July: Rabner Family Reunion Day 2

 Sunday morning we attended a local ward sacrament meeting. They had three young men who were heading out on missions that week and so each spoke and it was a great experience. 

We then headed out so we could meet up with our Pope cousins at Liberty Jail. 

They had flown in from Washington State and spent a few days with some old friends. We actually ran into them at the museum the day before but it was a brief reunion. 

It was fun to spend a little more time with them. Too bad, I did not take a picture! 

 After Liberty Jail we headed towards Nauvoo, to meet up with the rest of the family. 

The first night we stayed at a hotel that was not going to workout for the rest of the week and we were blessed to be able to rent the Hyrum Smith Farmhouse due to a last minute cancellation. But that first night, we gathered, counciled, ate, laughed, talked, slept, and celebrated all of the grandkids birthdays- all 18!

 I feel the Sam's club employee who carefully and skillfully wrote all of these names should get a bonus- it looks awesome! 

A few thoughts from Liberty Jail:

*This was a very humbling experience and time for not just Joseph but several others. But it was a time that allowed for some very clear direction and revelation. 

*In our darkest hour/s, the Lord does not leave us especially when we plead to Him. 

*He can not always take the trial from us but if we remain faithful, He will stay by us and help us become better as we make it through. 

*We all have Liberty Jail experience in our lives, it is how we choose to approach and endure them that makes all the difference. 

July: Rabner Family Reunion Day 1

We left really early Saturday (July 7th) morning with a goal of making it to Kansas City, Missouri.

The drive was a bit long due to a multitude of potty breaks but we made it and we were in good spirits and ready to play.

 We headed straight to the Science Museum in Kansas City and had the best time! The above picture was about 5 feet into the museum and we were obviously all captivated. 

 The 3 older kids rode a bike on a high wire. 

 We all took a turn running in the "hamster wheel" to try and create energy. Jon and Dad were super fast and had the highest wattage. 

 A little more fun with electricity.

 This outdoor play area was so cool. I had fun climbing up the giant Pringle chip-like jungle gym. 

 Dad joined us too but found some of the spaces a bit more challenging to traverse than the rest of us. 

 All my kids digging for dinosaur bones. I know my days are so limited that they will still all want to be together and to go to museums and be entertained. I hope to soak up every minute. 

 We then stopped at Fritz's Railroad restaurant for a snack. We stopped at this restaurant 9 years ago when we came. Your food is delivered to your table by a train that runs on a track hanging from the ceiling. It was cool then and cool now. Joseph was a good sport to wear the hat again long enough for me to take a quick picture,

 We ended our day at the Independence Visitor's Center. 

We really enjoyed the tour the sister missionaries gave us as well as a little more time playing. 

 Get in Dad! Samantha is driving this wagon west! 

These people with Jesus behind them sums up what is important to me. 

Some impressions I had and actually wrote down about Independence:

*Joseph Smith was inspired to gather the saints in Missouri and in the end they were driven from the state. This does not mean the revelation was wrong. We can not control the actions of others. When we move forward following righteous promptings, we can not foresee the obstacles that will arise that may thwart our goal. But, we can still grow and gain wisdom and faith from the experience. 

*They (the Saints) worked hard and grew in number and prospered while in Missouri. This helped them see what they were capable of when they were engaged in the work of the Lord. It also prepared them for things to come, humbled them, and taught them to keep close as a family to the Lord. 

*Heavenly Father knows each one of us and the talents and abilities we have. He will guide us to fulfill the rold He needs us to if we will be humble, pray, and follow the spirit and then ACT! I must be ready, available, worth, and reliable to answer the call. But then I must not just accept the call, I must do it!  

July: Taming of the Shrew

We went with the Ostermiller's to see a modern version of The Taming of Shrew. 

Arabella was asked to collect donations at the beginning of the play, she is the one on the far right. 

We loved the play and Arabella did a great job following the story line. I hope we get the opportunity to see another Shakespeare play. 

July: Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is like the perfect mid summer break from life and a day to kick back and enjoy the sweet summer life! 

 The boys helped with the flag ceremony at our ward's pancake breakfast.

 That is one pancake and yes, he ate almost all of it, and yes, he had already eaten a plateful of breakfast food. 

 Samantha with her best friend Savannah on their matching bikes. 

After the bike parade and shaved ice, we headed to the Ostermiller's for a fantastic afternoon of swimming and yummy food! 

Summertime I love you! 

June: Virginia

Peter and I did a crazy last minute trip to Hampton, Virginia the end of June. 

We enjoyed the chance to get away together but what few people knew and even as I type this now, know is that it was for a job interview for Peter. The company was fantastic and we loved the area but in the end the offer and what the move would entail was not what was right for our family. 

 Shortly after we arrived we were driving and realized the Atlantic Ocean was right there and we had to stop and put our feet in it. 

 We have officially stood together on both coasts. 

 I sure love this man! 

 There is so much coal in Virginia- I know duh?!

 We visited a few sacrament meetings and drove around enjoying the beautiful green.

We saw some great sights but at the above one, Yorktown, we took this picture and then it started pouring rain! 

 We visited Fort Monroe and it was really interesting! 

I wish we had spent a little more time sightseeing and less time checking out neighborhoods but we were doing our best to prepare ourselves with as much knowledge as possible so we could make an informed decision. 

 This was one of the most challenging things we have gone through together; right up there with being unemployed and searching for a job. Peter was still employed and had/has a great job but we decided to just see what might be out there where Peter might have the opportunity to do new or different things. And then, we landed ourselves in a difficult place but it became easier when the bottom line (or bottom dollar) was not going to work for our family. 

June: Father's Day

I love that we get to celebrate our dads in June! And I especially love a chance to celebrate and try to surprise this guy!  

He is what holds our house together. He supports me, helps me, loves me and is the best dad to our children! 

He impressed the kids with his amazing pick up sticks. 

 We enjoyed dough boys for dinner and dessert. It was really hot that day but we still had fun around the fire making dinner. 

 Our other fun activity on Father's day was that we were able to release the butterflies that we raised from caterpillars. We enjoyed watching them turn into cacoons and then slowly emerge as butterflies. There was one that did not make it out of it's cacoon. This was a good lesson to me on how delicate and intricate this process really is and that there are things that can go wrong but most often it goes right and it is beautiful! 

June: Swimming lessons

We loved having the blessing of swimming lessons with Ms. Sigler. 

Samantha showed so much progress. I think by next summer she will be quite the little fish.

Lily is brave and daring and able to hold her own in the water. This gives me so much peace.