There is a quote: "LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORMS TO PASS.... IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN."
With 12 children and 5 adopted from Russia, we have had challenges and trials along with our joys. We have decided that we must
learn how to "dance in the rain." We must notice and acknowledge the joys and miracles in our lives.
They exist daily -- we just need to make sure we do not miss them!! This blog is to remind us of these miracles and joys!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

APRIL 25, 2013: MINI-TOUR OF PROVO

MINI-TOUR OF PROVO: APRIL 25, 2013

This morning we took the kids on a little mini-tour before we picked up Alison for some graduation pictures.  The flowers at the Provo Temple and all around BYU Campus are stunning!

A nice picture in front of the Provo Temple with Vernon, 
the kids and Grandma Richardson
This is Benjamin with David and Daniel -- Benjamin is looking 
more and more like Hyrum as he grows up!

We took the kids over to the Missionary Training Center --  MTC -- so they could see where Hyrum and Melissa go first when they leave on their missions.
Hyrum will spend 8-9 weeks studying Chinese before he leaves for Taiwann.
Melissa will spend just 1-2 weeks at the MTC before 
she leaves for Jacksonville, Florida. 
Such an exciting time for our family!!!


The MTC

A vew of the temple in the distance from the BYU Campus.
It is all just such a beautiful place!!

APRIL 24, 2013 -- A VISIT WITH THE WHITES


A VISIT WITH THE WHITES
APRIL 24, 2013

Vernon and the kids arrived in town on Wednesday for BYU Graduation!!
Their first stop was at the White's home for a visit.
We havne't been there to visit all together for  many years.  It was a joy to get to reintroduce
the kids to the Whites and them to the kids grown up.

We performed "Rock Island" (the train scene) from "Music Man" which is Joe  White's favorite movie.  We also did our little Studio C skit, "Everything's Nicer When You Sing It."
It was fun and so enjoyable.
They gave Alison some darling baby clothes.
When Dad (Vernon) was at BYU, he was executive secretary for Joe White who was the bishop of his freshman ward.  This is when Dad developed a very close friendship with Brother White.
Joe worked at BYU and dad would often stop by and visit and ask advice.
Vernon became their "son" since they "only" have 3 beautiful daughters.

I remember the night, when we were dating, that Vernon took me over to meet the White family.  
I knew that their approval was critical!!!


Joe and Mossi White with all the kids.

APRIL 22, 2013 -- JOSEPH'S BYU CAMPUS TOUR


JOSEPH'S BYU CAMPUS TOUR
April 22, 2013

Joseph was able to travel with me, Mom, to Provo!!  What a great travel buddy I found in Joseph!
We were able to go do a BYU campus tour and ride in the golf cart on our personalized tour!   We learned all sorts of things:  the Subway at the BYU Cougar Eat uses 37,600+ feet of bread every year; BYU has a Midevil Fencing Club, BYU has a Innertube Water Polo class for a PE credit, and they have produced an amazing "hybrid-car" for the past 2-3 years!
 Joseph also got a free BYU T-Shirt!!!

Monday, April 29, 2013

APRIL 20, 2013: ALISON'S BABY SHOWER

ALISON'S BABY SHOWER
April 20, 2013

Melissa gave a wonderful baby shower for her sister Alison!  I was so glad I was able to fly early to Utah and to be there!!!  

Melissa served delicious muffins and fruit parfaits

She had such cute ideas:  she had everyone help to illustrate an "ABC Book" that she will laminate 





 Melissa led some super fun games:  
Matching the animal baby names that were really hard! 
And a picture drawing game predicting Baby Clawson's future!!
 PRESENTS!


 The blessing dress that Grandma Connie Richardson crocheted!


 Grandma Toni Clawson made this beautiful bunny blanket!!!
 A Crocheted baby afghan from Great Grandma Clea Beach





APRIL 18, 2013: A FRONT YARD SURPRISE and ROSES!

A FRONT YARD SURPRISE and ROSES!
April 18, 2013

When I drove up to the house one morning after some errands, I was surprised to find this!
Next to this very large truck in our muddy yard, was a young man who was very apologetic and felt so badly!  I felt really bad for him because he had to call his boss for help and explain how he had driven his big delivery truck into our yard!!!  He said his hand slipped and he missed the turn of the cul-de-sac.
A mess.  We were grateful he came back that evening and added topsoil to fill in the big ruts he had made. :)


Today was our last cake decorating class for Level 1.
Today we learned to make roses and a couple of other flowers and then had to frost and decorate a 2-layer cake!!!
Since we had 5 cakes of that size, we decided on several families to drop them off to.  Here is the cake we brought home for us -- we forgot to take pictures of the others!


