my girl Tori :)

SOOO proud of this girl, and SOOO happy and excited for her!!!

I've written about Tori before - she's beyond awesome - but this time tops them all :)

Tori made the decision to serve as a sister missionary for our church!

This is no small decision - it means 24/7 hard work and dedication for 18 months.

But it also means the experience of a lifetime through serving others in the name of Christ.

And a lot of fun :)

Her call came in December - we were all DYING to see where it would be!

I knew it had to be someplace fabulous, because Tori will make such a wonderful missionary!

And I was right - she was called to serve in the ROME, ITALY mission!!!!!

Could that be any more fabulous?!?!

I absolutely treasure this photo of me with Tori and Tori's mom Tina :)

So last week a handful of us went with Tori to the LDS Temple in Santa Monica

Is she too adorable or WHAT! She was so excited - what a WONDERFUL day in her life!

Tori is the daughter I never had and such a blessing in my life... I hardly have words for it.

I just love her so much. I was her escort through the temple and it was a such an honor for me.

It meant more to me than I can express... it was one of the best days of my life :)

Here she is afterwards with her dad - he pinched her right before I took this pic :D

What a darling father/daughter picture - I just love it :)

And I think this may be one of my favorite photos of all time -

Kerrie Edwards (Tori's amazing Young Women's leader), Tori and I afterwards :)

~

TI VOGLIO BENE SORELLA ROST!!!!!

Sam's farewell

 My one and only nephew - look how adorable he is :)

Sam is 19 and was recently called to serve as a missionary for 2 years in Milan Italy

I am so proud of him, and so excited for him!

He's a terrific boy and I know he will be a wonderful missionary :)

 Before he left for the Mission Training Center we took a quick trip to his hometown, 

to hear him speak in church, to let him know how much we love him, and to say goodbye.

 It has really been a joy to watch him grow and mature over the years - what a great kid :)

 John's brother Fred (Sam's dad) on the right 

Sam, you will be such a blessing in the lives of the people in Milan Italy :)

~

(photo credit other than myself goes to Sam's family)

diamonds in the rough

Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY!

I saw 2 videos this week that were so touching, they were right up there in the life-changing category. They're both making their way all over Facebook, have been embedded in countless other sites, and to date, one of them has had more than 4 million views on YouTube alone. They're both very different in circumstance, yet they share the exact same beautiful message - messages we hear all our lives, but so easily forget - - - - - Please watch both these videos the whole way through - you will LOVE them :)

Never - EVER - judge a book by it's cover..... if we'd just open it up, it's more than likely we'll find precious gems inside. One way or another, every one of us is a diamond in the rough.

Every single living being on this earth is deserving of a safe, happy life, surrounded by love. Every single one. Witness a diamond formed from whence it came, and your heart will change forever.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

xoxoxo

service

 Several weeks ago our family did a great project together!

We made bagged lunches for our community homeless shelter.

We signed up through our church, and it was a great experience!

~

On average, the homeless shelter serves 30 people per night.....

Because of the cold weather, the number had risen to 70!

So here's what we did - it was easy, and we can't wait to do it again:

 First of all, we gathered almost everything together in one area -

A typical lunch was a dated brown bag containing:

*a simple sandwich (I used white bread and only turkey due to possible allergies)

*a piece of fruit (I used a selection of medium sized apples)

*a bag of chips (again, I purchased a selection)

*a bag of cookies (we bagged our own Chips Ahoy - 4 per snack baggie)

*a napkin

AND we added a bottle of water for a drink, separate from the lunch bag

 As soon as everything was set up, it went REALLY fast!

We arranged everything ASSEMBLY LINE STYLE!

And with my husband and boys helping, those lunches were done in NO time!

 Dated lunch bags ready for apples & chips & napkins

 MORE lunch bags ready for the goods :)

 GO, GUYS - GO!

They worked so fast it was hard to get pics!

 We decided to fold & staple the bags so there were no spills -

here are some of the finished bags ready to load in the car and deliver!

My Daniel and I - he helped me do all the shopping.....

I couldn't have done it without him and my other guys :)

Thank you, family! Let's do it again soon!

~

Hey peeps - if we can do it, you can do it!

