Geof., June and I took a quick trip to Philly this weekend. Here's some of the pics. We also were able to go to Intercourse, Pennsylvania to see the Amish (my favorite part). Geof. was good and patient with me as I sleepily made my way through the weekend...that's what happens when your 8 month old wakes up 4 times a night!

Bavaria

http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/news/?ID=280

I could have just done that incorrectly but if not it is a link to the news article announcing the Open House to be held at Issaquah High School before it is torn down. Megan sent me the news. Kind of funny, she then wrote that Kurt had asked why they were doing that after just building the new commons and that was my first thought as well. Megan then said she laughed and told Kurt the commons was now 17 years old. Where do the years go? I'm old, I really am. So old IHS is being torn down and a new school built in its place. Kind of weird, kind of sad. I know I probably have more fond memories of that place than my sibs since my brother was supposedly in some drug induced state throughout high school and my sister was a drop out :). Of course most of mine really are memories of what I did when I was supposed to be at school, so maybe memories of the parking lot as I left? Any who, thought I'd let you know.

Well we got some really good news today. The school has been able to hire a special aide for Ellyn for the rest of the school year. She is an early education teacher and a counselor and she will work one on one with Ellyn every day. She is only approved for this year so far and it is still very far from where we need to go as far as the hours and therapy Ellie needs BUT at least we won't be treading water while we are working on everything, we will be moving forward. Ellyn's pre-school teacher has put together a curriculum for Ellyn. We will meet the Wednesday after Spring Break to discuss everything. So... that does eliminate our attempt to go to Richmond for Spring Break because I can't risk not getting a hop and Ellyn not being in school. That's a bummer but we are going to go out once school gets out. I'm thrilled though that the school moved so quickly on getting someone for Ellyn, the principal was very aggressive with getting the interviews set up and right when they interviewed this girl she asked if she could start today (interviewed Friday). The principal also asked me to come speak tomorrow to a group of monitors for the schools in Europe. I guess she sent the letter last week but I haven't picked my mail up yet since we got home on Saturday. She wants me to share our experience and my views on what is needed over here. I hope it isn't a huge group and I hope it isn't too formal. I hope it will make a difference. I also hope that they will be able to put together a really good program for the coming school year so we don't have to move. We are just praying that those that are working on this will be inspired and will make the best decisions for Ellyn and that we will be inspired as well. We go forward in faith.

So Mike left yesterday morning and it makes us all really, really sad. It was so wonderful to have him home. It was so nice to have the help and the companionship during the day and then have a buddy to snuggle up with at night, to watch movies and play games with, to eat lots of yummy food with as well. He is so my best friend, he makes me laugh. The day before he left and the day he left I would find myself tearing up when I was by myself- making dinner, what have you. I would start to cry for myself and the next eight months and then I would cry for Patti. I just pray that is something I never have to face.

Our family loves Enchanted by the way (Surprised?) The girls go around the house singing the songs, biting their knuckles and crying out "Giselle!" and impersonating Pip impersonating the apple scene- Want an apple? No. It's good. Okay. - and "I'm handsome even when I sleep." It's too funny and cute.

We had beautiful weather today. My neighbor, Kayla, and I flipped back over my trampoline and hosed it off (mom and Kayla flipped it during our big windstorm when Kayla's tramp got blown two yards away). It's funny, we now have this really odd design in our grass. the edges are almost white and dead, the middle is this absolutely brilliant shade of green, except for the center where mom put my little picnic table upside down to help keep it anchored, right there it is dead too. It looks like we are sending signals to aliens.

Adam, I'm sorry about the Tillman-Dicks, they will be in our prayers as well. Well I was going to post some pics but my friend April called and then I wrote way too much and it is too late. I will post some later. I love you all.

love, Brooke

for my sweet shishta

i remembered to post a reminder about ellynn's birthday, then don't get on and actually post a tribute.  sorry i am crazy! 

elly what can i say about you?  you are my hero.  i want to be just like you.  i remember sitting in church when i was a senior and elly was in 7th grade and thinking why can't i look like that?  i have come to discover over the the years that what makes ellynn look so good is that she has confidence.  she knows who she is and with that confidence she lifts others around her.  i always love when ellynn does my hair and make up, but it's not so much that she has made me look pretty on the outside it's that she has made me feel beautiful on the inside.  i love my elly!  i miss her every second that we are apart!  i wish more than anything that we could always be together, but i think it was jesse that said "at least we have eternity".  i am grateful for that.  the other night patti called and invited me to go with her to a shower that i had not been invited to.  i told her that i would go, but then called cory with doubts about going and people not wanting me there.  you know all those crazy thoughts we all have.  cory gave me some advise.....he said do you know why everyone always wants ellynn to be at every party?  because ellynn knows everyone wants her to be there.  and because she knows that:  everyone does want her to be there.  (did that make sense?  it did when cory told me.)  her self assurance keeps her from thinking about herself and focus all of her attention on others.  that is why ellynn is my hero.  i love her and i do want to be just like her! 

fire and brimstone

do you suppose that is why they describe hell as a lake of fire and brimstone.  i can't imagine anything worse--i hate a burn.  what an amazing story when you think about it most people would have just watched an accident like that and said man that guy is toast.  to actually have a fire extinguisher with them and be able to hose him down. did they pull him from the car? was it in flames too i'm guessing?

the fact that there were worthy Priesthood holders ready and able to give him a blessing! we have access to a Power most people do not have in this world.

the part about the garments protecting him was awesome. we don't realize  on a daily basis what a protection they are to us physically and spiritually. remember the little guy that was run over in our yard when we 1st moved here. his jeans were shredded and there were tire marks but his garments were untouched.

the tillman-dicks are all in our prayers.

love, mom

I just noticed this...

I have been looking at my emails and blogs talking about me and Ellynn, (aunt Ellynn). We both are most commonly called as "spoiled little princess". Not that anyone else isn't, I just thought that it was kind of funny. Sawyer is sitting next to me kicking the laptop and cooing, (now crying).
He is so cute. Darla, I am so excited about seeing you in what? Four Days? Well, anyway, I am still excited to see you. Meags tell Bennett and Hazel that they are princesses too.


Jane
P.S. I am not trying to brag. I promise.

Yo Shorty, it's yo birthday...

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet princess

Elly

I already talked to you so I know you had a great day but I hope it continues.

I love you so much.

Birthday!!!

Despite the 3 new inches of snow i woke up to this morning, it was a great birthday!! thanks for all the posts and calls. you guys are awesome! i have the best family ever!

ELLYNN!! happy birthday to our favorite auntie!!

