Sunday evening

Journal entry May 31, 2009

Today is Lydia's 3^rd birthday.  Rick says she is the most athletic and coquettish of their children.  I'm anxious to get to know her.  In two months and we will be flying home for two weeks while the temple is closed!

I've now been in Mexico a long time as demonstrated by the fact that this morning I picked up a dead cockroach in our bathroom, something I never expected to be able to do (ugh).

I used to joke about flamboyant names, but wow we get everything in the temple from all over the world.  Some that I've seen recently are:  "Kaumeealanikeliiwaimakapoa", " Nits-ethan or winter woman," "Mrs. Marmaduke," and "Saveriaty (from India)."  I love to think of these women and what their lives must have been like.

Yesterday Benjamin  finished his goal of being baptized for 1,000 people before his mission.  His last five were some of our family names on the Porter line.  He is also getting his Duty to God Award and graduating from Seminary within a few weeks.  He has five siblings and the three older than him are returned missionaries (one served in Colorado).  What an outstanding young man.

Today we visited the Tampico Ward.  Seven year old, Keila (we've been in their home, and know Keila) wanted me to go to her primary class with her.  The class had all ages from 1yr. to 7yrs, and the sweet teacher certainly handled things beautifully considering the fact that the one year old was running around, one of the 7 year old girls kept telling jokes all the time the teacher was trying to give her lesson, and she had a visitor observing all of this.

The second hour I slipped into Young Women (I had asked the president permission first).  There were only two girls there today, Alva had just turned 12, and this as her first week in YW.  Cristina is 15 and is one of our faithful temple attending teens.  She is a beautiful young woman and led us in doing the YW Theme.  We sat knee to knee and the president asked me to share my experiences with the girls. 

I told them how much the Lord loves them, and that they can be a powerful influence for good in their family, school and among their friends.  I told them about Kathy reading her scriptures every night and how that example made a difference in her sister's lives.  I ended up telling two or three other stories, and challenged them to set their goal to marry in the temple, and to encourage their friends who are boys to serve missions, etc. etc..

Tonight our temple presidency was asked to speak at a Stake Fireside for the endowed members.  On the spur of the moment they asked Dad and I to sing a duet (without piano accompaniment) to a little known hymn about the temple "Turn Your Hearts."  We got through it, but it would have been better with practice!  After a group meeting we divided, and the sisters all went into the Relief Society Room.  I had Hna. Lopez address the subject of how to dress to come to the temple, and how to help their teens and husbands.  Hna. Briones spoke about taking care of our sacred clothing, and I spoke about the garment (of course, I was very careful to not say anything that isn't published by the Church, and can be purchased at the Distribution Center.  There is a beautiful magazine called "Temples" which is full of photos and has a wonderful article on the garment).  I also showed some examples of how to adapt their clothing to Church standards.  It all went very well. 

I came home and did Family History while listening to the Mormon Radio Channel.

  I have been learning the New Family Search program.  I love the fact that you can prepare the names for the temple at home, and to my surprise I'm finding names that still need to be done.  Slowly I'm plowing through trying to merge some duplicate records (unfortunately, our polygamist ancestors have so many people who have contributed records that when I try to merge them the computer tells me it is impossible because the amount of information is too large (so I'm trusting the Church to merge these).  The Whiting and Cook Family Organizations had cleaned the records up so beautifully just a year before we came to Tampico, I'm sorry to see that now there is a lot of wrong information thrown back into the mix.  I know the Church is trusting that members will weed out the mistakes,  and certainly, when we can, it will be a wonderful  blessing to the Church.  

Well time for bed.  It has been a good Sabbath day.

My thoughts today on marriage

With all the talk in the news as to what constitutes a marriage, and the many individuals that choose not to commit themselves to a relationship at all, I want to share my feelings. 

Marriage between a man and a woman is not easy.  We are different in the way we think, the way we act as well as in the way we look.  Even after 42 ½ years of marriage Dad and I are still working on "not offending or taking offense," and I expect we will continue to work at it until we die.  Let's face it:  It is easier do things our own way and not have to consider another person.   It is difficult not to want to change the little irritating habits of our spouse.  And it is tough not to "react" to a volatile situation rather than calmly talking it through.  But, I've come to recognize and appreciate that this sacred institution of marriage is an amazing blessing to help us develop the character traits and personality we need to become true disciples of Jesus Christ.  I can also testify that as we have called upon the third member of our temple marriage, and relied upon His atonement to overcome the "natural man and woman" our relationship has become sweeter and more beautiful.

 Today I was cross referencing my scriptures.  Have you ever compared section 4 of the D&C to marriage?  Try it.  IE. :

Now behold a great and marvelous marriage is about to come forth… Therfore, O ye that embark in the service of your spouse, see that ye serve him with all your heart (feelings), might (power), mind (thoughts) and strength (work), that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day… And behold faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify you for marriage.  Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.  Ask, and ye shall receive (ask specifically for blessings); knock (work) and it shall be opened unto you.

I love you.  I love who you've married.  May you continue to work and call upon the Lord that your temple marriages may become celestial and eternal marriages.  Forever, Mom

"Ye must become as a little child..."

Mom you look so thin and trim in that temple picture??? And Dad very presidential. I wonder if anyone will remember me, its been so long since I contributed to the BB... or is it now the BBB? or B^3, It's like it is multiplying... like the rest of us.

We have been trying to "become as a little child" in our house lately. We started by bringing in more children. My sister has been with us for about 8 days with her 2 girls, so there are 4 girls under the age of 3 in our home. 6 girls in one house with 1 bathroom. I have been holding it for about a week now. Next we decided to all start taking naps. Just the adults though. We need it, the kids just run around all day long, non-stop. Some of them can even change their own diapers if needed, so I don't feel guilty. Finally, Mary and I decided to get braces again. Well, I say again for me but since Mary relinquished her privilege as a youth she never had the pleasure to experience how fun it can be. I am told that I now look about 14 years old, so if anyone is looking for some sort of surgical option to reduce the effects of aging, I have an alternative treatment for you. Well, its past my new bedtime now so I must end. Goodnight.

Zach

Saturday night

Here we are at a wedding reception with one of our missionaries, Ivan
Perez Hernandez, a recently graduated medical student here in Tampico.

DSC09757(2).JPG

These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/

Sharon meant this to go to the BBB

Mom and everyone else:  Just so I can set you straight, but probably break your heart.  The peonies in Afton have been missing since before I married Matt.  Some descendent who didn't know about New England and peonies crossing the plains dug them up and put in a beautiful new gravestone.  No peonies.  I'd like to take a start of yours when I get a home so I can tell my grandkids my peopnies came across the plains.   As for my kids, they know they do NOT touch the pretty purple flowers.

 

Also, I thought you would all be interested to know that we have scoped out Heber and the surrounding areas for fun places to play while we are at the reunion.  It is really quite the happening place.  I even remember eating at "Dairy King" as a kid because dad and mom didn't want to pay Dairy Queen's prices. Well when we passed Dairy King, there is a train for kids to eat in, shakes, etc.  I guess someone else wanted Dairy Queen and  "Granny's" business.  I'll let you all know what I am thinking later concerning the reunion and Heber.  Let me just say as we drove to Cascade Springs Sam said without solicitation regarding the views, "Wow!  Wow!  Wow!" 

 

For those of you who didn't catch what mom wrote in her email, I was feeling adventurous on Friday and took my kids along with me.  I would say drug, but we had a fantastic time.  I still don't put myself in Karalee's place and feel I am even close to crossing the United States alone, but we did pretty well.  As part of our adventure we did relive some memories, if you don't remember some of this, you better ask some questions because it is all IMPORTANT.  I'll add updates of the places as I go along...Let me recap:  "Grandma's Mountain" in Parley's canyon;  Singing; Remembering the days before the new I-40 freeway when you went through the pretty valley and saw the flag on the rock; the cabin (It is part of a subdivision now and you can't see much of it, but the Hunt's place and the other old house as well as the Anderson's properties are there.  Timpanogoos and the valley are just as beautiful and the canal still is at the bottom of the road where the gate used to be.  We even took a picture of a gopher); the Heber Cemetery (Mom told you about the flowers.  My kids actually loved looking at the gravestones - especially the lambs); we added the Heber Valley Railroad (which included Thomas the Tank Engine this weekend); Eating our lunch in the car (We took Peanut Butter and Jam with apples); Memorial Hill; the fish hatchery (which is being refurbished); Cascade Springs; Deer Creek (Remember where that family lived in the cabin and Grandpa would always go there because they were good people and he wanted to help them); Grandpa's old Farm House (mom, I couldn't find it); the Wallsburg turnoff; grandpa's ranch (all-be-it under water - as it always was); Bridal Veil Falls; "Cougar" Lavell Edwards Stadium;the MTC; BYU; Grandma and Grandpa Bentley's House (it looks amazing.  They have added a retaining wall in front and taken out the walk to the door as it was, but they have repainted and it really looks great.); the little stream that ran along the top of grandma's street has been filled in - along with all of the fish tank rocks we used to collect; the Ash Avenue house (I'm sorry to say looks awful.  Everything about it looks old and unkept); The Provo City Cemetery (Grandma and Grandpa's graves took me forever to find, but after I found the McCoard statue I went right to them.  For some reason I was one block too far South originally.  Definitiely hard to find if you are in the wrong place).  We ended by going home! 

