Edith makes it to the temple

We took this as we were literally running into the temple!

Thursday, April 14th was one of the best days of my life!  Our Edith worked so hard, overcame many trials and setbacks, defied the odds, exhausted me mentally and physically and finally made it to the temple for herself...on her birthday nonetheless!

After some urging from the sister missionaries to hear the temple prep classes in Spanish, she felt discouraged and questioned her readiness for the temple. I assured her she was ready and that she would be crazy to give into their foolish advice.

Since Edith had been out of work for two months, she had little money to live on. But, with faith in the temple, she set aside $120 for temple clothes and garments.  She crammed six temple prep classes into a very short timeframe and about died of nervousness when it was time to visit with the stake president. She told me she wasn't nervous to meet with Jared however :)

I held her hand every step of the way. It was quite time consuming, but I had promised her that I wild never leave her side. That meant before, during and after her first time through the temple.  I took her to temple prep class, I scheduled her recommend and session appts,  I waited outside the door at the stake offices, I explained garments to her (she had no clue!), I took her to the distribution center, and most importantly, I was able to be her temple escort.

The sweet lady invited EVERYONE to the session. It was cracking me up.  She even had the temple president and matron in her session!  (Who she does know, but c'mon!) She also wore a new skirt, shirt and shoes and got her hair professionally curled for the day.

The day FINALLY came and Edith's nerves were on high alert.   I promised her that I would be right next to her the entire time (except for a few minutes in the beginning but I would be waiting right there when she came out). She is such a timid person and was so scared she was going to be the center of attention- no matter how many times I assured her that wasn't going to happen.  When we entered the ordinance room and she saw the alter, she asked if she would "have to go up there alone."  No Edith, I promise you don't!

As we approached the temple, President and Sister Miller of the temple presidency were waiting for her in the breezeway.  What a cool sight!  And what a neat thing to do for people!

The session was beautiful. She was able to listen in Spanish which was very helpful. The church thinks of everything!  When it was time to enter the celestial room I assured her I would be right on the other side waiting for her.  Jared and I stood at the door waiting. The moment we saw her was one of the most joyous moments of my life and definitely the most joyous moment of our friendship. I'll never forget her face, the tears in her eyes or the spirit we felt. We embraced and enjoyed the moment.

We've been doing baptisms on a regular basis for a year now and each time we are in the temple, I tell Edith how beautiful the celestial room is and that she won't believe it when she sees it.  The moment had arrived and watching Edith take in the beauty of the celestial room was worth all of the effort I had put in.  She even went from person to person hugging everyone in the room. Friend or stranger!  It was so special.

Once it had settled down and everyone had filtered out, we found ourselves alone on the couch talking about the experience. She knew it was true, she knew it was right and she knew it was good. And...she couldn't wait to come back!

Last night she came over again and I asked how she was liking her garments. She said that when she puts them on she feels different. She also said that she feels it in her heart.

What a roller coaster ride of events it has been for her over the last twelve months, but that one night made it all worth it. We love our Edith and are so proud of her.

After we got home, we celebrated her birthday.  In her words, "there is no great birthday gift I could have received than to go to the Temple."

Now that's one special lady.

Addie does Hawaii

This girl was so lucky over Spring Break!  She got to spend a week in Hawaii with Michael, Tara, their kids and Aunt Kathi.

While she was supposed to spend a week there with Poppy Hatch, Aunt Yvette, Brendan, Raife and Rhett, the trip just wasn't coming together.  Uncle Michael graciously invited her to join their family on their vacation as a way of getting her there and freeing up the boys for a much desired trip to Alaska.

We only had ten days to prepare for the trip so we made a quick purchase of shorts and swimming suits online and Addie got to work earning spending money.  She also spent time online oohing over the beach house rental.

The day finally came for her to leave and she was off with no hug or fear of the being so far from her mom.  It was a long day for her to get to Honolulu but it was all worth it when they hit the beach at 9:30pm Arizona time.

They did all kinds of fun stuff: visited the PCC, Pearl Harbor, the Temple, spent lots and lots of time the beach and really, who knows what else!  I only spoke with Addie once (and that is because I finally called her!) so I anxiously awaited the pictures Tara would send at the end of the night.  We sent Addie with Jared's phone so she was also able to take lots of pictures.

The Kiddos

I love my crazy little bunch.  They keep my laughing, guessing, happy, on my toes and stretching.  I thought it would be fun to share a few things about them in their current state.