Ellynn,
I asked the kids this morning...well, just now (since we walked in the door only a few hours ago), who their favorite aunt was and they said you! Isn't that crazy? They didn't even know it was your birthday! I didn't even realize they remembered you. (: Okay, that was all a big fat lie. BUT, they DO remember their aunt ellynn (Cole especially), and miss you soo much. We wish we were there to be with you on your big day, even if it's just to hold your hair back while you throw up. There's a couple in our ward that we just started hanging out with, and the wife reminds me a lot of you. She and Geof. are always quoting movies together and I never know what they're talking about. The two of you have such whit. We love you!

ColoradoBennett

Ahhahh, Ellynn. You are such a delightfully fun person. I've never met anyone like you. Of all my sister-in-laws with who served a mission to Finland, you are my most favorite. And thanks again for the fab. haircut. Hyvää syntymäpäivää!

Seattle Bennett living in Colorado

Happy Birthday Elly a boo boo
So Mindi had a Young Womens conference at our house yesterday so the Kids and I along with the 2 other families in the ward that we always hang out with went to the park to fly kites and have a picnic. while we were there the flight for life helicopter came in and landed a few blocks away it was cool to see it so close and Tristan i think liked it the most. 20 minutes later I get a call from the son of our first counselor in our bishop brick asking me to got Saint Anthony's Hospital that is dad Timber was just air lifted to the hospital. I quickly dumped my kids off to the other families and Marcus and I ran over to the hospital as we saw the wife and 2 daughters drive by as they had just left our house to see Timber. We literally could not have been any closer to the hospital than we were with out being in it. After getting clearance to go back to administer a blessing Marcus and I along with one our newly returned missionaries went back in to the emergency room. Timber is a father of 11 children a Yale graduate and beyond being brilliant is extremely kind. he was incoherent completely bandaged except for part of his face and chest. while driving home from the mountains along I-70 his tire blew out and he lost control rolling his car down an embankment and exploding it into flames, two guys stopped and luckily had an extinguisher and were able to get Timber put out. Timber completely unrecognizable suffered 6 broken ribs, a broken collar bone, broken scapula, a brain contusion and 68% of his body was burned. After finding a piece of skin on his scalp that was not too badly burned to anoint we were able to administer a blessing and he was immediately airlifted from the best trauma hospital in the inter-mountain west to the best burn clinic in the inter-mountain west 7 minutes by air away. I was able to go pick up Timber's kids that were in town and not with their mother and the bishop who had enough time get undressed from ski patrolling and get in a suit. We went to the hospital were details of what the next few months grimly explained if he is able to survive the next few days. As we sat there in the waiting room we got updates on his condition and new percentages on the burns to his. We were told of the different procedures that would have to take place like slitting his skin so that as the swelling increased it would either not cut off circulation to the hands or feet or cause the skin to rupture much like the skin on a sausage as it cooks (doctor's words not mine). However one of the reports that I heard was very interesting the doctor came out and asked if we were Mormons.
we said yes and asked if he was
he said no but that he had grown up in Utah. he then explained that he had heard of garments and different stories of how they had protected people and as he got to the area where Timbers should have been (they were cut off of him along with all his other clothes at the other hospital) there were no burns, he had no burn marks where his garments had been with the exception of an area on his belly where his clothes had come up.
After 7 hours we were able to see him again and give him another blessing. he at that point was completely wrapped up except his feet and his eyes and mouth. his eyes are ok, so far the cat scan shows no problems internally, his lungs were scanned today and they show no signs of permanent damage. If he continues to stabilize he should pull through and then 1 month of incubation and 2 1/2 to 3 months in the ICU followed by surgery after surgery. I have always said this, and now it is even more confirmed, my biggest fear is living through a fire not burning to death but actually burning then living.
love you all Adam

happy birthday my little boo bear

you may be older,but things have not changed much, you still are trying to get out of cleaning up the kitchen by pretending you have a sick stomach and you still only read books with pictures. you made that last comment on the end of my blog to pretend you read it so i would feel good.

well 9 1/2 months and 25 years ago i distinctly remember telling ellery that if he wanted any more children now was the time because if i ever got you all out of diapers that would be it! 2 weeks later i was pregnant with our little elly.

we moved to denver, the thanksgiving before you were born. i was so worried because now we were not around family who would be there to make a fuss over you. from the minute you were born there was a fuss. when we had to put you back in the hospital because of the jaundice people would stop and look at you under all those lights in your 1st and only string bikini (if this is not so don't tell me) they would comment on what a beautiful newborn you were. maybe that is when you got your first taste of how much fun you would have being on stage--which is where you really love to be--in the spotlight! i remember you and brind swing dancing in the front room. practicing over and over again the moves for this one dance. it was really complicated and at one point brind was putting you up and over his back. it was so fun to watch, but i was nervous because it didn't always work and what if it didn't for the performance at school. the choir was singing and you 2 were dancing. neither one of you were concerned. it went beautifully! I should have known. hence my oft repeated statement--i sing but i don't perform. you sing and perform and it is still so fun to watch!!!

truth is your cousins and aunts and uncles do an incredible job of making a fuss over you now!!! so you never really have missed out on anything, but then you always make people feel good about themselves so why not?

whenever i look at hazel, i see you--only with long blonde hair. i remember you chasing the seagulls on the beach at lake sammamish yelling, "i need you, i need you!" you have always been so dang funny. adam telling you and brind that the care bears turned into witches at night that would eat you. you will have to tell me again who slept by the wall to protect you from the care bear/witches till i could get them peeled off the wall (dang adam's hide--just you wait adam i will come up with something that will impact just you and not mindi) and who slept on the outside to protect you from whatever was going to get you from there. being a little kid is so scarey. you managed with all those big brothers to protect you and brind to boss around.

i wish i could be there to baby you my little boo bear, but since i can't i am so grateful that you have jason and his wonderful family to make sure you have a great birthday dinner and plenty of yummy birthday cake to throw up--wahoo!

i love you. i am so sorry that you don't feel well. luckily it won't last forever!!!

mom

jesse, little indie will be in our prayers especially (she is always in my prayers) that day. love you, the pictures of her little eye patches are so cute.

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Thank You Aunt Jack

Aunt Jack, thank you for that kind comment you left on my blog. My mom said it was sweet too.

I love you,
Jane

Happy Birthday!!!!! My little El!

Happy B Day to you, I hope that you have a wonderful Day and if it is true what Brooke said about not liking the foods that you like now, I want to get pregnant again (which would be a miracle) and eat everything, so I would never like any food again!! Love you Aunt Jack

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!! I hope you have a great birthday even though you are sick. I am now officially a member on Beech Tree. I don't have to write on my mom's thing anymore! Ellie, I am so sorry you are sick. I love you! How old will you be? My dad left today. We will do our best to keep ourselves busy. Meags and grandma, I am so excited for you to come! Love you guys!


Jane

Happy Birthday Ellie Boo!!!!

