The end of an eventful April and beginning of May 2014

Following our trip to Utah, and our cruise, Carl and I had a little more excitement (not the good kind), when our youngest, "little" Carl ended up in the emergency room. We had quite a scare. The doctors, along with a priesthood blessing, pulled him through, and after a day of observation, we were able to take him home. 

                                     

The first week of May, we headed to Vidor where we cheered grandkids Aiden and Ava on as they participated in their school's track and field events.

After lunch with Dahlia, we headed back to the school to cheer Aiden on. 

He got first place in all his individual events.

Two days later, our family gathered, on May 4th, for sweet Rae's baby blessing.

Jeremy did a great job in giving his very first baby blessing.

These two cousins, Lorelei and Dahlia, enjoyed the dinner Nicole had prepared, but most of all, enjoy every opportunity to be together.

Lorelei crashed on the rug after dinner.

Our final gathering for May was Mother's Day. Philip called all the way from Taiwan, China. Jeremy surprised me with this original artwork. All the kids were so sweet in remembering me and I am so grateful to be their mother.

Easter 2014

We arrived home from the cruise the day before Easter Sunday. It was fun celebrating with the family after having been in New York for the past two Easters. 

Our oldest grandchild, 13 year old Elayna, wasn't too old for the Easter egg hunt. 

                                      

                           

                          

Baby Rae, 2 months old, slept through her first egg hunt.

                             

The rest of the weekend, she was surrounded by admirers.

                         

Her biggest admirer is her Daddy.

                                  

Baby Ben wasn't too happy wearing bunny ears.

We enjoyed Lauren's Easter Bunny Cake. I think this tradition started with Aunt Sharon, who made them at family Easter gatherings when our kids were little.

             

These two (Lorelei and Dahlia) enjoy being with each other. They were born just two weeks apart.

I think baby Rae agrees that the only thing that would have made the Easter celebration more perfect would to have her Utah and Minnesota cousins, Emmett, Colby, and Saige, with us. 

We are so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ, who gives us all good things and makes it possible for us to be with our precious families forever.

40th Anniversary Cruise

A few days after our Utah trip, we hit the high seas for a very relaxing 40th wedding anniversary cruise. We sailed in April, a week before Easter. 

                       

                            

Previously, we had taken two cruises with Royal Caribbean. This time we cruised with Princess, on a smaller ship. We weren't disappointed. The other retired couples we dined with each night were so great! We loved being with them, and felt like old friends at the end of the week.

We even ran into our nephew Matt and his girlfriend Leslie, who were on the same cruise as us!

We saw the typical Caribbean cruise sights -- colorful Mexican markets, ancient Mayan ruins, turquoise seas. 

                          

Carl insisted on buying me a new diamond wedding ring set while we were the Caribbean. I was perfectly content with the Walmart cubic zirconia that replaced the engagement ring diamond I lost a few years ago. Here is my 40th anniversary gift that we got at a price we were able to bargain for at Diamonds International.

                               

What a sweet husband I have! I'm glad he talked me into getting this -- good to go for another 40 years of marriage!

Sweet girl

During the summer, Lauren and Dan and their six children continued living in our home, while house hunting. I cherish all the little everyday moments, like these. Lorelei would always come downstairs in some sort of costume. 

First missionary reunion!

When we went out for Emmett's blessing in late March, the timing was perfect. We attended our first New York Rochester Mission reunion. It was such a joy to be with our dear President and Sister Christianson again, and so many of the missionaries we served with.

                          

Remington Peck (Elder Peck) is now  married and is one of  BYU's  star football players.

This is one of our Brockport "daughters", Sister Torres (Diana) who lived in the same apartment complex as we did.

Here is one of our Brockport "sons", Elder Hulse (Dan) and his wife.

At the reunion, Carl and I surprised Jack and Melanie Christianson with a photo book I put together with memories from the 18 months we served with them.

Here's another Brockport "daughter". Sister Butters (Whitney, who is a journalist for the Deseret News, and is now engaged to the young man next to her.

Another Brockport "daughter", Sister Gillespie (Julia), along with Elder and Sister Willyerd. The Willyerds were on the mission office staff with us.

Elder and Sister Servoss also served on the office staff with us.  

There were so many other senior and junior missionaries whom we love, but didn't get the chance to get a photo of.  It was a taste of heaven being at the reunion. 

Another perk of our visit to Utah was attending two sessions of April General Conference in the Conference Center. It was a first for the both of us, although I attended in the Tabernacle many years ago when David O. McKay was prophet of the Church. 

At the Saturday afternoon session, we happened to sit on the same row as the Bergeson family, our old friends who are in our home ward in Friendswood, Texas.

After the Saturday session, we wandered over to the Deseret Bookstore where well known LDS writer/motivational speaker, John Byetheway was having a book signing.

We were delighted to run into a few more of our New York Rochester returned missionaries in the mall following the book signing. Prefect ending to a perfect day'