Branson Jack Call

I just returned from the funeral of little Branson Jack Call. I just wanted to post Robert and Natalie's website they created to his memory.

www.bransonjackcall.com

Okay, so Birthday week has passed. We are all a year older. (Except Rod) We have all eaten lots of whole wheat chocolate cake (Jespersen family recipe) and homemade ice cream. We had 2 parties and opened lots of presents. Of course we have the fairness police in our home, so everyone was on alert to see if someone got more presents than anyone else. Preston is still at that wonderful age where he just doesn't care about how many and what he got, just happy to get anything. He tends to be pretty easy going about most things- food being the exception.
I will be going up to Richfield, UT this next week. My nephew and his wife lost their baby the day before it was to be delivered. They live in Kentucky but are coming back to Utah to bury their baby. Rod and I had a really hard time with this one. I think it brought back all the too close times of almost loosing our babies. We struggled with the "why". We listened to a talk by Elder Maxwell that really helped us put it into perspective. As we listened, I was overwhelmed by the spirit. I had a wonderful feeling that the Lord is in charge and he knows what he is doing- He will give us the comfort we need to get through our trials if we allow Him to. Its the whole faith thing. We need to trust that the plan He has for us is better than the one we have for ourselves. I have forgotten that lately. I've been trying to work out my own plan and trying to avoid the one He has for me. (I'm not a big fan of trials!) As I listened, I was overcome with the feelings that I need to trust in the one He has for me because the one I have for myself is lonely! I love the gospel and most of all I love my Savior!

I've forgotten how exciting it is to have a birthday when you are a kid. Our kid's birthday week is fast approaching and every morning we have to go through the calendar thing - getting it out and counting how far away their birthdays are. Not just in the morning do we go through the routine. Everyone seems to forget that we talked about it at breakfast so, at every lull in the day, the conversation revives again and we have to get the calendar out again because nobody will believe that mom has already told them when their birthday was earlier in the day. Then, after we've gone through counting the days, we have to go through the lists they have of things they want for their birthdays. I'm always amazed at how the list changes according to the mood. Anyway. . .. . mom and kids are excited for the birthday week!

Most of you haven't been to our house yet. Rod decided to take a picture of the moon off of our back deck. As you can see, we don't exactly have a back yard yet. That will be the project of the summer! We are going to build a fence and plant some grass and bushes. We hopefully won't find too many rattlesnakes in the process!

The Ross gang paid a visit to one of our favorite places. The Natural Bridge. Rod had meetings in Payson on a Saturday so I decided to be brave and take the kids on the hike by myself. It isn't too bad of a hike until you have to carry a 40lb two year old up and down because he refuses to walk. We had a great time anyway.

This is Rod and I at Arlington Cemetery. Rod had work meetings in Washington D.C. and Steph got to play all around the city while he was working. What amazing history! It sure wasn't Arizona!

We decided to go to one of our favorite places before we moved to the White Mountains. The kids love walking around the Mesa Temple. They sat down long enough to pose for this picture. It captures all their personalities well.