"Vance Turner Cowart is 6!!!"

Vance Turner Cowart!!

Pops...."How much do I love Vance"?

Vance...."Very Much"!

Vance...."Mima can I spend the night"!

Mima...."Yes if you promise not to go outside in the morning without asking"!

Vance..."Okay, Mima can you comb my hair like a missionary when I get out of the bath"??

Mima...."Sure, I LOVE MISSIONARIES"!

Vance...."Mima, I am going to Mexico on my mission"!

Mima...."I hope not, maybe you can go to Italy like Uncle Rhett"!

Vance...."No I want to go to Mexico"!!

Vance...."Mima can we go to the mall"?

Mima..."NO"!!

Vance...."Please"!!

Mima..."I guess, it is your birthday"!

Vance..."Can I play on the toys'??

Mima..."No you catch germs"!!!

Vance..."I like germs, they are good for you sometimes"!

Mima..."What ever, don't take your shoes off, hurry up five minutes"!

Vance..."Mima everyone has their shoes off"!

Mima...."Vance you are going to get fungus on your feet"!

Vance...."What is that"!

Mima...."Never mind, hurry up"!!

Vance...."Mima can I have a birthday ice cream"!
Mima..."You better not waste it, do you really want it"?

Vance..."Yes, I pinky swear I will eat it all gone"!

(he did, every drop)

Mima..."Vance, how about a piece of pizza"?

Vance...."No I want McDanalds"!

Mima..."No that is crap"! (not that pizza is not)

Vance...."PLEASE"!!!

Mima...."Now I know why you wanted McDonalds"!
(he did not even eat his cheese burger)
Vance We love you SO MUCH!!! We are so thankful for your big blue eyes, your combed missionary hair, litttle dirty feet, your enthusiasm, the cute songs you sing, and for ALL the love you give Pops and Mima!!!

Happy Birthday my sweet Cute boy!!!

"A New Mental Illness"???

I have heard and read in the past year or so about a new mental illness call......"HYPER- SEXUAL -MENTAL DISORDER"!!!!!!! I am not a doctor...But I did learn in college about different mental illness and had a year of medical terminology,Psychology and many other classes as I was preparing to work in the operating room along the side of a doctor! Does this make me an authority in mental health issue...NO! I am sure I am wrong BUT..... I also feel there is not a new mental illness that is called Hyper-Sexual Mental Disorder! I understand addictions! Yes there are people who struggle in sex and pornography addictions! In my calling of eight plus years....working with Family Service and ALL of the addiction and recovery programs.... I do know that addictions can be very hard to over come no matter if it is a natural processed addiction or a chemical or alcohol addiction! BUT.....I think they should name this new addiction, "NOT HYPER SEXUAL DISORDER"! I think they should name it HYPER-I HAVE A HUGE EGO-DON'T CARE WHO I HURT-PRIDE-I CAN PAY ANYONE ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY-NO STANDARDS AND MORALS- I AM A DOG AND I FINALLY GOT CAUGHT-DISORDER!!!! SERIOUSLY.... Every time I hear this term "Hyersexual Mental Disorder" I literally see red flames!!! I know their have been women who have cheated on their spouse and they are just called.....How do I put it......I will leave it at immoral and a tramp!!! Even in Hollywood!! But when it comes to a man in Hollywood or a big sports star or in government places....It is now called "Hypersexual Mental Disorder!! Yes I will agree that they have a mental disorder....But it is not a hyper sexual disorder!! It is that their head is just way to big along with their prideful non-caring ego!! These men do not think that they have to have ANY RULES, STANDARDS and MORALS!!!! THEY DO NOT CARE!!!! These men just KNOW... that standard and morals just do not apply to them!!! I really think....they think they are of a higher law!!! AND THEN....When they are caught...... They stay in their house until there publicist can find a "SO CALLED" rehabilitation center that will build tunnels and canopies all around so these men can enter like cowards!! Do you think they really have a change of heart???? UUHHMMMM.... NO!!! They are just buying time till things die down a little and then they get a "HYPER SEXUAL MENTAL DISORDER" diagnosis AND THEN.... The publicist gets them to say"SORRY" and no one is allowed to ask any questions of them at this time either!!!!!!! REALLY..... HYPER SEXUAL MENTAL DISORDER!!! The only real diagnosis that these men have or should I say caused is....Complete trauma and betrayal! They have ruin their wives and children's thought of a family! It causes such long tern mental issues for their families and sometime they never recover from the hurt and pain!! It is hard for wives and children to ever trust again!!!! The daughters of these men will think this is what could happen to me if I get married, and when and if... they do get married they have a relationship where they feel like they have to be a detective instead of a wife!!!! The boys standards are weakened because they think well if my dad did made bad choices and eventually remarried and come out okay so.... if I get caught I will still work it out some way OR they never marry!Kids that come from these kinds of family have a higher rate of alcohol and drug abuse!! The wives and mothers end up taking the hit ALWAYS!!! They are left trying to forgive the husband for not only what he did to her but their children and their whole family!!!! The wife is left wondering what she did wrong!!! Let me make this crystal clear.....If a man cheats on his wife or a wife cheats on her husband....It has nothing to do with the spouse that was cheated on!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!! If a spouse is not happy and they can not find it in their hearts to try to find happiness some way and hold their family together.....GET A DIVORCE!!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE FAMILY UNIT!!!????Young men look up to these jackasses that are ruining the family unit!!!It is up to our selves to make our own selves happy!! I understand we find joy being with our spouses but it is a choice to be happy and find happiness! If you do not have trust in a marriage...you marriage is weak and unstable! It is also a choice to have standards and morals!!! The Lord has set guidelines for ALL of us BUT.... HE has also given us our agency!! We are only in charge of our own agency!! Being a mother I can teach my children and grand children standards and morals BUT...It is up to them to choose how they want to live their lives!! I really think now a days parents need to talk to their children about some of these men that their kids know and hear about! We need to make sure our kids have a solid foundation of the family unit! Have open conversations with your kids! So back to this new mental illness.... "HYERSEXUAL MENTAL DISORDER"....Is it real or is it an excuse for completely..... inappropriate.... non caring..... bad behaviors!!!

