'Bout time I updated.  I have noticed so many have gone to the "Facebook" thing, but I think having this - for me - has been much better for sharing my feelings.  I have truly enjoyed finding old friends and keeping up with those that I know.  I am so grateful for all of my friends and family.  I think that was instilled in me when I was rather young.  Being a member of such a large family - that includes the Flakes, Smiths, Webbs, DeWitts, Bakers, Farnsworths, Martineaus, etc., etc., etc., I was given ample opportunity to have lots of friends.  My parents always enjoyed being with their kinfolk and that helped me enjoy it too.

Since I have "grown up," I have been able to really appreciate those relatives that I grew up knowing or being introduced to.  I have seen first hand what a wonderful group of people I am a part of.  Growing up in Snowflake, of course, I knew all of my Flake relatives that resided there also.  I had many of my cousins that were around my age and we did things together quite often.  There were many of the Smith relatives that I knew and grew up with also.  Mine is a rich heritage, for sure.  

I totally believe I was blessed to have been given the opportunity to grow up around family.  It has molded my life into that of appreciating people from all circumstances.  I have relatives that run from all extremes - some have lots of money, some have next to nothing, some have fame, some are very quietly living their lives, some are doing just fine being in the middle - but each of them have played a valuable part in my life.  I honor my family.  I am grateful for the kind of people they are.  As a whole, they are honest and forthright - they have testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and try to live up to that testimony.  That, I think is what makes us such a great family.  

I will site the Flake family for a moment - We meet each year for a big reunion in July.  This reunion is attended by hundreds of us Flakes from all around.  There are still a good handful that live in Snowflake, but there are thousands of us spread around the world and it is exciting to see those that come to visit for the reunion.  I have been trying to find out for sure if this is true, but I believe we have the longest running "family rodeo" in the nation.  But anyhow - one of the most wonderful things is that when you meet a family member, you are greeted as being a very important part of the family.  It doesn't matter what limb of the tree you are off of, you are still a vital part of this important family.  My father's first cousins treat me as if I were on the same limb of the tree as they - they always come and give me a hug and a good warm handshake - which makes me feel so much love.  I love each of them and appreciate their friendship throughout the years.

The DeWitt family is so similar - they sure like to have fun.  They laugh, sing, tease, etc. and you just can't leave them without feeling that wonderful sense of family.  So many of my relatives on all sides give me that feeling.  I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to grow up in such circumstances and pray that I will always be a good example to others.  So - if you're a relative - I LOVE YOU!

Now - I have been privileged to meet and get to know so many others that don't come so close in the relative area - but are just like my family.  All of you continue to make my life a blessing.  So many of you were there to help teach me while growing up.  Many of you came after I left home (sort of) as an adult (Ha - never really have gotten to that point yet).  Because of your influence on me, I am who I am today.  The circle of friends that surround me are great!  Your testimonies of the Gospel also bolster me up to meet the challenges of the times.

I had the beautiful opportunity to play for two very dear friends' funerals.  Brother Bill Maxwell was such a wonderful friend.  I grew up with his kids and I have had lots of fun with Bill through the years.  It was sad to hear of his passing, but he had lived a long, happy life and it was time to move on to his wife and children that have passed on before.  I will always be grateful for my association with him and his family.  I am so honored to have been a part of his celebration and I thank the family for including me.

The next funeral - I had very mixed emotions about.  My dear friend Dawn Shelton - a classmate and friend and church companion.  She passed on very suddenly and so it was a shock to us to hear of it.  Yet, understanding what she had been through in her life, this was a real blessing.  It isn't easy for her family to lose her, but because they are founded in the Gospel, they the have a keen understand as to where Dawn is now.  I mentioned to her brother and sister that I felt Dawn had graduated.  She had come to this life to learn what God had in store for her - she had many trials - many of those trials were very hard - yet, she did what she was supposed to do, she endured.  So, when she passed through the veil, I'm sure she was greeted with that understanding that she had passed the test and now had graduated on to the next part of the Plan of our Heavenly Father.

What a wonderful thing to understand - that we have a short time being away from Heavenly Father and we get to be tested as to what caliber of spirit and child of God we are and then know that we will be able to return to Him again.  This is all because of what our Saviour, Jesus Christ, did for us.  This is the Easter season - so many important dates surround the final Easter morning.  