Oh Ellynn, I'm so sorry you are sick. I get nauseated just reading your blog! Try Ginger snaps, pineapple juice or pineapple, peppermint herbal tea. Just don't anything that you really love because you may not ever be able to eat those things again! Oh, try the sea sick wrist bands or hair rubber bands on your wrists. It seemed to help me. If it is really bad your Dr. might be able to give you something. I'm sorry Boo!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday regardless. I am so excited for you to be a mommy. It is so exciting. You will be fabulous.

Well we took Mike to the airport this morning so I am pretty much not fit for blogging till later. Hope everyone has a great day!

just a little reminder

i just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow it the princesses big day!

morning sickness my foot.

i'm sorry but it really only gets worse as the day goes on. anybody got some good ideas to take the edge off? or good food to eat. i never want to see another saltine again. wheat chex, eggs and toast are okay but those are the only things i have found that i can eat.
i know every time i get on here lately i'm just complaining about being sick and i don't even post pictures so i can understand if you just skip my blogs.
ellynn

VA

I spoke with someone in the fam yesterday (I won't give any names), who said she'll only read the blogs with pics when she's in a hurry. So here's a pic of Cole and Dayne when they finished painting their birdhouses. I got June to eat beets this morning. I have all these purees for recipes from my Deceptively Delicious cookbook, and then Geof. went and returned it to the library. I'm too lazy right now to re-check it out, so as a result, June will be eating blended zucchini, broccoli, squash, and what have you for the next couple days. I was surprised that she actually enjoyed the beets quite a bit this morning. Geof., June, and I are leaving tomorrow morning for a weekend in Philly. We're staying at my friend from highschool's mom's house. She's Iranian and cooks fabulously and just happens to be having a "Persian" party on Sat. night. Yummy! See Le Anne? I'm all about food. Cole and Dayne are staying with a girl in our ward who's in nursing school. She's very good with kids and they're soo excited. Yah!

i'll be ready for Easter in about 2 weeks

it just came too fast for me this year and apparently it was too early for bg also as it dawned cold and wet. today it even snowed a little. it was so funny because i get out of the shower and look out my window the plum tree is covered in beautiful pink blossoms and the forsythias are all bright yellow blossoms, the lawn is looking good and green. i just finished mowing it for the 3rd time this year already and there are these huge snowflakes pelting down. ellynn calls to say she is in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. oh well you deserve some good weather.
cortney and rodg beautiful pictures and sounds like a fun trip. yes i loves the story of the 3 of you sharing the bed. i about died laughing at the short term dog owning experience. that has to be some sort of record. especially as recorded on the the blog. now we have her and now we don't. don't worry kids are a lot more fun when they are yours and you usually aren't serious about getting rid of them till they are much older.
which brings me to jesse. the pictures of indies b'day were so sweet, and jesse you not being able to make it through all of happy bday. . . you are such a sweet mom. thanks for your testimony!!!
joani, so glad your lesson went so well and thay lindsey liked it. thats high praise. i wish i could have been there to hear it. i would like to be in a class that you were teaching that i wasn't sweating my guts out you weren't trying to kill me. remember when we were in st. george together a hundred years ago.
mindi funny how its the little things that make some days worth it. kind of significant that if you are not paying attention you just may miss them like a gentle moment or a shadow. are the girls out of their room yet? long hours for adam--that's hard.
darla, its curly hair/not crazy hair. i know its hard to tell the difference sometimes but she is beautiful. those are the cutest pictures, cute kids, all of them. my boys sure did a good job marrying beautiful wives. they are smart boys. geof. your dreams are amazing too many episodes of lost.
cam and moni, until i get an e-mail address i can't get into yours, but i will eventually when i get that figured out.
my 2 favorite things right now are this little volunteer clump of daffodils out in the middle of our orchard. it just makes me happy every time i look out there and see them. they are so brave to come up all by themselves and . . .
this is a big favorite--every night i get these little text messages from each of my sisters. it makes me happy all over.
take care, love you all, Le Anne

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ColoradoBennett

Adam has been working a lot lately. Gone at 7 a.m. home at 7 p.m. or so. I was about to complain, but then I read Tom and Tracy Stinchfield's blog on their site and he is gone a whole lot longer, plus they seem to be preparing to move out of the country. Then I read Patti's latest post. I am grateful that Adam has a job, that he is healthy, that he is only gone 12 hours and not 15+, and that he helps out when he gets home.
I made stuffed peppers tonight, one of my favorites. Is Quinoa on the Eat to Live diet? The recipe on the back of the box is delicious. I didn't have mozzarella cheese so I divided up a string cheese and stuffed on top. Not too gourmet, but still yummy.
The girls are currently banished to their room forever for fighting. I saw Kaia grab Sierra by the hair and shake vigorously. Now Kaia is on my lap crying because Sierra hit her on the nose. I told them to stay in their room until they were best friends. It'll be a while.

Dayne changes her outfits a good 3-4 times a day....and I'm the one responsible for the clean-up. Here she is in a new little dress our friend loaned us.

I rarely get a smile out of her, so when I do...I just have to take a pic. Look how crazy her hair is!!

Dayne wants to do anything mommy's doing. Here she actually took a pretty decent pic of me (with regards to the angle, etc.). Good job Dayners!

Fondue Recipe...

Do you guys remember our friends Ben and Coby from Provo?  Well Coby's wife Sarah would like to do a fondue party for her sister's baby shower but I told her I didn't make it, I only ate it, but that I would get the recipes for her.  Could you guys hook me up with those either on the blog or email.  Thanks so much.

Love Jess

We loved it...

Elly, you were right.  This was adorable show that both Tony and I loved.  I was laughing my head off.  It is just a cute, feel good movie.  Check it out.

SOOOOOOOOO funny

I don't know if any of you have seen this kid yet. Soo hysterical. Please watch! This is better than anything on American Idol! I stole this from my friend Katie who stole it from someone else's blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqXYwNDrU8k

Bavaria-Joanie

My very best, most favorite Book of Mormon experience took place during the Book of Mormon challenge given by Pres. Hinckley. We were late starting, we were reading the BoM as a family but it was right in the middle of our move to Washington and Mike leaving for Korea and we didn't hear about it right away. Sadie was not even three and a half, Ellyn was a year and a half and Mike was not there to help keep kids calm. I thought I would give it a shot but I knew we would have to read alot and I knew that many nights even a few verses were a challenge. It was amazing though, as the nights went on my children settled down and stayed quiet so willingly. They would tell me it was okay to read more. Sadie and Jane would ask questions about things that I had no idea they had even picked up. I loved doing this as an extended family as well. Reading the experiences of siblings and cousins on this blog kept me motivated and kept me in a more spiritual frame of mind throughout the day as they shared their testimonies of the Book of Mormon. I know the Lord blessed us in our endeavor and I know that if I had enough faith and strength we could do it again. We are reading the Book of Mormon again and it has been a much slower process. We say our nightly family prayers before we read because many nights Sawyer or Ellyn are in meltdown mode before too long. I miss the continuity of getting so much in one sitting, following the story or the concept being taught. But I do know that my children know that it is an essential part of our day. They love the stories and love learning about it in class. The two oldest are discussing it with me every week after church. I know that when I really concentrate on what I'm reading (I have a very bad habit of being able to read and have my mind in a million other directions) my life is blessed, I am more confident in the decisions I am making as a wife and a mother. It is frustrating to me because I don't always study the scriptures like I'm supposed to and yet I know what a strength and a blessing they can be in my life. I do have a testimony of the tremendous blessing the Book of Mormon is to each of us. I know it is true and a testament of our Savior. I know that through reading the Book of Mormon I have a greater desire to put aside the things of the world and live a more spiritually in tune life. I hope to put greater commitment into reading the BoM again.

