Wicked!

Well, we finally did it!  Mike and I went to San Francisco yesterday and saw Wicked!  And let me tell you it was amazing!  We both absolutely loved it!  So, Mike took the day off and we had a very leisurely morning together after the kids went to school and it was just nice.  Then we left at about 10:30 to head out to SF.  We got there early enough to have lunch.  Then we headed over to the Orpheum Theatre for the play which started at 2:00.  There were lots of people around to help take pictures.  We sat in the first balcony first row right in the middle....awesome seats!  After the first half during intermission Mike and I started talking aobut how much we were enjoying the show and we proceeded to talk about what it represented for each of us.  Of course for Mike it was all symbolic of Politics and the Gospel and for me it was all about People and Relationships...lol!  We had a good laugh about how you can tell what we each think about.  After the intermission and during the second half we just completely got caught up in it and just fell in love with all the characters, scenery, music and the story.  It was awesome and a great way to celebrate our anniversary:) 

 We thought we would have a tough time getting out of the city since it ended at about 5:00 but we decided to try anyway.  We got out of the city at about 5:30 and we arrived back in Elk Grove at 7:00.  We stopped for dinner in Elk Grove and then headed over to get Bryce.  All in all it was a very enjoyable, leisurely and entertaining day with just my sweetheart and I! 

Bryce is a Deacon!

Well, here is our 4th Preisthood holder of the family!  We had a great day yesterday.  Bryce was ordained a Deacon and we are so proud of him.  Doesnt he look handsome in his new suit?  We had a great time with family and friends who came to support Bryce.

It was an emotional day as you can imagine. Stephen was the first to get up in Sacrament meeting and bear his testimony and he talked about how proud he was of his little brother and how he was becoming a man. I kept nudging Mike to get up there because I couldn't since I lost my voice this weekend(due to a cold). So after a while I was gonna get up there anyway and squeak my way thru it...but then Mike finally got up (never try to push Mike to do anything...he does things on his own time and in his own way) and the things he said just hit right at the heart of this important event in our son's life...I leaned over and told Stephen..."this is why I married your father."

Then we went in for the ordination.  We have a large group of Aaronic Preisthood holders in our Ward and they always treat the women who come in for the ordination extra special. All of the priests gave up their seats for us. Then Bryce was ordained a deacon by his father and the YM president, Brother Pollman made sure that Bryce honored their tradition which was to give his mother a big hug and a kiss...on the lips...and so of course he did.

Then we all came back to the house and ate.  And then we put Bryce in the "hot seat" and we went around the room and everyone had an opportunity to share their advice and feelings with Bryce about this important time in his life.  It was such a neat experience...(there were about 30 of us all together.. I'm bummed I didnt get a group shot).

  I think Stephen was the one who blew us all away with his words of wisdom from experience about how there is a time to play and a time to be serious when you are a deacon and a preisthood holder...Wow..every deacon's quorum leaders' dream..."a well behaved deacon"?  Is that possible?  lol! He also gave him some advice about starting middle school and facing temptation.

Grandma Nelson wanted to be sure Bryce understood how important service is as a preisthood holder and she told a story about giving service in her ward. Service seemed to be the theme...throughout.

Grandpa Nelson made sure that Bryce knew why we take the sacrament and what we do with fast offerings...I remember him telling us at Michael's ordination that when he was an aaronic priesthood holder, he blessed the sacrament, passed the sacrament and gave a talk all on the same day...he knows about service in the preisthood that's for sure

Among many words of wisdom and great advice from Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and friends...I shared with Bryce how proud I am of the young man he is becoming and how blessed I feel to be surrounded by such great priesthood holders in our home and in our family...and how safe, loved and blessed I feel because of it...and now he is a part of that. I told him that all he really needs to do is to look to his brother's and his father as the example of how to be a righteous priesthood holder. Could my life get any better than this? I dont think so .....

21 Years ago today!

When I was a teenager, I had a dream.  I dreamed that someday I would meet a tall and handsome return missionary who had served a spanish speaking mission, he would sweep me off my feet and take me to the Salt Lake Temple and there we would be sealed for time and all eternity. Then we would raise a family of boys and send them all on missions.  But, it was only a dream....but then again, dreams sometimes come true! I love our life together and it happended just the way I dreamed it would (so far), 21 years ago today!  I love you Mike...Happy Anniversary!

