Haylee at Kristens wedding

I love this picture of Haylee. She was so thrilled to be in the wedding and have such a beautiful dress Kristen was married in August 2013. She turns 8 in 2 weeks. I wonder if she will be baptised. She loves to go to church, she is such an amazing little girl. She may only be 7 almost 8 but her understanding has always been much older. I hope that as she continues to grow she will have a desire to stay close to the Lord and gain her own testimony. Its tough being the grandma, I worry about my children and grandchildren. I finally got the picture in this.

As you stay on the right path, the reward at the end of life’s journey is well worth the moments of adversity you experience along the way

The last few days I have had a hard time. I'm not sure why, just frustrated about how things are going. I went back to the talk that I chose my title of my blog and re read the talk again. May 2002 Ensign by Ben Banks. The patterns you establish in your youth may accompany you throughout the rest of your mortal life. By making the right choices now, you will be able to take the path that will help you endure the coldest and bleakest moments later I find that to be so true. What we have to realize is that you make choices everyday that will determine key points in your life. Choices and consequences. I use to tell my kids you can make a choice but you can not chose the consequences. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56). The Book of Mormon is replete with accounts of those who were blessed by the Lord and then became boastful of their accomplishments. Eventually in their pride they left the correct path and lost all they had as they fell away from the truth. Make sure you don’t become like the Nephites of old; always remember the true source of your blessings. As I have re read the talk its really relates to me in my life right now. I don't think you every quit worrying about your children and their choices. It makes it really tough. You have a responsibility to remain firmly focused on your eternal destination. Yes, life’s journeys can have many ups and downs. Yes, there will be days when you will feel the going is tough. But as you stay on the right path, the reward at the end of life’s journey is well worth the moments of adversity you experience along the way Somedays its just tough... But we all must remain strong.

Our 5 beautiful grandchildren

We are very blessed. We have 3 grandsons

Cooper, Reagan,Calan

And 2 beautiful granddaughters. These pictures were taken the day Madison was blessed. Haylee is thrilled to have a girl cousin.

We feel very blessed, especially since they all live here in Texas.

October 24,2013

On September 13,2013 we were blessed to add another grandchild to our family.

Madison Merie Petty.

She is such a cutie. 

Happy Birthday Miss Meridith!! We miss you

September 3, 1986 at 2:59am Rick and I were blessed to have a baby girl born into our families.  Rachel was thrilled to have a baby sister after 2 little brothers; Brett and Aaron were excited as well.  As with each of our children she was quite unique.  She was a quiet and shy little girl, but very determined.  There are lots of memories that I have of Meridith.

When she was 3 and we did Joy School and it was Christmas time they were doing the Nativity play and Marcia Vigil had just had Zachary a few months before, Meridith wanted to hold him as Jesus.  She did not want to do it unless she could hold Zachary.  We tried everything we could to convince her otherwise.  I’m not quite sure but I imagine Marcia let her hold him. 

When Meridith and Brett were little they were playing (they were probably 2&4) I was in the shower and all of a sudden I heard Brett crying I hopped out of the shower and he came to me and he was bleeding,  they had been playing and Meridith hid and then popped up and hit in the forehead with a hard plastic square and then off to the ER we went and Brett got 3 stitches. 

Aaron and Meridith shared a love of music. 

Rachel and Meridith shared a love and bond that sister can share.

Brett and Meridith shared a connection that started before they were either born.  It is because they understood the bigger picture.  At least for Meridith she understands it now more than any of us.  I know that Heavenly Father knows more than we do, but it’s tough sometimes to not have her here. 

Brett told Rachel one day that she was lucky that she has pictures of Meridith holding Haylee, something that he wishes he could have.   

Rick and Rachel shared this video with me:

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/homefronts?lang=eng#homefronts?lang=eng&_suid=137822949222206482849951874565

Its the one with the girl on the cell phone.

One of the things I miss is hearing her voice.  She would call me all the time, walking from one class to another, driving in the car.  She would share her life with me.  I loved that.  I also miss her testimony, her voice. Last night Brett and Brittany were reading scriptures to the boys and Brett grabbed Meridith’s  scriptures, in there is a list of what she was looking in for a mate.  Brett asked me if I had seen it.  I had. She knew what she wanted and knew the direction she wanted her life to go.  She knew who she was.  Don’t get wrong she was a typical young adult….trying to survive in this world…she was a kind person ….but on occasion she could be obnoxious.  

Meridith is on the other side pulling for us. She knows we can be a forever family, we all have to do our part to get there.

Happy Birthday sweetpea.  I miss you.