I don't know if that is what you need (I can't remember exactly and I started writing before I checked again) but those are some of my thoughts. I hope your lesson goes well. I can't help but think that it will with all of the preparation you have done- that's amazing- plus you're amazing too!

Happy Easter to everyone!! We have had four inches of snow every morning for the past three days. Cory, I am so excited about my new macbook I can't even tell you. It does EVERYTHING I want to do. It is awesome. I miss you all tremendously.

Darla, the girls' spring break starts the 3rd. Mike leaves the 30th and I thought some nice warm southern weather and a batch of cousins would keep them happy and maybe you would be happy too? What do you think? I would do a hop and then rent a car.

ColoradoBennett

When we were at Ryan and Jacki Beecher's house (minus Ryan because he was in the California Baja riding his motorcycle) we found out that Russ and Jessica Beecher have a great blog. I put the link under our Family Bloggers. Jessica has another blog with a group of friends where they post recipes. They all look delicious. It is called Tried and True and you can find it if you look under Jessica's profile. I caught the crappy cold/flu from Adam. As he was leaving for work today I told him how amazed I was that he just went to work every day even though he felt so awful. I've tried my best to stay in bed all day, but that didn't really work out. I made the kids a breakfast smoothie and that kept them entertained for about 30 minutes at the table so I could crash on the couch. But then I had a huge mess to pick up. See photo. I tried to take a hot bath to relieve the muscle aches. Even with two cups of Epsom salt, a hot bath just isn't relaxing when a three-year-old and a 18 month-old are in there with you. I do have a giant pot of chicken noodle soup (a recipe I found called Jewish Penicillin) that has taken me two days to make and is a lot more work that I anticipated. Jessica, I've been trying to figure out how you highlight words in your blog that when you click on them it takes you to another website. That is such a fun feature, could someone give me a hint on how to do that?

Joan,

I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting 2 weeks ago on scripture study. It was based on a talk given by Pres. Benson in May of 1986 (ensign) called The Power of the Word. Check out the following link:

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=913fef960417b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

I also used Rob and Patti as an example. I don't know if you followed their website but just a few days before Rob passed away Patti wrote an entry that towards the end of it talked about studying her scriptures daily. Here was a woman who went from having an active husband to help her with 5 kids and all of her other responsibilities and then almost overnight was doing all that plus taking care of her husband. The world would say that if anyone had an excuse to use their time a little differently it would have been Patti. She didn't do that though, she took the road less traveled and gave us all an example of how we should live close to the Lord regardless of our circumstances.

Anyway, just a few thoughts from me.

hey my little janie

so glad to see you on here. wow your own laptop. you are spoiled. i'm going out to work in the yard. wish i could train all those "Easter Bunnies" i have around here to eat weeds. it would make my job so much easier!!!

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HI just me, Jane

HI, I don't get on here often but I'm not doing anything so,I decided that I would write. Today we went to the PX to get my mom's new laptop. My dad already has a laptop, so I get this laptop. I didn't think would ever have a laptop until I was way older but I guess not. I am so excited! My dad is here and we are having a great time. I need to go now but I will post more often now that I have a laptop.

va

Thank you Aunt Brookie for the cutest shirt ever! Am I just too adorable (I know, I know...I'm playing favorites)?

joani's Easter lesson

In the front of my Book of Mormon i have some statistics written so they will be readily available when i teach a class.
references to names and titles of Christ in the BofM 3,925
number of verses in the BofM 6,607
number of verses per reference to Christ 1.68

next, pres. packer's article in this month's ensign page 15-16 specifically (the whole article is awesome) he states that the word atonement is only used once in the New Testament "but the word atone in form and tense appears 39 times in the Book of Mormon."

i added that bit of information to my title page. i always write in my scriptures because i probably will not have my notebook with me at any given time. nor will i be able to find said notebook at any given time because i did not receive mom's "paper organization gene" unfortunately.

our understanding of the fall that we could have mortal bodies and our need for agency that we could be tested. adam and eve were brave enough to partake of the fruit and so take on mortality and all the good and hard things that entails: sickness and disease--physical death. sin and separation from our Father--spiritual death.
the condescension of Christ. i love thinking of his love for us and his trust in mary and joseph. really? he is the creator of this world and others, God's anointed, the Jehovah of the OT and nephi is praying to him in 3Nephi 1 saying that we are going to be killed tomorrow if the sign of your birth doesn't take place. i always think of disney's "alladin, of the lamp", when the genie says "unlimited power of the universe, in a little tiny living space." Christmas eve on this continent Christ committed (again) to nephi that the next day he would come to earth as a baby, born in a stable to save them and ultimately all of us.
he willingly gave up the "fun" part of doing His Father's will--creating worlds, etc. (there had to be some status and respect that came with that job) to come down here to live with man, have them not believe Him or even value Him. after all his teachings and miracles they kill Him in the most painful and ignominious manner known to man. it is amazing to me!

how can i complain about anything? all these things give me experience. 2 Nephi 2. how am i doing? i ask my classes what is the most life alternating thing that can happen to you. we write them on the board look them over and decide which one wins. it's not marriage or kids or going on a mission or thru the temple. i vote it's death. now you're breathing--now you're not. then i have them look up alma 34:32-34, particularly 34 "you cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that i will repent, that i will return to my God. nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
if death, an external force cannot change me then there is no external force that can. that is why God asks me not to procrastinate the day of my repentance until the end. . . i need to daily become the person i want to be--worthy to be in my Father's presence.
the last time i visited with rob he told me he had a lot of time to think and he had been thinking about the atonement. he was amazed that it had so much to do with every aspect of his life--he had never really realized it. he knew about the big picture and knew that he couldn't fully grasp it, but it was in the smallest details of his life also as he prayed that the pain would ease just enough that he could rest. that he would have peace of mind concerning his family. he was so accepting of God's will in his life.
i am so grateful for the atonement in my life. that Christ loves me so much that He was willing to take upon himself my sins my pain. that i get to be with Him and our Father in Heaven again with the people i love the most--my family.
again, good luck joani, you will do a great job!
ps. the missionaries said to look up elder hollands talk "missionary work and the atonement"
love you, le anne

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Hi and My Easter Lesson

Dear Family,
I'm so excited, I got the blog now on my favorites and check it daily. It's so fun to read everyones. I promise you won't hear from me all to often, as not to bore you, but I wanted to share with you the highlights of the last weekend when you were all here. And of course I will end with a favor to ask of you.

