Just Catching Up...

It's been three weeks since I've read or posted a blog and I guess I can't remember how to do it. I've got it all backwards, but it's late and I'm tired. Here's Steve and Wyatt replacing the water heater that went out the day he got home from a very hectic trip to Hawaii. No one was feeling too sorry for Steve, but it was a very tiring trip and not fun to come home to this. The three living Williams pose for a photo in their church attire. Steve's Dad is the 4th William.

Cousins meet--William and Quinn.

We had a family dinner like the kind we used to have monthly. Families gathered from afar.

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Dustin. Unfortunately he didn't get to choose his favorite food or dessert. He was keeping it quiet, but Heather remembered so we combined our musical talent and let him have it.

Grandma loves big "W"!

Jen practicing with the Moby wrap in preparation for the return trip.Do these two look alike to you? Or do they look just like a couple of Budda's?

One happy Bud.

A visit to Grandpa K and Ann. This shows 4 generations on my side.

I can't believe that it's been three weeks since I've read or posted a blog. We thoroughly enjoyed Jen, Tay and Will during their USA visit. After they left, I've spent some time helping Grandma Ann & Dad as she continues recovering from her back surgery. I think that she is getting stronger every day and doing quite well since she'll be 80 in June. I took a RE class in Idaho to renew my license there and I've been to Logan twice--once to deliver Taylor and once to deliver the pickup and labels.

Steve has spent the past 3 weeks traveling---first to Wisconsin, then Hawaii-his very first time. That weekend he came home to a broken garage door opener and a flooded furnace room due to a leaky water heater. The next day he was back on a plane to California. I can't blame him on that one.

Smile Awhile

Here's one of the best parts of a busy week! Getting to hold, rock, bathe, and cuddle Big Will. He just made his first trip to the good old US of A. Here he is off to church with his maternal grandparents. We are trying to share and be nice, but it's hard. The visit is so short and Steve flies out to Wisconsin at 5 a.m. Monday. Big Will with his Dad, Little Will.

Big Will with his fiance, Sage. If their parents have their way, these two will be married someday. Now just how often does that turn out? Do you actually know anyone who married the person their parents picked out for them? Do you think being born in China will make a difference?
Getting reacquainted with Grandma P. I don't think he remembers our Oct. visit.

Grandpa P. greets Will, Jen and Tay at the airport on Friday. How fun for us that Taylor had to make a quick business trip to the US. It was a challenging 24 hours with an almost 4-month baby but somehow they survived. We love it!

Earlier in the week we tried to help out Hilary, The Gimp. She did really well while we were there and was able to help the kids with their reading, homework and Spanish-(Korinne) while she iced her leg.

I actually tried to keep Korinne somewhat occupied so Adam could get some work done. She helped me with the shopping and she did well at her gymnastics lesson. As you can see I was only partially successful.

I also went to Mapleton to help while Ann recuperates from her back surgery. The siblings are taking turns staying overnight and helping with Ann's care, fixing meals, etc. She has had a few challenges but overall is doing quite well. Grandpa is very thoughtful and tender and is doing his best to make sure his sweetheart is comfortable. It's been a good opportunity to take turns helping our parents who have always done so much for our big family! It's been a busy but rewarding week.

Time to Count Some Blessings!

2009 will certainly be a memorable year for our country with its challenges. Every time I read the Book of Mormon I almost feel like I'm reading a current news report. Corruption can be seen at all levels. But for today, I want to focus on our blessings. I want to thank my benevolent and loving Heavenly Father for the beauties that surround me every day and I want to acknowledge His tender mercies in my life.

I'm thankful ....
For 16 adorable, intelligent, healthy grandchildren
That their parents have all been sealed in the temple with the opportunity to be Forever Families
That my children are striving to keep their temple covenants and live righteous, honorable lives
For my wonderful children and their incredible spouses
For Temples and the ordinances performed therein
That Tanner was ordained a deacon and Britton was baptized
That Steve still has a job
That we are healthy and energetic
I've had the opportunity to assist many families with their real estate needs throughout the year
That Steve and I have been able to travel and visit all of our children & grandchildren this
year
We live in a warm, comfortable home surrounded by nice neighbors
I'm still learning new things and I'm able to implement some of them--ie texting, blogging
I have a thoughtful, hardworking husband who is a terrific father and grandfather and I'm
especially grateful that he honors his Priesthood and uses it to bless our family
That I can hear music, see the beauties of nature, and read the wisdom of others
For Dad and Ann and their relatively good health
For my brothers and sisters who do much to enrich my life
For friends who encourage and support me
For the gospel of Jesus Christ and the gift of the atonement
For a living prophet, for the scriptures and counsel of former prophets
For the peace, comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit
For our exceptional students in our Sunday School class
That I can walk on the treadmill and out in the sunshine on nicer days
For yummy food--you know I love food
That I'm an American citizen - May God bless America

You Won't Believe It!

But I've already achieved one of my most challenging goals for 2010. That's right. I cleaned and organized my office. I've worked on it for the past two days but it took me 7 months to get 2 days off to work on it. Steve has been working for about 4 days on the Good Neighbor and KKP taxes. He emailed them to the accountant today. Both of these tasks were a ton of work. Hooray for both of us! We feel pretty good about our accomplishments. I commented that I should have taken before and after pictures of the office so that you could appreciate the new look. Steve said not to worry. We can take another picture next week. Ha! Ha! I hope it will take longer than a week to mess it up that much.

Steve is very happy to get all of my plaques out of the box and up on the walls. He likes plaques and he was unhappy that some of them got scratched.

Now that the pictures and plaques are on the walls, he has a sense of satisfaction. We're finally getting settled.

With Taylor's help, we got each other a treadmill for Christmas. Here Steve demonstrates his walking technique. It gives me an excuse to watch my conservative talk hosts and it better put a stop to our expansion program (both the government's and mine).

About 7 a.m. on the 31st, the most gorgeous moon was setting on the western horizon. I was on my way to the temple but I turned back to get my camera. I really wanted to share it with all of you. It is the bright dot right in the middle but this picture is a flop. It was huge and bright and had a halo around it. They said it was a "blue moon" because it was the second time in a single month that there was a full moon. I'm sorry that I couldn't capture its magnificence.

Here is a picture I took of Quinn just before we left Idaho. I really get a kick out of the way he gets up on all fours like this.

Thanks to Brinley who played so beautifully on her violin for us just before we headed for home. She's really getting good and we just love to hear her play.