blossoms

There were so many trees in blossom, oranges, pinks, reds, purples and yellows, it is quite wonderful. I mentioned last week that the rains had begun, but in truth it only lasted two days and we are back to the high dry temperatures (today predicted at108 tomorrow 110). I sent you an e-mail with more details about what is happening. Is it easier to go to those or read the Blog? At least here it is fun to see the pictures. Thanks for your mothers day messages on the phone and your loving e-mails.

To The Greatest Mom in the World

You are always a Queen to us!
We love and admire our Angel Mother.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Hello from the second fruit of toney's mighty loins

Hello,

I have finally gotten fancy and started to write in the blog. The only new news that I can think of is that I may deploy in September for 6 months. If anyone wants to move their family in with Marisa it might be nice for support. -We have fairly large basement, and a nice menu selection in the kitchen if you like rice based food.

Linc is doing great and has made some nice progress the last couple of months. It seems like the diet could be working a little. He still does cute little Link things, like running into the backyard with goggle and a swim suit to swim face down in a big puddle that we had.

We are sickly. It seems like we have been sick all winter and spring. Not runny nose sick, more like pukey sick. We bought a new matress a few months ago..... Retrospectively a mistake. Between the 4 kids I'm pretty sure we have voided the warranty.

We love you guys and are getting excited for July!

love,
R,M,C,L,B,L
p.s.- Clyde sends his reguards.

R&M Clan

I'm going to have Rick do most of the writing ... but I'll be in charge of the pictures.

We painted our entry and living room. Let's just say I'm grateful Rick is still alive.

This is our Brigham/lion/dog. I took him on a walk around the neighborhood looking like this.

Nothing makes me happier than all of our kids sitting around the desk coloring together.

I was telling Maddie that she and Josh could get a reward of watching a movie at the end of the day if they could be good (i.e. getting along, showing respect, etc.). "Can you guys do that?" I asked. "No day is perfect, Mom. Just keep that in mind."

She has a good point. :)

Kar

From Grandmamma to the best 21 grandchildren in the world

Dear Children,

Today Grandpa and I walked along the beach of the Gulf of Mexico (we have to drive about 20 minutes to get to it). The waves were splashing high and one caught me by surprise and drenched my tennis shoes and Bermuda shorts. I kept walking in wet shoes for awhile, but finally decided to just take them off and enjoy the sand between my toes. I kept thinking how much fun it would be to have you walking with us.
Every few feet or so we’d discover a pretty sea shell. We have quite a collection now to bring home in July for you to create “shell sculptures” with at the reunion. Grandpa found a small, hollow crab shell that is very interesting, and we’ve added it to our “sand dollars” and unusual shells in a basket in the bathroom.
It is fun to watch the fishermen wade waste deep into the water, and throw large round nets out. They slowly pull them into shore and if they are lucky they’ve a net full of fresh fish to sell at the market or to take home for breakfast.
Speaking of food, a week ago we walked along the Laguna which is about a 10 minute drive from our house. A friendly, medium size crocodile swam along beside us as we walked. If we’d stop, he’d stop and turn so that he could look at us head on.
Grandpa thought he was sizing us up for his breakfast. I wasn’t concerned as there was a nice big fence between us. He must have decided we were not worth his trouble because after awhile he turned and swam away. There are also lots of snapping turtles in the Laguna, and some huge fish which are the main diet of the crocodiles.
There is a nice dirt path all the way around the big Laguna where many people go to walk or jog. Spanning the water is a bridge that is about a block long. I like to walk across it and remember when I was a little girl and would walk across the Franklin Avenue bridge that spanned the Mississippi River right in front of our house in Minneapolis. My big brothers and I had grand times playing on the banks of that mighty river, but I never even dipped my big toe into that rushing water. There were no crocodiles, but my mother warned me about the terrible deep drop offs and whirlpools that could suck even a grownup under and drown them within seconds.
What a blessing it is to have parents who love us and protect us. I want you to know that Your Heavenly Father also loves you and will protect you. Always turn to Him in prayer, and listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost in your life.
With all my love, You’re Grandmamma Bentley

