You have to meet Bess. She's amazing. She's 93, she's a writer... and I told her about you.

On Thursday, Rachel Clawson and I went to the temple to do an Endowment session. The two names that we took to do were family members that I know a little bit about. The first was Jane Dorothy Hamilton. She was my grandma's cousin and I met her several times. She ended up being quite a wealthy woman and either had no children or maybe just one. She would send a box to our family every Christmas with some toys for Anna and I and something for my parents. I remember she bought Anna her first real Cabbage Patch Kid. She was a very nice lady. I was glad we could do her work. The other person we did work for was Waneita Hudson. She was my great-grandmother's cousin. She was quite old when I knew her. She was born in 1902 and she went by the name "Neita." She and my mom shared quite a bond over African Violets. Many of the ones my mom grew came from starters that Neita gave her. Neita came to my house once and I was just searching for the picture from her visit but was unable to find it. I'll keep looking.

I'm glad I had the chance to go to the temple and bless the lives of these two women who blessed my life in many ways.

Thankful Thursday 7/30/09

1. Sock monkies

2. War and Remembrance

3. Honest neighbors

4. Facebook connections

5. Candyband

Weekly Top Five 7/27/2009

Top Five Favorite Kinds of Cheese

1. Boursin

2. Havarti

3. Marscapone

4. Provolone

5. Blue

Thankful Thursday 7/23/2009

1. People who move away and give me some of the food from their freezer

2. People who give rides to my kids for school stuff, church stuff, sports, etc...

3. People who invite both of my older sons to birthday parties and sleepovers

4. People who comment on my blog.

5. People who are Emily and are coming home today!!

Well, if you were directly above him, how could you see him? Because I was inverted.

On Saturday, we were able to go to Thunder of Michigan Air Show at the Yankee Air Museum. Someone at one of the local TV stations gave Chris tickets. We let Spencer bring a friend to celebrate his birthday with him.

It was such a neat, fun time. I really loved it. We got to see lots of old planes and new planes. The Navy's Blue Angels were there also and their show was incredible. How do they fly so close together and not hit each other?? I just don't get it.

There was a plane there from WWII that my neighbor in Toledo flew and was shot down in. He was in a German POW camp for a long time before being freed and returning home. There were giant C-13os that the kids got to tour. The fighter jets were incredibly loud when they flew by. There was a stealth fighter that flew over. It was really cool.

Something about the military and soldiers and veterans brings out the patriot in me. I am proud to be an American!

Weekly Top Five 7/20/2009

Top Five Actors I like Because of Their Looks

1. Tom Selleck

2. Tom Cruise

3. Matthew McConaughey

4. young Paul Newman

5. Daniel Craig

Yes! They happened! But this, our family, is what's happening now, Bob. And you are missing this!

We had a guest youth speaker in our ward today visiting with our high counselor. He spoke on the blessings of the temple. One of the experiences that he shared was how thankful he was for the temple because his step-father died and he knows he'll be with him again someday because he and his mom and him (too many he's and him's, sorry) were sealed together in the temple. However, he said that just because of that, he doesn't stop missing his dad and it doesn't hurt any less. I struggle with these same feelings. I am thankful for the knowledge and belief that I have that I will see, be with, hug, live with and enjoy my parents again someday.

That being said, every day is a struggle for me because I miss them so much. Everywhere around me, I am constantly remind of them. I sometimes have to block out some things I see or hear because I can't handle so much memory. I hate how much stuff they are missing. I really want to know what was sooooo important that Heavenly Father couldn't wait to have them do until they got to be with us a little longer. If it sounds like I am questioning His judgement, I am I'm not. Sometimes my heart just aches with the loss that I feel. Sometimes I want to scream out like a child, "It's not fair!" Sometimes I lose eternal perspective.

I don't think you can really understand this unless you can see the Thestrals.