Archive for April 2016

Cute Mini Pizzas For A Bridal Shower

4.30.2016

I made these this morning for Andres Squire's Bridal Shower. I've made fruit pizzas before, but never mini ones. These are really colorful and just enough! They are also really yummy!!

These would also be really cute for a YW Personal Progress activity... all of the fruits

represent a value color! I giggled at myself for thinking of this while I was making these!

I Love This Text From Brooke!!!!

4.28.2016

I have really been encouraging-- yes encouraging Brooke to do things she's not perfectly comfortable doing. She REALLY didn't want to go to the Stake Priest/Laurel Activity yesterday, (and with warranted trepidation...she just turned 16 and is a brand new Laurel) and had some really great excuses, but I did some finagling-- using my special Mom super powers, and got Brooke to attend this activity. She really ended up enjoying it and wrote me a text to express appreciation. I don't like the part where the word "forcing" was used and offered a viable substitution for this word in my response. ;) These texts are so wonderful, though. It's moments like these that make parenting so worth it. My children are all good kids, but sometimes they have their moments and can be, well, difficult. But then, all of them have written me notes or texts or verbally expressed to me their gratitude for all that I do for them and it does make it all worth it!! (Brooke often sends me love notes down the laundry shoot that I find while I'm doing the worst chore of motherhood EVER, but it always brings a smile to my face!!) Brooke is so much fun to have around. She is so witty and full of life. There is never a dull moment! Here is the text conversation...

Just a side note...the activity was speed dating/eating. They had stations for an appetizer,

main dish and dessert (there may have been a few more) and with each station,

boys rotated to the girls and they had to follow directions to "make" their food. Sometimes

it involved hands being tied together, or one fixing the food for the other one...etc. It was

a super cute idea. (Meg Parrack and Emmy Howe were the girls at her station.)

I know these Stake activities are always so fun and well planned.

Again, I'm so glad that Brooke went and didn't let her worry keep her from such a fun night!

Megan's Letter on 4/25/16 - Update From DC :D

4.25.2016

Hello!:)

This week was so humbling! We had so many growing experiences! Before I share some highlights of my week, I just want to share a couple scriptures with you that have really helped me through this week. The first one is Alma 26:27, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." The second scripture is Alma 34:41, "But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." I love these two scriptures. These are always scriptures I fall back on when things get a little rough or when things seem hard! Missionary work is definitely not easy, but if we are patient and handle and go through (not around) our afflictions, then God promises to give us the success we seek.

This week, this sweet lady named Ketesha called into Mormon.org! She was telling me how she feels super lonely. The whole time we were talking, she was just bawling. She said her house burned down and she moves hotels every two weeks while she is finding a place to stay. She said because of the fire, she has to live off of oxygen now. Despite all of Ketesha's trials and hardships, she has such a strong connection to God and to Jesus Christ. Her faith is so strong. She called Mormon.org because her friend invited her to church and she just loved how everyone was so nice to her. She wants to learn more and she wants this church to be a part of her life. She told me she was so afraid of dying alone with no one even knowing. It was so humbling to get to talk with and help Ketesha. I left her with a prayer when we were done talking and she said she is finally starting to feel that peace she has been searching for. I know with all my heart that as we offer our broken hearts to Christ, that He will make them whole.

So on Friday our ward had this BBQ at the church building and before it started, all the missionaries came and contacted all around it to invite neighbors to this BBQ! It was so great! A lot of the people were able to come that we just invited on the street! Some of the people that came were even interested in learning more! It was such a huge miracle!

On Saturday, Sister Wilson and I received a referral from the traveling APs. (Assistants to the President) They met this guy while they were out tracting and said he was so golden! So we went and visited the referral! The guy's name was Kareem and as we were teaching him we were thinking, "Man this guy really is so golden!" and then a few minutes later he told us he and the rest of his family are members.... they just haven't gone to church in years!!! So we are going to work with them!:) They want to come back so we are super excited to see how it goes with them!

