Sunday adoption and Utah Smiles

Here it is Sunday again.
How does time pass so fast?
...
The last 2 weeks have sped by....
and they were filled with wonderful events
that gave us great reasons to smile.
...
I want to share them with you.
...
I've put in lots of pictures because
I want to document this part of our family history.
...
As you know from last weeks post we went to Las Vegas
to be at Johnny's gymnastic competition which was a great experience.
...
The nice thing was that the following week Ellie turned
6 months old and
Erin and Patrick got to go to court
to officially adopt our little Elizabeth Mae.
...
That worked out great for us because Las Vegas is 250 miles from
our house but it is on the way to Utah.
After the meet was over we continued our trip
up to Utah..... killing 2 birds with 1 stone as they say.
(However, I would never kill 2 birds...with a stone or anything else!)
I finished the 700 mile trip to Utah driving and visiting with Lynell.
1. That made me smile.
...
We spent a nice week visiting with Erin's and Lynell's families.

The highlight and main reason for our trip to Utah was
going to court to adopt Ellie.

Going to court for any other reason is not much fun.
Going to court for adoption is marvelous.

Everyone was full of smiles as we waited for
court to begin.

Of course, Cal was quick to find the candy machine
in the hall where we were waiting.

It was a joyful and tender occasion.

This is the first picture of the official new family with
the Honorable Lynn Davis.

Judge Davis was so nice.
He put his robes on Ellie and let her hold his gavel for a picture.

Everyone wanted to get pictures of little Judge Ellie ....

...with His Honor.

Then His Honor gave Cal a turn to be the judge.
2. Adopting Ellie and Judge Davis made me smile.

Ellie had 2 special guests on her adoption day.
Brook, Ellie's birth mom and Brook's grandmother were there.
We had visited with Brook the day before.
I told Brook that I thought it would be too hard for her to join us at court.
However, Brook wanted to share Ellie's special day with her.
Brook loves Ellie....and placing her for adoption has been very hard...
...but after much prayer, Brook knew that this is what is best for her baby.
What a sacrifice for love.

Ellie will grow up knowing how thankful we are to have her...
...that she is an answer to our prayers....and how much we love her...
but she will also know that her birth mother and birth family love her too.
Can a child be loved by too many people?
I think not.
3. Brook and her family make me smile.

After taking one last picture in court we...

.

...We headed off to the Village Inn for a delicious meal.

When we got back to Erin's house we found balloons waiting
on the porch.
That made a perfect ending to a perfect occasion.
...
Getting Ellie wasn't the only thing Erin and Patrick
adopted last week.

They adopted...hmmm... bought...a new home.

I was happy that we were there and got to see it.

They saw this house on Friday and put in a bid.

The bid was accepted and the next day they sold their home.
I could not believe that they could buy and sell a home in less than 48 hours.
4. That makes me smile.

They love their old home but it is on a very busy street and
now that Cal can open the front door they worried that he might
wander out and go into the street.
Their old home is full of sweet memories.
It is hard for them to leave it...
but I have no doubt that Erin and Patrick will soon make
this new house into a beautiful home....that will likewise be filled with love...
..and sweet memories.

It has a large basement that they will finish off.
I have already put in my order for a Grammy and Grampy
guest room.

They love the big yard and patio but Cal's favorite part is the swing set.
This new home makes me smile.
...
5. 11 year old Lonica makes me smile.
Lonica put on a fashion show for us.

She modeled several of her new dance costumes for us.
(I had 2 more pictures of her costumes uploaded but somehow they disappeared.)

She also did a command performance of
the dances she will be doing in competition this year...
..from hip-hop to ballet...
this little gal has talent!
...and...

Dancing is not her only talent.
She is becoming a good cook and cake decorator too.

I went with her to a cake decorating class.

She did a great job...in fact...

Her cake turned out to be the best in the class...
and she was the only child enrolled.
Loni always makes me smile.
...
Can you see why my cheeks are sore from smiling
these past2 weeks???
...and I still have more to tell you...
...in another post....

