Thought of the Day: "Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change a girls life"

I assume Collette is working out all the details for Sisters Weekend (July 17-19). We will be watching for the itinerary and pertinent information (including cost of tickets) in the coming days. I am looking forward to spending some time together. I hope everyone is still planning on attending.

Love You All

Tamara

It's Our Day!

A special Mother's Day wish to the sweetest sisters I know."HATS" off to all of you! I couldn't ask for better. Enjoy your day with your families celebrating YOU! Love ya, Shannon

Don't we need some R&R time together? This trip to Park City was so fun, do you remember it?Let me refresh your memory!

These pictures say it all. Let's go!!

Hello, hello, is anyone there?

Honestly Thomas sisters...........get crackin' with those exciting stories! I'm a HUGE blogging slacker......but there are SIX of you - no excuses. I'm just dying to know the latest gossip!

P.S. Are there any exciting Thomas reunions or gatherings planned for the summer?

Happy 40th Anniversary

Yesterday was a very important day for the Cowan family. So I decided to hop on here and congratulate my parents on celebrating forty wonderful years together. In speaking on behalf of our entire family, we are so eternally grateful for the decision you made to be married forty years ago. We have always felt your love for one another, and for each of us. You have sacrificed so much, in order to provide the best life possible for each of us. I thought I'd share this quote from President Hinckley:

"I believe in the family where there is a husband who regards his companion as his greatest asset and treats her accordingly; where there is a wife who looks upon her husband as her anchor and strength, her comfort and security; where there are children who look to mother and father with respect and gratitude. " President Gordon B. Hinckley

Thank you for setting such a wonderful example of how to make a marriage work.......and last forever. We love you!

*I often find myself wondering what I did to deserve this family. I guess this is my chance to let each of you reading this know, just how much I love you. Now sit back and enjoy these awesome pictures from 1969!

This picture was taken in December 2008. Four kids, two son-in-laws, two daughter-in-laws, and twelve grandkids later.......it's amazing how things can change in forty years!

Introducing the newest member of the Thomas family

Ethan Ryan Harris

Look how dang cute he is.   We are so happy for you Amber and Ryan!  

Ultrasound Pictures

Here are the ultrasound pictures I promised. The top picture shows a set of identical babies, and the bottom picture is of two fraternal babies. It' all a little surreal, don't you think?

In Keeping With This Weeks Theme - - GRANDPARENTS

Channing and I will soon be members of that club.  Yes. . . Rachelle is going to have a baby.   I can't say I wasn't a bit surprised when we heard this news and a little worried that she will only be 17 when the baby comes. . . .. I have to admit. . . any baby news. . is happy news.  Channing says it is all my fault because I have been telling him how much I would love to be a Grandma, and now I am going to be.     I have been saying for the last 6 months how good Rachelle has been doing since she has had this steady boyfriend, Luis.  She has been doing so much better in school and he brings her to visit us about three times a week.  So we have become a lot closer with her and see her much more than we do Eric and Breanna.    So yes, I have to admit, this is something I am looking forward to even if it's not quite the right timing.     

News from Blake and Deb

Hi All. Blake here. I hope you won't mind if I catch you up on our lives. There has been a lot happening and we have certainly been blessed in many ways.



We had a great Christams. Everyone came over on Christmas day and we really enjoyed eating, opening presents, eating, visiting and eating. Deb's youngest, Megan, surprised us by announcing that she is expecting. She's due sometime in September. The roads were extremely bad out here in Shangri La on Christmas night so everyone decided to stay, and we had an impromptu sleep over. We had bodies, blankets and pillows everywhere and everyone had a great time. Deb's mom started feeling ill on Christmas day and wound up coming down with the flu. I'm sure you can guess that almost everyone else got sick 2 days later when all had returned to their homes.



While Deb's mom was with us for a few days, she told us that she had decided to let us do Deb's dad's temple work. Now this is certainly exciting, but to really understand the impact you have to know that Deb's mom and dad were both inactive and really hadn't had anything to do with the church since they were children. In fact, at times, they had been hostile to the church. She also told us that she has started to go to church and is, herself, planning to go to the temple, and is now attending the temple preparation class.