How Do You Read This Without Tears??? You don"t!!!

"Our cute, sweet handsome Brazilian son... "Eric Percy Kentish Scheurn" as he says"!

"Proud American Mama and Pops"!

"A bond that will never be lost"!

"Brothers in the heart"!
How in the world could you not LOVE this kid!! I receive emails from Eric our exchange student from Brazil and...I swear...It takes me a few days to recover from them! We can only pray he will be able to get a visa and come back!! As you can read he needs to work on his English but it will come when he comes back! WE MISS HIM and LOVE HIM! Eric is right he will always be part of our family!!! We are in the process of getting a student this August but... No one will ever come close to our SWEET, CUTE, DARLING,TENDER Brazilian son!! Eric we love you more than you know...FOREVER SWEET BOY!!!

Tamy Scheurn!!! Today I woke up a little sad and I was thinking the whole morning, and started to cry. you guys did not calculate how I miss you! it seems like an addiction to remember about you guys!everything I look, smell, feel remind me about you guys! every time I lissen "WHEN I LOOK YOU A MILEY CYRUS-" I remember you! when I lissen "toes-zac brown band" I remember walker! when I watch the Suns game I remember Tom! Rhett always remember when playing any sport or watch any sport everything i do! I remember that I AM A SCHEURN! Eric Percy Kentish Scheurn!!! I cried so much! and so came here to tell you how much I love you! you guys made ​​me grow up, helped me until the last second! I love you guys so much, and thats my love doesnt decrease cause Im far away, on the contrary, my love grows a lot! he grows to know that everything around me reminds me about of you! yesterday I made ​​nachos weren't the best .. I wish were like yours! I wish that you were here to make it.. I wish that Tomm was here to make pancakes! I wish that all the scheurn was here so that I could hug and say how much I love !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to wall mart las week, to buy tortillas to make Mexican food but guess what? cost $ 10, five tortillas! could you believe that? you guys are trying to recive an exchange student? how long? 1 year? would be cool! tell me the news about it! I'm a little sick these days My body's aching, headache, runny nose but im getting better! send me news about you guys! I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really miss you guys and love you!!!!!!!! send a bear hug to all the scheurns!

much love you! with much love and care,

your child always,

eric kentish

"What Is In Your Purse"??

1~ Rockin Rose lip liner....(the $2.00 brand that I have worn for 38 years)

2~Fruit Lip Gloss..(a must)

3~True Religion perfume, "Hippie Chick"...(a new favorite)

4~Huge hair pin and scrunchy....(for the summer)

5~My cute PINK make-up bag...(if it is pink I LOVE it)

6~Nail file...(this has been in my purse for at least two years)

7~Three of my Favorite pink MAC lipsticks...(*Plinky, *Syrup, and*Via Glam)

(All of this was in my WALLET...Plus My debit card, driver license and American Express!!!)

8~ Extra house keys... (when my kids lock me out)!

9~ $ 16.53

10~ A mother's Day letter from Anziano Scheurn... (my most treasured possession in my purse)!
11~ A special made silver coin that Joe gave me from his mission...(I have carried it in my wallet since he gave it to me in 2009, very special to me)
12~ Gift cards...( one is from walker to TJ,Maxx from x-mas, Starbucks from Tom, Bath and body from Tom, Walmart, I always forget about them)

13~ I always keep Rhett's Current Address for his mission!

14~ My Big Lots VIP card...(love big lots!)

15~ My ID bracelet for my "Power Port".... (I actually have had nurses ask for it, I guess they think because I am old my port is old!)

16~ My favorite pens!...(Jo Earl gave me the nice pink and purple ones, love them)

17~ Mail box key...(I always worried I will loose this little key)

18~ 3 handkerchiefs....( my close friends and family knows my nose ALWAYS has a clear drips, hate it, my mom gives these beautiful hankys to me, they were my grandma's)

19~ Flashlight... (for the grand kids in church)

20~ My TMJ splint case...(self explanatory)

21~ Two pairs of glasses...(one pair of readers and one prescription in case I loose a contact)

22~ Medication box... (self explanatory too)

23~My mail box key...(I am always worried I will loose this because it is so small)

24~ Gum....(who does not have gum in their purse, And you wonder why I have TMJ issues)

25~ Wintergreen mints....(Never go without)

26~ Christmas candy....(See's krispy mints and butterscotch, from Christmas)

27~ Bath and Body sanitizers... (love these, Monya turned me on to these and the cotton scent)

28~ My new favorite color of toe nail polish it is called "Nouveau Nuevo"! (for when Vincent does my toes, love the polish and Vincent!)

29~Mini tooth bushes with picks...(Posey showed these to me and they are fantastic, you should try them!)

So I was given a challenge to dump my purse and write down EVERYTHING that is in it. I guess you are suppose to be able to tell what kind a girl you are from the contents of your purse!Since it is Saturday and Tom is at work and Vance just left awhile ago from spending the night last night...I thought I would try it and see what my friends says about my contents!
I will say I LOVE PURSES!! Tom just can not understand that! My purses are kind of part of my family!!! I LOVE each one of them! They all mean something to me. I can tell you when and where I got them and with who I share my new treasured purse with at the time! I take such good care of them! I would never think of setting my purse on the floor of a bathroom and in certain places, I would never put them on most floor period!! But on the other hand I would not set one of my purses on my bed because that is a whole other issue! I don't even let my grand kids on my bed UNLESS.... They had just got out of the bath and they were spotless!! I would let them then BUT.. only for a few minutes! My issue with that is for another post on another day, I change my sheets quite often, and I LOVE nice sheets!! I know it is weird but I don't even let Tom touch the bed unless he is spotless right out of the shower!! But Tom is a freak about sheets as well...But I will leave the sheet issue for another post!I look forward to hearing what kind of a girl I am!! I would say I LOVE the color PINK, fun writing pens, gum... there for I have TMJ issues...Have to keep my hands clean and my teeth picked and brushed...Love Missionaries, Love "Minty" things, obvious I have long type hair, can't live with out my cell phone,...(It has my pictures on it) I need to get out and shop at the stores where I have gift card,....(since I have had some for over a year or maybe I remember to use them) and even though I do not wear a ton of make-up, I love pink MAC make-up! AND...I like BLINGY things! So I guess I will be tinkled-pink to hear what kind of girl I am!!! (excluding the sheet issue!)

