Trials and Blessings

We're friends with a wonderful family in our ward, the Mortensens. They moved in a couple of years after we did and never missed a beat. Parties were had at their house - everyone was invited over to play games or eat or visit. They became family immediately. Jeff got to work with Joey in the Young Men's program and learned to really love him as a great scouter and an amazing advocate of the boys in Teacher's quorum.

Joey home from the Mountain Man Rendezvous feeling sick. He went in only to find that he had Pancreatic Cancer. This was around the 20th of March. Well, Joey passed away on Friday morning. Less than 2 months after his diagnosis. Jeff and I were able to visit Joey and Vanessa a couple of times during the whirlwind sickness and both were gracious and strong in what they were facing, even though I can't imagine going through anything harder. I can relate a bit to Joey's kids as I lost my dad almost a year ago, but I have a hard time imagining Vanessa's pain right now.

We were talking in Relief Society today about gifts of the Spirit - healing, tongues, prophecy, and discernment. The focus was on discernment and the gift of tongues, but a scripture came to my mind that was a comfort to me about the gift of healing. My dad had shared this scripture with my cousin Ron when my Uncle Jed passed away a few years ago. It is in D&C section 42 (I don't have the verse right now) and talks about how if we have faith to be healed it will happen unless it is our appointed time to die. I don't remember it being super important to me when Uncle Jed died, and I didn't even think of it when my Dad died, but today in Relief Society I remembered it and looked it up and felt great comfort from that scripture.

We've been having a lot of health issues in our ward lately. I just sang at our back door neighbor's funeral last Saturday and now Joey's gone. My next door neighbor has been in the hospital for at least 6 weeks fighting leukemia and we have 2 other ward members fighting cancer right now, and that scripture helps me remember it's all in Heavenly Father's hands. As Elder Bednar reminded us when he came to our stake conference - sometimes we need to have the faith not to be healed.

I know I felt the comforting power of the Holy Ghost so much through good friends, neighbors and family members after my dad passed away, and I hope I can be an instrument in His hands to bring blessings of peace and comfort to those around me who are struggling.

This is what we get for trying to be Spontaneous

I'm not an X-men fan. In fact, I saw the first movie and didn't like it much, so I don't think I ever even saw the 2nd one. It was kind of exciting that the premier of Wolverine was going to be just down the street however. There was a lot of hoopla about it on all of the radio stations, so Monday afternoon, I decided "what the heck". It was showing on all 16 theatres at Tempe Marketplace, so I thought we might have a chance. Besides, Hugh Jackman was going to be there and he ain't bad to look at, so we packed up in the car and even found a good parking spot, only to find out that all of the tickets (3000 of them) had been given out days earlier. We thought we might just catch a glimpse of some of the stars, but were sorely disappointed there too. Anyway, we joined the throngs and here are the pictures we have to show for it. It was a new adventure for Family Home Evening though.

What a Wonderful Easter Sunday

We didn't do anything big this year. The Easter Bunny was told that Shelby and Cooper watched him hide the eggs last year, so it was unneccessary for this year. So this year the baskets were filled with eggs and a few fun prizes and there was no hunt involved in our Easter festivities. Sadly I didn't even make the Easter cake that I usually make (green cream cheese frosting with green grass (food colored coconut) with jelly bean eggs. With our lower sugar lifestyle, I just didn't do it. I did make a concession for Cooper's benefit and made his favorite dessert which is a cake mix cheese cake with blueberry pie filling - a little lower sugar, but still dangerous!

We started the day out nicely by Shelby and I going to the Easter Morningside held on the temple grounds. I don't know how our stake is lucky enough to be able to do this every year, but it's a long standing tradition in the Lehi Stake. Our youth gather on the south side of the visitor's center with chairs set up facing the temple just over the reflecting pool. Then we have an hour long testimony meeting. The first time I was told about this in our stake I resented them taking me away from getting my then 3 year old Shelby up and ready for Easter Sunday 8:30 am meetings. Now I'm so grateful to be able to go to a wonderful testimony meeting with my 15 year old Shelby and to hear testimonies of the youth of our stake who are strong in what they know and steadfast in what they do. Our stake presidency all bore their testimonies and it was a wonderful meeting. It's amazing how my perspective and priorities have changed. We always have a Big group of youth there even at 7am. And there is rarely any periods of silence during the meeting.

