Elder Pleshek

We received this gem via email today.  It is so wonderful to see my son with that missionary badge on his pocket.  We didn't get an email from him this week so this was the one thing I was looking forward to. 

City of Joseph Reunion

 A long weekend at Camp Nauvoo with many friends from our City of Joseph family.  We saw some people we haven't seen in 10 years.  It was fabulous!  Of course, we had our four beautiful grandchildren along so that was extra fun. Evie wasn't too sure about the stilt thing.

 Brock wanted to try all the games.

 Adam needed to try rolling the hoop.  He did pretty good.

 They all sat down and watched a puppet show and each brought home a sock puppet.

 There was a race between Pat and Rhonda in braiding.  I'm guessing Rhonda won.

 A handcart ride.  All the kids rode with their Papa while Clare and Sammi pulled and Tom pushed.

 I took a picture of each of the kids on the temple grounds.  Cami's turned out super cute once we got past the posing.

 Adam didn't give me many good shots but I love this one.

 Evie was a moving target so I was very pleased to get this one.

 I got a lot of this one.  He gave me the best smile.  I even got a few of him doing his "David" face.

 We haven't seen Ellen and Bennett in 10 years.  They look at young and beautiful as ever.

 Deanna did her best to get all of us but you can see we had some unwilling participants.

 Clare, DeAnna and baby Anne.

 The kids on Monday morning on the banks of the Mississippi.

We had to wait on the bridge for a barge so some got out to watch.

 



Unwanted News

A few hours after we dropped Andrew off at the MTC and Erin off at her apartment, I got a call from Kurt.  My dad has not been well and has been hospitalized for several days since I left.  After an MRI of the head, there was a tumor discovered.  A biopsy on Wednesday afternoon confirmed it is glioblastoma.  Basically, a very aggressive type of cancer. The prognosis was not positive.  Possibly three months if he does nothing and perhaps a year if he has treatment.

I wasn't shocked.  I still felt that very calm, peaceful feeling I had from Andrew's blessing.  Although it isn't the outcome I would have chosen, I was not surprised. I knew there was something very wrong as he wasn't getting any better but rather was getting worse following his gall bladder surgery.  Headaches were relentless. Loss of balance also very evident.  This is in God's hands and whatever the outcome of the treatments, it will be right.

When the day comes, it will be bittersweet.  Bitter because stupid cancer will have taken my daddy away from me and sweet because he then will get to be with his sweetheart, my mom.  How can I possibly be sad about that?  I absolutely adore my dad and always have.  He was my hero as a little girl.  I think he was the first man that ever danced with me.  It will be hard, but for now he is living with me and I have the privilege to care for him. 

Andrew's Farewell Trip

 A vacation to Utah for one main purpose. To drop Andrew off at the MTC to begin his full-time mission.  We began our trip by going to Muscatine and then on to Nauvoo for a temple trip before we ever went any further.  A night at the Fillmore house and some last good-byes on Sunday morning.

Two stops along the way to see historic sites.  First on Sunday at Winter Quarters.  It was interesting and nice to just stop and walk around.  A night spent at a motel in Nebraska before heading west in the morning. 

 The next stop was Martin's Cove.  We didn't actually take the time to hike to the cove itself.  A quick tour, a few photos and off to Evanston we went.  A night spent with Brian and Kellie Welling before the last leg to Provo.  We went to the temple before picking up Erin.

Once we got her, it was on to Lehi to drop off her car and then further north to Salt Lake City.  Howard Sharp was Pat's mission president.  Pat thought it a great idea to have President Sharp stand in as he set Andrew apart as a missionary.  It was indeed a special occassion.

Then over to Midvale to see Ashley Sharp who is housing his bicycle and bedding.  It was good to meet her again and I am glad he will have the opportunity to perhaps serve in their area.  At least he knows someone a little.

Since I forgot to take a photo with Presidents Sharp and Pleshek, this will have to be the photo of Andrew and his stake president.  This was just prior to the MTC "tuck and roll."

 You can't leave your Mom without a picture.

These two had a great time together for just about a day.  More tearful good-byes and we took him to the curb-side drop off.  He's nervous and scared and homesick, but the Lord will take care of him.  Of this I am certain.



God Loves Me

I normally have a very even-keeled personality.  Not too much gets under my skin.  Yesterday I felt a lot of frustration and felt the need to vent . Therefore my journal got all my frustration.  I did ask for a blessing.  Andrew gave his first blessing to me.  He spoke very simple words.  I felt the wash of comfort over me immediately.  I am so thankful for the power of the priesthood not only in my life but in my home.  Its a blessing I take for granted.

Favorite Missionaries

 Pat requested I take a picture of the Pleshek missionaries.  So here they are.  Pat served from 1980-1982 in the California San Bernardino mission.  Tom served as a church  service missionary and Sammi served at the same time in the Kennewick Washington Mission from 2009-2011.  Andrew will be entering the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT on July 23rd.  He will then serve in the Utah Salt Lake City Central Mission. 

I'm so proud of my husband and children for their desire to serve the Lord in the capacity of missionary.

 Andrew wants to use this photo on his missionary plaque.  I think it speaks volumes.

 Perhaps one day I will be able to wear one of those name tags full time.

 Andrew's mission is quite small in area.  He will be spending his time on foot or using a bicycle.  I guess he's practicing,.

I LOVE these pictures and I LOVE these people!

Hoffman Family Reunion 2014

The Hoffman cousins from Idaho were all in town last week for their bi-annual Robertson family reunion.  I was talking to Alison over a year ago and she and I decided that we wanted the Hoffman cousins to get together too.  This is the first time we've done anything like this. At least on an organized level.  Here we are in all our craziness and love.

 Bonny is home so here's Brett showing his affection.

 Jack with Jane and Aubrey.  Megan and Jackson are in the wings.

 Prior to the meal, we had a few thoughts about being a family.

 Clare created two pinatas.

 Apparently this one got busted!

 Liam and Daxton getting involved with the broken remnants.

 Alyssa and the newest addition, Ava with Clare.

 I had Clare bring her riding toys over so the little ones had something to do.  Clint parked his car at the end of the driveway so they would have an end to their race track.

 Michael and his fiancee, Becca.

 Beautiful Lauren.

 Cousins

 Addison has the touch with little Liam.

 Pat and eldest daughter, Liz.

 This is the first time in 30+ years that we've had a family photo taken.

This time with the spouses.

When I was a kid, we had either a branch or family picnic on the 4th of July.  I have such fond memories of those gatherings.  Therefore, the 4th was the perfect day for us to have our family reunion.  We ate and visited and visited and the guys played ball and the kids went swimming.  In the evening we had our own fireworks show thanks to Lance and Tom providing the fireworks.  It was quite impressive.  I took 200 pictures.  Most of the family was here.  The only ones missing were Kurt's Evan and Alexa who are both serving missions, our Erin who is working a fairly new job, Pat's Alex who was just here a month ago and Matthew who apparently didn't get the memo, Brett's Katie and Tony who were both just here and Bonny's Bradley and Shane.  My dad said he enjoyed the day with all the people and visiting.  I was so thankful for that since he's been feeling under the weather since his surgery.  These are beautiful people whom I love dearly.  Can hardly wait until we do it again in two years!