One thing I do want you to remember is....."Give a girl a FANTASTIC, CUTE purse and a FANTASTIC, CUTE pair of shoes and she can conquer the world"!!

A LOVELY... Mother's Day!

Dear the Best Mom Ever!

You are the best mom in the world. I give thanks to my Heavenly Father night and day and even afternoons and all in between. I know everyone says they have the best mother in the world but, like the fact of the matter is, I really do have the best mother in the world. You brought me into this world because you had the faith and knew that our Heavenly Father had a plan. You have done so much for me and still continue to do and do some more. When I think of all the pathetic hissy fits that I threw, I think of how inconsiderate I was. This mission is really turning me into this man beast. I know when I get home I will be a changed man. This mission is just all the better because I have a wonderful and caring mom who supports me! Not to mention how strong you are in this gospel,it is amazing as well!! I brag to everyone on my mission how my mom is better then their moms and as well as my mom doesn't take crap from anyone! Mom I am truly thankful for you! You honestly have no idea how much I look up to you and what I would do for you!! I know that after my mission you will help me with all the decisions I make! You will always be there for me and I will always be there for you! I hope you enjoy these pictures as well! I love you so so so so so so so so so much and I take that heart everywhere I go. Thank you so much again. Lots and Lots of Love. Have a Lovely Mother Day!

Love your son and Missionary,

Anziano Scheurn

Precious

In the words of Rhett... I had a LOVELY Mothers Day!!! How could I not with a letter like this! Isn't it great that my kids can look past ALL of my flaws and imperfections and show such a love!! I had a great day... All though I was some what disappointed that we only were able to talk to Rhett for about twenty five minutes via skyp and that was shared with Tom and Walker... and then on the phone for about 15 minutes and again shared minutes with family!! But it was great to see Rhett's sweet face and to hear his voice! With Rhett and my other boys when they are on their missions... It is somewhat a bitter sweet time on Mother's Day because you miss your kids as they are on missions and then you talk to them and then somehow when you could not think you miss them anymore... you find out you really do miss them even more than you did or thought!!! I MISS THIS KID!! But I could not be more happy for him and we could not be more proud of Rhett either! I know it is not easy for any young man or women to serve a mission but... I do wish Rhett had at least one member in his city to invite him in for dinner!! I know he will be a stronger person when he returns and he will be blessed as well for his hard work!

Keep "LIFTING" Anziano Scheurn... and "SPRINT" to the end...You are doing a FANTASTIC and AMAZING WORK!!

It was great to see all of my kids and their kids on Mother's Day too! Posey and Ben's little boys made me special cards and were so excited to come and give them to me. They are so funny! Vance gave me a big hug as usual... "Happy Mother's Day Mima" he said with a LOUD raspy voice! Brogan gave me a... I really do not want to give you a hug...hug but... I knew he knew it was a special day. Brogan only has real hugs for his mommy and daddy!! He for sure is a true mama boy and Grey-bie Baby was cute as well!
Walker.... LOVED my new Ed Hardy perfume... I think it is now one of my new favorites! Melanie...How did you know I LOVE nuts and chocolates!! You two are darling!!
Blake had called a few days before and asked if he could make Mother"s Day dinner for me and... It was so good! He made my favorite tacos and I have to say they were "Delish"!! Thanks Blake ever so much for sweating your _ _ _ off for me! I know it is not easy frying tacos for a group! Tanya thanks for sharing your Mother's Day! Their kids were so cute as well! Gavin had his Strippling Warrior out fit strapped on when we came in and Lucy of course had a dance for me... Elli had a few songs up her sleeve and Gage did not disappoint me with his cute....If that is what you want to call it... ATTITUDE!! That kid is funny!!
The big news came from Joe and Erin!! I was unable to go to Erin's surprise birthday dinner the night before so... Tom went for both of us! So at the end of the dinner as Tom video the toast Joe gave to Erin... At the end of the toast Joe said AND.... "we are pregnant"!! What!!!! So Tom never showed me the video until he played it for Rhett on Skpe the next morning!! So as I thought Rhett was hearing about this new baby for the first time... as well as Walker and I were hearing for the first time... I said "Rhett did you hear what they just said"?? There was loud clapping in the video so I was not sure if Rhett heard because he just sat on Skyp with a "big smile"!! Again I asked "did you hear Rhett"??? He finally just said with that "big smile"... I already knew a long time ago!!! WHAT!!!! ALONG TIME AGO???? Rhett continued to say Joe had written him to tell him that they were pregnant and since Rhett is usually the last to know that this time they wanted to let him know first!!! So then I was thinking so... How far along is Erin??? She is over four months along!!!! This Thursday they will find out what the sex of the baby will be!!
WHAT A SURPRISE!!! A NEW GRAND BABY!!!!
So in the words of Rhett...
I had a LOVELY Mother's Day... One I will not forget!!

*** ITS A BOY!!!!***

"The Big Tough Girl Club"!

Eternal parents Jim and Dara and Katie the Birth Mother of Azyln and Liam!

"Chelsey is a Big Tough Girl"

Two "Big Tough Girls"! I love these girls so much! Two Moms!