My last smile for today is for our little Toyota Prius.
On this trip she took us 1,800 miles in comfort...
..and with economy.
She gets 40 to 45 miles per gallon which is great with
gas prices being so high.
6. Our Prius makes me smile.
...
I feel so thankful for these experiences and so blessed.
I hope you had a week full of smiles too.
...
Now that I am back home I look forward to
catching up on reading your blogs.
I've missed you.
Have a great week.

Sunday Smiles from Las Vegas

I have many smiles to tell you about.
I still want to tell you about our fun trip to San Diego
and our tea party
and visit with family....
I am way behind....
but those smile stories will have to wait a bit longer
because today I want to tell you about
our smiles from Las Vegas.
...
I am listing more than 6 smiles this week, but I can't help it.
I just had too much to smile about to limit it.
Last week John and I drove 250 miles to Las Vegas, Nevada.

We didn't go there to gamble.
We went to join our daughter Lynell, our granddaughter, Loni
in supporting and cheering on our grandson, Johnny

at the Black Jack National gymnastic championship.

Johnny did his personal best on every apparatus...
smile smile

despite the injuries.

.It was a huge meet with 140 level 9 boys competing in Johnny's age group.

.

Johnny wasn't the only one that was head over heels.... or
heels over head

We were so happy and excited as we watched

each event

I think my heart was pounding as hard as Johnny's...

...especially on the pommel horse which is his hardest event.
He did great.
Smile Smile

Johnny did not come in 1st place in any of the 6 events....

But he came in 4th overall which is one place higher
than he achieved in his last meet at the Olympic training center in Colorado
...and...

...he did medal in each event which is quite remarkable considering
how many he was competing against.
One day we think we will see this hard working boy in the Olympics.

The meet went on for 3 days.
While Johnny stayed at the gym supporting his team mates
competing in other divisions, Grampy, Lynell, Loni and I
went out on the town.

Loni's favorite place was the M & M store.

4 stories filled with M & M products of every kind was quite amazing.

Actually Las Vegas is quite amazing.

I doubt if there is any place like it in the world.

I have no idea how so many mega hotels with 1000's of rooms each
can stay in business.

I guess people come from all over the world to fill those rooms
and gamble in the hotel casinos....but...

We came from California and Utah to support
one 14 year old boy in his quest of an Olympic dream.

Way to go Johnny.
I know that you are where you are because
of hard work and sacrifice on your part
and on the part of your family.
Grampy and I are proud of you and them.
You make me smile.
...
I am also smiling that Marie got to go to Angie's funeral
and say goodbye to our sweet blog friend from all of us.

...
I will not be able to blog next week but I will be thinking of you....
and when I come back next Sunday I will have
wonderful smiles to share with you.
Until then, I hope you have a great week
that is full of smiles.

A Sunday Story and a Hymn

God’s Cake

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?"
or ....Why did God have to do this to me?
Here is a wonderful explanation.
A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong, she is failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile her mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack. The daughter says, "Sure mom, I love your cake."
Here dear, have some cooking oil", her mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about some raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom"
"Would you like some flour then?.... or...
maybe some baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies...
"Yes, all those things seem yucky all by themselves.
But, when they are put together in the right way,
they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"
...
God works the same way.
Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times.
But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order,
they always work for good.
We just have to trust Him and, eventually,
they will all make somethings wonderful!
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring... and...
a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and
He chose your heart.
..
I Believe in Christ

by Bruce R. McConkie

I believe in Christ; He stands supreme!
From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With Him I'll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.
...
This was the spiritual thought given by a member
of our Temple Presidency this last week
before we started working on our Temple shift.
...
I wanted to share it with you because it has been true in my life.
As I look back on my most difficult times I can see
that God had not abandoned me.... He was just
turning me in another direction.... onto a better path...
that lead me to a much better place.
I have learned that even in the midst of
hard times we must trust God and turn towards Him...
...not away from Him....
for He is our strength and our Salvation.
Have a great week.
I will be back with my regular Sunday Six Soon.