During the meeting I had a thought that I shared with my family at the dinner table this afternoon that relates to the beauty of the resurrection and this Easter season. I heard something said - I don't even remember what it was or who said it during the meeting - that got me thinking about my dad. This time my thoughts went to how he died. Every once in awhile I imagine how it was for him and for those who were there and I replay in my mind the details I heard about that morning. I was just starting to get teary eyed with these thoughts when I was able to replace that yucky scene with my imagination of where he is now and what he might be doing on the other side. In speaking with a friend of mine who lost a 2 year old child a few years ago - she expressed it well by saying that when she puts her daughter in situations on this earth - it's hard for her to bear - thinking of what she would look like now, how old she would be, etc., but when she thinks of her daughter in the spirit world she feels peace.

(I hope I'll be able to put this in writing clearly) I feel like this is part of the beauty of what we know about the atonement and the whole process of the crucifixtion and the resurrection. As a church we don't honor the symbol of the cross because that puts the focus on Christ's earthly, physical death. We put steeples on our church buildings that point to the heavens - the place where Christ still reigns. Whenever I start to feel despair about my dad's death or any other earthly trial - I just need to change my perspective to an eternal one and remember that Jesus Christ made it possible for us to return to immortality and Eternal Life.

I'm so grateful for that knowledge on this Easter Day! I'm going to put a link to the http://www.lds.org/ website so you can go and see the amazing video that's been put together with part of Elder Holland's general conference talk last week about our Savior. President Ahlstrom, our Stake President challenged all of the youth of our stake to watch this today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc

What did happen this week anyway?

Why is it that when I go to review my week to contemplate the great and exciting things that have happened, it seems like I didn't do anything, yet, I can guarantee you I didn't have any free time on my hands?

It's a busy time for us. We've added a couple of baseball games and at least one practice each week and there you go! Our Family Home Evening was spent at the ball field - unfortunately, Shelby stayed home so she could practice for her chair auditions for MYS and to do homework, so I don't know if it can really be counted as a Family Home Evening.

Tuesday I didn't go into work, but instead spent the day paying bills and taking care of some YW stuff. I then made lettuce wrap fixings for Enrichment night and for Amy and David (that's a tough thing to make for so many people - very time intensive), but instead of eating any for us we went to dinner at Manuels with Jeff's family to be able to see John and Kathy and their family before they went home and we completely missed them.

Wednesday the kids started the Aims testing - really a more important test for the teachers than for the students as far as I can tell (unless they're in high school).

Thursday Cooper had a game and we had YW softball. Friday Cooper had a friend come home form school with him, Shelby had a rehearsal for the Junior High Festival Orchestra (she's 1st chair violist by the way), and Jeff and I went to dinner/meeting with John and Jacqueline to nail down some ideas about Vital Solutions. After our meeting we picked Shelby up and went to visit with Joey and Vanessa Mortensen. Joey is having some serious health problems and we went so they could cheer us up:)

Now that I'm working so often I hate to go anywhere on Saturdays if I don't have to, so I took Shelby to her orchestra practice, fully enjoyed watching conference (you stay awake much better if you watch if from a treadmill!), took Cooper and his friend to practice, picked Shelby up, took her to get a salad at Subway, and dropped her off at Leslies to watch the 2nd session. Jeff was helping John and Jacqueline hang pictures at the new Mesa office of Vital Solutions, picked Cooper and Scotty up, took them to see Tim Hightower at the new Sports Authority (very exciting for Cooper - Time Hightower plays for the Arizona Cardinals).

Jeff then got ready and went to the Priesthood session. I had to take a big priveledge away from Cooper after he and his friend decided to walk to Chevron after I told them not to. The funny part was they both tried to deny it with BLUE MOUTHS from the candy they had been eating or icee they had been drinking. For awhile I was the meanest mom in the world, but felt better after Jeff and I came home from dinner and Cooper apologized. Sometimes concequences can be a good thing I guess. Besides, now the playroom is all picked up and the toys are organized in bins.

Today we had another great session of General conference. This time to stay awake I did a puzzle. I almost finished the whole thing, and have threatened my kids that they don't get to finish it for me after I've done the majority of the work!

We also fasted today for Joey Mortensen and for Kent Jones and Kristi Crum. All three of these are people who are very close to us who have serious cancer issues. They'll need some miracles in their lives!

