James' Cute Hat

James' new hat cracks me up. I love it!

 

I have the privilage of babysitting James each Sunday because his mom works.

 

I love every bit of watching James each week. He sure brings me joy! I love this little guy!

Brady Receives BYU Scholarship!!!

While Brady was here for Christmas Break we found out he was awarded a BYU Scholarship.

 

Brady originally applied for a scholarship when he applied for BYU. He didn't receive a scholarship his first term, but his grades were great for Fall session that they looked at his scholarship application and gave him a scholarship for $1,178.00. Very Exciting AND such a blessing!!!!

 

Here is the letter from BYU:

Brady,

A generous donor has provided some additional need-based scholarship funding for Winter Semester 2013. Based on information you provided on your 2012-13 scholarship application as well as information from the FAFSA, you have been selected to receive the following:

Semester /Scholarship / Amount / Required Hours
Winter 2013 / General Need-based Scholarship / $1,178 / 14.0

Please make a special effort to write a thoughtful thank you letter (as described below) and submit it to our office by the first week of school.

If you wish to defer or decline the award, please visit the Scholarship History page. To access this page, log in to myBYU and enter the word scholar in the quick URL box on the right side of the page.

Tithes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offerings of generous friends of the university fund BYU scholarships. Following established procedures, we award these resources to encourage continued commitment to spiritual and intellectual growth. By claiming your award, you accept certain responsibilities. Specifically, you commit to:

Use this investment wisely to prepare for meaningful service to your family, community, and the world.

Express gratitude by writing a thoughtful letter of appreciation to those who fund your scholarship.

Comply with the policies that govern the use of your award.

Exemplify good citizenship within the university community by abiding the Honor Code, encouraging others to do likewise, and, whenever possible, attending the weekly campus devotionals and forums.

Provide a minimum of 15 hours of meaningful service, which you define and pursue on your own, for each semester of scholarship awarded.

Replenish the university's scholarship funds as circumstances in your life allow.

Scholarships provide financial assistance, but they also represent a vote of confidence in you. We celebrate the gifts and talents you contribute to our student body.

Sincerely,

Financial Aid Office
Brigham Young University

 

EXPECTATIONS OF BYU SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
We congratulate you again on your scholarship, and we hope you are excited to receive it. We believe this award will be a blessing to you, and for some, an answer to prayer. To fully appreciate this scholarship, you must understand its source and your responsibilities as a recipient.

USE THIS INVESTMENT WISELY

Your scholarship is funded by the tithes of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and/or offerings of generous friends of the university. We hope you will recognize the faith, sacrifice, and trust that make your award possible. Brigham Young University offers this scholarship as an investment in your education. You have the responsibility to use this gift wisely to prepare for meaningful service in your family, community, and the world.

EXPRESS APPRECIATION

We desire to assure scholarship donors that their contributions are appreciated and will make a difference in your life. To this end, please write a thoughtful letter of appreciation within the next two weeks to help donors and the Financial Aid Office become better acquainted with you, including your background, interests, goals, and commitment as a scholarship recipient. Please attach a recent photo of yourself to the letter. Address your letter to "Scholarship Donor", print the name of the scholarship in the upper right-hand corner.


On occasion, the university hosts luncheons and other events to bring donors and recipients together. We value our relationships with donors and want to assure them that their generous contributions make a difference in the lives of our students. Should the university schedule an event associated with your scholarship, we expect you to attend, making arrangements where necessary to be excused from other commitments, including classes and work assignments. We acknowledge that this expectation may require some sacrifice, but we believe the experience will be meaningful and worthwhile. The university will make every effort to notify you of these events at least two weeks in advance.

COMPLY WITH SCHOLARSHIP POLICIES

To assist you in your educational pursuits and to further the university's objectives, specific policies govern the use of your scholarship. You have the responsibility to understand and comply with the attached policies. Failure to meet the requirements will result in cancellation of this award and may jeopardize future eligibility. If you have questions or concerns about the policies, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

EXEMPLIFY GOOD CITIZENSHIP

Participating in campus life is an enriching endeavor; becoming a contributing citizen in the university community is even more fulfilling. As the recipient of a university scholarship, you have a responsibility to exemplify good citizenship. We expect you to abide by the Honor Code, encourage others to do likewise, and, whenever possible, attend the weekly campus devotionals and forums.

