What a week!

Yesterday afternoon we experienced our own hurricane here in the desert southwest. I had started raining and the rain picked up as did the wind to most severe storm I have ever experienced. The wind was so strong the rain was blowing horizontal and so heavy I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. Thank goodness I was in my home and watching this happen outside my windows. It lasted for about 30 minutes and when it was over, trees were down all over my neighborhood.. I had one blocking my driveway and so I couldn't get out of my garage. It was calm and the sky was blue as if nothing had ever happened, except flooding, power lines down and major damage to trees and roofs..

the trees in front of my garage

I am getting ready to be a part of Creative Escape again this year. I love this event. It is held at the Sheraton Wild Horse Resort, so it is first class all the way. Again this year I am a team leader with a group of about 60 women who all have the same passion for scrapbooking as I do. I get to spend the 3 days with these ladies as we travel to the 8 different classes and events that will be taking place. The teachers this year are so very talented and I'm excited for the classes to begin. This is the 4th year I have been a part of this fantastic event and I love it. I am exhausted by Saturday evening, but love every minute..

I can't wait to share with you this weekend the fun things we did..

Alli

Today is the birthday of my youngest granddaughter Alli. She is such a sweetheart and the youngest in her family. She loves American Girl Dolls and stuffed animals.. especially dogs. She loves dogs and takes good care of her dog Tegan. She is in Brownies and loves to have her friends come over to play. She lives about 3 minutes from me so I get to see her often. She is a brave little girl and has had more than her share of medical procedures and knows just how most are performed, she has had them so often. Her health is good right now and that makes us all so happy.

This weekend is one filled with many memories.. wonderful memories. Kent's birthday is on Saturday the 14th ,and 46 years ago on the 15th Kent and I were married.. I miss him every day and wish he was here to see all the wonderful things that are happening in our family. It's been a teary week, with Dylan leaving on his mission,and wishing Kent was here to see his amazing grandson take this new step in his life. So I am having a melancholy weekend filled with so many mixed emotions. "The soul has greater need of the ideal than the real. It is by the real that we exist, it is by the ideal that we live". Victor Hugo

On our 2nd anniversary our son Steve was born.. I feel so lucky that he lives so close to me and I can be a part of his life. He is such an awesome husband, father and son & a great brother to his sister and brother and always a wonderful example to them as well as his friends. I love the phone calls he makes to me several times a week, just to keep in touch. I am very proud to be his mom.

"There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved". george sand

Elder Dylan Thomas Paolacci

This weekend has been a very happy, exciting & emotional one, not only for me but for all of Dylan's family. His older sister Marissa was able to come from Seattle to share in the weekend. We are so very happy for our new missionary and his devotion to his Father in Heaven and his willingness to serve him & the people of Peru for 2 years.

We had a great party to celebrate Dylan's mission on Saturday evening at Jason & Jamie's home. Lots of family & friends attended (about 40) and we had lots of great food. We talked, laughed, swam and had a wonderful evening. There was even a fantasy football draft going on up-stairs, with all the guys in the family. I told Dylan I would take over his team in the fantasy football season this year, but he declined my offer.. thought maybe his younger brothers would take care of his team.. probably a good thought..since I know squat about football.

Dylan's farewell was held today at the church building he grew up in, and was packed with all the people who loved Dylan. I was so proud and happy to sit in this beautiful setting with my entire family sitting around me. I had invited my friend Connie to join us also. It was a very emotional day, his sister Karleigh & cousin Maddy sang an absolutely beautiful song, that started the tears, also two family friends talked. Then Dylan gave a great talk and I was so proud of him. A wonderful spirit filled meeting.

My family, (all 22 of us) re-grouped at Kristan and Don's home around 5:15 this evening to see Dylan set apart as a missionary. Kristan's husband conducted the gathering and after an opening song and prayer, Don asked Dylan's 2 uncles (Steve & Jason) to each take a few minutes and share a few words with Dylan. As I sat and listened to my 2 sons telling the nephew that they both love so much, true heartfelt advice with so much love and compassion my heart was full and the tears came, they also shared many things and feelings from their missions. It was such a spiritual few minutes and everyone in the room was crying at the end of their thoughts. After that their Stake President, President Lewis gave Dylan the most beautiful blessing to send him on his mission.

Dylan leaves for Utah and the Provo Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, August 10th. and reports in on Weds. August 11th.
He will spend about 3 weeks in Provo, then fly to Lima, Peru to finish his 2 month training.

Lima Peru Missionary Training Center, Dylan's home for about 6 weeks..

This smile, reflects the joy Dylan is feeling about serving his mission. He has waited for this opportunity for so long and it is finally here. I am so very proud of him ! He will follow in the footsteps of his father & uncles by serving this mission.

the August Frenzy

I have been so busy with:

*Helping Morgan & Trent pack to move to a new larger apartment

*Lunch with friends from church

*Spending quality time with Connie

*Family party to celebrate July birthdays

* Attending a friends wedding reception

* Working on my samples for up-coming classes

* Busy weekend with extended family in town for my "great" granddaughter's blessing

* Huge party with about 40 people to celebrate on Saturday

*Attending the blessing of Malorie on Sunday

*Morgan's & my birthday on Sunday

Trent & Morgan with Malorie at her blessing
Uncle Dylan with Malorie, he leaves on August 11th for a 2 year mission for our church in Lima, Peru, so he won't see her for 2 years
I got to have some great snuggle time with her too.

Went to a birthday lunch with Connie at Frank & Lupe's Old Mexico in Scottsdale and then we went to see the movie "Charlie St. Cloud".. Loved the movie.. Thanks Connie for a great day.

This Thursday my granddaughter Marissa arrives from Washington for the weekend festivities for Dylan's Mission Farewell. Family parties and just a great weekend with family all together.

CHERISH FAMILY

I live for those who love me,

for those who know me true.

-George Banks