Blessing Day

Cienna's was blessed today. Charlie wasn't very cooperative. He pretty much made a huge fuss all during the meeting including when Nathan was giving the blessing. Kindly someone took him out so the Grandmas could stay in and listen.

Temple Handkerchiefs

Just thought I would share one of the latest projects I have been working on. I've been making handkerchiefs with the KC Temple embroidered on them. Here's a sample. I've done one on black just so you can more easily see the detail cause white on white doesn't show very well. I'm selling them for $3.50. So if you would like to buy one or two or even ten just let me know. I'll be taking orders until April 28, 2012.

San Diego

The view from our hotel room.
One of the perks of working for a hotel chain is getting to stay in a nice play for almost nothing.

My first time to San Diego, CA was a fun time.

Not only did Joe and I get to see the Pacific Ocean,

but more importantly, I got to see my oldest brother and his family. They live in Thousand Oaks which was a three hour drive from San Diego. It was well worth the drive to get to see them again.

I haven't seen them for about four years. It was great catching up with them.

Mike, Madisen, and Deb.

Here Comes the Bride

Weddings are always a special event and they are even more special when done in a temple.

This last weekend, I was able to attend the wedding of my nephew Dan and his lovely bride Katie. It was truly a wonderful ceremony. It was great seeing some of my other nieces and nephews, ones that I don't get to see very often. Plus I got to see the inside of the San Diego temple. It was as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

All the family from the Fackrell side attending the ceremony.

My eldest niece with her family.

Cienna Taegan Rathjen

Cienna made her appearance 3 weeks early, but is still doing fine. Stats are 5lb 15 oz and 17 1/2 inches long. Everyone is well.

Panama Day 3

We went to the temple while we were in Panama. It's an interesting experience to attend a temple that has the session in a language other than English. I was definitely in the minority. Fortunately on each session in the Panama Temple there is always at least two people that speak English. It was a wonderful time.

Joe's arm span is almost as long as the Harpy Eagle.

The same kind of monkey that was used in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

These are just some pictures of local wildlife. This was at a small zoo called The Summit. It's located at the summit of the Continental Divide in Panama.

Panama Day 2

This crane is one of four of the largest floating cranes in the world. It's called the Titan Crane. Howard Hughes used this particular one when he was doing something with his plane the Spruce Goose, but I couldn't hear very well what the tour guide was saying.

One of the many cargo ships that passes through the canal. This one is headed to the Atlantic Ocean.









It's difficult to tell how big this ship is from the picture, but trust me. It is huge.







This is the wonderful couple that took us everywhere while we were in Panama. Soriam and Jennifer were the perfect tour guides. We had a lot of fun visiting with them.

This is how close we are to the wall of the lock.

Entering the lock.

Each lock either drops or raises depending on which direction on is going. The difference is about 30 feet per lock.

Maintenance work on the canal is done on a daily basis. Here they are replacing one of the buoys that are in one of the artificial lakes the ships pass through on the canal.

Just before Mirasflores Lock.

The last gate before getting to the Pacific Ocean.

The only presence of American troops of any kind that are permitted in Panama are the ones that go after the drug runners.

This is the line to cross the canal. It's a 3 day wait. Cruise ships however reserve a slot a year in advance and so they get to go to the front of the line.

Panama Day 1

The two of us at the Miraflores lock. They have a visitor center there where you can watch the ship go through the locks.

Day 1 of our trip to Panama.

Panama City from our hotel room.

Choose to Become

Again Time Out For Women was everything I hoped it would be. The messages and song were inspirational and just what I needed to hear. What made it even better was Laura and Linda getting to be on the team with me.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures. I took them with my phone and the flash didn't go off on any of them.

Jericho Road, the Mormon boy band all grown up.

Team meeting before the event. My two lovely girls.

Welcome Home

For the past few years I have been making a yearly trip to visit my mother's embroidery machine. Oops, I mean my parents the machine is an added bonus. And every year when I get home there is some kind of surprise waiting for me. One year it was the living room redecorated. This year, Rebekah and Linda decided to surprise me with my own craft room. This is what it looks like.

This is my wall of fame. A family photo wall. I love this!

On the opposite wall I have this. Bekah did the butterfly and flowers.

I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family. It makes coming home all the better.
Now I have my own little space for all my craft things. Poor Sean, I don't know where he's going to sleep when he gets back. Well, there's always the basement.