I might should explain this for those of you who are not familiar with the "Big Tough Girl Club"! The girls who are in the "Big Tough Girl Club" are birth mothers! The Saturday before Mothers Day is a holiday to celebrate as well!! It is Birth Mothers Day!!
I could talk for ever about birth moms , because I love them so very much and have a deep respect for each one!! I have been blessed to be a part of and witness miracles and a love I can not describe!! In order to be a birth mom you have to be tough because it is by far the most selfless loving act I have ever seen! These moms love their babies so much and want to parent their baby more than anything...But yet know they cannot give their baby a mom and a dad and give them all they need when facing a out of wedlock pregnancy! As I have witnessed in placement ceremonies birth moms PLACING their beautiful babies in the arms of their Eternal moms arms... I can say I have never felt or witnessed the spirit in that way any other time! I have always tried to share this experience with Tom but he just never understood until he went to a placement ceremony! Tom has said he wishes everyone one in the world could be at a placement ceremony because this world would have far less abortions and people could also understand adoption much better! Years ago adoptions were closed and birth moms would not even get to see their babies! It is no longer like that! It is amazing to see the relationship between birth mother and their baby's eternal parents! The love, respect from both sides is truly hard to describe! Am I saying that "Tough Girls" don't have some hard days??? NO!! But through the healing powers of the Atonement and their Heavenly Father's arms around these tough girls...all is possible and you can go on and be happy knowing you gave your baby ALL you could! I know for sure birth moms knew prior to coming to earth they would carry a baby for an Eternal mom that would not be able to carry a child! As I see birth moms receive pictures and videos from their babies eternal moms and dads quite often....and as I see the respect and boundaries that birth mothers give the baby's eternal parents it truly is a slice of Heaven! As Katie sat next to me in the sealing room at the Temple on Saturday....I feel sure I could feel her heart beating! The spirit in the room was palpable! I watch the tears roll down the cheeks of Azyln and Liam's eternal mom and dad...I could not help but to feel their gratitude toward Katie that Dara and Jim have for their birth mother and the over whelming love from Katie has toward Dara and Jim, the Eternal parents! As the baby was brought into the sealing room... the Sealer asked who would be holding Liam at the alter! As Katie sat in her white dress she raised her hand ever so slightly... and the Sealer quickly asked are you Liam's aunt?? I happened to know the Sealer and he is a pretty tough kind of a guy! Dara quickly said no... Katie is Liam's birth mother! He was kind of caught off guard but... with tears coming from his eyes he said "Oh how wonderful"! I later spoke to Brother Heywood and he told me in all of the years he has served in the church as a mission president, in high callings and a long time Temple worker.... He had never been apart of something like this and he said he felt SO blessed to share such a beautiful sacred spiritual time of each of these mother's lives! It truly was so amazing!! All of Katie's family were there to support her and all of the Eternal parents family were their to support everyone as well! I brought another birth mom with me to be somewhat a part of the experience and as she sat waiting in the Temple at the front... She to was over come with the spirit as well! I feel sure she was feeling what we were as well! Chelsey's baby will be sealed to his eternal parents in June and she and her mother will fly to Utah to be a part of that sealing also. So back to the "BIG TOUGH GIRL CLUB".... It takes a TOUGH selfless person to be a birth mother! I know I am not that tough!! I am so thankful to be able to have dear, sweet friends who I love and respect more than words can describe!! This group of birth moms are so loving and supportive with one another as well....I love to watch the bond they have... Birth Mothers are AMAZING and "BIG TOUGH GIRLS'!! I love you ALL!!
you would like to know some more about "BIG TOUGH GIRL CLUB" you can go to www.blessingsinabasket.blogspot

"Date Night"

Tom and I thought we were babysitting but ended up that we were not so... Tom made no plans for date night and was not sure what we would do...But in the mean time he asked me if I wanted to go out and check the garden and visit with him while he cleaned the horse stalls really quick! Tom knows I like to pick the vegetables but... Not a huge fan of weeding or watering the garden. Our gardens is out at the back of our property and out by the horse stalls so I am thinking he thought he would kill two birds with one stone. It was a beautiful evening so I decided that I would take him up on the offer! When I was checking the garden I was so excited to see we had a few beautiful vegetables to pick!!

Tom was done cleaning stalls and thought it would be a good old fashion date night and decided we should just go for a nice horseback ride. As I said before Tom has a new horse... Sorella ( her register name is Sana Verse, who names a horse like that) and he had been wanting me to ride her! So with my "Roxy Slippers" and all, Tom had both horses saddled before I knew it and we were off !!!! Tom had been telling me how GREAT Sorella is and about five minutes into the ride Tom said well she is a little GREEN so be a little careful with her and... be ready for anything!!!! I am sorry WHAT DID YOU SAY???? So Tom's GREAT broke rope horse I am finding out is a little GREEN... and I am on her!! Sorella ended up doing really well out on the street and in the fields and I was quite impressed with her! We rode till sun down and had a beautiful fun ride!


Thank goodness for cell phone pictures! Tom on Jaylee! I bought Jaylee for Tom on Tom's 40th birthday when she was only six months old!! I will not tell you how old she is now!!!

Seriously who rides horses in your "Roxy Slippers"!! Tamy Scheurn!!

We would pretty hungry by the time we were done riding So.... We got the horses put up and after enjoyed a beautiful sunset we headed into the house! My good friend Zenia had made us so homemade scrimp saveche and it was DELICIOUS!! I had gone to Ranch Market earlier in the day and we had some fresh tortillas and salsa and it was so good! As Tom and I went to bed we said that, that was truly like one of our first dates as teenagers because.... We use to go on horse back rides and then go out for Mexican food when we were teenagers! I had to explain to Tom it was sort of like the old days but the only differences was... Our horseback ride was longer... the chips were better from "Georges Ole" AND we use to sit in his truck and make out at the barn! AND I will leave it at that!!!!! Thanks Tom for the fun date night...

Ti Voglio Bene!!!! I Love You!

P.S. And I did not speak Italian to you!!!

Easter, Garden, Puppy!

Tom has wanted a garden for quite some time now and we have tried in the past to grow one to know avail but.... I think he has finally figured it out! We have always had wonderful neighbors that have beautiful gardens and they always shared with us so I always told Tom we really did not need a garden! But I do know it is not the same as going out to YOUR OWN garden and picking things! Vance helped pops get the ground ready and then they planted! I thought Tom had loss his garden when he left the water running but no.... It is looking pretty impressive and beautiful!! I thought I would share the FIRST vegetable to be picked from the garden this year!! A banana pepper!! Good job Tom Scheurn.... I am for sure impressed!!For anyone that knows Tom Scheurn you know he LOVES his animals!! So recently he bought a new horse so Jaylee his other horse could have a sister! Who does that!!! Yes in fact Tom named his new horse "Sorella" which means sister in Italian! So I thought we were done with new animals at our crazy farm for awhile but.... NO!! Tom's favorite dog "Ruby" is blind and her hearing is going as well! So I am sure Tom does not want to face the reality of this situation SO... My brother Kip who also has Queensland Heeler had a litter of new puppies and gave Tom a new puppy!! Thanks to my little brother Kip.... Tom now has a new puppy! Thanks Kip??!!! Can't wait to see what Tom names her! I LOVE hearing her cry all night....It is great!!!!

(If any one has any good idea for a name let Tom know!)

Now to Easter! We had a wonderful Easter! I not sure how many Easter baskets I made but... By the time I got Rhett's and a few of his companions baskets off to Italy, starting a month ago on those... and then our ward missionaries baskets and the sister we visit teach and the families that Tom home teaches and then all the family baskets and a few extended family members... I am so done with Easter baskets! I did go to the book store and bought what was most important for my grandchildren! A new book for each family! These books had big pictures of the Savior on each page! I loved looking in these books and thinking about ALL HE has done for me and my family! It was fun having the kids and grand kids over for dinner and we had a fun little softball game out in the front yard! Granny even hit a triple!! The weather was beautiful! Where would I be without the Atonement?? I would for sure be hopeless! I am so thankful for the Atonement! I would not have a mortal body nor would I have Eternal life with out the Savior and my older brother Jesus Christ!! And for this I am truly ETERNALLY thankful for HIM!!

The Easter Bunny brought me lots of new "Bath and Body Works" fun things! Love that... Good job "Easter Bunny"!!All in all we had a great weekend and we are so thankful for this time of year and the knowledge we have of our Savior Jesus Christ!!

"Vi Amiamo Tutti, Buona Paqua"!!!

"We Love you all, Happy Easter"!!!

34 Years....Who Would of Thought!!

Today is Tom and I anniversary! This and Mothers Day are my two favorite days of the year! Without Tom, I would not celebrate them and these days would not matter as much to me! I am so thankful for Tom... My sweet companion!!As usual Tom made dinner reservations at Don and Charlie's and as usual the liver pate was fantastic and everything else was just as impressive! This is our favorite special place! We love going there sitting on the same side of the booth and just looking out at all the people! It is funny to watch different people celebrating different things and wondering just who is who and what is what! Tom and I try and guess are they married or dating or if they are celebrating an anniversary how many years ect... Usually you hear but this night I could only hear a couple down a few booths who were sitting on the same side as we were and they were older than us but they had not been married for anywhere near as long as Tom and I had been married!

Tom and I just celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary! I still remember my dad asking me "Why do you want to marry a dumb cowboy"? I remember how much I loved him then! I never would of thought that I could of loved him more at that time! I was so wrong!

Tom and I have grown over the last actually 38 years so much! We dated for four years before we married! I never thought that my life would be what it is today! I did not go to church and knew very little about the church and Tom was not a member of our church at this time! Who would of thought after 16 years of marriage, we would be sealed for Eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple! Who would of thought that when we went on our two week long honeymoon in Hawaii in 1977, when we were married, that would would celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary by picking our son Joe, who served a mission in Hawaii 25 years later! Who would of thought that we would have our youngest child Rhett serving a mission in Italy on our 34 and 35th wedding anniversary! Who would of thought we would have five kids and ten grand children!!! Who would of thought all of this!!! NOT ME!!!! I am so thankful for my Eternal companion! No one else could put up with me for this long! I think he would say the same for him that, no one could put up with him for this long either! I have heard that there is no such thing as a soul mates and I think I believe this because.... When you get married you are head over hills in love and you have to nurture that relationship so it will grow! Raising kids is rewarding but also can be hard! If you do not have a loving nurturing spouse these years can be hard and you can lose the love and companionship in your marriage! There is always ups and downs in finances, work schedules, illnesses and just plain stresses in life! So you have to really be in love to endure these things and some how find joy! I have had many people ask me why do you think your marriage has lasted this long??? It is easy for me to explain but not all get it!! Tom and I have endured because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Without this we would be no where! This ever lasting gospel has taught us to forgive and love one another!! We have family members and friends that think being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a odd or difficult religion to live. I will say there have been times in my life where my faith has been shaken but... I am so thankful to know that my Heavenly Father knows me and LOVES me and that HE sent his Son to show me and my family the way! With out this knowledge I would not be where I am today! I could not be more thankful for my ups and downs, for the stumbling stones on my path, that I have learned from and still learning to pick up and make building blocks out of them! I could not be more thankful for the Priesthood that Tom holds and the way he honors it with such grace! Tom has been such a great example of hard work to his children! I am thankful for Toms years of trials prior to him becoming of member of our church.... He is who he is today because of those years! Tom is a wonderful companion and dad and who would of thought!!! Not my dad!! This has been a fun anniversary and who would of thought that I would get a little "Snowy" that shaves ice better than Bahama Bucks and Tom would get a brand new SADDLE!!! Who would of thought.... NOT US!!!!!! Tom you will always be precious to me!!! I am so eternally thankful for you and I love you more now than I did the day we got married!!! WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT!!!

