These are some of the other acts, besides the 5th graders. This little lady doing the splits is in a dance group of women from 50-94 she is the 94yr. old.

Finally, the pics of Abby's performance and the wedding. As I thought, they weren't where they were supposed to be.

Hi to my sweet mom. How are you today? I'm not doing much but sending out the birthday cards for the sisters in our ward. It is still raining and cold....I thought we left Washington. Hey I love you and everyone else!

We went to the Marriott Center at BYU to watch Abby in Hope of America. It was a fantastic program. The kids were all 5th graders from lots of the elementary schools in Utah county. If you want to hear the songs, go to Youtube-Hope of America. As soon as the pics are down loaded I'll post them. It was such a patriotic night, we sang the National Anthem and said the Pledge of Allegience.....we should do that at least once a week and remember who we are and what we stand for. Truth and Righteousness! Stand up and be counted Choose the Right!! Love y'all

I'M SITTING HERE NICE AND COZY BY THE FIREPLACE, WATCHING THE SNOWFLAKES FALL, MISSING MY FAMILY. ESPECIALLY YOU MY SWEET MOTHER. wHERE IS SPRING? MY BULBS ARE UP.
JILL TOLD ME A LITTLE JINGLE SHE HEARD AT SCHOOL....spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder what this white stuff is. Ahhh, spring in Utah. I'll bet the Posties are happy to be back to warm Australia, it was cold the whole time they were here.
Sure do love you all.

Dad's Birthday Balloon Launch

On Wednesday, March 30th, we drove to Logan to meet up at Dad's grave and celebrate his 86th birthday with as many family members as could make the trip.Abby and Marshall in the van with the balloons. Brent, Henry, Autumn, Jamie and James...James was THRILLED to finally see baby Henry in person!

Michael, Abby, and Amber getting balloons out of the car.

James freezing.

Abby and James talking to Aunt Marti in Ukraine on Brent's iphone.

There they go...all our birthday wishes and LOVE for Papa Bill!

Liam and Brent

Melanie with the balloon we left at the grave. Hopefully the ground will dry up so the beautiful headstone can finally be set!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Yesterday was one of the most aweome days. We went to the Logan cemetary to celebrate Dads' 86th birthday. Mark and I and Abby and Marshall, Jamie,Rich and their kids,Willy,Audrey and their kids,Drew and the kids, Sam,Brent, Autumn and Henry,Mike and Amber were all there. Marti skyped Brent and she was there on his phone. We sang Families can Be Together Forever, Sam said a prayer and then we sang Happy Birthday to Dad and let the balloons go. We missed all of you who wanted to be there and couldn't, a balloon was sent up for you as well. We have the best family! I am so thankful that we WILL be together forever! I will have Jamie put the video on later when she is here. TA-DAH! I'm here, and here's the video!

Untitled from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

We have had a busy week, lots of good things and some worrisome things. Wednesday night Sara and Rob had their little Cooper Thomas Hamlin. There good pics on facebook, I don't know how to get them here, so look at Saras' fb if you want to see him. We also got to register Marshall for Jr. High on Wed. afternoon, Yikes!
Kristen is having som problems with their baby, he should be fine, it is just really scary when you are going through it. Sam and Kristen need our faith and prayers. ( a job would be a good request, too)
Brent came home on Thursday afternoon. YEAH!!! So most of the pics I post will be of that, with a few stragglers. well, blogger isn't cooperating so I'll do it later.....sorry.

Wow, I just looked at the date of my last post, sorry it's been so long.....I don't come down stairs much, it's too cold and the stairs give me a problem. I am really doing well, I am so thankful to feel half-way decent and be able to go to church. Amy's husband Anthony got baptized on Sunday night. The stake President was there and okayed him getting ordained to the office of priest as well. He is already to go to boot camp. He gets sworn in on Friday.He is going active duty, after bootcamp and job training.
Things are good. Everyone is good and happy. Love to all!

I've been doing some cleaning out and going through boxes that haven't been opened since we moved. I found some fun pictures.

The tree minus presents

My boy and his dog. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Sammy

Emily

Somebody was playing with the whipped cream....Grandpa!

Autumn working her magic on Emily

Autumn and Emily

Amie and Henry, Autumn was working on Emily for her colic.

Emily and Henry Brent Mayberry

Matt and Emily, she likes his finger better than the pacifier

Sunrise on Marks way to work

Hi everyone, just wanted to wish y'all a Happy New Year, since I totally missed wishing you a Merry Christmas. Our week before was all messed up, we had Christmas Eve on Tuesday night with Matt and Amie and their kids and Drew and Jill and their kids and Mike and Amber (who are getting married, by the way). Autumn and Henry were here too. Matt and Amie could only be here for that night on their grandparents tour. They came here first, then went to Amie's moms' on Wednesday, and then down to Price to her dads' on Thursday and then home on Friday because Matt had to work on Christmas Day.

We totally blew it with the picture taking during the present opening. We listened to "The Other Wiseman" first. The first sounds of Dads' voice just killed me, I cried through the whole thing and then some.......I'm still a wreck, so many things remind me of him, music is the worst, it triggers tears every day.

I really missed being with the rest of you , my very loved ones!

Here some pictures that we did manage to take.

This is one of the Odessey House homes.......it is where Jill is staying

Abby really misses Jill

Jill is looking really good. There is a light in her eyes, that wasn't there for a long time.

Jill was checking to see how my hair is coming along. I love this pic.

These pics are after the storm.

This is our first big snow. The view from my back steps.

Sorry I've been gone so long....I just haven't had anything interesting to tell you. I know that no one wants to hear all about my bazillion Dr. visits and the days I've spent in the hospital since Aug. So now it's Nov.30 , it's been almost a month since I was in the hospital, I think the Cellcept is working (new Lupus drug, NOT chemo), Dr. Bott says I'm stable, which is unusual for me......what a surprise.....I'm Murphys Law personified.. the cancer and the lupus are in remission, but my immune system is non existant, so every little bug that goes by gets me, and that's why I'm still feeling sick and weak....but I AM getting better!!! Thanks to all the faith and prayers and Priesthood Blessings in my behalf I know that I will be O.K. I appreciate all of you for remembering me in your prayers, I am so thankful for the Priesthood and foe the love and care of my Heavenly Father. I have felt His comfort, in the painful darkness of the night and the days when I am alone (which is most of them.) I love and miss my family more than words can say. Sam, Marti and Matt you have always been my best friends, and I miss that closness and the laughing till I can't breath

Jill can get mail now, her address is : Jill Petersen

C/O Odessey House

68 south 600 east

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Please write to her and encourage her and let her know you love her. She can do this, we have to cheer her on, forgive her and support her, that is what friends and families are for. Love y'all.

Moving on...we had a nice Thanksgiving, lonely, but nice. We're so blessed and we know that, wether it is just the 4 of us or a gang of kids and grandkids here to celebrate our gratitude and love for each other and for the tender mercies the Lord bestows on us daily

We got to see my sweet Jillie for about 5 minutes, she was so surprised that we would come to see her. She needed some socks and winter wear, tablets, pens etc. So we took them down to her. She is doing well, moved up to the next level, gets to work in the kitchen and cook for 100 people. She is a pretty good cook, she laughed when I said that, and said"I'm really good at washing dishes." I miss her, when she isn't stoned she is so much fun to be with. I can't wait to have my Jill back!

Here are some pics from T.G. week.