Today: October 17, 2010 Edition

Matthew had to go home from church early because it turns out that this morning when he complained he didn't feel well before church, he was actually sick. Weird.

I have managed to lose my camera. I cleaned the memory chip on Friday before I went to my brother's for the weekend and it didn't make it to Pt. Townsend and it's no where to be seen here either. I am sad.

Nicole did a personal progress value experience completely on her own for the first time. I've been helping her with them by reading the scriptures with her or helping her with whatever list she has to make. She turned 12 in July and she has finished 7 value experiences. I think that's pretty awesome.

We sang with the choir.

Ken heated the house up to 79 degrees by burning WAY TOO MUCH wood. When I realized we would be heating with wood this year the thought never crossed my mind that we could make it too warm. It did today, with full force and some heat flashes.

I was going to make Thai Food for dinner tonight but we had to cancel our dinner company because of Matthew's fever. Instead we made steak quesidillas so we could eat guacamole.  I'll be making  Thai Food tomorrow sans company.

Oh how I'm missing my camera!

I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon. It feels much later than 9:15 but I am not the least bit tired. and I want cookies.

I also can't find one of my tennis shoes.

Seattle Temple Trip

Nicole went to the temple for the first time on Saturday with the youth from the Pt. Townsend Ward with her cousin Regann. My Dad, Gina, Spencer and I were able to attend as well, along with Ryan and Rhonda. (Regann's parents, my brother and s-i-l) While we were in the temple, Matthew waited in the lobby with Mayson, Harmon, Nolahn and Payton. Here are some pictures from the trip and the lunch afterwards.

 Rhonda in the waiting room of the temple.

 This is what happens when you leave your camera with 3 boys who lose their brains when they are together unsupervised.

 from left to right:

Mayson, Matthew, Nolahn, Payton, Regann, Nicole and Harmon

Ryan's kids 

 The girls

 the boys

 Me with my kiddos

 Me with Nicole on her first day at the temple

 Spencer in front of the temple

 Ryan in front of Spencer in front of the temple. He wouldn't move! He thought it was funny. I thought it was funny after he moved, I had a photo and then we were at the restaurant.

A reflection of the temple in the driveway. This photo was an accident but it's AWESOME! 

 Me and Gina

Ryan, Rhonda and Matthew at the restaurant after the temple 

 Dad and Nolahn

 GROUP SHOT!

Matthew's awesome 'tuck in' job 

bff Matthew and Mayson 

It was a wonderful day!

Weekend Update...and a random photo too

Our family spent the weekend in Bremerton at my dad's house. He met us in Bellevue on Friday so we could attend the temple together. On a side note, WHAT A BLESSING it is to see my dad inside the walls of the temple! For so many years, he was absent. I'm so thankful! Before we headed home from the temple, we ate dinner at a little ma/pa restaraunt across the parking lot from Deseret Book.

Saturday and Sunday we watched all sessions of General Conference at the Bremerton Stake Center, minus the Priesthood Session. The guys drove up to Chimacum (as opposed to Chinook--what I noted in my last post) to attend that session with Ryan and eat ice cream afterwards.

Here are some of my favorites from conference:

Favorite Talk: I can never narrow it down here are my top 2--that tied for first place.

*Elder Larry R Lawrence 3rd talk, 5th session

*President Thomas S Monson 4th talk, RS General Meeting

Favorite Quote: At this point, some of you may be thinking, that's all fine and good, but what does it have to do with flying an airplane. Well, let me tell you... President Deiter F Uchtdorf

Favorite Song:

Both of them performed by the MTC Choir at the Priesthood Session.

*Hark All Ye Nations

*Called To Serve

There is something special in the voices of all missionaries that are just beginning their missions. They are beautiful.

I also loved Home, preformed by the family choir during the 2nd session. A LOT.

Favorite Moment:

Looking at both Nicole and Matthew listening to conference and taking notes. Sometimes they were drawing a picture or doodling, but I read the notes they took and they are good. It makes my heart smile.

After the 5th session of conference we went to the cemetery my mom is burried in. While we were there the kids took the time to find 'Grandpa Graves' ' grave also. He is not their grandpa, but he is their cousins' grandpa and he took them in too when we visited and told them to call him Grandpa. They like that they can visit both him and their grandma at the same cemetery. He was also a great example to me during my teenage years and I loved him very much. I miss him and my mom. A lot.

