Cancun Finale- Adios!

Maleck has always loved the ocean.  Perhaps, it's the way the sand tickles his toes, or the waves pull at his feet.  He was so happy to chase the waves and then as they came toward him, he would run away from them.  It was his game.  (This pic was taken on Christmas night)

I fell in love with these hats for Maleck and I at the local market.  Emma's found hers in her stocking.

                                             On the grounds bordering Chichen itza.

Check out the bananas

We loved the thatched roofs!

Stockton takes a break.

Emma

Before you enter the grounds of Chichen Itza,  the local artisans sell their crafts.  They are quite remarkable.

Our tour guide, Carlos, explained that perhaps these were remains of a baptismal font.

  I love the Dr. Seuss Book, "Oh, The Places You'll Go.?"  I can only imagine the places our five will go.

  Our guide's name was Carlos.  He has a friend who is LDS.  We were able to do a little missionary work with him.  As a small boy, Carlos sold goods with his father outside of Chichen Itza.  Carlos was able to go to college and then obtain his tour guide permit.  His education was interrupted when his father became ill and died.  He then had to provide for his mother.  Although Carlos was raised Catholic, he does not attend church.  We told him perhaps he should go to church with his LDS friend (Mormon).  He said perhaps. He explained to us that the last 3 days Carlos had taken LDS families on tours.  He said, " perhaps the church is calling him."

Chichen Itza was a pre Columbian city built by the Mayan built.  It is listed as one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

                                                  We felt such a sacred peace here.

                                                             Seleck loved it!

                                                               Madsen of course had to pose!

I loved the shopping.  The culture of the Mayan people exhibits such artistry... the colors and textures were amazing!

                                         Madsen bought a hand carved Jaguar from this Senor.

                                                 We spent a fun filled day at Porto Morales

                                                The guacamole I ate while overlooking the ocean

I tell these two that they keep Daddy and I young.  At ages 9 and 5 they are the heartbeat of our family.  I wish they would stay this size forever.  I loved watching them play together while they experienced the beautiful crystal blue water!

                                                                     JOY

                                   While the boys snorkeled, Emma, Maleck, and I built sand castles

                               And of course we chased a few birds.  Maleck loved to feed them!

                                                                     Cheers

This was our final night in Cancun.  We enjoyed an amazing buffet with all of the trimmings including live entertainment.  I can still hear the giggles and see the smiles on their faces.

Seleck was somewhat bribed by "Dad"  to join the dancers in their final number with the rest of the willing tourists.  It definitely made our Christmas in Cancun complete.

                   And of course on our way out, they all needed a picture with this beautiful cow.

            Nothing like milking a Mexican cow

    On our way back to our room, there was a sudden cloud burst.  We were completely drenched. 

                                                         Daddy gets a little back treatment

                         The Mayan Palace

                                                 Seleck in the foreground

            The last morning before we departed Seleck and I went to walk along the shore one last time.  We gathered shells and felt the pulse of the ocean pull at our feet.  The sun was just peeking over the horizon and the sounds of the birds squawking filled the air.  This was a timeless moment.

What an amazing experience.  These memories I will tuck in my heart and pull out on a cold winter's day when  we are old  and gray.   Rigby and I will hold each other's worn hands and we will piece together our memories of our Christmas in Cancun.  And in the distance, we will see the smiles of our "fab five'  and feel the sunshine that their giggles sprinkle upon us.  We will send them a message in a bottle... the message will read.... "We love you!"

Currently Craving

Don't you love it when you walk past a door and it says, "hi" to you?  I do- I love doors.  Yes, I crave doors.  They say so much about the entrance to its  edifice.  I love happy doors best, but I also am intrigued by mysterious doors.   Every door has its own story, and I love stories!  Doors have their own personality, their own sounds even their own dispositions.   I can still hear the sound of my grandparents' doors as I entered their home.  This sound is full of so many memories.  We found these doors on a stroll in Alexandria Virginia... they whispered so many stories to me...

Choose your doors wisely... because " oh the places you'll go."

My grandpa- my favorite cowboy

On April 4, 1980 my family was gathered around our kitchen table cutting my parents' birthday cake (my dad's birthday was the 4th and my mom's the 5th) when the phone rang and we received word that my grandpa, Ora Cleve Hofheins, was in a terrible farming accident.  He had been caught in a post hole digger.  I was young and my memories of my grandfather to this point were sparse but meaningful.  Little did I know, how that one phone call would change decades and effect generations.

