Winter in Wallsburg

Margie

Margie Moo, I love you! I have spent the last two days in the hospitol with Mom. She has had some small strokes. Our life is going to be changing. She needs me so much more. I went with her to do tests on her brain, they and put red die in her hair. She hated to have her hair messed up. When the doctor came in to tell her about the test she was more worried about getting a towel around her hair than listening to him. I loved showering her and washing her hair. I put gel in her hair and fixed it cute. She looked so childlike, all clean, laying on her pillow. When she was having her stroke, Brent came in her room and she thought it was Archie. That is going to be a happy day when he comes to get her. I can feel him close sometimes. Mom amazed me when they said they would release her from the hospitol and she wanted to go see all the kids at the Christmas Breakfast. So dressed in her bathrobe and boots we went to breakfast. Thank you everyone for making a fuss over her. She loved it. Merry Christmas Margie!

Today is Christmas 2008. Matt just left to go to Provo. Dad and I are sitting watching heavy snow fall. It is so beautiful. This might be the most snowy Christmas I ever remember. I am so thankful for my life. I am thinking about how much I love Tom. As we sit here alone I realise that our relationship is the most important responsibility I have. He is my forever partner. Today he has been so gentle and kind. I couldn't of asked for a happier Christmas. We rode in the snow to feed the horses. I loved watching the exact way in which he teaches his horses to follow the morning routine. He has them trained well. I love his kind, large hands and the warmth I always feel from them. I love the good life he has provided for all of us. He seems gruff much of the time, but inside he is very soft. He struggled through our Christmas prayer, because he felt such love for his family. My Christmas gift to my children this December is to tell you that I love your Dad. He is my eternal pick! .

It has been three weeks since we have been to Kelly's and I am so slow to post. How in the heck do you busy Mom's blog so faithfully? I think I am done with the murals so may be life will be more normal. Dad and I had such a great time at the Thompsons. We were treated royally. It does so much to my heart to be in my kids homes and see how their days go. I can imagine Kelly at her kitchen sink. The kids at the table for a breakfast cooked by their dad while they practice their spelling words. I can see the stollers making the big circle. I can remember doing the same thing myself. Kellly you are such a happy mom, making life good for everyone. Heath we loved watching you cook up your families favorite meals. These are the faces of happy kids.

Hair long, eyelashes, and love!

I caught the kids in their beds, sound asleep. So peaceful.

Love those chubby checks and pudgy little baby fingers!

Maizie your lips are so gorgeous!

Florida

Madison you go into the deepest sleep, I think you are in never,never land.McKinnely, you are lost in your beautirul curls.

Love is wonderfully goofy girl!

Maizie flying free!

Kade surfing in his birthday outfit, doest is still smelll like Wallsburg?

Matt

Today I painted flowers on the Ocher Temple Mural. I have made some great friends. I will miss them when we are finished. Dad and I just got back from having dinner with Matt and Candice. They both looked so good, and seemed happy. Keep praying for those two. Kelly you have asked for their address, so here it is. 7060 S. Palo Verde Way #12 Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 Candice's phone is 801-787-5938

Candice is the best thing that has happened to Matt. She is darling!

Family

This is a picture a Grandma could love! My favorite little people. Kelly's picture is in the back ground, so that means her cute little ones are there in spirit. I hope they are having a blast on their trip. Dad and I can't wait to head out for Kade's Baptism. What fun we had the night you all came up.I love this picture of little Grady and Dad's hands. Today we went to Dax's Primary Sacrament Program. We met Dax in the hall before the meeting and he ran and gave us a hug and began to belt our,"I Am A Child of God". We could tell that he had been well rehearsed. Then in the meeting he stood up to the pulpit and sang with loud gusto. It was a Dax solo that my Dad would have loved! As young boy my Dad always sang at funerals and in church. I miss him tonight. Jamie and I talked about Grandma this afternoon. (Thank you for the yummy Sunday Dinner!) Grandma is getting so old I really need her here with me. She doesn't want to come up, and it is hard to be down there as much as I should. But I am going to do better. Life gets complicated. We went to the Miller's Program today too. It was such a thrill to sit down and have each of the kids come give up a big hug and kiss. They all did so well on their parts and the singing was incredible! Kim even had a little part and she looked to cute pregnant. Jason was conducting and did such a great job, so handsome, but so humble too. I loved your testimony!