Next we went to Wendi and Larry's house and ate homemade french bread. It was delish.

We got home last night at 9:15 and we were all asleep by 9:30. It was a fun, spiritual and uplifting weekend. I love it.

Plans for the weekend

Tonight we are going here. Tomorrow and Sunday we get to listen to and receive counsel from:

Because we LOVE Him.

I'm SO EXCITED!!

Random Thoughts

When you ask Nicole what she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you she wants to be a 'home staying mom'. BUT, she will only be a home staying mom if she has a red kitchen aid. I must say, it's seems like a perfectly acceptable demand. I LOVE MINE!!After Matthew was potty trained he decided he wanted 'toonies' (underwear) like his Dad. The had to be white and he wanted undershirts too. (Sorry for tmi about Ken's undies!) One day Matthew was looking for a pair of toonies in the clean laundry basket and he picked up a pair of Ken's. They were about as long as Matthew was tall and he said to me, 'Are these mine or Dad's?) When I was a little girl all I ever wanted to be was a cosmetologist. I LOVE DOING HAIR! I love fixing it, cutting, braiding, shampooing, etc. I also love the smell of perms AND the whole beauty shop 'scene.' It speaks to me! Would it surprise you to find out that my Mom was a cosmetologist? She had a shop in the laundry room of our home in Meridian, Idaho.

My brother in law, Larry is a fireman. So was his AWESOME Dad. I won't be surprised to see one of his boys follow in those same footsteps.

I had a really good friend growing up who's parents drank, smoked, where VERY involved in the party scene and eventually split because they were cramping each other's style. She's following right in those same footsteps.

I heard a talk once that said we have to do everything we can to teach our kids the right way. It doesn't matter what we say because they can see what we are doing. AND whatever we do, they are going to try to do better. So, if we are loving and kind and involved in a good work, so will our children. If we are fence sitter, they will be too. You get the idea.

I am not a fence sitter. I'm an all or none type of girl. If I'm involved, I'm TOTALLY involved. If I don't like it, I won't go near it. I want nothing to do with it. You aren't going to convince me. I try to stay so far away from the fence, that I couldn't find it if I wanted to.

I'm not really sure where this is going, but I just want you to know that I'm trying me best. I love Jesus Christ. I love his words, his gospel, his example! I want to live with him again. I want to see my son, my mom, and the crazy lady, Bernice, that I helped in a nursing home for one of my Laurel projects. AND I want my kids to see what I am doing and be able to see a good way to live.

READ THIS BLOG!

No, not MY blog, although I do love that you spend a few minutes every so often and read my blog. I'm talking about this blog. It the journey of a young woman in Utah (Shannon Blackham)who suffered a terrible head trauma in May of this year. It is amazing to see her progress and to feel of the love and tender mercies that she and her family are recieving on a regular basis. I have added her to my blog list in the Utah section.

In Loving Memory

In loving memory of Robert Kenneth Cheney. January 10, 2002. 1:35pm to 3:15pm. He would be 8 years old. FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!

Random Christmas Pictures...

Animal pulled the corner of this fabric out from under the table so he would have a spot to lay down. He also knocked the sheep over on the nativity scene. He is naughty.
The lovely gifts waiting to be discovered. Santa was rude this year. He only filled stockings and he gave the kids electric toothbrushes. The best part was they didn't believe me when I told them that was all they were getting from him! MUHAHAHA!I LOVE LOVE LOVE bedhead pictures and they are even better when the person is still tired. Matthew bought this white board for Nicole and I think her ink is almost dried out she's used it so much.

Matthew enjoys the Magic Tree Houses series. He was happy to get these. This year our Christmas was small and very personal. We didn't buy gifts just so the kids would have a few more things to unwrap. We went slow, laughed and enjoyed unwrapping each gift, and when that part of the day was over we were thankful for what we received and had tons of fun playing and sharing.

I felt the spirit of Christ this Christmas stronger than I ever have before. I hope to be able to replicate it in Christmases to come. I hope all of you have a wonderful day too.

blah blah blah

Ken and I have been married for 12 years, 4 months and 4 days. I just read that before I started this post.

Today in Relief Society we were reminded about the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. I reread section 135 of the Doctrine and Covenants. As we approach his birthday I'd like to recommend that you reread it too.

