Kevin's 40th Birthday Party!

The kids and I had so much fun putting this surprise party together for Kevin. We decided to invite lots of people and to just have Ice cream and cake. After I sent out all the invitation via evite we had so many people asking what they could bring or what they could do to help with the preparations. We decided that with the help of so many friends and family we could do a funeral dinner with funeral potatoes, Jello salad, ham etc. We had so much help that all that was left to supply was the ham.

I asked Lynette Zaugg in our ward to make a cake for the party. Well she went all out and made the most amazing cake. I love that it had the kids names listed on the back!

Bishop Michael Packham made me laugh so hard I cried. He came to the party dressed as an undertaker. As everyone was waiting for Kevin to come he instructed everyone on what to do when he arrived. He played Happy Birthday on the piano in a minor key and everyone sang along. Then he started measuring Kevin and talking about the different options for Kev's grave and coffin. It was really funny. He also played Taps on his Bugle. So funny! Before he sat down he said "At Packham's Mortuary our slogan is You sack 'em we Packham"!

We also had a special visitor the Grim Reaper (Josh King) come and give Kevin his 'YOUTH' in a box.

Bishop Brad Johnson conducted the funeral services. He did a great job!

Sister Julie Jewell played "Amazing Grace" on the piano and we watched a video that Krystal put together for us. There were about 100 plus people there. I think that Kevin was pretty surprised at how many people were there! On Friday night I told Kevin that the kids and I wanted to take him out for his birthday. I told him that I wasn't quite ready to go and that the kids and I had a few things we needed to do to get ready before we could go so could he please go pick up Bridgette from McKenna Watt's house while we finished getting ready. Than after he left the house we hurried and got in the car and went to the church. After a few minutes I called Kevin on his cell and told him that Bridgette just called me and said that they were at Sarah's (Bridgette's friend) ward holiday party and asked him if he could go pick her up there. So he turned around and headed for the church that Sarah go's to which was where we all were waiting for him to arrive. So when Kevin pulled up to the church and saw all the cars he just thought it was for the holiday party, until he pulled up right next to his bosses car and wondered why he was here. So when he walked in he knew right away what was going on but he was still really surprised I think.

The kids started off singing "I'm so glad when daddy comes home" and then they stopped after a few lines and made this circle to talk about what to do. After a few seconds they started singing the same song but in a minor key. Than they stopped after a few lines and conferenced again
and started singing again the same song but with different words.

It's so sad to watch our dad get older everyday.

He used to run but now he's done, his hair is turning grey.

I put my arm around his waist and help him up the stairs.

Don't worry dad it's not so bad......(than Regan said)

Just look at Bishop J!

Brett talked about Kevin and how he was the "perfect child" who never got into any trouble. He told a few funny stories about Kevin's early years of driving and how he hit a parked car. It was really fun!

I

LOVE

CHOCOLATE!

☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻

☼♫☼♫☼♫☼♫☼♫☼♫☼♫☼

The Family Is Central to the Creators Plan for the Eternal Happiness of His Children!

Sometimes I worry so much about our world and the economy and all the the turmoil that is swirling around us out there. I realize that if I think about it too much I can become physically ill! "what if this happens" or "what if that happens". It can take over my life if I'm not careful to focus my thoughts elsewhere.

After listening to General Conference earlier this month and after hearing how "the family is under attack", I felt an overwhelming urgency to focus my attention on MY FAMILY. The truth is that there is no better way that I can improve the the world around me than by nurturing and loving my children and teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ. My thoughts have most particularly been focused on "The Family a Proclamation to the World". After a person reads this proclamation written by the first presidency and the council of the twelve apostles, it leaves no room for ANY question as to how the Lord would have us live our lives with reference to the family! In fact I know that if we follow the council in the proclamation we will find ourselves in a family organization that can be likened to "Heaven". How do I know this? Two reasons really. One I believe everything written in it! Kevin and I have tried to follow it the best way we know how and we have had little glimpses of Heaven because of it! Two, because I know that the Prophet is the Lords mouthpiece and the Lord knows what will bring true happiness into our lives.

Kevin and I really want to make sure that our children grow up with no question in their minds about what the prophets have said concerning the family. We decided that the best way to do that would be to have them memorize the Proclamation. The last three family nights have been centered around memorizing it and talking about it. We only have the first two paragraphs memorized because it's hard for the younger kids. We wondered if what we were doing was making a difference or if we would ever be able to finish the entire proclamation.

Today was our stake conference. The theme of the conference was "Family". Our family participated in the stake family choir. We sang four songs for the conference. It was really great to be together and to sing together. I loved it! The thing that was fun to witness was as a few of the speakers made reference to the proclamation and recited some of it, I saw my children's heads jerk up and their eyes sparkle with excitement as they listen to the words that they could recite right along with the speaker. I knew at that moment that what we were doing was good and right and that the words they memorize will come to them during times in their life when they are making decision that will effect the rest of their life!