Hi Everyone,

It was mothers Day again! I love my family! Rick gave me some beautiful flowers. Crystal and Nikkole brought me some canna lilies. I planted them in the garden right away. They are a really awsome. Heather and Chad gave me a house plant that is unique. I loved it. How thoughtful they were. It was nice to have them over for dinner. We had burnt hamburgers (smile) It was the first time barbequeing for the summer. We enjoyed Riley and Tyler. Tyler gave me his cheetos for mothers day. It was the best. Riley looked so cute! She was wearing a head band that she wanted me to notice so we walked over to me with her head pointed to me so I would notice how cute she was. She makes me laugh ! How I love her!! We had such a nice time with them and Grandma and Grandpa Hand. I killed myself on Saturday pulling weeds . Rick and I have several projects going. We are working on the pathway in the back yard. The grass has grown over the flag stone. So we are starting over. If I am having a pathway there. I WANT TO SEE IT. So theres Rick out there with his shovel digging up the grass and the flag stone. He's a great guy! Its a good thing he is in such great shape!! I was able to speak with Aimee later in the day. She and the kids would have been there if they were closer. We did spend a nice weekend last week together. Landon Kyle was blessed. It was a great blessing to be there with Aimee Todd Zachary Madison Johnathan and Landon. What beautiful well behaved children. Aimee and Todd have done a great job raising them . They have grown so much I just saw them in February! We played games and laughed ! I'm a lucky Mom to have such great kids thankyou so much for making Mothers Day so nice for me. I love you all so much.

Hi Everyone,
I thought I would update. Its been quite a while since I have written. I have been working all week. I can't believe it has been a week since we were with Aimee and Zach, Madison, Johnathan and Landon. They had to endure 3 grandma's! They had our undivided attention. They were so awsome. We went to Walmart to shop, you should have seen the long train. We each pushed a basket or the stroller. It was fun looking at baby things with Aimee. She just bearly got out ot the hospital but, what a trooper! She kept up with us just the same. I love you Aimee! Thanks for the wonderful visit!! I will treasure it for ever! We had 4 generations together at the same time. Wow huh. I'm hoping to get some of the pictures posted for you all to see. We started our Journey on the 19th of February which was Grandma Hands Birthday! We picked her up at 6:00 am. She was packed and ready to go. What fun she was too! What a great birthday to remember. We stopped once in a while to let her go to the bathroom but hey, we had a baby schedule to keep, which was to be to Aimee's before dark. We made it in great time. We laughed so much. Its a memory forever! Happy Birthday Mom ! We took mom shopping to update her wardrobe. She kinda became faint especially when she saw the bill. But hey ! She looks great! I hope I look as good as her when I'm 78.
We are celebrating Nikkole's Birthday this week. She is graduating this spring from Murray High School and she is turning 18 onFriday. I can't believe she is going to be 18. I can't believe I am as old as I am and that she is our last one home. I'll be posting pictures of the fun next week
I love yall

