2011 Super Bowl

Our Picks:

Steve - Doesn't Care
Jessica - Steelers
Brandon - Green Bay

High Speed Chase

Tonight Steve, Brandon, and I were bystanders in a high speed chase. While on 1100 W in WX we saw flashing lights behind us. We barely had time to get off the road when a car flew passed us - literally. 4 cop cars were in pursuit. I began to worry; that road is lined with homes and the next intersection (500 S) is busy. I told Steve that I hoped they called off the chase because I was worried. They didn't.

We could see smoke and more lights as we approached the 500 S. intersection. The idiot driver hit the sliding door of a family's minivan! I'm sensitive and as soon as I saw that he had hit someone I was upset but when I realized it was a family, I cried. The idiot driver (that is too kind of a name for him) was in handcuffs, on his side on the ground, surrounded by cops. I didn't see him get manhandled but if they had let me, I would have been the one kicking his face really hard. The minivan had slid away from the car and the airbags had deployed. I watched as one cop worked to put out some flames (or was worried about flames starting). Another cop was with the dad of the minivan. I think everyone inside was okay but very shaken. The cop had his head inside the broken window but I couldn't tell if someone was inside or not. I think though that if someone had been inside and was hurt, the dad and cop would have been in panic mode. There could have been someone inside waiting for medical attention but not severely hurt. The cops quickly blocked off the road. We did not stay around for the ambulance to arrive since we didn't want to be in the way. We did pass the paramedic heading to the scene. A while later, when returning home from our errands, we looked from a distance and saw that the road was still partially blocked off and cops were still at the scene.

The incident really bothered me. I wasn't hurt but I internalized it as if it did happen to me. Steve didn't understand that but maybe that is because he's a guy. My adrenaline spiked, my emotions poured, and my mind raced. It was scary!

Link to article

Christmas 2010

It is amazing how quickly the Christmas season can come and go. This year my goal was to savor the season, focus on my Savior, and create lasting memories with my family so that I could enjoy the season as long as possible. To do that, I put aside the pressure to decorate and communicate as I normally do. I made time to relax, renew, ponder, study, and be silly (after all, laughter is healthy). I read, slept, sang songs, watched holiday kid cartoons, gave service, cheered, gathered with family and friends, listened, and most importantly, I focused.

On Christmas Eve I spent time alone, after everyone had gone to bed, reading The Forgotten Carols. I had never before read the story that goes along with the beautiful music and so for the first time, I read the story of how the birth of our Savior can change hearts. As I read, I listened to and sang along with the music by Michael McLean. Music is powerful! After awhile, I found that I could no longer keep open my eyes and so I vowed to finish the story the next day.

Christmas Day was filled with magic, love, laughter, family, and fun. After visiting my Grandma, Steve, Brandon, and I drove to the Bountiful Temple to experience the Nativity Story. The homes surrounding the temple display the Nativity Story in word and beautifully painted pictures. At each house, the next piece of the story is told, with the experience culminating by the testimony of Jesus Christ by our apostles.

It wasn't until everyone was once again in bed that I was able to revist The Forgotten Carols. This time I was able to finish the story and as I did, tears of gratitude, love, and testimony spilled from eyes. The story and music touched my heart and I will never again be able to simply listen to the music. From now on, I will hear and feel the music, but most importantly, I will remember it.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that his birth was humble yet heavenly. I know that Mary and Joseph were gentle parents that loved that baby whole-heartedly. What a precious time that must have been!

Patricia's Wedding

Patricia and Tom were married on Saturday, November 6, 2010, on top of Mount Lemon in Tucson, Arizona

Oh my goodness!

Just so that it appears I am keeping up with our family blog, this is my new entry.

Happy Holidays!

VACATION, VACATION, VACATION

I can't believe that it is at last summertime!  I wasn't sure that I was going to survive the end of school.  Okay, that isn't true.  I knew that I wouldn't die but I had inklings that perhaps I'd have to be carried out on a stretcher on the last day.  I'm proud to say that I walked out on my on two feet.  However, it has taken me this long (5 days) to have enough energy and emotional stability to reflect upon the last while.

The end of school was a whirlwind of activity; mostly my own doing.  I was asked by the District Math Department to write 5 lesson plans for the new DESK program.  Extra money is always nice but each of the lesson plans took me a good 4-5 hours to create.  It was crazy!!

Did I mention that I did full fledged Reader's Theaters with my class?  We practiced for a week with parent volunteers, we made scenery and costumes, and used microphones.  We performed during the second to last week of school for parents and 8 classes and I have to admit, we were a huge success!  This group of kids needed something like that but if I were to do it again on that scale, I'd do it a week earlier. 

I am glad that school is finished!

On the home front, Steve finally got a job - as a tow truck driver with AMS Towing.  He loves it!!!!!  Our neighbor is his supervisor and he has his own truck.  The company operates 24/7 but Steve will always have Sundays off unless there is a major something or another that they get called to.  The company is expanding from Ogden and there are only 4 or 5 drivers in this area so they get a lot of calls which is good because Steve only gets paid commission on the runs he makes.  Meaning, he doesn't get paid to sit around and wait for a call.