Contact your local shelter or other worthy local cause, and find out what you can do!

the funeral singer

You know that Adam Sandler movie "the Wedding Singer"? (I love that movie)

I'm the Funeral Singer.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that here on my blog somewhere in the past, but if not, just take my word for it - I really am the Funeral Singer. You may think that's a really odd thing to be. You may even think it's a really depressing thing to be. Which I guess it could be. But I don't see it that way at all. I see it as a huge blessing in my life. I'm not sure I always felt that way. But after some 30 years of singing at funerals now and then, and some 16 or so funerals later (not including my own family members), I think of it much differently than I did back when I sang at that very first funeral during college. One good thing about getting older, is you have a much different perspective about things. I'm grateful for that.

There are some situations that are, of course, easier than others. That never takes the sadness out of them - no matter what the situation is, any loved one that passes away is mourned and will always be missed. But I find great comfort in the fact that perhaps a person had lived a long, fulfilling life, and was now set free from the cares of this world... uniting once again with friends and family members already on the other side. I know not everyone shares this belief. But that belief has come as natural to me from the time I was a little girl, as the sun coming up every morning. The belief that as sad or afraid as we may be to leave this life, the beginning of a new phase of an even greater life waits on the other side for us. So in a very real sense, a funeral is not only a celebration of that person's life, but of their going home again, if you will.

Just as there are situations that are perhaps easier for us to participate in, there are also just as many - if not more - situations that can test not only our emotional state, our belief system, and our faith as a whole. Part of this life is death, and death comes to all at different times and in different ways. When a dear friend dies of cancer, when a friend's sweet baby is taken so unexpectedly, when a friend's teenager dies in a terrible accident, when a soldier's life is taken... these situations and many others like them, are considered tragedies to us all. We may find ourselves begging God for a reason. We may find ourselves questioning what we always thought we believed. We may find ourselves not even wanting to face life anymore. We may find ourselves cursing God for letting such a thing happen. These are all normal reactions to losing loved ones unexpectedly and in ways that seem so unfair and tragic. These are the funerals that are not only heartbreaking to attend, but incredibly difficult to sing for. But strangely, I still love to sing for them.

Over the years, I have seen so many different instances - each one as unique as the person who has passed. In the beginning, it was very hard for me to contain my emotions..... and that's a near-panic situation for someone who needs to do a good job singing in front of hundreds of mourning people. I quickly learned to NEVER look down at the family members or even out at the congregation very much. I tried my best to keep a calm, serene smile on my face and sing to the back wall of the room. There were times, especially if I was singing for someone I actually knew, when singing to that back wall was the only thing between keeping my composure and ruining a beautiful service by melting into a blob of tears and goo. I'm not proud that on a few occasions I wavered between the two extremes. But I'm relieved to say I never melted into a blob of tears and goo.

As I got a bit older and had sung at several funeral services, my views started forming into what eventually became my love for singing for the beloved person who had passed, and most especially, for their family members left behind to mourn them. I started to see things in a very different light. First of all, I enjoyed learning about and celebrating their lives. It never ceases to amaze me that even those I thought I knew well, had things about them I never knew. It has always made me appreciate them even more. Many times it has inspired me and made me want to be a better person. I've always loved the saying "everyone has a story". I have found that to be true over and over again. Everyone does have a story. And everyone is special in their own way. Those things are even reflected in the songs they requested before their passing, or their family requests for them. I've sung everything from Amazing Grace, to Sunshine On My Shoulders, and everything in between. Each song or hymn has fit the person perfectly.

I finally came to understand, that singing for someone - singing for their family and friends - was the very last gift I could give this person. One of the very last gifts they'll be given here on earth before they're put to rest. It's not something that everyone can do. But I'm so grateful I can do it, because more and more, I have come to greatly love the ability to give that final gift of comfort and celebration. I find it a strange and unique opportunity, yet a great blessing to be able to impart that upon others. It's still heartbreaking at times. A few specific times in my life, it has taken everything I had in me to do it. But what an honor and a privilege it has been! To sing my gift of love for them. I thank God above that he has given me this great blessing I can share with others, and I know it is through him and him only, that I've been able to fulfill this calling.

the story of neighbors and fruit salad

We instantly liked Tina & Tony when they moved into the house across the street from us over a year ago. Warm and friendly, we were happy and grateful to have such nice new neighbors.  We were even more delighted when we found out months later that Tina was expecting a baby! Tina and Tony had married in their 40's, so this special little person was a highly anticipated blessing. We were so thrilled for them!

