Family

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.comThe Importance of Family...

We have been reminded again and again of the importance of family. Including our extended family. Our Heavenly Father created families to be Eternal, and how we treat our families here while on earth is as important, if not more so, than in the Eternities. The relationship we develop here, sets the stage for our progression of families later. The example we set to our friends, children and others is very valuable in this life. How accepting are we of others, loving and showing compassion in all things? We can look to our Savior to find the example we need to follow. I am not willing to lose my family over petty things, things that later will not even matter. How grateful I am for my loving husband and children. How grateful I am for my parents and brothers and sisters. I love them all so very much. Eternal families do not stop with our husband/wife and children, or our parents and brothers and sisters and their families. They continue on and on, blessing our lives for all eternity with friendships, relationships and love that spans all eternity. I know that if we just do as the Savior has shown us, we will find the way to love everyone and unite our families for all eternity.

Not so patiently waiting for Spring...

Okay this picture has nothing to do with waiting for Spring,but I thought it was cute, Bethany and Joslynn were messing around on her ipod and taking pics one day.

The Quad City area can claim the privilege of hosting American Bald Eagles during the winter months. Since we have a varying temperature during the winter, there are actually winter days with the rivers not being frozen all the time. They come from up north and fish in our rivers for food. We live right near the Hennepin Canal and Rock River, so we get to see them quite often even flying over our house, or while we are out driving somewhere. But these pics were taken out on the bike trail off of the Hennepin Canal, where there have been sp0tted 20 or more eagles resting in the trees or flying or fishing in the canal or river nearby. Clarissa and I have been walking for the last couple of weeks on the bike trail and have seen 4 or 5 eagles at a time. I was able to capture several pictures, but none of the pictures are as close up as I had hoped. What a beautiful and majestic bird the Bald Eagle is, it gives me goosebumps just watching it fly.

To get a better look at the pics, click on them and focus in...

A cute duck family enjoying the warmer weather.

A couple of geese.

This eagle was pecking on the ice.

Seagull in flight. Joslynn calls them Sea-Eagles.

I thought this was a cool tree, it is white where the bark has peeled off. I can't wait until our trees have leaves again.

Seagulls hanging out on the ice.

Our nation's bird in flight.

Just waiting...