Je Me Souviens

On November 21st, Kaleb and Noé along with 425 youth from Quebec and Eastern Ontario performed at the Montreal Temple Cultural Celebration!

Here are my young pioneers before they left for Montreal in the morning.  They left our home around 6:30 in the morning and didn't get home until almost 1:00 the next morning.  It was an all-day affair and they had a wonderful time!  Kaleb received a red sash to add to his costume and Noé had a bonnet for her hair.

They performed for President Eyring and other church leaders.  The lady in turquoise in the background is my friend Christy and her husband beside her is Elder Perkins.  It was so cool that they got to come to these festivities!

Let the celebration begin!  There were beautiful dances, songs, fun skits, and narration of the history of Montreal.  Our friend Chloe was the main ballerina (in light blue).

An awesome aboriginal dance.

 

Red is for the English and blue is for the French.

Here are the English loggers (or lumber jacks)...

...and here are the French ones.

A beautiful song performed by two sisters.

The French settlers...

...and the English settlers.

Kaleb and Noé performed in this dance.  Can you see them?

Can you see Kaleb now?

Can you see Noé now?

Beautiful Chloe again!

A vivacious Latin/Caribbean dance.

Another enchanting dance, the African/Creole one.

My friend Berny choreographed this at 8 months pregnant!

The finale where all 425 youth sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives in French.

I hope Kaleb and Noé will always remember this day!

(I also hope we can get a DVD of it, they haven't been able to watch it yet.)

Double date

Len wasn't able to take Teague on a date in October, since he was gone for most of the month to New York City.

So in November when it was Hiram's and my turn for a date, we decided to double.  We took the boys out to Spuds Potato Bar & Poutinerie for some yummy poutine and then to Toys 'R Us to window shop.  It was a fun night for all four of us!

Service Auction

Our Relief Society held a service auction and the above flowers and picture frames were my contribution.  It was a lovely evening getting to know the sisters in my ward better and lots of fun bidding for all the wonderful services (for free, with points we earned).

 

These are the cute blocks I "bought" at the auction.

Christmas "Jingle" on one side...

...and Halloween "Spooky" on the other.

I think they're so cute!  I'm giving them as a Christmas gift and I hope they're enjoyed!

I Know my Savior Lives!

Primary presentation Sunday is my favorite Sunday of the year!

My 3 Musketeers each participated in it this year.  Gavin gave a great little talk about Jesus feeding the 5,000; Teague shared how he has felt the Holy Ghost when we have the missionaries over for dinner; and Hiram shared that he can show his love for Heavenly Father by obeying his mommy & daddy.  (They came up with these ideas on their own too.)

CHEESE!  Every Sunday on our way to church we take turns choosing a hymn or primary song to sing.  This year whenever we've asked Hiram, he's answered with, "Jesus Christ."  That means Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam and he sings it so enthusiastically.  I can't believe his Sunbeam year is almost over!

Len was out of town, so I was quite happy I got all 6 kiddos to church on my own.  They are all so sweet, but I've got my hands (and heart) full!

 

I'm so glad that my children know that their Savior lives!

The Poppy

From November 1st until the Remembrance observance on November 11th we wear poppies to remember all of the soldiers and veterans who fought for our freedoms.  The kids have a big assembly at school.  I love that Kaleb wanted to wear his suit and Noé wanted to wear a nice dress and Gavin wanted to wear his Cub shirt.  Teague wore regular school clothes, but that's okay too.

Even my littlest ones wore poppies on Remembrance Day (until Ali got hers off and tried to eat it!).

I love this shot of them looking at each other!

 

I am so grateful to all those who have fought for liberty in the past and for all who now fight for it.  I wish this whole world could live in peace though!

Baby Charlotte

My newest niece was born November 9th, Charlotte Jo.  Isn't she so cute?!  I can't wait to meet her!

Her proud parents Kris and Devin.

(Kris is my baby brother that I watched be born when I was 14.  I can't believe he's a Daddy now!)

What a beautiful family!

South America without me!

I am a lucky girl and have visited countries in North America, Europe, and Asia.  My husband is a lucky boy and has visited several other countries for work trips.  We both wish I could go with him each time, but his most recent trip to Brazil was really hard because it was on a continent we hadn't been to before (no fair!).  I love it when he shares the things he sees and does while he's gone, so here's his little summary:

 

I came to João Pessoa, Brazil for the 10th Internet Governance Forum, a UN-mandated multi-stakeholder meeting where we discuss everything from internet infrastructure, encryption, blockchains, and human rights online (the reason I'm here).

 

I'm guessing the architect thought he was designing an airport?

 

This is where I have been staying for the last week.

 

And this is what is behind me while taking the previous picture...

 

Jenny! Where are you, and why aren't you here?

 

The view from the top of my hotel. I will miss this, but can't wait to get home.

 

Didn't make it to church, but had a long, disjointed conversation with the bishop via Google translate.

 

The city was established in 1585, and this church (São Francisco) was built in 1589.

 

Looking up to the choir.

 

The bishop's palace.

(Not the bishop he had a conversation with in a picture above, different denominations, ha ha!)

 

Loved this view, from within the attached convent, looking out towards the river.

 

The governor's office (João Pessoa is the capital of the state of Paraíba).

  

This lighthouse marks the most easterly point in the continental Americas.

 

I am, at this very moment, standing at the most easterly point in the Americas.

 

Leonard just has to go back some day AND take me with him  ;).

Montreal Temple Open House

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a temple-building church.  We currently have 148 operating temples, with 15 under construction, and another 10 announced, so soon we will have 173 temples on the earth.  There was only 16 when I was born and when I got married there was only 49.  The second president of our church, Brigham Young said there would be thousands of temples dotting the earth during the Millennium.

 

Before each temple is dedicated there is an open house for any and all to attend.  Our family spent a nice November day doing just that.

Our boys...

...and our girls.  A kind gentleman offered to take a picture of all 8 of us.  Unfortunately, he didn't press the button hard enough, so none of the pictures took.  Luckily, we got the first photo above in front of the nice back drop ;).

We are not allowed to take pictures inside the temples, so these photos are shared from the Mormon Newsroom.  The previous temple suffered weather damage, so it was completely re-built.  It now has maple leaves and fleur de lis carved in stone, wood, mosaic tiles, and painted in gold leaf all through out.  It is so beautiful and sentimental with the symbols of Quebec.

A beautiful mural in one of the ordinance rooms is based on the local nature.

(There wasn't a photo available of the baptismal font, but I love how it is placed on the back of 12 oxen representing the 12 tribes of Israel.)

Another beautiful ordinance room.

The sealing rooms are where I believe the most important work in the world takes place.  Here is where husbands and wives ae sealed for time and all eternity and children are sealed to their parents.  Heavenly Father's plan of happiness is for us to return to live with Him in our families.  These sacred ordinances are not just offered to the living, but also to those who passed on without the opportunity to have them performed.  We perform them vicariously for our dead because we love them and want all families to have the choice to be together forever.

The Celestial room in any temple is my favorite.  I feel like I am in heaven when I am there.  These beautiful chandeliers were saved from the original temple.  They are so beautiful!

 

In the temple with my family is the best place in the world to be!