Celie all grown up

Celie is going to school, learned to hoola hoop and is making all kinds of new strides as she grows up too fast. She is very proud of her hoola hoop abilities and was very excited about her first day of school too. She had her first encounter with a "bully" the other day. She started telling me the story and tears welled up. She told me that at lunch two mean girls came up to her and said mean things one of which was, "If you don't give me your broccoli I'll hit you." Now at this point I couldn't help but laugh. Broccoli? What bully has ever threatened someone to get their uncooked with no dip broccoli? She was of course confused at why I was laughing and it helped her lighten her mood about it. She then told me that she handed over the vegetable for fear of being hit. Her new friend at school later stood up for her during recess and hit the "mean girl" on the backside. I told her that hitting is never acceptable while feeling a little relieved that she had a friend that would stand up for her. I think I laughed so hard about the broccoli I cried. The story is much better with Celie telling it with a pout face and tears welling up. She is precious. She wants to please everyone. I love her.

Crazy Birthday boy

This boy loves attention and on his birthday he is entitled to it I suppose. If he can't reach a toy he screams at it hoping it the sound waves will shake the toy over to him. If you say no to something he wants he will have a huge pout face and lay his head on the floor crying(whining). His feelings are surely hurt. Now that he is "of age" he follows Jack around the house grabbing his arm or shirt with his famous grip and with a smile holds on until Jack cries. We are working on that one just so you know. What a boy. Take a look:

Jett's 1st Birthday

Jett is finally one! He is such a fireball. We love him so much and the kids make sure he knows it. He has got a grip like a vice and a smile like a jester. He loves to open and close anything and push around the laundry basket. On his birthday he made sure everyone was laughing so he danced and screamed like a wild thing. Probably his favorite thing to do is dance to music. Any kind of beat comes on and he is shaking his body. Be careful not to get in his way though, he likes to concentrate on his moves. Happy Birthday Jett!

Brisket

Marty's first brisket from his smoker turned out real tasty. I think he wants to try it again and perfect cooking out the toughness. We had friends over to share the meal with. So proud of you honey!

4th of July

So I have been having Computer problems, but we're back up and running! Here are some pictures from our 4th of July parade in our community.

This is Jack and our good friends

These are our great neighbors!

Celie decided to be in the parade at the last minute.

Jack is obviously enjoying the parade. It was so hot that they were handing out drinks of water at the end of the parade. I think I would have passed out if I didn't have it.

Laura's Later Years

Laura's Funeral

Laura's service was so nice. We sang beautiful songs and most of the family spoke. The flowers were magnificent and represented our Mother perfectly. We love her and miss her so much. Below are some pictures of the funeral and under that is a copy of my talk I gave at the service.

My Father

Laura's Father

Celie putting flowers on the casket

In Memory of Laura Lee Robinson Benson
By Melanie Allsop

At this time of separation with my Mother I have so many mixed feelings; the emptiness of her absence, the gratitude of her service, the sorrow of her pain and the joy of her awaited peace. I have been humbled and reserved these past few months as I more fully realize how blessed I was to grow up in the presence of a valiant daughter of God. I want to share with you the legacy she has left with us.

It is hard to speak about Laura and not mention her visible talents and beauty; that was evident in the many wonderful, uplifting letters she received throughout her illness. On the outside her energetic spirit shown through as she entertained, created, and loved. I have millions of memories of costumes, music, makeup, and laughter. I still can hear her singing “wind beneath my wings” over and over and I remember how I would ask her to stop singing because she sang so loudly. That volume became handy during her humorous acts which in turn created a popularly requested genre of performances. “Second hand rose” and “Elona at the library” just to name a couple. Her comedic and her serious presentations were equally wonderful and her performing talents have touched us all in a way that will always bring a smile to our face.

Even though the outside of Laura was spectacular I would like to share with you her inner talents some of us have been privileged to witness. Laura struggled with taking time for herself or putting herself first. She wanted to please everyone. Most of the time we didn’t know what she wanted because she would try to do what ever delighted others before sharing her desires. Even in her last weeks she was thinking about how things could be easier for us. She valued charity and had a strong desire to have unconditional love for all.

Laura had a drive for personal education. She loved to study, explore and experiment especially with matters of health. She would get so excited when she learned something new that she couldn’t help but to share it. She also, had an unexplainable desire to improve things all around her. Creating artistic displays of talent and beauty, inventing ways to make dishes more convenient, and having so many project plans for the family made it so there was always something new and different going on in her home.

