Wendymb

LDS Church Leaders preparing us for the 2nd Coming of Christ

2010-06-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

2009-12-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

Sean with Santa

2009-12-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

just one more....

2009-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

California Livin..

2009-07-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Ok...are you inspired to come visit us yet??!! Just trying to entice you!

Beach Day

2009-07-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Moonlight beach

2009-07-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

2009-06-19T17:12:00.001-07:00

Class of 2009

2009-06-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life is like walking through a land mine. You never know where the explosives are hidden...until you step on one and fall apart. Today is like that. Graduation day. My heart is broken today..wishing I could be watching Michelle walk across that stage and retrieve her diploma with all of her friends. Instead I will place flowers on her grave...and ache for her. It will be a tough day, but this too shall pass...

Grandbabies are great!

2009-05-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Micheal Angel Butler

2009-05-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Family Home Evening

2009-05-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

For Family Night we went down to the beach to take a walk together...this isn't what I had in mind!

Luke's new haircut

2009-04-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

So, he asked me to cut his hair...he said he wanted it shaved and then to leave a strip around the side. I thought he was describing a mohawk and proceeded to give him a lecture on not looking like a thug. He said, "No...I want my hair like an old man's, bald on the top...with just fringe on the sides and back" "OH...you want to look like an idiot..now THAT I can do!!" So, I gave him this haircut. He went to school that way the next day. He wore a hat and walked into his first period classroom. The teacher yelled at him about wearing a hat in class and made him take it off...and then she just laughed. He had fun with it, then I finished the shave job that night. SO, now he's just bald.

Mrs. T

2009-03-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

Peer pressure got the best of Pam yesterday...she did something she has NEVER done before..and probably will NEVER do again. She went on Splash Mountain. Against her better judgement, we (Jodie and I) convinced her that it was a harmless little ride, we could get splashed a little, but it would be easy and not scary. We lied. We manuvered our way around so that she, unbeknownst to her, would be sitting in the very front. She was terrified. This picture is genuine terror, not posed. We got off the ride soaking wet, and went to view the picture. I haven't laughed that hard in so long. The photo people at Disneyland were all laughing too. They said the picture fit all of their "criteria" and had Pam sign a bunch of releases so that they could use the picture. As soon as she signed her life away they printed an 8X10, put it in a frame and put it on display. THey hadn't had one that fit their "criteria" since December. I am still laughing!!

Heaven's newest angel

2009-01-20T18:22:00.000-08:00

This is Michelle and Damario at the Celebration of Champions in May 2007. He earned his angel wings today after a long battle with Leukemia. He fought hard to stay alive, but in the end he told his mom that he was tired and he wanted to go home to live with Jesus. He is free from pain and needles and hospitals forever.

Shannon

2009-01-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

Today would have been Shannon's 26th birthday. Hard to believe. Rocky and I spent the day in the temple. It was the perfect place to feel close to our girls and find some comfort.

Manger Scene

2009-01-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

Angels

2009-01-02T17:35:00.000-08:00

...reluctant angel...

Shepherd

2009-01-02T17:34:00.000-08:00

And when the shepherd saw the angels...they were sore afraid...

Rock Band

2009-01-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

We Butlers are serious about our music! (and our jammies)

Babs

2009-01-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

Babs makes a great santa...last santa shot...I promise!

2009-01-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

Santa Kitty...I think she hates me.

2009-01-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Camille was a good girl this year!

Santas at the beach

2009-01-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

Two santas?!!

2008-12-22T01:13:00.000-08:00

My three beautiful grandsons.

2008-12-22T01:11:00.000-08:00

Nehemiah meeting Santa for the first time. He wasn't thrilled, this is the last picture in a whole series...he'd finally given up trying to get away, he's just screaming for all he's worth.

C-bad 7 street fair gig

2008-12-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

This was our first official "gig". A tree lighting street fair in Vista. I wasn't joking when I said I was in a band!

2008-12-01T00:28:00.000-08:00

Sisters

2008-12-01T00:27:00.000-08:00

Guys

2008-12-01T00:25:00.000-08:00

Moss Family Reunion

2008-12-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad with most of their grandchildren, we're missing 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren

Darwin's Devils

2008-11-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

2008-11-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Lynda showing off her babysitting skills...