My Italian and Brazilian Sons!!!

I am so thankful for my Italian son and my Brazilian son!

I love getting letters from these boys and hear the joy that comes from them! They both are working so hard in different ways!

Eric sent us an email a few days ago, it read...

Tamy scheeeeeeeeeeurrrnnn AND Thom Scheurn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here in Brazil it's alright, I really missed you guys!I was doing a video about my days here in Brazil .. but I lost it because the laptop burned the board.other day I talked to joe scheurn, and IvanI told Ivan to send a big kiss to all the scheurn!did he told you?you guys do not measure how I miss the Scheurn family the best family!! 100% FAMILY CAN BE TOGETHER AND FOREVER gave a ride other day to the missionaries I will send some photos from my trip for you!aaaaaaaaaaaaaa almost forgot!I've marked the day of my interview to get visa to visit you guysmost will take a while yet = [very saaaaaaaaaaaaaaadHow are you? your knee is better?and Thom, how is he?how's it working in hyundai san-tan? hahahaWalker is working on at the police department still ? I'm working on events for children .. just to get some money. College beem this hard! but I'm getting better!I'm not dating the girl anymore .. she is not the beest! Send me news!I miss you guys soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo muchhhhh!with love Brazilian son eric kentish "kensack"the beesst! 100%

(We got to get him back here because his English is "not the best" as Eric says!)

We miss this kid SO much we can hardly stand it! Who would of thought that an exchange student could became such a part of our family! He always tells me never take my picture off your blog, I will always be your son forever! It is so hard to get emails from him when he tells....I may be in Brazil but I left my heart and love with my American mom and dad! I love when he tells me he calls his family together like Tom taught him and prays with them! He says "I pray for my Brazilian family in Portuguese and pray for my American family in English! Eric is in the process of trying to get a visa to come back and live with us! We are praying he will be able to get it! He has been trying for quite sometime and he is still working on it!! He has met with the missionary several times but... His parents will not let him get baptized! So until he can get out here his hands are tied!!! Eric keep working on it we are pulling from this side! We will continue to pray for you!.... And yes you will always be part of our family forever!

Now my Italian son! After only six weeks with his trainer... Rhett's mission President called him a week before transfers and told Rhett that he was transferring his companion / trainer to another area! I know Rhett was completely stressed over this seeing that his companion felt very sure he nor Rhett would be transferred! His trainer and Rhett were brand new to the area! Anziano Anderson... Rhett's trainer said that normally he would always stays in an area for several months at a time so he told Rhett he did not see either of them going anywhere!

Rhett LOVED Anziano Anderson and it has been great fun emailing and talking on the phone with Anziano Anderson's mama!! They are from Lubbock Texas. Rhett was his first American companion in a year! It was so fun because I always felt like I got two letters on Wednesday because Anziano Anderson's mom would always send his letters to me as well! I will miss this so much!!

This is what Anziano Anderson share in his letter that he sent to his mama.....

I know Anziano Scheurn will do a great job. Hes actually getting an older Italian companion. So he is a little worried about the whole communication part, but at least he'll learn Italian very good this way.

This week has been alot of fun. Anziano Scheurn and I have just been having way too much fun. Laughing alot. Yesterday was pretty funny too. We were just walking through like a trailer home area and this little wiener dog just kept barking at us. He was cute but really annoying. Well after awhile I just hear Anziano Scheurn scream in anger at the little wiener dog who had actually bit him. He wants to tell everyone it was a pit bull or a big dog, but nope it was a little wiener dog. haha. He ripped a huge whole in his pants too. Anziano Scheurn was screaming at the little dog. It was hilarious to watch the whole thing. Anziano Scheurn was screaming... "You are a....really dumb dog!!"

I'm going to really miss Anziano Scheurn too. Hes a really good kid and will have alot of success. We had a really good lesson last night that really made me think. We did a really cool lesson on the atonement. I had a jar of Jelly Beans that my mom sent to me and I told the family to start eating them. The dad took one and ate it, then Anziano Scheurn got on the ground and started doing Push-ups. 10. Than the wife ate one 10 more. And it just went like that until they finally realized what was happening. Then they didn't want to eat more because they noticed how Anziano Scheurn was sweating and wasn't enjoying the push-ups. I forced them to eat a few more and I ate a couple too. He was worn out by the time we were done. Just totally wasted and the members felt really bad realizing what they had done. Its the same with Jesus Christ. He suffers for every single sin that we choose to make. That WE choose to make. Even at times it may look fun or sweet like the candy, so we'll go ahead and eat it all up. But someones paying the price and that is our brother Jesus Christ. We just have to realize that we make the decision. We make him suffer. Why not choose the right choice that will keep our brother from suffering and make us more happier in the long run. Why not? Its pretty simple. You could say its a win-win situation. I know that it's true. There will be trials in our life, but if we just endure, it will be so worth it.

It was pretty hard to say goodbye to Anziano Scheurn, but it happened and everything went fine. Its always hard saying goodbye to your trainer, so it was pretty hard for him. I also had to say goodbye to my trainer from the very beginning. Anziano Hirsh. He went home. That was pretty hard too.

I am so thankful for these two boys! They have made such great choices and continue to do so! I could not be more proud of them and their choice!

It will be a grand reunion when both of these boys are home and we can all be together again!

Rhett and Eric, keep up the hard work your Heavenly Father is well pleased with both of you AND.... WE LOVE AND MISS YOU BOTH MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!

The Difference Between...

In the past few weeks for some reason or another I have been some what....

Stressed, confused, depressed and sad and just physically not feeling well at all!

As I try and talk to Tom about things, he just does not seem to understand what I am saying! He thinks I just worry way to much for no reason at all! If the truth be know we have even just argued over several things! This is so unsettling to me because usually Tom will eventually understand things when I take the time to explain my feelings to him and when he sits long enough to listen to me and.... my reasons for my concerns. When he takes the time to explain to me.... sometimes I do understand and some times I don't..... Why is this!