The thought of the Lord being treated as a common criminal - or worse - and being flogged, scourged, beaten.  That alone makes my soul weep.  But - the most important thing that was done, was when He went to the Garden and took our sins upon His shoulders.  My goodness!!!  How many drops of blood did I cause Him to shed?  Many more than I should have, yet He did it for me.  He gave me opportunity to repent and continue to strive to live my life worthy of that sacrifice.  Then - He died - on the cross - a most inhumane way of torture - for me....!!!  In this mortal understanding of mine, it is inconceivable what He truly went through, but He did it - He did it for all of us!  Just for that we should celebrate.

Then - He rose from the dead!  He took his body from the tomb and it was glorified and perfected and He opened the graves.  To have that understanding is humbling.  To know that because of Him, I too, will be able to be reunited with my body after death and it be perfected and that I will have the opportunity to live with Him and our Father again - WITH MY FAMILY, TOGETHER, FOREVER!  Hallelujia!  Glory to God on High!  He is RISEN!

My dearest family and friends - thank you again for helping me in all of my follies to come to the understanding of what life is truly about.  You are so wonderful.  I LOVE YOU ALL!

Changes

I have let this go by again a little too long.  

Had an interesting Sunday evening last Sunday - it was almost too windy to go out and play my violin, but we had people say they were going to be there, so we couldn't let them down.  We had a handful of folks stop by, but the doggone wind was a little too much and it started to get a little chilly.  The missionary sisters came by also and they kept asking for more and more hymns and songs.  One of the sisters asked if I knew the song "Homeward Bound."  She started singing it to me, and I recognized it a little, but wasn't quite sure if I really knew it.  So she has challenged me to learn it.  I just don't know where to find it and if I would be finding the right one.  Hummmmm.

Well, folks, it's time for a change.  I need one desperately.  For the next few weeks, I'm going to try to make some changes.  I will let you know how they are going and what they are as time goes by.  But - I need to do something for myself and my family.  

I have had an opportunity kind of "dropped" in my lap and I need to prepare myself for it.  I have a cousin that lives in Russia and is building a titanium plant for his company.  I was talking with his wife over "FaceBook" and she asked me a really loaded question.  I had been telling her a little bit about my husband and she asked if he had any children.  Well - had to answer "no" because we don't.  I have many nephews and nieces that are just like my own, but they don't really belong to me and Nick.  There was a point at the beginning of our marriage that I thought I was pregnant - had all the signs - and then I think I lost it.  I talked with the doctor and he said everything pointed to a miscarriage - a very early one.  So - there wasn't anything after that and things have been kind of changing, so it looks like I ain't goin' to be the one that makes us parents.

Well - Christine stopped me in my tracks by telling me about a young boy she knew in an orphanage there in Russia.  His name is Roman.  He is five years old.  She sent me pictures and he is really cute.  She commented that she had fallen in love with this little guy and had tried to get him a home with a family earlier, but the family ended up adopting from the States.  So - Roman was left alone again.  She asked me to talk with Nick about it.  As soon as I mentioned it, Nick said, "How long and how much - let's get it done."

You know - I have always wanted my own family.  When I received my Patriarchal Blessing, it stated that I would have children and I would raise them in the Gospel... so I always counted on that to happen.  Well, as time has gone by, I missed my opportunity to bring children into this world and I have had moments of sadness overcome me at times - but because I know what to look forward to - that there is going to be a time when I will be able to have children and raise them in the Gospel - I have not despaired.  I have put my trust in the Lord on this one.

Because my mother had difficulties, it did not stop my parents from bringing children into our family by other means.  I have the most awesome brothers and sister that anyone could have.  Each one of them has brought a lot of joy into my life.  I don't have any idea what I would have done if my folks wouldn't have shared these kids with me.  I have one brother that is dealing with choices that have put him in a place where he can do a lot of thinking.  I can remember when he was brought into our home.  I can remember being in the court room when his birth mother was trying to get him back and I had to chase him around the room in his walker.  He was so cute.  I remember when we would play out in the back yard with our Tonka toys and building towns and roads and stuff together.  I remember riding horses for Daddy and training them to mind - going up and down Brimhall's mounds of dirt and sand - and riding fast out at the reservoir.  I remember his working with his horse, "Chasing Bear."  I remember swapping him chores - when it was cold outside, he didn't want to milk the cow - and I didn't want to do the dishes - so I would trade him and I would go out and milk the cow.  I know that sounds absolutely crazy, but anything was better than washing dishes!!!

