RaNae's Graduation Party

All I can say, "I am glad it is over!!!!" I am exhausted. We had a great turnout, even though we had lots of rain. We had friends from church come, teachers and friends from school, and of course our family (definitely immediate). How come no one else came? None of my brothers and sisters and their families showed up, oh well, Illinois must be too far. Ha ha! I really wish we could have had family come out, but I totally realize that is asking way too much. Here are a few shots that I caught as we were winding up the last few minutes. We had the party for RaNae , Caitlin Luthy, and Luke Wood. They set up a table with some of their accomplishments from High School, RaNae displayed her Musical and Play t-shirts, programs and t-shirts from some of her Choir performances, her Varsity Letter for Choir and medals for her choir competitions, academic awards and so forth. We had a taco bar, Whitey's Ice Cream (courtesy of RaNae (she works there)) and yummy cookie cakes. She graduates tomorrow. I can't believe it.

RaNae's Senior Recognition Night

RaNae had her Senior Recognition Night recently... She received the Illinois State Scholar award, and the Prairie State Scholar Award. They did a slide show of the Seniors and what their future plans were, somehow, RaNae got left off of the plans, I don't know maybe they couldn't find BYU-Idaho., oh well.

Seth's 8th Birthday

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Seth, happy birthday to you.

Seth had his 8th birthday and even though one of his birthday gifts were broken before he officially turned 8 (not his fault), he had a lot of fun and seemed very happy.

I will have to post another one later with his "Bumblebee" Transformers mask on, it's cute.

Pops concert...Get ready...

RaNae had her final concert for Choir this year, the Pops concert. It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the Chamber Choir's performances, they did an awesome job. RaNae has been in Chamber Choir for two years now(she started with the Symphonic Choir her Sophomore year), she has absolutely loved it. The Chamber Choir not only has classes during the day at school, they also have other practices and they perform all over the Quad City area during the school year. Here are two of the numbers they performed at the Pops concert. Their theme this year was Get Ready... from the song by the Temptations "Get Ready".

RaNae's Sr. Pictures

We took the rest of RaNae's Senior pictures yesterday. We had been waiting for better weather , you know warm not raining kind of days. We had fun, I don't think we took a bad picture, I included my absolute favorites. Just be glad I got tired of waiting for them to all load.

RaNae's Prom

RaNae had her Sr. Prom this past weekend. She went with Chad, and they went with a group of friends. They ate out at Granite City, we took some pics at a park in the area, they went to the dance at the Milan Community Center and then they had Post Prom at the Expo Center.

My Mother's Day Surprise Saturday (Mostly)

RaNae and Harry tried to surprise me with a special Saturday. Harry made me a hair appointment (I even lucked out with my favorite stylist, since he couldn't remember who normally did my hair) and a mini-shopping spree. I found out about the hair appointment, due to getting a text on my cell phone ( he used information to get the salon's number, and I now had a text with the salon's name and number). But I was surprised when they handed me some money and instructions to go shopping for myself. So I had a great day. After my hair appointment I went shopping and got a couple of really cute outfits and a new pair of sandals. This is the hairstyle I got, my hair looks a little different, due to the fact that I have impossibly thick hair, but I still really like it. I will have to post a pic of me later. Anyway, thank you so much to my family for the great Mother's day! I love you all!

Talking to our missionary on Mother's Day

My favorite part about Mother's day this year was talking to James in Chile. We got to talk to him for about 40 minutes, we were supposed to have an hour, but due to a mix-up with the phone number, we got 40 minutes. Also keep in mind, that 40 minutes was split up between 10 people. He says he is doing great. He had trouble speaking English, but the longer we talked, the easier it seemed for him. He told us a little about his typical day, it starts at 7:00 A.M. ( most of the missionaries start at 6:30 and end at 10 P.M.) and they have to be home by 10 P.M. and in bed by 11 P.M. Since they have their main meal in the afternoon, they work straight from 3 -10 P.M. each day without a break. He said they eat at members homes on the weekends and his Mamita (not sure how to spell it) cooks for them during the week and washes their clothes. He didn't have it that good at home. He loves it there, and he loves the people. It was wonderful talking to him. Even Joslynn (or baby J. as he calls her) talked to him. As I think of more things he told us I will include them on our blog. We love you James.

How to Succeed in Business without really trying...

Can you find RaNae?

I taped bits and pieces of RaNae's Musical this year, due to some technical difficulties, missing button, and a very unsteady hand, not to mention a bad seat made for a bad video on my part.

But, you have to see RaNae's character...she played Mr. Gatch a business man with sexual harassment issues. She also played a secretary and a pirate. My batteries ran out (thank you Ethen) and I missed the end. Anyway, she was awesome, I wish I had her courage and abilities. We are so proud of her and all her accomplishments. Enjoy!