 

My kids were awesome and even ready to get in the car to go to Pelican Lake today with their daddy this time.  Pelican Lake is close to Vernal and is considered a "hot" fishing lake for blue gill.  We caught a fish on 3 out of 4 casts at least.  We had Matt's friend's canoe and all five of us inside.  It was very fun.  Despite the fact it rained most of the time.  At least the kids got over their fear of tipping over in the canoe.  We loved the success of our fishing trip, but decided blue gill are very small, painful with their sharp fins, and have tons of bones.  We didn't get much meat.  Who cares - it was so fun to have a successful fishing trip.

 

Since I'm writing about memory lanes, I have also passed by Uintah Circle where Grandma and Grandpa Whiting lived.  We heard their house had been knocked down, but another is being rebuilt.  The frame looked very tasteful and in the same style as the old house.  I'll have to drive by again to see what it looks like now. 

 

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day.  Happy birthday to Davie Stu and Happy Anniversary to Steve and Dave and their wives,  Rachel Brady Bentley Happy Birthday to you too.  I messed up on my days. 

 

Mom says I carry a lot of the same traditions in my family that we all did in the Bentley Family.  I would love to know which traditions your families have carried on from our Bentley Family.  I know some of you hate road trips and yet I just made my kids take two days straight of 7 hour road trips.  So...what do you do?

 

Love you all,  Sharon

p.s.  I have lots of pictures, but am not very good at sending them.  I'll see what I can send or at least have some for people to see at the reunion.

Rick's Post

Ok,  That was funny.  I just have to remind myself that Rick, although inferior in many aspects, has a medical degree, and now that I am out of work I am trying to be like him too and I am planning to go back to school for 6 years, sell all my kids to slave labor to pay for it.  Well that might be a bit unrealistic, but I think if I can be like Rick and get the same house as he has with a little sweet talking...we could pull it off - he does have a nice basement.   His truck is cool, although shorter.   I do have two things to say as proof of Bentleyness 1) Thanks Sharon for the reminder that it is my aniversary :) and 2) I don't need that goat's hair on my arm to maintain my birthright.   S-burger

Hi ho,

Kar's message inspired me to write. By the way, Dave and Kar do not put out average news. I will now give you an example of average news. We literally have nothing to say of interest.

Rick: I bought a Toyota Tundra. Now our family is exactly like Steve's car-wise. As you know we live in Colorado Springs like Steve does. We hope to have 6 kids like they do, and I am trying to become a Bishop. -Okay, those last two may be a bit of a stretch. I am just trying to keep up with him in Dad's eyes from a birth right perspective. I even caught myself putting goat's hair on my arm, having Marisa close her eyes, and asking her if it felt like Steve.

Marisa: is planning to post the family cook book on the blog. That way people can add to it, find stuff to cook, and change recipes if there are any mistakes. For those who haven't sent any recipes (You know who you are.) You can choose to put something in eventually if you want to.

Cora: Just finishing 4th grade. She is really becoming a big helper. She reminds me more and more of crazy Aunt Mary with her humor. I think "Zainey" is the proper term.

Linc: Just finished 2nd grade. He continues to make good progress. His new thing is coming to our door in the middle of the night and saying, "Please open the door Daddy." It melts the old heart, and has earned him a spot in our bed every time.

Brig: Just finished kindergarten. He has decided that he wants to be a scientist when he grows up. He has also named two girls at school that he wants to marry. It's not that he can't decide, he just wants to marry both. I guess he is a little old school when it comes to church doctrine.

Lydia: We are not the best parents in the world, and Lydia does everything in her power to let the neighbors know that. I don't think I have ever seen a kid that dislikes clothes more. She is always naked, and is almost always dirty. It's only a matter of time before someone reports us to child protective services.

We love you guys. We are looking forward to seeing people in August. If you have any requests for the reunion, let me know now before I finish setting everything up planned activity-wise.

love,

RMCLBL

Job Hunt Updates. . .