 My  grandfather had broken most of his ribs, dislocated his shoulder, punctured his lung and broke his neck... he was lucky to be alive.  Before this day, I had great memories of the farm.  My older brothers worked there most Saturdays.  On occasion, I was permitted to be a part of the Hofheins operation.  Branding and dehorning cattle are a few of my favorite moments there.  One distinct memory I cherish above all others was when Grandpa and Uncle Kent were herding the cattle into the corral when they gathered all of us... the grand kids to help.  On this day, although I was small, I was invited  to help still the same.  He gave me specific instructions to stand "right there!  And don't worry the cows are just as much afraid of you as you are of them.  I remember them coming towards me with those long tongues that dropped like long pieces of red licorice."  I remember my fear, but above all I remember my grandfather's voice.

 My mother was raised in Beaver and this is the house I called grandma's.  Although the house has been sold, I like to think of grandma there today sitting in the white wood framed house piecing a quilt together or putting her famous Baker's Secret cake in the oven.  After the accident, all of my memories of my grandfather, are of a man sitting in a recliner with a cowboy hat atop his head telling stories... all of which I am not certain are true.  I did not know the same grandfather that my older siblings did.  The one who wore lipstick when he rode the range, the one who did backflips until his 50's, or the one who could mount a horse by jumping on it bareback from behind.  I wish I did!

Today, we went to church in Beaver to hear my cousin report his mission.  Mom told us stories (she is like her dad in that way) and took us to see grandpa's farming land. As young men,  Grandpa and his brother Ike were determined to leave the vocation of stone mason which their father and grandfather pursued and become cattleman.  They worked hard and acquired beautiful farming land with an abundance of water rights. 

          Grandma and Grandpa Weaver at the pasture with the Rigby and Englestead families

                                           Bud and sons Markay and Travis (my Rigby)

                                                 My Uncle Kent and sons Kelby and Kailin

                                              My  Uncle Kent and Aunt Keri's beautiful family

 After grandpa's accident, the farm fell to the responsibility of my Uncle Kent.  He was 18 and had big dreams.   The 80's were hard on farmers and the farm land, cattle, and water rights were lost, and so were the memories that were never to be made.    Sometimes, I feel cheated... cheated that there were not more days of standing where my grandfather said while the mooing of the cows bellowed as they neared me.  But we can't change the past.  We can't change the fact of grandpa's accident.  But we can remember and be grateful for al that we do have... we still have each other!

                                                               The Creek bed

                                    I wish grandpa could tell these two one of his stories

                                    My grandpa- the cowboy with his sons Kent and Bernell

"And this shall be my joy"

                   "And this shall be my Joy"
They are five, our five.... five fabulous children and they are ours.  Imagine the possibilities, the contributions, the talents, the joy that these five will render.  We are a normal, every day family like most.  Our days are filled with homework, laundry, music lessons, sports practices, friends nightly reading, but mostly they are filled with joy. 

I love the word joy, but it has taken me a long time to feel the enormity of it... the peacefulness of it.  These five are our joy, my joy!  My days begin at 6:00 a.m.  I either  get Seleck up to lift weights, take Madsen to shoot hoops, or start sorting laundry, making lunches, breakfast, family prayer, etc.  7:30 am I get the first batch off to school then return home to do hair, feed our littler ones breakfast... don't forget the reading, piano practicing,  and then Emma is out the door too.  It is only 8:30 am and I have already completed  several feats.

I could have done or become anything I wanted.  As a college graduate, I was smart, driven, and hard working, but you know what"  Only one person could be their mother... and that is me.  Thank You Heavenly Father!  I have found so much joy on this journey.  Everyday is an adventure!

2014 FAMILY FOCUS - Power and Protection in Heeding Prophetic Priorities

Week one- Elder Robert D. Hales "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony"
Family discussion:  Daddy
*We watch, (listen to prophets) to be forewarned and protected"
"What is said is not as important as what we feel"  Record feelings  from general conference and scripture study.
Warning:  Elder Hales: "In recent decades the church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and persecutions experienced by the early Saints.  It will not always be so."

"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family. "The Living Christ:  The Testimony of the Apostles" was prepared in advance of when we will need it the most."

October 1992- Elder Hales "The Atonement"-- Daddy suggests
Daddy's desires for 2014
l.  Find an apostle who speaks to you throughout the coming year-- get to know them
2.  Include the use of technology in you studies... see the good that technology offers.. beware of the bad.
3. Find limited prophetic priories, 1-3 priorities **Get something big out of the little things!

Next week's assignment: Conference address: "I will not fail thee, nor forsake the."

           Moses 1:39 "... men are that they might find joy."
                           Find your joy today!



"Good timber does not grow with ease
The stronger wind, the stronger trees.
The further sky, the greater length.
The more the storm, the more the
                     strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow."