Fall Festival Photos

Saturday, October 25 was our ward fall festival.  Here are the pictures taken at the little photo op there.

Hawaiian vacation gone bad...some people wondered if it was a real sunburn:).

 Kylene (Cleopatra) with her friend, Dalaina Dalton.

 Spencer (Anakin Skywalker), Andon (Cosmo the Cougar), and Skyler (Fireman who didn't like his hat)

The Hearts of the Children Turn to their Fathers...

My dad recently forwarded the following account as written by his aunt, Cathirn Lovisa Barney Sabin.  She was my dad's dad's (Floyd Hyrum Barney's) youngest sister.  This account touches me deeply, perhaps because she sees in vision/dream her siblings on the other side, including some whom died in infancy and some whom were stillborn.  It makes me think of my sweet Anneca.  I like to picture her as a beautiful, young adult in heaven, with long, blond hair, looking down on our family.  I am grateful she already has family there to surround her until we can be reunited.

A Dream or Reality

Contributed By Jeffrey Sabin · Jul 15, 2014, 10:41 PM · 0 Comments

Cathirn Lovisa Barney Sabin, 1987 It was the early morning hour of April 10th, 1987. My mother Sarah Cathirn Ottesen Barny Snow stood before me, smiling. She was happy, contented and very pretty. She was young, she seemed to be about 35 or 40 years old (as if age means anything). She said she knew I was troubled and they came to give me instructions. She asked if I knew Lydia and Andrew who were standing on each side of her. I said, “Of course, I know who they are,” and I did! They were infants when they went back into the Spirit World and now they were adults. Lydia was very pretty. She stood just behind mother on her right. She was a little shorter than mother and her hair was fuller and light brown. She had it pulled into a bun and a wisp of hair was coming down around her face. Andrew was standing to Mother’s left. He was about the same height as mother. He was not bald but had thin hair on top. I was thinking how much he looked like my Uncle Lyman. As they communicated it didn’t seem as if their mouths moved as they talked, but we all four of us communicated with our minds. Andrew was disappointed because his headstone was broken and no one cared enough to do anything about it. They said that all the headstones were sandstone and was breaking up and would all need to be replaced. I was the one CHOSEN to take care of this. I asked “What do you mean?” They answered “Ma and Pa (my grandfather and grandmother Ottesen) were good, honorable people and want to be remembered by all of their descendants.” To honor them and all they have done, to leave us a special heritage, I was to replace, not repair, all the headstones with names and dates. The large one was to be of black and gray granite. All names were to be listed on the back. It was shown to me as to how it would look. I then asked, “You mean all nine babies are to be listed?” The answer was, “No there were 14 of us and all the names are to be on this stone with Ma and Pa.” Lydia and Andrew’s life on earth was short, and they claim me as well as all of the descendants as their heritage. Each child, grandchild, great grandchild and on and on throughout the line as theirs, and no one is to be lost. I ask them about the headstone or headstones and they showed all of them to me. They showed me the shape of the double one, and told me it was to be black and gray granite and all of the children’s were to be alike. All 14 names are to be on the double one for Ma and Pa (Grandma and Grandpa). I asked, “But why me? I have never bought a headstone. I don’t know how. It will cost a lot of money.” They said, “Don’t worry, you will know the right one when you see it.” Meaning the large double one. “And Shirlene and Howard will help you. Do not feel back because nine children died in infancy, but rejoice because 13 children are with Ma and Pa now. When I woke up, I wondered why there was only 13 there instead of 14….Then I remembered that Aunt Hannah was still alive on earth. Another thing I wondered about was the three stillborn babies. Would they be there with them? As I thought about it I knew the answer was “Yes” because they had counted them. Mother then motioned for me to come closer and she held me and hugged me with a love and warmth that carried into eternity. As I was held in Mother’s arms there were other people around, not only Lydia and Andrew, but the rest of the brothers and sisters as well as grandparents. And it seemed as far as I could see they were smiling and reassuring me and telling me to follow directions and do as I was told. They could not do the job I was asked to do, it was up to me. I then woke up and realized I was in bed and it was still dark. I woke Elden up and told him about my dream and realized it was not a dream, but I knew it had really happened. Elden was very supportive as we went into the living room and cried together. I asked him to go back to bed while I reread the history of my mother’s family. It was then I read the birthing order of the children and they became real people and not babies who had died and were remembered by sandstone headstones in Spanish Fork City Cemetery. They were living spirits who cared about me as well as all of us. We were all family, we have a precious heritage. Several weeks have past now and I feel more certain that this actually happened as I described. My thoughts go to the Eternity, to the ones who have died. I have a strong desire to keep in touch with my cousins and their families, to get to know each other and renew friendships. I realize life and death are not about headstones, but I know headstones are a tool, a purpose to cause our family unity to happen. I want to know about my family heritage. I want to learn to know my ancestors and their hopes, their dreams, their sorrows, their sufferings, and their successes. I have a desire to be a part of an eternal family unit with these noble ancestors. I want to become involved while on this earth in building family relationships that will make us want to spend eternal lives in association with each other. We are all involved with our own immediate families, it is sometimes difficult to keep close association with brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. Yet these are the very people with whom we hope to be worthy to inherit celestial exaltation. It is important to maintain family ties and associations even though our lives are busy. The only way we can do this is to decide that such relationships are important and then make the necessary effort to strengthen the ties. It is with these thoughts that we, Shirlene, Howard, Aunt Hannah, and I, will create the desire for family unity. It will be fun to get together at our first cousin get together on September 27th, 1987. Aunt Hannah’s birthday weekend in Kilgore, Idaho. We can then discuss the headstones and ways to accomplish this scary, thrilling, necessary assignment. I love my mother and all my ancestors. I especially feel close to Lydia and Andrew and feel their presence as I plan and contemplate our reunion in September. Love to all Cathirn