I thouroughly enjoyed the conference talks this time around. I think the older I get the more I see their value and the how appropriate all of the talks are for me at this time. I was listeneing with the idea of our leadership meeting and was so happy to hear a talk that pushed me in the direction I think we should take our leadership meeting. I had some ideas during the YW general broadcase, but nothing that stuck out like the idea of letting the YW presidencies have real leadership experience in their classes rather than having the leaders do the majority of the planning and carrying out. I really feel like the girls will be able to feel how the Spirit can direct their classes if they rely on the Lord for direction - rather than relying on leaders to take care of everything.

I'm excited to talk about this with my counselors and see where we can take this.

Well, this has been more of a journal entry than a blog entry, but you can see that without really doing anything - my life has been full this week.

Spring Break at Disneyland Pictures

We had two spots at the Play Bonita in Rocky Point reserved for Spring Break this year, but I was pretty freaked out about all of the stuff going on between the Federales and the Drug Lords, so we did a pretty quick change of plans and decided that we needed to take the kids to Disneyland. We left at 5am Saturday morning to head to Valencia to go to Magic Mountain. We met the Hunsakers, the McClaws's and the Hornes there. We had a great time, but waited in some very long lines. the rides were very exciting and I was happy to be able to ride without hurting my back. The kids had a great time. They didn't think they wanted to go to Disneyland, but were in for a great suprise in that they really loved it.

We stayed really late at Magic Mountain, then stayed in a Motel that night. We slept in the next morning then went to Sacrament meeting with a ward in Valencia (the claim to fame is that it happened to be Kerby Hayborne's ward). We packed up and headed to Anaheim that afternoon.


Here are a few pictures of us in the Motel in Anaheim. It was nice to have a full kitchen to base out of, but the sofa bed wasn't very comfortable for Shelby. She was wishing we had brought 2 air mattresses instead of just the one for Cooper. (Cooper is always the master at posing for pictures).

Shelby had to make sure to keep track of what all of her friends were doing on facebook and via text while we were gone.

Cooper and Jeff just chillin'.

Our hotel was about a 15 minute wald from Disneyland, so we definitely got our walking in while we were gone. Monday morning we were waiting at the gates when California Adventure opened. We've got Haley and Trevor McClaws, Christian and Kenzie Freeman (Katie's neice and nephew), Conner and Megan Hunsaker and Shelby and Cooper in this picture.

Same kids minus the McClaws'

We finally made it into the park.

Haley, Megan and Cooper in their 3-D glasses for Bug's Life

Here's the kids waiting for Soaring over California. That is the most amazing ride I've been on. Not for the thrill factor, but because it feels so real. I called my mom and told her I think she should go to California Adventure just to see that ride.

Soaring over California actually opened a little bit early, so afterwards the kids literally ran to be the first on the California Screamin' roller coaster. They made it. Jeff and I were a couple of rides back, but liked it so much we did it again. With that it was pretty much the kids on their own keeping us updated on what they were doing through text messaging.

Cooper wanted to take a picture of the beautiful water fall there, so Jeff and I posed for him.

Shelby wasn't crazy about the fact that I made the kids pose for a few pictures.

Cooper's always up for a picture though.

Here are both of my great kids!

We did go to Disneyland for a bit Monday night. In time to ride Indiana Jones and Pirates, but here's are official entrance pictures.

Here's the hooligans again.

Here's the Danas in the traditional Flower Mickey Pose.

Wednesday it was just the Dana family together - everyone else left early (they had been to Disneyland several times previously) so we tried to make sure we hit all of the classic rides.

I don't know if the Buzz Lightyear ride is a classic, but Cooper enjoyed it.

Now, Star Tours is a classic and a couple of years ago Cooper would have given his right arm to see all of the cool Star Wars stuff.

Here we go to It's a Small World.

Shelby thougth it was a bit creepy, but how can you go to Disneyland without a trip around the world (I still love it)

Jeff and I did the Pirates of the Carribbean ride 3 times this trip. Cooper loved that one too.

By this time Shelby thought that she'd had enough family time.

Cooper was still ready to do some more posing though.

We thougth it was a great vacation. The kids had a great time with their friends and together. We were all completely exhausted from miles and miles of walking every day, but I'm still thinking that Disneyland might just be the happiest place on earth.

Jeff and his Sister Jenny on TV

Check out Jeff and his sister Jenny on Arizona Midday yesterday talking about our company. I thought they did a GREAT job.