PROVIDE SERVICE

As the beneficiary of someone else's generosity, you are encouraged to perpetuate good will by blessing others in turn. As a scholarship recipient, you commit to provide a minimum of 15 hours of meaningful service, which you define and pursue on your own, for each semester awarded. You do not need to submit a proposal, receive approval, or report your service to the Financial Aid Office. We hope this experience and others at Brigham Young University will enhance your ability to render lifelong service as an educated, whole, and committed person.

REPLENISH FUNDS

In addition to the other expectations listed above, we invite you to embrace the principle of replenishment by making the commitment now to contribute financially to the university's scholarship funds as circumstances in your life allow. Your generosity will ensure that future generations of students enjoy the same opportunity to pursue a world-class education in an environment centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Brady had to send a written letter of gratitude for the scholarship and attached the picture above to the letter below - here it is:

 

Christmas 2012

Brady is home for Christmas for 3 whole weeks! Squeal!

I've sure missed him and it's great to have him home.

Jason and Sharon spent the night Christmas eve so that we could open presents Christmas morning.

I didn't take too many pictures of those spoiled kids!

 Brady received the following for Christmas:

iPod touch- 16 GB (he was really surprised because I told him I couldn't get him one)

Camera

Navy blue Pea Coat

iTunes gift cards

T-shirts

 Sharon was spoiled too!

Kindle Fire was her big gift

George Foreman Grill

A few games (oops I gave them scrabble for the 2nd time - oh well she can return it)

Sharon says: Best thing ever! Don't know how I lived without it. Thank you Sondra and Amazon.

Sharon says: Yay! Bestest mother-in-law EVER!

 Sharon opening presents - the big stack next to hers is Jason's who was missing in the morning and was the last one to open presents.

 Jason wanted arts supplies:

Expensive water color paper

Water color brushes

T-shirts

Pants

Coat

I also gave Jason and Sharon a Kitchen Island - but they received it at the beginning of November as an early Christmas gift. Their new apartment has a really small kitchen with hardly any storage space or counter space. They wanted to get an island and I told them I would get it for them for Christmas. It's great and they really like it - it doubled their counter space.

Jason and Sharon gave me Apple TV. I'm loving it! Woot!

We sure were spoiled for Christmas.

I also purchased a couple of items for myself as Christmas presents:

 A new dining room table. I've wanted a glass one for a long time and a round one to fit in my space better. It's still a tight squeeze, but I love it. I ruined my other wood dining room table by putting hot bread on it to cool. It totally ruined the wood and I've wanted to get rid of it for a while and my old chairs were falling apart. I love, love, love this new dining table and chairs.  Plus, on Black Friday it had an additional $100 off the sale price. I've been looking at this set for a while now - regular price $599, then it was on sale for $499. But on Black Friday it was only $399 - SOLD! I quickly ordered it and was delighted that I waited and got it on this great deal. Merry Christmas to me!

 I've also wanted this Simon Dewey pictures for the longest time. I love it! When I saw that Seagull book had it on sale for only $99 I had to go right out and buy it. It works out so well with my black cabinet that we put our piano music in. Again, I was very happy with the sweet deal on the picture I've been wanting for several years. Now it's mine... Merry Christmas to me again. I sure am spoiled!

Later Christmas day we went to see Les Miserables. The theater was packed and we had to sit in the seats in the front part of the theater. Brady didn't want to sit there and opted to sit by himself in a better seat.

I didn't like it much at all - neither did Jason and Sharon. It was disappointing because I had been really looking forward to the movie when it was announced a year ago. The singing was really lacking - seriously bad compared to Broadway. For me, Les Miserables is all about the music - the powerful music - not high profile actors.

The acting was powerful - but I needed better singing voices to like it better.

Brady liked it better then we did because he hasn't seen it on Broadway. It was probably made more contemporary for a broader audience and younger one too.

I read a review why the actors didn't sing powerful - it was because they performed it with a a piano playing in the background and added the orchestra later. This made them sing softer instead of powerful with an orchestra.

This definitely made me understand why the singing was so quiet and mostly spoken. Terrible!

I was hoping for powerful music like the Phantom of the Opera movie - but didn't get it. We wished Gerard Butler would have been Javert and gave it the passion of the Phantom.