She was quick to work hard at finding solutions to a problem for you, she was determined with her goals and she had a skill for observing human behavior and analyzing it, but possibly her greatest talent or inner beauty is her dedication to her Savior Jesus Christ. Her testimony was unwavering and strong and her spirit was sweet and gentile. I remember on my baptism day I was ill and sad that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. She was so sweet with me making sure that I was comfortable and beautiful. I remember as she braided my hair that I felt her testimony of the gospel so strong that I knew it to be true because she knew it was true. She had a reverence for sacred things and she had her own way of bringing the spirit into people’s lives.

As a musical family we, especially Laura, have received many compliments about the quality of our talents. We owe the success of appreciative audiences not so much to the technical aspect of our performance, but the spirit and feeling Laura encouraged us to use as a foundation for our performance. The professionals teach us to project from the diaphragm . . . Laura taught us to project from the heart. Her personal interpretation of music lets the spirit teach and when she sang she could communicate the charitable intentions of her soul.

Though her spirit beamed through music, her devotion to the Lord was quiet and personal. I have strong feelings about Mother’s conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel as though she was my pioneer taking on the challenges so I didn’t have to. Because she allowed me to be raised in the gospel I owe her my testimony, knowledge, and peace. She paved the way for me as a Mother in Zion. She never stopped doing her best as she taught her family to love one another, never stray from their testimonies, and do what is right. I recognize her great sacrifices she made as she followed the promptings of the Holy Ghost, guiding her to raise a righteous family in the gospel. Spiritually strong, determined to progress, and committed to truth describes her discipleship on this earth.

At a young age I would beg mom to have another baby. I loved pretending as a child to be a mom and later enjoyed babysitting for neighbors. I remember her encouraging words supporting my goals to become good mother. I felt as though I was accomplished at it and I had good self esteem because of her continual praise and support. I even felt more confident to be a mother then, than I do now. Laura wanted me to explore what was interesting to me. Often we would sit together in excitement pouring over a book about parenting, sharing what we learned and seeing if the newly revealed principles fit into the guidelines of the gospel. It was then, at a young age, that I began to understand how intertwined personal revelation and success as a Mother was. I don’t believe I have ever witnessed my Mother try to decide whether or not to follow a spiritual prompting. If she knew it was true then she would simply do it.

These beautiful qualities plus many more have come to her because of her loving Father in Heaven and wonderful parents, Henry and Doris Robinson. From her father she learned to be a peacemaker; one who continually thinks of others first. From her mother she learned dedication to goodness; one who will stick to their course. Jan, my father, has been completed by his other half in ways we all have benefited from. They complimented each other and had a beautiful marriage. I see Laura in all of us children. I see her love for health and wholeness in Lisa, her desire to help others be happy in JR, her creativity in Connie, ambition to do better in myself, and her selfless compassion in Julie. We each have a part of her in us and we will pass those wonderful traits down to her posterity.

A few days before her passing I remember as we were reading letters from loved ones and friends her face looked as though she were in shock. She couldn’t believe the wonderful things people were saying about her and from whom they were written. I don’t think she knew how much she was loved. I am glad she was given the chance to see a fraction of the impact she had on people’s lives before her passing. Thank you for your kindness and love towards her and us. She was a wholehearted wife, a delightful mother, and a devoted disciple of our Savior Jesus Christ. We will miss her greatly.

Our Drive Home

Thanks to all who helped us stock up for the drive home from Utah; we were able to keep the kids fairly entertained. On the way home however we decided to do things differently. We came home a different way so we could stop at the four corners sight. Not a great idea. Although the experience of us paying 6 dollars to get in, standing on the four corners in the pouring rain, and the desired Navajo taco costing 8 dollars (we didn't get any/too expensive) was memorable it still wasn't worth the longer drive. We also decided to get a hotel along the way instead of driving through the night. Another bad idea. Wow the drive home was long, but I am glad I didn't have to do it by myself. It is nice to be home. I have so many kind friends who have reached out to me and made sure I was ok. Thank you.

Jack being shy. What he doesn't realize is that his cover up for being shy is in fact embarrassing him more. Poor guy.

Yea!

Yea and we're done.

One of the 3 beautiful things we saw on the drive home.