Thankful Thursday

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS.........
1.  I am thankful Wayne is back from a 9 day China trip.  There is always a piece of me missing when he's away.  I am glad he's back even though he is tired and dizzy and reeks like chinese food.

Laila as JoJo,    Aubrey Monson as Cat in Hat and Hayden as Horton the Elephant

With Paige Maxfield and Lana Wilson in "Wonder"

2.  I am thankful Laila loves to perform.  She danced beautiful in last weekend's MASTERPIECE show for Creative Arts Academy.  She smiles and is on the beat and really shines on stage.    She has her SEUSSICAL show this weekend for CAA at Centerpoint Theatre's new Black Box space.  It's fun to be there. It has dressing rooms, and a green room, lights and microphones.  It feels like a "real" play.   Laila is a mah-velous, sweet JOJO...and it's good to have her perform with her big cousin Hayden Call and little cousin Preston Brown.






3.  I am thankful Add and Bre made it safely to London.  Bre had to go through some tough airport- pat- down times....but that's just part of the adventure.  They are seeing 30 shows....my dream come true...touring the historic sites, writing papers and getting college credit....plus they will have sidewalk views of the Royal Wedding.  WHAT FUN!!!  I want to be a mouse in Addison's pocket...except he hates mice and would be screaming if he saw me there.....so maybe a butterfuly on his shoulder would be better?  

4.  I am thankful for Skype.... I can keep in touch with my Londoners.... and my missionary is calling me on Mother's Day!!!

5.  I am thankful Landon completed this semester of school.  He jumped back into UVU in January and it has been a good struggle for him-- his headaches have kept him away from many class days.    He had quite an experience trying to get his writing portfolio turned in.  He took the 3 hour final in the morning, then went back to his house in South Jordan to get his portfolio...it was due at the professor's office by 5:00 --- no exceptions.  He had all sorts of trouble with a  traffic jam and printers and email etc....fast forward.....he is now racing to where he thinks the professor's office is at 5 minutes to 5.....it's not there.  Landon has had it, is breaking down, when who should pass by him, but this same professor.  He asked why Landon was so stressed and  Landon explained.  The professor accepted the portfolio and walked him to his office for future reference.   Talk about a tender mercy.

Bre and Add in LONDON...preparing for the royal wedding!!

6.  I am thankful for other mercies..... My sweet Sis in Law Tami burned her legs last weekend with boiling easter egg water.  She was carrying the eggs to the sink when the pan handle broke and water spilled all down her legs.   She was in screaming pain....  I know this pain and I truly feel for her.  This experience is so much like my own years ago with the au jus from the Sunday Roast.  The boiling water hit both her legs, but where her garments were there is a distinct line of burn/no burn.  She was protected.  Even in the burning devastation .... testimonies were strengthened.

7.  I am thankful we only have 5 weeks of school left.  It's a struggle to get Monson out of bed in the mornings but he is making it.  He is getting excited for his next chapter at Dixie State.

8.  I am thankful for the Royal Wedding.  It's great to have something joyful and beautiful and "fluffy" to think about and hear about and watch on the TV.  I can't wait to watch the pageantry and the dresses and the pomp and ceremony that is sooooo British!

9. I am thankful for the Special Mutual Show.... Holly was a terrific Tulip....and I also enjoyed 4 other ward members:  Nick and Jake Carlson, Nick Uzelack and Paul Barnson.  It's a good reality check for me every year.  It gives me perspective of what's really important in our world.  It was so tender to watch Steve Carlson with his son, Jake...both being a frog....while the song I love you just the way you are  played.   Tears.

10.  I am thankful.

Good Times....

Remember that one time when Bryan Bowles took all of the chaperones on the choir trip to dinner at Pagliacci’s...in Victoria, British Columbia, and we all ordered Italian food............. and the restaurant was really noisy........... and Billy Joel’s Piano Man came on the speaker over head and Melinda, Larry and Laura started singing it softly at the table, and pretty soon all of the chaperones were singing and laughing and conducting with their forks....... and the other restaurant eaters were looking at us and the waitresses were smiling and  when we got to the chorus, Melinda shouted out to the entire restaurant...”everybody”....and Everybody  in the restaurant sang the chorus to Piano Man  with us, at the top of their lungs, swaying back and forth to the rhythm.....like in a movie...and then we all clapped and high fived as we got to the end...and then the wait staff wanted to know what else we wanted to sing.....so we all sang Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline ........ and some students, who were also there, videoed it and showed all of the other choir kids and they couldn’t believe their chaperones were being so crazy and having so much fun and none of them were even drunk.... and as we left the restaurant many patrons were sad to see their entertainment go...........remember?
Yeah.....?
 ..............Good times!