Addie:
*Is one of my greatest friends.  We love being together!  This morning she returned from a weeklong trip to Hawaii, and I'm just thrilled to have her back.

*Is super duper into baking, and is quite impressive with her creativity.

*Is very tall!  She hits me right under my chin.

Kimber:
*Has done such a wonderful job controlling her anger lately!  I am very proud of her.

*Is an avid reader, self motivated and has all A+'s!

*Hates being away from her mom :)

Lucy:
*Has come so far in Kindergarten!  For being young for her grade, she sure has done a great job!

*Loves to put makeup on.  I actually have to take it away as a consequence for bad actions.

*Calls Colton "Bud."  It melts my heart.

Colton:
*Is talking so well!

*Does NOT want to be potty trained.

*Could live outside if I would let him.

I'm so lucky to have this little crew I call a family.

On Edith

We met Edith in 2010 when she came to take care of Grandpa Miller.  Ben knew of her in Winslow and offered her the job.  At first she turned it down.  She had worked nights at Arby's for 18 years cleaning the restaurant.  A few days after she told Ben no, the manager at Arby's made her mad so she decided she better accept the offer.  She packed up her clothes in her little Toyota Corolla, left everything she owned in her trailer and moved in with Grandpa.

The first few months were very hard.  She would come to my house crying and telling me she was going to quit.  He was mean, he was obscene, he was....well, out of his mind.  And Edith had no experience caring for elderly people.

She stuck it out and eventually she and Grandma became best of friends.  And she became part of our family.  That is where I want to take this post today.

Edith left Mexico about 25 years ago.  She left in hopes that she could get a better paying job in the US, then send money home to her family to help support them.  Her mom is over 90 years old and she has many nieces and nephews there.

During Edith's stay with Grandpa, she became very attached to my kids.  Mexicans just love blonde headed little kiddos!  "Aaaddie, Keember, Lutchie, and Poppi."

We tried our best to be missionaries to her but she didn't show much interest until Grandpa died.  She was very touched at his funeral, which we held in our ward building.  A short time later she started meeting with the missionaries but still wasn't interested in committing.  One day she asked, "Kobie, do I need to give them an answer right now?  They keep asking me if I want to be baptized.  What is the rush?"  I assured her that there was no rush, because really, what difference would a few days, weeks or months make in the eternal picture?

We invited her to Kimber's baptism and the very next day, she called Jared and asked him if he would baptize her!  I guess she just needed to see it for herself.

About five months later she received her Patriarchal Blessing.  I was so honored that she would invite me to join her.  

Two days after that, she went to the temple for the first time to do baptisms.  It was so special.  She is such a humble lady and that was evident in her reaction to the beauty and sacredness of the temple.

On her 61st birthday (April 14th) Edith will become an endowed member of the Church.  I am so thankful for her example, diligence, desire to do good and for the special Aunt she is to our family.

Edith learns to use a selfie stick.  Pretty hilarious.

Edith's 60th birthday.

At the family party she threw for Grandpa Miller in 2014.

Edith and Poppi.

taking wisdom from the wise

I absolutely adore Marty Call.  She is a middle aged woman in my ward who always know the right thing to say and when.  She is the BEST teacher, speaker, hugger, jokester, etc.  She spoke in church a few weeks ago and the spirit hit me hard that she was the one who could help me make my final decision about something that has been weighing on my mind.

For two years now I have served as PTSO president at Taylor Intermediate.  Last year about killed me and I threw in the towel after the first semester only the take it all back and finish out the year.  I learned a lot about myself, being a leader, limits and other people.

I decided to give it one more shot, this time with two great new gals who brought fresh air to the group.  Unfortunately, even with a pretty decent committee I still haven't enjoyed the experience.  It finally dawned on me that it wasn't the girls that were bringing me down and ruining the experience, it is the faculty at the school.  The principal is a dud and the attendance secretary is very low on my list of favorite people.

I decided that I could not longer carry the burden so I talked to Addie and Kimber about me leaving.  They burst into tears and begged me to stay to which I said I would reconsider.  It's weighed on my mind for months now.  I knew I wanted out but I just couldn't completely tell myself to let go of the reigns.

Fast forward to Marty's talk in church.  The spirit strongly urged me to sit down with her and talk it over.  Today that happened.  She is so wise.

I laid it out for her and told her how my girls felt.  She was quick to tell me that it is not my girls' decision.

I read her my list of pros and cons.  She listened carefully, interjecting where appropriate.

When I told her that one of the cons was that it doesn't really bring me much joy, she said "it's a volunteer thing.  It should bring you lots of joy!  It shouldn't be something you dread."  Amen, Marty!

She told me that instead of "doing everything" I just needed to be the Room Mom.  Volunteering once a week and being with my girls then; in their classroom and interacting with them.

She also told me that if the Breakfast with Santa brought so much joy to me, I could volunteer to run it, do the job, feel good about it then walk away and be done.  Genius!  Why didn't I think of that??  Although, come November, I'm not sure I'll feel like taking that on ;)

She told me that when she spoke in church, she sat on the stand, looked at every face and thought, "I want to hear from every one of you before you hear from me again!"  She said we all take turns and it is someone else's turn, so pass the baton.

Marty, thank you for telling me what I already knew but saying it so simply.  Sometimes we just need to hear it form someone with more life experience than we have.

starting fresh in twenty sixteen

I love new beginnings!  I love the feeling of starting fresh!  For the new year I've decided to set a few resolutions that will help me grow closer to my Father in Heaven; improve my prayers and read my scriptures with a physical copy in my hands, not on my phone.

First of all, about prayer.  I want to use prayer and the power that lies within as the gift that it is.  For a long time I've wondered why my Grandma Richardson had so many clear and powerful answers to her prayers.  I want that!  I want my desires to be directly in line with those of my Heavenly Father.  I've decided to make mine more powerful and meaningful than I ever have.  I'll choose twelve areas, one for each month, that I can work on.

January is just to say them!  I've always prayed but this month I am focusing on really taking the time to say them.  Instead of rolling out of bed to my knees, I now wait until I've done my workout and I'm awake!  I was worried about it at first but once I tried it, I realized what a big difference it made.  I've also been trying to incorporate new terms and names for Heavenly Father into my prayers.  What a difference it has made already!

A few other things I'd like to focus on throughout the year-
asking for my faith to be strengthened
taking time after my prayers to listen
praying for experiences that will help me be more in tune with the Spirit
praying for experiences that will help me refine myself
merge my will with the Father's

As a way of helping me remember my goal throughout the year, I purchased a customized bangle with the word "pray" on it.  I'll wear it all year long as a reminder of my goal.

It looks like this but of course says "pray" instead of Annabel ;)

My second goal is to use my physical set of scriptures for the year.  This is my third year following BofM365 and using their daily reading and questions as my scripture study.  It helps me read daily as well as seek for answers to the questions they pose.  In the past, I've always gone between their post and the Gospel library but this year, I am going to hold the scriptures in my hand!  

I love what Elder Richard G. Scott said about this: “There is nothing like hefting the book in your hand, reading and marking your own volume of scriptures. If that isn’t happening – if people are using only scriptures that are in a computer, they are missing the richness of the feelings that come, the ability to write in the margins the impressions that surely come as we read passages of scripture.”

What wise counsel!

I hope that when 2017 arrives, I'll feel closer to my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ.

Rexburg 2015

It's been a while since I've posted any pictures!  Here are a few from our October Girl's Trip to Idaho.

The anticipation of the flight was almost too much for these girls.

 It didn't take long for them to realize that flying isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The Hymas' live in a great neighborhood with lots of kids.  It made us a little sad that we don't have that, but sometimes we feel grateful not to have little friends dropping in on us all of the time :)

The kids were all perfectly matched.  They got along great and played their little hearts out.

 Raygon's garden was overrun with tomatoes.  We ate and ate!

 We had s'mores that night.

The next day we headed to Yellowstone!  What a fun treat!

 Sunday was so great!  I surprised Cami and dropped in for a visit.  It was so fun to see her face when I knocked on the door.  What a sweet reunion.

You know you have a great friendship when you can pick up right where you left off after so many years.

After our time with Cami, it was back to business at the Hymas house.  Games, Pokeman, playing house, Legos and M&M's.

 Monday came too fast.  The kids got in every last bit of fun they could.

We made quick stop to Holden's school where Addie and Kimber were the guest readers

before making  stop at M'kayla Ellsworth's apartment for a quick visit.

Then it was time to leave.  It was so sad and hard to go.

Next time, we are staying much longer!