The Unexpected and Distant Williamson Family...

This past Friday night, James and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple for our "date night". When we got there, what we had planned on doing was full, so the workers asked if we could do sealings. Of course, I ended up being ready long before James was and headed up to the waiting room. The day we got married, I was all dressed in my wedding dress and ready to exit the temple, but I had to wait on James for like 15 minutes. It was just torturous, and the sweet temple lady that was accompanying me said "You know, your are going to be waiting on him the rest of your life?!" I did know it, but it hasn't gotten any less frustrating over the years!

Anyhow, when I got up to the waiting room they took my name down and surprisingly asked if we were related to the Williamsons' already in the room. I said not that I knew of, so the temple workers explained that they were such a nice couple and would love to meet me. Oh my goodness, I wanted to adopt them as my grandparents! They were so excited to meet me, and very anxious to meet James to ask him about his ancestry to see if we are of the same Williamson family. Sis. Williamson held my hand for a long time as she chatted with me asking where we were from, where James worked, etc. This couple has to be in their late 80's, early 90's, but they are so sprightly and don't miss a beat!

James finally showed up after we were all ready to begin, so I just quickly leaned over to tell him that the couple next to us were Williamson's also. After our work was done, we got to talk to the Williamson's some more. James thinks that Bro. Duncan Williamson looks like his Grandpa Lyle, so they must be related, right? Ha! They told us Duncan's Great Great Great Grandfather (give or take a few Greats) sent his 6 sons over to America during the mid 1800's. They all came over on the same ship, but different years as they could only afford one voyage at a time. They were converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and were coming over to join the Saints and move west. Some of them settled in Cache Valley, UT, and James knows that's where his grandpa's family came from. So, it looks like we are related to this sweet couple. As we were parting, they told us to look them up in the phone book (we don't even have a phone book, but there are easier ways to find people these days) under Duncan Williamson. Their daughter has been doing a lot of genealogy and would love to share what she has found with us. Even though this couple lives across the valley, they like to come to our temple because it's smaller and they have been able to know many of the workers. They come every Friday night for the same session, so they urged us to come and see them again!

I don't believe in coincidences. I do believe that our loving Heavenly Father has a plan of happiness for us. I think that through a series of Heavenly planned events we were able to meet some of Jame's distant relatives who will be able to enlighten us with some of their family history. This will make me more excited about genealogy, and it will be a cool experience to share with our kids. I'm so thankful to know that I have a Father in Heaven who is very interested in my life and continues to bless me through life's roller coaster of events!

"Because We Can...!"

I got to cross something off of my bucket list this week...Bon Jovi in concert, on his "Because We Can" Tour.  I got James the tickets for Christmas (he loves them too), and I just couldn't believe the time was finally here! Many concerts I've been to I just sit and wait for my favorite song, or at least a song that I like. This concert was so much fun because all of the songs were hits from the past 30 years, and everyone knew the words and has memories associated with them. Entire families of grandparents, parents, and children were there rockin' to Bon Jovi who has had a stellar 30 year career. Jon Bon is really funny - at one point he said "I know I'm not pretty like Justin Beiber, and I don't dance like Justin Timberlake, but I've been around longer that both of them combined!" Their new album is #1 on the Billboard charts right now! And, I think Bon Jovi is pretty hot still :)

Growing up, my dad belonged to the Columbia Record club and got cassette tapes every month that we would pick through. It was mostly music from Emi Lou Harris, or Willie Nelson, or someone very "uncool" at the time, but once we got the sound track from the "Young Guns" movie. It is done by Bon Jovi, and we absolutely loved "Blaze of Glory" and "Wanted, Dead or Alive!". We would listen to the soundtrack on family road trips, and it would mysteriously disappear from my room and appear somewhere in my brother Paul's room. I'd take it back and hide it in my room, and then it would go missing a few months later. Nothing was even mentioned about the "trading" back and forth, I guess we thought it was even more sneaky that way. As adults we would talk about how much we still loved Bon Jovi, and especially "Blaze of Glory"!

After Paul died, I had a REALLY hard time listening to music because I was so emotional. For about 6 months, at least, I only listened to the CD from Jackson's music class, or other silly toddler songs. Too many songs had memories associated with them that caused an unwanted emotional breakdown! About 7 months after Paul died, it was General Conference weekend and was feeling very blessed and spiritually uplifted. When it was time for James to go to the Saturday night Priesthood session, I really wanted him to stay home with me because I was feeling so peaceful and happy and didn't want to be left alone for my mind to wander and ruin my mood. He would have happily stayed home, but I knew that was silly of me to keep him from that meeting! Anyhow, while he was gone, I was home with little Jackson and my baby Paul and decided to conquer the radio. I needed to get back to life like a normal person and enjoy some good music. When I turned the radio on, guess what was playing..."Wanted, Dead or Alive!" Of course I cried, but it was a good cry because I just knew that my brother was there in the way that he could be to comfort me. It was the coolest thing! And every time I hear that song it's brings up special memories of my brother, it's our song. And he is still and will ever be "wanted, dead or alive!" I just thought of that, kind of funny it says that in the song. Anyway, I was really wanting Bon Jovi to sing that song, but he left the stage without singing it. Of course, the audience cheered for an encore, and he ended up coming out to play it. I cried, and I recorded it on my phone. Not that the acoustics were great, and not that I could really see Bon Jovi, but I was so excited.

