READY... WAITING...

We were ready...

(The gang at the theater!)

We went opening night...

(The family at the theater!)

We had waited for a looooong time...

(It did not disappoint.)

It was fabulous!

(Worth the wait!)

Now we are ready again...

(Lookin' like grandma and grandpa...)

We have been waiting for a looooong time...

(Scott thinks these gnomes are our alter-egos: grandma and grandpa gnomes)

Hopefully tonight?!

CALLINGS HELP US LOVE MORE!

I LOVE serving in the YSA branch! I have learned to love so much more! And these "kids" are amazing! It sounds cliche, but it's true: I LOVE MY YSA!!!! I feel like my heart has opened up and created so much more room for the wonderful YSA branch. And I'll definitely never be the same. These kids make me better. They make me love better. They make me think better. They are truly wonderful!
Unfortunately, two of my YSA girls are leaving. These two have had a huge impact on me. I admire their testimonies. I admire their love. I admire their service. I love their hugs. I love their acceptance of... me. And I'm REALLY going to miss them.

Alexes

Alexes is truly incredible. Her testimony has strengthened my own. Although she has only been a member for less than a year, she understands so much. She shares her insights and always brings the spirit. She is moving to Texas. Luckily, she gave me her address. And she promises to come back for her endowment. I truly love you, Alexes!

Sister Morris

Sister Morris has served in the YSA branch for the entire time we have served and on Wednesday she goes home. Her enthusiasm is contagious! Her love of the gospel is evident! Her joy is infectious! Our branch will be a bit sadder without her! I love you, too, Sister Morris!
For the past 2 weeks, Scott and I have gotten to go to two baptisms in our branch. Each one was special and significant.

Scott and Zhong

Scott got to baptize Zhong. He's from China. His testimony about freedom and choosing to believe in Christ was awe inspiring. This young man is great!

Nessa and Me

And Nessa was baptized yesterday. She is beautiful inside and out. Her aunt spoke in their native tongue, Chukkkese. I have no clue what she said, but the Spirit was definitely present.
We are blessed to be with these kids!

LIFE IS A PICNIC

Our annual Container Packaging Picnic/BBQ was on Saturday. It was delicious! And I really do like the people Scott gets to work with. They are all good people (with some great kids!) I loved visiting and eating hamburgers, homemade peanutbutter sheet cake, fruit salad and Diet Coke!

Paige and Mason

Ryan and Danielle (with their adorable, little girl!)

Jeff and Jackie

Jillian and Jacob (with their 4 beautiful cuties!)

Katia, Cody and Kiara (Swedish Fish hasn't been born yet.)

Selfie - with Scott

Louis with his smart, handsome son!

Playing Spike Ball

Force Feeding

My man!  In his element!

He's so amazing, talented, and fun!

I'm blessed he's MINE!

"BASKETS" FULL OF LOVE - FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Yes, the bunny still comes and brings treats to my grownup children. This year the "baskets" were umbrellas! I think they were spoiled... and it's fun to be "young" again!

Katia was so excited to receive Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson!

And the Easter Bunny was super excited about the Barbie Bee Keeper!

This girl LOVES Reeses Thins!

And I can't wait for her to read The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society!

And Cody was more excited about Wheat Thins - more than chocolate.

Is that normal?!  But we love him, nonetheless.

Kotten Kandy made these cute pancakes for breakrast....

They were almost too cute to eat.

But they were delicious with syrup!

Thanks, sweet girl!

And Amy made this awesome cake!

Yummmmm!

But the best part of Easter?! Christ is risen! I believe in Him! And I am grateful for His sacrifice! Because of Him we can be forgiven. Because of Him we can grow and become. Because of Him we can live again. Because of Him families can be together forever!

BING! BANG! BOOM!

Scott and Katia LOVE going to Thunder Over Louisville. Scott has always loved fireworks and BBQ! So.... we went with Chris and met the Bettenhausens. (Kiara and Amy were too pregnant to attend.) It's always fun to enjoy the outdoors (even if it is crowded). And it's fun to eat junk food, watch the air show and enjoy each other's company. I also listened to Oathbringer. I love Brandon Sanderson's books. The fireworks were spectacular- like always!

BEST DAY OF HER LIFE.. SO FAR!

Katia went to the temple! It was truly one of my favorite days EVER! She is so lovely! She is so wonderful! And we are so blessed! My treasured moment came when both of my daughters, son, Scott and I all stood in the Celestial room afterwards in a huge hug. I couldn't stop crying happy tears. It doesn't get better than this.

Mark, Amy, Sheila, Mike, Scott, Katia, Me, Kiara, Cody

BABY SHOWER

I'm sure people are tired of hearing me excited exclaim that I'm going to be a grandma soon!  I'm so thrilled to start grandmother-ing!  So... in preparation, Amy, Katia and I through a baby shower for Key Lime Pie!  She was lovely!  People were kind!  And it was so much fun! 

I love seeing these two so happy!

Unfortunately, Amy won't let us throw her a baby shower...

But we are excited for two baby boys, nonetheless!

This is definitely getting "real!"

FIELD TRIPS, CONFERENCE AND FHE

We are so blessed with our DeThortenhausen family!  And because of them, we get to "celebrate" so much more.  And there has been so much to celebrate the past two and a half weeks. 
After DeGooyer Day I was so excited to share the giants at Bernheim Forest with my Bettenhausen kids!  It was wonderful to share this amazing, outdoor exhibit with them!  We had such a wonderful day... until Kiara Lea decided to fall on her very pregnant belly.  The last part of the day was spent at the hospital making sure my grandson (and daughter) were OK.  They are.  And all is well.  Some of my favorite parts of the field trip was Raisin talking about giants for days afterwards.  I also really thought it was sweet that Jelly Bean was so concerned about Kiara and her baby.  He told her that he wished he had the priesthood so he could give her a blessing when she fell.  What a sweetheart!

"MY" kiddos!

Raisin LOVED the baby giant!

Marmalade loves dragons...

So we had to get a picture with the carved dragon head!

Jelly Bean standing on the foot of the giant....

Kiara Lea photo-bombed Apple Pie's picture!

Falling asleep on the giant's foot?!

Love these two beautiful girls!

And I love these two cute kids!

Giant Selfie Game!

The kids - and the pregnant mother giant!

And we LOVE General Conference!  All of our Kentucky family came over and enjoyed listening to the words of our latter-day prophets!  It's a wonderful experience for all of us!  And we love the traditions we've created around it.  We eat delicious food.  We play games between sessions.  And we all take notes during the conference. 

What?!  I'm practicing being a grandma!

Caught Cody twirling his hair!  😉

My two handsome men attended the priesthood session together...

And our final tradition to conclude the wonderful weekend:  Our General Conference Picnic Family Home Evening.  We enjoy being outdoors.  We enjoy being together.  And we all share our favorite talks and messages during the conference.  I love that even Raisin and Jelly Bean share their favorite parts of General Conference.  Jelly Bean simply said he loved "feeling the spirit while being together!"  (FYI: My favorite talk was Elder Holland's talk about the Sabbath Day!)

It's so beautiful!

Love these two young men!

Katia and Jelly Bean racing....

Katia says she's finally "old" because

she was worn out and almost couldn't keep up with a 6-year-old....

Delicious!

And good to enjoy the sunshine together!

And to revisit our wonderful weekend!

We are truly blessed!