In Memory of John

John
Smiling Eyes
Big Warm Hugs
Giving (Sweets & Love)
Always Asked About My Life
Interested In Me And Mine.

Seafood
(Lobster, Crab & Shrimp)
Hats; Including Role Of "Chef"
Great Lasagna And Barbecues
"Saucy" Ribs Were Best.

Always Sharing Something:
The Candy Jar; Encouragement;
Advice -
Supportive With His Compliments
Wore His Heart On His Sleeve Quite Nice.

Proud Of His Boy And Grand Kids Too
Grandpa, Father, Husband, Friend
A Business Man
A Great Big Kid
A Yard That Never Ends.

Penny Loafers And Khaki Shorts
Remember His Green Chair Too
Minnesota Farm
His Whit And His Charm
Just Some Of What We'll Miss
John

Birthday Kids

Trevon turned FIFTEEN on Thursday. He woke up at 5:20am and went to a cross country practice at 5:45am (his morning ritual now days). Mike made him a birthday breakfast of waffles, eggs and orange juice, while I ran to the High School to decorate the inside of his locker, leaving him birthday goodies to find. We ate breakfast around 7AM and then Trevon opened a little gift of the Utah Driver's manual and some big punch balloons.


In his locker, I had placed a birthday sign and a bag with some red and black FINE tipped markers (his school colors), a bucket of bubble gum, a ruler and some hugs and kisses candies. I included a note that read:
Hey, Trevon
You're so FINE,
You're so FINE,
You BLOW our minds!
Hey, Trevon!

We think you RULE!
Happy Birthday with
HUGS and KISSES from your family.

(Sorry I didn't take a picture of this) He enjoyed finding his surprise there, and was quick to clean up his locker.
After a PIZZA dinner, we headed to the High School for Back to School night. Trevon and Cari both played in the pep band to start the evening and then we went from class to class, meeting their teachers. Mike going with Cari and I with Trevon. When we returned home, we sang Happy Birthday and ate cake and ice cream. The following evening, Mike and I took Trevon out to dinner at the OUTBACK Steakhouse for his birthday. He was happy that we didn't insist on telling the waitress it was his birthday!





On Saturday (Elise's birthday) Trevon ran in a cross country invitational. It was fun cheering him on. He came in 37th out of 108 boys running. He also increased his personal record by 20 seconds, running three miles in 19min. 20sec. WAY TO GO TREV!





When I awoke on Saturday, I found this card for Elise on the counter top. Kristi made it for her the night before, having each of us sign the inside with our notes of love. Elise could hardly stand that it was her birthday! She didn't want to wait for cake and ice cream and so opened her cards and present first thing!








She opened her birthday bag, finding a Barbie doll, toy cell phone, notepad, markers and a ring pop. We made her a fun cake. Cari made homemade frosting and frosted her cake. It was delicious.






We spent some of the day making a poster for Elise too. She is Student of the Week this week. It was fun looking at pictures from over the last five years and reflecting on all the things we love about Elise.
She is a big help at home, likes her mom's lasagna, and loves to hug and kiss her mom. She likes her dad to tickle her and loves playing educational games on the internet. She likes to play with Barbies and to play house. She wants to be a ballerina when she grows up and her favorite color is red. She knows all of her letters and likes to draw pictures and shapes. We love her very much!

Back to School

School started on Thursday for six of our seven children. It would be interesting to compare these "first-day" pictures with pictures taken on the last day of school. I asked each one, what their favorite part of being back at school was. Their answers are listed below their pictures:



"Friends"
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"None of it. I don't have a favorite part. The long lunch break."
________________________



"Getting new teachers."
________________________



"Having a new teacher."
________________________



"Eating lunch and staying there longer. I have three recesses."
________________________



"Going on the Safari and having my own cubbyhole to put my things in."
________________________



This pumpkin came from our garden. There are about fifteen pumpkins growing right now. This morning we enjoyed a honeydew melon from the garden. Corban used all his strength to carry this pumpkin around.
________________________





This is Elise's first day at Kindergarten. The door was heavy and hard for her to open. Her teacher gave her some paper binoculars and a safari hat and map and sent her around the classroom, working at different centers. She loved it. Her teacher has a class blog that she will post pictures on of all the fun things they do this year. Feel free to check it out weekly to see what Elise is doing and learning. The address is: vargakindergarten2010.blogspot.com You can click on Elise's Kindergarten at the right side of the screen under Friends and Family to access it as well.
________________________



Saturday was the 2009 Washington County Fair. Trevon ran in the 5K race (that's just over three miles). His time was 20:12.8 (6:30 min/mi). He was first place in his age group(men 11-14 years). Had the race taken place a week later, he would have been in a different age bracket. He was 11th place overall. There were about a hundred participants in all. It was so fun seeing Trevon cross the finish line. I had to hold back my tears. It reminded me a little of when I ran the St. George Marathon a few years ago. It feels so good to work hard on something and to get to a "finish" line. A part of me decided I would start running again. I miss it.

