She has gone back home

Exactly 3 year ago today, our Grandma, our dad's mom, passed away.

I can still remember the day when my mom told us that she has passed on and now it has been 3 years. We all miss her very much. This song called Thou Dost Not Weep Alone from this website http://joansowards.com/ helps give me comfort.

Thou dost not weep to weep alone;
The broad bereavement seems to fall
Unheeded and unfelt by none
She was beloved, beloved by all.

'Tis well with our departed one;
Her heaven lit lamp was shining bright,
And when her mortal day went down,
Her spirit fled where reigns no night.

'Tis meet to die as she has died,
She smiled mid death's conquered gloom,
While angels waited by her side,
To hear a kindred spirit home.

She has gone back home.*

I know that she has gone home. I know that she is in a better place and she is not suffering any longer. It just amazes me that one day they are there and the next they are not. I am very grateful for the knowledge that we will be together again in the next life and that this life is not the end. I love the chorus from the hymn God Be With You Till' We Meet Again:

Till we meet, till we meet
Till we meet at Jesus' feet
Till we meet, till we meet
God be with you till we meet again.

I know that God is with her and taking good care of her. I know that she is looking over us and helping us through our grief and hard times. I know that she is will us in spirit and that she in not gone forever. I am grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that gives us the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation that makes us able to see her again someday. We love you and miss you!!!


Note: I changed the he and his to she and her.

We are alive!!

It is true, we are alive!! I have been so busy I didn't have time to blog even my birthday. Now that is just sad:) I am just finding time to blog this now. I promise I will find sometime to blog more in detail, but for now: We had Nathanael's birthday, my birthday, Abigail started playing the clarinet and we went apple and pumpkin picking (I can believe it is that time of year again!!).

Many things have been happening around here, we are just so busy we can't find that time to share them with you, but I will show my mom how to do this and maybe we can have some more regular posts.

Well, that is all for now, but I will leave you with one of my new pictures I have taken.

Nathanael get's the Priesthood

Last Sunday Nathanael made a big step. He was ordained a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. It was a very nice experience and the Spirit was felt greatly.

And then this Sunday he passed the sacrament for the first time. He did a great job! I can't believe it!! It seems like just yesterday he was born and now he is passing the sacrament, oh, where does the time go...

Abigail's Project

Abigail really wanted to learn how to sew, so my mom taught her. After Abigail learned how, she made a blanket for Rachel and herself.

Abigail has really enjoyed sewing and can't wait to do it again. Maybe next time she will make a blanket for me. :)

First Day of School

I know that I am behind, because it is almost October, and I am just doing the first day of school, but I have been a little busy... Anyway here we are:

I started 9th grade this year. High school, early morning seminary, and all the craziness that comes with that. I am quite busy almost all of time.

Nathanael started 6th grade this year in the middle school. He is getting used to changing classes and having more that one teacher.
Abigail started 4th grade this year. She is very excited about her teacher. She is still in the same building this year, but she is starting the clarinet which is very exciting.
Rachel is in 2nd grade this year. She is very excited because she has the same teacher as in 1st grade, so the first day of school this year was a piece of cake, same teacher, same class, same school, no big deal. :)
And last, but not least, Samuel started kindergarten. (!!!) He is very happy because he got the same teacher Rachel had for kindergarten. He is excited about riding the bus and going to school.
Well, another school year here. I can't believe it, time goes by so fast. This year my mom has a child in every school, the high school, middle school, elementary school and primary school. The month has been quite crazy with all of the open houses and curriculum nights. This school year looks promising with much fun... and learning. :)

Happy Birthday Little Brother!!

Today Nathanael is turning 12, 12!! I can't believe it!! It seems like only yesterday that he was coming home from the hospital... okay, so maybe I don't remember that much, but anyway... I can't believe that now he is a young men and he can get the priesthood! Time sure does fly by fast.
Some things that Nathanael has done this year are:

• finished 11 year old scouts and is now on to Boy Scouts
  
• went to scout camp for the first time
• started middle school

He has done many more things (I just can't think of them all right now, because let's face it, a year is a long time to remember stuff). I will let my mom do the rest of the mother, sentimental stuff). We are very happy to have Nathanael in our family (sometimes :)). He makes life... interesting, in a good way. Life would not be the same without him, through the good and bad. Happy Birthday on your 12th birthday, little Brother, and may you have many, many happy birthday to come.

Love,
Your Big Sis

*Note: Pictures to come about his birthday soon.

What were you doing at 6:20AM yesterday?

