A beautiful day at the Billings, Montana Temple

On Saturday, June 18th we went to the temple with Julia.  It was a beautiful day at the temple.  Grandma and Grandpa Sharp were able to come up and go with us.  We had been told that it would be a very busy day at the temple.  There were four young people going through the session for their own endowments.  The session was pretty full, but not completely.  We weren't sure how full it would be so Grandpa and Grandma planned to get there plenty early and get a seat.  I was so grateful they were willing to come and go with Julia.  It was a choice experience to be there with Julia. She looked beautiful in her white dress.

 In the session we saw Isaac, one of our young men from trek last summer.  He has his mission call to Washington and is leaving the end of June.  It was fun to see him again and get to meet his mother.

After the session we took pictures outside the temple and then went to Olive Garden for dinner. Lizzy and Wade came and met us for dinner.  It was a great day together.

I am so grateful for temple blessings.  The temple is such a peaceful place. It truly is a refuge from the world for me.  I hope Julia will desire to go back and feel the spirit there.  We are always so grateful to be at the temple with our children.  I love to see the temple and be inside it!

Our second trip to Virginia Beach

It was a cold and windy day when we went Virginia beach.  We decided to try a different beach that might not be as crowded as the first beach we went to.  Maybe it was because the weather wasn't great, but we had the whole beach practically to ourselves.  We were the only car parked in the parking lot.  It was a little chilly and the waves were really crashing.  The kids still had fun. They love being at the ocean!

Playing at the beach

Dallin and MaryAnne playing in the waves

Matthew

David and Matthew

David

Dallin kept getting deeper and further away.

Julia and Lydia challenging the waves

Joshua making sand angels

Lydia making sand angels or getting sand in her hair

What a good dad helping Lydia

It was a windy day

We were safe the red flags weren't out. We were right next to a military base.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Dad

Today is my wonderful Dad's birthday.  I want to give a shout out to him.  He has always been there to love and support me and my family.  He always cared enough to set rules and keep me safe.  He is one of the most giving people I know.  He does so much to love and support his family.  He is willing to do anything he can to help us out.  He is quiet, but when he speaks it always something important to listen to.  My children absolutely adore him.  He is so good to them.  He always has time to play with them or listen to them.  He is great at teaching them and answering their questions.  They all agree that they have the smartest Grandpa anywhere.  If anyone from our family ever goes on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire they want Grandpa to be their phone a friend lifeline.  He is a great story teller.  When he is here the children always want him to tell them a story.  He is a great example to all of us.  I am so grateful that he set the example of going on a mission.  I hope each of our children will follow his example.  He is always willing to serve the Lord.  He loves being a primary teacher, but serves where ever he is needed.  I love you, Dad! I am so glad that Heavenly Father sent me to your family.  You are the best!!

Colonial Williamsburg

On Monday, May 23rd, we took our last site seeing trip in Virgina.  The kids wanted to go back to Virginia Beach.  We hadn't been to Colonial Williamsburg yet and they are fairly close to each other so we decided to see them both.  Colonial Williamsburg was very impressive. When you left the Visitors Center there were cool markers in the walkway that told you where you were in history.  They were interesting to read. The children enjoyed being put in the stocks.  They did learn that it wouldn't have been fun in Colonial times.  Did you know if you were put in the stocks they also nailed your ears to a board?  It left a mark that would brand you for life as an offender.

This was a really cool tree

We thought of Rebecca when we saw the first Theatre in America.  I would have taken a picture of the theatre, but my camera battery died just after I took this picture.