Apparantly we've started the Christmas Break Schedule early...It's 8pm and they're watching a movie. It should be over in an hour. I know I should make them go to bed but I LOVE hearing them laugh. What's another hour?

Nicole and Matthew gave the talk and scripture in primary today. One of the leaders told me they did a really nice job. That made my heart smile.

I need a good idea for my Christmas Letter. I need to write it soon. Suggestions are encouraged.

Have a good night! ps, I still hate cats.

I will go before your face

DC 84:88 I will go before you face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

My friend, Ben Draper, photoshopped these 2 pictures together, and I LOVE IT! I just thought I'd share. He explains where the idea came from on his blog. Thanks Ben!

300th post

In honor of my 300th post, I want to tell you how much I LOVE General Conference!

In my mind General Conference is the kick off to the best part of the year. This weekend is the beginning of my holiday season. I've got our home decorated for fall. Now we have Conference. Next my birthday, Halloween (bleh), I LOVE THANKSGIVING...it's my FaVoRiTe!! Then of course Christmas, which I also enjoy.

I loved this morning's session of conferece so much. So many of the words spoken were exactly what I needed and many were answers to the prayers I have had lately. I feel blessed to be able to watch conference and the feel the spirit so strongly. I am thankful that there are still 3 more sessions that I get to watch this weekend.

If you missed this morning, I hope you watch it as soon as it is available online. Also, tune in this afternoon and tomorrow. I know that if you do, you'll feel the spirit so strongly and it will help to make your burden lighter, your testimony stronger and your faith and hope brighter.

You can click on 'General Conference' at the top or here to watch Conference live. I'll link the videos once they are available, later on in the week.

Enjoy the rest of your Conference Weekend!!

I've learned something new...

This morning when I was reading my scriptures, after I read a chapter in Ether, I went back to 1 Nephi and read the first 2 chapters. I have decided to attend an institute class in the area and our assignment this week is to read the first 10 chapters of 1 Nephi.

As I was reading, I was reminded of how much I love Nephi. He is funny to me, as well as inspiring, good and true. This morning as I read in chapter 2, I discovered something I never knew...I always thought that Nephi was older than Sam. I guess I figured this was the case because of how much Laman and Lemuel complained and moaned and groaned either because they had to do so much work or because their little brother was bossing them.

1 Nephi 2:5 says, '...and my older brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.'

Reading this gives me more respect for Sam, who was humble enough to listen AND FOLLOW his little brother. It also makes Laman and Lemuel (in my eyes) even bigger stinkers than before!

To learn more about Nephi, click on his name. I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!!

ttfn!

Family Scripture Study or Enduring to the End...you decide!

I'd like to give you a glimpse of our scripture study . It happens either at 6:30 am or in the evening right before bedtime around 6:45-7:00. Today, we were late...it was 8:21 when we started because of Wednesday Night Activities at the church.

So this is how we start every night. Ken uses his best 'Fight Announcer Voice' and says--really LOUD-- TONIGHT ON SCRIPTURES!! Then he reads the heading of the chapter we will be reading. Tonight it was Alma 8.

While Ken was reading the first 10 verses, Nicole was taking her hair out and teasing the dog. Matthew was on the floor body surfing on his ripstick. (He lost his ripstick tonight)

Randomly, when Ken read the word 'Ammonihah' everyone felt the need to say it with him in an authorative voice. When the word Satan was read, Matthew took it upon himself to follow with the sound effect du du dun. (doom and gloom from cartoons)

After Ken reads, next it's Matthew's turn. In Verse 15 he misread and said, 'lift up thy tiny head and rejoice.' I don't know where he thought he saw tiny, but it crackced Ken and I up. We kept it hidden, but it was not a good thing. The next verse he misread again, 'I am sent to command three (instead of thee) that thou return to Ammonihah (more authorative voices).

After verse 16, it was time to review. Ken asked, 'so what have we read about so far?' Nicole responded by asking, 'Can I go to bed?' More sighs followed by Ken and I and Matthew said, 'du du dun.

We pressed forward with the review, next it was Nicole's turn to read. As she read, Matthew was all over the floor, and had surrounded himself with his favorite toys (which are not even allowed out of his room.) She was 2 verses into her reading and we asked Matthew where she was...what word was next. He said a word (which was wrong) and Nicole said, 'I don't even know where I am. I'm starting over.' More sighs from Ken and I.