CONGRATULATIONS STEVE AND RACHEL!! She's gorgeous.

We are serious slackers when it comes to doing this BBB stuff, but it's so nice to read about everyone else. I guess we're waiting for some exciting news before we report. But since there's none forthcoming we'll just tell you the average news. Feel free to skip the rest knowing there's not much below. :)

Family Update:
- Josh is a basketball playing maniac who likes to wear moccasins and grow his hair long. Writing multiple books right now.
- Maddie is a creative genius who decorated our house something awesome for our family Easter Dance. She loves wearing fuzzy socks, even with her flip flops.
- Jakey is obsessed with Bob the Builder and garbage trucks, and has a randomly discerning palate ranging from shredded wheat to salsa to salami. But he refuses fruit and cheese, go figure.
- Dave is working hard and is being quite positive about all of this. He took Josh and Jakey to the Father's and Son's campout for a good time.
- Kar is getting verylarge and has outgrown all pairs of maternity pants except one, and is enduring comments from random strangers about how utterly gargantuan she is, and that they can't believe she isn't a) having twins or b)due last week. Ah well, this way I won't get vain.

Job leads update:
- Weta in New Zealand said that they want to hire Dave, but the project that they want him for has been put indefinitely on hold. They said that they could need him as soon as two months from now, or as late as next year. So they'll call us when that happens. Not holding our breath, but that would still be cool if it works out.
- There's a local company here (Altair) where everyone wants Dave to work with them, including a not-so-warm-and-fuzzy CEO, but they have a hiring freeze. They still are hoping to keep a relationship open though for when that changes. They're discussing possible contract or freelance work.
- Mackevision, another local company, wanted to hire Dave but is going under, so it's good that we didn't sign up I guess. :)
- Dave has also been talking to a CEO and other people for a movie studio that is opening up here in Detroit called Wonderstruck. It sounds like a cool possibility, where for all kinds of tax incentives (trying to keep some kind of emplolyment in Michigan) they are going to be setting up a school to teach car designers how to do entertainment stuff for about 6 months and then hire them on as staff. They want Dave to help teach and then hire on. They're still waiting for the funding to come through, and they're hoping to have something up and running by September. So who knows.

So we wait. Fortunately Dave has had freelance work coming in. He's doing educational DVD's, concept sketches, photography, jewelry, stuff for Fisher-Price, speaking at design conferences, etc. We are very blessed that he has those kinds of talents and that people have been calling.

The baby is coming at the end of August, and Josh and Maddie are coming out to see all of you for the family reunion. Thank you, thank you so much to EVERYONE who is willing to take in our little orphans. Hopefully Nibs will cooperate and be born while they're out here partying with you guys.

That's it. We'll keep you all posted as events warrant. Thank you for your prayers and for posting your stuff so that we can know what's going on with you; it helps us not feel so far away. We really will miss you guys this August.

Lots of love,

DKJMJNB

Marguerite

Sharon, Thanks for posting the details. Here are some pictures of the days events. Maggie is beautiful and healthy.
Love Steve

Welcome Marguerite

Dear Marguerite Magdalene Bentley #24,Grandma and Grandpa took this
picture this morning in front of the temple in honor of your coming to
earth today. We thought it the second best thing to being with you in
person. We love you and look forward to holding you in our arms in
August. Hugs and Kisses, Forever Grandma and Grandpa Bentley

You have been sent 1 picture.

front of temple 002.JPG

These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/

There is one more of us

Dear Bentley Siblings, Parents and Cousins:

 

Steve just called me and asked me to spread the news that

Marguerite Magdalene Bentley

was born at

9:05 a.m.

 

She looks the most like Israel and still has dark eyes and a "squishy" face as Steve put it :)

 

She is 19 1/8 inches, 6 lbs and 10 ounces and beautiful

 

Rachel sounded really well.  She says she can't feel her toes yet as the medicine is still wearing off.  She is happy to talk to anyone who would like to wish her well. 

Her cell number is:  719-359-1693

 

We are so happy for you guys!

 

Love, Sharon

Mother's Day

You have been sent 1 picture.

