Recently I took pictures of one of my favorite edifices.

THE REDLANDS TEMPLE

I wish that I had the words to describe the feelings that swell in my heart each week as I prepare be here. In the darkness of the early morning as I travel alone in my car I offer these words in prayer. "Heavenly Father, I am coming home today. " That is how it feels. Home.

The Bible Dictionary defines 'Temple" as " the most holy of any place of worship on the earth,” followed by this insightful statement: “Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.”

This suggests we can make our homes or bedrooms (as I used to tell my seminary students) a “house of the Lord.” Don't you just love that idea?

In April Conference Elder Stevens recommends that we take a Virtual Spiritual Tour of our home.

"Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home.

What do you see, and how do you feel?

Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple?

Is it clean and orderly?

As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior?

Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer? Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time?

Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together? Can you find your personal gospel study space?

Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit?

Is the conversation uplifting and without contention?

That concludes our tour. Perhaps you, as I, found a few spots that need some “home improvement”—hopefully not an “extreme home makeover.”

Whether our living space is large or small, humble or extravagant, there is a place for each of these gospel priorities in each of our homes."

Craig and I have purposely strived to make our home a holy place. We still have 'home improvements' but

we won't give up!

Along with the theme of this post I announce that Craig and I are smiling BIG these days because as of August 15th our mortgage is PAID IN FULL!!!!

Fire Powa!

Micah

MICAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!


This is Micah...the boy Grandma misplaced in her last post.
(You can't believe all the trouble I am having downloading photos. I think it is a setting in my computer because I had the same problem trying to download a photo to Facebook--which I just joined thanks to the many friends that keep inviting me)

He belongs to this cute family ( I am trying to make up for the countless tears that have been shed in behalf of forgotten Micah by giving him lots of attention)



Here Micah returns hand in hand with Uncle Jeff to our campsite after a successful day of swimming and fishing.

The county fair had a petting zoo.

Speaking of the FAIR!
Jeff, Krysta, Joel, Lori, Micah, Makayla and Craig and I all went to the fair together. This is one of Craig's and my favorite things to do-go to the fair! Well, we all wanted to have funnel cake. Since we had never heard of Mexican Funnel cake we thought we would share one and then get the traditional version later. AND since there were so many of us Craig decided to get the largest version. He had NO IDEA how LARGE LARGE would be!

How large was it? Strangers were taking pictures of it as Jeff carefully walked it over to the table where we all sat STUPIDFIED.

Notice Makayla eyeing it. It was larger than her head! than anyones head. And certainly larger than our combined stomachs!

We did our best...and no one ate the rest of the night.

Thank you to all my friends who have alerted me to the fact that I did not include a photo of Micah in my last post.
I can't load one!!!! I have TRIED numerous times.
Actually, I had one in the beginning then deleted it for a better one which I forgot I hadn't really loaded and then BANG no more loading . This is CEAZY!
I will make it up to you Micah.

This is the other half of the 'nofire'side. It looks like Carter is telling us his favorite scripture story.

Here are my Favorite Kids in the World!

Steele age 12

Slater age 9

Carter age 9

Makayla 6

Italia age 6

Corbin age 5

Cooper age 2

I have been missing my little blog. For some crazy reason I have had a terrible time posting photos. Has anyone ever had that problem?

Although the family reunion seems so long ago now it still deserves a little more attention.

Did I mention we went camping? This was the first attempt to camp with our large brood. Since I prefer camping at the Marriott this required a little soul searching. But, it was my idea AND my darling sister let us use their MotorHome and I do mean HOME. It had a comfy bed with its own room, bathroom including shower and all the luxuries. SO, we camped. There was dirt all around the motorhome incase you are thinking sacrastically that we weren't really camping.

The first night we had a big campfire (no fires allowed). Craig asked the children to share scripture stories. So many wonderful stories were shared that night. The children enjoyed sharing their favorite stories and we loved hearing their versions of the scriptures.


The next morning we had a breakfast together and then the children were off to the lake. Fishing, boating, swimming, and water balloon launching were the events of the day.



Other photos won't load. Too sad

I AM A GREAT MOM!

Now I know that I am a Great mother, after all. Yesterday at a local store I was 'privileged' to over hear a Mother several aisles away from me talking on the phone to one of her children. The words of wisdom from her motherly lips were:
"I am home EVERY night. You are the one that is gone...off with your FRIENDS. You don't care about me. You only care about your friends. SomeDAY I will be DEAD! [Now she is walking around in the store. Another lady on my aisle looks at me in horror] Then you will be sorry. Then you will remember how you have treated me. It will be too late. I will be GONE!"
As she wondered through the store talking on the phone for all of the customers to hear a sick feeling filled me. When she hung up I said a silent prayer for the wounded child. Then I thought...I am more wonderful than my children even KNOW!

Fancy Ladies

Some very FANCY LADIES attended the family reunion!

Kitchen Update

Kitchen Beautification continues!

Family Reunion Part 3

The beach is always a favorite pastime in Sunny Cal. So, we packed the cars full of food, gear and kids and went to Corona Del Mar.
Steele (12) and friends,
Slater (9) and Carter (9) had a great time boogie boarding.

PS For some reason I can only put a couple of photos on a post. Is it my computer or blogger? hmmm. This reunion could take a long time to talk about

Family Reunion Part 2

This cool dude joined us for the family reunion.
His name is Cooper. He is 2 years old.
He loves water, swimming, water and swimming.
If the big boys do it he wants to and usually can.


This is a snap of the snail farm at Grandma"s.
When you live in Arizona snails are hard to find.
When you live in a new neighborhood in Utah snails are rare.
But, at Grandma's they are everywhere!
I tried to get the daddy's to take the farm home with them to no avail.

Family Reunion Part 1

It began with great anticipation: The 8th Horton Family Reunion-2009

The first to arrive were the Joel Horton’s. Makayla is 6 and Micah is 4.
They were here a full week before the Jarman’s so some fun events took place before the actual reunion. Corbin (5 in just 2 weeks) and Cooper (2) were excited to have cousins in town. Shannon and Derek are so good at stopping their life to accommodate whatever the plan is. Often the plan for the day is conceived at the last moment.

We had great fun at the water park in south Corona. Shannon and the boys met us there for an evening of wetness

That evening Makayla and Micah switched personas. Makayla dressed in Micah's p's and Micah wore hers.

In a high pitched voice Micah asked that his bedtime story be Fancy Nancy and Makayla wanted a book about fire engines read to her. They even slept in each others beds that night.


Some fun events:
Snail farming!

Minnie Mouse and Corbin's first sleep over and Grandma's

Swimming

The Beach

Corbin's 5 birthday party
For some reason photos are not downloading. I have tried....oh, I have tried. Perhaps another day.

I AM GIDDY

I am giddy with excitement that my kitchen is being redone.
Here is a before photo.
Here is a in the middle stage photo.
The paint will be done next week.

AND
I have used our new solar oven to make cookies, granola and chicken with yams and garden fresh zucchini


PLUS!
Our children are beginning to gather for our family reunion next week.
I AM GIDDY

Life and Death

My sister in law's mother died today.
My niece, Lauren is giving birth tonight.
God is busy.