Memorial Day 2011



I am so grateful for my family roots. My parents taught me to love my family and to love the Lord. They were hard-working, loyal people who gave unconditional love to each of my 9 siblings and myself. We knew they loved the Lord and they had testimonies that families can be together forever. Because of their testimony of this doctrine, they did all in their power to bring the Gospel into our home and to live in a way that we would want to be together forever. I appreciate the values they placed on work and education. Because of them, all 10 children attended college and most graduated from college. They never had a lot of money so it was up to each of us children to find a way to personally finance our education. How grateful I am for the principles of love, integrity, loyalty, hard work, faith in Christ, individual worth, knowledge, accountability, forgiveness, and repentance that were taught by word and by precept in my home. I am thankful for the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - I learned to pray, to pay an honest tithe, to attend my church meetings and to give my best effort from my parents. I learned the value and importance of regular temple attendance as I watched my parents go forth in faith. I know that this way of life didn't begin with my parents. They learned these same principles from their parents, who learned them from their parents and so on, back to the first days of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on earth. How richly blessed I am because of my family roots.
I am also thankful for all those in my family who have faithfully served to preserve our liberty and the freedom of America. My dad and his brothers served in World War II- it wasn't only their sacrifice but that of their parents and sister as well. How my Granny made it through those years, 2 sons serving in the war, one son dieing - then my dad joined the army air core, helping to defeat Hitler and his minions... the price of freedom is not free!

Happy Mother's Day to our mothers - Maxine Burton McAllister & to LaRae White Larsen 2011

Today is Mother's Day, 2011.  I miss my mother but my heart is full of gratitude for all the lessons she taught me and for all the unconditional love, encouragement and trust she gave me.  My mother gave birth to 10 children and together with my dad, taught us to love one another and serve one another. Today I am happy to say that I love my brothers and sisters and I'm grateful to call them my friends!  My mother loved me enough to let me fall and learn to pick myself up.  She had confidence in me and taught me to have confidence in myself.  My mother loved the Gospel  of Jesus Christ and taught me its truths, together with the importance of building faith in Jesus Christ. I now have my own testimony and count it as my most prized possession.  It helps me with my relationships with my husband, my children, my siblings, friends and associates.  Mother, I love you Mother I do, Father in Heaven sent me to you! When I am near you I love to hear you saying so softly that you love me too! I know you love me Mother and I will forever strive to please you!  I hope that when all is said and done, my childen love me like I love you!

I feel to pay tribute to the mother of my husband - Norma LaRae White Larsen.  LaRae has been one of my dearest friends for many years - through good times and bad.  LaRae - I miss you but know with all my heart that you are about our Father's business.  You are happy and full of energy as you do His bidding.  I have no doubt that Heavenly Father cherishes His daughters and I wonder if you might be celebrating motherhood in heaven as we are on earth.  I would imagine your celebration is much more poignant as Motherhood is a celestial part of God's plan.  LaRae, I am so thankful for the truths, values and virtues you instilled in your son.  He leads our family in righteousness and love.  You were pleased with him while you were here - I know you are pleased now!  I appreciate so much your thoughtful ways, your encouragement, your optimistic outlook, your support, love and laughter.  You lived life to the fullest, conquering obstacles and weaknesses as you faithfully turned to the Lord.  Thank you for all you taught me my friend!  I love you with all my heart!

Mothers Day 2011

Kizoa slideshow: Happy Mothers day - Slideshow

Happy Easter / Lilly 2011

  

              

 

 

First off, Happy Easter!  I am grateful to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for the testimony which is mine, that Jesus had the power to give His life and to take it up again.  I am grateful for the testimony I have that because of Jesus, I too, and all those I love, will be resurrected.  This testimony carries me through the gethsemanes of my life.

This Easter was especially nice because we had the privilege of celebrating in Salt Lake City with our children, grandchildren and extended family.  Ernie, Jess and I were in Salt Lake from Friday to Monday.  Spence and Ernie built a "Lifetime" playset with swings, slide, glider, rope climb and climbing wall, as well as a helicopter teeter totter.  Will and Lilly LOVE it!!!  Spence and Ernie loved their time together!  So awesome!!!  On Saturday we celebrated Lilly's first year on earth.  Its hard to believe she is already 1!  She had many family and friends join in the celebration!  Many children attended and played on the playset - they all loved it!  So happy we could be a part!  Grampa and Lilly shared some bonding time too!  It was great!  On Saturday, while Spence and Ernie were busy with the playset, Aly, Jess, Will, Lilly and I went to a community Easter egg hunt. It was fun to watch Will's eyes light up when he spotted the different hiding places of the eggs!  I LOVED our time with our family in Salt Lake City!  The weather was bleak but our hearts were warmed by the love shared!

      

Spiritual Feast times 2

Back to back weekends of spiritual feasting that I hope never to forget!  April 2011 General Conference was just what the doctor ordered!  I'd been down in the dumps for a spell and General Conference awakened in me a reminder of the many blessings given me by a loving Heavenly Father.  I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and you know what?  Its true!  When I make the effort to have a meaningful conversation with God and humbly ask Him to join me in my day, He does!  When I ponder the personal implications of the teachings in the Book of Mormon, I am empowered to choose right over wrong. God has blessed all people of the world with one whom He has ordained as His chosen servant to lead and guide His children and today that man is Thomas S. Monson.  He is a prophet of God as surely as was Abraham, Noah, Moses and Elijah.  His message?  Love your spouse...Love your children...Be kind...Be Faithful...Be hopeful...and Attend God's Holy Temple Often with your spouse. I have the blessing of studying his message and the messages of all of God's chosen servants over the next 6 months.  I KNOW that as I hearken and heed the council given, in 6 months I will be that much closer to being the daughter Heavenly Father knows I can be and wants me to be.  I know that my faith in Christ will be strengthened.  I know that I will get a better hold on my weaknesses and I will be closer to making those weaknesses strengths!  I KNOW this blessing will come to all who are willing to do the same.