VIRTUAL SUGGESTION BOX

I WOULD LIKE TO UTILIZE THE COMMENTARY OPTION IN OUR BLOG SO WE CAN SAY FUNNY THINGS TO EACH OTHER. AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH POST ARE THE WORDS "0 COMMENTS" ALL YOU DO IS CLICK ON IT AND LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT EACH POST IF YOU LIKE. I'M DOING IT! SO WHEN YOU POST, DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE COMMENTS IN A COUPLE DAYS. LOVE, MARY!

birds and the bees --what to do with a curious 8-year-old

This is a conversation I just had today with Will:
Will: Mom, do dogs get married?
Mom: No, not really.
Will: Then how do they have babies?
Mom: That is a good question. Why don't we talk about that later when Dad and I can sit down with you and explain it better.
Will: That's ok. I think I already know.
Mom: What do you think happens?
Will: Let me think...how can I explain it so a 34-year-old can understand it? That cracked me up...like it's so simple but I'd never get it.
Will then proceeded to give me a half-right explanation and I told him we will talk about it again later when I can really explain it to him. HELP! Those of you who have already had this conversation with your kids give me some ideas! Thanks in advance for the advice! Love, Kathy
p.s. You don't necessarily need to answer this question on the blog...no explicit diagrams etc. for our G-rated bulletin. Yes, Dad, I am talking to you.

Masonry and Mormonism

Dear kids - Everything you ever wanted to know about Masons and more:

Last month during a phone call to an employee of the Temple Department in Salt Lake I mentioned that one of the candidates I was considering for counselor and registrar of the temple was a Mason. The Church employee immediately expressed concern and said he would have to run it by the Temple Committee. I had to wait three weeks and call back three times before I received their answer: The Committee was reluctant to recommend a Mason to the First Presidency but they wanted more information about the candidate's involvement with the Masons before they gave me a final answer. I knew the Church has not encouraged Church members to join the Masons in the past, but I was a little surprised by their reaction because the newly elected Grand Master of the Masonic lodge in Salt Lake City is an active Mormon. You would have thought the candidate I was considering was a member of the Klu Klux Klan or maybe even a left wing Democrat(Just kidding Charlie). They asked me to check out the facts for them and report back.

What I found out was very interesting: The Masons are a benevolent fraternal society that was established 500 years ago in England and Scotland to provide protection and assistance to victims of religious and political persecution. The society is not a religion but its members must believe in God and try to live in accordance with the ethical tenets of the society. They use rituals, signs and other symbols, some of which are similar to those used in Mormon temples, although they have very different meanings and purposes. This is not too surprising because, according to the Masons, their rites and symbols were derived from Solomon's temple. Some prominent Masons include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Winston churchill, Benito Juarez (Mexico's most revered president) and many other prominent Mexicans. Most Mexican Masons fear the power and influence of the Catholic Church in Mexico but they have a high regard for the LDS Church. Many of them have been instrumental in helping the Church since it first came to Mexico.

Many early Mormons became Masons in Nauvoo, including the first five presidents of the Church, probably because they hoped it would help them avoid the persecution that had plagued them in New York, Ohio and Missouri. But some Masons were jealous and suspicious of the Nauvoo lodge, which was then the largest in the United States with several thousand Mormon members. It is likely that some members of the mob that assassinated Joseph and Hyrum were Masons. A Masonic lodge was organized in Salt Lake by non-Mormons after Utah was settled, but active members of the Church were not welcomed in Utah until the local lodge changed its by-laws 30 years ago.

Mom and I just finished reading "Mormons & Masons," a small book written by Gilbert W. Scharffs, a University of Utah Institute teacher whose son is one of Rick's high school friends. He shows that prayer circles, tokens, signs and many other elements of the temple ceremony existed in some form among the Israelites, Egyptians, Coptic Christians and other ancient civilizations long before the Masonic movement was founded, and that many of the temple rituals were already in place in the Kirtland temple long before Joseph Smith became a Mason. So it is not surprising that there would be some similarities. What most people do not appreciate are the significant differences. According to numerous Mormons who are also Masons, the differences in the meanings and purposes are far greater than the similarities. Those who have a first-hand familiarity with both rituals say that they have never been bothered by the similarities, which they view as superficial. They also feel that the Church should not be concerned if a Mormon wants to be Mason, or vice-versa. The values of the Masons and the Mormons are very similar and are mutually supportive.