IF I were setting an Easter table I would want it to look just like this one that I found on one of my fave sites.....House of Turquoise.  Ahhhhhhhhh .....I just want to live here for awhile.....and eat!  Happy Easter!

Signs of Spring

Spring is finally here!!!!

 I love driving around town seeing the blossoming trees, and many shades of green.  

I awoke to birds singing out my bedroom window the other morning... at 5:30......

Note to self:  get new windows.

I'm  dreaming of pedicures.

Sandals are on sale!

I love kicking Laila and her friends outside to play.
There are baseball sounds coming from the fields by my house.

Reese's Peanut Butter  eggs and Cadbury eggs are calling my name.

My calendar is filling up with spring sports and end of year recitals and school activities.

Spring is in the air!

With these thoughts filtering through my head, I knew it  was time for a really good shave.....  after all, I need to be able to wear shorter skirts, capris and sandals..... so I bought a new shaver.... a new blade after shaving or not shaving with the old one all winter.

The results:

 `

7 Bandaids later...............I am ready!

I love the bloody signs of spring.  (Good thing I'm not British)

Egg-stravaganza

Our EGG-stravaganza family night was Egg-cellent!
The grandparents and Holly joined us for this Easter celebration.
We..........ate Ham and Potatoes, Mac salad, Fruit and Feta Salad.....and.....Hot Rolls!  Mmmmmmm
Then we had an indoor easter egg hunt because it was RAINING outside.  The eggs were filled with candy and questions...some lighter questions like.... "What's your favorite season?"  or  "What would you do if you had a million dollars?" (Holly would buy Steve Earkle DVD's....just so you know) ...........to some more spiritual type questions like..."Share your thoughts on the Atonement."  or "What does Joseph Smith mean to you?"  It was interesting and inspiring to hear the different answers as we shared around the family circle.  I feel so blessed to have my parents and Wayne's mom join with us on these family nights.  It's so good for my kids to hear their grandparent's testimonies and see what great examples they are of goodness in their daily lives.

We watched the Easter video messages found on LDS.org, then Wayne gave an inspiring mini lesson on Christ's ministry and the atonement.   HE is a good preacher.
Coloring Eggs and Frosting egg shaped sugar cookies topped off the evening.  The sugar cookies were a delish dessert!!

 As a parting gift... I made up the Easter M&M poem and put it together with bags filled with m&m's.
I found the poem on line..... I don't know who made it up originally.

"As you hold these candies in your hand,
and turn them, you will see

the "M" become a "W"

an "E" and then a "3"

They tell the Easter story~

I'm sure it's one you know

~It happened on the cross, 

a long, long time ago.

The "E" is for "Easter"

a time for us to ponder!

The "M" is for the miracles.

Jesus performed signs and wonders.

The "3" is for the third day

when Jesus rose again.

"W" is for worship

He cleansed all sin for men!

So, as you eat these candies

or share them with a friend,

Remember the meaning of Easter.

It's a love that never ends!”

Monson- Eagle Scout

My Monson received his Eagle Scout on Sunday.  It was great to be together and honor him.  

Monson presented his scout mentor pin to Eric Belnap

The sibs...Bre, Add, Mons, Lan, Lindz, Lai

 I tease that out of my 4 boys I have 2 Eagles and 2 Turkeys.......but I love them all the same.  My Turkeys did everything in the scouting program except their projects.  My Eagles did everything...and then were pestered so much, that with only days before their 18th birthdays, they finally finished their projects..    

As anyone will tell you .... I don't really like the whole scouting program.  I look forward to the day when the boys just do Duty to God..and there is no more scouting- merit badge - sitting in the Eagle's nest pressure.  

