Hope

I have had time to reflect on my beliefs this last month or so, and I have had a desire to share it with others. It can be hard for me to find the words, but at the same time, I feel so deeply about it I want to share what I know, and what has brought me so much joy, and that has blessed my life, and my families life.

I am so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has helped me through many difficult times. It has given me the hope and faith that I needed to make it through. It has guided me to make good choices that have blessed my life, and has guided me to make good choices even when I didn't know what to do. I am thankful for God in my life, for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the Holy Ghost. I know God is real, and lives today. For this I am eternally grateful.

The Church recently made a video about hope called the Infinite Power of Hope, it says how I feel perfectly!

California and Scott's Wedding

This last month Michael and I flew down to California for the first time with Amelia! She did great both ways. But we were very blessed to have an open seat next to us both ways!



We traveled to California to attend my cousin Scott's wedding. It was beautiful and good to see them again. This is the best picture I got of the two of them, in the center of the pic. Here are some other pictures I took to try and capture for the family back at home.



Their favors were candy covered almonds in these cut boxes, and the ribbon was personalized with their names and the date.



The flowers were all red and white, very pretty.



Every table was named after a restaurant! The kids table was the Cheesecake factory!



The bridesmaid dresses complimented the brides dress. The bride was in mostly white, with a teal trim on the top of the dress, and the corset tie and ribbon in the back was teal. So the bridesmaid dresses where teal with a white trim, and the little flower girls, there were 4, had white dresses with a teal ribbon.







Here is my Aunt Julie, mother of the groom, Grandpa Jim, Amelia, myself, and my Dad.



We found lots of parks to take Amelia to while we were there, and she learned how to go down the slide, and loved it.



Her favorite was to go down backwards, and Michael would catch her at the bottom.


One of the days there we went to the Oakland California Temple, and the Visitors Center at the Temple. It was soo gorgeous! And you could feel the loving Spirit of the Lord there. There was a large stream that started up near the temple at a fountain, then went down the river bed, which had white rocks in it! It was neat! Then the river went down to another fountain. The river was lined on either side with walking paths, palm trees and wonderful flowers.




The Temple is located on a hill that over looks both major cities in the area. You can see so far from there.



There are two large sculptures in the side of the temple! It is neat I had never seen that before. I can't remember the scriptures that were quoted under them. I wish I could but one talked about how we are taught by Christ, and the other talked about when Christ will come again!

There also was a neat statue and a quote about Christ blessing the Children, and I think there was also one about how we need to teach our children where to look for a remission of their sins, safety, and peace.



Michael said he really liked this tree and that this is what he imagined the Tree of Life would look like.



Someone was nice enough to take a picture of all of us!



This picture from standing up at the Temple and looking back at the two fountains and the river/stream.





One day we went to San Fransisco and to see the Golden Gate Bridge! It was very windy and we saw a lot of sail boats, kite surfers and wind surfers.

Cousin Cora!

Cora plays so sweetly with Amelia. She was pulling her around the house, and then let her sit on her lap in the wagon.









This is my big brown bear from when I was little. My Dad gave it to me and I loved it. Both girls enjoy it now too.

Grandpa Jim, and Grandpa Jim

This is a picture from when Amelia's Grandpa Jim brought her Great Grandpa Jim up to visit with us. We had a fun time and a great visit!

Beans!

Amelia loves to eat beans... and she loves to get it everywhere! You can't see from the pictures but it is even in her ears!

Pri-or-ity

One morning while going through some old papers I found these stickers I used while I attended WWU. So I thought I would use them to label my priority.

Devin!

This is our nephew Devin! He was blessed just before Tasha and Carl and he left for New York. We were glad to have spent lots of time with them, and can't wait to see them again. These are a few pictures from the day of his blessing.



Amelia is becoming more of a ham lately. :)









I love this last picture. Can't you just see them saying goodbye to each other. :)

Catching up!

Well we will start from the most recient and go backwards :)


We had an Ellerbeck reunion at Baker Lake this last weekend. It was Amelia's first time camping, and she did great! She even slept in a tent, and played in the dirt! :)



Here is Ron and Jeanne in the canoeing on the lake.



Ron keeping the dog happy :)



Nichole and Ryan resting in the shade. It was sunny and hot!



Tasha with their new baby Devin



Michael playing with Amelia in the shade. She decided she didn't like the water that day.



Thank you to Annie, she has passed down from Cora this swim outfit, hat and tiny book. Amelia has been enjoying them all! Thanks!!!




We had a cross country reunion with Ted at Jennings Park. It was a lot of fun to see everyone again, hear what they were up to, and remember some of those fun times!








Heather with Amelia.



Amelia has been into eating her books lately... I try to stop her, but she is a quick one.



I went to Jetty Island with my good friend Charissa, and then a week later with my Dad and brothers... but I forgot the camera that time. :(



Amelia loves to be in water, and she didn't even mind walking through all that seaweed. :P






Charissa and Amelia



Here are a couple pictures from Amelia's One Year Birthday party. Angela my friend made a fantastic cake, and she also made Amelia her own tiny cake. She was not sure about eating it though. She would rather have just looked and talked with all the people sitting around her.


Angela did a great job!



Amelia loves glasses, these are her play glasses.



This is her Daddy doing cute pics, and Amelia wondering what is going on.