Trip to Disney World (June 2017)

These past two summers, we've been so lucky to have had great vacations where most of us have gotten together. In June 2017, we made a big leap and went to Disney World. We stayed at a very spacious vacation rental in nearby Kissimmee.
Here's the bedroom Carl and I bunked out in, as well as a few of the other rooms in this spacious home.

It was fun "dining in" with so many family members!

Here are some of the girls (Lauren & Jessica) and I picking up groceries at the local market. (Even grocery shopping is fun when you are anywhere near Disney World!)

With  Disney themed rooms, and toys and costumes, the kids enjoyed being here, as much as being in Disney World,

The kids were so excited to find Disney costumes in the bedroom closets!

Emmett decided its O.K. for boys to be princesses. He didn't want to miss a thing!

All of the kids, young and old, enjoyed the Disney themed media room (which also provided extra sleeping space for our large crew).

Everyone enjoyed the swimming pool that came with the house.

Addie was the youngest grandchild to join us -- not quite 16 months  old

The 3 days we spent at Disney World and Epcot Center were so much more relaxing, going with grandkids and their parents, as opposed to the last time Carl and I went, many years ago, when we towed along 7 kids.  Philip was 11 months old, and we had our hands full, keeping track of the kids. Courtney had everything well planned for us, where we were able to get into attractions without much of a wait.  The weather was perfect, cloudy and not too hot.

The whole gang was there, except for Emily and Brian's family. 

It is always so great when our children and their families, who live in Minnesota and Utah, can join us on vacation.

Andy, KayLynn & Addie & Emmett

Mark, Courtney & Colby, Saige,& Luke

The kids, even the little ones, were real troupers!

Even our teenagers had a good time.

Although, maintaining a hair- do can be a challenge in the humidity.

Standing in lines was a bit tiring for big and little kids, and they did have their "moments" and brief melt downs. Luckily, thanks to good planning on the part of Courtney, we had "fast passes" to many attractions, so we didn't have to wait too long in lines.

Too much excitement for one day (Epcot Center)! Lorelei crashed!

After a long day a Disney World, a fella is just too tired to eat!

There is nothing better for a grandparent, than being with grandkids in Disney World, and seeing the joy in their faces.

Most of all, I am so grateful for miracles from heaven, that made it possible for Carl, who was diagnosed just 5 months prior to our trip with CML Leukemia, to be in such good health and  have strength and energy to enjoy this wonderful time in Disney World with the family.

This One's For You, Jeremy!

In September of 2016,  0ur son Jeremy was inducted in the Friendswood High School Athletic Hall of Honor. I had to talk him into accepting this honor. He couldn't figure out why his high school coach would nominate him.  Jeremy has always worked so hard as an athlete, and did great things to rise  above running injuries.  During his senior year, he ran, in spite of an injury and in great pain, in the state cross country meet, making a heroic effort to come in 9th place, getting a medal.  He had been predicted to come in the top three, even number one. He was so grateful to have earned 9th place and gave the credit to his Heavenly Father. When the race was over, he could hardly walk. He  has worked so hard his entire junior high and high school running career, and if anyone deserved being in the hall of fame, he surely did. Yet, he couldn't understand why Coach Haffelder nominated him for this honor. He thought he didn't do anything special to deserve it. I told him to  at least accept the award for his mom & dad, (me & Carl) who have spent countless hours, at each cross country and track meet. Jeremy's wife Nicole,  a former high school runner,  also encouraged him to accept the award.

He ran with his heart, and gave it his all.  This picture was taken at the start of the big state cross country meet, where he ran  injured, and still miraculously came in ninth place.

All that hard work paid off, as his dream came true, when he was recruited by BYU for the cross country team.  Coach Ed Eyestone was impressed with his high school record. 

 He ran for BYU his freshman year, before spending two years on a mission in Alaska. After the mission, he tried to get back into running for BYU,  but found that the many hours required for running interfered with his studies to become the successful engineer that he is today. 

                                                                  Running for BYU

That Friday night in Texas, a year ago, it was so great for Jeremy to be reunited with Coach Haffelder at the awards ceremony, where a few other alumni athletes were honored, and then honored on the football field before the start of a home game at Friendswood High School.