My life with my brother Dallas was good.  We had a lot of moments where we disagreed with each other.  We had many times when things were hard, but I loved him and still do.  He has a lot of wonderful qualities.  I pray for him that he will see what he has had and will come back to us with a willing heart.  I could go on, but I want to mention my younger brother and sister.

Shea came into my life when I was 9 years old.  He was so cute!!!  Mama let me do a lot of the taking care of him.  We had our foster sister Rosemary living with us at the time and she took some of that responsibility also.  Shea wanted to be like Daddy.  He would mimic Daddy in just about everything he would do.  He loved to go out to the corral and watch Daddy with the horses.  He was very smart and he learned very quickly how to handle a horse and go and help us work the cows with Grandaddy and Uncle Glen.  He has always been one that wanted to do what was right.  You could never get him to budge on anything if it sounded like it had the slightest chance of being wrong.  He had to sleep in the same bed with his older brother - and still lives to tell about it.  If you have ever slept on the old water beds, you will know what I am talking about - you move, so does everyone else and if he just made a twitch, he was told if he wanted to live he had better not move again.....  He survived - but not without some trauma from it.

Shea was about 3 or 3 and a half when he went to Mama and asked her to tell Daddy to go out in the field and bring home a baby sister.  He had been going out with Daddy when the foals were being born and he figured that was where you got babies - so he asked Mama for that.  Mom told him that we didn't get babies from the field - he wanted to know where and so Mama told him we had to ask Heavenly Father.  Right then and there, he had Mama kneel down by the bed and pray for a baby sister.  My mother wasn't sure what to think of it - she couldn't have any more children and there had not been any prospects for any otherwise.  But she added her prayer to his and it wasn't very long before Shea's prayer was answered.

Lilli came into our lives with a bang.  She is our little firecracker - born on the 4th of July.  My folks had only a couple of weeks to prepare for her coming, but what a thrill it was to see her for the first time.  She was so small.  I was 13 and again, Mama let me do a lot of the taking care of this little ball of fun.  She was so cute.  My Dad's sisters and sister-in-law had baby boys that year and so Lilly was "in charge" of her younger boy cousins.  And let me tell you - she was IN CHARGE!  It was always so funny to see how she handled them.  She always loved little babies and even when the baby was almost as big as her, she would put that kid on her hip and carry them around just like she knew exactly what was to be done.

Lilli got to go us to pick my cousin Deon from her mission in Finland.  I am so glad she came along.  We went all over London, went up to Preston England and then rode the Eurail through Europe up to Denmark then up to Sweden and then over to Finland then back to Amsterdam and flew home.  We have had some good laughs at the memories of that trip.  I have had a lot of fun with her and still do!

Each of these kids have brought joy to our family.  And as I think about possibilities, I can think of what a joy a child would be in our home.  I don't know how we could do it, but I know that the Lord is very mindful of us and all of His children.  If we can prove worthy of this blessing, we welcome it with open arms and lots of love.  I know that it doesn't matter which way they come, they are an important part of a family and add so much.  I just hope I can be worthy of this blessing in this lifetime and that I can be the kind of mother my mother was to me.  I had the best!  Now I know you will all say your mother was the best - but hey - this is my blog and I say my Mom was the best!!!!  HA!

OK - I've cried enough today!  I just wanted to put down a few of my feelings.  I know I'm all over the place with my thoughts, but I appreciate your patience in reading these.  I am a product of my family and my friends and I thank all of you for being there for me.

Love you!

Tawna

Violin

Another sleepless night.  I'm getting tired of this.  I don't know what triggers it, but I sure wish my brain would shut down so that I can get some real "dream" sleep.

Oh well!  I guess I've heard that the older you get the less sleep you need..... Yikes!  If it has already started, I'm in trouble - won't be sleeping at all by the time I'm 60!!!!!!!!!!

