Surprise Party and Blood Moon

The other night, the kids planned a surprise party for Jessica. They decorated the house, helped me think of party games, and planned a confetti entrance (as shown in the picture). We had a powerpoint presentation that the kids helped create by telling me the reasons why they love Aunt Jessica. It was a fun night surrounded by family. I think that the kids really enjoyed being a part of the festivity. We even let the older ones stay up longer and play Werewolf with us.

There was a blood moon recently. It was REALLY awesome to watch. We tried to get a picture of it, but the sky was too dark. It was really neat though. The kids were super enthralled by it and watched it for nearly 45 minutes. It was difficult for me to keep my eyes on the road as I drove.

One morning, not too long ago, Luke woke up with weird blue marks on his body. He fell asleep with a blue pen in his bed. Kind of random, I know, but I thought I would post it anyway...

FHE Eternal Families

It's a little snug. But... it still fits! The other week, Michelle got out her wedding dress and let all of the girl cousins on the McAvoy side try it on. Mercedes was in heaven! She asked me if we could get mine out and I told her that we could for family home evening. So, after a lesson about families, we tried it on.

Mercedes gave me a glimpse into the future, and I may or may not have gotten a little misty-eyed.

Joshua was bored.

Luke wanted to try on Jon Mark's tux, but we rented it 10 years ago.

Messy-haired Hannah needed a turn. That was tricky.

Jessica gave her a wedding horsey ride.

The next day, we played with play-dough. The kids had me take pictures of their creations. Joshua made an airplane.

Hannah ate the play-dough.

Luke made eggs.

 Mercedes made some sea shells and a dress.

This is just to show how cute and big Caleb is getting. He army scoots so fast now. He has two teeth and is enjoying solid food like a pro. I still nurse many times a day though.

A token picture of Dad.

 Joshua also made the solar system and wanted me to take a picture of that as well.

Michelle

Michelle, when did you take this on my phone? :) I just now saw it.

Daddy's Gone

Mercedes looks so sad in this picture. Jon Mark left for a few days to go to Utah on a hunting trip with Mark. The kids aren't used to him leaving for so long. It really shook up our daughters. Mercedes cried every night. She had me take this picture of her holding a picture of our family that she drew. She wanted me to text it to Jon Mark. He didn't have great cell phone coverage in the mountains, so we went most of the time without any contact. One night, Mercedes was crying for a long time. The day before she had me text Jon Mark requesting him to send a picture to her of him pretending to shoot an elk. Because of the lack of coverage, we didn't get a response for almost 24 hours. She was crying and saying, "Why doesn't he send me a picture? I asked him yesterday to send me a picture." I responded to her that he probably couldn't but that he would if he could. Then, literally right after I said that, my phone dinged saying that I had a new text message. She got excited and I told her that it was probably someone else. But, it turned out to be from Jon Mark and it was indeed a picture of him pretending to shoot an elk.

The kids spent the night in my room with the door locked. They didn't know I was scared. I told them that for fun we got to have a slumber party in mom and dad's room. I felt more comfortable with them with me, not because they would protect me, but because I could protect them easier if they were all with me. This helped me sleep at night, knowing they were safely on my floor.

Luke wanted to send some pictures to Jon Mark. So, we made a goofy strand of pictures.

Andy's Funeral

My friend's husband passed away from cancer the other day. He was a huge motorcycle fan and at his funeral, 67 motocyclists led the procession.

These pictures were my attempt to capture them. Leyla rode on a motorcycle behind the hearse that was also pulled by a motorcycle. They were calling it, Andy's last ride.

The funeral, and the events leading up to the funeral, were both inspiring and sad. He died of cancer, but he wanted everyone to know that cancer was a blessing to his family. He felt the love of his Savior so deeply through the trial, and the trial gave him the opportunity to live like he was dying. 

I feel so much for his wife, and their two children. Such a trial is one that I hope I will not ever have to endure. But, their experience taught me so much about trials. If we accept the Lord's will with grace and humility, the Lord will yoke Himself to us and help us carry the burden. We will feel His love for us more deeply, and we will begin to see with our spiritual eyes the truths of eternity. Leyla and Andy lived the last two years with grace. They allowed this trial to change them and mold them to be more like our Savior. They were strengthened through Christ.

I cried so much at the funeral. I barely held it together at certain points. I know Andy is watching over Leyla and their children, and I know our loved ones are nearer to us than we know. I am thankful for the priesthood power that seals families together forever.

As I was pondering over the loss of Andy, a certain scripture kept coming to my mind. I am not a scripture scholar, I hope that my application here is appropriate. And, I hope it makes sense.

John 15:12-13 

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The first verse is a commandment to love one another, even as the Lord has loved us. When we love others, they are more receptive to what we have to share about the gospel. Then, in the second verse, we are taught that the greatest love we can show is to lay down our very lives for our friends. Jesus literally laid down His life for us, because He loved us. Andy's graduation from mortality was not his choosing, but he accepted the Lord's will so completely. He gave his life to Jesus Christ. At the funeral, there were many "typical" LDS persons in attendance. But there were others there too, who, by appearance, appeared to not be of our faith. Yet, they were there, partaking of the spirit that filled that room. Their love for Andy, and Andy's love for them, brought them to the chapel where they were able to hear testimonies of those left behind about matters concerning eternity. 

Through dying, Andy brought many to the knowledge of the gospel. His death changed lives, people came back to the fold of God. Like the prodigal son, they were lost and now they are found because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Andy testified, so strongly of the goodness of God. Of eternal families. Of temples. Of the love of Christ. I know for a fact that his brother in law, mother in law, and father in law, came back to the church because of the spirit that they felt as they watched him go through cancer. It was the spirit of the Holy Ghost that converted them. Because Andy accepted the Lord's will, his trial became a tool that the Lord used to change so many people. I hope I can go through my own trials with such grace. Does that make sense?  

Boutique

My sister, Lindsay, hosted a boutique a few weeks ago. This is my table of items I made for the boutique. 

We all wish we could call it a success. But, unfortunately, it was not. And, that is not because of a lack of talent. All of the lady vendors were very talented, and I thought that for the most part the pricing was pretty decent. Hardly any people who came were in a buying mood. Some people came for free food and then left. 

I don't know if Lindsay will host one again. It was a lot of work. She put quite a bit of time and money into the event. It was fun for me to do some painting though.