Yuka

We have been very busy this week. Last Friday, we gained a Japanese daughter, Yuka. She will be staying with us for 2 1/2 weeks while she learns more about English and the American Way. She has already gone to Disneyland, and Universal Studios. We took her to the pioneer festival, a youth dance, and the Hollywood sign. She taught us how to use chopsticks and we made her try Root Beer (she didn't like it

And more family....

I thought that things would go a little back to normal this week, but things turned out much differently than I planned! Jayd was going to scout camp for the week, so I was down one kid. I had scheduled for my nephew, Benjamin, to come and spend a few days with us. To my delight, my sister, her husband, and 18 month old son, Collin, decided to join us also. Once again, I had a full house and lots of fun. My sister spent a lot of time with the kids while her husband and I tried to decipher and complete his chemistry class. It worked out wonderfully for all of us. The kids enjoyed going to the park, riding their bikes, swimming and going to the movies. They had so much fun playing together. I am glad that they all came to stay with us for the week.

Gabe's Baptism

We have been fairly busy for the last couple of weeks. We spent a week at Yosemite with our good friends, the Buscos. Then we spent a week on Balboa Island surrounded by family. But the most pivotal event of the past two weeks was very special. Gabe, my youngest child, was baptized.Gabe was so excited for his baptism. He was baptized with his friend, Nathan Jessop, early on Saturday morning. It was a great event. Maddie spoke about baptism. She gave a great talk that was carefully conscripted for her young audience. My mother, sister, brother-in-law, and I sang a camp song, Come to the Waters. Gabe had heard me sing it while camping the week before and requested it for the baptism. We threw it together minutes before the baptism, but it turned out quite well. It was a great day with lots of family and friends. I am grateful that all of my children have made the decision to be baptized. I hope that they will continue to grow in the gospel for the rest of their lives.