She had 1 more verse to read and Ken asked the kids a question. Nicole felt interupted and said, 'I'm not done reading..I have one more verse.' Ken repeated the question and then Matthew asked, 'when are we getting the dog's balls cut off?'

Time for family prayers. We will try again tomorrow. **sigh**

This picture is LIVE. I had my phone and shot it really quick while Nicole was reading. **more sighs**

Something I feel like I should share

Have you ever had an experience in your life, where you are not ashamed or embarrassed of it, but you feel like it doesn't really need to be completely disclosed to everyone you know?

This weekend was stake conference for our ward/stake. I had a lot of time to think while we were traveling each way to the stake center on Saturday & Sunday (85 miles one way).

We had our area authority Elder Randy D. Funk attend our conference this weekend. Before the adult session on Saturday night, all the Elders Quorum Presidents and their wives were invited to eat dinner with him in the Relief Society room, along with the Stake Presidency & the Stake RS President. Ken and I were privileged to be among the few in attendance. Just eating in the same room as this man brought the spirit and it was a nice prelude to a great meeting that evening.

While sitting in the evening session I felt like I needed to write down my testimony. I’ve done that several times through out my life and as I started to write it during a musical number I felt like I needed to share more than I already have.

In order for a person to know me a little better and to get a glimpse of WHY I believe something and why I LOVE the church and was it stands for, I need to share with you the story of my 3rd child, Robert. I wasn’t sure this was the proper medium to share such a special experience, but as I have thought more about it, I know this is where I am supposed to share “my story”.

From March 2001 to May 2002 we lived in Orem, Utah. We weren’t really sure why we made the decision to move there. It was for sure a shotgun move. When I became pregnant with our 3rd baby, we were grateful to be there because the neonatal care in the Salt Lake Valley is the best in the country.

On October 31, 2001 I was scheduled for my routine ultrasound to find out the sex of our growing baby and of course to make sure s/he was developing correctly. I’m ashamed to tell you right off that I knew we would never have a child with any kind of “problem” so everything except the finding out the sex was just something we had to go through. How silly of me, I know.

As the Ultrasound Tech was looking at the baby, I felt it was taking longer than normal. I didn’t say anything, I just waited patiently for her to reveal the important part—are we having a girl or a boy?! After a while she told Ken and I that she was having a problem seeing the baby’s heart clearly but it looked like there could be a hole in her heart. She also told us that she had a bilateral cleft lip and it appeared that her foot was clubbed. The best news we got from this meeting was, it baby is a girl! Before we left, she let us know that except for the cleft lip, everything else was just speculation. She made an appointment for us to go to UVRMC in Provo, and meet with a perinatologist and to get another ultrasound—THE NEXT DAY. (The official definition of a perinatologist is an obstetrical sub-specialist concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications.) After that appointment, I went home SICK and convinced myself that the only problem with our sweet little girl was a cleft lip with possible palette and that was easily fixable.

The next morning I arrived early to my appt. in Provo and waited patiently. When the Dr. called me in I got on the table and he went right to work performing my ultrasound. He looked for a while and then started talking about terms I never thought I’d hear a Dr. talk to me about…Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, amniocentesis, I think I quit listening before he quit talking. He wanted to do an amniocentesis TODAY, and I had 5 minutes to decide if I wanted one or not.

At the time we only had a cell phone and I was selfish that morning and took it with me, so when I had to make this decision I couldn’t call the one person who needed to know what was going on the most—KEN. I had to call someone else to help me make the decision. Of course my 2nd choice was to call my Mom. I am so thankful she was there, but I also feel bad that she found out before Ken what was going on. Anyway, when she answered the phone, I told her through constant sobbing that the baby was really sick and they needed to do an amniocentesis, but I couldn’t tell them to do it on my own. I had to have somebody tell me it was okay to go through it and my Mom was there for me. She also told me to get a blessing before they did it.

