"...that baby in the manger..."

“I think it’s appropriate this time of year to just think 

about that baby in the manger. Don’t be too overwhelmed 

or occupied with what is to come; just think about that little baby. 

Take a quiet, peaceful moment to ponder the beginning of 

His life—the culmination of heavenly prophecy

 but the earthly beginning for Him.” *Elder D. Todd Christofferson

“But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby – that's how Christmas began.” Elder Jeffery R. Holland

For me, it's this simple. Life can become so hectic and fraught at this time of the year. But for me, Christmas is distilled down to the elements of this first Christmas. The baby, His parents, those who heralded His birth and came to worship Him. All the rest is just "stuff" and "stuff" can be set aside if we focus on the essence of this sacred time of year.

So, join me, if you will; and cling to the Spirit of love and peace that were introduced on that first Christmas Eve so long ago. Let's feel the Spirit, embrace the peace, and share the love.

Merry Christmas with all my love and best wishes for a safe and blessed New Year!

Love,

Netty

The many faces of YOU!!!

...Kevin, aka "The Birthday-Boy!!!

In thinking about what to post for Kevin's Birthday, I started collecting photos. As I did, I realized that THIS was my post to honor my sweetheart on his special day. Kevin is many things - smart, funny, talented, honorable, handsome, kind, hard-working, dedicated, faithful, faith-filled, loving, disciplined, and patient.

So without further ado, no fanfare whatsoever, and in no particular order, I give you the many faces of Kevin William Webster - The Birthday-Boy!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweetheart and the love of my life. I hope you know how very loved and appreciated you are!!!  ...and you're SOOO HANDSOME!!!!

Oh Brother...

...Where Art Thou?

Laugh if you will, but that was a legit question being asked last Fall. To make a long story shorter, Kevin's cousin, Christine Mooney, had her DNA tested through Ancestry DNA. The results turned up a male relation on her mother's side of the family. This relation was a half-brother to Kevin, Steve & Mike. His name is David Potts. Kevin's dad and David's mom gave him up for adoption at birth.

David's wife, Jory, had been instrumental in searching out his birth-mother. Christine and Kevin's oldest brother, Mike, made the connection on the Webster side of things.

Once we all made contact, plans were initiated for a get together so the two younger Webster-boys could meet David (Mike already had). Steve, the middle bro...lol said we couldn't call it a reunion because we hadn't met yet. So we called it the:

Labor Day weekend was the date. Happy Acres Cottage - Eagle Mountain was the location. Debbie & Steve came early to help us plan and prepare.

David and Jory brought their daughters, Shelby & Sable as well as Sable's husband, James. What a wonderful family!!!  From the moment they stepped in the door, we felt comfortable with them. It felt as if we had known them forever!

Shelby, Jory, & David

James, Sable & Ozzy

For five wonderful days, we talked, ate yummy food, asked questions, explored the area, ate yummy food, answered questions, played games, ate more yummy food, got acquainted, told family stories, and did I mention the food????? lol One thing the Websters do well is food!

By the time everyone left, we were not strangers or acquaintances - we were family - and it was wonderful!!! In fact, as wonderful as we all hoped it would be, it was a million times better.

Here are a few highlights from our "New-Union"

Visiting Jackie at work...

Ice Cream stop in Heber 

(See? more yummy food)

Cousin-time!!!

(Mandy & Chris had to leave to tend a sick fur-baby
Chelsea, Shane, and Brea couldn't make it and were sorely missed!!!♥♥♥)

Salt Lake City

Beautiful Jory!

Brothers...

Throughout our time together, we laughed about Kevin's dad - the gift that keeps on giving...lol  The thing is, that's exactly what this turned out to be - an unexpected and very precious gift.

So here we are again - just me and Kevin - in our cozy Happy Acres Cottage. It's quiet, but our hearts are full and our lives are changed by the unexpected gift of a wonderful addition to our Whacky-Webster Family!

Turning the page

...and a new chapter begins!

It's been a little bit since I last posted. So much has happened and so much has changed. 

For the last 12 years, we've lived in what we jokingly called "Happy Acres". Our house was big and at one time full of family. Times changed and family moved on. Soon the big-ol' house at Happy Acres was too big and a little too empty. Kevin and I came to the realization that it was too much house for us in many ways. Too big, too much yard, and too expensive.

Not that we're OLD or anything, but we ARE about 10-15 years from retirement. At some point, it would be nice to have paid-off our home. That was NOT going to be possible with the BIG house at Happy Acres; so we made the decision to sell and move to a smaller place.

That decision led to changes for all the inmates at Happy Acres. Marc found and purchased his own little slice of Heaven in a new condo-complex.  Jackie is "technically" living with us, but mostly stays with Jairen and his family.  Kevin and I - after a long search (we've been looking off and on for 5 years), finally found our own new place.  It's certainly not what we expected or even what we were looking for. It wasn't until we quit telling the Lord what WE wanted and expected and listened to what HE was trying to tell us; that we found our place in paradise.  We're calling our new place "The Cottage at Happy Acres".

