Good Friends

The Moore Family (we love their name too)

Matt & Jeri: Karl, Erik & Kjell
Fly Guy & Matt were buddies on their missions in Sweden. Matt & his wife Jeri with their three kids live in Washington, so we are thrilled when we have an opportunity to visit with them. They came for a couple of days on their way to visit Disneyland (a surprise for their children). We were able to swim, play on the zip lines at Grandmas house and visit one of our favorite restaurants The Cracked Crab. We enjoyed our fun debates on politics and learning about the latest electronics (we are always behind the times). Hopefully, we can visit with them again soon.
In case you missed it, Yes....Matt is wearing a skirt!!!

It takes a special kind of MAN to pull this one off! Matt provided us with much comic material when he arrived wearing his "utili -kilt". Isn't that the same thing as a skirt...we called it the "Man skirt." His new fashion statement was fine as long as he didn't move suddenly the wrong way or threaten to flash us. Matt does at least match in his outfit!

Kyle's 6th Birthday

K's celebration started with waffles for breakfast, compliments
of Dad. Everyone loves Dad's waffles on their birthday! That night
our little family had tacos (k's choice), birthday cake
and ice cream. He opened our gifts to him...a star wars game
from Dad & Mom and a couple of pencils from E.

K getting ready to blow out his candles!

K enjoying his snack. He is
always doing goofy poses for the camera.

Senora de Puentes' class: A few days after his
birthday I brought a birthday snack into K's
class. We had rice crispy treats (no mess) and
then sang to him. I was also able to stay and
volunteer in his class, which he enjoyed.

E...Nate...Chase...Angelo...K...Tyler...Melanie...Trevor...Collin
K chose to have a Bowling Birthday Party! We invited
seven of his friends. We bowled for aproximately an hour
then ate pizza and cupcakes. The party was a big hit! How
can you go wrong when you allow eight 6-year-olds to
throw a big ball around. K really had fun. This is the
first year that he has cared so much about having his friends
with him.

K trying hard to bowl a Strike!! Surprisingly
a couple of his friends had a few strikes.

Hanging out with good friends...
Tyler...K...Collin

S bowling her first spare!

Proposition 8

After many hours of calls, walking presincts, placing signs and thousands of volunteers proposition 8 passed. Having this pass has given me a renewed sense of hope that there still are so many of us willing to fight for the good things. On Saturday we spent several hours placing reminder cards to vote on doors. After two hours E asked why it was so important to have people vote for traditional marriage. I explained to him that our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, had asked us to stand up for the truths that we know and to fight with our time and money in every way that we could. He saw that we were tired, but still finishing the job to be done. I am thankful for this experience to show him that we listen and will always stand up and serve the Lord. These past few months have shown me that Satan is blurring the lines and making it harder for people to live the gospel. Keeping our standards and standing up for the truths that we know, separate us from the normal. It is offensive to see commercials and ads that say we are hateful, intolerant and want to strip rights from others. I wish we did not have to endure this conflict, but know there will be more to come. I also know that if we continue to speak out and uphold our standards then the Lord will always provide a way for us.

Halloween 2008

Fly Guy & Double DD

Our family of pumpkins!

K the Wizard...

S the Ladybug...

A little pumpkin...happily eating his costume!

For FHE we decorated our pumpkins.

Harry Potter (E) & his buddy

The best part...trick or treating with friends!!

The Faith of a Child

Working in Primary for 2 1/2 years taught me that children are amazing at understanding the gospel and having complete faith. Last month, E asked Fly Guy on Fast Sunday if he could bear his testimony. Fly Guy was surprised, but walked him up to the pulpit. Before Fly Guy could help, E stepped forward and began his simple but powerful testimony. Without hesitation he introduced himself and then said that he knew this church was true and that he loved his family. Fly Guy helped him end his testimony, while I sat in amazement. Today E asked if he could bear his testimony again. Once we said yes, he walked up to the pulpit and bore his testimony completely alone. He expressed his gratitude for his family and how he knew that the church was true and that he was sure that everyone else's family was the same as us, happy, and knew that the gospel was true. He said he loved how everyone was kind and loving to each other. I hope that I can remember to have that kind of faith and act on it more often.