Thanks MK for the Blog Design!

Shout out to the wonderful Matie Kay Designs for the blog layout. As most of you know, I struggle greatly with creativity so I am so grateful for those like her who have those juices flowing!

Tribute to Grandma Bunch...June 10, 1914 - November 19, 2007

John's paternal grandmother, Elnora Pauline Sweeney Bunch passed away this morning after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Sandwich, Illinois in 1914. She was only about 5 foot tall and tiny but she had so much spunk. She was a concert pianist who could play anything and played almost to her dying day...even though she was legally blind. She married her sweetheart Frank Bunch on October 28, 1934 - he died in March of 2001. They were married for 66 years and you could always see the great love between them. He adored her. She was 93 and a spark of a woman who created an amazing legacy. She had 2 children, Charlene & Frank (John's dad) and 7 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Of course my favorite of her grandchildren and legacies is John. Although I only knew her for a short time in this life, I loved her and I will always be grateful to her for giving me my wonderful John and her four beautiful great-grandchildren, Bailey, Cameron, Morgan & Jackson.

Veteran's Day...the White Table

Yesterday on Veteran's Day John saw this book, "America's White Table" at our Book Fair. Here is a write-up about it from Amazon: "The White Table is set in many mess halls as a symbol for and remembrance to service members fallen, missing, or held captive in the line of duty. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit. As a special gift to her Uncle John, Katie and her sisters are asked to help set the white table for dinner. As their mother explains the significance of each item placed on the table Katie comes to understand and appreciate the depth of sacrifice that her uncle, and each member of the Armed Forces and their families, may be called to give."

John was so impressed by the idea that at dinner, he and the children set our own White Table to honor the Veterans from our country and especially from our lives. Then for Family Home Evening we talked about what Veteran's Day meant and as a special treat called Dad who told us about his Uncle Neil.

Uncle Neil was a Veteran from World War II who was a 1st Lieutenant Pilot of a B-24 Plane that was shot down over Germany. Uncle Neil was my Grandmother Stayner's one and only brother and sibling and he died instantly. What a wonderful thing it was to learn about him from the only nephew Uncle Neil ever knew (my dad). The kids were surprisingly silent when Dad was talking and knew he was speaking of someone sacred. We all felt a wonderful spirit and a great love for our Uncle Neil and loved being able to honor him and all Veterans with our "White Table."

Looking Up! God Bless America!

Today my sister Liz sent me this awesome article. It was a talk by the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley given to BYU students in 1974 but is so appropriate for TODAY! I love this man, his never-ending optimism and I loved what he said in the last Gen Conf about how he had given so many different talks..."A soloist sings the same song again and again. An orchestra repeats the same music. But a speaker is expected to come up with something new every time he speaks."

Well I believe he could give this same talk again today and it would still apply as so much of his counsel does...Read it. It gave me a much needed boost and a better outlook on the world and especially on our great country. Click here to download the article titled "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled." Thanks Liz!

Yee Haw!

Finally...Here's our Halloween Pics! We had what I think will be our LAST Family Theme Costume...the Cowgirls & Cowboys...our last because of uncooperative independent thinkers. Yep...you would think it would be the pre-teenie Bailey, but NOPE, it's the 3 year old Morgan. She decided that she was going to be a lion. So I thought (since I already got all the costumes on EBAY) that we would just have the cowboy/cowgirl family with a pet lion. Then I got an idea that changed her tune. It wasn't the costume that did it. Nope, It was the BOOTS! I bought her these darling brown boots and she was SOLD! I'm telling you...she's my kind of girl if she'll do just about anything for a great pair of shoes.

And then there was Morgan's best buddy Brittan. They are inseparable at everything they do together....Nursery, Play Group, & Pre-school...and on their off days they want Play dates. But they get along so well and entertain each other so why not?? Well these two had Pre-School on Halloween Wednesday morning and then of course Trick or Treating that night. And Brittan was Superman for Pre-school and Morgan - a cowgirl (with her cute boots). Well cutest thing ever...when Brittan's mom was getting him dressed that night for Trick or Treating he put up a big fight and refused to wear the Superman get-up. "I can't wear Superman, Mom. I can't," Said Brittan." "Why not?" his mom replied. "I have to be a horse," Brittan sobbed. "A horse. Why?"she questioned. "Because Morgan is a Cowgirl and she needs a horse!"

Now I ask you...is that LOVE or WHAT??? Morgan did not even ASK for a horse but he saw a need and wanted to fulfill it for her. Yes of course he has our permission to marry her!