Highlights of my weekend were: Driving down to the funeral with Paula and Little Chloe. Listening to LeAnne sing her beautiful song, especially after learning that she didn't have a voice. Patti's testimony!! Megan coming to Body Pump! Going to the temple with all of you. The fonduing party! Adam's fur coat. The grand niece and newphew line up picture! (I can name everyone!) Being with my family!

Thank you for the great weekend.

K, well I was wondering. This Easter Sunday I have been asked to give the Relief Society Lesson. How fun. I always get called to do the lessons that there is no outline, (Christmas for example). Well okay, I guess they have their own outline, the birth the resurrection, ect. But because Easter is about the rebirth, I wanted to focus around renewing our commitment to striving to be a little better. That can be in all areas of the gospel, but with the push to know the BOM inside and out I wanted to focus on our dedication to studying the BOM and really knowing it and reading it on a daily basis. I know that all of you are doing that (or at least you have me fooled) and I would love for you to tell me how that helps you in your everyday lives. I've been studying for this lesson for a couple of months and have very specific things that I want to address, but after having been with all of you here recently, and feeling so greatful for my family and knowing that we get to be together forever, I would love any of your imput. You only have until Saturday night, so if this is too much to ask just pretend you didn't read this until Sunday after 11:00 a.m.!

Keep up the good blogs!

Love you all!

Joan

Day Late and a Dollar Short

Happy Birthday Indie Marie! you are the sweetest little baby i've ever seen. the little light that shines in your face and reflects on everyone who holds you and loves you is truely a testimony of our divinity. i love you!
cuz i know you are all dieing to know how i'm doing, i'll tell you. i'm doing very well. what i thought was morning sickness already setting in turned out to be severe anxiety. jason gave me a blessing the other night and i am now doing just fine. other than i have this rotten cold that absolutely sucks. i can't take a blasted thing for it either. oh well. tea and a humidifier work just fine i guess. although now that i've seen leash and kev's humidifier i can't be satisfied with ours. wimpy little puffs of nothing! theirs created storm clouds that i think actually started to precipitate after about 40 minutes. i told the owner of the school i will be instructing at that i'm expecting so that she would be aware that she will now have 3 pregnant instructers. on is about 71/2 months and the other girl is about a week or 2 ahead of me. i don't think we're gonna be much help. miss ev (the owner) is just worried what we'll be instructing these girls in. hahaha.
we are in the process of trying to figure out insurance. we don't qualify for medicaid right now because i make to much but if jason has to just work part time when he goes back to school, then we might. but if we still don't then we won't have his company insurance either which isn't wonderful either. who knows what the heck we're gonna do. maybe we will just move to washington. yeah right, i wish. but we are happy and healthy and mindi i found those prenatal vitamins you told me about and i'm on them. they're great. they don't bother my stomach at all and jason even found them on line for way cheaper than the health food store!
ellynn

indie's big day

happy birthday little indie marie!  we just love love love you.  i think wil would have slipped you into his bag and brought you home if he thought he could have gotten away with it.  i hope you have a wonderful year!  we love watching you grow!

love, meags, cor and the kiddos

ColoradoBennett

Happy Birthday, Indie!! You are such a delight. One of our favorites to visit when in Utah. Can't wait to see what your mom posts about your special day.
Our St. Patrick's Day was pretty funny. I dressed the kids in their green, discount Old Navy shirts. Put the half finished St. Patty's tablecloth on the table. I happened to learn that Meagan was putting Corned Beef Brisket in her crockpot that morning, so I sent Adam to Costco for one on his way home. We followed the instructions and boiled it for 2.5 hours. That made for a late dinner. I made some hash browns to go as a side and put a little green food coloring. I could tell that our friend, Miguel, wasn't too comfortable with eating green potatoes, even though Adam spent a lot of time explaining the holiday. I'm struggling to make fun family traditions in my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants life-style.
Sierra is watching "Mexico: One Plate at a Time With Rick Bayless" while chopping up the tomatoes for our burritos. Right now Rick is in a beautiful market picking out peppers in the Yucatan.
I think we have our house rented to college kids starting in August. Where are we going to go? Dunno. The Yucatan looks nice.

caught up

the beginning of feb. was the last time i was on the blog long enough to catch up on everything that has been posted and all the family blogs so i took a lot of time out tonight to catch up. joani said she has been keeping up on the blog when she text be tonight. it is so fun to hear from all of you and see what you are doing. i am going to find out how to post pictures--they are so fun.
monie i can't figure out how to get past just your 1st picture, but i will have cory show me.
jessica, your site is awesome. the tribute tony wrote about his mom and what you wrote. . . you are both such sweet kids you deserve moms that spoil you!!! all the pictures are great especially of the coat.
mindi more dancing would be appreciated. what can i say. you are a brave woman to hang out with a man in a fur coat. what can we come up with for you to wear?
alicia when do we get you back? thank you so much for your hospitality. jesse and monie you too.
brookie we need to see pictures of mike and son and daughters. keep that in mind but don't worry about posting till after mike leaves. then you can take the time to fill us in--what his reaction was etc. tell mike he has the best mom ever. what a sweetheart for coming to the funeral. she gets more beautiful every year. our children are blessed with the most wonderful in-laws you could ask for!!!
darla/geof. we have the cutest grandkids ever. we went to dokou (sp) while i was in germany. they had the table where they strapped the men down for their beatings along with a bull whip they used. it took over 20 plus years for the smell to go away from the incinerators where they burned the bodies. amazing! the u.s. has its faults, but i think we honestly do try--you are right,we must not forget.
lydie it was so good to see you. same with jordan and michelle.
rodger and courtney thanks for the tour and the light. it made it home safely. your home is beautiful

we miss you all. it was so good to be in the temple together. another family tradition. reading thru patti's caringbridge journal i am again thankful that families can be together forever!!!

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ColoradoBennett

This is sweet Hazel-Snazel giving uncle Adam a kiss. At first she was scared of him, I'd even go as far as "dang scared". But when he told her that he wouldn't let her touch Tristan unless she gave him a kiss, she warmed right up.