It was a real blessing and an honor last week for me to act as proxy as we performed Deb's father's temple work in the Ogden Temple. When Deb and I hold hands and pray together each evening, these are the sorts of things we ask of our Heavenly Father.



At times it has been a bit lonely for Deb to be the only active member in her family, but that hasn't stopped her from living the gospel to the best of her ability and being the best example to her children and grandchildren that she can possibly be. I have to believe that a good example is the best of all missioinary tools. When the grandkids drive past a temple, they always say "Look! There's Grandma's temple."



Deb's son Jeremy and his wife Cari have such a beautiful little family and have often said that someday they'll start going back to church. In November, CJay, their oldest, turned 9. He had been curious about baptism as he had heard his friends talk about it and had even attended the baptism of one of his friends. Out of the blue, the Bishop of that ward and the full-time missionaries were praying for guidance about people they should visit in their ward, and remembered that the Elders Quorum had helped Jeremy and Cari move in a couple of years ago, and decided to knock on their door one evening. We don't believe this was a coincidence.



They all started taking the missionary discussions with the goal of CJay being baptized. They have been attending church and getting close to the members of their ward, and about three weeks ago I had the opportunity to ordain Jeremy to the office of a Priest so that he could baptize CJay, which happened the week before the Super Bowl. CJay asked me to confirm him a member of the church, which touched me very deeply. Again, I reiterate, that these are the things Deb and I pray for each night.



I have been so blessed to find Deb and to be married to her. She is my best friend, my biggest cheerleader and the sunshine in our home. I am blessed by the way her children and grandchildren have accepted me and treat me like one of their own.



Finally, Megan had an ultrasound today and sent us pictures. I had never seen pictures like she emailed to us. The reason they looked so different is because there is more than one baby. In fact, there are more than TWO babies! And even more than THREE! Megan is expecting QUADRUPLETS! Believe me when I say that this is NOT something Deb and I pray for, but now we will be praying very earnestly for the health of Megan and the babies, and ask you to please keep them in your prayers as well. When I remember to email the pictures from work to home I'll blog them for you.



Well, enough already. I'm sure you're tired of this long epistle so I'll close now. Please know that we love each of you and miss seeing you. Let's get together when the weather warms up. Maybe we can christen our new deck with a barbecue. All our best, Blake and Deb.

Grandpa and Grandma Thomas

The next generation.   I told Lane and Annette I was share their exciting baby news.    Their first grandchild was born on Friday, February 6.    Baby Ethan was delivered by C-Section at 2:20 P.M.. Weighing 7 lb 11 oz, 20 inches long.   No pictures yet but Annette told me she would get us some.  Lane is coming home from Logan today and Annette is staying all week.  Amber and Ethan are both doing great.    Grandma Thomas said he is an adorable baby.   

Happy New Year

I just wanted to wish you all a very happy New Year.  I hope this coming year brings only happiness for all of you.  I know we have all had trials and hard times every single year, some more than others.  But I know I gain strength from some of my own trials, but even more I admire all of you and the strength I gain from you all.  I know I would have never made it through any of my troubling times if it weren't for such a supportive and loving family.  I admire and love you all and hope you all know I am here for any of you and would do anything I could to help you through the hard times.  

I hope you all had a great Christmas.  I know we at the Southwick home had a very wonderful holiday season.   Santa was good to everyone at this house but even better was having all 3 kids here on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas.     We also had all of Channing's family here on Christmas Eve (approximately 26 of us!) But that was great too.  

Now. . . about MY family.   I have one major New Years resolution. . . and that is. . .that I will never let another Christmas season go by without seeing my family during that time.  I missed not seeing my brothers and sisters and all of the family this year.   I don't care if we have to start planning it now, we WILL get together this coming year for Christmas.  We can do it here at my house or anywhere else that works.   

Love you all so much, Jan