I've been having some fun catching up with friends on FaceBook.  I have been able to be in contact with two of my companions from my mission and also a couple of other missionaries that were out the same time as myself.  This has been fun.

Memories!  What can I say.  There are so many that flood my mind.  I need a new filing system!  I do have to say that most of my memories tend to be in the good range.  It seems I have heard also that the older you get the better your memories are to you - meaning that most of the happy ones remain while the sad ones blur.  At least in my mind, this is mostly the case.  I have so many good memories.

Yes - I have some memories I would rather forget that continue to sneak in, but they are far and few between.  Memories from my childhood and growing up - learning about myself and what I felt was important at the time.  Wishing I were more accepted and then finding out years later that it wasn't as bad as I remembered - at least that's what everyone tells me.  But I do remember that if I wouldn't have had some of those times of not being accepted, I wouldn't have had the awesome experience of learning my violin and having it become my best friend.

As I sit here and reflect on that one particular part of my life - my violin - I am so grateful to the Lord for letting me have a taste of true love - music.  I remember how excited I was when Uncle Melvin started me on the violin.  My cousin, Mitzi, started with me and I remember going over to her house and pulling out the violins and comparing each one to the other and blowing on the tuning horn on the end of the instrument - thinking this was going to make us great violinists.  I had a gray case and she had a brown one.  I figured I had the coolest instrument.  But, as we began to learn to play, I could see she was playing better than me.  She really was.  I remember feeling pretty stupid as we would go to orchestra and I was sitting last seat because I couldn't play.  I would go home and try to practice.  I would hear Daddy asking Mama, "who's strangling the cat?"  "When is she going to play like Melvin?"  And so on.  I know he wasn't trying to be mean, but thank goodness for my Mom - she would convince Daddy that I would learn how to play and to leave so that it wouldn't make me feel bad that I couldn't right now.  

I remember one day at orchestra when Uncle Melvin announced we were going to have challenges.  He then came up to me and said that "tomorrow, you will challenge Donna Lee."  I remember looking at him and thinking, "you are completely nuts!  Donna Lee is sitting first chair - there is no way I can challenge her!"  He again told me that that was what was going to happen.  I went home and practiced - and practiced - and practiced.  That following day, we were all together in the orchestra room (which was located on the second floor of the old Haywood building that was torn down years ago) and all were on pins and needles.  I was 10 years old - fifth grader.  Donna Lee had already been playing for at least a year or two and I can still remember the feeling of dread and fear that almost made me run for home.  Well - my turn came.  I could see some of the other kids looking at me and probably thinking this was going to be a quick and easy "death."  Uncle Melvin positioned himself so he could not see us - we chose which would play first and we began.  Uncle Melvin would always hold up a hand and would raise a finger each time someone would hit a wrong note, so everyone was watching as this "battle" began.  I played first - and to my surprise, there were no fingers raised.  Talk about surprise - I was dumbfounded.  Well, then Donna Lee played.  I watched Uncle Melvin's had with hope and then saw no fingers go up.  Oh, no!  Now what?  She played it perfect.  See - there was no way I was going to win over her.

Uncle Melvin then announced that we would play something else out of the book that neither of us had played before.  SIGHT READING!  HEAVEN HELP ME!  I KNEW IT WAS OVER!!!

We looked at each other, made the decision as to who would play first and we began.  Donna Lee played first this time.  By the way - I know Uncle Melvin could tell who was playing.  There is no doubt!  Anyhow, I watched his hand..... one finger..... two fingers..... three fingers!  Now it was my turn.  I was shaking so bad I don't even remember if my fingers or the bow were even hitting the strings.  I watched out of the corner of my eye - I played.... one finger.... two fingers.... I knew it was just a matter of two more notes and I was out of there.... I finished and looked and saw only two fingers raised.  WHAT?  I had bested the best?  NO WAY!  I remember seeing Donna Lee's face.  She wasn't happy.  Everyone else in the room was stunned silent.  Uncle Melvin then informed everyone that on Monday, Tawna was going to occupy the first seat in the violin section.  Whoa!  I couldn't believe what I was hearing, seeing, feeling.....