3rd new presidency 017.JPG

These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/

3 pictures for you

You have been sent 3 pictures.

beach 005.JPG
beach 006.JPG
beach 007.JPG

These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/

Fun Day

Fun day today. We got up early and decided it was time for us to take
an adventure drive. So we headed north to Estacion Manuel, and then
north east to Aldama, and then straight east to Barra de Tordo (about
100 miles) where there is an amazingly beautiful, beach on the Gulf
Coast. We walked two hours along the lonely shore picking up sea
stones and shells. It was glorious. I splashed barefoot while Dad
stayed on higher ground keeping his feet and pants dry.
On our way we passed a garbage dump with huge buzzards/vultures
circling overhead. They were spectacular. We thought we'd snap a
photo on our return, but when we passed again on our way home they
were gone. I'm sorry Dan I can't send you the picture of you to
identify the birds.
I'm including a picture from when we went to dinner with the Lopez'
and the Briones. It is so wonderful having our newest counselor and
his wife. They are so "normal" and such a joy to serve with.
As for Mothers Day, it was great. I was so glad that the Primary
children sang in Church and that they presented every woman with a
flower. It was almost like being at home. I got to talk on the phone
to all of you and even got a saxophone/cello serenade of "Love at
Home" from Elijah and Israel. It was fantastic boys! Thanks. Note
the picture of me with my roses, plus, Dad is taking me to dinner
tonight

--
Wendy W. Bentley

Dear Family,

I've decided to embrace Oregon and whatever it has to offer me. To do so I bought a fishing license and have been steelhead fishing three times in the last week and will go bowhunting this fall. Rachel and I had a big BBQ last night to celebrate no more school. It was fun. We had a campfire in front of our house and a bunch of friends over. It would have been better if you all could have been there. Sometimes it's hard to be far away from those you love the most. But we are happy that we are close to Rachel's family. They are kind and considerate and bend over backwards to make living here a good situation for us. I am hopeful that I'll get a job here in Portland as a flight instructor in the coming month or so. I will most likely take a seasonal position up at the Mount St. Helens visitor's center in Washington as a helicopter loader. It's not great pay, but it's a "foot in the door" and you can't beat the environment of the volcano. If you havn't been up here since 1980, you are missing out. The volcano lost its top 2,000 ft. The most impressive thing about the eruption are the lahars, aka: "volcano barf" or pyroclastic flows that annialate everything in their path. Lahars are a superheated mix of poison gas, molten rock, glacial ice melt, boulders, trees and ash that splash down the mountain at 200 mph and consume everything. The eruption was so powerful that it mowed down millions of 200 ft. tall trees. Snapping them like toothpics. http://www.maniacworld.com/erupting-volcano.htm You should come up and see. The oldest trees on the entire mountain are now 29 years old and the resulting forest is very bizzarre. Should make for a cool summer. Hope all is well and happy mother's day to all mothers including beast mothers Keena and Jimmy's female lizard Brutis and anyone else who would like to claim the title.... (no hands please).

Love Dan, Rach, Jose, Vi and Beast Mother Magoo

comments by Sharon

Thanks for making mom's memories a reality.  I also inherited the "french horse" moving furniture bug.  I, however, live in mom's house and get the help of mom's "moving men".  I know she didn't have those when we were kids, but they are great.  I moved Sam and Peter's room around a bit yesterday.  Matt knows about once a month (or more) he'll get a call and I'll say, "I have a surprise for you."  That means, furniture has been moved.  Mom used to say, "Moving furniture made it possible so she didn't have to move houses."  Anyway, Mary, I'm sure you will get it done.  Have fun playing with Karalee.

 

By the way, I am reading some of dad's journals.  I'm on 1973 and it is FASCINATING!  Mom and dad just bought the Brookburn house.  He's talking about the neighbors and first impressions, he tells us about his job and he is becoming "someone" in the firm.  I love hearing about his three boys, his amazing wife, and his relationship with his parents.  Seriously, it is very fun to learn about.  Maybe you guys will take the chance to read some.  He has at least everyday since 1973.  Take your pick!

 

Sharon

memories

Wow, I love the fact that Mary can remember me being a whizz around the old homestead and whipping the house into shape fast moving furniture and creating a "alacabam" razzel dazzel miracle!  The truth I'm afraid is that for every room I got cleaned I left a disaster somewhere else------------ Ahhhhhh (the spa type ahhh) I'm sure glad that with age your memories seem to fade out on the negative. But, your article has inspired me to do a bit of furniture pushing right here in Tampico!  Haha and now I've your Dad trapped into helping me!!! I'm glad you, Kar and the kids can have a play day at the border.  Good luck with that basement project before Zach gets home (put on a good old movie.  It will help).  Love Mom

Zach's not the only Maniac (remeber the commercial?)