I hope this information was as interesting to you as it has been to me. Abrazos,

Don Antonio Benitez, el Presidente

Hi family,

April blew by, good grief. Dave went to China, as we said, and the rest of us are just grateful to FINALLY have some sunshine here in the Place that is Gray and Dark. Yay for Spring. Updates:

- Dave: Super Dad of the universe, currently in town and willing to be spit up on and get up with the baby. Deserves a medal.

- Kar: teaching 5 boys in Primary, including Josh. Loves it. These kids have a spiritual depth that amazes me.

- Josh: whipping out the basketball and practicing his lethal moves. Had a sleepover with a "kindred spirit" friend who also had dinosaur pj's, and along with fighting with lightsabers is comfortable enough to give a Triceratops a cute voice and go on adventures with Josh' stuffed animals. (that was a serious run-on sentence)

- Maddie: Counting down the minutes until school is over. Typical morning conversation: "Is there school today?" "Yes." "Dang!" To her credit, though, she gets up and soldiers on. Went to a Daddy-Daughter Dance at school with Dave sporting a hairstyle that she designed.

- Jacob: Crawling dangerously, and "cruising" (walking around holding onto furniture and/or hands). We don't have any childproofing up except for one item: a dancing mechanical chicken which ominously guards the computer cords so that Jakey won't chew on them. It terrifies him so he gives it wide berth. So if he grows up and has psychological issues surrounding poultry, you'll all know why.

Also, for our ward talent show Josh and Maddie dressed up as a dragon and a unicorn, respectively, and told original "castle" jokes. Below is a sample...

Josh's jokes:

Why did the dragon never sleep?
He ate the knight.

How many wizards does it take to open a magic book?
Two: one to seal it, and one to open it.

Why don't dragons like wizards?
Because they always know the way to their lair.


Maddie's Jokes:

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Me!
Me who?
Neigh! Neigh! Sorry the little pony interrupted.

Why does a dragon blow fire?
How?
He ate too much spicy food.

Why do wizards do magic?
Why?
Because of a good witch.

Why is a king and queen so rich?
Why?
Kings and Queen's orders.

Yep, you missed out! :)

Other Quotes:
"He's cute, but very slimy." -Maddie, summing Jakey up perfectly (he's still a spit-up king)
"It's nice to hug you when you don't have slime on your shoulders." -Maddie, to Dave (an accurate commentary on the aforementioned prolific spitting up of the jake)
"Go Go! Go Johnny, Go! Go!" -Dave, singing Johnny B. Good at the ward talent show as he drummed (amazing!)
"Da Da Da Da Da" -Jakey
"OUCH! That's tough love." -Josh, when Jakey clawed at his face in an attempt to hug him
"I think I got too dizzy in my mind, a little." - Maddie
"I don't really feel comfortable without my imagination." -Maddie
[Big noise]
"What happened Maddie?"
"I'm too tired to say." - Maddie
"I'll go in there for her." -Josh, when he heard Maddie get frustrated as she labored under the consequences of our "you wake him, you take him" rule for Jake (he took over and helped him calm down)

We love you all.

DKJMJ

special days in May

Birthdays: 1st:Kathy. 3rd:Matt. 4th:Peter. 9th:Rachel M. 14th: Mandi.
23rd: Rachel B. 26th: David. 31st Lydia.

Anniversaries: 5th: Jimmy and Mandi. 25th: BOTH Steve & Rachel and Dave & Karalee

here are the photos to go with the story

I saw another angel fly

When we arrived in Tampico there was scaffolding around the tower of the temple. The original Angel Moroni had needed to be “resurfaced”(which happens every 5 or 6 years due to wind and weather), and during the process of taking him down there was an accident and he broke his arm. For five months our angel has been in Veracruz being fixed, and a substitute has been atop the temple. This morning we watched as the he was carefully removed with a complicated series of ropes and pulleys and our very own Moroni was set in place. Shining and polished he stands, blowing his trumpet; announcing the glorious news of the restoration of priesthood keys and all that that includes.

