Remember

I remember and honor those who have given their lives. I would like to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. I am not a very patriotic person, but I am very grateful for the freedoms that I have and I am truly grateful to the men and women (and their families) who have paid the ultimate price so that I can live here today.

**I stole these pictures from Pioneer Woman.She had people send in their photos of "Coming Home". Servicemen/women returning from their service. I love both of these pictures, but I can't take credit for either of them.




I remember and honor my Grandpa Spilker. He was the first relative of mine to pass away. I was in 7th grade when he died. He was a cute little old German man, but I have to admit I was a little shy around him. My brother went to lunch with him every Monday at a German deli and he would always send home a yummy chocolate bar for me. He would come to our house for Sunday dinner often and my brother would always try to get me to talk to him more. I was just really shy and he was really old and I regret not talking with him more. Even though I was a little too shy I loved him and I was very sad when he died. In his retired years he went to the temple EVERY DAY! What a great example he is to me. He spent his last years serving the Lord in the temple. I know that he loved me and I can't wait to see him again. I don't have a scanner to scan in a picture of me with him, but I stole this from my Dad's facebook. This is him and my grandma on their wedding day.

I remember and honor my cousin-in-law Andrea. Andrea passed away in 2002. She was an amazing woman. I can still remember her laugh and her smile. My favorite memory of her was at a family reunion. We were waiting for dinner and I was so hungry. She took me to her camper and we ate a bunch of cookies right before dinner! It was fantastic! I learned so much from her life and death. I learned to be grateful for my family and not to take them for granted. I love Andrea and I can't wait to see her again. I hijacked this photo from her daughters Facebook! Thanks Kendal!

I remember and honor Henry. I posted about Henry a few months ago. He is the son of our friends Rob and Erin. Henry's life was short, but he changed the lives of many. Even though we didn't get to hold him or see him we know that he was a special boy with a special purpose. His life and death have changed my life forever. We are honored to have a picture of Henry in our home and each day as I look at his beautiful face I remember why we are on this earth. We are here to prepare for the next life and to prepare for Eternal Exhalation. We are here to serve the Lord and to learn and grow. We are here to build our families and teach our children and share the gospel. I have also learned a great deal from Henry's parents and the way in which they have handled this enormous trial. I have also learned that sometimes the Lord will give us trials that are unimaginable, but I know he will be there to help us through. I know that these challenges will come in my life and I hope I can be as faithful as Rob and Erin. I can't imagine the pain and suffering they have had to endure, but I know that their faith has held their heads above the water and I am so grateful for their example. I can't wait to meet Henry in the next life!

Pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem,
requiem sempiternam.

Happy Place

We had another magical trip to Disneyland this spring. We went with my entire family to celebrate Dan's graduation from Chiropractic school. He is now a Doctor!! I am so proud of him and this trip was a great way to celebrate with our family.

We are Disneyland junkies. I wish I could go every week. I know people say, "You would get sick of it", but I really don't think I would I love it!! I don't know if I will love it as much when I have to drag my own screaming children around the park, but I am sure I will do it.

I am NOT a morning person, but I love being in the park in the mornings. On our first day we were there before the park opened and we got to stand at the rope at the end of Main Street and do the countdown to the park opening. It was so awesome to walk to our first ride and walk right on two times with no lines. The park is quiet, peaceful and beautiful in the morning. It is totally worth getting out of bed for.

We had fun meeting some of our favorite Disney friends. I still love meeting characters and it was really fun to see the little kids interact with them. Dawson made this funny sideways smile every time he met a character. It was really cute.

We met Tink and her friend Terrence. I don't know if I like him. He was a little strange. I think I like girl fairies better. (I just had to google his name because I didn't know it)

This Mickey was so cute! He felt sad that I didn't have any pins with Mickey on them, but I have lots of Minnie! Dan didn't have his pins on, but Mickey insisted he put them on and show him his pins.

Minnie!!

Jessie!

Dan's favorite...Donald!

Mr. Incredible....look at my guns! Mr. I was jealous!

I love how Dawsie is holding Mickey's hand in this picture. Very cute!

Another great thing about Disneyland is the delicious food, beverage and TREATS that we got to devour! Dad and I enjoyed a delicious ice cream cone almost every night!

We enjoyed the Dole Whip several times as well. This it the most delicious treat and you can only get it at Disneyland and the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. It is so refreshing and smooth and delicious.

I love the food at Disneyland. I think it has improved leaps and bounds since I was a kid. When I was growing up it seems like it was mainly hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. Now they have so much fabulous food. My very favorite is the Sonoma Chicken and Apple Salad at the Pacific Wharf Cafe in California Adventure. It is a delicious salad that is served in a fresh sourdough bread bowl. I could eat this salad everyday of my life.

We camped out to get good seats for the Pixar Play Parade!

Here is the whole gang (minus me taking the picture). We really enjoyed being together. It is definitely a little trickier to navigate 15 of us around the park, but it was so fun to be together and enjoy the magic of Disneyland as a family.

My mom was having a lot of problems with her back and her knee and she was really worried about walking around the park all day. She did it the first day and was feeling pretty crappy. Dan and I took turns wearing a pedometer and we walked at least 9 miles everyday!! So, on the second day Dan went and rented a wheelchair for my mom. She had to drop her pride and sit down and enjoy the ride. Dan Pushed her for three days! I even got to have a ride after she went home one night!

Here are all the kiddos. We love these kids SO much. It was so fun to see each of them enjoy different things about Disneyland.
This is Dan and Olivia. She was such a good baby!!When she smiles she sticks out her tongue and it is very cute.

Ellie was a real cutie! She loves princesses and Tinkerbell and it was fun to see her excitement.

Dawsie! He LOVED Buzz Lightyear. He is still saying to his mommy, "I need to go shoot Zurg with laser!"

Jenna and Emma! The middle kids! What beautiful girls!

Kelsey and Jordan. The OLD kids! Kels is getting TC (too cool) for some stuff, but I still love her! Jordan just wanted to go on Space Mtn. and all the other fast rides.

Here we are. We LOVE Disneyland. We will probably be back many, many times over the next 50 years! (i hope)

Life

Life is returning to our neck of the woods. I love spring in Oregon because it always comes in February. It has been a beautiful week. The flowers are slowly making their way out of hibernation. The birds are chirping in the mornings. The days are slowly getting longer and it feels as if the earth is coming back to life after a long winters nap.

It has been nice to have spring this week to put a little sunshine in our souls. On Sunday we found out that our dear friends lost their four day old baby. There were complications with his birth and he spent four days on this earth before returning home to our Father in Heaven. We have shed many tears and our hearts are aching for them. We wish we could be there to support them during this difficult time. (They live in Utah) I am so grateful that I know we can have eternal families and I know our friends will be with their son again. They are the salt of the earth and I know they will get to be with their son for eternity. Even though we did not meet him or hold him we know he is a special spirit with a special mission. The spring flowers have reminded me that even after death their is life. It is because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can one day be resurrected and live in eternal glory.

I hope that spring comes soon wherever you are and it reminds you of the gift of earthly and eternal life.