Megan

Before I Sign-Off For The Week... Here is an update and 2 addtional posts follow this...I'll return next week, ready to Rock and Roll!! May will be a busy month so this little break comes at a perfect time!!!!

Update On Megan
Megan ( I should say WE) are one week in to Megan's 6-8 weeks of

wearing a cast on her foot

and getting around on crutches.

For one fleeting moment, I was not sure I would be able to go on my trip tomorrow and leave her. So far, however, she gets around amazingly and does not seem to be hindered in too many areas.

Here we are at the Orlando Temple last Saturday....

Megan wanted to be at the temple when her Primary Teachers, Jay and Tina Sweet, were sealed to their little boy, Jay, Jr. (see post below)
She was excited to stay at Grandpa and Grandma Hogies while we were in the temple....
The traditional trip to Golden Corral included Grandpa and Grandma signing her cast....
Grandpa even decorated Megan's big toe.
My girls do not know there is a Golden Corral close to our house here in Palm Beach County...they think this is strictly and Orlando Restaurant....I think we will keep it that way as long as possible.
I am not much of a Buffet person at all.

Grandma was the first to sign at The Golden Corral

For the Record... I (Mom) ,the one who bathes her and waits on her hand and foot, was the first to sign her cast when the Doctor gave the OK for signatures!

Note Riley in the background wearing his "Lampshade" Cone while he was recovering from surgery last week.

Easter Thoughts

Easter Sunday

Often, I am asked, "How does it feel to leave one of your sons at the MTC (Missionary Training Center)" The most perfect description is.... PAINFUL JOY. It is a time when I am bursting with happiness, joy, and gratitude, yet the tears and sobs I experience as I say goodbye for 2 years come close to some of the deepest physical and emotional pain I have ever experienced.

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, I was thinking of this term, Painful Joy, and realized it applies to Easter, The Resurrection, and The Atonement of Christ. My human brain and emotions cannot fully comprehend the pain and suffering that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins, yet I am humbled and filled with joy to think of this sacrifice for me. Understanding The Atonement and The Resurrection make Easter, indeed, a Happy Easter.

We spent Easter in Orlando with my parents. They were guest speakers in another Sacrament Meeting, so we went to Church with them and enjoyed their marvelous Easter Messages.

It is so great to have Andrew with us! I have to get used to focusing the camera so as to include all of him, it is easy to cut his head off.

Below

Before we left for Church, we were outside taking Easter photos. Megan was not in a smiling mood. Her foot was still wrapped in a brace and she was not in a"smile for the camera mood". Katherine placed her lips in a "smile" position and I told Andrew to snap this one.

Every picture tells a story....

Like Mother-Like Daughter....

All weekend, I was saying, Katherine never stops talking....can she just be quiet for one waking moment? Then I saw this photo she took of me....

I know, I know, I never stop talking, either.....

We walked in to Church at a Ward my parents were visiting at as speakers and look who we saw as soon as we walked in....

Yep, its Rachel... with a baby on the way this fall! Whoa, I am old. It was great too see Rachel and feel of her bubbly spirit again!

The world truly is small in the Church. I rarely walk into a Chapel in any area in the United States and not know someone or know someone who I know, etc......

Sometimes, I just forget that Andrew really is this tall.

Then I see a photo and his height is a reality.

We have to work with him on the length of his ties....

After Sacrament Meeting, we were headed home. Time to capture some Easter memories.

My mom says that every time we have a photo taken together, she is wearing this jacket. It is lovely and looks great on her. At least I know I need to wear something to coordinate! You know what you can give mom for Mother's Day guys!!!!!

Shauna, Ron, and Andrew

Ready to head home.

Shauna and Andrew Easter Morning at Grandpa and Grandmas!

It is so great to have him here!

Megan, Andrew, and Katherine

at

Grandpa and Grandmas for Easter

Andrew with Grandma and Grandpa prior to Sacrament Meeting. After speaking and thinking in Spanish for so long, sitting in an English Speaking Sacrament Meeting was confusing for Andrew. Singing hymns in English did not come easily, either. Slowly, he will adjust. Hopefully by the time he speaks in Sacrament Meeting ,the English will come easier.

For the next two photos, keep in mind that Megan is on the injured list.