Reason # 73 why we were supposed to be in Utah during this time of our life, all I had to do was tell my Dr. I needed a blessing and 2 minutes later 2 guys with oil showed up and gave me one. In that blessing I was promised that I would not lose the baby because of the procedure I had elected to have AND that from this baby I would be able to see how much Heavenly Father loves me. I had my amniocentesis, and 10 days later I learned that the baby did not have Trisomy 13, 18 OR 21. Instead she had her own special brand of genetic problem, partial Trisomy X—Monosomy 14. I’ll explain what these terms mean in a moment. The other thing we found out was that we were indeed having a BOY. He for sure had the Y Chromosome.

Everyone has 2 of each chromosome except for the sex chromosome in males. 1-22 have 2 of each and they are “married” or stuck to each other. Females have 2 X chromosomes and Males have 1 X and 1 Y. When a baby is made, if the sperm has an X chromosome, the baby is a girl, of it has a Y chromosome, it’s a boy. The mother can only contribute an X sex chromosome. A trisomy is when you have an extra chormosome. Down Syndrome is 3 #21 Chormosomes. I, Dedra Charlet Anderson Cheney, have translocated chromosomes. That means my X and my 14 chromosomes are NOT married correctly. (They are social.) I have 1 ½ X and ½ a 14, and then I have 1 ½ 14 and ½ an X. Confused? So sorry! Robert, had an extra ½ an X and was missing ½ of a 14. My specialist Dr’s had never seen this specific case before, so we made medical history.

This also meant that there was little information for Ken and I to read up on. Throughout the next few weeks, we met with every kind of baby specialist I never knew existed. 2 echo cardio grams, more than 50 ultrasounds, surgical specialists and so on. Time moved very slowly as we inched our way closer to the day our baby would be born and we would be living at the hospital while he had surgeries and recovered. In the back of my mind I knew he would probably never come home, but I could not say that out loud. So while Ken and I grew closer as a couple and loved our kids more than ever before, I also found all my baby boy clothes that I would need, washed the infant seat cover and planned a funeral.

Fast forward to January 2002. Each day after my routine ultrasound, I called my Mom, my Dad & my sister Heather and updated them. On the 8th my Dad told me he was sending my Mom the next day so she would be here when the baby was born and I was ANGRY!! The baby was not due for another 10 days or so and I was not showing any sign of having him sooner. Ken dropped me off at the hospital on the 9th and went to the airport. While he was gone, my Dr told me that my blood pressure had spiked to 376/234 and that every hour I stayed pregnant, increased the chance of a stillbirth and that I needed to have the baby today. I told her that was impossible, my Dad wasn’t in town yet. For the first time, I was also spoken to about my expectations concerning the health and vitality of my baby. When she asked me how I felt about having the baby I told her I was scared because I didn’t think he was going to live very long, and she replied, “Neither do I.”

They put me on Magnesium Sulfate (something to bring my BP down and I don’t know what else) and waited for Ken and my Mom and Sister to arrive. When they got there, Dr came into the room and told them the same thing she told me about needing to have the baby and then said I’d need to be transported to SLC and the University of Utah. Ken said he’d get the car ready and Dr said I wouldn’t be going by car, I was at a high risk of seizures because of my BP. She then said I’d be life flighted to U of U by helicopter. Heather then said, “Can I ride with her?” Dr looked at her funny and said No.

Within the hour I was moved to SLC and my Dad had been called to get to Utah NOW. We also made arrangements with the Drs to have the baby the next day so my Dad could be at the hospital.


The night was long with a lot of Dr. visits. One that still comes to mind was when a med student came into my room to look at my chart. I told him he’d want to study my case closely because they don’t along like very often. His only reply was, “You aren’t a case, you are a family.” I just started crying, thanked him and agreed. He’ll be a good Dr.

My Dad got into town early Thursday morning. Once he was in Salt Lake Valley, they started pitocin and I progressed to a 4. Then they gave am an epidural and I went from 4 to baby in 43 minutes. Robert Kenneth Cheney was born on January 10, 2002 at 1:47 pm and died 1 hour and 47 minutes later. During that time, Ken and my Dad gave him a name and blessing. In that same blessing he was released from this life. During that time, I watched him take his only breaths, I saw him smile, and he was held and loved by his 4 grandparents, Kent & Charlet Anderson and Keith and Cheryll Cheney. He was also held by his aunt Heather. Ken and I held him the whole time he was alive and he died in my arms.

I was moved to an area of the hospital that was for mothers who didn’t get to keep their babies in this life. I had serious complications through the night but I was stable by mid morning and they released me so I could get to the mortuary.

