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).

More Pics

I thought everyone would like to see a few more pic's of Ryan's mission. He just had a baptism last month and so I wanted everyone to see those pic's. The one of presents of the floor was his 12 days of Christmas right after he opened the box. Here are a few more.

New pictures of Ryan

Here are some pictures of Ryan's mission for everyone to enjoy. I'm sorry it's taken so long but I will try to be better about posting them now. We love you all!

Faye's Birthday

Scott and I had a great day on Saturday the 20th. We went up in the mountains to celebrate my birthday. We had so much fun playing in the snow and walking around Bison Ranch in the Heber area. We also went to a nice restaurant in Payson on our way home and had a wonderful dinner of spare ribs there. I almost never let myself have ribs at dinner so I was a treat. It was hard to come home and get back to the real world again but all good things must come to an end I guess. The next time all of you kids and families are here for Christmas we will have to go up and go sleigh riding or tubing because it would be a shame not to enjoy it as a family. There were alot of families up there having so much fun. I didn't realize that so many people went up to enjoy the snow each year. We had alot to do to get ready for Christmas so it was on to more celebrations after that.

The Sandberg Effect

Return Date!

Ryan Goes to the MTC on August 23rd!!!

MISPLACED FAITH

One day this boy found a rusty old lamp,
He found it exploring a cave cold and damp.
As he picked it up he realized it’s glow,
A low hum rumbled through him, from his head to his toe.
Curious, he scrubbed off the superfluous dirt,
The lamp started shaking, and he feared it might hurt.
But all of a sudden a genie came out.
It would give him a wish, the boy started to shout.
“I want money, or toys, I could wish for the world!”
As his options laid out, his decision unfurled
“I wish to fly, like the birds in the air.”
“As you wish,” said the genie, “I will leave now, take care.”
Confused, the boy watched as the genie evaporated.
After smoke and a crack, the boy’s consciousness faded.
When he came to, he was covered in white.
He looked for a color, but there was not one in sight.
Suddenly, dark blue enveloped his eyes.
Startled, he emerged from a cloud in the sky.
“I’m flying,” he thought, soaring high above the earth.
With unnatural powers controlling his girth,
He told the power to change his direction.
It did what he said, it was a strange connection.
Just as he started to get used to flying,
The power diminished, and he suddenly feared dying.
He could not control his direction anymore,
He felt like he was falling, not at all like before.
Only then did he realize, his grave mistake,
He did not even consider that this genie’s power was fake.
Who was he to put such faith in a stranger?
He got caught up in the moment, and was ignorant to danger.
Without reliable source, his new powers depleted,
The boy fell towards earth, tragically defeated.
It’s every boys dream to fly high in the sky,
But unless it’s god-given, they will surely die
By : RYAN SANDBERG

What Ryan got dad for being his father

Dad got a new folding hammock for fathers day. It folds up just like a camping chair, real easy to set up. Now daddy can bring it whenever he goes on camping trips and look at the stars. Ryan's been thrilled because dad hasn't moved from the chair since he opened it.

Ok it's either Tiffany.. or its Anzlie...

Natalie Miller and Heidi Haderlie

Chinese Prank

So here's the prank. 200 chinese dudes run around corners and scare businessmen on their way to work. .... awesome..