The rains have come, but like in Camelot, they seem to confine themselves to the evening and night time and the days continue sunny and hot (today the forecast is for 108). Monday we traveled across the river into the state of Veracruz where there are three branches of the Church which belong to our temple district. We had addresses of the chapels, but were successful in finding only one. The other two were nowhere to be found, and even their addresses didn’t seem to exist. We will do more checking before our next adventure in that direction. In these newer areas the chapels are usually located on narrow dirt roads. In every case they are the prettiest building, and have the best maintained grounds in the neighborhood. This is the only area of Latin America we have lived in where one will see a wood house interspersed with the more typical cement houses. Within the same block there will be lovely homes and then a shack. They do enjoy bright colors, and a sure sign of money is to see a painted house. Pinks, blues, greens and orange are typical all mixed within the same block. We have been impressed with the lack of poverty and seemingly higher standard of living in this area. The fact that this is the oil capital of Mexico has a lot to do with it as there are good jobs to be had.

However, that said, Monday when we crossed into the next state of Veracruz searching for the chapels, we did come upon a huge “tent city.” And I don’t mean nice pup tents with floors and netted, zipped windows. I mean ropes from trees with a blanket or table cloth thrown over to give some privacy and shade. Since it had rained the night before there was mud everywhere. Some “homes” had cardboard sides, others branches. Paper signs with the families names designated property lines. The area appeared uninhabited as we drove through the muddy, dirt trails. We assumed that the people had gone into the cities to beg or make money anyway they can. It was definitely a humbling experience.

Speaking of humbling, may I tell you about Marialena. At the age of 30 she developed a terrible disease (no one can give me a name for it), which began paralyzing her body. That was about ten years ago. She now can only move her fingers, eyes and talk through clenched teeth. Once a week faithfully she comes to a temple session! She arrives in a taxi and our guard with the help of the driver have to lift her out and get her strapped into a wheel chair in which we have pillows so that she can be at about a 175 degree angle. We pin her temple dress onto the clothes she comes in, and assign a sister to accompany her in the session. This dear sister's joy in life is attending the temple.

Another sister, Hna. Mata, comes four or five times a week. Crippled since birth, she is supported by large braces on both legs and maneuvers with crutches. Whenever, I am tempted to feel sorry for myself all I have to do is remember these sweet sisters.

Love to you each, Mom

Quote of the Day

"Rachel and Josie are doing really good, other than the fact that mom sent her a psycho doll from Mexico for Easter."

This one sent me rolling, Dan is classic. byw, Francesca likes it so don't worry mom. Love Steve

The Adventures of ZM&K

Kaitlyn is a DARE DEVIL! The girl is game for anything that is fast. Yep, that sums it up... FAST. Examples: The blow up slides at carnivals that are really tall and steep, Being pushed good and hard on swings, Goes for the biggest slides at the park, and most recently... 4-wheeling. She was a WRECK when we got to this location to 4-wheel. She hadn't gotten any sleep and was hungry and unconsolable but once we put her on the machine her worries were swept away and she was the happiest girl around. I love this about my little Kaitlyn, it is so fun to see. It does make me wonder a bit about what her hobbies will be as she grows up though.

We are postponing the inevitable at this point, well I am. Packing I mean. We leave 3 weeks from Saturday and I know suddenly our move will be a week away and I'll realize I haven't done enough preparatory packing but I just refuse to cause unnecessary chaos early in the game. What is the optimal time line for moving anyways? I was thinking 2 weeks before start pulling out the boxes. I just hate when every room is lined with boxes and it's all pretty much a mess. We have limited space as it is. I'll give you an update and some pictures for your entertainment.

As for little prego woman, I find out what I'm having in a couple weeks. Woo Hoo. I've got to be honest, these are my thoughts: Girl- I'd be a little relieved. Only because I know what to expect, it will feel comfortable to have another girl and I wouldn't have to buy a thing.. always good on the student budget. I find myself day-dreaming about a girl if that means anything. Boy- I'd be really excited but almost scared. That's silly, I'd love every minute of it, but just will have a lot more questions about what this little guy would be like. Zach thinks we're having a boy. OFCOURSE I will be VERY happy with which ever we get, it's fun to not know right now.

That's us in a nutshell. Zach has 2 more weeks of work and then we pack for a week and we're OUT OF HERE. Party. We love you all. See ya in July unless you live in, or plan on coming to Detroit or Canada in the next month or so. Feel free to stop by. :)

Zach, Maria, and "Speedy"