This is Adam's new coat. Apparently, it is a dream come true for him to own this coat. While we were shopping at Bucu's, Lydia walked up wearing this coat and Adam snatched it from her. If it was a scene in a movie, perhaps Lydia would have replied "Oh Snap". On the way home, Adam bought a giant cane at the gas station to go along with this coat. It is called a "Bubba Stik" and it has a huge gold knob on the end. Next thing I know, he'll pull up to the house in a '64 Lincoln Continental with suicide doors. You can imagine my current emotions.

This is Tristan and his buddy Beck in the process of giving each other "knuckles".

Mike it is wonderful to hear your voice on those videos. I'm so glad you are with your family right now. What a handsome baby boy you have! Too cute.

"...Lovin' you, is easy 'cuz you're beautiful."

Just came across this pic again and thought it was cute. Especially Cory's face. (: Well. Things have been as usual here. I bought a mini-trampoline, or "rebounder" as I've heard them called. I LOVE it! It's supposed to be incredible good for you, down to every little bitty cell. I don't know if I've seen much change in my physique, but I love that it doesn't feel like I just ran up 500 flights of stairs. It's great. Geof. got awarded for upgrade to Captain (he didn't want me to tell anyone), so he goes in next month to see whether or not he passes. It'll be the month from you know where, but probably not as bad as the 2 months he lived in St. Louis when he was hired. The kids and I will have to be very creative with our time without Dad! Cole is still loving/hating school, but is leaning more toward the love part. Yesterday, when I picked him up from school, he told me all about the leprochauns who had come and "ruined" his whole classroom when they arrived from lunch. The garbage can was even tipped over! (: He was so excited about it. Dayne is as spunky and defiant as ever. This morning I was telling her to lean over her bowl as she ate her cereal, and she put her hand over her ear and said, "Quiet mom, I'm talking on the phone." Sadly, she's learned that from me. And what should I say about June, except that I think she's mastered the sitting up phase of babyhood and is now trying to move as much as possible (without really making any progress). Anyway, we loved the pics of Sawyer and as I already commented on, hearing Mike's voice! It made my eyes tear up and my nose do that really irritating, slightly painful tingling thing that happens when you almost cry. Well. Love to all.
Darla, Geof. and beebs

Bavaria

Jess, I failed on the whole St. Patrick's Day too. I sent Sadie to school in a hot pink dress and jeans. I realized at 9:00 what I had done and grabbed a green shirt, drove to her school, and changed her in the corner of her room during story time (luckily she had a cami on underneath).

Mike is home for R&R. He will be here until the 30th unless my plan works. The one where I drug him, shove him in a suitcase, pack up the kids, and disappear to some unknown part of the world where I get to keep him with me. He thinks I might not be as jazzed about my plan when we get our first "no pay due." I'm still willing.

We are going to go somewhere today, the sun is finally shining. Next week we are taking the girls to Disneyland Paris again. What can I say, we love that place and it is great for all of our kids.

It looks like you all had a great time together despite the sad circumstances. You know Rob would have wanted you to party. He would have been there himself, with Patti, saying that they were taking mine and Mike's spot. I've been very grateful to have the distraction of Michael this past little bit, anytime I'm by myself it just sets in and hurts way too much.

Well I love you all and miss you all too. I'm going to go get my little Ellie Boo and
start our day.

Take care, Brooke

A Happy St. Patrick's Day to all...

I say that now but to be honest I completely forgot it was today.  I was down town and noticed people wearing green and remembered what day it was.  I wasn't even wearing green but luckily I had put Ind in a onesie with some green on it.  I am jealous that LeAnne and Meags fam had such a great day, I really failed on this St. Patty's day but I guess there is always next year.  

Anywho...

Congrats to Elly and Jason!!! I am so excited.  I have to tell you I was kind of wondering if you were, a few things tipped me off: 

A.  You said you were feeling sick the last couple of days.

2.  I heard you talking about how you were supposed to "start" on Saturday.

C.  I saw a tampon (sorry guys) sitting on the dresser all weekend.

So I was hoping that was the case but I didn't want to say anything.  So I am so happy!!!

Meags,

The broccoli salad turned out great.  Thanks for your help.

Brookie,

I love the video of Sawyer eating the apple and I love your laugh, it made me miss you to hear it.  I didn't know Mike was home.  That is great, is he home for good or just a visit?

Adam and Mindi,

Sorry I didn't make it to church in time to see you go (I did eventually make it, just for Young Womens)  I love you guys.  Thanks for the b-day card and pics, they are adorable.

This weekend was fun.  I just love hanging out with all of you.  I was telling Jason and Elly that I wish we all lived closer but at least we have eternity to hang out, right?

Love you all,

Jess

Birthday Shout Out

Happy Birthday Geoffie!!!

I am sorry you have to be away from you family today but I hope you had a great day anyways.  You are one of the funniest guys around and I am so glad we were able to live together and become so close.  I love your guts!

Love, Jess

happy birthday my little geoffy george!!!

happy 28 geof. george,
you are the best little kid! wish you, darla, cole, dayne, and junie could have been there this weekend. we could have dedicated the fondue party to you and all sang you happy birthday.

i have one minute to write before we start "darby o'gill and the little people" we had our traditional corn beef and cabbage dinner. cory had irish music playing in the background. the kids went to obrady's for their free green mint ice cream cones and to get their faces painted with shamrocks, pots of gold, rainbows etc . we do believe in celebrating the green.

geofy was born 28 years ago today, 7' 11", 21" long. he had lots of hair and the minute he hit air he decided to show off his manhood by watering down the whole delivery room. he was hanging upside down by one foot when he started. the dr. hurried and handed him off to the nurse, the nurse handed him off to ellery, from ellery to me, back to ellery and then to the nurse. he got us all!!! this is his favorite part of his birth story. he would have weighed in considerably more had they weighed him before he hosed everybody down. if he hadn't been so cute growing up he never would have seen his 4th birthday. want to know what he was like? ask aunt jack, but then jack never was one to hold a grudge.
he used to tell me he was going to have 35 kids and he was going to stay home with them and his wife would go to work. they would all be 7 because that way they would be fun because he was 7 and he was the funnest kid he knew.
one time we went to pick adam and geof. up from scout camp on our way to utah. we were walking back from the campfire with the scout leaders. the boys were up ahead. the leaders were saying that they didn't know what they would have done without adam that week. he had been so much help with the boys. about this time we look up the path and there is geof. and rick mooning us. i turned and asked them just how much they would miss geof.

so there are a couple of geof. stories for his b"day. love you geof.
thank you so much for this weekend. you cannot imagine how it warmed my heart to have all my sisters, jesse, alicia, chloe, and maddie come to rob's funeral. patti was amazed and very grateful. you are all such wonderful people. we love you all so much and appreciate your support and hospitality. you are also the funnest people i know!!!
aunt le anne

adam and mindi you are the kindest people i know.  some day we will "pay it forward".

i love you!!!!!

meagan

ps the temple this weekend was great.  thank you for the suggestion.

