Cherstin at 5

February 19th is Cherstin's 33 birthday. Wow, how can that be? I remember her as this golden-haired beautiful 5 year old, with the talent of wrapping her daddy around her finger. She was cute and cuddly, and full of her own ideas. She liked to be the boss if she could get away with it (most often she could). She loved her My Pretty Ponies and her Barbies. Her favorite thing was going to McDonalds for a berger and fries (In case you wondered how she got her nick-name). She was delighted when Natalie came along so she had someone to play "the boss of me." At first, Cherstin was not happy that Natalie stayed. She was always trying to turn over Natalie's bassinet. But slowly, she liked Natalie and soon they were playmates and "sisters." I always loved to carry Cherstin on my shoulders when we went hiking in the woods. She was a cute little daughter that owned her daddy's heart. Happy Birthday, Cherstin!

Happy Birthday Cherstin

Happy Birthday Sweet Cherstin, I hope you feel our love for you on this very special day! Can you believe that you were ever that young when you look at this picture of us on the bed. I was only Ryan's age there and I couldn't believe that I was so blessed to have such a beautiful little angel as you in my life. You have brought us so much joy over the years with your love for life and everything in it. You have always been an activities director your whole life. You were always so involved in the world around you and wanting to make friends and be the best friend you could be to others. You are still that same way and I'm sure that all of your friends feel lucky to have you in their lives, I know that's how all of your family feels about you. Heavenly Father has blessed our family with alot of happiness and love and you have been such a big part of bringing joy to your sisters and their families. It's pretty awesome when your sisters are also your best friends. They all love you so much! I'm amazed to watch you as an adult and realize that you have grown into such a beautiful and talented woman. I could not have taken care of everything in Dad's absence the way you have done every summer when Don has to leave the family to go to Iraq.I would have fallen apart the 1st time and probably would have gone home to my family to help me but you just keep on going and taking care of everything and I'm so proud of you. I hope you have a deep inner peace inside confirming to you what an awesome young woman you are. You have so much talent to share with others and you should always have the confidence to hold your head high and show the world what an incredible woman you are. We all love you and believe that you can do anything that you decide you want to do. You are Awesome and Wonderful and I hope you have the very best birthday that you have ever had. We love you so very much!!!!! Mom

Fantasy Companionship

We were both about 20 years old in this picture. Hmm. I guess we don't look much alike. Fashion wise, 1972 meets 2008! Ties used to look like table cloths.

Hmm, Who's this in the picture?

When I went to Salt Lake City to report to the mission home, we had a few hours one afternoon to get things in order for the trip to the Language Training Center at Ricks College. I talked my companion into walking over to see if we could meet some General Authorities at the Church Office building. We walked up the 40 granite steps to the gothic 4 story building on South Temple and entered the revolving door to the lobby. It was nice but no one was there. There was a desk but the person must have been on a break. So we walked up the stairs to the second level where some lights were on. As we entered the hallway Elder LeGrand Richards, author of A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, boomed out “Hello Elders!” A bit timid we responded with Hello Elder Richards and I was about to explain why we were here when he took my hand and led us back to his office where he talked without stopping for several minutes. He told us of his mission to the Southern States mission and to Holland. He bore such a strong testimony and smiled warmly as he spoke. Finally he paused and said, looking directly at my tie “that tie is too loud.” Before I could respond he took my hand again and began to introduce us around. We entered brother Delbert Stapley’s office and he wasn’t there. We entered another room, that turned out to be the men’s room and we found Elder Stapley washing his hands and Elder Richards was not deterred and proceeded with the introductions. Then we went down the hall to President Spencer W. Kimball’s office still in the grasp of Brother Richards. President Kimball was from Arizona as well and we talked about Thatcher where my uncle lives and President Kimball said he knew Lyle Grant. Again with the hand, he lead us out to meet Thomas S. Monson, Alvin R. Dyre, and Bruce R McConkie. This was 6 of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Now this may have seemed to some like we were sight seeing but this was far more important to me. I was going to represent the Savior as a missionary. I wanted to be able to bear witness of the restored church and to meet 6 Apostles and feel their spirit was an answer to a simple prayer. Remember, just four years earlier I had not even seen a missionary leave from my branch. Now I had shaken hands with six apostles – special witnesses of Christ to all the world. I was grateful for the experience.

I wasn't always 56!

I found some pictures of that transitional time in my life that I wanted to share with you. Observing each of you (my children) pass through this stage, I have reflected on how important it is to pass from a life of no responsibility to a life of being a responsible adult and mother or father. This first picture is from the summer between my Freshman and Sophomore year at BYU. The car was borrowed. So was the girl (she is behind the mirror).