Halloween at Work

Dana Thatcher as a hippie, and me as Angelina Jolie (pregnant, of course!)

Our HR Director, Lor Pugh, as Minni Mouse

My co-worker, Ginni, is "thinkin' Arby's"

Tim Nielson, Shannon Wilkie, and Matt Tall as "soldier," "Wicked Witch" and "John McCain"

Ember Davis as Rainbow Bright!

My friends, Judd and Chris as track stars--actually, Chris is Richard Simmons :) He dressed up as Brad (for me) later, so we could be "Brangelina!"

Chad and Carl--Chad is an Egyptian (I told him I could have TOTALLY done his makeup!! BC he didn't have any on) and Carl as a Sturgis biker--very typical Carl, so fun!

And the moment you've all been waiting for........

"BRANGELINA."

Yes, I know we TOTALLY look like them--we look like MOVIE STARS. You don't have to tell me. :) I put lip plumper on.

Welcome Home, GI Joe!

The other great thing about this past weekend was the chance we all got to see our brother, Joseph! He is the baby of the family (the "caboose" as we have 'lovingly' called him :)) and he just served 15 months in Iraq for the army. He was VERY excited to return home, and will now serve the rest of his time in the army in Georgia.

Jordan and I had the privelage of having Joe stay with us most of the time! We hogged him, I know :) During that time, we went over to Shaunie and Bart's for dinner, hung out with Chad, Ashley, Trina, Jeff, Carissa, and Tiara and KIKA down in Provo, went to breakfast (on Joe--thanks!!) to Mimi's Cafe (had those pumpkin pancakes again...yummm!), and heard lots of awesome guitar-playing! Joseph also got a new T-Mobile "G1" phone (thanks to Andrew, who found it in Vegas for him--they aren't available in SLC until mid-November) over which Jordan and Andrew salivated :) Ahhh to be young and single and have disposable income!!

Joe and I had lots of "heart to heart" talks, and he and I argued about politics, of course :) We sure love you Joezinho!!! Thanks for visiting! We're glad you're back in the US so we can call and bug you anytime!

The Silver Lining...A Weekend with my Family

Fun times with the family...even if it was a funeral!

Sydney and Kaylin--no idea what's going on, but this is too cute!

My cousin Amber with her cute daughter, Avery

My eldest sister, Kristin, (who's hazel eyes I totally COVET!!) and her daughter, Kiera

My cousins, (sisters) Carissa and Tiara Fotheringham

My wonderful aunt and uncle, Shaunie and Bart!

My cousin, Travis, brother, Joseph, and cousin Chad

Thought I'd put in a pic of the girls singing--this is at my parents' condo downtown. Becca, Heather, ane me. We are rehearsing for "Precious Lord, Take my Hand" (from Martin Luther King's funeral) for my grandpa's funeral.

Me and my little cuties: Sydney and Kaylin

Jordan and my brother, Nathan

Me, Jordan, Becca-boo, Sydney, and Kaylin (kinda in the pic :))

At the condo...Phil (Filly), his son Zachary, daughter Kaylin, Jordan, and Heather's little Lauren!

Grandpa Gollaher's Funeral

On Saturday our family celebrated the life of my Grandpa Max Gollaher. It was incredible to hear all the stories about him (that I am embarrassed I hadn't heard before!) and attend my first military funeral--it is amazing what his service did for our country and how the military still honors veterans at their graves years and years later.

Some of the great stories about Grandpa Max:

On the day my grandfather was born, the mine where my great-grandfather, Gilbert Gollaher, worked blew up, killing everyone inside--170 people. Everyone working that day died, except for my great-grandpa. He was in a tent (where he and his wife lived) helping my great-grandma Annie, deliver their fourth child--13 lb Max Gollaher! (she was a tiny 5'0 lady...can't imagine that pain!!) It was said at the funeral that not many can say they saved their father's life on the day they were born, but my grandpa could.

Grandpa's unit in the Navy, during World War II suffered 83% casualties. However, when he received his patriarchal blessing, he was promised that if he was faithful, he would be spared. And he was. My aunt Shaunie has said many times to me that it was wonderful to read Max's journal because he was very close to his Heavenly Father...because if you think about it, every day he was there was the day before he could die--they all felt that way. Every day, you prepared to meet your Maker. During that time, Max had 5 of his fellow soldiers die in his arms. One asked him where he was going, and grandpa told him that he was "going to meet his Maker to be judged," and to "go in peace." He talked about that a lot in his later years.