Brandon is excited to be going into 3rd Grade.  He is getting tall and very lean.  Today he went to a craft class which he'll go to once a week during the summer.  He really liked it and I enjoyed having a small break.  In July he'll take swimming lessons but other than that, no major activities.  Tonight is his first scout meeting and he'll have a few meetings this summer but they take off the month of July so I'm not worried about feeling overwhelmed.

I'm focusing on resting, catching up on projects around the house, be lazy, trying to get my flower beds and garden to grow, playing on the computer (I've discovered POGO Games), doing Weight Watchers, and sleeping.  I know I included a bunch of couch-potato-type activities, but who cares - I'm on summer vacation.

That is the long version of life.  Any questions?  

We are an ETERNAL family!

The latest news to come out of Woods Cross, Utah, is that Brandon Dunn was sealed for time and all eternity to his parents, Stephen and Jessica Dunn, making their family ETERNAL!  The joyous occasion took place at the LDS Salt Lake Temple on April 8, 2009, at 6:20 in the evening.  The happy (ETERNAL) family was surrounded by many family and friends (from both sides of the veil) who braved the uncertain weather to be in attendance as the three covenanted to be, yup, you guessed it, ETERNAL!

The youngest member of the (ETERNAL) family chose the location for the sealing, a sacred LDS temple in the heart of Salt Lake City.  Brandon was thorough, researching all the temples in the world before making his decision. For a while, the Laie, Hawaii Temple was to be the location of the event.  However, after careful consideration and a difficult narrowing process, the Salt Lake Temple was chosen. 

Becoming an ETERNAL family was an important goal for the Stephen Dunn (ETERNAL) family.  Many steps had to be taken before the promise of ETERNITY could be realized.  The first step was for Jessica to legally adopt Brandon.  After a few hiccups and many heartfelt prayers, permission was given and the threesome headed to court on Monday, April 6, 2009.  In front of the judge, Jessica promised to love, provide for, discipline, give an inheritance to, and treat Brandon as a natural mother would do for her child.  Brandon could barely contain his excitement as the judge declared the adoption final!  Jessica, and the lawyer, couldn’t contain their emotions either and let the tears fall freely.  Stephen just grinned from ear to ear.  The soon-to-be-ETERNAL family was finally legal!  In celebration Brandon decided the soon-to-be ETERNAL family needed to forgo the lunch trip to The Garden at the Joseph Smith Building and instead eat at McDonald’s.  Due to their excitement about the verdict, Stephen and Jessica gave in and ate at McDonald’s. 

Although the adoption was important, being sealed as an ETERNAL family was the main highlight of the week.  Brandon especially looked forward to going past the recommend desk of the temple.  Upon arriving at the temple, Brandon was whisked away to the youth center.  During his time there, Brandon enjoyed many activities and using a large world map, gave a detailed geography lesson to his hosts. Throughout the experience, several temple workers stopped Stephen and Jessica to let them know how precious Brandon was and to say how happy they were for the (ETERNAL) family.  Brandon has a way of touching the heart of everyone he meets! 

In preparation for the sealing, Stephen and Jessica spent some quiet time in the Celestial Room.  In a rare opportunity, the two had the room all to themselves (except for the temple worker).  They chose to sit on the couch where two years ago they had first decided to get married.  It was a reverent and peaceful experience!  The couple was so happy that Stephen had to prevent Jessica from dancing around the room – she told him that when they got to heaven he owed her a dance. 

When the time finally arrived for the sealing, Stephen and Jessica met their guests in Sealing Room A. Smiles were abundant and excitement was in the air!  Soon Brandon joined them and the ceremony began.  As the about to be ETERNAL family knelt together at the altar, the world around them momentarily stopped, and the importance of the moment sunk in.  It only took a few short minutes for Stephen, Jessica, and Brandon to be united for ETERNITY but it changed their lives forever.

In an effort to document the experience, the (ETERNAL) family, dressed all in white except for their shoes, visited the temple grounds for photo opportunities with their family and friends. Reminiscent of a wedding party, the group enjoyed the time to converse, pose, and huddle together for warmth.  It wasn’t long before the group returned indoors and the rain continued.  The temple experience was almost complete.

Before leaving the sacred edifice, Stephen and Jessica took a moment to record their feelings.  Being united, as an ETERNAL family, was not an experience that they wanted to forget.  They also wanted to be able to share their promise of ETERNITY with their posterity for generations to come.

The joyous event ended with a celebration at the home of the Stephen Dunn (ETERNAL) Family.  Family and friends of all ages joined the blissful (ETERNAL) family for food and festivities.  Laughter and love filled their home as congratulations were offered and memories were shared.   

As the night came to a close, the happy (ETERNAL) family knelt in prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for bringing them together and for blessing them for ETERNITY.  As they went to sleep, smiles filled their faces and warmth filled their hearts.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.  Even more so, it was a perfect beginning to a perfect ETERNITY!