How to Train a Dragon...

is a lot like training a child.  You love them, feed them, rub their back from time to time, and help them fly.  If you haven't seen this new movie, I suggest it for family fun.  Simple and sweet.  I went with Jena and my two sisters, Robin and Lynette who have been spending the week with me.

This has actually been a sisters visit to Syracuse with my other sister, Valerie, being here from Sunday to Wednesday before heading home to her family.  We have sorted through family pictures and writings of our mom and tried to decide what to do with things that respresent her life and our childhood.  We also have spent time sightseeing with Robin and Lynette who haven't been in this area for over 25 years.  We attended a temple session together on Tuesday at the beautiful new Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  Standing on the front garden area you can see Jordan River Temple and the Draper UT Temple in the distance.  Here is some pictures of the view.

Jordan River Temple--this is where Scott was sealed to us and the temple where I really learned about receiving inspiration within the walls of the temple. 

Draper UT Temple

I think it opened about 2 years ago.

the view to the east from the temple doors

Tulips in the gardens

We then headed over and visited with my dad at his home.  He is still using oxygen since his week in the hospital where he learned that not only was he having a reaction to medication, he was having a heart attack.  We were very glad he was there so things could get fixed as they happened.

It has been a good week,  We have never all gotten together as sisters without families since we have gotten married.  The idea came from the boys getting together in January to play games.

It has been fun and we hope to do it again sooner than 32 years!

(Of course, we have seen each other on trips to Texas and family reunions.  I wanted to make that clear that is hasn't been 32 years since we saw each other!)

Introducing....Chantel

Scott's  fiancee. ....... She agreed to write a post for our blog.  Now we have it for Hall History.  Anyway, the previous post which is actually just under this one was written by Chantel...and my version is the post after that.  So you might want to jump down and read my first and then Chantel's.  They have pictures but not the right cords to put them on my computer.

Dancing under the stars :)

Sunday afternoon before I left for work, Scott insisted that I come over after for just an hour.  I told him I had finals to study for so I didn't think I would be able to, but he said I HAD TO, because he had a surprise for me. So thinking he was going to bake me cookies or something cute like that, I told him I would. After work I went straight over to his house and he told me we were going to dance under the stars. Yay! I had been wanting to do that for forever (not thinking much of it). We drove up the canyon near snow basin and parked off the road. The stars were so beautiful! We put on Allred (our favorite acoustic band) and blaired it through the windows and we held each other outside. Scott then asked me what I was thinking and ironically I told him it would be the perfect time for him to propose to me. That's when he pulled a small white box out of his hood and knelt down on one knee.  He asked me if I would make this love forever and if I would marry him. I of course said YES! I knelt down with him and kissed him like crazy. I was so happy. The ring was beautiful...it was perfect. I love him :)

Fun News from the Halls.....specifically Scott!

We had a great day on Sunday.  The first wonderful thing was that Scott received his patriartical blessing which was amazing.  The patriarch allowed not only us to be there, but also Chantel, Scott's girl friend, and his Grandma Hall.  It was sweet to share this moment with everyone there.  These occassions always serve to remind us how eternal our lives are and how lucky we are to be connected with each other and to our children.  In turn, it also reminds us of the connections to our own parents and those all who have gone before.  It was awesome.

Later, Scott dropped by and asked to get the engagement ring which we have kept for him in safe keeping for a few months.  He had decided that Sunday night was the night since the day had been so perfect.  I will have Chantel add a blog next time she is here and she can tell you what she wants of their romantic moment.  For our purposes, he asked and she said yes.....................so another wedding is in the works for a Giberson grandchild.  No date set, although she wants a summer early fall wedding.  Place looks like the Salt Lake Temple, but that is not finalized yet either.  That temple gets very busy during the summer and fall.

You all are invited for the festivities.  We will let you know more details as they "come available".

We are thrilled with Scott's choice and are happy to have Chantel as part of our family and to share Scott with her family.  This is the first wedding for either of our families so that will make it fun for everyone.  And Scott and Chantel have kept another little known family tradition--both Gary and I have sisters named Valerie and then a brother and brother-in-law named Mike.  Scott and Chantel both have sisters named Jessica.  Good luck for our other kids to keep up that random tradition!!!

Here is the first picture I can find of the two of them,

This was during their first scuba diving class in January.

A Sweet Testimony..

Today was an awesome day.....I am not sure of the rules of blogging, but I think it is okay from time to time to brag about your children  (apologizes to my other children who grew up before I blogged),  Anyway, for those of you who love Jena, you should know that she bore her testimony in Fast and Testimony Meeting today...

It started with a YW activity for Easter called "Resurrection Eggs".  It is a simple presentation that had 12 plastic eggs that each had a scripture and something in it to represent the scripture.  The last egg is empty to represent the empty tomb and the resurrection of Christ on Easter day.  Jena made some as part of the YW activity and was so excited to do them for family night.  We were getting together with extended family on Easter so I asked her if she would be willing to do it on Easter evening.  She agreed although I was uncertain if she really would when it came to it.  She can be shy in big groups.  We practiced what she was going to do.  As we practiced, I asked her what she wanted to do at the end.  She immediately said, "I know Jesus lives.  The Atonement is real.  The Holy Ghost talks to us.  Heavenly Father know every one and loves us."  It was the first time that she bore a testimony like that.  I wrote it down for her, but I was still unsure how things would go.

Easter night came and we gathered together.  At the last second, she got a bit shy and hestitated about passing out the eggs.  Her cousin Nikki jumped up and offered to help.  From that moment, Jena took charge, directing each person to read their egg in the right order.  She then read a quote from Pres. Hinckley and then she read her sweet testimony.  It was so sweet and a perfect way to celebrate Easter.

(It is actually because of the reality of Easter that I personally had confidence to even adopt Jena --of course then I didn't know her and how wonderful she is.  I just remember thinking during that time that it would be worth whatever struggles came from adopting a child with Down syndrome, because I knew that she would live again and be free from the difficulties of DS and what a blessing that would be for all of us.  Now with hindsight and life experience, I know that is true about all of us.  We all will be free from the struggles of the mortal world and our mortal bodies--no migraines, Down syndrome, etc. in Heaven.)

Back to the story--because she had bore her testimony on Easter I asked her if she wanted to bear her testimony at Church today.  She said yes and we wrote down her basic testimony.  She was very nervous but I could tell she was excited too.  We waited while other people bore their testimonies and then she turned to me and said that she wanted to bear her testimony and wanted me to come up with her.  I stood beside her while she bore her testimony without hestitation and then she sat down.  I bore my testimony after her and it was very emotional to look down on our ward members and see the tears in their eyes as they felt her tender spirit.  One woman told me later that she will always count it a great blessing that she was here on this day to hear Jena bear her testimony.

Recent picture of Jena--not what she wore today!

And that is the rest of the story!!!  Have a great week.

For those of you who aren't facebook friends with Tosha.....

Let us introduce our new family member:

                             Mowgli

He is an eight week old Aussie Doodle  (mini Australian shepherd and poodle mix).  He will only get about 18" inches tall they say and less than 20 lbs.

Meet his brother---

Jasper

Jessica's new dog!

It has been over two years since we have had a dog and much longer than that since we had a puppy around.  Everyone is having fun, although those nighttime runs to the bathroom outside aren't that great.

Enjoy conference and have a great day.