Happy Birthday Julianna and Dena!

Today is a special day to 2 of my favorite people - Julianna Foote, my niece and Dena Brugger, my sister-in-law.  I hope you have a fantastic birthday.  You are in my thoughts and prayers - always.  Love you so much!

Happy Birthday Marianne

Today is my sister, Marianne's birthday.  For the most part of our lives, Marianne has truly been my best friend. 

Marianne, I know you will have a busy day today, but I hope you have a happy birthday that will last for days!  I will be watching for you during the Relief Society Broadcast.  I have always wanted to sing in a choir in the Conference Center.  Enjoy my dream for both of us.  I love you so much.

Gloom, Despair and Agony on me!

...If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.  Gloom despair and agony on me!" 

For any and all that watched 'Hee Haw' in the 70's and early 80's, you will remember this.  The rest of you look it up on YouTube.

We were told last week that visas are a minimum of 5 months now.  There are apparently several reasons for this but the biggest one is that the same amount of people are reviewing visas while the Church is sending twice as many missionaries into Denmark.  We have had people blame Snowden but I am more inclined to think that doubling the missionary force is the biggest problem.  We were hoping we would have our visa by Conference Weekend but it turns out that we didn't apply until the end of May.  We will be lucky if we get into the MTC by Halloween!  I have had a pity party for most of the day.  I need to find a light and a reason for this to be happening and then I will accept it.  I am afraid we won't realize the reason until it is all over. 

Our Danish is coming along.  I find I am more and more thinking in Danish - which would be better if I was doing that in Denmark instead of here where no one understands me.  We are now back at Pam's.  We will stay here at least until the 14th when we will do another week of Danish Immersion.  Hopefully this time we will be well for all of it get even more out than we did last time. 

I had hoped we would go in at least by the time Christina went into the MTC but it looks like she will beat us on her mission by a several weeks at least.

Fun Weekend

We are still at Marianne's.  We decided to keep up with our language studies, so we are doing the computer based TALL program at the Senior MTC.



Annie holding Molly.  Molly is wearing the snuggly I knitted her.  This was taken Labor Day weekend.

Molly in her snuggly inside one of the sunhats I sent her for a baby present.  I intended it to be big enough to wear next year but it may be big enough for her mom!

    Yesterday we went to church at the MTC with Marianne and Frank.  It was fun and very spiritual.  We are still readying our plans for the rest of the week and next weekend.

For those of you that know him, we had dinner last night with Elder Jake Staley.  He was in Newport over 3 years ago. He is  just as wonderful now as he was as an elder.  We had a wonderful time - hope he did too.

Wonderful Week

We have had a wonderful week of Danish Immersion.  We have been blessed with wonderful tutors and study buddy's that have tweaked our Danish.  We are truly getting better every day.  We are praying we are in the MTC by the end of September or the first week of October.  We found out the Danish members are praying that the Senior Couples get their visas soon.  We have been lifted by that thought.  It has been a very spiritual week and such a boost to our egos.

Grateful for the Priesthood

Last week I was not feeling really well and was afraid I had a sinus infection.  It morphed into a terrible head cold.  Saturday I was so sick that I had to ask Clyde and Chris Davis for a blessing.  I was so grateful that they were there and could perform a healing blessing on me.  I was concerned because this week is Clyde's and my Danish immersion week and wanted to be alert and well for it.  Just as promised, on Monday I felt immensely better.  However, Clyde started to get a sore throat Monday morning and by Monday evening was really sick!  We started reading our scriptures together and Clyde started choking and passed out.  I was so alarmed that before Clyde came too, I was out the door and calling Dallin Walker and telling him Clyde needed a blessing.  Dallin immediately got dressed to give Clyde a blessing and Tina called her friend, Tyler to help.  Dallin gave Clyde a beautiful blessing.  He felt a lot better but he is struggling with this cold more than I have.  I am grateful that these men were there when it was needed and that all four of them honor their priesthood.  In fact with all four of the it is who they are.

Our week of immersion is wonderful.  We are getting so much out of this and so glad that we had this opportunity.  It has been fun to meet all of the people we have Skyped with the last few months.

Dane Playing

Dane doing the thing he loves best - playing in the car.  The car has now been sold.  Who knew that would happen so fast after I took this picture!

Dane telling me what he doing.

Dane realized it was just me outside and wanted his dad or Mom or even grandpa - just not me.

Swimming in Las Vegas

 One of the days we were in Vegas, we spent the day at the pool.  This one is Mallory with her 'swimming coat' on.

In the back is Luke, and Bella along with Marcus, Evie and Anneke, playing.  The woman in the forefront was about 9 months pregnant.  Heather said that whenever she went, she saw her there trying to stay cool.

Mallory playing.

Me with Heather and Heidi and Baby Audrey.

 Anneke and Bella with Andy in the background.

Heidi, Mallory, Audrey and me.

Bella with Audrey and Heidi.  Audrey was in heaven when Heidi finally let her in the pool.  We had a great time at the pool and in Las Vegas with our family.

The Chocolate Factory

Anneke wanted to go to the M&M factory on the strip in Las Vegas.  None of the adults were particularly interested in doing that so the compromise was the Chocolate factory.  We were there with the Nordells and the Bahlmanns.  We had a wonderful time.  Afterwards we went to 'Joe's Crab Shack.  It was a fun day.  Mallory took this charming picture.  She wanted to do it herself.

 Grandpa telling the grandchildren about solar panels, etc.  Luke was mesmerized.

Heidi and Andy having a quiet moment.

Marcus with Bella.  Anneke is running in the background and Heidi is in the right corner. 

An Evening at the Temple

 Mallory in her car seat.

The family together around one of the fountains at the Las Vegas temple.

Heidi, Marcus and Anneke in front of one of the fountains.

 It had rained during the day and Luke was convinced he needed a sweater.  It was after all 92 degrees.

I love this picture because Andy and Clyde are concentrating so hard as they look up.  They were discussing the spires on the temple.  You could also say this is the direction they want their lives to go too.

Day at the Children's Museum

The second day we arrived in Vegas, Heidi and Heather and their families met at the Children's museum.  Here are few memories from there.

This is a modified wind tunnel.  The older kids went through that several times.

Bella with a little girl Heidi watches named Audrey.  If there was a baby around, Bella is right there.

Congregating in front of the puppet theater/castle.  My camera is so slow half the family had left the picture before I got it taken.

Grandpa watching Evie perform.