Disneyland!

We had a really fun time last week in California. Dan had some business to do at the Anaheim Convention center for a few days, so the kids and I were able to tag along and have a couple of fun days at Disneyland. It was so nice to get out of the winter weather, and enjoy soaking up some sun. I was really nervous about traveling with four kids, it seemed kinda crazy to drive 12 hours with four kids ages 7 and under. It was however, surprisingly a smooth drive. Jence is the best baby. He basically ate and slept the entire drive (perk of bottle feeding you don't have to pull over, I could reach him and feed him from his car seat). Thanks to DVD's, and iphone games the older kids were well entertained. We stayed at a wonderful hotel a couple blocks from Disney and the Convention center. The days we didn't go to the parks we swam at the hotel. And one night headed to the beach. We got lost trying to find a beach, but get there just in the nick of time to see the sun setting. The trip went by so fast, and It's hard to be back. I spent so much time anticipating the trip, that it's a little bit of a bummer now that we are home. We were welcomed by a freezing house, (our furnace broke), and a leaking kitchen ceiling (valve in our bathroom right above our kitchen broke of course it happened while we were gone so it had a few days to constantly drip, and run through our ceiling)! And of course there's the expected bummer's which include: mountains of laundry, catchup homework, empty fridge, pile's of mail, and all of the other chores that pile of at the end of the month, and O-yeah, I haven't been to the gym in weeks. Oh, California I want to come back. I want to feel the sunshine on my face, see the beautiful palm trees, enjoy the carefree days of housekeeping, and eating out every night. I guess this little taste of summer was just enough to get me through till the weather warms up, the kids are out of school, and then the relaxation of lazy summer day's can set in. Just a few more months!

We will miss you Grandma

I loving memory of our very courageous Grandma. We will always remember your optimism and unfailing sense of humor. You've been such a bright light in our lives, and have left a footprint upon our hearts. We will never forget the sacrifices you made for your family and the tremendous example you were to each of us.

This photo was the last time I visited my Grandma Black. Just about a month before she passed away. She had made ginger bread cookies, and little sacks of candy for the great-grand children. Here she is holding Jence. Jence is named after my Grandma's Father, and Grandfather. This photo really captures how my Grandmother is my link to my ancestral roots, and also my future. Her posterity is tremendous, and as the new generation of great grandchildren grow I hope that they remember her shining example of courage, optimism and faith. I hope that they know that they have the very same pioneering blood flowing through their veins, and that same pioneering spirit which embodied my grandmother. This is their inheritance from her. She didn't leave wealth, or fame. What she left was far more valuable, and ten times more precious. Her legacy was one of faith. Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a heart that was pure and full of joy, a will that was strong and trusted in the Lord and an unfailingly positive attitude that was unconquerable.

I love this photo. It was taken on Christmas eve of 2006. It is the only four generational photo that I have. It shows my Grandma Black, my dad Kirk Black, myself and my two oldest children Kirk and Kate. I just wish Benjamin and Jence could have been in the photo too. This was taken shortly after my Grandmother underwent hip surgery. She was a tough cookie, and recovered amazingly fast. I'd like to think of my Grandma as a Rolex watch. "She takes a lick'n but keeps on tick'n".

This photo was taken at Christmas time in 2007. As you can see just one year after her hip surgery she was looking really well. I think that this was one of the last Christmas eve's we spent at my Grandma's house. Christmas eve's at Grandma's is one of my most poignant memories of childhood. Grandma made these wonderful stocking's for all of us grandchildren. The anticipation of receiving our stockings on Christmas eve each year was the highlight of the holiday. We would start the evening with a delicious dinner, and after visiting for what seemed like an eternity, my Mother, Grandmother, and Aunt would leave the large family room, too go "play Santa and fill the stockings". Each year we would look forward to a little white box filled chocolate treats, and dried fruit. All of it was homemade by my Grandma. I can't imagine how much work she went to, to make so many chocolates for all of the grandchildren. That is what made it so special. We each had our very own box, we didn't have to share. It was that kind of individual attention Grandma always gave. I can imagine her making each little box of candy with so much love. In this photo I am about two years old on Christmas eve it's 1984. You can see Grandma is holding my Christmas stocking.

This was my Grandma Black's favorite swing. She would spend her summer day's staring out at her beautiful yard, and swing in her chair. She loved her home. She never wanted to live anywhere else. She was independent, and lived in her home right up until the last moments of her life, when she received her wish and peacefully past on in her own home.

Grandma had the most amazing backyard. Some of my favorite childhood memories took place at her home. I hope my children's memories of her home will be just as warm, and memorable. May they always remember their Great Grandmother who would greet her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a smile, and a chuckle.

I remember eating on these same steps as a child. They made a perfect place to eat a delicious plate of food.

The classic slip and slide hill. I can remember going down this hill during the summer months of my childhood. It became a favorite for Grandma's great grand children as well.