(yes, I am standing one step up from Mike with 4inch heels on...lol!)

It's Bryce's Birthday!!

It's Bryce's Birthday today!  I love these pictures of my kids when they were little because they bring back such sweet memories. This is a very special birthday today because Bryce is turning 12!  Wow, my last child to recieve the priesthood.  This is a big deal.  We bought him a suit last week and he looks so hadsome in it. ( I will post pictures later). He will be ordained a deacon in the priesthood this coming Sunday.  We have family coming to join us for this special occassion. Wish everyone could come but I know it's not good timing for some, so we will take who we can get.  We have a tradition when our boys recieve the priesthood.  After we have a nice meal with all who have come to join us we sit around and all of the priesthood members in the family(and any friends who have joined us) share stories and advise with the one recieving the priesthood and then everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about this special event in his life.  So, Bryce is excited about this as he has seen his brothers before him have this experience.  Bryce is a very special and sensitive young man.  We are so proud of who he is becoming.  Happy Happy Birthday Brycie!  Enjoy your day! We love you tons! 

Reflections of the week.

It was a good week.

Finished!

Well, we're finally done!  Yes, Mike hung the valances for me.  I originally had 2 valances and had to alter them and make a 3rd one (over the kitchen table).

This is the 3rd one I made...dont look too close!

Ahhhh, nothing better than a completed project...now on to making Bryce's costume....fun times;)

Celebrating Sisters

Is there such a thing as "Sisters Day"?  Well, there should be...therefore I deem today "National Sister's Day"!  Just because I want a special day to recognize my sisters.  Today is Linda's birthday and since I already shared stuff about her and how special she is...I want a chance to talk about all my sisters.  See this plate?  When Linda was in the hospital for the last time and I went down to visit her the first thing she said to me is "Lisa, go into my spare bedroom and go into the closet and there are 4 plates I made for you girls for Christmas, please make sure each of the girls get one." So, this really was a good-bye gift from her to each of her sisters....that's us!

So, today I'd like to celebrate these 4 special women in my life, "The Angel", "The Giver", "The Actress" and "The Artist".....My Sister's!

The Angel ....of course is Linda and I know that she is watching over us now that she has passed on and she keeps me in line...I feel her presence and influence in my life....she reminds me to be gentle, loving and forgiving. (she's sitting on my left in this pic, oh, I'm the one in the middle)

The Giver....That's Dorothy, she is the most giving person I know...always always doing for others...when she walks into a room I think the first thing she does is scan the place to see what needs to be done and then she does it.  She is always the first one to play with the kids and do the dishes and just do what needs to be done...she is also the most understanding person I know...and I've never told her this but she reminds me of Jennifer Aniston with her funny quirky kind of sense of humor...that beautiful comedy sort of way... i love her dearly! (she's the next in line and is the one with the longest hair in this pic)

The Actress.....That's Regina, she truly is an actress...always has been since we were young.  I remember going to her in plays in high school.  She is extremely talented in many ways.  She brought great fun into our lives as kids....always acting, dancing and singing....a real "Drama Queen"(remember "Johnny Angel"?go to my playlist and click on song#2) . She was always my protector too when I was young. Whenever she's around you can count on being entertained.  She is a lot of fun and is also a very loving person...love you Regina! (she's sitting on my right in this pic)

The Artisit....That's Theresa, we are 2 years apart and fought like cats and dogs growing up.  Now we are the best of friends! Talk to her at least twice a day.  She got all the creative talent in the family...not fair!  She really is an artist..can make just about anything and turns it all into gold!  She is my baby sister so she is just special because of that....plus I like to pick her brain for ideas as often as I can. She also has the sweetest most sensitive heart! Love you madly! 

(she's the one in the back wearing black)

 

And here we are again...We like to have a good time together, can you tell?   Linda always made sure of that!  We havent had a complete sister's weekend together since she passed on, but we need to make sure we do it again....soon.  So, here's to my wonderful, beautiful, funny, loving, and sweet sisters!  I love you guys!  Happy National Sister's Day!  You guys Rock!!