Forty Years

October 29, 1975 - October 29, 2015

Forty years ago these two kids went into the Salt Lake Temple and came out as husband and wife!

Four children, two children-in law, one grandchild have added to our joy! The gospel of Jesus Christ has been our strength and foundation.

I can't imagine anyone better to have shared this journey we call life!  

Looking forward to many, many more great years....in fact a whole eternity of them!

Grandparents!!!!

Text messages from today starting at 11:31 a.m.

john1017.rm@icloud.com:

Ok I guess the baby is coming soon

She's all hooked up and has the epidural 

Marilyn Lewis:

Oh great! How did she do with the epidural? How is she feeling now?

john1017.rm@icloud.com:

She said the epidural wasn't as bad as she thought but the contractions are still hurting 

Marilyn Lewis:

Give her our love! 

john1017.rm@icloud.com:

She's close

Marilyn Lewis:

Oh my! Your lives are about to change forever! I am watching the game. Do you want updates?

john1017.rm@icloud.com:

Ok she was born

Everything is good they took her to the nursery and I'm in our room

You're grandparents

Marilyn Lewis:

Pictures!!! What does she look like? How is Monica?

john1017.rm@icloud.com:

Marilyn Lewis:

How much did she weigh? She looks like she has a chubby face!!!!

john1017.rm@icloud.com:

3.2 kilos (7.05 pounds)

Born during a Real Madrid game

So George and I are grandparents!  John told Monica that any time this week would be fine for the birth except for Wednesday morning during the Real Madrid/PSG game....so guess when she was born?  Yep during the game!

Naturally George and I are in love.

I can hardly wait to kiss those chubby cheeks!  A new love in our lives!  

This is a picture of newborn Johnny with a little pic of Isabella.  I think there is a resemblance, at least in the size of cheeks and the mouth!

A happy day at the Lewis house!

An Artist in the Family

Nephew-in-law Colby's painting was one of 944 submissions for the International Art Competition sponsored by our church and his was selected for display!

The theme this year is "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus".  According to the Church Museum website, "Ultimately it is the hope of the Church History Museum that visitors come to see Jesus the Christ in new and distinct ways thus enlivening their understand of the Man of Galilee". 

Especially exciting when we realized that the centerpiece of the photo is our sweet niece Alicia!

Alicia and Colby do truly set an example and share Christ's message of love, childlike light, and human potential.  I'm so glad they are part of our family!

General Conference

Twice each year members of the LDS church have the privilege of 'watching' church on TV or the computer as we participate in our semi-annual "General Conference".  Listening to counsel from our church leaders is a great privilege!

Conference is broadcast to congregations all over the world from the "Conference Center" in Salt Lake City.  Built between 1996 and 2000,  twenty one thousand people can be seated in the large auditorium.  That is three times more than can be squeezed into the Tabernacle on Temple Square  In fact the whole tabernacle could fit within the Conference Center's rostrum area!

Although it is enormous, sitting there and listening to the music provided by the Tabernacle Choir and the words of wisdom from our church leaders feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket of love.

 
This year I enjoyed attending the Saturday afternoon session with my sister-in-law Katherine.  I felt incredibly blessed to be there!

Here are a few of my favorite thoughts from the 12 hours of talks.  Don't worry!  One session is not 12 hours long!  Each session is 2 hours long; starting with a special women's session, 4 general sessions and one Priesthood session for the men and boys ages 12 and older.

As I look over these memes my heart swells with joy at the blessings I receive through the gospel.  I am reminded of a favorite song that the children of our church sing with gusto.

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I know who I am.

I know God's plan.

I'll follow him in faith.

I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

I'll honor his name.

I'll do what is right;

I'll follow his light.

His truth I will proclaim.

Tower of Babel at 6:10 a.m.

Our class discussion early this morning was a learning experience for me.  We read  Genesis 11:1-9 about the Tower of Babel and then had a great discussion using hashtags and tweets!

A few of my favorite thoughts and hashtags:

• #badbabelboys
• instagram account for Babel @Nimrod_noGod
• #yodudedenytruthblameothers (yo dude, deny truth, blame others)
• #spreading sin
• #followtheprophet
• Principle we learned from this story - 'If we defy God, we lose his protection'.
• In talking about the phrase in verse 6 "nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do" one boy said, "This shows the power of unity.  When we are united we can accomplish anything.  Too bad the people of Babel were united in doing something BAD."
• #temporalfameisnoteternal
• I love how they all got the idea that we can't make our own way to Heaven.  We have to rely on God and the atonement.  We can not escape from the consequences of sin without Jesus Christ.

I love these kids and all I learn from them! I am so blessed to start my day with them studying the Old Testament!

Holiday #23

Sweet Holiday, often called Holli, is our foster guide dog #23 - an active Guide Dog!  She's a love but unfortunately a call from the apartment manager let us know that this little girl barks when she is home alone.  We haven't left her alone much but of course, we have left her some and we can't have her disturbing the neighbors.  Tomorrow she goes back to Guide Dogs for the Blind.  She is just boarding there while the person she guides recovers from an accident.  Hopefully they will find another place for her to stay as she is not a fan of the kennels!  She'll be fine in a house with no neighbors below!

Here is where I have been......

No blog posts from me for more than a month because I have been consumed with seminary preparation.   I have taught for the past 4 years but this year there were big changes.  In our school district we have been given 'religious release time' which means that the Seminary class took up one period of the school day for our kids.  And since the high school operates on a block schedule, that meant a class every other day from 7:35 - 8:50.  This year the local church leadership felt strongly that the youth needed the added spiritual boost of seminary every day....SO we now have seminary every school day at 6:15! Five lessons to prepare each week!  My alarm goes off at 4:45 am!  And in case you are wondering I am a natural night owl not a morning person.  Yes it is hard but so far so good!  And amazingly the kids love it.  I have 21 students and 16 of them have perfect attendance 4 weeks in, with very few tardies!

Here's our closet all ready at the beginning of the year!

Our 'on the spot' board - I put a big yellow circle on one of the notebooks each day and at the end of class that person is 'on the spot' to share a thought that they will 'take away' from our lesson....and they have to do it in about 6 words!  Then I write their thought on a circle and put it on our board!

Job chart and first scripture mastery poster!  You might also notice our motto for the year

"Wake up and be awesome!"

And our theme for the year "With God all things are possible"!  Even getting up at 4:45 a.m. 5 days a week!!!

A perfect start to my day....and a great excuse for a daily nap!