Craig and I had a lovely week.

Spring is here...at least some days.
The birds are singing.
The flowers and trees are waking from their winter slumber.
We are discovering that some of our plants died in their sleep. We wish that every plant would just 'bloom where they are planted." Alas, if it were so then there would be no need to go to the nursery and admire the beauties there. We love to wonder up and down the rows. We carefully choose which plant should come to our yard to die. Actually, we sincerely hope they will love our yard and flourish.
While walking down the aisle of beautiful annuals I felt like Eve walking in the Garden of Eden. The colors, shapes, fragrances all amaze me. Heavenly Father is very creative.
Craig was on another aisle. I was alone. I was getting hungry. Wish I had an apple. Just kidding.

We worked in the yard digging, trimming and planting. We love to listen to the birds and feel the sun.
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Thursday evening I hosted a bridal shower for one of my adorable nieces. Lauren will marry her honey in our backyard at the end of the month. It isn't easy for a young woman to be the center of attention. But she was adorable.

Lauren told us the long version of how she met Jeremy and about their first date and the night he proposed. We were laughing and gasping and ohhhing and ahhhing with her through every episode.
As Lauren opened presents she was able to genuinely express enthusiasm for each gift. Every person went away believing they had given her the very thing she at hoped for and that she couldn't be more excited. She said adorable things demonstrating a quick wit. We all think she could be Kelly Ripa's replacement (Here she is holding the shoe she will wear with her wedding dress. She even has a thing for shoes like Kelly)

A Basket Full of Miracles and Blessings

How does one Thank Heavenly Father for Bounteous Blessings and Miracles?
From Sunday, March 1st to Sunday March 8th my “cup runneth over.”
It all began with Jan bearing her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and her love for Heavenly Father and Jesus. There are so many miracles associated with this little moment in time that an entire page in my journal was devoted to it.

That very day our cousin, Robert, lay desperately ill in a hospital. His kidneys were failing and his diseased liver was barely supporting him. He skyrocketed from the bottom of the list in line for a transplant to the top. We fasted that a liver would become available for him soon. It is a sensitive situation to know that for this prayer to be answered another must die. The Savior did that for all of us. Willingly. Lovingly. He died that we might live. He is the greatest miracle of all.

We had to wait only until Wednesday evening for this prayer to be answered. Robert’s
wife, April, called to say a beautiful liver had arrived so surgery would be soon.
Craig and I were at Mom and Dad’s when these phone call came.

Mom and I were about to leave for the temple and Craig was going to sit with my father who is too weak and uncomfortable to attend. This is where the next blessing was to
occur. Two nieces, (Mom and Dad’s granddaughters) were going to the temple for the
first time. Our family was there in great numbers. Our hearts were so full of gratitude. For Robert.


For Rachel.

For Jammie.
For our family. Heaven smiled on us that night.

Jammie is married to Bradley. She has been a member of the church for a year and a couple of days. She is a bouquet of sunshine.

Rachel and Zack were married on Friday! We are so happy that Rachel is loved by a good man.

Shannon was the florist for the wedding. Our adorable daughter is so talented. She takes beautiful flowers and designs gorgeous arrangements.

I helped her Thursday with her little boys so she could create the bouquets. Friday Craig helped with the boys so she could complete the order. As you can see we have our tricks!


Here is another miracle...Craig changed a dirty diaper because Shannon was under pressure! What a man.!!

Craig and I went to visit Robert and April

at the hospital on Sunday. He looks better than he has for a very long time. We are so happy for them. And reverently grateful that through someone’s death Robert can live. We are sorry for the sorrow of those who lost a loved one and grateful that they were willing to offer a gift of life to a stranger.

The hospital is 10 minutes from Kelli's. So we took April over so she could get a shower and eat dinner with us. Kelli's apartment is stunning.
So is she~

You would think that a week this full would not possibly have more blessings. But there are more than there is time to write. Sharon Kaye gave me a framed quote, which I love, “Life is a series of thousands of daily miracles.” It is so true.

There is one more miracle I must include.
During the week a little book arrived for me in the mail with a note attached. It was from a woman I had begun a conversation with at the beach, last summer, when I noticed she was reading a book Craig and I love, “The Greatest Thing in the World,” by Henry Drummond. In the conversation she told me about another book she loves that is very hard to get. She promised to send me one when she got her order. Can you believe that she would not only remember all these months later yet alone DO what she had offered?

A basket full of blessings and miracles!

