A SPECIAL GIFT

My father is not one to sit around, he always needs to be doing something to keep him happy. Even with his leukemia he will still get up and find something to do. Fever, aching, no energy, it doesn't matter he will find something that needs to be done. One of the things my father does to keep busy is some woodworking. This is something my father has picked up over the past few years. He has always been good with his hands and can do anything he sets his mind to. This has been something that has brought him a great deal of joy.

He has made several wood pieces for himself and my mother. I saw the beautiful work he was doing and I asked him to build me a cedar chest several years ago. I have always wanted a cedar chest and have never had one. Over the years I watched as he would put other people's request in front of mine. I actually had given up on the idea that it was going to be made which was alright since I was watching his health decline. I was disappointed but I wasn't angry.

Then I got word that he was making my cedar chest when he asked Scott for some money to help cover the costs. I was so excited and couldn't wait to see it. One day I finally got to see what he had created. It was so beautiful! With each process it just continued to get more and more beautiful. Then it was done and I got to bring it home. I was cleaning out some things and I came upon my Grandmother's baby bonnet. I sat and looked at it and thought, I wish I had somewhere safe to put this. Then it dawned on me that I finally had something for my keepsakes. I wrapped the bonnet in tissue paper and placed it safely in my beautiful new cedar chest.



There will never be enough words or the right words to describe how precious this cedar chest is to me. It was made with lots of love and sacrifice. I will treasure it forever. Thank you Dad!

HE DID IT

Last Thursday evening Jason graduated from High School. This is the last of my children to graduate from High School. Cumulative I have seen my kids through 36 years of school and I hope to see Daniel and Jason through college.

It was a stressful time getting Jason through to the end. He tends to put things off until the last minute and so we were sweating things out there at the end, but he did everything he needed to do and was able to enjoy that evening.

Earlier that day he went golfing with his new golf clubs (which are his graduation gift) with some of his friends. Then he came home and got ready and we went to California Pizza Kitchen with Zach Pierson and his family, Cameron's family and Parker's family. We had a great dinner and then headed to the Marriot Center for the graduation ceremony.

It was so cute, while we were taking pictures Christine and Jason wanted to pose as if Daniel was there. This is the two of them acting as if Daniel is in the middle with them. (We miss you Daniel!)

We are so proud of Jason. His plans are to work at Best Buy where he just got a promotion to full time. We are so excited because with the promotion comes tuition reimbursement and other benefits. Jason will attend UVU this fall and turn in his mission papers in October. We are also very proud of Jason graduating from Seminary!

I guess I better find another nickname for Jason. I've always called him Baby and then when he got to old I changed it to Abies so that he wouldn't be embarrassed at the name. He is definitely no longer a baby! Congratulations Jason