April 2010

Since Zach was such a baby Whitney hog we had to go up to Cheney again the next week-end so we could all get to hold her.  She slept most of the time so we worked on a FHE video.  I couldn't get the video to copy here so I will try to do that later.

Brad was able to get tickets to see http://lds.org/general-conference/conferences?lang=eng for the Priesthood session.  So he surprised Zach and they left on Friday morning since it was spring break and Brad's Friday off and drove down to Provo.  They met up with Michael, Allison, Erin, and David and hung out for the week-end watching conference on TV.  But for the Saturday night priesthood session Michael and David went with Brad and Zach to the conference center.  Brad and Zach sat up close in the stake president seats and Michael and David sat in the nose-bleed section.  Michael and David offered to trade places with the other two, but no go.  Allison and Erin hung out in SLC and afterwards they all went out to eat and hung out some more.  It was a fun surprise.

Zach also earned his Duty to God.  His testimony is really cool that he put in his book.  "I, firstly, believe in the three members of the Godhead:  God, our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. 

I believe that God created everything, from the dirt to far off galaxies, as was described in Genesis.  He created me and gave me family, friends, and leaders; He has provided me with not only necessary provisions for life, but also additional supplements for worldly happiness. 

I believe that Christ atoned for the world, becoming the Savior.  Though he lived perfectly, he had anything but a perfect life.  His diligent work and service lead to persecution; His miracles to rejection; and His boundless devotion to His greatest sacrifice.

I believe in the third member of the Godhead: the Holy Ghost. I have found that the Spirit has served two primary purposes in my life.  Firstly, the Spirit has been a testifier, serving as my link between physical things and spiritual things.  He can push the initial device leading to understanding and testimony-building.  Secondly, the Holy Ghost serves as a reminder and as a warning system.  Through Him we can get guidance for help and be wary of spiritual and physical dangers.

I believe in the power of prayers.  The heavens are not closed and we can and should have communication with God.  We can find comfort in prayer and praying can have a literal impact on our lives and in the world. 

I believe in the scriptures and the olden-day prophets.  I know that these prophets lived and can tell that their writings apply to me.  There is a simplistic revelation that comes from turning to the scriptures for happiness, understanding, and knowledge. 

In the same way, I believe in The Church and the latter-day prophets.  Just as God can speak to me individually, He can speak to the whole world. 

I believe that eternal life comes from faith and works.  The former begins with the Spirit and grows as we feel and witness His love.  They say 'faith without works is dead' because when we are not actively growing our faith, we are letting it die.  The latter, works, may be our greatest way to show love and gratitude to God.

Where there's a will there's a way.  If we truly seek God's kingdom, we'll find our way there."

Relief Society Birthday Dinner March 5, 2010

Before I get into the description of a really fun and exciting Relief Society Birthday dinner that I was in charge of I wanted to just share a few random pictures.

1.  Zach memorized and then presented to his AP English class a soliloquy of Romeo from the play Romeo and Juliet.  He borrowed Elizabethan style clothes to dress up for this.

 Walked by the stairs the other day and it looked like Conner had fallen down the stairs.  After checking for his health and well-being (he had just fallen asleep) I thought I would snap a few pictures. 

We drove up to Cheney so we could be part of a baby shower for Courtney and her soon to be born baby girl.  Many of the ladies from her ward that attended had new babies themselves, so it was kind of funny to be at a baby shower with a bunch of babies.  But they were all cute and they all behaved well.  Kylee and Kaitlin got an earful of all kinds of pregnancy and labor and birthing stories, be they good or bad. 

Okay, now about that birthday dinner.  My committee had been working on this for some time.  We were planning a garden party with Relief Society sisters from the past visiting and sharing with us about the time when they had been alive.  We also had musical numbers lined up to correspond with the various time periods.  We had a delicious dinner planned with many of the recipes based on the restaurant Cafe Rio.  I was in charge of making all of the rice and their special sauce from tomatillo's.  We went the night before (a Thursday) and set up.  This involved quite a few people as we had to put together the stage and we had lots of flowers and picket fences and a gazebo style feel to the event.  It looked beautiful.  So the next morning I worked on my sauce and my rice (tons of it as we had invited the husbands to attend as well.  Kylee and Kaitlin were going to help run the nursery.)  Along about noon we received a phone call at home.  This was a call I had been expecting all day!  I had told Courtney that because I had this humongous event planned and I was in charge and really couldn't miss this, that this would be the day she would have her baby.  She scoffed at me.  Her doctor is on vacation until next week, so she had most definitely better be waiting until then.  But no - Will was calling from the hospital in Spokane.  Courtney was staying to have a baby.  I called up Sister Moon and asked her to be me for the night and gave her all of the necessary instructions and prepared food, etc.  Brad and I picked up Zach, Kylee and Kaitlin from school as soon as it was out and we drove up to Spokane.  We arrived  at a bit after 4:30.  As we were getting out of the car at the hospital, Will called and said Whitney Anne had arrived.  We quickly went up to the hospital and met the new addition to the Keeler family.  We got to hold her and love her and be there when she was less than an hour old.  I particularly love the picture of Zach holding baby Whitney.  It is so tender and touching.  Zach kind of hogged her as the pictures will attest to.  I thought about titling this Whitney is Here!  But I decided to go more for the surprise element.