Fairy Blessings

I went to bed upset last night when I realized that my dear friend, Jan and I had both chosen new backgrounds for our blogs which were EXACTLY the SAME! How could that happen?
The one I had chosen was beautiful and I loved it! SO many of the important elements were there. Roses, blue, pink, romantic. AGGHHh.
Truthfully, the blog background was perfect for her too. We both love similar things. And to top it all~~~she had made a personalized header. It looked MORE beautiful than mine!
What to do?
I woke up early this morning....4:30 am..Crazy. The first thing on my mind was to search for another background. It took an hour to find one BUT
OH MY GOODNESS~~~~
THIS ONE IS PERFECT!
Do you know I LOVE Fairies? I have a collection of fairy items all through my house. I loved them long before they were popular.
Do you know I love violets? They were my Grandma Whitney's favorite flower.
Do you know I love pansies? They are my Mother's favorite flower.
Do you know I love the 'vintage' look?
Do you know I love ribbons and buttons?
And SHOES?
There even is a beautiful rose....
So this adds up to one THRILLED Kris!
DO NOT COPY THIS BACKGROUND!!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

Other things I want to remember about Jan's visit are:

~ Visiting with Shannon and her energetic boys


~ Meeting my little great-niece, Madilyn, who lives in Texas


~ Making sugar cookies -- A tradition when we are together


~ Going to Laguna Beach with Craig for dinner


~ Jan looked beautiful in her new outfit when she bore her testimony for the first time ever.

Fun with Jan

The last 3 weeks have been deliciously full. But, it will take a couple of posts to elaborate.
Jan was here for 2 of the weeks. She became ill which slowed down our fun plans but we were able to do quiet things and just enjoy being together.
There were some blog worthy events, however.

One of the best things is that Jan finally met Lura. They became friends several months ago when I suggested that Jan go to Lura's blog to read a hilarious post. Since then have been commenting on each others blogs.
Just as we thought the first personal encounter was easy and fun-like a reunion of old friends.

We invited Lura to go to tea with us the next week.

Not only was the tea beautiful and delicious but the company was delightful.
Lura and Jan shared intimate life stories which forged a dear friendship.

The main reason Jan came in February was to attend the yearly Valentine luncheon with the ladies in my family.
The first photo is with Kelli and Shannon (the 2 of my 4 daughters who could attend). The second photo is with my sisters.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day. What am I saying...Valentine's MONTH! From the first sign of hearts and doilies in the stores to the end of the month is Valentine's Day to me! I begin dreaming of the various little things I will do to put smiles on the faces of the people I love.
Because there are so many wonderful people in my life
I must choose simple inexpensive ways to show them I
love them. Often I worry that it was too simple of a gift-
that they deserve more -like a ruby ring or at least a lovely
store bought surprise.

Valentine's Day began in the most lovely way. I attended the
bridal shower of my darling niece, Rachel.

I looked so forward to this morning. Not only would we be celebrating the love of
Rachel and Zack but Shannon and Kelli and my mom and sisters
and their daughters would be there.







We all had the most wonderful surprise. Another of my nieces,
Lauren, had become engaged the night before! She was able to
show off her beautiful diamond ring to us all.
Later in the month all of the gals in my family will be celebrating
Valentine's Day by our traditional luncheon. We have been gathering
in celebration of our love for about 20 years! Each year, as the nieces
get older another one or two join us. We are up to 15 this year.

After the wonderful bridal shower I went home to my LOVE. We
would have the remainder of the day together. Ahh, I couldn't wait
to be with him.

The night before as we were out making Valentine deliveries he
bought me flowers I love, pink carnations. As my sister, Suzi, says
there is just something so feminine about carnations AND they last!


When I walked into the house that Saturday afternoon Craig told me
that I would just have to go from room to room looking for my
unwrapped present.

On the kitchen counter wrapped in a red ribbon was a Bose CD/Radio
with 4 CD changer. YIPPEEE! Now I can listen to my favorite music
as I cook and clean in the kitchen. It's sound is crisp and clear.


Craig and I LOVE music. A stereo was the first purchase we made
together when we became engaged (after the ring (well we didn't
really purchase the ring (that's another story))).


Then we went to an early movie...Shopoholic. We smiled and laughed
all the way through it. We recommend it, by the way.
A yummy dinner
was next followed by a lovely evening at home. Heavenly day!

My next Valentine's gift arrived Sunday after church on


Jan, my sister by friendship, came for a 2 week visit!