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

April 11-13, 2013 New York and Broadway!

New York and Broadway!
April 11-13, 2013

Vernon and I had the chance to have a "get away" which we haven't done for a long time!
It was quite fun!
Vernon went to a conference about middle eastern economy and
I went to a Broadway show one evening and then spent all of one day sleeping in
and then crocheting all day!!
We then enjoyed seeing "Newsies" on Broadway together and then a Saturday morning at
the Manhattan Temple.  A lovely ending  to our trip!
Times Square
Connie's first show
 I was told this show was definitely "family fare" by a person at the TKTS booth.
Well, evidently my definition of "family fare" is different than theirs.
It could have been much worse, but I wouldn't take my children to it.
It was definitely a "cupcake with a cricket on top."
I got this ticket for a discount at TKTS

Bette Midler was starring in a play across the street.
NEWSIES
I was so extremely excited to go see Newsies!  I had looked it up online and it said it was sold out.
Vernon and I went walking and found the theater and they did have tickets for Friday night.
We were way up top on the 3rd level, but we were there!!!



The set for Newsies was amazing!
It consisted of 3 three-story towers that moved in and out and around and they 
connected and .....  really cool.

Empire State Building at the back left all lit up.


We stayed at this neat, old hotel that was nice and had character!
They had free apples and free greek yogurt!

It was funny, because this picture that hangs behind the main desk looks
so much like "Mallory" from Studio C, which is a comedy troupe that the 
kids love from BYU TV!!!

We found some $.99 pizza!!!
It wasn't bad -- thin crust, weak sauce, but ample delicious cheese!
Quite a deal for a meal in NYC!

MANHATTAN TEMPLE
Vernon and I had talked about going to the temple while in NYC, but then we both totally
forgot to pack Sunday clothes!  Vernon needed a tie and I needed a skirt and shoes!
We looked at something on Friday night before our show, but had to hurry off and planned to go the next morning.  Well, when we called the temple, the only session that would work with our timeline was at 10:30am!  We headed to Dress Barn to pick up a dress for me and it didn't open until 10am!
There was no way we could wait and make it to the temple, so we decided to start walking!!
We walked for almost an hour and looked for dress shops along the way.  Vernon found a black tie at a souvenier shop so he was set.  
Vernon asked me "What are you going to do?"  I simply answered, "I don't know."
We kept walking.  It was now 9:50am and we were up at the temple and thought that we had found a department store right across the street from the temple.   With 10 minutes to wait for it to open, we walked up and found a man with a fruit stand and there in NYC, we bought bananas for 5 for $1, big oranges for 2 for $1, delicious and large nectarines for 2 for $1, some plums for 4 for $1 and grapes for $1.50 per pound.
We thought we were getting a very good deal -- cheaper than fruit is currently in Arkansas!
We didn't buy any fruit, but knew what we would do after the temple session -- assuming we made it!
At 10am, the store opened.  We headed straight upstairs and I found a grey pencil skirt for a decent price in NYC and a pair of sandals and went to check out.  It was now 10:12am.  The cashier's computer froze and I thought, the adversary is at work -- come on computer!  Then her computer clicked right back on we were checked out. hustled out and across the street.  Vernon threw on his tie and went in.  I ran  into the bathroom of the church building -- which is in the same building but on a different side -- and changed from jeans and tennis shoes to skirt and sandals so I could go into the temple.  Went quickly to the dressing room and changed and made it into the chapel with a few minutes to spare.  What was odd, is that Vernon wasn't there yet.  We left the chapel to go to the endowment room and I waited a bit and then Vernon finally came.  I asked what took him so long and he informed me that he had a problem with his socks!!!  
Evidently, the pair of socks that came with his rented temple clothing was extremely small and the heel of the sock only came to the arch of his foot!!!  He stretched those little things to death to get them on!!!
But we made it!!!!!
It was a beautiful day and such a blessing to get to go to the temple!!!
We are grateful!!!

The shorter, cream colored building to the back left is the temple!





April 9, 2013 Cake Decorating #2

Cake Decorating #2 
April 9, 2013

In our second cake decorating class, we learned to do an edging and some piping and then we used piping gel to make a pattern on the cake and decorate it!  We all made a "cupcake" on our cake!

Bethany's cake

Rachel's cake

Connie's cake