Personal Revelation

Last Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference.  I really enjoy those conferences.  On Saturday night I was kind of wishing I could be at the boy's regional basketball game but knew I was where I needed to be.  If I had chosen otherwise, I would have missed out on a piece of personal revelation.

On Saturday evening, President Munk was speaking about some of the trials people have to go through.  He said he suspected that even our stake president probably feels overwhelmed at times.  I smiled to myself and then the revelation came.    Not everyone knows but over the past several years, my sweetheart has applied for a few jobs.  He has been asked to apply for some while others he applied on his own.  He has been offered some but has turned them down for specific reasons that I don't need to share.

I have never felt settled about the possibility of moving but really wanted to support my husband in his vocational pursuits.  Thus, I felt torn each time he would apply.  On Saturday, I had this overwhelming feeling that he is to be the stake president in this place at this time.  No wonder I felt unsettled.  He was not to accept any of the jobs as the Lord had more important things for him to do.

I am so grateful for those feelings of comfort and the warm spiritual confirmation of my husband's calling.  I never doubted that he should hold this calling.  I did doubt whether he should leave it because of a job opportunity in another place.  If those jobs are to happen, they will be made available once he is released.  What a blessing to know that God is mindful of each and every one of us.

A New Grandson

Meet my new grandson, 

Robert Butch Gourley

He was born on Saturday, February 21st @ 1:05pm.

Named for two of his great-grandfathers.

Robert Gourley &

Sanford "Butch" Hoffman

He's an absolute doll and I'm in love again.

What I See

Andrew has been serving in the mission field for six months already.  Actually, it is almost seven. His letters are always very short but I'm glad to get them.  In the beginning I wasn't sure that he was "getting it."  But lately, I've felt him becoming a man with a strong testimony.  I know that he loves what he's doing.  This is just what I hoped for him.

He still has the same silliness he always had so I know that my kid is still in there.  After all, he's only 19.  I was thinking about him on Friday and what he would be doing if he were home.  I am so grateful that he is serving the Lord.  I recognized that our relationship will never be the same as it was before he left.  It will be better!

I feel so very blessed to have this man as my son.  I'm also very happy that I've seen the maturity that he's gained.  I'm not going to say there's not that randomness that makes me laugh and shake my head but I will say that I have seen him grow very much in the last months.

Happy 32 Years

 On January 11th, my sweetheart and I celebrated 32 years of being married.  Where did that time go?  It seems just a few years ago that we were buying a house, struggling to make ends meet, wondering when we would ever get out to go on a date and how would we pay a babysitter?

Now our children are grown and we are expecting grandbaby #5 in a few weeks.  I love my life with this amazing man.  He treats me better than I sometimes deserve but always with respect and love and dignity.

I love how he was more than willing to take in my sister and my dad at my request.  In fact, he told my dad that he would be offended if he thought about leaving our home.  He saw to Dad's needs and had heart to heart talks with him.  It was something I shall always be grateful for.  He couldn't have loved my father more if he were his flesh and blood son.  And vice versa.

He loves the people in our stake!  No doubt about that.  His heart has more than enough room to take all those people in and care about them individually.  I hear it in his prayers.  I know how much this man loves the Savior.  It is evident constantly in my everyday life with him.  Who could ask for more?

I am not ever going to say that my husband is a better man than any other.  I will say that I have been blessed with the right man for me.  He has helped me to become a better person.  I hope we get to spend many, many more years together and celebrating more years of wedded bliss.

A New Ward!

 After I graduated from high school, I went to college at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point.  I found myself as part of the Stevens Point Branch.  There were a lot of nice people there whom I grew to love.  We met in the little building with the Multi-purpose room being our chapel.  My first year there, we had both the curtains open as to accommodate all who attended.

By the second year, both curtains were closed as 12 families had moved out.  Another had moved in, but we were a small branch.  Over the years the population of the branch was up and down as people moved in and back out.

Two years ago, this once tiny branch was able to move into their new building.  They had enough people in attendance to build on an actual chapel.  It is gorgeous!  Last year, they were invited to do all in their power to get their membership to the acceptable level in order to be made a ward.
On January 4th, I was able to witness that miracle.  Cade Spaulding is the first bishop of the Stevens Point Ward.

While I was there and had my camera available, Brad Kildow asked that we have a photo of all the gentlemen who once served as the Branch President/Bishop of the branch/ward.

Here they are.  Bishop Spaulding, David Siebert, Sterling Wall, Brad Kildow, Brian Martz and Theron Gardner.  Fred Stublaski would also be in this photo if he were still with us.  I believe he would be on either the left or right of Brian.

It was a wonderful day.  I  am very blessed to have witnessed this miracle.

Updated Pictures

My children sometimes give me some grief because the photos I have displayed of them on my living room wall may not be the most recent.  Sammi gave Erin grief that she wouldn't get a new one until she gets married.  So not true.  But she had a point.  Erin's photo was from when she was 16 years old and now she is 23.

So, because her friend Sara wanted to work on her photography skills, she asked Erin to be the model.  She snapped some great photos of my beautiful daughter.  This is what you will see on my living room wall these days.

Jeff and Sammi don't look all that different from the one that was on my wall, but Evelyn sure does.  While they were home for the July 4th holiday, we snapped this one.  I love it and it hangs on my wall where the old one with a little 3 month old Evelyn used to be.

At times, I think I should put a different one up of my missionary son.  The one on the wall is a graduation pictures so really not out of date.  Still, when I look at it, I see this kid when my son has become a man.  Call me selfish, but when I find one of him that I love with him wearing his missionary tag, it will go up.  That may not happen cause so far, I don't have one.

Mike & Becca's Reception

 Mike and Becca's wedding reception was Dec 27th.  It was a wonderful evening to be with family.  The music was fun.  The kids couldn't wait to dance.  I think the "big" kids loved dancing as much as the little ones.

I don't know what the specific song was, but there was a dance learned at EFY and here are some of those who went recreating it.

 And the same dance.

 Little Ava enjoying her first wedding reception.

 Tom dancing with the bride.

 Matt paid $5 to dance with Mike.

 I remember feeling a bit strange having to dance with my new "in-law" family.  Becca seems right at home.  Must mean she loves us.

 Sammi dancing with the groom.  These two have always been buddies.

My two little buddies enjoying some pop. 

 The chicken dance!

 Fabio is learning the chicken dance.  Not something done in Brazil.

 I don't know why, but some people had to wear the chicken hats.

 Bonny even got her groove on.

 Brock was pouting cause he didn't get a chicken hat. 

 Ben was willing to give his up, but Brock didn't want it.

 Evie danced the night away.

 Brock got Erin out of the floor nearly as much as me.

 She dipped him but I didn't.

 Adam wanted to dance with me a lot.

 Jake was not to be left out so he joined us.

The little ones loved trying to "catch" the lights on the floor.  

We had a wonderful evening with family and friends.  Weddings should truly be a celebration and this one was.