Two weeks before Tina was due, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. We were all simply devastated. But Tina did indeed give birth last June, to Ava Christina - the sweetest and most beautiful baby on earth :) In his quiet way, Tony immediately swung into action as the most calm, loving father and husband imaginable. I never saw him when he wasn't holding their new little bundle. Extended family members came to stay with them and rallied around them night and day. It was lovely to see. As frightened as Tina had to be with her recent diagnosis, she powered through being a new mom with a smile on her face and optimism by her side. Unbelievable. 

As the weeks wore on and Tina had more tests, we found out the cancer had spread to her liver. That was... huge. It changed her condition from stage 2 to stage 5. Dire. We were simply heartbroken for them. Heartbroken. They had waited for Ava with such joy and anticipation - and were the dearest new parents. Now I wondered to myself if Tina would even have the opportunity to raise her sweet baby. If Ava would remember her wonderful mother. The thought made me want to sob. It still does.

Tina immediately started treatments, lost her pretty hair, has endured it all with grace, and has continued to be an adorable new mom to Ava. I know she and Tony must have their moments of sadness or fear or discouragement. But I have never seen anyone with such faith and determination. She just smiles her beautiful smile and says cheerfully that they need a miracle, and that's exactly what they are expecting. I don't doubt it for a second. 

So what does fruit salad have to do with any of this? Well, most neighbors try to help, us included, and we have occasionally taken things across the street to them. One Sunday afternoon who should knock on our door but Tina. I opened the door to find her returning one of my bowls - and she had filled it up with a *gorgeous* fruit salad and included a thank you note! The thought of Tina cutting up all that fruit for us when I know she was probably tired and not feeling so well... yet there she stood smiling at our door... brought tears to my eyes. Such an act of kindness from someone who desperately needs her own miracle. That is the kind of person Tina is.    

~ cutest family ever ~

~ sweet Ava Christina ~

~ Halloween ~

I'm sure both Tina & Tony would be embarrassed if they read this. They take everything in stride and don't seem to be nearly as amazed at their positive attitude as everyone else is. But since they don't even know I have a blog, I'm not too concerned :) Which is why I'm going to ask you to keep a prayer in your heart for Tina and Tony and Ava. I have a lot of faith in prayer and the mountains it can move. I've seen prayer work in mighty ways my whole life. Please pray for them.  

In this month dedicated to gratitude, I want to express how grateful I am to Tina for her example of faith and kindness, even when her entire world has been turned upside down. She is a constant source of inspiration to me. I will continue to pray every single day that she gets her miracle. I can't imagine anyone who deserves it more.  

with love xoxoxo

big white envelope

The Big White Envelope arrived at our house a few days ago. We knew it was on it's way. We knew Davy's life would change forever upon opening it. We knew that this is where real faith kicks in. It was a surreal moment in time. How did we get to this point?! It took a lifetime, literally. It took more than I can ever put down into words. It took a great amount of effort from Davy, and a very difficult choice to make. He chose the higher road.

Preparing to open the BWE. Davy is shaking. Anticipation level is off the charts. My bottle of Tums is nearby. 

"Elder David Stratton Walker - 

Dear Elder Walker, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Washington Kennewick Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

We're stunned and yelling WAHOOO and stunned and trying to let it sink in... and did I mention we were stunned? 

Reading over the formal letter and taking in the moment with my boy. When his older brother Daniel was called to serve in Argentina for 2 years, he was away at college and we didn't have the opportunity to be there with him in person. It was a special experience to be able to be together when Davy opened his mission call. 

The official letter and missionary packet... and a letter that Daniel wrote to Davy, for him to read after he opened his call. We found it perched on a shelf the morning Daniel left for Africa, after they had said their goodbyes xoxo

Davy's missionary portrait - the photo that melts my heart every time I look at it :)

(thank you Brad Smith - you're the best)

Davy did indeed settle into the idea of serving in the Washington Kennewick Mission, and he is excited for the adventure that awaits him. We couldn't be more proud of him or love him more - mission or no mission. We love him for exactly who he is, and are delighted that he has chosen to embrace this amazing experience. We know that through his choice to serve, he will learn and grow and be blessed for all of his efforts.

Thank you *EVERYONE* who has already been so loving and supportive with your phone calls, e-mails, Facebook comments, and countless hugs and congratulations in person. It has meant the world to all of us :)

   "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

For I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

~ Matthew 11:28-30