Tender Mercies

Nothing to do with a Army PT test, but this was at the "Beat Beethoven 5K" on the 13th of April  I have always been a big supporter of setting personal goals and making a plan to follow through with them, especially when it comes to athletics and performance.  But I also know that these goals really are a personal endeavor, and no one can make another accomplish the goal.  The motivation and effort has to come from the individual setting the goal. But I may be wrong.  A slice of bacon might have the power to help a person accomplish a certain goal. Let me explain. Ever since my husband entered the Army, just shy of 2 years ago, he has been saying he was going to get a perfect score of 300 on his PT test.  I believed in him, and kept waiting for him to come home from his PT tests with that perfect score.  But he seemed to always come shy of the elusive 300, by just a couple of points.    How could I help hi...

We are going to Kauai, Hawaii in 44 days!! And when I say "we," I mean me, my husband, my mom, dad, and brothers and sisters! It is literally going to be a family reunion.  I can't wait until I can take my own pictures in Kauai! But I would be ungrateful if I didn't thank my parents and my Heavenly Father for making it possible for us to go.  My dad bought tickets for them 10 months ago, but I wasn't planning on going until February when my little sister got her mission call and I realized I wouldn't be seeing her for nearly 2 years.  So my sweet husband said, "you're going to go to Hawaii with your family," and I called up my dad to ask him if I could join them.  He was excited about my coming, and even offered to buy me tickets. I was speechless! (I have to say that I was not in any way fishing for his help in buying tickets.)  Now we could afford to send my hubby too!  Patiently we waited until we were out 60 days before our travel dat...

I have been falling in love with the little 2 and 3-year-olds that I teach at church more and more every week!  Every Sunday I look forward to the smiles and hugs I get from these innocent little children.  As I was sitting in the chapel during Sacrament meeting, I glanced over the aisle and caught 3-year-old Tommy looking and smiling at me, totally melting my heart.  As an Easter treat, I made pink popcorn balls for the kiddos.  One of their favorite songs to sing during class is "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," so I knew this would be a hit.  When it was snack time, I asked the kids if they could do a "big favor for me," and I asked if they could sing the song.  "But it's snack time, not singing time," Tommy said.  "Oh but I have a surprise for you, so you need to sing it first, okay?"  And as we started to sing the song and make the hand motions, one of the girls who was crying started to laugh and sing along! Songs are amazing l...

It's kind of difficult celebrating the birthdays of my brothers, sisters, and parents when I live so far away from them.  For this reason, I have to resort to sending birthday letters and/or presents.  My little brother's birthday is coming up on Saturday, March 23rd.  He is turning 16!  How did this happen?!  I guess he isn't really my little brother anymore.  December 2006. Cute picture! I had been thinking for some time about what to get him, and my husband and I came up with the idea to get some dog tags with some messages engraved into the metal.  On the first one we wrote a simple note expressing our love to our brother: Victor Joseph Whipple  You're far but close to our hearts J & M Adams  The second dog tag said: "In Memory of God, Religion, Freedom, Peace, and Family" Alma 46:12 This passage was paraphrased from the story of the Title of Liberty in the Book of...

                               Marshall and I had such a great time at the Ice Festival tonight here in Fairbanks, that I had to share with all of my friends and family the videos and pictures we took. I didn't get a ton of pictures of the ice sculptures, but I did take some.  (If you want to see more, just visit the official web page by clicking here.)  I was being really goofy in the videos because well, I was cold, and the only way to distract myself was to be loud and laugh a lot.  I hope you have as much fun watching them as we did playing in the ice maze and sliding down the ice slides!!   This hummingbird reminded us of Grandma Adams Sarah, this Tin Man is for you Giant Grasshopper This was inside an ice log cabin Giant mosquit...

Out in Creamer's Field at about 5:30pm. The sun is still up!  I cannot believe I am writing about this.  I have just been noticing that people in Fairbanks have been acting a little bit different as of late, and I think I have a hunch about what it is. 1. I got a notice on my door the other day, reminding us about the annual "hard pack snow removal" in our apartment's parking lot next week. This is Marshall's Parking spot. Notice the large build-up  of snow and the dip where he parks his truck. It just gives an idea of how much snow and ice is packed on our parking lot. My car below is not even parked on a flat surface because of this. And parking spots are pointless in the winter. 2. It was starting to get light when I walked out of the house this  morning at 6:45am 3. There is still light outside at 7pm 4. We are gaining 7 minutes of sunlight PER DAY!! 5. I wore shorts last night on my way to yoga because it was a w...

Virginia Brinton Whipple March 22, 1928 - February 19, 2013 November 2011: At my wedding that Grandpa performed Oh Grandma, I will miss you!  But how I am grateful that you didn't have to suffer too long and that you died in your sleep.  I do not know how many times I have thanked my Father in Heaven for giving me the opportunity to have spent a month with you this past Christmas.  I never thought you would leave us in this life before Grandpa, but I know Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for all of us. Just two months ago I was taking walks with you around the block and listened as you told me about each family who lived close to you.  It was a joy to spend that time with you.  As I think back on the memories I have of my life, so many include you and Grandpa.  My parents were always so great to include you two in our family vacations and I think I now know why.  Because now I don't have any...