went to respite care in Calgary to a lady we knew and Buddy went to a couples house from our ward. I was SO shocked that he did all this! I was THRILLED as I was wanting to go see my parents so badly on their mission. It had been 8 months since they had left and since I had seen them. Plus, I wanted to see my sister Emily and her family as it had been 8 months since we had last seen them as well...I was having MAJOR family withdrawal!!

We wanted to keep it a surprise from my parents and just show up at the Church Office Buildings in Salt Lake City where they are serving their mission. So my sister Emily and her husband came up with a plan to make it all happen. They called my parents and told them they wanted to meet up for lunch on Thursday, April 7th. They arranged what time they would meet up with them and where...my parents had NO clue it was really going to be just Kent and I showing up to see them. 


 Back track a bit...
We took our kids up to Deb's house Tuesday evening and got them all settled. The boys were so happy as they were getting to miss 3 days of school ha ha. They were bummed that they weren't getting to go with us though...I felt bad about that, but money wise this is what needed to happen this time. 

We took Buddy into Airdrie where he was going to stay. I was worried he wasn't going to want to come home as the place he was going to had 2 other big dogs there for him to play with. He was one happy boy when he got out of the van and was greeted by 2 friends :)


Kent and I went home that evening to a VERY quiet house and finished packing and getting ready to leave early the next morning. It was such an exciting feeling...almost like a little kid Christmas morning. I couldn't wait to see my parents and surprise them. We got up the next and took Bella into Calgary to where she was going to be staying and then we were off to Utah. 

When we hit Lethbridge I looked at Kent and freaked out as I realized I had forgot my camera....NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I couldn't believe it...I was SO ticked off at myself!! *sigh* 

Wednesday evening...
We arrived at my sister Emily's house around 8:30 p.m. It was so windy there, which meant a storm was coming in. Of course there was LOL that is just our luck. Going to Utah we were hoping for warmth (unlike what we have at home) but it seems we brought it down with us as it snow heavy wet snow the WHOLE TIME we were there...I was not happy!! 

Emily was working so we were greeted by her husband Mark and their 5 kids. We haven't seen them all since last August and so we were really excited to see them. Their 3 oldest kids Max (13 1/2), Elizabeth (12) and Korhman (10) have all grown so much taller since we last saw them...I couldn't get over it! Their 2 youngest boys Calvin (5) and Nathan (almost 4) are growing up as well and we had a lot of fun playing with them and spending time with them all. 

Every time we go down there we say how we wish we could live closer to them. I think we would really like it down there...but it just isn't possible.  They live in the neatest community, so pretty. The houses are spread out and so nice.

Mark, Kent and I went out Wednesday after we unloaded our stuff and went to eat at one of our favorite places down there called Batos. It is a Mexican restaurant and it is OHHHH SOOOO GOOD!! The portions are HUGE and very filling. We went and got Emily a salad that she asked for and took it up to her work. Emily is a nurse. It was fun to go see where she works and see her briefly. She was working the night shift.
  
Thursday... 
Emily and Mark had arranged with Mom and Dad to meet up with them for lunch in the cafeteria in the Church Office Building down town Salt Lake on Temple Square at 12:30 p.m. When we arrived on Temple Square I was taken back by ALL the flowers and the beautiful blossoming trees that were everywhere. Ahhhh, so THIS is what Spring is like :)

Temple Square

When we walked in the gates on Temple Square the flowers were breath taking and you could smell them so strongly. It was so beautiful there! I have to say it was W-I-N-D-Y there as well as there was a storm coming in. BUT, at least when we first arrived at Temple Square it was nice out and we got to walk around and see the beauty of it all.

Seeing all of this made me take a deep breath and smile...it was awesome!

Temple Square is such a pretty, peaceful place. I envy my parents as this is where they get to sit and have lunch when they can. They live very close by and so they walk most days. How awesome is that :)

I love this picture that my Mom took.

My favorite thing at Temple Square were these breath taking Japanese Apple Blossom Trees. They were so pretty! 


It was nice to walk through Temple Square with Kent. Through out our trip I would constantly feel like we had forgotten something or we were missing something...our kids LOL! It felt so strange without them, but we enjoyed our time together just the two of us while we could.

