Brimhall Young Womens April 2012

This month started off with a special Silent Easter Lesson by Sister Nilsson.  I, however, wasn't there, but heard it was fabulous.  And a great way to feel the true spirit of Easter.

These are the only pictures I have of Youth Conference and they are from the dance.  I didn't have any pictures of the talent show (by the way, our ward rocked the talent show with our glow in the dark stick man dance), the dinner, the wonderful speakers and the SERVICE project.

Our Joint Activity for this month was the Amazing Race!  My wonderful counselor Cheryl did a great job making this happen.  It looks like we had fun!!

Also this month the Laurels took milkshakes to Sister Whilhite and Sister Wheeler who were in a nursing home.  What a great Opportunity!

and

Our combined YW activity was "Feed My Soul."  We watched the video of Mariama Kallon "Delivered By Hope"

Raised in a country ravaged by civil war, Mariama Kallon narrowly escaped torture by murderous rebel forces. After losing her entire family and everything she owned, she was guided to safety as she found refuge with a Latter-day Saint family in her native Sierra Leone. Touched by the teachings of the Restoration, and full of gratitude for all the Lord had done for her, Mariama wanted to wear her own missionary nametag. With barely a single change of clothes and a Church-sent hygiene kit as her only worldly possessions, she made the trek to the United States and began a full-time mission on Temple Square.Delivered By Hope tells the true story of Mariama Kallon's remarkable journey, as she was led by the Lord from war-torn West Africa to a new life in a new land.

What a great message and then sweet Sister Castillo shared some thoughts and we all partook of the delicious recipes each of the young women brought to share. 

Happy April!!

Our 17th Anniversary in Santa Monica

Steve and I spent our 17th Anniversary here at the Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica. 

 

Here are the cute yellow chairs in our room, it was very bright, cottage-like bed and breakfast.  We really loved the breakfast and aftenoon snacks.  All homemade and super delicious! The cook even gave us a cookbook.

 

An anniversary trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to the temple. 

This is were we were married 17 years ago.

 

These pictures are in no particular order but just a run down of the restaurants we tried and the shopping we did:

 

Steve at the Inn.

The beach was too cold and windy, so we did some shopping.

 

This place was on a list of restaurants that a co-worker sent to Steve. It was a total hole in the wall but one of those places that you would go back to for sure. We even saw an actor and his family, just can't remember his name.  Steve recognized him. 

Our first dinner was at Baby Blue's BBQ which was a DDD recomendation.  It was GOOD!

Santa Monica Pier and my fortune said:

 You've been trying to figure out the best time to travel.  You're wondering if a business trip or a vacation would be good.  You may be wondering if to travel is a better thin than to arrive.  It is not fit that everyone should travel.  You change your sky, not your mind, when you cross the sea or land.   A busy idleness possesses you; you seek a happy life, with ships, cars, and planes; the object of your search is present within you.  If you travel for your holiday remember a good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are more vague than your own. 

Thanks for that bit of whatever...

I have been here a couple of times now and there is always a line out the door.  It is an ice cream and cookie place.  You get to pick out to cookies and a flavor or ice cream to make your own ice cream sandwich.  So cheap and delicious!!!!  It is just down the street from UCLA hospital.

Just a little insight to the bed and breakfast that we stayed in. It is a historic 14 bedroom mansion that was built in 1910 and moved to its current place in Santa Monica Canyon in 1977 where it was restored and turned into a bed and breakfast.

 The massive oak front door of the Channel Road Inn.

 

 

Steve liked the shape of this board so I got to hold it for the picture. 

Charity

Matthew's Scout Troop was asked to help raise the flag at the opening ceremonies of the "Brandon, Katie & Sara's Run for a Reason."   Brandon was the a one year old son of a neighbor and Katie was a one year old of a sister in our ward who died of  SUDC.  {Sudden Unexplained Death in Children} These two mom's started this race to help raise money to support research and awareness of SUDC so that no family will ever have to experience this tragic loss in the future.

 

 

Really Boys?

Is this really what you choose to do with your friends when they come over to play?

And they weren't posing for the picture, this is how I found them all on the loveseat playing Nintendo.

Matthew, Ryan, Anthony & Matthew N.

"Just Outstanding" Trail

This is a 16 mile bike ride from Alta Sierra ski resort down to Woffard Heights.  It is a famous trail that starts up through the trees and there is a famous tunnel of Manzanita trees.  This picture is actually on the climb up and you can see Lake Isabella just before the final desent. Ethan killed it going up and down. Great father and son bonding time.

The Water Hose

Easter 2012

On our way home from our spring break Leo Carrillo camping trip and after a stop at THE HABIT for lunch, we stopped for a couple of nights at G&G Spendlove's house to celebrate Easter with family.  Always good food and good times when there is family around.  We enjoyed church together and a fun Easter egg hunt with cousins. AND the Easter Bunny even found us.

 

1 Grandma + 1 Can of Whipped Cream = 10 Ecstatic Grandchildren

 

Oh My!  Look at those Cute Silly Faces!

 

Beautiful Baby Keith! This was our first time to meet our new little cousin.

Easter Family PICS!

 

 

Easter Quote from Thomas S. Monson:

"My beloved brothers and sisters, in our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: ‘He is not here: for he is risen.’"

How wonderful it is to have this knowledge. To know our Savior lives. To know there is a plan for us. And to know we can be happy.

 

Easter Morning...

 

 

 

THE Easter Egg HUNT