That was when I finally felt that there was something I could do.  I had been feeling like I was not as pretty as others, that I was dumb, that I wasn't really wanted as a friend to anyone and then to have this happen, it gave me a sense of accomplishment that I truly needed at the time.

I don't know if Uncle Melvin did that on purpose or not, but I do know that it gave me the confidence to learn all I could about that instrument and made me feel good about myself.  Through the years, that violin has saved me more times than I can mention.  When I would come home feeling pretty beat up over something that happened at school or whatever, I would go into my room and pull out my violin and have a regular "cryfest" and would "talk" to my violin and would play and play and play.  It became my best friend in the whole world.  It never made me feel inferior.  It never made me feel I wasn't pretty.  It always made me feel like I was someone important and that it loved me as much as I loved it.

I know this sounds pretty crazy, but, I have to say that the blessing of music in my life, the blessing of that precious violin has made my life a thing of wonder and happiness.  I haven't been without challenges, but because of what I learned through my using my violin, I have been able to come out on top of things.  

When I first moved down here to Gilbert with Nick, we used to go over to my sister's home on Sunday evenings and I would play my violin out on the front yard and the kids would play and listen - neighbors would stop by - everyone would try to "stump" the fiddler.  It was a lot of fun.  Then weather got too warm and then life kind of took over and we didn't continue.  Well, Nick asked me if I would consider doing that here at our place in Mesa.  I thought - well - I guess the neighbors won't mind too much.  Nick called some of our neighbors and told them that we would be outside on Sunday evening and if they wanted to come over and listen that they were invited.  We had our next-door neighbor and our neighbors from across the street come over and we played until it got too late and started getting cold.  The next Sunday, we did the same and more people came over.  Well - tonight we will be doing the same and from what I heard from last Sunday, we should have a small crowd.  This has been fun.  I can only hope that I can keep the Spirit with me as I play and that it will touch those that listen.  

The Spirit of the Lord is real.  He accompanies those that live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I feel so very fortunate that the Lord has given me a unique voice in sharing His truths and I pray that the love I have found with music spills over to those that listen.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me opportunity to serve.  Thank you, Uncle Melvin for believing in me.  Thank you, Mama and Daddy, for your support throughout the years.  Thank you, my sister and brothers, for your patience with me in my pursuits.  Thank you, Nick, for being so supportive of me and my love of sharing.  Thank all the rest of you for loving me, too.

Until the next post - take care and I love you!

Tawna

Sunday

Today is Sunday.  I had the opportunity to go and accompany my nieces and some of their friends in Church today.  They sang "A Child's Prayer" and did a wonderful job.  I wasn't sure if I was going to make it or not.  When I woke up this morning, I felt dizzy and nauseous and wasn't sure if I would be able to stand and play at all.  I knew I would be able to play the violin ok, but standing or getting up and down from the stand, I wasn't absolutely confident in myself.  

I knew there wasn't time to "call in sick" so I just said a little prayer and went to the meeting.  Gratefully the Lord blessed me and helped me keep my balance and my composure.  As I said, the girls did a beautiful job and it is always rewarding to be able to be a part of things like this.

I have been suffering from bronchitis.  The cough has been almost unbearable.  I don't like how this makes me feel.  I wish I would get better.  This is driving me insane!

Had another opportunity to go see my niece, Tiffany, play volleyball on Saturday.  She is so talented at this sport.  I got there late, but got to watch her and her team win the series and place themselves in a better position of winning top honors.  Volleyball has become quite the competition - they have clubs that compete with each other all around the state.  It's amazing to hear all about it.  Tiffany will be playing for Chandler-Gilbert in the fall and so she is trying to keep herself in a position where they can't be without her.  I really wish her the best in this endeavor.

It was nice being with family yesterday - even though I felt like crap - it was good to be with them.  After the day was almost done, Lilli called and told me about her day and I felt guilty that I hadn't been there to be of help for her - she had a very full day and I was nowhere to be found.  DANG ME!!! 

I have been so blessed to have the family I do.  They sure are patient with this old sister and aunt.  They are all worried that I'm going to leave them or something, so I want to say here and now - I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE!  I WILL GET MY HEALTH IN CHECK!