My missionary parents Elder and Sister Holt on Temple Square. They are so happy there! It makes my heart SO happy to see them so happy and enjoying life there. 


This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Office Building where my parents serve their mission in Salt Lake City.

 

 They serve in the Translation Dept. There are over 92 different languages in the church and more to come. They are very busy trying to get things done in all these different languages so ALL can hear the gospel.

Kent and I arrived 20 minutes early to the church office building so I thought let's try to see if we can get upstairs onto the Translation Dept Floor where they work. We went over and talked to these 2 ladies sitting at the information desk and explained who we were and that we had come all the way form Canada to surprise my parents that are serving their mission there. They were just as excited to make the surprise happen as we were ha ha...it was so fun! It is quite the process to get up there. You have to get a tag with your picture on it and get an ok to go up. They called upstairs to make sure there were such people called Elder and Sister Holt and that they were there. We were able to get out tags made and security let us go up. 

We were SO excited that we were getting to do this as this is how I had envisioned surprising them. My heart was racing as I couldn't wait to see them. We got off the elevator and had no clue where to go. This older man was there when we got off the elevator and asked where we were going (as we looked lost) and he directed us where to go. As we walked away he asked who we were looking for and we told him Elder and Sister Holt and he said, 

"oh, those are my people, have fun!"

When we found their office cubicle and I could see my Mom sitting facing her computer (so she had her back to me) and Dad wasn't there. I walked up behind her and put my hand on her shoulder. Mom looked at my hand and then slowly turned and looked at me. It was the funniest reaction as it took her a second to react as she was so shocked she said...but once she realized it was me she let out this loud squeal. It was so, so perfect and so fun! We both had tears as we were so happy to see each other. 

Mom took this picture with her camera since I didn't have mine. This is right in her cubicle minutes after we surprised her.

Mom went around and introduced us to everyone that was there on the Translation Dept. floor. Dad finally came around the corner and he was shocked to see us as well. Funny how I am 35 years old and I can still miss my parents so much and NEED to see them and be with them...is that a bad thing?? I don't think so! It was awesome to get to hug them and see them so happy. 

They showed us all the different views of downtown Salt Lake City from there floor...beautiful and you can see so much! She pointed out where the prophet lives (which is right across the street). I was taken back that he lived so close, but it makes sense that he does. 

So, when I saw this picture I realized how much my Mom and I really do look alike...it made me laugh, cause I never could see it before. I have always been told I look a lot like her and now I can see it. When Mom introduced me as her daughter to a Missionary down in the cafeteria he said,

"uh, ya that is kind of obvious you look a lot alike." 

Mom said sorry to me and I laughed as I take it as a compliment. I love my Mom and if I can be like her in anyway then I am good with that :)

The cafeteria was packed with so many people...all workers in the church office building. It amazed me to think that all these people (and that is not even close to how many people there are that work there) help run the church and make things possible. The food was wonderful and we were stuffed by the time we were done. 

The tour...

My parents have special clearance/passes to be able to go places not everyone can go. We saw things most members will never get to see...and all I can say is, AMAZING!! We got to go in all the under ground tunnels that connect all the church buildings. My parents have special clearance and passes so every time we got stopped by security to check us out they would show them their passes and all was good. It was nerve racking when we would get questions LOL!

Seriously, I couldn't get over the how clean EVERYTHING was...and I mean EVERYTHING. Walking in the tunnels there was wires neatly organized and up out of the way and ducts and NONE of them had a spec of dust on them. The cement in the under ground parking where the apostles and everyone parks was SHINY...you could eat off of it...I kid you not! Mom said that they have a Zamboni like machine that is constantly cleaning in there.  It amazed me!

 Conference Center... 

Kent and I have never been to conference down in Utah. So therefore we have never been inside where they hold conference either. Usually once conference is over they dismantle and take down ALL the seats from behind the pulpit all the way back to the choir seats...did you know that? I had NO CLUE they could do that. They set up a stage there for other things that happen in there I guess.