Happy Birthday Rick and Crystal!!
We had a very nice time this past weekend . Every labor day We celebrate the birth of two very important people in my family. I think back 24 years ago, we lived in Los Angelos California. Crystal Lynn Crowther was born. She was such a beautiful baby. I remember hoping her birth would happen in my life time. I had the tendancy to go over several weeks. By the time Crystal came along I was informing the Dr. that I was having her over the labor day weekend. He told me that it probably was not going to happen, so , I went home and cried. I remember being so miserable. The due date that Dr. Moran had given me had come and gone. He had just told me that he'd probably see me the following week. How depressing!! I went home so depressed. It felt to me that pregnancy was a permanent condition. I thought perhaps I wasn't pregnant at all but had a tumor. I didn't feel very good so I thought I would go home and sleep it off. She was born September 3, 1983, on a beautiful sunny california day. Dr Moran assisted us at the St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California. In those days we didn't know what sex the baby was before they we born. Chad was born in 1979 and Justin in 1981. We were kinda surprised to have and girl. We were so excited,and of course I could not wait to buy little girl cloths again
It had been quite awhile since Aimee born December 1974 and Michelle Oct 1976 were born . Crystal has been a joy in our life ever since. She is working full time at Deseret Mutual . She is assisting people with their investments. She is also going to school, working on her associates. Everything Crystal does, she gives it her all. She is fun , beautiful, and amazingly strong spirit. We have enjoyed her for 24 years. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Thank you Crystal for being who you are and for the 24 years of joy you bring to your family. We went to see Harry Potter 3D with Justin Nikki Crystal and me and Rick. We got there a little late so we didn't know that the big screen would tell us when to wear our dark glasses. We faithfully wore them through the movie. I took them off at one point saying I don't see a difference. Crystal, who was sitting next to me said . I don't either. Justin said put your glasses back on it is just a subtle difference. So we faithfully put them back on again. Then, the green glasses pop up on the big screen telling us to put them on. Wow, what a difference. Now we know what 3D looks like. We looked like men in black sitting on the back row. We had a good laugh after.
We also celebrate Rick's birthday. He was born on Sept 6. That just happens to be the day we brought Crystal home from the hospital. That was a great birthday present for him in 1983. Rick is an amazing man. I can always depend on him to have the right answer. He is dependable and honorable. We were married October 20, 1978 . I can't believe how fast the time has gone by, 29 years. I never thought we would be this old or at least, it was a long way away. Thanks for being who you are and the person that I love very much. You make life worth living . HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK

August 21, 2007

Hi ! Well, Aimee shared some pictures with you of our very fun vacation last week. We had such a great time with all the kids. We went with a packed car, Crystal , Justin, and Nikkole, but , what fun we had!! We did alot of laughing and playing . We squeezed as much as we could into 3 days . It was one of those times I know will be difficult to repeat. Everyone is so buzy, it was a miracle we could have the four Aimee, Justin , Crystal, and Nikkole. Too bad we missed out on Michelle and Chris 's family. It was a great loss. I know Chad would love to have been there but he works all the time with no time off. Maybe next year we could get everyone. That would be awsome.
It seems that alot of stuff has happened lately , expensive stuff like my camera that I bought last year died. Go figure it was just over the year warranty. My cell phone broke, my computer crashed! What ever!!! Hey stop it right now. Patti was in a car accident. Everyone is ok but it was expensive to fix. Someone broke into Bills van and stole his very expensive golf clubs!! Its been quite the last few weeks. Other than that everythings great. We are planning a trip to Park city in September. Everyone is invited so let us know if you would like to come up with us even if it only for a day. I have some pictures on my cell phone that when I figure out how to post it I will share them with you I love you all