Our new house has a very cottage-like feel to it. It's much smaller, but bright and airy. It's funny that being so much smaller, it doesn't make us feel hemmed in.  We love our new neighborhood and Ward. We're looking forward to many new adventures as we make this place our own.

It's a little weird being here - just the two of us. It's VERY quiet...lol We haven't lived alone with just each other for almost 26 years. We've either had kids or extended family with us for most of our married life. I'm surprised at how seamless this adjustment has been. We're really having fun making the Cottage at Happy Acres into our home. We're really looking forward to many adventures as we begin this new phase of our lives!

Alan Jackson's song "Remember When" has a line that fits our situation so well!

"Remember when
We said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad

For all the life we've had..."

So, here's to a new home and new experiences with my forever Sweetheart! Let the adventure continue!!! We have so many things to look forward to!  I'll be sure to keep you posted!!! 

*Stay tuned to your local Whacky-Webster's channel* 

Waiting for "Happily Ever After"

Last time I blogged, I wrote about after "Happily Ever After". Because of events in the lives of friends of mine, today I want to write about waiting for "Happily Ever After".

Let's begin this story with "Once Upon a Time", because so many of the best stories start that way...

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Ken Harris. Kenny was raised in a good and loving home by parents who loved the Lord and taught their children to do the same. Around the time Kenny was 21 years-old, our paths crossed and we became good friends. Over the years things changed, we moved on with our lives, but always stayed in touch and our friendship endured.

In a different place, there lived a beautiful, effervescent woman named Sonja Nelson. Sonja was also born to good and loving parents who taught her to love the Lord and keep His commandments.

Ken and Sonja each lived their lives, unknown to each other. Both served missions and served faithfully in the Church. Both went to school and had careers that they loved. Both longed to find "the one" and receive the blessing of marriage. Both longed for it, but neither found it...

Years passed...not one or two...not even five or ten. Decades passed and the dream of Temple marriage only seemed to get farther and farther out of reach. Now, don't think that Sonja and Ken were miserable. They had moments of sorrow and loneliness, but both remained steadfast and filled with faith. Honestly, effervescent is truly a word that described Sonja - and it still does! 😊

Call it fate, call it serendipity... I call it Divine Intervention. Life and circumstances brought Ken to Utah for a change in his job. That is where it all began, because Sonja was also here in Utah and working at the same place. That was it...Ken  and Sonja met... It makes me think of the Brady Bunch song. "...One day when the lady met this fellow - and they knew that it was much more than a hunch".

Love spoke and two hearts that had at times despaired, now beat in time with each other. "Whirlwind" is a word that could be used to describe their courtship. lol ...and just like that, they were engaged!!   💍

Oh, what a joyous day their wedding day was. I don't think there was a dry eye during the beautiful ceremony. If my heart was overflowing with joy for my friends, I can only imagine how theirs felt!

With this joy in their hearts, Sonja and Ken took their first steps into their "Happily Ever After".  

Continuing the manner in which they had both lived before marriage, Ken and Sonja continued being faithful to their covenants and serving the Lord. Starting a family became a new dream for them. As with many longed-for blessings, this one did not come without cost. The joy they felt in each other was tempered with the loss of several pregnancies. They too, "were newlyweds and now had to learn to go through grief and sorrow together..." *Happy Acres blog 'After...Happily Ever After...' May 21, 2018*  

Still they held on to their faith, and each other and did their best to endure it well.  Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: "Moreover, we find that sorrow can actually enlarge the mind and heart in order to 'give place,' to expanded space for later joy." The Apostle Paul wrote: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness." *Hebrew 12:11*

And so it was with our dearest friends, Ken and Sonja Harris. 

On August 16, 2018, just in time to give Kenny the birthday gift of his life; Sonja gave birth to a beautiful baby boy whom they named James. How could two hearts stretch to hold all the love that filled them on that miraculous day????

I look at my wonderful friends and give thanks for the miracles and blessings in their lives. I look deeper and see the love of a concerned Heavenly Father who led each of them through their faith-filled lives and blessed them so abundantly for that faith. As I watch Ken and Sonja begin this adventure we call parenthood, I am grateful for their example of "enduring well". 

When you spend time with this new little family, their joy is palpable! The love and happiness they exude is contagious!!!  When you look at the Harris family, you see that God DOES answer prayers and miracles still happen!!! 

So, Ken, Sonja, and Baby-James....congratulations!!!  We wish you love, joy, and every good thing.

  

...And may you all live "Happily Ever After"!!!!!

After...

"Happily Ever After"...

Have you ever wondered what happens after the characters in the fairy-tale romances ride off into the sunset for their "Happily Ever After"?  Do all the moments after that epic climax stay perfect in the rosy-glow of sunset? How do our fairy-tale heroes and heroines handle the bumps in the road of everyday life? And do they truly stay "Happily Ever After"?

