A Day to Remember

I'm feeling that Grandpa's beautiful day needs to be remembered on the blog - and in the blog books that will be made in the future. 

I'm honestly not sure who took these pictures, but they're on my camera. Aren't they beautiful? What a gorgeous day it was. 

I was so amazed by Grandpa's funeral. It was the smallest congregation of any funeral I have ever attended, and the intimacy and love that was in that room was incredible. The spirit was strong, and everything was just so nice. The speakers, the music, everything. 

Isn't it neat how much it brought us all together? How awesome to see all of you! I feel so much closer to family that I don't get to see very often.  

I (for some reason) don't have many photos, but I know the rest of you do. I'd love to see them! Please blog!

WE DIDN'T SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NICK!

Happy Birthday Nicolas! How old are you? You are so cute and I hear you are very talented. It was great to see you on video on Easter!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA NETTE!!!

Thanks to all who contributed,

looks like she loved it!

My New Blogspace

I've started a new blog dedicated to things that I think are great. Feel free to comment and give your opinions. Go here: The Wonderful

Did You Know?

Did you know that Max and Lilly are two great kids?

I got to visit them last weekend and I had a great time. Maybe Beth or Cami will post some pictures. Lilly made me this darling picture/game that I just love. And Max took me to pretty much the best playground ever where we played tag (I was IT the whole time 'cause I can't catch him) and we saw a snake!

Sorry to everybody who didn't get to go.
JoJo

Update!

Hey everyfolks! So actually I won't have that navy email address, because I'm a CIV (Civilian) and CIVs have different (and more, heh) privileges than Enlisted people etc...
so you can email me at my normal email address rubberbandit88@gmail.com! and I'll try to update my blog with pictures and such as soon as I can get my pictures to the computer.

BON VOYAGE, CJ!
CJ set sail Sunday morning on the USNS Comfort, Navy Hospital Ship -- his next adventure! They headed out of Miami and were going to Haiti first. They will also go to Dominican Republic, Antigua, Colombia, Panama, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. This is the Church's project to work with the US on Humanitarian efforts in 3rd world countries, providing surgeries and other medical help. They will be in each port for about 11 days. CJ has been assigned to work with the nursing staff, preparing patients, etc. He is only one of 5 non-medical volunteers.
He can get mail, but it takes 2 or 3 weeks to get to him:

CJ Christensen
Nursing Directorate (H2)
USNS Comfort (T-AH 20)
FPO AE 09566-4008

His email address is:
cjchristensen@COMFORT.NAVY.MIL

You can read more about his ship on: www.comfort.navy.mil

He was set apart as a Church Service Missionary and will be gone till sometime the end of July. He's still planning on a full time mission, but felt this would be a good experience (and the kind of adventure that most people only dream about)!

Keep him in your prayers and send him a note once in a while - he'll appreciate it!

Thank you Gr & Gr!

We had a great time watching Conference with Grandma and Grandpa and various other utah relatives, and Emmy and Lainey actually got along quite well. It was probably the Spirit during conference that calmed their usual differences. 
The mini trampoline in the livingroom was a HUGE hit with the kiddies - Austin bounced Emmy on it for a good half hour one day, and after Coleman and Sydnie arrived there was a pretty constant bouncing noise serenading the General Authorities. 
And then we have Austin. And who couldn't love Austin? 

Latest on Sara Medakovic...

Hi all you wonderful, happy, normal family members!! : )

I enjoy reading all the posts. I don't really have any fun photos or anything. But I did just spend several days in a psychiatric hospital because I was severely depressed, and it kept getting worse 'till I couldn't function any more. It's hard when my brain gets in my way...
Anyway, although I am "discharged" from the hospital, I wish I could have stayed longer. I wasn't feeling well for so long, and being there was actually very helpful and a much needed relief from my hardships mentally. There were nice beds to sleep in, other kind patients who were battling and trying to get well from their own severe depressions, etc..., and many amazing doctors and counselors. I felt so safe there. They had a very strict schedule (like getting blood drawn at 4:30 A.M., then blood pressure taken, and making sure you take your scheduled medications.) They had group seminars all day between meals and person time/visiting hours. There are a lot of interesting stories I could tell about the experience. But I am sure this is enough info to make you wonder what a weirdo I must be! (chuckle)
To set the record straight about the stigmas and field of Psychiatry...there are many smart, good people who suffer greatly from mental illness. I met many of them and realized I was not alone. And...in-patient psychiatric hospitals have really good food! I'm serious!! Plus all the nurses and doctors are so compassionate and give very special individualized care. I had fun with the other patients. We all hung out in our hospital pajamas in the evening, shared our stories, ate pudding and watched American Idol...'till our 9:30 curfew where we were scheduled to go to bed. I loved the structure of it all, and wish I could go back for a while...So, do you all still love me, even if I'm nuts??

