FHE Crazy Dress Up

Just in case you can't tell by the acting and our awesome costumes, this is the Spendlove Family acting out the The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant - Matthew 18:21-35.  Matthew had a lesson on this in Sunday School and taught it for Family Home Evening.

Fresno Temple

On our way to Bass Lake and Yosemite for spring break, we stopped by to see the Fresno Temple. It is about 2 hours away from us if you head north. However, the Los Angeles Temple is 2 hours away from us if you head south and is the temple in our district. The Fresno temple is small but still beautiful and like always the feeling of reverence was there.

The BEST Primary Class

So I have pretty much spent my life serving the young women in our church, which has been a wonderful blessing. But I just got my first calling to serve in the primary. And I have been blessed with the best primary class of 8 year olds ever to teach. It has been a joy and a pleasure teaching them and I just wanted to record these cute little faces.

American CleanUp

While Steve & Ethan went on a boy scout campout, the rest of us participated in the American Clean Up Project. Our primary was in charge of cleaning up a park right around the corner from us. Wearing our Helping Hands Yellow vests and big orange safety gloves off we went to work. It was a couple weeks after Easter and there were lots of confetti and Easter candy wrappers all over. We had to leave early to head on over to a swim clinic, so I missed out on another photo op of the whole group. But it was a great day to serve!

Our Easter Feast

We were invited to have Easter Dinner at the Turner's with the Pack's and had a fabulous time.

The kids entertained themselves well while dinner was being prepared

I didn't take very many pictures and the ones I took weren't very good but this was our Easter Feast. We had lamb, ham, potato casserole, asparagus, red potatoes, rolls, spinach & strawberry salad, lemon meringue pie, Texas Sheet Cake and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies.

Rachel, Ellen & Logan Going Goo Goo over Baby Lucy
This was our after dinner entertainment. It was well performed by the one and only duo "Lauren & Logan". They were hilarious, but because they were so good at dancing together. It was soooo cute!.

Sweet Matthew

Dear, Mitchell
I hope your excited Mitchell.
This is a special moment for you.
When I was baptized I felt glad and happy.
And I hope you will to.
Let me tell you about my baptism I thought it was the best choice id ever made in my life.
Getting the Holy Ghost was all so the best gift id ever gotten in my life.
The Holy Ghost will help you in your trials
and when you need it to help you.
When you get baptized by Scott your dad
you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after you get baptized Mitchell.
Be for this ends id like to say a scripture its in mark 16: 16 its says
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved
but he that believeth not shall be damned.
in the name of Jesus Christ a men.



Love Matthew

Matthew sat down at the computer a few days before Mitchell's baptism and started typing this sweet letter. He did it all by himself, only having to ask me how to spell a few words.

And it is perfect. It made me cry and he said it is sure to make Aunt Kari cry.

A Valentine's Day Baptism

I have had so many thoughts in my mind and feelings in my heart that I haven't known how to begin writing them down. Now that it's 2 1/2 weeks later, lets see what I remember.

This was another "cry and laugh at the same time" moment. {The first time was when I found out that I was having both Rachel and Matthew, TWINS.}

We had been trying to prepare Rachel & Matthew a while now, well actually 8 years, to make this decision to be baptized, to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, to have all their sins washed away, to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, to covenant with their Heavenly Father that they will choose the right, be good examples, share the gospel, help others and when they fail to be able to repent and to ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness or for help.

Wow, that is a lot for an eight year old. However, they stepped up to the plate with lots of questions but with no doubt that they will be blessed and knowing they will someday enjoy the blessing of eternal life.

What a tender, sweet and proud moment this was for me. There were many tears of joy rolling down my cheeks. First, seeing Matthew & Rachel and Steve all dressed in white standing in front of a picture of Christ getting baptized. Second, feeling the spirit as my Dad & Mother-in-law shared there testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel. Third, watching two of my children enter the waters of baptism. Fourth, hearing Rachel say she feels "different". Fifth, watching a slide show presentation we made of the two of them growing up. Sixth, seeing my husband, my Dad, my Father-in-law, my Brothers and my Brother-in-law standing in a circle, around Rachel and then Matthew, assisting in the confirmation. Seventh, listening to my husband, who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, give such beautiful blessings. Eighth, feeling the love of all my family and friends who were in attendance that day. I guess "8" is a good number to end on, "8" is great.

This makes me wonder how the next 8 years of their life is going to be. I pray with all my heart that with the many challenges and trials that may come their way, that their faith will keep them standing strong. My heart is full and I am so grateful for all that I have been given. I know that what has happened this day is pleasing to our Heavenly Father and I know he lives. I am so grateful for our Saviors example and I know it is through him that we may be saved.

Thank you Matthew and Rachel for being you. I love you. Mom




Matthew & Rachel with their special baptism cake. I have made a few of these cakes for other people and they had to have one for themselves. This time a did something different. The Bee trails are actually President Hinckley's 9 B's: Be Grateful, Smart, Clean, True, Humble, Prayerful, Still, Positive and Involved. I also put hearts around the side, since it was Valentine's Day.

Grandma & Grandpa Cannon

Grandma & Grandpa Spendlove Uncle Eric, Aunt Mandi, Cailie, Isabelle, Macy & MaxUncle Scott, Aunt Amy, KaDee, Kassity & baby Matthew

Cousin Chris, Emily & Mitchell. I don't know how I didn't get a picture of Uncle Scott & Aunt Kari.
Chris & Emily sang a beautiful song, "When I Am Baptized."

Cute pictures of the girls: Rachel & IsabelleKaDee, Lauren, Kassity
Just thought this was a nice picture of the two Mother-in-laws standing over the cake chit chatting.

One last picture with each special one.

Top Ten Tuesday - Missionary Rules

In our Stake Conference, Sunday, our Stake President, John Allen, extended these 10 Missionary Rules to the Katy 2nd Stake. We just had a FHE on the missionary rules and were we ever suprised to find out how much our kids actually heard and remembered. It was a fun and easy discussion.

Missionary Rules

1. Get up early
2. Pray
3. Study Scriptures
4. Exercise
5. Look the part
6. Keep the Commandments
7. Give Service
8. Go to the Temple
9. Don’t Waste Time
10. Share the Gospel



This is my nephew Brad or Elder Spendlove, he just entered the MTC a couple of weeks ago and is the first grandchild on both sides to serve a mission. He is looking way too happy!


Along with these rules, we have been challenged to face our doors toward the temple and to wear the carpets out by going to the temple at least once a month.