Thirty years ago, Kevin and I took our first steps into our own "Happily Ever After". Our wedding day was everything I ever dreamed it would be. It was as perfect a day as I wished for.

Two days later, we packed up my life and drove off into our own sunset. Then reality happened...

I immediately had to find a job. Kevin was in his last year of college. We had to learn how to be happily married, and then I unexpectedly got pregnant. (We were actually trying NOT to get pregnant) We were adjusting to that new dynamic when I miscarried (the first of 10). We were newlyweds and now we had to learn how to go through grief and sorrow together. 

Thirty years ago....and yet it seems like yesterday. When we got engaged, I remember thinking "Wow, when we've been married 20 years I'll be 45...and 55 on our 30th anniversary!" It seemed so far in the distant future. Yet, here we are...

Over the last 30 years we've gone through some hard things. We've had some crazy adventures and laughed a lot. We've had some more grief and sorrow and helped each other weather every storm. When I reflect on the 30 years of our marriage, the golden thread running through the picture in my mind is love. Love for each other, love for our Heavenly Father, and love for the family He helped us make. That love and our partnership with our Heavenly Father have been the glue that kept us strong and kept us together. That and a really whacky sense of humor. 

When Kevin told his parents that he was going to ask me to marry him, after his dad quit laughing; he said, "Well, you'll never be bored!!!" Kevin would tell you that his dad was right, and he never has been bored. That's the benefit of having a really warped sense of humor and an ability to laugh at your own foibles.

Alan Jackson wrote a song entitled "Remember When...". It has become "our song". 

"Remember when 30 seemed so old? Now looking back, it's just a stepping stone - from where we are, where we've been, swore we'd do it all again...remember when?

Remember when we said when we turned grey, when the children grow up and move away; we won't be sad, we'll be glad for all the life we've had...and we'll remember when..."

Kevin and I both have said that we'd do it all again...all of it....

I guess that kind of answers my original question - do they stay "Happily Ever After?". 

Living our lives with the love of our lives IS our "Happily Ever After" because the hard things are bearable when you share them with your sweetheart and help each other through them. Conversely, the good and happy things are exponentially better and happier because you have someone with whom you can share the joy. 

So, Kevin...on the 30th Anniversary of OUR "Happily Ever After", here's to us and an eternity of more happiness-ever-after!  I would still say "yes", and would do it all again if it meant that I got to spend my life with you.

Happy Anniversary, my handsome-Prince!  I love you more!

                                       

Happy Mother's Day

To my grown-up daughters;

This Mother's Day, I wanted to dedicate this post to you because you're the reason I get to celebrate this weekend. 

To my Mandy;

You made me a Mommy!  Oh what fun we had as we both began this mommy-daughter adventure!  You were my little-bitty-buddy. We did everything together. You gave me the gift of seeing the world through a child's eyes again. Oh, how I loved getting to be your mommy!

Much too quickly, you changed from my baby into a lovely young woman. Oh how I loved being your mom - every step of the way! What great friends we've become!  How I love the relationship we're developing. I love our theater/movie-dates. I love that we can  and do talk about everything. I am grateful that you trust me enough to talk to me about so many things. I'm blessed to count you among my dearest friends!!!

To my Jackie;

You were my unexpected blessing!  When we started the adoption process the second time, we thought you'd be a baby...and a boy!!  What a delightful surprise we had when we realized that we were going to add you to our little family!  How amazing that you fit into your spot in our family so seamlessly!  Right from the start, you wound your way around the hearts of every family member. I'll never forget watching Bonpa see you for the first time. I swear I heard his big ol' heart fall 'SPLAT!!!', right at your feet!!!

As it was with your sister, you grew up way too fast!  But what fun we had, you and I!  How many driving-adventures have we had? Silly times, funny times - times when we scared each other-silly! How grateful I am for your fun and funny personality. I have loved the times I got to be around you and your friends. Y'all never failed to make me laugh. How grateful I am for your creative-artist's-soul. You taught me to see the world through different eyes. You see the world through an artist's eyes and have taught me to look at things on a deeper level. Thank you for that. I love our relationship. I am grateful to be your mom and your friend. You...my unexpected blessing.

To both of you;

One of my favorite songs describes how I feel about being the mom to two such wonderful daughters...

"In my daughters' eyes, everyone is equal. Darkness turns to light and my world is at peace. These miracles God gave to me, give me strength when I am weak. I find reason to believe, in my daughters' eyes.

In my daughters' eyes, I can see the future. A reflection of who I am and what will be. And though they'll grow and someday leave, maybe raise families, when I'm gone I hope you'll see how happy they made me; for I'll be there...in my daughters' eyes." (paraphrased from Martina McBride's song)

Getting to be your mom has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. So on this Mother's Day, I thank you for giving me the gift of motherhood. I love you both with all my heart - I always will.

Happy Mother's Day!