I have always know that women and mothers think completely different than men and fathers! In the Family Proclamation it states....

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

I have read this many times! When I read this I see that as men and women and fathers and mothers we both have some of the same responsibilities but yet.... There is a difference as well!

Men and fathers are to provide for there family and women and mothers are to nurture. Even if you do not have your own children it is just what women do.... most of the time.

I know there are many women that have to work outside of there home as well and I commend those that do both! But I feel like our roles as a women was a divine gift given to us. Women and mothers are just more in tuned to the needs of our children and others! In our calling as a women we have the ability to act on the prompting of our hearts! We as women just know when something is wrong with one of our kids or someone who is close to us!

I know there are some men who try and do the best they can BUT... Men and fathers just do not always get things the way women do. Not saying this is such a bad thing because like the proclamation states it really is not their role.... Men play a different part in rearing a family.

This has really been on my mind for the last few weeks!

I did not really feel like going to church yesterday but decided I needed to go.... There was a young man, who I do not know and new in our ward.... that bore his testimony about this exact thing. He was one of the last to share his testimony. He spoke of his wife and how much he loved her! He said that he had met her when she was 14 and he was 15 and by the time they turned 16 they started dating. He went on to say from that moment on they either spoke everyday or wrote everyday. He did not go into details of his mission at all or details about their children but went on to say how without his wife he would be unable to be in the Celestial Kingdom. He referred to her as a divine gift. He said with out her he would not understand his children as well and that she helped him be such a better person because of the insight she had as a great women, wife and mother! This man was soft spoken but felt so strongly about what he testified of! There were no tears, he spoke with such strength and knowledge. He referred to Elder Scott's talk from conference! I too LOVED Elder Scott's talk!

So back to the difference between men and women and fathers and mothers! I just want to say to men and fathers when a women or a wife says something is wrong with a child of theirs or someone that is close to them.... Know that as women and mothers we have a divine calling from the Lord and we have a insight that men do not have! When we say we have a "gut feeling" usually we are right! We feel our children's pain. We as women, mothers, wives, sisters have been blessed with a divine calling and I am so thankful for this calling! Even though it is really hard sometime I would not change my role as a wife and mother! I have been so blessed with five wonderful children and a wonderful husband who I love very much and I am so thankful for my life and calling as a divine daughter of God!

"Katie's Day"

I remember as I went to church for many years by my self with my kids before Tom was a member of our church! I always wondered if I would ever go through the Temple! Tom always told me he loved our church but had been baptized so he did not feel like he needed to be baptized again! I never pushed Tom to join the church I am a member of! Tom loved the Mormon Church....Mainly because our church main focus is around the family unit and our Savior Jesus Christ! After 14 years of marriage and a few stray paths off the narrow road and lots of studying.... Tom realized he was not baptized by the proper authority and wanted to be baptized just as his Savior was baptized! By complete immersion of his whole body under water. This was a forever changing day of Tom's life!

A few years before Tom was baptized My Bishop had counseled me to go through the Temple! I always wondered why I would do that when Tom was not even a member of my faith! My Bishop kept telling me if I go through the Temple my family would be blessed! Some of the hardest times and years of my life were... Right after I went through the Temple! "I thought I would be BLESSED if I went through the Temple.... But yet these few years were hard! Little did I know that these few years were part of Tom and mine journey to get us to where we are now and where we need to be! I will say I am truly thankful for Tom and mine ups and downs! I have truly come to embrace these difficulty times! In those hard years I felt some what forsaken but.... I never was... HE ALWAYS knew my needs and Tom's needs!

I am so thankful that my Bishop was inspired to council me to go through the Temple for my self! I remember the day so well! I had had my recommend for several months and still had not gone! One morning I woke up and called my girlfriend, Brenda Sanders and said I would be by in a few minutes to pick her up so we could go to the Temple! She explained to me I needed to make an appointment and I.... Explained to her that I did not have to make an appointment that the Lord would not turn me away due to the fact I did not have an appointment!

So off we went! I told no one I was going and so it was just Brenda and I one morning! It was a beautiful wonderful spiritual morning..... One I will never forget!

I was so blessed for attending the Temple! This next few years is when Tom and I grew so much! Through all of his trials he became closer to the Lord and with much studying and prayer he was baptized! One year from the day he was baptized Tom and I were sealed for Eternity and our children were sealed to us that day as well for ETERNITY!!

I will never forget our five kids dressed in white as they entered into the sealing room with Tom and I! They all looks so beautiful! As we all knelt at the alter and were sealed together as an Eternal Family.... I will never forget the feelings I had! I can see Rhett's as a little tiny toddler looking into Tom and my eyes! I remember Posey in a beautiful white dress my mother had made for her! I too was in a white dress my mom made for me! Rhett look like an Angel in a beautiful white European style outfit that my mom had made him too! There were a few people there but not many!

This is a day I will never forget the visual part or the spiritual part of this day for EVER! I felt like the most blessed person in the world! A day I thought would never come but yet.... Heavenly Father had answered my prayers at the right time.... HIS time..... And for this I am Eternally Thankful to HIM for the biggest blessing in my life which is.... An Eternal Family!

So March 26, 11 was Katie Koutz DAY!!!

Katie is a young girl who lived with us as she was facing a out of wedlock pregnancies! With Katie's permission I would tell you that this was Katie's second unplanned pregnancies and she had struggled since the age of 13 or so with alcohol and chemical addictions! Katie also struggled with choices of friends and boy friends as well! Katie came from a wonderful family who had done all they could to help her in every way! The drugs and bad choices sent her on paths that her family was not sure she would come back from!

I know these difficult paths that Katie took over the past several years was part of her journey as well! I know she said she would takes these paths that were hard so the family she placed her last two babies with could have the blessings of an Eternal Family! They are an amazing family as well and Katie will be forever their Earthly Angel that gave them two beautiful kids for eternity!