I decided to have a lawn picnic on Saturday to do something fun while Zach was gone. It ended up being us eating cheese crackers. Does that still count? Me thinks.

Liza's so big. She sits up, rolls over, is trying to crawl, and LOVES her blue soother. She's always happy and has giggles. Can't wait for you to meet her.

Peek-a-Boo!!! Who do you think she looks like?

Pre-Peek-a-boo. :) Wrong order. Flexible isn't she?

Here are the beans on Easter Sunday. Ahhhh.

Hi Family!!!

I've been a slacker on the BBB. My Apoligies. I have a basement that is a complete disaster - like Class 5 tornado - but this seems like a more interesting thing to do. :) Ahh, procrastination. So it's official: I've defiantly inherited Mom's re-arrange gene. I just wish I inherited the gene that likes to FINISH the re-arranging. It's a problem. I remember coming home from school multiple times to find that my bedroom was no longer in the basement but in fact moved up a floor and visa-versa. That means that Mom would also move a couple other peoples rooms in the process. Who helped her with this??? I know she's a little French horse and everything but MOM, you have arms, legs, abs, and buns of steel to do those projects. I'm sure she almost always did it at home by herself between breakfast and lunch. The best part is she would have placed all of my "treasures" up on a shelf with care and my room would never (an this is definatly true) look better. Spotless. All in a school day.

SO, Zach is in Boston for the American Association of Orthodontics conference (woot, woot! First one ever) for 5 days and what do I do? I'm going for the project. I really wanted to switch around the girls rooms but decided against it and instead decided to takle the BASEMENT. I got the urge around 6:30 at night. This is already a problem! I had just enough time to make an ENORMOUS mess and then needed to put the girls to sleep. I got in my PJ'S and somehow never found my way back to the basement. Aye-yaye-yaye. I have 3 days left and my excitement to do it is leaking out of me a lot quicker than that. It must be done before Zach gets back though since that's where he studies. I'm really hoping to pull of a WENDY and have it spick and span and so perfect that the only thing left to say is "Ahhhhh!" (not a screaming type Ahhh, but more of a Spa type Ahhh. FYI) So my goal is to accomplish in 5 days what Mom can do with her pinky finger in 5 hours. Wish me luck.

Speaking of Luck: Luckily I won't be doing any tidying of of the sort tomorrow because Kar and Jake are rondesvou-ing with Me, Liza, and Kaite at the US/Canadian border for some R&R. We have lots of plans. Toenail polish, chick flick, Walmart, Children zoned out at their own television, you know. We have a friend that lives at the border we're hooking up with for our girls day out. We can't wait. It feeds my procrastination bug for the basement. This way I can produce an incredible whip it together finish right before Zach gets back. Good plan I think.

I'll have Zach write about his escapades in Boston. It's apparently an amazing city (thanks to Dad for filling me in on all the historical tid-bits today.) Gracias! I'll be praying for you Rachel! Good luck and Steve: every full-term pregnant lady NEEDS a foot massage and some toe nail polish. Take care of that for me, will you? Thanks. (you don't HAVE to do it yourself, send the woman to a spa for an hour if needs be.) I've decided at full term I will ALWAYS get a pedicure. Best therapy for my prego happiness at that point. It's the only time I ever go, but at that point, there's no stopping me.

LOVE TO ALL OF YOU!!! Mares

Still here, still there

Just a quick update as I suspect that we'll have more to tell in a couple weeks.   Steve finished up work on this past Thursday.  Sometimes it seemed that the day would never come, but it has.  He'll be spending as much time as needed looking for a new job, and then hanging out here fixing stuff and helping me.  It will be nice to have him around when the baby is born and for that reason I am kind of glad that he hasn't yet found another job.    I have 2 weeks to go.  Sometimes that feels like not that long, and sometimes it feels like I will never make it.    All the kids are doing well.  Elijah is enjoying missing school about once a week for various jazz band activities.  Israel is enjoying having a real 11-year-old scout troup in our new ward that meets once a week.  Levi is happy about school, but not always so happy about how hard it is to be nice to little sisters.  Cecelia is going through a whiney stage, we are hoping it ends soon.  Francesca is coming out of her shell, is cute and loves playing dollie with her big sister since they both got dolls for their birthdays.  Marguerite is just patiently waiting.  Sometimes I wish she wasn't so patient and we could get this over with.    We hope to be posting pictures of our expanded family soon.  We love you all.   Steve, Rachel, Elijah, Israel, Levi, Cecelia, Francesca, and Marguerite