I won't own it or the movie soundtrack. We were so sad about the powerful songs such as "Stars" with no passion in it.

It is a powerful story - that is why I've always loved it. Most of my family who aren't addicted to it like me have really liked it.

Here is a quote from one of my friends about Amanda Seigfried - exactly my thoughts:

"Amanda Seigfried - KILL ME NOW!!! I'm sorry when she opened her mouth it sounded like a high pitched snow white and I couldn't take it, it had me cringing Every ... Single ... Time!!!!

My thoughts exactly!!

It's a powerful story - that is why I've always loved it. Most of my family who aren't addicted to it like me really liked it.

Ginger Bread House - Deluxe Version

 Carla, my dear friend and my visiting teacher brought me this deluxe ginger bread house for Christmas!

 

The snowmen are darling! The jelly bean brick - such a great idea!

 It is seriously the coolest ginger bread house I've ever seen.

It even had a light at the bottom that you turned on and a light flickered out the windows of the ginger bread house a night.

 

See the Christmas tree in the window above? It really showed up when the light was flickering.

 I loved the flock of reindeer - classic!

She sure spoiled me and I loved enjoying this throughout the Christmas season!

Special Guest - Who is it?

Pretty soon a special guest might visit your home.

I'm going to give you some clues:

He sees you when your sleeping, He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad of good.

He has a beard and a kind face.

He spent his life giving to others. 

He is often pictured in red and/or white clothes.

He gives the very best gifts.

You can never see him, but you can feel him.

He gives us a wonderful, special warm feeling.

He can get into our homes even if the doors are locked.

He has special, wonderful powers.

We want to give gifts back to him, but he doesn't need anything we could buy; he just wants us to give to other people.

He encourages us to be good so we will be ready when he comes.

Who is it?

Many of you are thinking Santa, but the descriptions fit BOTH Santa and Christ.

Everything we love about Santa is really everything we love about Christ.

 

 

Brandon's Lasik Surgery and Visit

Brandon has wanted LASIK forever, especially when he found out that our insurance paid a good portion of it. Unfortunately, we never found a place that would take the insurance ... we would have to pay all of it upfront and then wait for the insurance company to reimburse us. So, there that option sat for several years.

In October, Brandon found out that there was a place that would do the surgery AND except his insurance. He was SO excited! The one catch? It was in Boise! (We have been there I think 5 times this year.) Not only was he going to go, but 2 others from his company along with a spouse.

So, we drove up the morning of and did quite a bit of waiting.

Brandon being a good sport

A little love from Miss Kate

Deciding that I was making him too nervous, so he did opt for something extra to 'take the edge off'

Kate had SO much fun talking to everyone there and saying that she was one of Santa's helpers!

Brandon in his special cap!

Hanging out that night at Aunt Sondra's with his blind man glasses

Still kicking it!

Later getting ready for bed with his special glasses!

Sondra let us stay with her AND she evens cooked dinner for us.

We are so grateful for her and her home! We just love staying with her!!!

The next day we had a quick recheck to see how Brandon was seeing. He was seeing 20/15, which is better than 20/20. We were totally excited that he does not have to wear glasses anymore!

Kate trying on the special glasses for size on our way home

Long drive back home. The last 2 times back from Boise, we have blown fuzes, so we had no clock or music. Crazy huh???

Joan Murray - My Dad's Wife

POCATELLO - Heaven welcomed a new angel on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Ada Joan Edwards-Murray was born on May 22, 1943, in Twin Falls, Idaho, a daughter of Ike and Grace White. She passed away in her home unexpectedly, leaving behind many wonderful memories.

 When she was a young girl, her family moved to Ogden, Utah, where she went to school and later met her husband, Ronald D. Edwards. They got married on September 12, 1961. They welcomed their first and only son, Randy T. Edwards, on April 18, 1962. On June 16, 1963, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Cyndi J. Hall. Ron and Joan moved their family to Pocatello, Idaho, in 1964, and on November 6, 1968, the couple welcomed their last child and youngest daughter, Jeannette Price. On September 11, 1979, Ron passed away.

 Joan later married her second husband, Grant M. Murray, on December 12, 1980. The couple resided in Pocatello for the duration of their marriage and they were members of the LDS 37th Ward. Grant passed away on September 24, 2006, at their home following an extended illness.