I know these last several years have been so hard for Katie's parents and her sisters but through the struggles and pain they have ALL endured.... Katie has come full circle and has done all she needed to do to pay restitution to her Heavenly Father and prepared her self to enter the House of the LORD!!

As we all gathered in the Celestial Room of the Temple with Katie I could not help but to feel the spirit that was there as I looked into Katie's eyes! The thought came to me who would of thought a year or more ago we would be in the Temple with Katie! I know her father said to me.... if you would of asked him a year ago if this day would of ever came he say .... He would of bet his life it would not of come!

The joy and happiness I saw in her sisters, father and brother-in-laws eyes was just the pure love of Christ! It was a tender moment as they all embraced and ALL the hard bad feelings that they all might of had were gone in that moment!

I am thankful for the love and patience Katie's Family has given her! I know it has not been easy for them to watch Katie make bad choices as they have all done all they could to help her! The power of forgiveness is an amazing feeling as well!

I hope Katie will never forget the love, charity, prayers and forgiveness her family and friends have shown her!! This is all part of the Temple ordinances and covenants she made that day in the Temple!

I have to tell Katie how much I love her! I want her to know that this day will always be the most important day of her life! The covenants she made in the Temple are life changing! This day is the crowning covenants that she needed to have to return one day to live with her Heavenly Father!

Katie do not take this day lightly or forget the feelings you felt this day ever! Go to the Temple as often as you can! I know Kade is so very proud of you as well! It is wonderful you can now share the Temple with Kade! I know because of your desire to go to the Temple Kade will have a desire as well to go! Kade will be blessed as well for your worthiness and desire to go to to the Temple! Talk to him about your experience as often as you can!

This day will be a day I will never forget! I was thankful to be able to be there with Katie as she made sacred covenants with her Heavenly Father in the Temple! I am also thankful that Katie had the opportunity to live with us as she placing her baby in the arms of his Eternal Mother and Father! Katie showed us such strength! I loved seeing her change each day as she progressed toward her Heavenly Father! With ALL that Katie has overcome.... I am so thankful to know that she has turned the pages of her life that were bad choices and turned them all into good productive situations! Through these trials she has been blessed and so has many others!

Katie never forget how much I love you and how proud I am of you!

You have now made real life changing covenants and promises that you will for ever be so thankful for them in the Eternities!

Again My Sweet Girl..... I love you and I am so happy for you! Thank you for sharing this special day with me!!

I will ALWAYS treasure "MY DAY" that I went through the Temple and....I hope you will always remember and treasure your day that you went through the Temple! Always remember it is not about NOW.... BUT..... ETERNITY!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

The Beautiful Flowers at the Temple

Why WORRY If You Have FAITH!!!

Nate, the miracle worker has never given up! He too has much FAITH that Genell will walk!

WORRY!!! Sometimes worry has become such a habit...(worry is one of my bad habits) that we can't shake it off even when our minds are convinced that it serves no purpose! We think about what happened yesterday and we are sure it is a clue to the awful things that are sure to happen tomorrow! We can , if we work at it, free ourselves from yesterday and tomorrow. Today is only one little set of 24 hours, a reasonably manageable bit of time that we can concentrate on using well! I will not allow myself to be swamped by thoughts of things that are past. I will not concern myself about tomorrow until it becomes my today. The better I use today the more likely it is that tomorrow will be bright!

I read this quote this morning and I loved it!

My mind went to a few people for different reasons but.... One person my mind went to was Genell Bridges, a dear friend for many years!!

Why Genell you ask??? My thought was Genell has been in a hospital or nursing home now for over four years! I have written about her before! Genell went from a full time wife, mom, she worked as well outside her home, served in the Stake Relief Society Presidency, as well as being a Temple worker! In a week or so she went from this life as she knew it.... to a hospital bed with strokes and seizers for the last four years. She has not walked and can do very little for her self for over four years!

Last week when I went to visit her I made sure I got there doing her "Gym" time as she calls it! (she always use to work out at the gym before she got sick) It is actually physical therapy! She has been so excited because she has been walking in her words, and she wanted me to see her progress! She will call me during the week and tell me how many steps she took that day! She is now up to 42 which takes about 45 minutes to do! She takes about 8 to 10 steps with the help of TWO physical therapist... with on of them actually trying to hold her foot in a forward position and with him picking her leg up to move it for her!! She also has two braces one on each leg! The other leg she can kind of shuffle it a little! She has to rest in between each 8 to 10 steps for about ten minutes!

Genell ALWAYS tells me she was promised a full recovery in many blessings she has had.... and knows she will walk out of the nursing home!

In the time she has been sick she has had her first two grand children born, her bother-in-law passed away, and recently her husband passed away and there have been much more happen that she was not able to be part of! Genell was not even able to go to her husbands funeral!

I have asked her many time do you worry about different things like, walking, learning how to transfer from her bed to a wheel chair with out being hoisted out, her TTP coming out of remission , her children and the list goes on! Genell"s answer is always the same NO!!!! Why would I WORRY when I know Heavenly Father knows me and LOVES me and is aware of my needs! HE has made promises to me! I need not WORRY because of my FAITH in HIM!

Genell always tells me why WORRY if you have FAITH!! She always goes on to tell me if you have FAITH in your Heavenly Father you should have no WORRIES!!

I am so THANKFUL for the example Genell is to me! Seldom do I witness such STRENGTH and FAITH in my life! Not only does she have FAITH but.... She has JOY beyond words!

I will do all I can to surrender my WORRIES to my Heavenly Father and work on my FAITH in HIM and in my SELF!!

Genell I love you so much! You are amazing! I will continue to borrow from your flame! You strengthen my FAITH and I will continue to work on my WORRYING!!!! Thank you for sharing your FAITH with me!

Again, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH PRECIOUS GIRL!!