Monday, December 31, 2007

Liz's Birthday 2007 and ....

Enjoy some memories through pictures and music!


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Grandpa Burton & Grandchildren 1989



Grandpa Burton, Jolene, Jared, Kristofer, and Heather ~ 1989

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Holiday Lights 2007 By Jolene & Naomi

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Saturday, December 29, 2007

Our Cats By Jolene & Naomi






We have three cats: Suzy Q (black), Sabrina (calico), and Stanley (black). They have been a wonderful addition to our family. We rescued our cats and they now have a warm, loving home with lots of toys! Suzy Q is the oldest and our first cat, she is 2 years old, but is very petite. We got Sabrina right after Halloween in 2006 and she is orange, black and white. Stanley is the newest addition to our family and he is a Bombay cat which resembles a mini black panther and indeed he does. He is a BIG cat, long and very muscular with copper colored eyes, but he is so loving and gentle! The three cats all get along very well and always play with eachother. They enjoy the holidays as much as we do and their favorite place to be is under the Christmas tree. They bring us so much joy and love!!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A really GREAT Christmas story

I normally wouldn't put something like this in here, but I sure hope you all read it.

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible; instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good; it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood -- the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yea Pa," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the wood- shed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it.
Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunnysacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to the Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? The Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible. Then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" The Widow Jensen opened the door to let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. The Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children -- sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."
I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat, and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and the Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again.
I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after the Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down the Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, 'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will." Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do.
Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it.
Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on the Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensen's, or split a block of wood, I remembered. And remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Hebrews 13:2

Merry Christmas, all!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

The storm!

Well, we woke up this morning and winter is here with a vengeance! It was snowing hard. This picture is out the transom over our front door.



It snowed pretty hard, until about 2pm, when it finally gave up and started to clear. We really need the snow, so I guess I'm glad. The skiers should be ecstatic! This picture is out the back door across the deck.



So off we go... can somebody sing the skater's waltz? Wish the rest of you guys would post.

Monday, November 26, 2007

St. George Thanksgiving

We went to St. George the day after Thanksgiving to visit Jared. We had a great time, just kind of lazed around. We did go over to Mesquite, Nevada Friday night to their buffet, because they have all you can eat King crab. Yum-o! Jared is having a lot of trouble with his knee, he has some torn cartilage and will have to have surgery. He's not excited about that prospect, I can tell you. Anyway, we took some pictures... I made a Smilebox of them and it's posted. Enjoy... and please give your comments.
Just Bill

St. George Thanksgiving Trip, 2007

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Saturday, November 24, 2007

The Saturday after Thanksgiving

Isn't it interesting how your perspective changes with time? Carol, her mother Helen, and I are sitting in a motel room in St. George watching the BYU-UTAH game (and watching Jared sleep), and I've been really touched by the posts so far on this little blog. I've been sorry for a long time that our family has been so far away, not only in terms of distance but also in terms of closeness. I appreciate the kind comments and love that has been expressed, and I want you all to know that I love each of you very much. Please keep posting... and you who have been invited and haven't posted yet, please do. You can put pictures, videos, and all kinds of things on here, so please do! We can share each other's lives a little bit with some effort, and I'd love to see it happen.
All my love,
Bill

Thursday, November 22, 2007

I am doing this for you DAD...

I am suprised that I could actually figure this thing out... Seeings how I have no clue what I am really doing on a computer... But it is Thanksgiving and here I sit ALONE and I am thinking how bad it sucks that I can't be with my family on this Holiday. (Birth Family doesn't count so much as family when it come to the holidays) This is the first holiday in my life that I haven't been with my parents and it is brutal! No one loves me like they do and I am starting to feel the loss of their affection and attention! Geez, right now I sound like some spoiled little girl who has always been at the center of her parents universe! Imagine that ;)
I think this year I can finally understand the meaning of Thanksgiving. (Especially after this last year and a half and all the expeiences I have had.) I am so thankful for my family and that we have the opportunity to be together forever. I realize more now than ever how priceless the blessings that we have are. My parents are the most amazing people and have been such an example to me and Jared. I admire their strength and dedication, even when things haven't always gone their way. They take their trials for what they are and ALWAYS trust in the Lord to help them through it. And in the end we have always been more blessed than before. They have instilled in me that Faith in the Lord that he has a plan for each of us. We just have to live worthy of him.
Jared and I both have turned out the way we have because of our parents and their choice to raise us in the Gospel. Looking back I don't think that we could have ever been given a greater gift. How hopeless this life would feel not knowing what we know.
I love you mom and dad and this year on Thanksgiving I am even more thankful for you than in years past. Because now I realize and understand how difficult it is to be away from you!
Love you!
Heath

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Lizee's Reflections: Refections on Saturday, November 17, 2007

Lizee's Reflections: Refections on Saturday, November 17, 2007

All alone... temporarily

I'm sitting here on Saturday morning wondering what Carol and Heather are doing. They are on their way to Everett, Washington where Heather is going to live and work for a few months. She has a job offer there and thinks she can save some money so she can go back to college. She'll be staying with some of her birth family. She met them a few months ago and the relationship is really good. She wanted Carol to go to introduce her mother to her birth family. I think it's really neat that she knows that Carol and I are her mom and dad. I'm glad for Heather, but I miss her already. Sigh....

Memories - Part 1

Moments
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Getting Started

Well, this is just a little beginning. More later.