Love it!

I was just reading a book to Skyler and Andon.  In it, Maisy and her friends ride a subway train...

Me: "Do you know what a subway is, Skyler?"
Skyler: "It's where you go to get a sandwich."
Me: "Yes, that's true, but do you know what a subway train is?"
Skyler: "It's what you ride on to get to Subway."

It was hard not to laugh out loud at this point, but I did maintain my composure and explained to him that it is actually a train that goes underground, and under buildings and streets in a city.

I then realized that his thinking process, while it sounded funny, made complete sense.  In Wilsonville, we often rode the "donut train." And where did it take us, you ask?  To get donuts!

Love it, love it!

Last Minute Kid Pics

I took these yesterday because the kids were dressed up to go to a Service of Remembrance at Sacred Heart Medical Center for Anneca.  I thought they turned out so cute, I just had to share:).

I love these kids!

"Children are not an interruption of my work, but the mere purpose of it."

Anneca's Birthday

Anneca's first birthday (Wednesday, September 24) was a beautiful day.  I cherished it and her, and felt the love of so many.  I felt like I was in a really good place.  I had been dreading it in the weeks leading up to it, but as it got closer, I decided I could choose joy, rather than sorrow.  I was asked to give a talk in church the Sunday before her birthday on Charity and the pure love of Christ.  As I studied and prepared for that, my heart slowly changed and I decided to accept His love and allow the pain to be swallowed up in His love.  It was a beautiful gift to me, the best I could have asked for.

I also kept myself busy.  I asked two friends (Chrissy Thomas and Whitney Lathen) if they would have lunch with me and they gladly agreed:).  And it was very fitting that I spent part of the day with them because they were very involved in helping us when Anneca died.  My kids were at Chrissy's house when we went to the ultrasound and found out she no longer had a heartbeat.  The kids ended up staying there all afternoon, she fed them dinner and took them home and got them ready for bed.  Her husband came over and assisted Kyle in giving me a blessing, then they came to the memorial service.  They helped in many other ways.  Whitney came over and watched my kids the day Anneca was delivered so my parents could come to the hospital and see her, among other things.  So, it meant a lot to me to be with them on her birthday.  We had a nice lunch together and just talked while the kids played (at Chrissy's house).  They gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

When I got home, I got a few things done then ran to pick the kids up from school.  When we got back, my parents were here!  They brought gifts and goodies for the kids (for Anneca; so sweet!), beautiful roses and chocolates for me, and mums to take to the cemetery.  Then we all went up to visit the cemetery.  It was so nice to be up there.  We walked around a bit--the kids showed them the statue of Adam and Eve.  I called Kyle while we were there (he was in Hawaii on business).

Then we headed home and got ready for soccer and went to soccer practice. I am coaching Skyler's team, and we had a good practice. My dad took lots of pictures.

Then we headed to dinner and met my friend, Sara Edge.  The original restaurant we chose had a long wait (and it was already 6:30), so we went to a pizza place next door, which was still yummy.  We had a nice dinner together.  Sara brought presents (beaney boos) for all the kids and flowers for me.  My parents gave me the card/present from my family (parents and siblings and spouses).  It was the most thoughtful, meaningful gift and meant so much to me.  They gave us 90 pink tulip bulbs, a tree/plant of our choice, and a personalized stone with Anneca's name and birthdate on it.  All to put in Anneca's garden.  (We are going to create a little garden area in our yard for Anneca.)  I was so touched.  (I am so excited to create that part of our yard, but it's going to have to wait until next spring.  I got the tulip bulbs planted, but will transplant them when we get the right area ready.)