Well, I don't know what you were doing, but I was at WHAM 13 getting ready to do this with Doug Emblidge and Holly Maynard (sorry you will have to copy and paste)

http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=209046@wokr.dayport.com&navCatId=212

This was so much fun!!! I was so nervous, but afterward it was so amazing!! I would love to do it again. Before we did our segment, we saw them do other segments and see the weather and meet Marty Snyder. It was such an amazing experience and the best part was that it was all fun for me. There was never a, 'Oh I have to do this' or 'I don't want to do this anymore'. It was always fun when you found out something new or found a piece of information that was missing before.

I loved doing this and now that it is over, I am kind of sad. Oh, well, I guess I can do more of mine now. Who knows, maybe I will find that I am related to Doug or Holly. :)

Trip to Grandpa's House

Nathanael went to our grandpa's house when I went to Girl's Camp this past week. Then on Saturday we went to go get him and we spent the day there. We did many things:

We (Rachel) found some (many) toads

and of course Rachel had to hold them when she found them.

We fixed some things (Our grandpa has a fix-it-shop in his garage. People bring him things and he fixes them.)

We took two tractor rides (sorry this picture is so bad quality)

to the hill at the top of our grandpa's property (He owns 72 acres.)


It was absolutely beautiful at the top.

We had a great time having a day in the country!! We can't wait to go back soon!!

What is this?

I know what this picture is because I took it, but in my family we are having some issues. My parents think it is some kind of rock thing and they have convinced my siblings of that too. I really don't think it is that hard to see what it is, but maybe it's just because I took it. So, I decided to post the picture and see if anyone can figure out what it is. Please leave a comment on what you think this picture is. Thanks!

Rachel's Soccer

I know that this post is long over do, but better late then never, right? Rachel played soccer every Monday and Wednesday for June and July and loved it. This was her first year playing soccer, so she was a little hesitant a first, but by the end she was going and kicking the ball. She probably takes after her Uncle Scott who has played soccer forever. She can't wait to play again next year!

High Adventure

I went to High Adventure with the Young Women at our church to the Adirondacks on Tuesday the 4th to Friday the 7th. I knew going in to this that we would be doing alot of hiking, just not this much. I did one 8 mile hike, to the top of Phelps Mt. and one 9 mile hike to Avalanche Lake. The 8 mile hike was not hard in the beginning, but the last mile was all straight up and very steep with many rocks.. well boulders. The 9 mile hike was easy compared to the other one. Once you got to the top it was breathe taking. It was difficult to keep going when it was all up hill, but it was worth it when you got to the top.


Us starting our journey to the top of Mt. Phelps (sorry it's so dark).


The dam that was 2 miles into our hike.
The mountains that were by the dam.

I loved the reflection in this picture.

Our hiking group in front of the mountains at the dam.

The fabulous rocks that we had to climb over (this was the easy part of the rocks).
The mountains when we got to the top of Mt. Phelps.


Me at the top of the Phelps "standing" next to Mt. Marcy.
Our hiking at the top of Phelps with our gold bandannas for our new Young Women's value, virtue.
This is where the avalanche happened, hence the name avalanche pass (we were going to the lake, so it was not really uphill).


This is the beautiful Avalanche Lake that as at the end of our 9 mile hike.


Me and the lake. There was this very old boat at the lake, so we took our picture in it.

This is our whole group of everyone who went to High Adventure.

I had a fabulous time at High Adventure!! We did have some pain afterward, but it was so worth it when you got to the top. I can't wait to go to High Adventure next year, maybe with just a little less hiking, hint, hint. :)

Three dogs, one house...

This is the story of what happens when you put our dog, Hope


our "regular" dog that we watch every week from Thursday to Saturday, Abby

and the dog we are watching for this week, Winnie

you get total chaos, but that's what were all about right? Chilson chaos.


It is really not that crazy, I just like exaggerating. It was a little weird having three dogs in our house. Abby was only here for a few hours while Winnie was here anyway. Anyway, we have become the doggie hotel, if you are leaving and going out of town, this is the place to leave your dog... just kidding, not really:)

And they're back

Dad and Nathanael got home from scout camp this past Saturday. I'm a assuming that they had fun because I was not home when they got home and when I got home my dad was too tired to say much. My mom sent her camera with my dad and asked if he would take pictures. He took a few, just a few. Here are some of them (sorry, I can't really tell you what they are, but if you want to know, you can ask them sometime).


I thought this one looked cool how the fire was curving.

I love these where they are by the lake.



They are happy to be back home and we are happy to have them home again... maybe:) Nathanael can't wait to go again next year!!