Now - I've said it.  Now - I have to do it, don't I.  Well - I am going to do my best to regain my health as much as the Lord will allow.  I want to be able to run and play with my nieces and nephews and enjoy all of the great things in life.  I don't want to be the one that everyone worries about.  I appreciate the concern, but I am not one who does well with sympathy.  I do have my moments, though, that I want somebody to really feel sorry for me and all that, but for reals, I don't want to be known as one who needs that on a regular basis.  I have told others that I can put on some of the greatest "pity parties" around (I bring refreshments) and I can really take myself to task on my faults, but I hope I don't spill them over to have others worry about them and me.

I know this doesn't make any sense, but let's blame it on the vertigo and bronchitis - what do you think?  

I love all of you!  Thank you again for your love and friendship to me.

Ta Ta for now!

Tawna

Old Friends

I have some of the best friends in the world.  I am so grateful for each and every one of them.  They fill my life with flowers of hope and praise.  They cultivate my testimony and add the nourishment to my soul.  I have one of the most beautiful bouquets of anyone around because of my friends.

I was just on my "FACEBOOK" page and was chatting with former mission companions.  A flood of memories came back and I am amazed at the real caliber of companions I had.  These women taught me the gospel just as plain and beautifully as my primary teachers and sunday school teachers did.  It was just a little more intense and 24 hours a day!  But - I came away from each companionship a stronger person in so many ways.

I want to thank each of them for their patience with me in helping me become the person I am today.  I have noted how much my parents have helped me.  I have also noted how much my brothers and sister have helped me, as well as their children.  But, I also want to thank those sisters that had to live with me without a break.  They all deserve medals for that!

It has been fun having this little forum.  I know I don't make a lot of sense, but it is nice to have the opportunity to publicly express my feelings.  I don't even know if anyone really reads this, but I don't care - I love having the opportunity.  

I have truly been blessed in my life.  And I want to shout that from the rooftops as loud as I can and say, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

So - until next time, take care and "Kauniita uunia ja oman kuulen kuvia.  Nykyy hyviin!"

Love ya!!!!!!

It's time for another update.  Wish there had been something exciting happen, but all I can say is life keeps moving on.

Was up in Snowflake a couple of week-ends ago.  My sister took her family up to play in the snow.  I had the wonderful opportunity to take care of my nephew, Payt, and help Grandpa in the Barn.  Payt went down for a nap and Grandpa decided to utilize my time by putting in a couple of small speakers up on the ceiling of the Barn.  My dad is a hoot!  He wanted to have real "stereo" sound coming from his stereo and he felt the big speakers on the floor didn't give the true picture as they are very close together you only hear the stereo when you're up close.  Hence, new speakers up on the wall/ceiling.

My father is 76 years old this Friday.  He was going up and down the big tall ladders like a youngster.  I was totally amazed.  Of course he was glad when we were through running wires and hiding them along the corners.  When you go into the Barn, you will understand what a real fete this was for Daddy.  It was fun to spend time alone with my Dad.  He is one of the most wonderful people in the world!

I have been grateful for my understanding of my folks.  I knew from a very young age that my parents were not "born" parents.  I knew that they were learning with each one of us children.  It has been interesting watching how they have handled each of us and our little quirks and our funny ways.  Years ago, discipline was a little different than it is today.  The philosophy of "spare the rod, spoil the child" was almost strictly adhered to.  My Dad had grown up with a very stern father, who also had a very stern father, who had a stern father, etc.  This meant that when you did something you shouldn't, you were disciplined - usually with a belt or a willow or a strap - or a kick in the pants.  Today children are put into "time out" or "time away" or sent to their room for a time.  Only rarely do you see them paddled beforehand.  

I grew up knowing both sides of it.  And, as I reflect on this, I am grateful for the things I learned.  I do not hold anything against my folks for the discipline I received.  I was taught that there was a consequence for doing something wrong.  I think I am a better person because my folks took the time to teach me, talk to me, discipline me.  Sometimes it was a little uncomfortable, but I always knew my parents loved me.  I saw more tears shed because they didn't want to spank, but felt it was needed.