Last Monday I got to go the the Draper Temple to install the mural. It was a day I will always remember. The temple is so beautiful, the Celestial Room has a ceiling that seems to go up forever. I walked around and thought about how much I love my family and how blessed we are because of the temple. Do you think we could go to the temple together? Bret is finally feeling better, he has had strep. Nicole just had her knee scoped on Friday. I loved spending the day with her kids. Jenny is the dearest little mother. She takes such good care of Shawn. He fell asleep on my lap, during Journey To The Center of the Earth, Katy was leaning against my shoulder on one slide and Tyler on the other side explaining the details to me . I enjoyed the company, I sat and just drank it in. I love the Clarks! I hope Nicole will feel better real soon!

The Garden Tomb

We had an assignment to paint the garden tomb. I have had so many memories flood my heart. What a gift Dad gave to us to let us go to Jerusalem. I have been on that sacred ground three times, with three of my favorite people. Nicole I was there is spirit with you, and you are number four. Who knows if we will ever have that chance again in this life time. I often find myself remembering during Sunday School Class or early morning moments. I have been looking through my old journal and I found this poem I love!I am not moved, my God, to love you
By the heaven you have promised me.
Neither does hell, so feared, move me
To keep me from offending you.



You move me, Lord, I am moved seeing you
Scoffed at and nailed on a cross
I am moved seeing your body so wounded.
Your injuries and your death move me.



It is your love that moves me, and such a way
That even though there were no heaven I would love you,
And even though there were no hell I would fear you.
You do not have to give me anything so that I love you,

For even if I didn't hope for what I hope,
As I love you now, so would I love you.
Madeleine L Engle


Jamie and me at the Garden Tomb. Jamie was in beauty school and sporting her cute short cut and brand new color. I think she was starting to like Matt about now. She has on a skirt with gray sweat under it. Do we look alike?
Kim met grandma and I at the "Wailing Wall" She seemed to us to be the parent and we were the children. She was so comfortable in the Old City. We would get lost and pray that we could find Kim again. One day I was alone and lost from the group. I had stepped out of a church because it was so dark and heavy. I couldn't imagine that it could have possibly been where the Savior would have been. You can't know how excited I was to see Kim just pop up by chance. We left the group and had the most wonderful day alone.
This is Kelly and me at the Mt of the Beatitudes. This tree looked like it had been there forever. This is where the Savior taught the people with such love. Blessed is he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness . . . I often imagine that we are, as a family all there, sitting under these giant trees listening and drinking in the Savior's words. Wow. . . what a lot of fond memories. I love my girls, all four of them. Thanks for the memories!

P.S. Kim we need to do some "Wow!" Reflection Thinking
P.P.S. Kelly Tampa Bay Devils are in the World Series! Will Heath get into that? I can't wait.

Dove Hunting

Bret brought the kids dove hunting. Tyler and Katy are all decked out for a BYU game. Check Katy's teeth because she just lost her first tooth. I wonder if the tooth fairy found her? Tyler is sporting the empty bullets from his hunt. If we run out of food Tyler will have to come to our recure and hunt for all of us. Shawn I love this picture of you. Suddenly you are turning into a little boy. I like the names you have created for your family, you are the vowel king.

Jamie and her boys

I love the cute puckered lips. Grady was blessed today. Thanks Jamie for a Sunday to remember.

A new grandbaby to bless!

It seems like just a minute ago that Kim and I were looking through the window at the hospitol, holding on to each other and crying. A perfect little boy to add to the Heaps family. Jamie is surrounded by men and boys. She is the perfect boy mother. She loves to explore and play and laugh and have fun. What lucky boys.

What a Beautiful Face!