Sawyer talking

Sawyer eats an apple

Happy Birthday from Bavaria!!!

Geoffie George- Can I tell you that you were the cutest little monster ever when you were just a tyke and I mean all of that- Cutest and Monster. You were responsible for my first swear word when I was about seven and I was babysitting (with the Roberts girls) and you pooped all over the kitchen floor. I have really enjoyed all of our time together over the years, even the late night conversations in the basement after your dates and our conversations with Ricky:). I really enjoy your company, your views on everything, and the efforts you make to make us feel welcome and loved every time we get a chance to visit. My brothers are great that way. I love you and I am so glad you are a part of our family and that you married our darling Darla and had three of the cutest kids ever. Happy Birthday!!!

Hey mom and Meagan, I knew before you did!!! Ha ha ha Ha Ha.

I would write more but I have my hubby home and not only that I have to go to a quick soccer meeting- looks like your fondu party was a blast!!

i love geoffy

a tribute to geof....

  oh how i love my little geoffy!  when we were young we would fight like cats and dogs, but the second he started middle school with me we were best, best, best friends.  geof. got me through the move to utah, even though we didn't go to school together our drive to and from school kept me happy! remember how i would make you jump out and run to the top of the hill and see if the train was really coming.  then when we moved to battle ground and everyone thought that you were my boyfriend because you would meet me and walk me to and from all my classes.  you had tons of friends, but you were still looking out for me.

now for the "my hero story"......

some of the football players in one of my classes were giving me a hard time.  i can't remember what they said but it really upset me!  i was complaining to geof. about it and that afternoon after football practice tyson came up to me, told me geof. had talked to him, and apologized.  but it wasn't like a little "sorry man".  it was a really sincere drawn out apology.  now not only was that very sweet of geoffrey but it was supper ballsie too.  tyson was probably the most popular senior at our school and geof. was a little sophomore and new one at that.  geof. was so brave and unworried about what would happen to himself if he told a huge black guy to apologize to his sister. 

i love you geoffy!  you have always been my younger big brother. 

love your face...........me

Oh yeah, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEOFFY!!!

ellynn

HAPPY 28th?? So young!

Happy Birthday dear Geoffrey/Daddy!! We love you! Why you have to be away from us for 5 days if beyond us..., but oh well!

washington bennett in utah

this weekend was so much fun! it was great to see everyone again. if we could keep getting my family here once a month that would be fantastic! jacki you are right. we do have an amazing family and i'm happy to say that i'll be adding one more to the clan in november! that's right i'm pregnant. i new yesterday morning but i didn't take the test til the afternoon. i'm in my 5th week i guess. it's all very new to me. last night i thought i started my morning sickness but turns out i think it was just an anxiety attack. but that doesn't mean i'm not very excited. i had an attack when i got my mission call too. so things are good. jason and i are both excited. i'm nervous about getting sick and jason is nervous about money but it will all work out. he is trying to figure out how he can still work full time and take night classes so we can keep his benefits from work. i'll be cutting back one day at the spa so i can instruct at my old school. basically i'll be working 6 days a week again. we'll see how that goes. i may have to forgo that til i get past the first trimester. depends on how fast i can get, and how good that anti nausea medication is... so that's our big news. i realize it might me a little early to be telling everyone but i suck at keeping big things to myself.
ellynn

More Pictures!

Fondu Party!!!!

Dear Family,

Oh yes we do have a wonderful family!!! All of you are so stinken cute! What great people you are. I always take a minute to stand back and talk to Mom while watching this wonderful chaos and hope that she can peek down and see what a great thing she started. We are such a blessed family, with beautiful children that are so kind and caring to one another! It is such a blessing to Kev and I to be a part of it! Thanks to everyone that helped from the cookers to the cleaners, it was a blast! To those of you that missed it, we missed you and we will do it again when you are here. I think that this a new family tradition! Love you all and Thanks again! Aunt Jack and Uncle Kev

va.

dayne: She has an obsession with touching her eyebrow and wrist. Usually she tries to touch both eyebrows and one wrist simulaneously. i'll try to get a picture posted. very funny. I just finished an excellent book titled Triumph. It's the story of Jesse Owens and the 36 Olympics held in berlin. When Brind and Julia came out to visit last week we went to the Holocaust museum in D.C. and part of it talked about Hitler using the Olympics as propoganda. So reading this book right after that gave a lot of detail on what the Jews were going through leading up to the olympics. Hitler proclaiming aryan supremacy while the black athletes from america ran circles around the rest of the world. It was very disturbing thinking about how a first world country was overtaken by a government which had never won more than 38% of the popular vote. stripping it's people of their rights. there was an interesting quote in the museum i can't remember completely. "When they took away the Jews I said nothing, when the communists were taken I said nothing, etc.., finally when they came to take me away there was no one to say anything." interesting to think how swiftly we can lose our rights i.e. the patriot act. well darla and dayne are out shopping and cole and I are watching the classic Robin Hood, what could be better?

Brind and Julia

Dayne LOVED her aunt and uncle's visit. When they were up in D.C. she kept asking where they were.

Who's the younger brother?

Temple and Party!?

How about the Temple at 4 ish on Saturday and then a "Fondu Party" after at my house? I'm open so lets vote! Love you Aunt Jack

Hooray for Blogs...

I just checked the blog and what to my wondering eyes should appear but several links to new blogs of all my favorite people.  They look great.  

Mindi, I love you dancing through the video.  Also, I am glad that your house didn't burn down but now that you are a blogger I am a little disappointed you didn't get the fire on film.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice for the blog and if that means your house burning to the ground you gotta do it.  

Moni and Cam, great family pic.  

Geof and Darla,  Cute blog.  I love the picture of you two, you look so young and spry (is that how you spell that?)  Your hair looks rockin' and you look so skinny.  Is the Richmond Ballet thing a joke or do you have a hidden ballet talent I didn't know about?  Happy 6th anniversary, Geof., thanks for the voicemail and sorry I never called you back.  I am sorry you weren't able to spend it together but hopefully you were able to celebrate another day.

LeAnne, Happy late Birthday!

I am excited for this weekend.  I am sad for the circumstances that will bring us together but nevertheless I am excited.  If anyone needs a place to stay mi casa es su casa.

We had an exciting/scary day today.  Dad was up until 3 a.m. last night with what we thought was gal bladder pain (boy is that going around) but after a day in the ER they have ruled that out.  He is going in tomorrow for a cat scan to see if it is an ulcer or acid reflux.  Then come to find out poor grandma Rigby was up all night with chest pain and fainting spells.  She is spending the night in the hospital and is being monitored to see what the deal is, she may need a pacemaker. 