Monday August 12, 2007

I thought I would share what I learned yesterday. Sunday was so awsome , the whole day was so good. In Sacrament meeting we had a young couple speak. Patrick and xang yu Belnap were married a year ago. Patrick met xang yu in China when he went there a couple of years ago. Patrick felt a desire to serve the people in China, so he went. I got to know Patrick when he went with us on our trek a few years ago. I was impressed with his personality and how he was able to connect with the youth. He had served a full time mission, and was wanting to do more. He decided to go and it was there that he met xang yu. She was raised by her grandmother who had christian beliefs but was not LDS. Of course you cannot preach the gosple in China, so he suggested that xang yu go to Hong Kong where she could be taught the gosple. She borrowed money from friends but still didn't have enough. Patrick wrote to her and told her that a miracle had happened and he had more money than he needed . She was able to travel to Hong Kong and was taught the gosple. Her traveling alone , as young as she is without parent or friend was amazing to me. She was drawn to the gosple. Heavenly Father was with her and she was able to connect with people on her way, that helped her get where she needed to be. I guess in Hong Kong they give all 12 discussions and baptise while they are there. She was a golden prospect for sure. She was very nervous to speak yesterday, but, she was great. You could feel her spirit. She started to cry Patrick jumped up to give her a kleenex. She said thank you my husband stud muffin. We all laughed with her. Patrick got up and told us that he helped her write her talk. xang yu asked what stud muffin meant and he said it means "me". We all laughed with them and was so impressed with their ability to indure so much. How different we are in america . She is doing well. They are living with Patricks family in our ward until they are ready to find a home.
Relief Society was also very good. It was about being a reverent people. We need to take time everyday and communicate with Heavenly Father , show our gratitude for what we have been given. Take time to ponder. "We must remember that reverence is not a somber temporary behavior that we adopt on Sunday. True reverence involves happiness, as well as love, respect, gratitude, and godley fear. It is a virtue that should be part of our way of life. In fact, Latter-day Saints should be the most reverent people in all the earth." I wonder how close to the celestial kingdom we would get without this quality. Not very close I imagine. A simple thing like reverence is the corner stone of our religion, yet , perhaps we may not tune in unless we are on our knees in great distress or fear. I know that I have had moments of reverence that they talk about. When Rick found out he had cancer, we were shocked that this could happen to us. I remember feeling great fear. I also remember many fasting and prayers that helped to connect us to our Heavenly Father. Rick and I went to the temple. I was given and answer immediately. As I sat there, a peace enveloped me. I knew everything was going to be ok. I wasn't sure what the out come of his surgery was to be, but, I knew that Heavenly father knew and that was enough. To me faith is putting your trust in Heavenly Father, that , he literally takes the burden off our shoulders and carries it for us. The hardest thing for me is to learn to trust. I have learned alot this year about that. I have had moments , like the one I just shared that when I ponder I can remember what that felt like and move closer to my Heavenly Father and let him help me carry my burdens. I also remember the feeling of great love that I had that day in the temple. Patti was with me on one side and a woman I did not know on the other side. When that feeling of love came over me I want to pick up both of their hands and squeeze them. I picked up Patti's but I left the womans hand alone. Not a word was spoken but the feeling was transferred anyway. When we got to the celestial room she approached me and asked me why I was there. She could feel the love that I was feeling. We hugged and went our separate ways. Two weeks later I saw her in walmart. She said," I want to know what happened . " I know Heavenly Father loves us individually and he knows what our needs are. We just need to ask. He will pour out blessings on our head. I love you all.

Hi Family,

Its been a few weeks since I have written on my blog. Life has been so busy, I was doing good to put one foot in front of the other. Last night I almost killed my family. I decided that maybe I should slow down. If it wasn't for Nikki who came in and said mom, your lights are still on ,on your car. I said , that couldn't be , they shut off automatically. So, I got up and sure enough I left the car running with the garage door shut and my laundry door to the garage ajar. It had been running for about an hour or so. So , Nikki is a hero, she saved us all just by coming in to say goodnight and seeing the lights on from the garage window. Wow, thats how fast things can happen.
I have been released from my relief society calling. It was time. We had been in for 3 years. I have been taking Rylie and Tyler to church with me. What a great time we are having learning to parent all over again. Maybe, I can do a better job this time. Anyway, We are having fun. Tyler will have a part in the primary program this year.
School is about to start for Nikki Justin and Crystal. I can't believe the summer has gone by so fast. What a hot year it has been. I'm kinda glad to see fall around the corner. Nikki Crystal Justin and me and Rick are going out to see Aimee Todd and the kids. I know that they have grown so much. I can't wait to see them. And their new house. We will be going on the 15th of the month. Then school starts the next week. I hope all is well with all of you. You are my favorite people!! Love ya Penni

Here we are again. I finally found some time to blog to my favorite people. Patti and I have been so busy. We just drop in to bed at night. In the last 3 days we have listed 4 homes and have 2 more this week. That will bring a total of 7 homes on the market. We are also working with 6 buyers. We have almost forgotten what home is. We just live in our cars. Wow , It just boomed all at once. We are grateful its been 7 long months . I was just released as first councelor in the Relief Society. It was time , we had been in for 3 + years. I have been grateful for the blessing of serving in the Relief Society. Now its time for someone else. I hope they call me as door greeter. I can do that. Well, this is short, but I wanted to let you all know why I haven't written for a while. Hope all is well with you. I love you lots.