 Walking up to the pulpit and seeing it so up close and personal was amazing. Looking out over the pulpit and seeing that view was so cool. Standing in front of the prophets chair where him and his counselors sit and all the apostles was truly so neat. Kent was going to sit in the prophets chair, but I wouldn't let him for fear an alarm or something would go off ha ha ha...silly I know!

Our Prophet Thomas S. Monson sitting in his chair at Conference.

It was so, so neat to be standing up at the pulpit looking over everything and seeing all the behind the scenes.

President Henry B. Eyring, our Prophet Thomas S. Monson and President Dieter F. Uchdorf

This is the view from the highest seats. It is HUGE in there! Our goal is to take the boys to conference one day in there...how neat that would be :)

This is the main service provider room that makes all the languages go out to all the different countries for the church. Kent and I are standing in front of all the different languages...each language has its own provider thing that was flashing away behind us with the language name on it.

This is where all the booths are for all the different languages that the church has in it. There is 92 different languages and each one has at least 4 or more volunteers that come each conference time to help translate the language they are to do. They are all screened very carefully and have to have the proper dialect, temple recommends etc. My parents just beamed as they walked us around talking about the people they work with there...they love them and you could hear it in their voices and feel it!

More booths, different languages

I am in awe of the work that is done behind the scenes. Listening to my parents tell us everything they do and how things are done was awesome. I could feel the love and passion they have for their mission and all the people they work with.

By the time we were done the tour my feet had had it as I was wearing boots...not the smartest things to be walking all day in. Ya, let's just say I was not thinking about comfort and what we would be doing that day LOL! For 2 days after that I had shin splints OUCH!!
 

I found this map online so you could kind of get a feel of ALL we saw and did and where things were at compared to other things on here...so you know what I was talking about. 

We sat for a long time in the room where there are pictures hanging on the wall of all the apostles who have passed away. I starred at Elder James E. Faust's picture for a long time as I loved when he spoke in Conference. He had such a nice smile. It was so peaceful in there. 

 James E. Faust

"Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope."
— James E. Faust

To be honest I didn't want to leave that place. I wanted someone to bring me my kids and then we would stay there forever. I didn't want all that I was feeling to go away. Being there and seeing all we saw, just reaffirmed all that I know to be true.

 Elder and Sister Holt and I

I admire all that my parents are doing and experiencing.This trip has opened up my eyes to so much. I feel like I have gotten that spiritual pick me up that I was needing. So much so that I feel like I am going to burst. My soul feels so happy! 

Brigham Apartments...

 My parents live so close to the Church Office Building where they work each day. They live in the Brigham Apartments and it is a beautiful place to say the least.

 It is a huge place. And it has a swimming pool, hot tub, work out room, family meeting rooms for large groups etc. So cool!

 It is beautiful outside sitting areas as well.

Right next to this apartment building is Brigham Young's family cemetery. It isn't a very big place, but very pretty and so interesting that it is right there.

 Brigham Young's grave has the gate around it.

The funny thing was was that after we had surprised my parents and pulled that off my Mom asked us if we were staying the night there with them. Kent and I looked at each other and laughed as we truly hadn't thought beyond surprising my parents that we hadn't thought ahead. We did stay the night there even though we didn't have anything but what we had on....we didn't care. Thursday night we took my parents out for dinner and had a good time eating and visiting with them. It was so great to just relax and be able to spend good quality time with them and not have to rush. We even slept in every day ha ha! It was awesome :)


Seriously I think I gained like 10 pounds this trip ha ha...but it was all so good! Even though it was a quick trip, it was ALL so worth it.  Seeing my sister and spending time with her and her family was fun. Her and I always have such good talks when we are together. 

This picture of Emily and I is from our visit last Summer. It is a silly one of us, but it is all I have. Em, we need to get a nice picture taken together next time we are together :)

A special thanks to my niece Elizabeth for giving up her bed and her room for us while we were there...love you!

Thanks so much Emily and Mark for helping us make this all happen. You guys are wonderful and we miss you all already!!

We talked to our kids every day and they were having a good time. Thanks again to Debbie for taking such good care of our kids for us while we were gone. And to Kent's sister Sheri for helping out with them.  

THANK YOU!!