 Joan was an avid animal lover. She had three birds and four dogs at the time of her passing. She loved camping and enjoyed boat riding as well in her younger days. In her final years, she enjoyed traveling with her sister, Lorraine Wilson, and her mother, Grace White. They traveled to Utah, Colorado and even Mexico together.

 She loved the holidays where her family would get together because she thoroughly enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joan also loved decorating her home; she worked very hard to get her house put together beautifully.

 Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Ike and Grace White, first husband, Ronald D. Edwards, second husband, Grant M. Murray, brother, Kim White, and sister, Pat Edwards. She is survived by her brother, Deloy (Valdine) White, Ogden, Utah; sister, Lorraine Wilson, Denver, Colorado; son, Randy (Kris) Edwards, Pocatello, Idaho; Cyndi Hall, Caldwell, Idaho; Jeannette (Mark) Price, Pocatello, Idaho; grandson, Ron Hall, Boise, Idaho; granddaughter, Jennefer Shepherd, Pocatello, Idaho; granddaughter, Jamie (Dustin) Reynolds; grandson, Brandon Hall, Caldwell, Idaho; grandson, Jordan Edwards, Pocatello, Idaho; grandson, Zachary Price, Pocatello, Idaho; grandson, Nicholas Price, Pocatello, Idaho; great-granddaughter, Maria Reynolds, Pocatello, Idaho; great-granddaughter, Timberley Shepherd, Pocatello, Idaho; great-grandson, Treyten Shepherd, Pocatello, Idaho; and great-granddaughter, Haidence Hall, Caldwell, Idaho.

 Funeral services will be held Friday, November 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. in LDS 37th Ward Chapel, Yellowstone Highway, Tyhee, with Bishop Terry Adams officiating. The family will receive friends from noon to 1:45 p.m., Friday afternoon prior to services in the church.

 The family would like to thank the kind words, thoughts and prayers expressed from many during this difficult time.

 Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N 15th Ave., Pocatello (208-232-0542). Condolences may be sent to the family online at www. cornelisonfh.com.

Boise Temple Celebration: Treasure of Light

(Photos came from the Idaho Statesman Newspaper.)

 

Saturday night, November 17th was the Boise Temple Cultural Celebration. The youth in our area have been practicing for months in order to perform for our dear Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

 

The celebration for the re-dedication of the Boise Idaho Temple was held in the Taco Bell Arena and broadcast throughout the valley to local church buildings.

 

During the celebration, we enjoyed singing and dancing to honor both the Boise valley's culture and the importance for the temple in the lives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint members.

Saturday evening, before the re-dedication of the Boise temple the youth presented a wonderful celebration.

9,200 young women and young men from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took over the Taco Bell Arena in a celebration called "Treasure of Light".

 

  Hundreds of young women and young mean filled the arena floor with a rousing square dance as quilts were fluffed skyward and wagon wheels spun, depicting the Mormons' migration to the west.

 

Ninety fiddlers played.

 

Other young women and young men paid tribute to the computer chip - a mainstay of the Valley's economy- by doing a synchronized dance in black pants and tops with brightly colored pick, green and yellow slits down their sleeves. They tumbled and pulled a few break dancing moves.

As the theme to “Chariots of Fire” played, they came on in blue and orange T-shirts symbolizing Boise State University and pulled off a couple of slow-motion plays as the audience broke into a spontaneous wave.

Youth cultural celebrations centered on building and rededicating LDS temples,“It shows our prophet that we really appreciate our temple and shows him that we know the true meaning of the temple and why it’s there,” said Tanner Myler, 17, who danced as part of the stream that wound around Lexie’s and other girls’ maypoles.

 

 The celebration means that the temple is opening and we get to celebrate our heritage of our community." "It was amazing, a once in a lifetime experience."

Thomas S. Monson, told the young people that he often reminds other church leaders “these are the events we ought to have.”

“I’m not easily put down,” he added, as the arena packed with young people, church leaders and other adults erupted in laughter.

They roared approval when he raised both his arms in jubilation after the performance.

And they returned their respect by waving thousands of yellow flags at the final hymn. Yellow was meant to symbolize the light of Christ, but it’s also Monson’s favorite color.