My DAd pointed out that Max was a "transitional" figure in his family. He was the only one in his to earn an advanced degree--and he earned 2! 2 Masters degrees. He was also the strongest in the gospel and helped his family become more active in the church and receive the blessings of the temple. When he married Fern Condie, they were the first in their family to get married in the temple. On the day of their wedding, they were sealed and my grandpa's parents, and, because of Max and Fern's example, his parents, Annie and Gilbert, were sealed as well. Grandpa was then sealed to his parents and deceased siblings.

Here is a Navy soldier playing "Taps" on the trumpet

The Pallbearers (among them, my brothers Nathan and Joseph, cousins Chad, Travis, Austin...)

Folding the flag

When the casket was to be brought down into the ground, each pallbearer placed their white carnation upon it.

In the Salt Lake City Cemetary--where Annie and Gilbert, Max's parents, are also buried.

My immediate family: From left to right... Joseph, me, Michelle, Rebecca, DAd, Heather, Nathan, Mom, Kristin

Max Gilbert Gollaher 1924- 2008

As a young boy. His father told him that once he was as tall as this rifle, he'd be able to go hunting with him.

Obituary
Max Gollaher 03/08/1924~10/20/2008 Our country is in mourning, for a veteran died today. Surrounded by his family, Max Gilbert Gollaher died on Oct. 20, 2008, he was 84.Max was born March 8, 1924, in Storrs, Carbon County, Utah, to Gilbert and Annie Osborne Gollaher. Max was raised and attended school in Tooele, where he was active in all sports, graduating in May 1943.

Upon graduation, Max enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the amphibious assault forces in the South Pacific during World War II where he was engaged in six major assault landings and received six battle stars.

Among the commendations he received were an Outstanding Military Award, a Presidential Unit citation and the Victory Medal. His small boat, a Landing Craft Control, led the first waves of troops onto the beaches. His unit suffered 83 percent casualties.

In the Navy

After his honorable discharge following the War, Max enrolled at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and graduated in 1950 with a B.S. degree in Education. He later received an M.S. from Brigham Young University and an M.ED. from U.S.U. He graduated from the U.S.U. Air Force ROTC program as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve. Later he was awarded the same USAF permanent commission as was awarded at the Colorado Springs Air Force Academy.

Max was a high school teacher, coach, counselor, principal and superintendent of schools. In the four years he coached basketball, his teams won two state championships. While attending U.S.U., Max met and fell in love with Fern Condie of Cache Valley, Utah. They were married on August 17, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Since retiring from the school system on July 1, 1987, he and his wife have lived in Salt Lake. Together they served an LDS Mission to England from 1989 to 1991 and a two-year Stake Mission from 1994-1996. Max served in many church callings in both ward and stake, but he said that the greatest position he ever held was that of being a father to his family, who he loved dearly.

Max is survived by his wife of 60 years, four sons, Greg (Jill), Brad (Nancy), Martin "Marty" (Tammy), Scott (Sharon), one daughter, Shaunalie "Shaunie" (Bart) Fotheringham, 22 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. His daughter, Tawna, his only brother, DeLoy, two sisters, Iva and Thelma, and his parents preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Sat., October 25, 2008, at the Monument Park 12th Ward, 2795 E. Crestview Dr. (1010 S.) Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may visit with the family the day of the service at the church from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Cannon Mortuary Funeral Directors.

With his wife, Fern

Soap Box Sunday

So, I don't always get to this on Sunday per say...but I think about it!

This week, I got to teach the lesson covering chapters 17-19 of 3 Nephi. At this point, Christ is teaching the American people that they should ponder and mediate the things that he has spoken unto them. He also institutes the sacrament, heals each and every person, and calls for the children to be brought to him. And it is at that part that He blesses and prays for the children, that I discovered a really amazing insight...

17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.'

20 And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

If you've ever wondered what "my joy is full" means, this may provide a little insight. And, if you've ever wondered why the Savior wept at this instance, it seems to me that His capacity for joy and his capacity for sorrow and compassion are linked.

