June Family Meeting/ New Hair

First of all, I wanted to share some pictures of Lily, who just cut off 11 inches of her hair and donated it to Locks of Love (they make wigs for people who have lost their hair due to cancer). She loves having a new flippy look.

Next, I wanted to remind and invite everyone to Family Meeting at our house on June 1st @ 6:00. Our address is 3320 W. 5775 S. in Taylorsville. If you need directions, let me know. If you could please let us know if you are coming, our email address is knightphantom@juno.com

We are planning on doing it outside. However, as we learned last night with my preschool graduation landing on a bad-weather day, we can fit about 100 people in my house if necessary. I know we don't have that many at family meeting, but that's how many people we had crammed into my house for graduation. Of course, the sun came out about a half hour before it started, but how were we to know? It worked out just fine anyway.

Remember your RSVP (you could also just put a post on this bog too, that's fine). Thanks!

-Tami

Getting my feet wet

Remember when you were little and you stood at the edge of the Winder Pool and stuck your toes in? Even though everyone told you that it was better just to jump in and get it over with (like ripping off a bandaid) you still had to test the water to see if it was colder than it's normal cold or warmer than it's normal cold. This is my first blog posting in my life and I'm getting my feet wet before deciding to start my own. I love hearing about people's lives and staying connected with everyone and a blog seems to be easier than sending e-mails out to everyone. Maybe I'll get ambitious and try to post a picture today. I don't know, though, it takes a lot of time to get from dipping your toes to stepping onto the baby steps in the pool. By the way, I'm in Seward Alaska now for the summer and it's way to cold to dip your toes into anything up here!

The unfortunately balloon-free zone

Hey, Blaine here (Just saved you 3 seconds of your life from having to scroll to the bottom to see who it was, and then took them back and then some making you read this paranthetical...) This is great! I hadn't even heard about the blog until I was just going through my personal email (something I get around to doing less and less frequently now since my work email keeps me busy enough) and found an invitation to join. I went through and read everything so far and I express my excitement with everyone else that I think this is a great idea and will be best the more people are into it. I also express my gratitude to Andrea for setting it up and to all those who have posted so far.

Anyway, I figured the best way to show my support was to actually create a post but I wasn't sure what I'd say (is that not the problem we all have?) But I liked Clay's recommendation--to post tidbits from our lives. So I thought I'd throw in something funny from church today.

So we were sitting in the cultural hall overflow which in our crowded ward is nearly full every week, and Gwen suddenly points up to the ceiling excitedly: Surely from some event the night before, there are about six helium filled balloons with long dangly strings in the corner of the gym. Now you could see how this would happen--kids let balloons go, they fly up out of reach, what are you going to do? But what made it funny is that they were right at that point where they were still buoyant enough to overcome gravity, but just barely. Also they were congregating right by the air conditioning vent. So for the most part they would just hang out there, reverent and still, until, about every ten minutes the air conditioner would kick on. At this point something different happened each time. Some times they would just blow around in a circle or blow off into the chapel (pretty entertaining, er, distracting in and of itself...). But some balloons caught a downdraft and that's where things got interesting. You never really saw it coming but you suddenly notice that every eye of every kid is fixed on something. There it was, the infamous red balloon with the extra long string, gliding lazily overhead, meandering slowly down, taunting the children, just begging to be grabbed, swooping low but never quite low enough. You watch the kid in the front row suddenly stand up on his chair and reach with all his might. He knows fierce whispers then threats and forced takedowns will ensue but he doesn't care anymore. AL-MOST! But the red balloon continues to elude. Red makes his way back up but soon Mr. Yellow comes out to play. This one gets particularly close to us and Gwen begged me to get it but, though I had no doubt I could jump high enough to snag it, I don't know, I guess it just didn't feel appropriate during the sacrament. Anyway, eventually I think they all blew down to some lucky kid or other. Poor Gwen, none ever came to her. It didn't matter though because, wouldn't you just know it, the parents were deflating the balloons and throwing them away. Much to their kids' diasappointment of course. It's something I guess we all have to learn at some point: that even when church is at its most fun, it's still a balloon-free zone.

More Calendar Items

Here are a couple more calendar items to note. (I'm not sure how to get them in that space above)

Friday, May 23 grandma, Wendy, Sherri and Karen are cleaning the cabin at 10 am. Anyone over age 12 is invited to help. Let Wendy know if you would like to come.

Saturday, May 31 is a wedding shower for Jamie (happens to be her birthday) at Wendy's house at 11 am.

Karen - welcome to the family.

Wow! what a great day we all shared as we partied and partied. The day couldn't have been more perfect as we witnessed the merging of the two families. Best wishes to the new couple. I've posted a few pictures of the special day as seen by our camera.

Feel free to watch the slideshow to the right, or come out and check it out: http://picasaweb.google.com/bretbassett/May08JamesWedding

Mother's Day Talk '08

Some of my family requested a copy of this talk.

Each of us in this congregation today have a mother . Our mothers love us and want the very best from us. I feel that the best way we can honor our mothers (and Fathers) is to strive to keep the commandments and to do our best.

A favorite scripture of mine is found in the New Testament. 3 John 1:4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

President Spencer W. Kimball has said: "Remember in the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks...We are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of us."
Sister Marjorie Hinckley said quote "I love the scripture in the New Testament where the angel appeared to Mary, who was to become the mother of Jesus, and gave her that particular assignment. And she said, "Be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). Some of us are married. Some of us are not (yet). Some of us have children and grandchildren. Some have none. Some are widowed, some divorced. But we can all do what it is our responsibility to do. We can all bless lives)" unquote.

Jesus tells us in Matthew "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". When we simply serve others, are kind to them, and keep the commandments we are blessed, and we are happy.
I testify that Jesus Christ loves us and that he suffered for and did all that was necessary so that we could be resurrected to live with Him and with our Heavenly Father. I hope I can show my gratitude by the life I live.

I testify that each week as we promise through the sacrament that we will always remember Him, and keep His commandments, He will bless us.

In Moroni, Jesus Christ has promised us, "If ye will have faith in me, ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me". I have witnessed this so many times throughout my life.
I am also so very grateful for my dear Ned, our children & Grandchildren, for my mother & father, for Ned’s and those before them who had the faith to follow the Savior and who worked so hard. And I am reaping the blessings. I feel such great comfort to know for a surety that Jesus died for us, that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet and had the courage it took to help restore the true church to earth. I know that we have been lead by true prophets and that now President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet.

Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ love us! I testify of these
things in the name of Jesus Christ....Amen

Happy Mother's Day!

I just wanted to wish Grandma a Happy grandMother's day, and to tell her how much I love and appreciate her. She is such a good example to me of love, patience, faith and service. I hope you have a wonderful day - thanks for being you! - Andrea (picture taken 1989)
*I have already wished my mom mothers day on a different blog :)