Then, as each of us grew up, the discipline changed somewhat.  It seems that the younger kids had more "talkin' toos" than me and my brother just younger.  I know that the younger ones did get a share on some of the other, but Mama and Daddy could see that they needed to discipline according to the child, not just for discipline's sake.  I believe my folks did a marvelous job raising my little brothers and sister.  The younger ones amaze me every day.  They have such beautiful families and have shown love to their children the same as they were shown growing up.  I think they're marvelous.

Anyone who raises a child is amazing to me - let alone raising many children.  I have wished I would have had the opportunity to raise a child in this life, but some of my own choices may have kept that from happening.  Marrying later in life kind of puts a little bit of a damper on "growin' your own," so I have accepted the fact that I will need to live worthy enough to have that blessing in the hereafter.  I have been promised children by the Lord and I know He will make good on that promise if I prove to Him I am worthy of that blessing.  But, for now, I have the opportunity to spoil my nieces and nephews.  I have appreciated the love these kids show to me and how they have accepted Uncle Nick.  We may not be the most active Aunt and Uncle, but I think they can see we have fun.

I get to spend a lot of time with my sister's children and have watched them grow and mature.  Of course her oldest, Rhett, has grown at least 6 inches in the last six months (I swear!) and his voice is getting a little deeper as we speak.  He's way taller than his mom and inching up on his dad.  Her oldest daughter, Brynn, is amazing in her talent with dancing.  She is going to be a real knockout and I think her parents are going to have to keep a bat by the door to chase off the fellers.  Then there's the third, Brooke, - what a voice!  And what talent in dancing herself.  Those blue eyes of hers just about knock you over and what I said about her older sister, just about goes double for her.  I have never heard a kid sing more - her sister comes a close second on that one.

Then there is my Payt.  What an angel boy.  He is growing so.  We are working with his speech and have thrilled when he starts to make sense with his words.  He still struggles with putting the beginnings and endings of the words there, but he is trying more and more to communicate using words - he signs some also.  I have noticed his singing to himself a lot more lately.  He likes to go look at the huge mirror in the hall and sing to himself and talk to himself.  He's a crack up!  He is showing a lot of character with facial expressions and such - he even mimics the girls when they throw tantrums.  Or, if one gets in trouble, Payt will show his concern and his love to that brother or sister by going up and hugging them or crying with them or running back to the bedroom with them to support them.  I have laughed and cried at these manifestations and feel the constant miracle of Payt and his progress.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share with my brothers and sister and their children.  

My younger brother's kids are great.  I have watched the oldest, Tiffany, grow into a beautiful young woman getting ready to graduate from High School and go to college and play volleyball with the big girls.  She is very talented in volleyball!  I have had some good times with my sweetie!  Then there comes the oldest boy - Derek - Grandpa's shadow.  I really don't know what Grandpa would do with out him.  He takes care of the horses - saddles them up and rides and trains them.  Then he goes to work to earn a little money for his mission fund and just living life.  He plays great basketball, like his dad, wears his dad's suit and even look like his dad.  Grandma says she has trouble telling them apart if their back is to her.

Then comes our little/big man, Jordan.  I am absolutely amazed at his talents.  There is a lot to this kid.  He is great with others - everyone loves him.  He is his class president and you can really see why.  Next comes our Aubry.  What can I say - she has grown at least six inches too in the last six months - what are these kids eating?????  She is coming into her own - loves basketball and is good at it.  I haven't had the opportunity to see her games, but she tells me about them and I am glad she keeps me abreast to her activities.  Next comes Melany.  My Mel!  I will never forget her coming over to Grandma's and crawling into bed with Grandma just to snuggle.  She adores her Grandma Louise.  I am so glad she does.  She is so sweet and she is doing great with tumbling and stuff like that.  She'll be another knock out for sure!  Now - KAMY.  What can I say - she's the cutest thing walkin'!  She has such a cute personality.  I don't get to see her quite as much as I did the other kids because Nick and I got married and I moved away, but Kamy does recognize me and that makes me feel good.

Now - I can't not mention my other nephews.  Dallas' boys, Trenton and Dustin.  I love those two.  They are much older than the rest of the kids and grew up for the most part away from us, but they do remember spending a lot of time at Grandma and Grandpa's and feel it their home.  I am grateful they have that bond.  I pray for them in their choices.  Their father hasn't always been the greatest of examples for the good, but they did have a man, Mark, that helped their mother in raising them.  He tried very hard to do the right thing and I will always be grateful to him for that.  Trent is off to school and Dustin is still trying to figure things out.  I hope the best for them always.