Yesterday during sacrament meeting, it was missionary focused! We had recent converts get up and share their testimony with the ward. It was so incredible. Recent converts have the strongest testimonies! One of the recent converts that got up was Bruno. He is from Peru and was baptized November of last year! He told us all to remember three things-- to have faith in Heavenly Father, to be persistent, and to be patient. These three things really hit me! As we follow this pattern during our life, everything will play out! Another recent convert named Gavin gave really good advice on making time for missionary work. He said if we give the excuses that we don't have time.... then to remember who gave us the time that we have. This also hit me! God has given us the time we have and He wants us to serve Him! Every member a missionary. He shared a quote from Elder Neil L. Andersen, "If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart--painted, as Paul said, 'not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.'" This is so true! I promise that as you make time to share what you know about Jesus Christ with others, you will not only bless their lives, but your life as well! I hope your week is full of happiness from our Heavenly Father!

Love, Sister Freeman

The Sisters got a private tour of the Capitol building 2 Pdays ago from someone

who came into the Visitors' Center who works there!!

Our tour guide! He took us inside the hearing room!

A view of the Capitol from the underground pathways.

The "exact center" of Washington DC!

A cool hallway we went through.

Our tour guide took us into Senator Hatch's office!:D

We got a picture with Brigham Young ;)

The Rotunda! It is under construction but it was still cool!

Some of the Sisters, haha there were a ton of protesters!!

Left to right- Sister Capson, me, Sister McArthur, Sister Luna Chico, Sister Klaas, Sister Parabirsing, and Sister Larson.

This is The Mayflower Hotel. We stayed here when we visited DC when I was 9!

Another Beautiful Day at Sunset Beach Paddle Boarding and Kayaking And Then A Cook-Out at Huntington Beach!

4.23.2016

What another absolutely gorgeous day! Another day in beautiful Southern California paradise!! We started out the day by setting up our "camp" at Huntington Beach and then we headed up the coast about 10 minutes to Sunset Beach where we paddle boarded for about 3 hours. We all had so much fun and enjoyed learning how! Bill and Robin got kayaks instead. We explored the back bay in the canals where the water was (fairly) calm-- although it was pretty breezy. The water was very cold so it was motivation to stay up on the board! Here we didn't have to worry about SHARKS or rough waves and water! It was such a pleasant day! I could do this EVERY single day! I love the beach!! I have so many great childhood memories here!

Paddling around in the shallower waters to get used to the feel of it...

Katelyn trying it out

The smile says it all!

Brooke and CC

Robin and Bill's kayaks...

Me getting used to it...had to learn how to steer!

So much fun!

There were beautiful homes in this area!

Katelyn, Brooke and CC

CC and Brooke havin' some fun!

All of us except for Dad...Katelyn started out in the kayak with Robin,

and then decided she wanted to do the paddle board.

Brooke being Brooke...we were supposed to make a funny face and we did

but I guess the guy taking the pic didn't take it fast enough.

Brooke is the only one that held the position! Hahahaha!

We are definitely coming back here! Megan would've LOVED this...

we'll just have to come back and do it with her when she gets home!

Back at Huntington Beach...all tuckered out from paddle boarding!

Roasting hot dogs!

We had so much fun with Robin along!

Brooke said that she wanted cupcakes AND s'mores...well you can see

that she already roasted a marshmallow and is waiting to blow out her

candles that we had a very difficult time lighting due to the WIND!

16 candles for a sweet birthday celebration!

Still trying to light them... (and still holding the marshmallow!)

Blowing them out-- the wind certainly helped!

A beautiful sunset on the beach! What a perfect way to end the day!!!

Magic Mountain!!!!!

4.22.2016

Half the battle of getting somewhere early in the morning is getting the teenagers out of bed! Katelyn shared a bed with Robin (sorry Robin) and stole the covers. She denied it but these pictures are the proof... she did it again the next night too! Things are always interesting with Katelyn!!