Red Letter Day for McKade

Today is a Red Letter Day for McKade. He got his Learner's Permit - YIKES! and he got his hair cut. I'm not sure which is more important to him. He was in the school play, Fiddler on the Roof and the director ask that they not cut their hair until the play was over. McKade HATES when his hair gets even remotely long. He thinks it gets in his eyes, tickles his ears and whistles when he rides the 4-wheeler. Of course, the importance of being able to legally drive goes without saying.

Happy 20th Birthday Miranda!!!

Our beatiful "baby girl" is now 20! How did that happen?

By the time a person turns 20 years old, they will and should have left an indelible impression on the people among them. Sometimes it's for good and sometimes it isn't. Parents delight in the child who distinguishes themselves as one of the "good kids". It's a heartache when they don't. I am happy to report that one of those kids that we know has just turned 20 and is still a good kid.

That's not to say that she is perfect, but all around she has been very self-reliant, studious, hard-working, determined, dependable, not a follower, judicious (most of the time--sliding on trays down concrete in the rain and dark was a serious lack of judgment), humorous and "cute".

We are very pleased with Miranda. She has secured our trust in her to make good and righteous decisions. She has come a long way from the pale, frail, white-haired little girl to what she is today. We believe that she has built a very secure foundation that will carry her through all of the difficulties that she might encounter in life. The one trait that needs to be worked on is PATIENCE, but that's a life-long endeavor where we can all do a little better. We love Miranda!!! She is one of our (5) favorite children. We hope she can always be prepared for opportunities when they arrive and seek our Heavenly Father's direction for every decision. (She won't be able to ask any of her earthly family as none of us have any opinions and Miranda isn't known for having opinions of her own. haha) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIRANDA!!! WE LOVE YOU.

As you can tell, someone much better spoken than I wrote that, but it speaks for both your dad and I.

Actual birthday is tomorrow, the 19th. We posted early because we're headed to Idaho.

We hope you have a great day, Miranda!

Thankful Turkey

This turkey doesn't look all that fancy, but it sure brings back some good memories. Back in 1991 when we lived in California, we made these "Thankful Turkeys" for all of the women in the ward. I was the lucky one that got to cut the turkeys out of burlap. I even broke my favorite pair of scissors doing them. Each year we cut out new feathers and have everyone date the feather and write what they are thankful for that year.

It is so much fun to look back at the feathers through the years and see what everyone was thankful for and how our perspectives have changed. We have a lot of the typical things like the Gospel, family, friends, our country and our house. We have some not quite as traditional like the cats and dogs, books, bottles, McKade's place in-between mom and dad in bed. (That has been a few years ago and he probably had help with that one.)

Tonight for FHE we filled out our feathers again. Since we are down to just three of us left at home, we now have to be thankful for a lot more so we don't have a bald turkey. This year we stuck with pretty typical things other than Mike is so very grateful to have finally paid off his student loan and McKade is grateful that he doesn't have to go to school seven days a week. (Today was a hard, tiring day at school.)

We would also like to take this opportunity to say that we are very grateful for each of you, our family and friends!!!