Here, Katherine is helping her walk outside for Easter morning photos.
This is how Megan got from the car to the Chapel for Easter Sacrament meeting. Grandpa placed an ankle brace on her sore foot for support and Katherine became her "crutches" I offered a cane to help her walk and she said... canes are for old people, I just need crutches. I am sure John Klemas can help her out.

Happy Easter!

A Packed Day

Tons Of Fun=Tons Of Photos=

Tons Of Memories

How Much Can Be Packed In To One Saturday?

Yesterday, we put it to the test....

The good news is....

The Wedding Is Still On!!!!!

After meeting us, Alison still has the approval from her mom to join our family!

Whewwwwww!

We spent Easter Weekend in Orlando at my parents house. On Saturday, Alison's mom, Lisa, brother, Garret, little sister, Leah, along with Jeff and Alison, came to visit for the day. It was great to meet Alison's family. We started with dying Easter Eggs.

Note the "Bunny S'Mores" made up in the pan. Leah, Katherine and Megan hit it off instantly and played at full throttle speed all day.

Alison, Garret, and Leah with her PINK Easter Egg. She is truly Princess Leah, Pink and all.

Ready for the Outside Easter Egg Hunt in Grandma and Grandpa's yard. Andrew and Jeffrey used great restraint by not joining in to hunt. This may have been the first Easter Egg/ Candy Hunt they have sat out. Sometimes Growing Up just stinks.

In all the hunting excitement, Megan tripped. Out fell all of her eggs and candy...right on top of an ant pile. We rescued what we could and she went on hunting without missing a beat.

The Hunt Must Go On!!!

At first, Leah only wanted to collect the Pink or Purple Eggs, so Katherine and Megan left them for her. Soon, Leah realized that all of the colors were good and her basket over flowed with goodies.

Once inside, the eggs were opened, the candy was sorted and organized and everyone was well on their way to a super sugar high!

Andrew is enjoying one of Grandma's Cinnamon Rolls. As he said, These are the best Cinnamon Rolls ever..not just because I have not had them in 2 years, but because they are THE BEST!!!!
Finally, Andrew and Alison met!!!!! (They actually met the evening before)
The night before, on Friday, Andrew and Ron went to Gainesville to watch the UFGators play an NCAA game. It was certainly a fast track welcome back to the world for Andrew.
After the hunt, we went to visit the Windemere Town Hall where Jeff and Alison's reception will be held after their wedding in June. It is so cute and will a fun place to decorate up and celebrate their marriage!

Alison and Garret are outside the main entrance to the Town Hall.Jeffrey and Garrett were practicing some Kung Fu moves for the Wedding Reception

Alison is still smiling. I know she enjoyed every minute with her family visiting.

I am sure she was smiling about being with family, not all the chocolate in front of her saying, please eat me!

In the late afternoon, we headed to the favorite eating spot...

The Big

Golden Corral....My girls still do not know or realize there is one here in West Palm Beach. They have only been to Golden Corral in Orlando with Grandpa and Grandma.

Jeff, Alison, and Garret were ready to attack the buffet.

Katherine and Leah in one of many many photos they will be in together over the years. Can you imagine when they are both aunts? They just love each other along with Megan.

Katherine also was excited to note that "Alison's Brother is a TEENAGER!!!" pitter pat pitter pat went her heart!!! Later when I told her that we may play games later and the adults would be separate from the children, she was quick to determine that Garret would be with the children.This is the crew at Golden Corral. Andrew's first buffet in 2 years. I keep waiting for him to get sick or have something not agree with his tummy, but so far.... all is well.

This will go down as one of my favorite funny photos.

It just makes me LAUGH.

They were loading the car to return to Gainesville on Saturday night. Jeffrey had to ride in the back of the van because the back seat had been removed to bring some of Alison's things down from Texas. It was the safest place for him to ride in the car.

I just laugh because it looks like Lisa is putting him in his "crate" and he had better behave!!!!

As with every family gathering, there has to be a casualty. Megan hurt her foot and Grandpa had just the remedy. He wrapped her foot and ankle so she could get a good night's rest. Today she is hobbling around getting her "mileage" out of having her foot wrapped in an ace bandage. My Grandpa Hogie (my dad's dad) always knew the best remedy to help me when I got a cut, scrape, or bump. When I was very young, I was certain he was a Doctor. When I post the Easter photos, there is a photo of Megan hobbling in to Church with Katherine has her "crutch".
This is the way we end every day when we are gathered together....