At the mortuary we let the Funeral Director know that my Dad and brother Adam had built Robert’s casket, our friend Judy Richards had lined it and made his outfit and the Ken and I would dress him, then we’d drive him back to Bremerton, WA in our car for his funeral and burial. We did just that.

Robert was buried on a freezing cold Thursday in January—the 17th, in Bremerton WA. Our dear friends, Pam and Bob Sommer, (Robert is named after "Brother Bob") transported him in their van from the church to the cemetery after a funeral that had more than 100 people in attendance. How thankful I was and I still am for all the support we received from friends and family.

Ken flew home to Utah 3 days later because of bad snow in the passes. My Mom drove the kids and me home 4 days after that. She stayed for about a week.

While Ken was home by himself he had a lot of time to think. On the way home I was talking to Ken on the phone and he asked me what I thought about him becoming a Funeral Director/Embalmer. I hated the idea for 2 seconds, then I was all for it.

When I got home we started researching Funeral Service, and we found out you had to do your apprenticeship before your school. I sent resumes all over Utah and Washington. Within 2 months he was offered an apprenticeship in Sunnyside, WA, only 4 hours from Robert’s grave and my family. His pay was $5 more an hour than the standard apprentice. We were truly being blessed. Just as getting his apprenticeship was fairly easy; he also had an easy time getting into school. We truly have been blessed.

Now is the time that I could easily tell you of all the heartache our family has suffered through because of the death of a child, but I’d rather tell you that I LOVE my family, Jesus Christ, and his church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its focus is on families.

Ken and I were married in the temple. Because of this choice I KNOW we will be married for eternity and that our kids are our kids throughout eternity as well. I feel blessed to know that I will get to raise Robert after I die as long as I live my life according to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I LOVE the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The scriptures are amazing!! I’ve never gone to them and not found an answer to my questions or concerns.

I am thankful for Joseph Smith who translated the Book of Mormon and organized the church in this dispensation.

I will always have a special spot in my heart Gordon B Hinckley—the prophet during my teenage years and 10 years of being married woman, the time that my testimony started to grow and now is firmly planted.

I love Thomas S Monson, our current prophet as well. I know the church is in good hands.

I am thankful for my friends and family. Each one of you who is reading this had helped me in some way to get out of bed on a bad day, to smile when I just wanted to cry. You have let me hold your babies and not been offended when I didn’t want to. You have hugged me on the anniversary date, brought our family dinner, and not been offended when you easily could have been because of my lack of return in a friendship. I’m sorry to those of you who got that end of the bargain.

This January will be 7 years since the death of our 3rd child. As much as we want to have more kids and have gone through several fertility treatments to become pregnant, that is not in Heavenly Father’s plan for us at this time.
Now I try to make each day a memory for my kids. I am preparing for the future phases my kids will go through but I’m not trying to grow them up. I just thank Heavenly Father each day for Nicole & Matthew and the opportunity I have to be a mother on earth and to raise these 2 fantastic children. They help and teach me so much everyday. All I can say is that I am thankful.

Kansas City Stars--Memorial Weekend

On Friday, May 23rd, my little sister, Gina flew into Wichita, Kansas to visit us for a week.

The next morning, we drove up to Kansas City, Missouri. That evening, we all ate dinner at The Melting Pot--a fondue restaurant, then we saw the Broadway Show "Wicked." It was AMAZING.

On Sunday we went to Liberty, Missouri and toured the Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith was incarcerated for 4 months. We learned about the history of the jail and talked about Doctrine and Covenants Sections 121-123, the sections that Joseph Smith wrote while he was in jail there. I've always had a testimony of Joseph Smith, but visiting that jail solidified it.

After Liberty, we went to Independence and saw the temple lot that Joseph Smith dedicated. Across one street from the temple lot is the RLDS temple. Across another street is the RLDS convention center. Caddy Corner from the lot is the LDS Visitor's Center. Inside we learned more of the history of the area and we also got to see "The Christus." Feeling the spirit so strongly in both Visitor Centers was a very special experience for our family and we were glad to have Gina come along with us.

Ken was supposed to fly home to Great Bend on Sunday afternoon, but because of the tornadoes in Central Kansas, his flight was canceled. Monday morning, we all drove back to Larned. It was a great weekend.