"BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!"

So. I have a sinus infection. My face feels like it's going to explode. ((deep breath)) My mom, my uncle, and my aunt will all swear (with a sadistic grin) that oreganol oil - up the nose - will cure a sinus infection. On the downside, I've seen this done and it looks to be a scary business. After wiping oreganol oil inside your nose, you entire head then explodes into a fiery ball . . . okay, not the whole thing . . . just the back of your eyeballs, your ears, your throat, and - of course - your sinuses. The burning - which is not like a spicy burning . . . more like someone scorching you with a hot poker - last approximately 15 minutes.

(((another deep breath)))

I just don't know if I can do it.

NUF SAID!

We Thank Thee, Oh God, for a Prophet!

My mom called me Sunday night to tell me of President Hinckley's passing. It was a strange feeling . . . I thought that I would feel sad, but instead I felt the most wonderful feeling of peace. I am so happy for him to be with his sweet wife, together again. We all know how he has missed her and I just had this image of them together and what a joyous occasion it is for them --- as he stands among the prophets of old and our latter-day prophets who were, no doubt, there to greet him!
It will be different without him, I truly felt - like so many others in my age group - that he was MY prophet, but I am so thankful to know that this church is not founded upon a man - even a prophet. That this is God's church and that it will continue on the course that President Hinckley has assisted - to fill the whole Earth. Because It's true. Because He has said it will be so. I'm so thankful to have had the example of Gordon B. Hinckley throughout my youth and early adulthood. Guiding me in the decisions that I've made and shaping me into the person I am today. This quote from him, is classic and is so much of what he will always be to me.

"You are not everything you ought to be, but by and large, you are very good. 

And you can become what you ought to be."

I thank Thee, Oh Lord, for President Hinckley and for our new prophet. For continuing revelation and guidance.

P.S. - As a little aside. Sunday afternoon we were sitting in Sacrament Meeting with my mom. Hazel and my mom were looking at the program, which had a picture of Pres. Hinckley on the front. My mom asked Hazel if she knew who it was. She said: Yes, President Hinckley. Mom: Yes. He's our prophet, isn't he? Hazel: No. He's not anymore. Mom: Yes, he is. Hazel: No. He's not anymore.
Sometimes children know more than we give them credit for.

Family Fun!

This past weekend we made a spur of the moment decision to head down to Utah for some fun in the snow at the Moon family cabin. With having moved while I was in high school, this is one place that we can go that holds a LOT of childhood memories. It is a sweet place to go visit and I am filled with so many nostalgic feelings there. We had a great weekend of snowmobiling, sledding, playing in the snow, talking, and playing lots of games. Hazel and Lilie had a fantastic time playing with their cousins Cade and Karlie. It was so fun to see them having the same kind of fun that I had with my cousins when we were kids . . . and still do.


This is SO typical and so funny to me. Nels & I went on a little snowmobile trip with my dad & Lilie. Lilie fell asleep in my dad's lap after about 5 minutes and STAYED asleep the entire time! It made the going a little difficult for my dad, but we had a great time! He tried to shake her and talk to her and move her all around, but to no avail. Next time I'm having a hard time getting her to go to sleep . . . all I'll have to do is borrow a snowmobile, take her on a rough trail for several miles, and do everything that I can to get her to wake up . . . LOL!

Strangely 4-wheeling with my dad has the same effect on my kids! Crazy children!

My handsome hubby after our ride! Isn't he GREAT!?


I got to also go for a ride with my dad. As I was getting ready to take off and putting on my goggles, Nels starts laughing and says, "You know, Rachel, most of the time I don't see a lot of resemblance between you as an adult and pictures of you when you were a kid. - But right now I can totally see it!" ------- Lovely. The time when my husband can see how I resemble my childhood-self is when I'm wearing ENORMOUS goggles and a cheesy grin!

My Silly Lilie

I have to post this up here before I forget. We got the BIGGEST kick out of this.

A few weeks ago, Nels was playing with the girls in our front room. If I remember right, Nels was pretending to be a tiger or some such monster. He was chasing the girls around and pretending to eat their arms, legs, etc. while they giggled and "ran for their lives".

When he got to Lilie she turned around, looked at him straight and said, "No Daddy. Don't eat me. I'm yucky!"

Forget that I'm a person, forget that I'm your DAUGHTER. You don't want to eat me. . . I'm yucky. She gave the same reasoning to Jake when he and Alyssa were up here a few weeks ago and he tried to "eat" her. "No Jake! I'm yucky!"