That's another post...

Happy Valentine's Day to each of you.

Micah made this Valentine
at preschool for his mother.
Ahhh melt my heart.

"I plead with you
to control your tempers,
To put a smile upon your faces,
Which will erase anger;
Speak out with words of love
And peace, appreciation, and respect.

IF you will do this,
your lives will be without regret.
Your marriages and family relationships
Will be preserved.
You will be much happier.
You will do greater good.
You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful."

President Gordon B. Hinckley
October 2007
His last conference

The Draper Temple

My daughter -in law, Lori and I took Micah (4 years ) to the Draper Temple Open House. He wondered why he needed to wear his church clothes on a Monday. We tried to explain that a temple is a special place but how do you explain to a little one? Micah had been stricken with a bout of silliness lately and I wondered how this experience would go.

The temple is set between 2 mountain peaks on a ledge above the valley, just south of Salt Lake City.



It is beautiful outside as well as inside. Adorning the walls are beautiful paintings and murals each depicting the Savior in various ways. Jesus Christ is clearly the center of the temple.


As we walked through the rooms Micah would have questions and comments.
He was very curious about the baptismal font sitting on the backs of 12 oxen (he thought they were goats).



The instructional rooms had gorgeously painted walls of Utah mountains and valleys in the green summer and the yellow fall.



Sensing the reverence and holiness Micah suggested that we fold our arms as we walked.
His most memorable remark was, "this church is cool."

You are right, Micah, this is a cool church. I feel so grateful to be a member of it. It is my dearest blessing to have been married in a temple of God for time and all eternity to the man of my dreams. Pondering the significance of the temple blessings in the life of our family makes my love and appreciation for Jesus Christ boundless. Together with Heavenly Father, He has provided a way for families to return to God's presence to dwell for eternity.
That is truly, "cool."

This is the precious family that I visited for 2 weeks. Lori had her tonsils removed (OUCH!) so Grandma came to the rescue!

First of all---I must say----
This is the longest Craig and I have been separated in 32 years-
except when he left me for 6 weeks to go to Officer School for Chaplains-
We had 4 children~2 of them were 2 months old!!!!

I digress..

So, here are a few of the highlights from playing Grandma

We made banners to decorate Mommy's bedroom.


Micah needed my eye glasses to find the recipe for Mommy's favorite crepe recipe.

We worked together to make meals

We went to the Fire station with Micah's preschool class.
Micah was disappointed they didn't get to go for a ride on the truck.
That would have been fun.

One of my favorite experiences (which happened twice while I was there) was attending family night. Joel gave the lessons. He has obviously been teaching his children about the gospel on a regular basis. These little ones were very involved and able to answer difficult review questions that many of us would have been nervous about.

"There is no spirit but what was pure and holy when it came here from the celestial world...He is the father of our spirits; and if we could know, understand, and do his will, every soul would be prepared to return back into his presence and when they get there [this is my favorite part] they will see that they had formerly lived there for ages, that they had previously been acquainted with every nook and corner, with the palaces, walks and gardens; and they would embrace their father, and he would embrace them and say, 'My son, my daughter, I have you home again.' And the child would say, 'Oh my father, my father, I am here again.'" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 4:268)
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I must have read this many years ago because it has become part of my soul. I yearn to have this memory restored to me; to walk the gardens and remember every nook and corner. Most especially I yearn to be in the arms of Heavenly Father and to see His face and hear His voice. Sometimes when in the temple these images come to mind and the yearning only deepens.

God Loves you

Throughout February I will share
beautiful words of love.
Words that inspire and lift the soul.
Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We're the children of God

and as his children there is no attribute we ascribe to him that we do not possess,
though they may be dormant or in embryo.
Now this is the truth,
we humble people,
we who feel sometimes so worthless,
so good for nothing,
we are not so worthless as we think.
There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon.
There is not one of us that He has [not] cared for and carressed.
We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes and in the eyes of others,
but truth remains that we are the children of God
and He has actually given His angels
-invisible beings of power and might-
charge concerning us,
and they watch over us and have us in their keeping."

President George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Canon (quoted by A.G. Kapp, You are Better Than You Think, p. 42)

It's February!
My favorite month of the year.

The month of lace, pink, and frills.
The month when aisles in stores
are filled with hearts, sparkles, and
Valentine cards that express love .

The month when no one expects a gift
so giving a little token of friendship and love
is just a fun surprise.

THE MONTH OF LOVE