So now I have been day dreaming about what it would be like to be a Rock Star! I mean, it must be so amazing to go out on stage at the age of 51 and be cheered for as you were at 25, maybe even more so for Bon Jovi. All the fame and money! I know it doesn't bring true happiness, but I'd love to live the life for a day. Next on my list is Aerosmith! They are in Australia and New Zealand right now, but I told James we HAVE to see them when they come anywhere close to UT!

Maxwell Benjamin!

Little Max arrived on the morning of April 2nd. Andrea was really ready for him to come but had to wait and wait. This guy just wanted his very own special day. March 31st, was Easter. April 1st was April Fools day. The in-laws, James, Andrea, and Lauren all have birthdays on the 3rd of the month! Just kind of funny!

Andrea delivered at Riverton Hospital , where my Blazer was born. It's just right down the road, so I was so excited to meet him on the day he was born. He's smaller than his older brother, Peter, but he looks so similar!

It was so nostalgic visiting them as I thought about how much fun it was to have Blaze in this brand new hospital! I feel like I cherished every second I had with each of my 4 newborn babies, but I still don't feel like it was enough. But...I never ever want to go through pregnancy again! And...I admit I have my hands entirely full at this point! But maybe having such feelings means that I did take the time to really enjoy each birth experience and welcoming a new little spirit into the world - few things are more joyful and exciting! I loved holding them and kissing as much as I could. I never wanted to put them down because I wanted them to know how much I loved them. And when they would smile back at me, it was just heavenly! My heart would absolutely melt and tears would come to my eyes! At this point, I will have to be excited for my brothers and sisters-in-law and live vicariously through them!

Easter Bunny 2013!

 

James always wants the kids to do silly bunny faces!

Chocolate bunnies for breakfast!

I love to do the Robin Egg lips. It's tradition :) One year when I was in college at was at my parent's house for Easter and did Robin Egg lips. My brother, Paul, told me that I could make my lips look much fuller, and I was applying the "candy lipstick" all wrong. He took the candy and outlined my lips for me, and I looked even more ridiculous! He conceded that I did put on my lipstick better than he did, and I didn't need to outline my lips so fully! What a relief :)

The Easter bunny visited us on Saturday morning this year. When I was growing up that's when the Easter bunny visited us, and I kind of hated it. But, it's so much better to be able to focus on Jesus Christ on Easter day when you don't have to worry about all the hoopla of candy and eggs. My kids didn't seem to mind getting candy a day earlier :)

On Easter morning, we had some honey comb candy and Swedish Fish (to represent Christ's first meal) and read the account of the Resurrection from the Gospels. It was fun to watch Paul in Sharing Time, during Primary, raise his hand to answer all of the questions about the Easter story. Repetition is great for kids! For dinner, we were joined by Uncle Andrew, and Grandma Ce-Ce, and Poppy. We had salmon, asparagus, fingerling potatoes, cheese scones, guacamole eggs, fresh fruit salad, and carrot cake. I love having fresh foods for Easter dinner, it goes along with Resurrection and new beginnings etc.

Easter has become my favorite holiday. Resurrection and the atonement has become so real to me, and my testimony of it has been strengthened greatly during these past several years. What a joyous blessing it is to celebrate Easter and reflect on how I am living my life!

Wolf Scout!

 

Our pack meeting this month had a "Survivor" theme. We played a few team games having to do with air, water, and food. Jackson was so excited to get his Wolf badge, and he got a tree painted on his face to add to the excitement! I got the "Mom" pin, and I guess I need to get some kind of thing to display them with. They should make them charms so moms can have a Scout bracelet and fill it with all of her boy's awards!

Spring Break...

The kids got a whopping 3 days for Spring Break, which is less time for me to entertain them! Not enough time to really have a vacation though. We went out to lunch, caught a show a butterfly show at the Planetarium, had a couple of family dinners, but best of all was enjoying the weather. It was about 70 degrees, and the neighborhood came alive with kids on bikes and scooters. They also wanted to make Easter cupcakes for some friends. I let the kids pipe the frosting for the first time, and they did a really great job! The frosting was pastel pink and yellow, and we topped them with mini Cadbury eggs (one of the best Easter candies in our house!). And since it was Spring Break, I let each of them eat 2 cupcakes at one sitting when they were done decorating :)

Dying Eggs 2013!

The kids had 36 eggs to dye this year! We got a really cool metallic kit that comes with paint brushes to actually paint your eggs. They looked so pretty! They weren't even interested in the glitter eggs after opening the metallic paints. Cooking eggs in the oven instead of boiling them on the stove was all the rage this year. I tried it, and it was so much easier than boiling 36 eggs! I'm a convert. The kids were so attached to their own eggs, and didn't want anyone else to eat them. Reminds me of my family growing up!