reflecting on blessings of six years ago--AND NOW..

The car in the junk yard a day after the accident
reflecting that the only place a person could have been saved was where Bryan was in the driver seat--all the rest had been smashed from the side and then on top --since the Tahoe -smashed it almost from every angle.

Bryan and Brianne years later--the accident only a memory

Years and years later--one of the many happy times--

that followed in the years--since he was so blessed

no matter what are trial are WE ARE NEVER ALONE.. My testimony of this was re-affirmed lately. The Lord always blesses us. No matter how the outcome. So we have idea how things should go and if they don't we say "but if not...and --Thy will be done"

In other posts on my blogspot around the 29th of Jan (I'm a few days early this year). I have and always will in the future, take a minute to reflect on the many blessings we've been given as a family. This reflection time stems from the tender mercy that Bryan wasn't called back to Heaven in the accident he was involved in on that Jan 29 -six years ago.

we are ever grateful for the blessing in our lives, as it could have been a fatal accident. we feel certain it was only through the protection of a lovely Father in Heaven that he was given more time here in mortality to fulfill his mission. We have great blessings right now--for example.: jobs working out, g-tube helping , things working together for people to be where they need to be, callings that increase growth, family members, supporting each other, new friendships made. well of course things keep coming in our paths that we don't expect, and some tests, re-occur, yet my evening tonight was spent in counting so many blessing that I can't even name them all here and now--but know that I carry them all in my heart and I hope you will think of the many promptings and blessings that have come to each of you personally.

This always makes my heart tender to think of this. It makes my heart tender to reflect on a line in the book, "I sit all amazed" that Nancy wrote about in her blog. One line in the book that she quoted that is most fitting is that mothers remember the small battles and large battles that her kids fight in life. --I couldn't agree with that more. Not only do I remember this time with Bryan and his healing process. I remember times with each of our family, where there has been blessing given. Healing times. Lives spared, and burdens lifted. I know that we are not alone in our experiences in Mortality. I am thankful for each and every blessing that has come into our lives. Those of blessings of protection and those blessings of being able to accomplish things that seemed out of reach and those blessings of staying in tune with the Holy Ghost and lastly those blessings of having the opportunity to be members of this true church, and to know to which source we find a remission of sin. And to what souce we find all answers. In Our Father in Heaven and in our Savior Jesus Christ.

unexpected gifts...

back in the day we lived here ...and here and here

Jordan River temple

A big part of our last 5 years has included nights of going to the Jordan River temple. Its spires look so pretty at night. Dad and I have been a part of a sealing group that goes montly. Then lately we've been attending with wards in connection with their ward conference. It has really given us a boost and answer to prayers, and a better spirit in our home as the prophets have promised

food is fun...

some old favorites from the last --week or two

posting these for fun...we had veggies, cakes, (carrot) and ice cream shaped into a 54 (for 54 years)

hot dogs ready for hot dog boats.. salad with all sorts of yummy veggies....

ice cream --yummy

pretty skies

lately we've had a run of pretty; skies

Happy Birthday BRYAN--

hunter brought his new truck over to the house to help celebrate dad's birthday..

gathering around for the ice cream and group hugs for dad on the birthday...bash two days before his birthday we celebrated

above are pictures of us In Provo on dad's birthday at the Basketball game and a pic of his new bike he got for his birthday--below are just pictures of flashbacks through the years...

Happy Birthday Bryan--you have a great life to be celebrated!

Our top ten around the table at the birthday dinner setting and cute love notes and cards from myself, kids and grandkids included a 'shout out' for Bryan. Some of the things we appreciated about him were: *He's 'FUN'!!! *he works hard for us *tickle tourture time "tickle fights'--(this from the grandkids) *playing princesses and other games *giving good council, always being there *fixes things for others *watches out for us, *Good friend, dad and husband *great cook *example of church service (willingly) *swivel hip trick on the tramp

I also appreciate that he: *takes in what others are saying, nods...*he is strict on keeping all the commandments ,which makes it easier for me to keep the commandments. *He reads books together with me and reads outloud to me.(the Book of Mormon and others). * He pitches in and helps with the work around the house, seeing a need and doing it. *He supports me in my crazy ideas and in my sain ideas too. * He makes others feel at ease with his quick sense of humor. ________________________________________________________________

I stapled all his cards together this year and made a little book out of them and put them in a running journal that I keep for him--that includes his personal and church services. He said he felt celebrated. We had a dinner Sunday and a treasure hunt to find his gifts. He had time to ride his new birthday mountain bike around to test it out. He had breakfast in bed on Tues -thanks to Hayley's initiative. Then he worked as usual during the day on his actual birthday then we went to Provo to watch in person the BYU basketball team-After eating the ever popular weinner boats. what more could you ask for (especially after the hotdog boats) ha.

"everybody dance now"--or dance the day away

okay it all started back in July when Hayley got home we all started a dance party in the front room after her release--then I didn't capture the pictures very well (fuzzy) but then when she got to Alaska the dance party continued with hayley and kaci and continued when we got there we did some dancin' . Then we danced around in Bryan's front room New Years eve day (again sorta fuzzy on the pics use your imagination) and still even fuzzier is pictured us Dancing in Nancy's front room on New Year day--along with the help of the wii game--that is all about dancing--(not picture here) but dad even got in the act when the wii competition for dance was on the line--and he's got the moves--too--so now we know where you all got the gene for dancin' around the family room... Let's always keep dancin' our way through life.
okay in the first picture we're not really dancing (we're resting from the five days of dancing before, but I liked this picture and didn't get it on the other post) (:

your all my 'favorites'

THIS BOOK TITLE SAYS IT ALL....I WROTE IN THE INSIDE COVER -'THIS BOOK HAS SPECIAL MEANING , BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL MY (OUR) FAVORITES--I ordered the book on amazon after learning about it from kerri and brad....I had to have my own copy as we joke about it so much---consider yourselves all the "FC" and the FG we have a wonderful 2010 year and although there were far too many pictures for one blog I tried to make sure you were all at least in one of the photos--as we love you all so very much...I've said it before but thanks for making our lives rich and abundant. (ps) I'm trying to make a little movie recapping the 2010 year like brad did up at Oakly. Carrie and Keith do that too and we watched their re-cap the other night and it was very cute. They watch them on New Years eve. Fun idea. We were inspired by yours brad. If I do it I'll put it out on youtube like brad did. anyway here' my best effort of a 'blog recap' of a fabulous year. Looking forward to many more memories in 2011.