________________________

P.S. Our little hummingbird past away, a week after finding it. We were all sad to see him go. On Thursday he seemed to suddenly lose his strength and then he was gone. We were happy we were able to care for him and love him for the little time we did though.

Petey, the Hummingbird (and Mike's thumb)

On Thursday, our dog Max discovered a baby hummingbird that had fallen out of its nest. We were able to pick it up before he got to it. The bird looked like it was about ten days old, with some fluffy feathers. Mike searched the internet for information about these birds and how to care for them. At first we called our little friend "lucky," but now his name is Petey. We feed him every half hour during the day, mushed up worms and some sugar water. Too much sugar water can result in negative side effects. After his feeding, he usually poops and then exercises his wings. It is fascinating to be so close to a hummingbird as it moves its wings. We are thrilled Petey has lived this long and hope to see him fly back to his family soon.

Ward Campout

Friday night we drove to Kolob Mountain for a campout with our ward. We ate a potluck dinner and then gathered around the campfire and listened to some funny jokes. Then we sang songs and watched the scouts retire a flag. Afterward we went to the Jocelyn's campsite, and watched the movie, Forever Strong, under the stars. It was a GREAT movie. Mike had to work the next morning, so he drove home that night while the rest of our family camped out. Trevon and Cameron slept under the stars, while the girls (and Corban) slept in a tent. The next morning, after a devotional and playing with friends, we headed home. It was fun for all of us. We hope they have another ward campout next year!

Corban and Cari "chillin'"



Elise, with her friend Emilie



Sadie, Kristi, Shelly and Corban singing campfire songs



Mike, Jaden Seely, Jacob Stout, Kellen Seely, Trevon and Ethan Stratton shared a patriotic program with us before retiring a flag. It was neat to see. Trevon played "Taps" on his trumpet while the flag was burning.



Trevon's nose pokes out of his sleeping bag, while Cameron's orange hat keeps him entirely covered. They slept comfortably this way, under the night sky.



The rest of us preferred to be indoors! A good morning to Kristi, Corban and Elise.



Sadie and Cari pose for the camera. They started the campout dressed exactly alike.



Trevon and Cameron while playing with other kids in the woods.

LOVE

This past week, I've thought a lot about love. As a child I would sing, "Love One Another." This is a short song that was often included in the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple Grounds. The lyrics (by Luacine Clark Fox) are taken from the words Christ spoke to His disciples before his death (St. John 13:34-35).

As I have loved you, Love one another.
This new commandment: Love one another.
By this shall men know ye are my disciples,
If ye have love One to another.

It seems to me impossible to really comprehend how Christ loved us. He loved perfectly. I wonder if I can. I prefer the admonition to love thy neighbor as thyself (St. Matthew 22:37-40). That to me, seems like something I could do. Hard, but possible.

So, in an attempt to be more Christ-like, I am focusing on love. I'm having my family help me do this. Monday night, after family night, we drew names of each other. The person who's name you drew, was the person you were to focus extra attention on helping and serving during the week. I believe as we serve others we grow in our love for them. This week it has been fun to see more acts of service happening in our home because of this activity. I think we will make it a Monday night tradition.

Trevon wanted to make cinnamon rolls. I didn't want to, but I did, out of love for him. I knew it would make him happy and that I was capable of doing it. I enjoyed "working" with him to make them. They turned out wonderfully delicious, and everyone enjoyed this splurge.



During the week I looked up the meaning of the word love. Then, looked up other words relating to its definition, and so on and so forth. From that one word came MANY good things and I knew that Charity Never Faileth. Here are just a few of the words stemming from LOVE (Think about it and you too will realize that there is nothing greater to achieve, than to Love One Another):
affection; tenderness; warmth; devotion; kindness; friendship; gentle; deep concern for someone; commitment; dedication; nice; good; helpful; willing to please; courteous; soft and mild; mutual respect; companionship; interested; responsible; acknowledgment of another; pleasant; right; appropriate; useful; ready to give help; serviceable; well-behaved; virtuous; entrusted; polite; easy to get along with; tender; considerate; civil; accompanies another; concern; expression of thanks; to look at someone and speak to him or her; admit the truth; agreeable; fair; righteous; honest; moral; gives assistance; answers a purpose; work; treating everyone equally; just; truthful; trustworthy; ethical; upright; honorable; respectable; well thought of; look after someone and tend to his or her needs; belief in someone's goodness and integrity; benevolence; goodwill; generosity; compassionate; unselfish; open-handed; sympathy for suffering; understanding; refined; holiness ( I think I could add Mike Beutler's name here - my great example).

I'm sure many other words can be related to LOVE. I know though, that where love is, there God is also, and with Him, I want to be (I think that's another song).