Well I love you guys and can't wait to see most of you this weekend.  

Love Jess  

va

Now to be all mushy. I adore you Geof.! Happy late 6th anniversary. We have so few good pics together and I just love this one that Brind took. Thanks Brind!

All those with girls

check out www.fuzzyme.com. The cutest tutus and costumes ever.

Brooke

......well, that didn't work.

Here we go again..?

va.

hey old lady. happy happy happy birthday. we feel that there's a strong chance that there will be more to come. thanks for galavanting about the world caring for your children. we love you and hope you had a great day. mucho love from Geof., Darla, Brind, Julia, Cole, Dayne, and June.

ColoradoBennett

I hope we can plan a trip to the temple while we are all together next weekend. I think that would be a wonderful way to celebrate Rob's magnificent life.
I'm attaching a link to a wonderful talk called "The Uses of Adversity":

http://rusch.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/the-uses-of-adversity.pdf

email to jess from patti

Jessica, thank you for your wonderful words. Megs sent your link to me and I know you were following the spirit saying those words, because I needed to hear them right now. Thank you for being intune and for being just wonderful! We hope you come up to visit again soon. Love Patti

i tried to email this to you, but i guess i have the wrong email address for you. 

they are having a second funeral down in utah at the end of next week.  thursday or friday.  we will let you know and will see you soon. 

love.............me

mom's sweet email to patti

patti, i will leave for home sat. and pray i can make flights. i love you. i miss you and your family. you have been so good so strong through all of this.  an example of what you believe. my heart aches for you. what a love story you have had together--you were truly best friends.  what can i say or do that will help. how bout when you are not feeling like the perfect example you call me and go ahead and rant! i promise to listen to it all-forget the bad-remember the good-still love you-never tell anyone else-almost never give advise and never think worse of you. God never gives us more than we can handle--my word what a woman you are that He thinks you can handle this. twins alone would be enough for most.
memories of someone you have lost are like reading the best chapters of a favorite book. you and rob and your family have been in a lot of my favorite chapters. sunday dinners, the absolute chaos with all of us there and the family home evenings afterwards. the night we all told how we met and fell in love. rob said you kept trying to line him up with someone. finally he told you, "but i don't want to go out with her. i want to date you!"  the night we watched "charlie" and everyone lost it in spite of our best efforts.
rob teaching seminary and even bringing visual aids. he always talked about "sister epperson." how much he loved his class and how much they loved him.
watching you all play soccer and dang i missed the "edwardian rescue."  rob was one of the few men that could beat meags in a leg wrestle.
when i loaned rob "fire and the covenant" i remember him telling us about when he got to the part where they were climbing rocky ridge. he said he was trying so hard to hold back when he realized it was dark-he was alone in the car-no one would see him so he let it all out and bawled like a baby.
the sunday night i stopped by your home after i had been to see scott.  i told him as dire as his circumstances were i would rather be where the two of you were with your your heads on straight--your marriage, family, support of the ward, your testimonies and understanding of the gospel. that i loved you both. what a good man he was. he took my hand told me at some point that day he had to stop bawling, gave me a kiss on the cheek and told me thank you.
i remember the pioneer trek. from the beginning i had been asking that you be called as ma and pa. you had a vacation planned that just was not coming together, funny thing. you were so good with your little family. the last day of the trek when the boys made that silent pull up the hill. nothing had been a surprise till then because no one knew. i asked the stake pres. for permission to do it. i had prayed that the kids would feel the spirit. your boys were the first handcart up the hill. they rounded the corner and saw the girls lined up on either side of the trail singing "come, come ye saints." i watched rob's face contort with the effort to control his emotions. he took off his hat held it in front of his face and bowed his head. what i had prayed for happened-they felt the reverence-they were walking sacred ground. rob had set the standard. i talked to him about it later. he said as he climbed the hill and heard the singing all he wanted was to see you!
he has climbed his hill, fought valiantly his fight. he fought as hard as he could to let you know he really wanted to be here with you and your children. he is such a good man. like lehi he has found the tree of life and is now beckoning his family on. remember when meagan had her little panic attack last summer and wilohm knelt over the top of her, put his hands on her shoulders and said, "just bweeve mom, rob says just bweeve deep!" dang he was funny. the kids loved him. they love you. we just have to keep breething.
i don't know how people do this without the gospel no wonder mens heart fail them. you have the gift of the comforter. what a miracle that is. i am so grateful for the blessings of the gospel in my life.  it would just be too grim without it.
love you, le anne

va

I posted this on rob and patti's guestbook already, but I'll share it with you as well. Rob's illness and eventual passing has made me think a lot about how strong Patti has been through all of this and perhaps, it was because of some decisions she made beforehand that strengthened her testimony and faith in Christ enough for her to be able to endure what she has endured. I remember hearing how she had sat through a lesson in RS I believe and come to the conclusion that she and Rob needed to have more children. And then they had twins. (: That's not an easy thing to do! But she and Rob grew so much I'm sure, and perhaps Patti wouldn't have been as strong had she not submitted her will to the Lord's earlier on. Anyway, I'm grateful for the Spirit and its promptings. How wonderful our lives could be (with or without trials) if we had the peace that comes from knowing we're doing what our Father in Heaven wants for us. It's sad to have to learn from other's tragedies, but hopefully it will allow us to be more aware of how we need to be living.
~darla

Washington bennett in Utah

i made the mistake of checking rob's web site while at work. you guys should read it. rob passed away this morning at 6:25. he will be missed so much. his parents and all of his siblings were there to be with him and support patti. please pray for her and their kids!
ellynn

Seattle Bennett Living in Colorado

I am sure many of you got the text and many more of you have been expecting this news. Rob passed away this morning. I don't know how to express the way I feel right now it is hard to see anyone close to my age pass and realize that it is a possibility. It is even harder to see someone that I have grown to love and admire pass away, even in the short time that I had to get to know him. He was such a great example, there are very few people that have such a grasp on reality, the gospel, family, and fun and that can mix it so well into lifestyle. He was always so fun to be with its hard to see him go and to know he won't be there the next time I go home to visit.
Love Adam

Darla, Mindi, Meags, I need the names of your wards and I need Rosie's last name and address so I can mail these Thank yous out for the stockings. Thanks girls.

rob is not doing well

please pray for patti and the kids.  rob is not here much longer.

love........me

VA

Brind and Julia are on their way back to our house right this minute!! Yay! Crazy. They called us about 2 days ago and said they were coming out. It's taken me all day to clean a 950 sq. ft. apt. and funny, it's still not really clean. Le Anne, where are you when I need you? Anyway, here's some recent pics of our fam. Meags, I'd LOVE to do the run/walk with you guys in Portland. Who knows? Maybe we'll fly out for it. If only I wasn't so pooped out from traveling.