JORDAN'S ANTICS

I guess we will never really know why.

Caleb remodeled the basement.

I was hoping that all the sawing and hammering and banging and drilling going on in the basement was Caleb finishing some more bedrooms. But alas, twas not.

There is one cute thing going on here though, if you can see it. He found some holds that look like letters and made Emmy's name out of them. His left foot is using it at the moment... 

Last night I dreamt of Sara

There I was, soaking in the largest jetted bathroom tub I've ever seen (we're talking like 12' X 12') in the largest bethroom I had ever seen (we're talking huge, pure luxury) and enjoying myself thouroughly, when a couple of random children came waltzing into the bathroom. I was like "Uhmm, can I help you?" My Mom came in and said "Oh sorry!" and ushered them quickly out. (Luckily, there was lots of bubbles in the tub). I had barely re-relaxed when a whole HERD of random little kids came into the bathroom, exploring, running, jumping, laughing, doing kid stuff! I was like "WHAT is going ON?!" I had barely said it when who should come in, but my dear cousin Sara! She apologized, and explained that she was their kindergarten teacher. She said that it had only started out as a couple afternoons a month, but before she knew it she was the full time teacher and she just really needed a break, so my Mom was babysitting the entire kindergarten for the day while Sara went to watch a frisbee game with her husband. My husband appeared and said that that sounded really fun to him, so he jumped into the back of their gorgeous black convertible (which I could see from where I sat in the tub. figure that one out.) and off they went! And I was stuck in the bathtub with the entire kindergarten!!

That's the last time I endulge in a whole pound of organic dark chocolate right before bed, I tell you what. 

CAMI DOESN'T HAVE MONO.

Cami has Mono

Cam has a fantastic life

Let me just say that no matter what we do in life, we should always find a way to make it happy. Of course there's nothing un-happy about going skiing, but even with things like working everyday forever and ever, and having a never-ending pile of laundry can be happy if we let it be. Working everyday = money. (But if you're in it for the money, I wouldn't recommend working at a ski shop. Heh.) Doing laundry = having a time to think, plus having the joy of fresh clean clothes! And... that's the end of my thought. :)
~Cam

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANA!!!

Ana, you're wonderful, smart, supportive, amazing mom, wife, and beautiful inside and out. WE LOVE YOU!!!

The Ski Queen

Emmy and Eee-Eee hittin the slopes

Emmy is officially a skier.

She and I (Tess) went to wolf mountain today

and we had a blast! it was "Great!"

SHE'S FINALLY 18 FOR REALS!

She's off skiing with friends, so life is good for Camille Marie today.

NEWS REPORT - Murray, Utah

News Flash -- Nickolas Slade was the closing speaker for the Bennion East Stake conference today, displaying his usual calm manner and keen verbal acuity. The congregation seemed inspired by his explanation of how his experience with the Primary program in his ward helped to prepare him for the responsibilities of the Aaronic Priesthood. Good job, Nickolas!

(posted by Gr/Gr, reporter)

Happy Birthday Emmy Jayne Kepsel

It's so great to be 3!!!!

Happy be-lated birthday Beth

This is a little something your sweet nieces put together for you,

sorry its a little late!

 Happy Birthday Aunt Beth

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!!

Love you Bachano

Just been thinking about Grandma

I don't mean to raise any alarms or anything, I just think that maybe we could pray for Grandma. If you aren't already, which I'm sure a lot of you are. She must be one of the most amazing women in our lives, and I think she could use some extra love right now. I love you Grandma! We're praying for you!

Happy LATE B-days to Jed and Sara!!!

Sorry we missed recognizing a couple of birthdays! We love you guys---

We got a new bishop and guess who it is.

My father!!!!!!! Is the new bishop of our ward. our old one has been in for a long time and now my dad is the new bishop. It was so hard this whole week for him. He said he felt like he was in a coma. So he left the country to go surpise grandma and grandpa on the cruise. Haha. So anyway that is the update.