Happy Birthday Dad

 102 Year Old

Reflections in the Temple

I attended the temple yesterday and had an experience that I wanted to share with all of you.  Tomorrow my dad, your grandad, and great grandad would have been 102 years old.  Last night I wrote the following in my journal.

As I sat in the temple this morning I started to think about my dad.  I realized that tears were rolling down my cheeks.  I thought how hard I have been on him and hoped he understands now that I understand why he was sometimes so unkind.  In spite of past mistakes, I know he wished he had been a better father and although he didn’t always understand why, he knew that he should have been better.  It’s interesting to think about how much my dad changed through the years.  I attribute a lot of those changes in our family because we found the plan of happiness in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which gave us each a purpose to be better.  I want to remember about what could have been if he had been treated with kindness when he was growing up so he knew what it looked like.  His mother’s death when he was 9 and subsequent events after that put an armor around him that few could penetrate.  Of course, the greatest story of all was the love he learned to feel and understand when our children were born.  Bill, Andy, Ben and Amy were his Balm of Gilead that reached his heart when my mom, my siblings, and I weren’t able to.  I love that I get to have a temple so close.  I learn so much each time attend. 

I wanted to share this with each of you to help you realize that important moments of understanding can come when we step back and look for those moments that caused us to wonder why.  Sadly for me I didn't give my dad the grace he needed because I didn't understand.  I'm grateful now that I do.

Birthday Treat!

Two of Lexy's students in her French class brought her a special French dessert yesterday.  She said it was a chocolate cake called fondant au chocolat.  She said it's baked so that the inside is dense and rich but not so fully baked like a normal cake.  It is slightly underbaked and is "super gooey" inside."  Those students deserve an A+++

Happy Birthday Lexy!

 26 Years Old

Eden's Concert Field Trip

Eden begins her first year of Junior High in September.  Her elementary school orchestra was invited to go to what would be their new orchestra room next year and then they joined other orchestra students from other school in the area who were also invited.  They spent some time being directed by the Junior High and High School orchestra teachers.  Next was dinner and then over to the high school where they performed for their families.  

Indiana

Lexy sent me these videos of her parents house in Indiana.  She also shared a video of her mom taking the goats out of the snow.  One of the goats is named biscuit and the other Tater Tot.  They are Nigerian dwarf goats.  I haven't heard from the Illinois Duncan or Miriam but hope they are doing okay in the agressive storm! 

Ava, Jane, Ruth

 

New Apartment

Lexy and Ellis were able to move into their new apartment this weekend.  She sent me pictures of their livingroom.  

CA Duncans

From Uncle Andy:  When I was hiking on Saturday I spotted a coral fungus growing on a fallen tree. Later that day we braved the fog to go to a fossil museum near Madera. They had a full sized wooly mammoth skeleton and other Pleistocene creatures that were found in nearby grading projects. They also have the last Mammoth Orange stand moved there from the freeway when they realigned and it couldn't be on freeway anymore. We always wanted to go there but never had the chance. 

Will

Will had a dance competition last night with other teams in the state.  My source (ABBY!) said he was the best dancer out there by a mile!  

Family Directory

If you haven't already received it you will be getting a family directory that I made for each household.   I know there are mistakes in it and will make the corrections as they come in and resend the pages that were incorrect.  Uncle Andy and Uncle Bill do not have the same phone number!  Thanks for your help in helping me correct any mistakes.  

Happy Birthday Owen!

 28 Years Old

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

 19 Years Old

California Duncans

This weekend the remaining three California Duncans  hiked to the top of Pincuahion peak on Saturday. Here are some photos. Also last week I finally found time to make a Buche de Noel (French Christmas cake made to look like an actual log with mushrooms and all) a little late for the holidays.

Abby's New Car!

 

Graduate from High School, Get a Job, Go to College, Buy a car!
Way to go Abby!

Gotta Brag!

Congratulations Lexi!

Lexi got this in the mail.  She received this honor for having a 4.0 almost all semesters of her graduate studies!  She said she gets to wear some fancy things for graduation because of it.  May I just say that all my grandchildren and grandchildren-in-law are so impressive!  None of them do anything half way!

Happy Birthday Makylee!

 28 Years Old

Happy Birthday Ellis!

 25 Years Old

Happy Anniversary!

Becky and Ben

29 Years

Caleb's Music

Caleb finished his first semester of being in his High School marching band.  And another piano recital.  

The CA Duncans

After attending the temple with Ava the family headed down to southern California.

Ava's Temple Trip

Ava was able to attend the temple after Christmas to get her endowments.  She had her parents, brothers and sisters-in-law with her for the special day.  

Eden's Temple Trip

Eden is now in the Young Women's program and is now able to attend the temple to do proxy baptisms.  As it turned out she was able to be baptized on behalf of one of her great grandad Lamberts cousins wife.  I'm sure it was a special experience for her and it was even more special because all of her older siblings were there doing baptisms as well.  

One of Eden's special friends Talya and her family were
also there for the special day.