Happy Father's Day!

I have been richly blessed with the men in my life who are close to my heart. My darling husband works so hard to support our little family, and has the kindest sweetest heart. My Dad, who is my hero and my inspiration. I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about what he would say in this situation, or what he would do to fix this, or how he cut the watermelon as I am cutting up ours for dinner...

Home Made Lemonade

Last Saturday we got a Bountiful Basket that had 9 lemon's in it. So, when life gives you lemons... make lemonade, right?
It was fun!

Christmas Song

Jake: "Someone's Froggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say, HO HO HO, Rodoph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh to night, Sure! Then he shouted out with glee Whoopee!" Repeat 10 - 12 times

Thanksgiving

The Christensen Family was all together for the Thanksgiving Holiday. It was our first since Dad passed away. Several of us had friends recommend setting a place at the Table for Dad. We mentioned it to Mom and she liked the idea. So, we sat his favorite chair at the head of the table, complete with a big spoon that he always liked to eat with:) We were all surprised to see his journal that he lost last year setting on his plate. Mom and Dad had both quizzed every one of us, asking if we had taken it, and Mom had found it! There was a page in the journal he had written about his kids and his love for them and the gospel. Mom asked someone to read it before we started dinner... WE started eating with tears in our eyes and love in our hearts for the wonderful man we called DAD!

Denise Made 16 beautiful pies... They were all DELICIOUS! She is one talented woman!



We went Day After Thanksgiving Day Shopping, starting at midnight. This was the first year I talked Matt into going... He doesn't do mornings... but the middle of the night is defiantly more his style. He was not mobbed (luckily) but, was still not impressed. The rest of us took a 2 hour nap then headed to Twin Falls on snowy roads to brave the crowds. We love the adrenalin rush and getting "good deal's" :) We came home and were completely wiped out for the rest of the day. This picture is us dividing up our spoil.

Before everyone left, we decorated ornaments and took a tree out to Dad's grave. The grandkids all loved playing in the snow and looking at their handprints in the cement around his headstone. It is a beautiful tribute to Dad and celebrates the love that Mom and Dad share. I think it turned out wonderfully!!!

I am so eternally grateful for the friendships that I share with my family. Each brother and sister means the world to me. I treasure the relationships that I have with them. They all married the most amazing people whom I love and adore. My Mom is a ROCK! She has faced this trial with such great faith and trust in her Heavenly Father that He will see her through. She is an amazing example of living her testimony! I love her with all my heart!

We look forward to the Christmas Season. We send our love out to all!

How do I arrange these???

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Things that Make Me Smile

Little boys!
Jake was standing next to me giggling this morning while I read the paper. I looked over to see he had stepped on the footy part of Cole's P.J.'s and was watching as Cole tried to crawl away....

Last night, Mattina was busy with her project of cutting paper in strips to "cast" her Webkinz pegasis wing. She was a very kind Dr. Meanwhile, Jake has on his cowboy hat and is shooting everything that moves and doesn't move...

Cole puts everything he finds in his mouth. This is stressful with two older kids who play with tiny pieces... yesterday it was Jakes apple core that he found... Cole was as happy as coud be as he gummed away at the core with his two little bottom teeth...

Last weekend we had Aunt Dana stay at our house for a night. While we were reading the picture scriptures with the kids, she was talking to her husband on the phone. We read the story of cutting off arms and Jake was pretty persistant at asking where the blood was and where the arms were in the pictures. He wanted to see the sword... and Aunt Dana comes down the hall with her arms pinned behind her back, waving her shoulders wildly she jumps on the bed screaming she has no arms and she is squirting blood everywhere, then she jumps on Jake who is laughing hystrically... I don't think he will soon forget the story of Ammon. Thanks Dana for the giggle fest!

Other things that make me smile...

Jake and his goggles


Mattina sharing her popsicle with Cole


Our Family at the Holgo Zoo


Mattina picking pumpkins

Holy Ghost

My Dad has been in ICU at the University of Utah hospital for 2 weeks now. I am pretty sure I was in denial for the first week and a half. After all, my dad is invincible, nothing slows him down. Last Saturday he was able to visit with each of his grandkids and say goodbye. Then, in a last chance effort to save his life, he chose to go on life support and try a new "miracle drug" to see if it would work. Before he went on Life Support he told us to let him fight for a week, then let him go. Well, tomorrow is a week. It all seems so surreal.
I sit here at the computer sad and numb, but throughout the whole experience I recognized so many mircles, and small blessings, and overall, the abundance of peace and reassurance from the holy ghost. There was a day they took Dad down to surgery. While he was in there, Dana gave a beautiful prayer and I felt SO at peace as we said amen. I knew it didn't necessarily mean everything would be good, I just knew the spirit was calming us in our time of need.
So, tomorrow, as I say a final goodbye to one of my very best friends.