HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATE!

28 years ago, Saturday April 25, Nathan made his entrance into the world!

1. I love that Nathan was born two weeks early. He has always been anxious to get things going!

2. I love that Nathan had a perfectly round head and lots of silver blond hair. And he still is perfect.

3. I love Nathan because he is my first and only son and that makes him my favorite son.

4. I love Nathan because he has always had a twinkle in his eye.

5. I love Nathan's curiosity.

6. I love Nathan's willingness to share whatever he has. (It all started with apples and friends and candy and sisters)

7. I love Nathan's energy.

8. I love how hard Nathan always works. (When he was 18 months old his great grandpa wished he could live long enough to get a good day's work out of Nathan- Grandpa Johnson would be so proud!)

9. I love that Nathan is truly his dad's son.

10. I love the love and respect he always showed his grandmothers.

11. I love that Nathan can name any song and singer he hears.

12. I love to watch Nathan delight in Josie.

13. I love how much Nathan loves and cherishes Katie.

14. I love to see the respect he shows Sherry and Paul.

15. I love that I can write the book, "My Mother Loved My Brother the Best".

16. I love that Nathan always did what I asked him to do even when he told me no.

17. I love how patient and kind Nathan has been with me.

18. I love that Nathan has forgiven my faults in mothering him, in fact I love that he can forgive me.

19. I love Nathan's commitment to the gospel.

20. I love that Nathan honorably served a mission.

21. I love that Nathan earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

22. I love that Nathan earned a Kiwanis Club award.

23. I love that loves to learn.

24. I love that Nathan is honest and forthright.

25. I love Nathan's enthusiasm and zest for life.

26. I love that Nathan is a part of our eternal family and has started his own eternal family.

27. I love that Nathan chose the perfect wife for him and now has the perfect daughter.

28. I LOVE NATHAN!!!!!

Nathan, 24 hours old.

Nathan on his blessing day wearing the knit suit Grandma Scott made just for him.

Nathan's at nine months.

Nathan at 22 months, notice the first of many sets of stitches on his head.

All dressed up for Easter

Three year old Nathan getting ready to throw a rock in Lake Powell.

Nathan's never-ending smile.


All dressed up in a tux.

The last fishing trip with his Dad before his mission.

Still smiling!

Good Friends

I have been looking through pictures and the realization came to me what good friends Katie and Nathan have always been. They are always smiling and holding hands. Somehow I missed that while they were growing up! I ask myself, how could you have missed such an important fact and then realize I was too busy trying to make everything right instead of stopping to enjoy what was happening. So, now when I wonder why they are such good friends, I know they have always been good friends. What a blessing it is to me that my children are friends with each other.

Nathan's first Easter.

My favorite posed picture. Look at those eyes! I should have known

Do you see where Josie gets that gleeful face?

All dressed up on Grandma Scott's SL porch.

Fun at Fun Festa.

Monument Valley friends.

A Real Utah Spring Day!

Thursday April 16, 2009 7:00 a.m.


Thursday April 16, 2009 7:00 p.m.

Small miracles

Sunday when Megan shut her car door to leave for home the mirror on her car door broke off. We quickly changed cars and Monday morning Ray took her car to be fixed. I thought how blessed she was that it did not fall off while she was driving on the freeway or after she got home. She was here where we could help her.

Unfortunately, she left her tax papers in her car and had to come back on Monday to get them. While she was getting them out of her car, the mechanic told her he was finished fixing her car, he did not have to order any parts! So, she got to take her car home with her!

Two miracles.

How often do we stop to consider the small miracles in our lives?

Sometimes, the "bad" things seem so awful, that we do not appreciate the miracles around them.

What miracles have happened to you lately?

More Firsts

Once again, out of the blue, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Another first - our first Easter without my mom. This is the first Easter since the first year I was in Blanding, 30 years ago, that we have not spent it with Mom.

It is rather embarrassing to start crying in the pickle aisle at the grocery store! Green olives and sweet pickles were always special treats we had because Mom and I liked them. No one else will eat them, so off the menu they went. And thus, once again, I was crying in the middle of the grocery store.

Over I went to the candy aisle for Cadbury mini eggs. Mom always bought them and started buying them when she first saw them. Not me. I waited until the last minute, okay, the Friday before Easter and of course, none were to be found anywhere.

Egg dying always occurred at Mom’s. The kids liked to go over there and Mom enjoyed having them. I had to buy egg dye for our house this year. And, I ended up dying them, just like Mom would because the girls were too busy.

Lucky for us, we were able to attend Taylor Graham's wedding ceremony at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple first thing Saturday morning. She is now Mrs. Brandon Murray. The ceremony was beautiful. And, I am so proud of Taylor. We have known her since she was 4 years old and she was one of my Mia Maids.

Katie, Lauren and Megan got to help with the refreshments for her wedding reception. It was all very nice and enjoyable. Brandon is a great guy and I think they will be very happy together. Congratulations Taylor and Brandon!

Mom made the kids’ Easter baskets starting with Katie on her first Easter. Katie, Nathan, Megan, Lauren, Katie and Josie all have one all in the order they joined our family. There will be no more Easter baskets made by Mom.

Aren't they cute? And, just the perfect size, not too big.

I came in the kitchen to find this:

Lauren had volunteered to make dinner and cook she did!

Home made with fresh ground whole wheat bread:

Another table shot, Katie did the table:

Deviled eggs a culinary treat made by Lauren and Katie:

And Easter cake created by Lauren with home made fondant:

Jello salad

Another view of the cake

Lauren also studded a ham with cloves and baked it. It tasted delicious! And of course we had our favorite vegetable, asparagus. (I forgot to get photos of the last two)

Easter is really not about food, but about our Savior and his resurrection

San Antonio - Day 4

We started out the day listening to Kevin Carol, the "red Ball" guy. His story is fascinating and compelling.

Pictures from the Alamo gardens

Terrace at the Alamo

Fountain in the middle of a San Antonio Street

The Hyatt Grand (I am on the 5th floor)

Kevin "KC" and I holding the ball he threw to me and I caught!

My traveling companions at the end of a long day. They are still smiling!

The face that greeted me when I emerged from the air plane, my own sweetheart!

San Antonio - Day 3

I got up bright and early this morning, read 5:00 a.m. and decided to talk an early morning swim in this beautiful pool. It was so cold I could not catch my breath and after swimming half way down the pool and not breathing I made the executive decision to get out. I went back to my room and put dry clothes on. I returned to the gym and passed by these:

I thought, "Lauren would love these!"

Then I stepped on this and walked two miles.

Four hip hop dancers entertained us at 8:30 a.m.

We then heard from Craig of Craig's List. He calls himself a nerd!

After lunch Christopher Kennedy Lawford spoke to us. He was very dynamic an relevant as he spoke about his addiction recovery.

On our way to the Alamo there was this statue.

Another Texas ranger guarding the Alamo. Where were they when they were needed?

Pictures of the Alamo:

This marks one of the Alamo walls. They run through the city marking each of the eight walls. All the walls are double!

The Alamo church.

The Alamo gardens

Walkway into the Alamo

A window in the wall

The Alamo Angel, this is pretty cool

I really was there!

Off to dinner

Look at this menu and guess what I ate. I will give you a hint, I ordered two things.

Our very kind and patient waiter.

All in all it has been a good day and much warmer!