Bruce C. Hafen explains:

"He wept--he who had descended below all things, the Man of Sorrows, he who bore all our griefs. The height of his infinite capacity for joy is the inverse, mirror image of the depth of his capacity to bear our burdens. So it is with the enlarged caverns of feeling within our own hearts: as sorrows of our lives carve and stretch those caverns, they expand our soul's capacity for joy. Then , when the Man of Sorrows turns our bitter tastes to sweet, our joy--and his--will fill the widened chambers of our hearts with what the scriptures call 'fulness.' That is when we have accepted his Atonement and love with such completeness that his purpose for us is fully satisfied. Then will we know that we were made for this. Then will we know where, and why, and to whom, we belong. 'For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.' (Psalm 107:9)"

You may want to read this through a couple of times. I think this is an amazing description of what the Savior's capacity to feel really means. It is also a great lesson to each of us. If we are to be like Him, I believe that we must aspire to have this depth of feeling as He has. We must allow our Savior to expand our souls, stretch those caverns, and ultimately, feel as He feels.

How do we do this? I think that each time we are given a calling--think of the Relief Society President who somehow "loves EVERYONE," or the primary teacher that develops a great compassion for her students, or a missionary who cares and loves ALL of the people that he serves. The Lord gives us these callings in order to expand our hearts and allow us to feel as He feels about our fellow men.

Each time we serve, we also have the ability to "expand our souls" as we develop a love for those we are serving. And why are we commanded to "multiply and replenish the Earth?" Having children REALLY expands our capacity for joy and our ability to "mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort" as we nurture and teach our children. A parent's love is the closest feeling we can have to the divine love the Savior has for each of us.

The Savior ends His teachings of that day with a prayer to the Father on behalf of them:

28 Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me.

This amazing prayer really shows that the Lord will do anything for us to come unto Him and allow him to purify us, helping us feel as He feels, see as He sees. I hope that I can become more like Him, and keep these thoughts with me as I strive to live His commandments.

Baby Shower with my Las Vegas Friends!

This is the email invitation we sent out...I had fun making it :) Yes, I made my own invitation...but hey, I'm obsessed with making invitations, blog backgrounds, etc. so it was so fun!

Thanks to my wonderful sister, Michelle, I got to have a little shower with some good friends while in Las Vegas! We had it at Mimi's Cafe--my new favorite place to go to breakfast!! (GREAT pumpkin pancakes...yummm!)

My friends I used to work with at Wright Engineers, Bonny Bartlett and Melanie Mooney came! It was so fun to see them after such a long time! Also, my "adopted friends" (they're Michelle's friends that I now call MY friends too, since I visit so often) Joel (Jo-elle) and Marci came. Denette, Miranda, and Toni couldn't come unfortunately, but totally got me the best gifts!!! Thank you so much!!

Here are pictures of what I got and who gave them to me...thank you ALL. You are so awesome!!! My baby is going to have the cutest little things to wear, and you also got me some great practical stuff, which I LOVE!

OK so since I need to document my whole life, I even have pictures of ALL of the things I got. Unfortunately, I AM in all of the pictures--double chin and all!! :) haha...

This super-cute ensemble is from Melanie Mooney--so modern! LOVE IT!

Bonny Bartlett got me this adorable outfit--WITH little pink leggings (those are the cutest part of course) AND some really cute hair bows and flowers and a teething ring that is a dragonfly. I was totally spoiled!
Joel is awesome TOO! She got me a Bundleme thingie--that keeps the baby warm in a car seat and stroller, and a gift card--you are so awesome, Joel!

Ok, so Miranda I don't even KNOW, and she got me something!! She makes these awesome hoodie towels! So cute! I'm excited for the baby's first bath :)

Michelle couldn't resist getting me this little sweater dress. It is SOOOOOOO adorable. Now, my baby will dress as cute as Sydney :)

And Denette, who couldn't be there, pitched in on the Baby Bjorn, but ALSO got me this super cute red and white snowflake nightie. I love it!!

And last but not least, Marci, Toni, and Michelle got me this Baby Bjorn--I've been told is a MUST have (and apparently, you can't get a different brand either bc this is the best kind!). They are so awesome. Thank you guys soooo much!! I'm so lucky to have such great friends!