PHASE 10!!!!!

Welcome Home, Andrew! Phase 10 has not been the same without you! The reality is....not much was the same without YOU!!!! It was great to meet you, LISA, GARRET, and LEAH!!!! It was great to spend time with my MOM and DAD, and JEFF and ALISON!!!!

Family Time

After Rachel and Derrick's Wedding...

It was great to have Jeffrey and Alison join us at the Orlando Temple. Jeffrey attended the wedding and Alison stayed with Megan and Katherine at the Chapel across the street. They joined us after the wedding and we took a Kodak moment in front of the temple.
Jeffrey and Alison were practicing smiling outside the Orlando Temple! We got to see her ring in person (it is gorgeous and perfect for her hand)

In Orlando, only the Temple is more important than a trip to Golden Corral. We enjoyed a Birthday Dinner for my dad at Golden Corral (Heaven, as my girls refer to it) Ron, Cathi, and Joshua Borchardt also joined us. After the Birthday Dinner, Jeffrey headed to Grandpa and Grandma's to mow their lawn and prepare for a heated game of Phase 10. Grandma was the Phase 10 champion of the evening! Alison fits in so well with this Phase 10 crew and totally holds her own. She even tolerates the extremely competitive nature of some family members....No names mentioned here. If Alison will still marry in to our family after several Phase 10 games, it is true love.


Ron, Katherine, Megan, and I headed back to Sea World after Golden Corral. There were no lines and the heat was not bad with the sun gone down. We rode rides. Megan is the daring one when it comes to rides. I headed over to the huge roller coaster, Kraken , with her. She was so excited to ride it and I was just going so she did not have to go alone. I am not sure if I was relieved for me or disappointed for her when she missed the height requirement by 1/8". The way she is growing, she will be tall enough in October to ride Kraken over and over (that means she will need a partner, which, it seems, will be me) I am extremely motion sick, yet the fast roller coasters outside do not seem to affect me like the spinning rides or the motion rides where you stare at a screen. She is already planning to eat extra fruits and veggies to help her grow!

A Quick Trip To Orlando

We made a quick trip to Orlando this weekend. It was great to see my parents and to see, in person, the amazing healing progress in my dad. Ron mowed the lawn and we enjoyed a Pioneer Day Picnic at a local park. The girls discovered a new favorite restaurant. Described by Megan as , "Heaven" and Katherine as, "Glorious". The Golden Corral all you can eat amazing buffet is the restaurant they are referring to.

I love it when someone offers to take a photo of your entire group just when you are ready to snap the shot yourself, leaving YOU out of the picture. I could do without looking at myself in a few photos, but every now and then, like it or not, I need to show up on film for posterity's sake!

As we were feasting to our heart's content, I predicted that as we headed home, 1 hour down the road, the girls would say, "I'm Hungry..." Let me just say... I know my girls...

Life is Great!

Life is better than good.... Life is great.

Being surrounded by dear family and friends is what it's all about.

The following photos are from last weekend at the Orlando LDS Temple.

We enjoyed attending Beth and Ryan's sealing and being with treasured friends and family.

Enjoy all 6 photos and see past blog postings for more...

Ron, Shauna, Don, Jan, Ron, Cathy We LOVE each other, have been through thick and thin together, and intend to go through whatever else comes our way-TOGETHER!
My dad, Boyd, My mom, La Dene, Me, my husband, Ron! Born of goodly parents and married to the best man in the world! My dad is a sealer in the Orlando Temple and performed the sealing of Beth and Ryan! Incredible experience..even if I was just an observer!

The crew outside the temple. Rhineharts, Smarinskys, Mills, Hostetlers, Best, Borchardts! Baby Ava is on the way!!!

Shauna, Jan, Cathy
Oh, the laughs we have had, oh the tears we have shed. Thankfully--together. God chose the most incredible friends for me!

Cathy and Shauna and the Orlando LDS Temple. What a treasured friendship. She could move to the other side of the world and I would feel totally close and connected to her. We just "get" each other!

The complete support system!

Jan, Cathy, Shauna, and Lorna. This is the most incredible support and safety net a person could have! Awesome women, awesome friends, awesome sisters. My family! There is nothing we would not do for each other!


One question??? Glasses or not? Actually, I don't have much of a choice with each passing day!