Happy 16th Ethen!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Ethen! #16

Ethen had his 16th birthday on Wednesday. It is so hard to believe that he is 16 already. I remember that little kid that would just smile all the time, and do whatever you asked him. He is so tall now and still has the great smile. He had a sleep-over party this weekend. He had 10 kids ages 13-16 stay over. We had a little problem with some girls showing up, but I was the mean mom and took care of that. I about had a heart attack when Aidan came to me that night and said, "Mom, why are there girls in our house?" Then we had a kid that ate too much and spent the night throwing up. Other than that... my opinion, girls were easier for the teenage sleepover. Anyway, we love you Ethen.

Seminary Donuts

Yesterday was Seminary Sunday in our ward. RaNae and I both spoke at church. In my talk I shared a story that I had shared with the kids in Seminary just before Easter. For those of you that don't know, I teach early morning Seminary class at 6:00 A.M. Monday through Friday during the school year. This year we are studying the New Testament. So many people really loved this story, so I thought I would share it on my blog as well.

Seminary Donuts
There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending school in Utah. In this school Seminary classes are held during school hours. Brother Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's Seminary class.
Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.
One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"
Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."
Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" Again asked Brother Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," Brother Christianson said. Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it."
Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.
Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.
Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.
Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.
And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.
And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.
Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"
Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"
Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"
Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.
Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Jenny said, "No."
Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve,would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.
By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut.
There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row.
During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You can do them any way that you want."
And Bro. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."
Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him."
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."
Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
"Yes."
"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson , can I help him?"
Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.

Don't forget to eat your donut!!

Happy Birthday RaNae!!!

RaNae wanted Key Lime Cheesecake for her birthday "Cake" this year. She also wanted take-out Chinese for dinner. Since her birthday was on Sunday this year, we bought it Saturday night, and reheated for Sunday. I just made rice, since reheated Chinese food rice is nasty. I can't believe she is 18. Why do they have to grow up so fast? She got a new phone for her birthday this year, she is excited it has unlimited minutes and texting. The catch, she pays the monthly bill. We love you RaNae. Happy 18th!

Bethany Celeste...Kid #5

Bethany is my sweetie. She has a huge heart and is always willing to give up anything for someone else. She is the best babysitter ever! I truly mean that, she is the best. Joslynn absolutely adores her. She is very good with kids, and so sweet natured, and just always knows what to do. She loves being in the Young Women's organization at church. She has grown up so very much in the last year, I really cannot believe how much she has changed and grown into such a lovely young lady. She has many good friends, and worries over how to spend time with all of them. Clarissa adores Bethany as well, almost to an obsession. Clarissa hates to be without Bethany, they are best of friends, and like most sisters have their disagreements as well. Bethany will be in 7th grade this next fall, and she is looking forward to going to public school for the first time. I know she will do great, she is so strong and faithful. We love you Bethany!

Kid #4 Corey Gardner Henderson...

The many faces of Corey. He is a crack-up. He is an excellent student. He, like RaNae, doesn't have to study hard or work for perfect grades. (Wish I could have done that!) He is very tender-hearted and still tells me he loves me daily (Don't tell anyone, he might stop) and I get hugs and kisses regularly. Yes, I love it. He is very athletic, and does well at whatever he tries. Well, he tried wrestling for one day, didn't like it though. Boy was I glad, I hate watching wrestling. He is our voice guy, always making weird voices, and it does get somewhat irritating sometimes. But, that is Corey. He has a temper, but is able to control it, most of the time. You definitely know when he is unhappy with you. He doesn't fake anything, ever. He has a girl following, that we try to ignore, he does too. So other than hearing the occasional, "Hey mom, see that girl, her name is... and she is fine.", we try and avoid the subject of girls, for now anyway. He knows the rules, and he still claims a fear of most girls, especially the really cute ones. Ethen and Corey definitely talk about girls a lot more than James did, they aren't quite as shy. Corey is a ton of fun, we love him and appreciate all he is to our family.

Rock Island High National Honor Society Ceremony 2009

RaNae had her National Honor Society Ceremony this past week. She has been so busy lately with one thing after another. She goes to Seminary in the morning, then heads to school followed by her practice for the musical she is in, and then off to work, and returns home just before 11 P.M. In spite of it all she still has straight A's and is preparing for college as well, lots of scholarship essays to write and so forth. What a gal! We love you and are so proud of you sweetheart!

Easter

These are some pictures from Easter Sunday. We had Stake Conference this Sunday, it was a broadcast from Salt Lake, it was awesome. We had a nice Easter dinner, and the Adamson children joined us for dinner, their dad was in the hospital. He is doing better now. We missed James a lot this weekend, I hope he had a nice Easter as well. I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter. Love you all!

Happy Easter!

Dancing with the Hendersons

Joslynn had pulled a dress out of her closet to wear. Aidan decided he needed to dress up as well and put on some of his "church" clothes. Then he wet and combed his hair and also Joslynn's as well. Then they did a little "dancing number". By the time I got my camera out, this is what they showed me. Enjoy!