Then we went home and had a little birthday party for Anneca.  We had angel food cake and sang her "Happy Birthday".  The kids all blew out the single candle.  Then I showed them the few mementos we have from her birth and I talked about what she looked like.  Kyle had left scriptures and thoughts from the Apostles (on peace) around the house for me when he went to Hawaii, so for family scripture time, we read all of these together.  It was so peaceful and the spirit was there.  I shared my testimony about eternal families and how I know Anneca is our angel watching over us (and Calvin).

Kyle also had a special day.  Even though he wasn't here with us, he was able to be with his adopted Hawaiian family.  (The ones who gave him his Hawaiian name.)  He had dinner with them at their home and brought a Haupia (coconut) pie, which they put a candle in and all sang "Happy Birthday" to Anneca, too.  Their little granddaughter blew out the candle.  It was sweet to me that they would honor her in that was, too.

So many people emailed, called, or messaged me that they were thinking of us and Anneca.  I felt so loved and am so grateful for the goodness of people around me who love and support our family in so many ways.

Here is the stone my family had made for Anneca's garden.  I love it!  It will stay inside this winter until we are ready for it outside.

September--Catching Up

A LOT of our energies this summer went into our yard.  Here are a few more progress pictures.  It was an exciting day when they poured our concrete, and the kids had fun pressing their hands in to the concrete.  It was harder than I thought it would be, but I like the finished product.  It is on the back walkway right next to our back patio.

 We widened the front step, and made a walkway to the backyard. 

 

They put a concrete stamped border on either side of the driveway and walkway, and put in a concrete edging to go around our lawn.  The kids have had fun on the "balance beam".  Hopefully it will keep our lawn contained and looking nicer.

  

Thursday, Sept 25 we worked on the final prepping for the sod all day.  EIGHT pallets of sod were delivered first thing Friday morning (4,100 square feet!), and we started laying it.  Crazy enough, I had a Presidency meeting to go to, so I left while my mom and dad started laying it.  A member of our ward who owns his own landscaping business showed up with his son, and the four of them finished our entire front yard while I was at my meeting!  I couldn't believe it.  It took my breath away to drive up to that.  That afternoon we hit the back yard.  We had several friends show up, one even bringing an Air Force buddy on their way home from work.  Kevin Thomas, Staci Nielsen and her hubby and their friend, and Tina Spencer came to help, and the Elders came for about an hour, and we got it all laid!  It was amazing how fast it went once it was all prepped.  Kyle got home from Hawaii at midnight on Friday (I know, rough! Hee, hee), and Saturday morning we got up and went back to work.  We had planned on overseeding the parking strip area between the sidewalk and the road, but we had enough leftover sod that we decided to do that, too.  So we spent all of Saturday prepping that (pulling out lots of old grass, bringing in dirt, raking, etc.) and laying the sod.  The last section was a bit of a tetris job, but we had just the right amount of grass to do it all!  I never thought we'd use all 4,100 square feet of sod (and was overwhelmed by how much they delivered), but we DID!  The end result has been enjoyed every day since then.  I love it.

 The kids had been waiting all summer to put the sprinkler underneath the trampoline.  I really wanted to wait until their was grass (less mud), so on Saturday, they went at it and had a blast.  It's so nice to have it there; even Andon can get on and off completely by himself!

The second week of September we welcomed part of the Schnell family to our house!  They are our dear friends from Salem, and we have missed them.  Christian and Julie were taking their oldest daugther, Margaret, to her Freshman year at BYU-Idaho, and stayed here one night on their way.  It was so fun talking and laughing and being together.  Kyle was in Alaska that week so missed the fun, and we missed not having the other four kids here, but it was still so much fun.  Margaret was their FAVORITE babysitter in Salem, so it was cute to see the kids playing with her again.  We hope they come again soon!

 One thing about our current yard: it is a boys' heaven!  Dirt, dirt, and more dirt, everywhere you turn.  One day in September when Landon and Brigham Thomas were here playing, I let them have free reign of the dirt, and they had a BALL.  They were all in heaven, digging, scooping, and building in the dirt.  Dust was flying everywhere, and all four boys got a much-needed bath following the fun.  They rode the jeep around, jumped on the tramp, loaded up the dump trucks, and built up lots of immunity from all the dirt they were inhaling.  It was a great time!

I love these pictures I captured of Kyle and Andon reading a book together.

Progress!

We have grass!  It is hard to believe, but we did it!  The difference is amazing.  We laid 4,100 sq feet of grass in two days, after an entire summer of prep work!  We still have a lot of work to do on the bed and garden areas, but I love looking at the difference thus far!  Hip, hip, hooray!

 The finished product from the street:

Another HUGE shout out to my parents: they came last Wednesday and were here for Anneca's birthday, then helped us get ready and lay the sod on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  It was a huge help, as always.  We could have never gotten this far this fast without them.  They are both a huge help and I just try to keep up with them while they are here!