Life is hard when your most important task is to eat and sleep. In 24 hours baby Grady (is that spelled right?) will have his own name and blessing from his dad. Matt I am so glad you take such good care of your own. Jamie these are the happiest of times! Baby Grady you are welcomed with great joy to our family!!! love and more love!

Maizie

Sweet Maizie, this is the picture I drew of you. I love your hat and the shadow that falls on your face. You are so beautiful. I am glad you belong
to Grandpa and me! We think you have the most delightful grip on life. You make us happy just thinking about you. We know that Millie is in good hands because you love her so much. Have you taught her how to carry her baby and about 25 other important things at the same time? By the way Grandpa is still hungry for some ribs!

Could it be that I love Lucy double?
Do you think Matt and Sam are starting to look alike?





I can't wait to hold a new baby!

Summer Challeng

Emmie and Jenny I still need blogging lessons, everything is backwards.

How do you put more than five pictures on at a time? This is my basket.
Jenny this picture is darling. McKinnley or Madison do you want to do a summer challenge?

Emmie you are beautiful!
Thompsons I have a trunk full of hats to take pictures of you when you come to Wallsburg.
I am counting down the days.

Lucy did her purse with mucho stickers. Is she not the cutest thing ever!
Oh. my heart!
Moms --am I learning to take pictures or what.
Oh those eyes! Abbie is standing in grandpa's new little hay barn.

I keep getting side tracked by cute pictures. The boys made boxes too and filled them with, sticks, rusty things out of grandpa's tool chest, bailing twine, rocks, what ever they thought looked interesting.

"THE ORDINARY ARTS WE PRACTICE EVERYDAY AT HOME ARE OF MORE IMPORTANCE TO THE SOUL THAN THEIR SIMPLICITY MIGHT SUGGEST."

I made a secret basket and filled it with my scriptures, good pens and markers, a journal, my Lagona book that Kelly made, a thank you note from Nick, yummy Lavender Lotion from Jamie, a letter from Kim, a pretty book mark, a blue marble egg, and I am looking for the worry rock Matt gave me, wish I had some chocolate. I want to challenge the Mom's to make their own secret basket or drawer or box. A place to escape even for just a few minutes.

Next weeks challenge is to do something for the 4th of July, hang a flag, make a flower arrangement, do family after dark fireworks. I can see Bret's little family laying on the lawn in their old house lighting sparklers. It was a picture to remember.

The next week I am going to be in Nauvoo with Grandma and Diane. Jenny could you do a challenge, or any moms? Or we could challenge everyone to go swimming at dark. Then holy cow---it will be BABY OH BABY" We will all be thinking about our newest most wonderful surprise. We can do anything about babies. The new pictures will be flying soon! I can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!! Jamie you are in all of our thoughts and prayers!

HAPPY SUMMER, AND BE CREATIVE!

Secret Boxes

For my weeks creative challange we made secret boxes to hold treasures.

"THE CREATIVE MIND PLAYS WITH THE OBJECTS IT LOVES"

Matt had my camera in Los Vegas so I didn't get the boys. Maybe their Moms want to take of picture of them with their boxes and post in on my blog (Gwenbclark@gmail.com clark008) The girls were so much fun. Kelly's kids are working on theirs. Kelly will you post us some pictures? Isn't Katy adorable!

Abbie you make me smile! Your purse is funky. Does it have any treasures inside?

"MAGIC IS THE ELEMENTAL STUFF OF ART--SIGHT, SOUND,SMELL,TASTE,TOUCH"
Emilee I love you in pink. Your purse is great, what will you put in it?
Jenny I like the stripes, and I love you! When is your new room in your new house going to be ready?

Jamie's sewing challange

week 2/ sewing challange

seeing how 39 days and counting till this little baby boy will be here

my mom got me excited to get things ready for his big entrance.

the other day she surprised me with this darling material, I don't know who will love it more the

baby or dax and jace.

she taught me the trick of free stitching on her sewing machine and I LOVED IT.

I got to just go with the flow and swirl or twist when ever I wanted and I have to say it turned out pretty darn cute. thanks mom were going to

love all snuggling under this together.