Fast Paced Living

Cooper playing football (he's the center)

Shelby right after her Regional Orchestra Concert I feel like everyday these past couple of months has been on fast forward. I hope that I'm not working so hard at getting things done that I'm forgetting to enjoy. I don't think I am, because there have been some great things happening, but it is all going by awfully fast!

Vital Solutions is going well. We're working hard. We've got several clients through with their 1st 6 week part of the program and for the most part they've done really well. It's so rewarding to see them happy with what has happened with their weight loss. One lady in particular said that she would love to give us a glowing testimonial because this is the first weight loss program that has actually worked for her. I was so happy about that - I almost teared up in the office. I'm enjoying what I'm doing at the office, but feeling guilty about what I'm not doing at home. How did it work out that I had a cleaning lady at home when I was home most of the time and now that I'm rarely here, I have to clean it myself? My goal is to make enough money to be able to hire them back - and to get myself home more often.

My kids have been great for the most part. They're usually understanding about my being gone, but I'm finding that I'm trying to make better use of my time spent with them.

I did something I didn't think I would ever do though. Cooper decided about a year or two ago that he HATES playing the piano. He's actually quite talented, but whenever he had any sort of grievance with me - the fact that I made him play the piano would surface and add fuel to the fire. Well a couple of weeks ago in church, the closing hymn for him was "I hate piano, I hate piano ..." He came home and continued with the theme and I gave in with some stipulations. I told him that if he would have a happy attitude about life I would let him stop playing the piano, but if he was going to have a bad attitude anyway, he might as well be playing the piano too.

I'm amazed at how much better my relationship has been with him. Anytime he starts complaining about how hard his life is I just remind him that he could be playing the piano again and he stops. I'm not harping at him about it anymore and both of our lives are much more pleasant. I still think that he'll regret it when he's older. I hope he won't come back and wonder why I didn't push harder, but I think he'll be smarter than that. I guess there are some lessons that I just have to let my children learn for themselves.

Shelby jumped on the band wagon about wanting to quit too. After all, she's very busy with school and Viola. She's old enough that I was able to use a different approach though. I told her that I know she would be denying herself tons of blessings of service throughout her life if she stopped. I told her that if she prayed about it and felt that Heavenly Father told her it was okay to quit that I'd be good with it. She didn't really like that approach, I don't think she even took it to the Lord. She already knew the answer.

Cooper had his last football game yesterday. He really did well this year and enjoyed playing. He loves football! Baseball tryouts were not long ago and we'll find out soon what team he'll be playing on. I love watching my kids perform and play sports.

Shelby had tried out for Regional orchestra earlier this month and found out that she was the 1st alternate viola for the region. That was really amazing for her as a freshman when there were 49 people trying out for 14 positions. I was proud of her. Well the night before the rehearsals started we got a call from her orchestra teacher that one of the violist was sick and so Shelby would be able to go. The problem was that she had come home from school sick that day. She was feeling a bit better that night so she went ahead and went. Well, 8 hours of hard playing is a lot harder when you're not feeling well. She had completely lost her voice that night and felt horrible. She didn't really want to go back the next day, but we talked her into it. The concert was amazing. I was so proud of her. Most of the kids had been able to work on the music for the two weeks leading up to the festival, but she practically sight read some really tough music on Friday. I could see her during the concert and she looked like she was doing really well.

She was able to go to bed early last night - Jeff decided she couldn't get all of the attention and so he joined her in the sickness. After we came home from Cooper's football game he climbed in bed and spend the rest of the day yesterday and all day today in bed. I'm really hoping Cooper and I will be able to avoid this one. I'm popping pro-biotics like they're candy. I hope that helps!

We've finished 7 of our 8 ward conferences now. Today was 1st wards and it went well. I'm always amazed that I feel directed at what I should say to each ward. I think I've said something different to each of the wards. Unfortunately I feel like what I said to our ward last week was the least inspired of all of them so far. I'm not sure why that is, but it didn't seem to flow.

We did have an amazing Stake New Beginnings on the 11th. It went so well. Our theme was "Return to Virtue" taken from Sister Elaine Dalton's conference address in October. I used words from a campaign the church put on when my mom was a young woman that said "Virtue is its own Reward". I felt great about the program. We had each ward do a short video explaining a part of the YW program and it turned out really cute. I'm so grateful for people who stepped in and helped make the whole thing work - I have an amazing presidency, and Bro. Duane Burt from my ward spent hours helping with the video. I still owe him a plate of brownies or something.