 I am proud of Monson for his follow through on this though.  Wayne was able to give Monson the "Eagle Charge."   I was able to share a few thoughts about my boy at the Court of Honor.

Monson with buddies..Jordan Bell, Morgan Willis and Jordan Parkinson

My talk:  When Monson was born, we took one look at this mischievous, smiley, red headed baby and knew we had our hands full.  4 boys will do that to you.  So we gave it some thought and, we  named him  after our prophet,  Thomas. S. Monson.  We hoped the name would serve him well through out his lifetime…..and be one that  he would want to honor.

Monson has had many other names………… 

When Monson was 3 he said his name was “Monson Cole Welch, Popsicle Boy Allsop.”  He spent many days sneaking into the popsicles at Jill Allsop’s freezer.

We called him Monster…..Brother Belnap still does.  Monson lived up to this, because he would growl, and tackle any one.  He is in our  family  folk lore for being a 1^st grader and taking down a 3^rd grader who was picking on Truman…Monson told the kid to “kiss the dirt.”   It was a proud brother moment.  He still likes to tackle—in football…..and growl at me when I ask him to pick up his room.

Another nickname Monson has is Money.  This was given to him by his little league coach, Russ Swanson.  It’s because Money…is the go to guy.  He is the money.  He will bring in the money…he will make the money play.  Monson loves athletics—he has played basketball, baseball, soccer,  wrestling……and especially loves football .  He loved taking the championship in 8^th grade.. and he loved playing in the semi finals for football this past fall at Rice Eccles Stadium.  It was great to hear the announcer at BHS say….”Tackle made by Monson, Money Welch!”  He is off to Dixie to play down there, this fall…..and when he returns from his mission.  Monson is very competitive…..when he wants to be.   But….if he’s not going to be the winner…then he doesn’t even want to try…why be 2^nd, he might as well be last.   

Another name that we give to Monson is White…he is a White personality, this is from the Color Code. He is the most like his father…This means he is silently stubborn, easy going, not too opinionated, empathetic, wants peace, loyal, a good listener.  All things that Monson is.

Monson is also called…Baby.  His brothers affectionately call him this, because he is the youngest  brother, but ironically…he could take them down at any point…not a baby at all.   

A name that I hope Monson takes on in the future is  Elder…as he becomes a missionary for our church.   He will be on a mission next time this year….to Idaho?      

The  most important name he can take on himself is Christ.  The scriptures tell us in Mosiah 5:8   “There is no other name given

whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take

upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the

covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your

lives.”

It’s been good to see Monson grow in his church callings, and leadership positions.  He magnifies and lifts.  He serves without complaint…why just today he had a 7:30 BYC meeting, 9- noon church, 2:00 ward choir practice, 5:00 Court of Honor and 8:00 mission prep meeting.  He is learning to work in the Lord’s kingdom.  As he does this, he will  continue to learn to be more and more like Christ and take on his name.

Tonight…we honor Monson with another name—he’s an Eagle.  This signifies  his commitment to service and  shows he is obedient to his father and  his leaders.  Monson is an Eagle Scout. 

I love you Monson… no matter what name you go by, I have your name written on my heart.

Melinda, G-pa Lyle, Monson, G-ma Sheri, G-ma Welch, Wayne

Butchart Gardens.

Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia was SOOOOOOOOO Beautiful. 

 It was showing off it's Spring gorgeousness while we were there with the BHS  Choir Trip. 

Pink and White  blossoms on the trees and so many different shades of green-- you couldn't put a name to them all. 

 I can only imagine when all of the flowers are flowering in the summer.........and the fragrance  and the colors!!!!!!  Anyway....Butchart Gardens deserved it's own post.  

I took these pics with my little point and shoot.

SO gorgeous.... I thought I would use it as my blog header for a while.

        

At then end of this pathway is a hidden lake and fountain.  We-- Me, Laura and Lisa -- Gasped when we saw it.  

Monson and JBell on a distant hill.....

Part of the Japanese Garden.... I wish I could have taken more, but my batteries were shot.  

             Now I'm getting excited to wander through the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving point!  Some day my yard will look like this............if our garderner ever gets on the ball!!