I have a couple of others, my sister Rosemary's kids, Shandiin and Denver.  They grew up in Salt Lake City and we haven't been able to get very close.  I still love them and pray for them to make wise decisions, as does their mother.  Rosy is wonderful.  She has stayed faithful throughout much adversity and she has been a great example to me.  I love her very much.

Well - I was just planning on a short post, but wrote an epistle.  Thanks for reading.  I hope you got something good out of it.  I don't even know if anyone really reads this, but whatever the case, I love you.  Thanks again for being there!

Tawna

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

I hope you have a wonderful day.

I was sitting here, trying to get tired enough to go back to bed and found myself reflecting on past Valentine's days.  I remember making one big special card that had a string on it and we would go knock on the door of some unsuspecting friend or family member, then run and hide behind a bush or something.  When they would answer the door and try to pick up the valentine, we would yank on the string and pull the valentine out of reach.  I remember trying not to laugh out loud when I would hear some of the comments.  It was fun to watch as the recipient would chase the card until they found us hiding and then all of us would laugh and have a good time about it.

I can remember how much fun it was to get valentine cards.  I would stay up late the night before and write the names of my friends on various cards my Mom had gotten for me - many times they were home-made.  I remember how thrilled I was to give these out.  This was my chance to tell some of the kids in my class that I liked them.  What was interesting to me was how on that one day, everyone was a little nicer.  I think it was because they were going to get something.  But be that as it may, we all seemed to look forward to see who was going to give us their valentine's cards.

I remember having a crush on a certain young man in Fourth grade.  I never told anyone who it was, and I'm not going to now, but I thought he was pretty cool.  I couldn't wait to give him a valentine's card.  I remember trying to be really sneaky and get my card into his desk.  It was one I had specially picked out and I knew no one else had that same card, so I would be able to see what kind of reaction he would give when he opened up that card.  I waited all day.  I was on pins and needles waiting to see if he liked me as much as I liked him.  I have to just laugh at me - I was not what you would call the most popular person in the class, and I often felt I was just a "friend of convenience" to the others my age.  I tried everything to be accepted, but went home many a day crying to my mother about something that had happened that day and how I felt a little mistreated, etc.  I have to say, I was sure glad I had my Mom.  She would say, "I'll go talk to their mother about this."  And I would panic and say, "Don't Mama - they will hate me even more if you do that."  Anyhow - such the dramatic life of a pre-teen.  (Teenage years weren't much different - I just had my violin I turned to when I was feeling rejected.)

Anyhow - back to the story.  I waited all day.  At the end of the day - just before we were release to go home, Mrs. Jackson let us open our valentine's cards.  I remember I had just a few cards, but some of the kids had hundreds!  I'm not kidding!  Well - this young man had hundreds.  I kept watching him to see if he would like the card I gave him.  I waited - I waited - I waited.  The bell rang and everyone ran out to go home.  I never did see him open my card!  I was crushed!  I remember walking home thinking all was lost - he would never know how much I liked him.  I'm sure you can kind of remember what that felt like.....  Well, a few days later, I don't remember what we were doing - I think we were practicing for our class program we were going to give in the gym - and this young man came up to me and quietly said, "Thanks for the Valentine."  That was all he said.  I could have died right there!!!  My heart skipped at least 12 beats and I felt like I was going to float right off the floor.  He had actually read my valentine.  WOW!  Needless to say, I dreamed about him for a while over that.  Then came Fifth grade - and he turned out to be a real jerk.  Oh well - it was great while it lasted.  Valentine's Day - 1967.  Isn't it funny how things jump back into your memory?  Never thought I would even remember that.

Well - thank goodness for forums like this, where I can just ramble on about memories and such.  Hope I didn't bore you with that memory, but it was fun recalling it.  I am just sitting here laughing out loud.

Hope you all have a good day!  May you all feel my love and know you are very special to me.  I wouldn't be who I am if it weren't for special friends like you who have shared your life with me.  

YYY Hugs and Kisses! YYY

Tawna