This weekend Jess and I were blessed with the opportunity to attend Time Out For Women in Fresno, CA.  We heard from Michael McLean, John Bytheway, Chris Belcher, Hilary Weeks, Deanne Flynn, Wendy Ulrich, Mariama Kallon, Laurel Christensen, and Mary Ellen Edmonds. The theme? 

"CHOOSE TO BECOME".  What a glorious outpouring of God's love we felt! We LOVED Michael McLean and know that God blessed us. Jess REALLY wanted Michael to play his adoption song, as that song holds a special place in our hearts=)  I didn't think he would play it because I couldn't see how it related to the theme "To Become" but...As the evening was coming to an end, Michael told us he was just going to play by spirit, hoping he would be guided in choosing the songs he should play.  He played a couple of good songs and then the notes of the adoption song began to fill the air. My silent prayer was heard and Michael played  "From God's Arms, To My Arms, To Yours".  Tears were streaming down Jess's face.  She said they were not tears of sorrow, but of joy!  Jess bore her testimony today in Sacrament Mtg.  What an amazing blessing!  The message she said she received from TOFW... We each have difficult challenges in life and we can only make it through successfully with the help of our Savior, Jesus Christ. She bore witness of this truth. This truth came through loud and clear from every one of the presenters. 

Cant wait to attend again!  My heart is full!  I am truly blessed!



Jess and Michael McLean



First week of 51 years=)

I turned 51 on March 20, 2011.  I spent most the day in bed, bronchitis and sinusitis=(  Monday, March 21, Ernie and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary.  I prepared a nice dinner of bbq chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, artichokes, asperagus, watermellon and pineapple.  We ate, using LaRae's china and dined by candlelight.  It was nice!  Then we held FHE with Jess and ended the night at CC Brown's Frozen Yogurt!
I rose early the next morning and was on the road for SLC by 6:15 am.  What a nice drive!  I couldn't wait to see Spence, Aly and the kids!!!  I was only able to give a quick hug and kisses to Will and Lilly because I arrived just in time to attend a benefit concert put on by Jon Schmidt and Peter Breinholt!  Excellent!!! The next few days were spent with Spence, Aly, Will and Lilly =) I can never get enough time with them!!! I was also able to see most of my siblings.  I love my family sooo much!!! and feel so torn when I leave Ernie and Jess behind!  One day... one day...
I returned home Saturday, listening to both my mother's and my dad's funerals.  One might think how morbid, but in actuality... it was very uplifting!!!  I stopped in Las Vegas and shared lunch at In and Outs with my niece, Jenny McAllister Grant and her two darling boys, before heading home for a nice mother/ daughter evening with Jess.  Ernie was in Kern Valley attending the YW Broadcast.  He said it was one of the best!  I've decided to post more family pictures, taking us down memory lane.  I must learn how to get pics of my grandkids onto my computer so that you can view them as well! I hope you enjoy= )

LaRae, Joyce, Spencer, Jess, Jim --- 1994.

Jami, Spence, Jess, Ute and Pepper ---- 1998.

LaRae and Spence - San Francisco --- 1997

Midder, Jess, Lorie and Spence - Christmas at Bo and Midder's --- 1997.

Bo playing tennis - 1995.

Bo, Midder, Lorie and Jess - New Port Beach --- 1994.

Midder, Allison Bishop and Jess - Bo and Midder's 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration --- 1995.

Ernie and Jami - Wedding day - Salt Lake Temple - March 21, 1983.



1st Triathlon

For the past 6 months, Ernie and I have trained for our first triathlon.  Although there were many bumps along the way, we managed to keep our focus and participate in our first Open Water Sprint Triathlon at Lake Havasu, AZ.  Our friend, Marv Procter, from South Weber Utah, encouraged our participation.  We drove to Lake Havasu on March 18, and met up with Marv and his wife, Denise, along with a few more of Marv's friends from Utah.  We were very excited but nervous for the event.  Neither Ernie nor I slept much that night. We woke bright and early at 5 am and prepared for the triathlon.  The lake was VERY cold, even though we both wore wet suits.  Unfortunately, my wetsuit didnt fit well and I carried half the lake in my swim.  My goal was to finish in 2 hours.  I was unable to run the 5 K at doctors orders because of severe arthritis in my left foot but even so, Ernie finished in 2 hours 2 minutes, while I finished in 2 hours 5 minutes.  We both struggled with the swim but even so, we are hoping to have more triathlons in our future = )
Here are some pictures of the day:

 Ernie and I finish the triathlon with a smile=)

 Before the swim  ...... Marv is far left, then Ernie, I am far right.

 We all finished without mishap!  Marv is center, with Ernie and me to his right.

 Denise, Marv, Ernie and Me ... with the lighthouse in the background = )

 Before the event!

What a great time!!!