2008-11-13T21:54:00.000-08:00

2008-11-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

2008-11-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

We finally got her grave marker...last week I put the clear glass beads around it, while I was finishing up I noticed another bead, near her grave...it was pink. I put it underneath her picture.

hope on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2008-11-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

hope on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2008-11-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

Prop 8

2008-11-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

...with 95% of the votes counted PROP 8 IS WINNING!!!!! I can't tell you how relieved I am! Yesterday morning I put on my homemade "vote yes on prop 8" t-shirt and went down to the beach to excercise and advertise. It was raining...but we went anyway. When I got home and looked in the mirror..it was a sorry sight! My face and hair and clothing were drenched...and my prop 8 shirt was all smeared and running with black sharpie soaked all the way to my skin. Nice.

Rocky and I were feeling so unsettled last night with the elections and so much at stake for California with the prop 8 battle, we went to the temple to find some peace. It was so awsome to be there and feel like we had done all we could do and now, come what may, everything would be ok. When we got home and saw the results coming in, with Prop 8 winning, what a relief!

Carlsbad was carpeted with a bazillion yellow "Vote YES on 8" signs. I knew they had to be taken down so last night after we got home I went out and collected signs...like thousands of signs..and now my van is full of signs and my legs are KILLING me. It feels so good to know that I've done all that I can do, right up to the very end. And now, we need to be good citizens, love all people, and not gloat about our win...today I'm gonna colapse on my couch.

2008-11-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

YES on Prop 8!!!!!

2008-10-28T15:21:00.001-07:00

YES on prop 8!!!!
In the past few weeks we have been involved with California's battle to restore traditional marriage to our Constitution. We have a "Vote YES on Prop 8" bumper sticker on our cars, we have a "Vote YES on Prop 8" sign in our front yard, and both Rocky and I stood on a busy corner during rush hour traffic and held "Vote yes on Prop 8" signs. I have been called a bigot, a Hitler Nazi, a f-ing@#$#$%#, I've been flipped more birds than I can count, I've been almost run off the road, I've had my sign stolen from my front yard...and the "no on prop 8" people's main focus is on tolerance. Seems like they don't have much tolerance for any other opinion than their own.

If prop 8 doesn't pass, the schools will teach about homosexuality starting in Kindergarden. It's already happening, just last week an elementary school in Hayward California had a "gay comming-out day". Parent's were not notified beforehand. A first grade class was taken on a field trip to the court house to witness their lesbien teacher's wedding. The California Teacher's Union donated 1 million dollars towards the "no on 8" campaign. THere is already in one school a "gay and lesbien awareness" month. Since when is it the school's responsibility to teach small children about having gay sex...or ANY sex?!

My rights will be taken away, our bishops and temple sealers could loose authority to marry people if they aren't willing to marry a gay couple. Our churches could loose their tax-free status if we aren't willing to let gay couples marry in our churches. My tithing will no longer be tax-deductable. It very well could drive people who oppose gay marriage out of the state.

Anyone who loves someone else...or thing...will be able to marry. Groups could marry, or you could marry your pet, or sister/brother/dad/mom..it desecrates the sanctity of what marriage is...what, throughout the history of the world, in every culture, has ALWAYS been, between a man and a woman.

They want equal rights under the law...they already have that in the domestic partnership laws that are on the books. Any time it specifies "marriage" in the law it also includes "domestic partnerships". If they don't think that is special enough...they can come up with their own name. They can purchase a license, have a ceremony, exchange rings, and in front of their loved ones proclaim their undying love...JUST DON'T CALL IT MARRIAGE!! Defining it that way will take away MY rights.

As you can see, I feel VERY strongly about this issue. I have a gay brother and one of my best friends is gay. I am not a bigot. I love them both and want for them to be happy. I will also never accept that it is morally correct. I am entitled to my beliefs just as they are entitled to theirs.
Wendy

I was tagged...awhile ago...twice....

2008-10-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm finally answering the tag...not sure you'll still respect me in the morning....but here goes....

Here are the rules:
Link the person who tagged you.
Tell about 6 quirks of yours.
Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same.
Leave a comment to let them know

1. I really enjoy Carlsbad's "characters". They're probably mentally unstable and homeless, but I can't help myself.
a.) Chicken man...he walks around the bario with a grocery cart...with mismatched cowboy boots and a cowboy hat...stooped over...with a rooster in the cart...I've seen him at Halloween time dressed as a witch...and as santa at Christmas time...still with that dang chicken...

b.)the old lady...with long red hair (wig)..who rollerskates down Highland in flesh colored spandex. Makes you do a double-take...bless her heart!

c.)Bamboo man who lives in the bamboo down at the beach. He's probably in his 40's...wears dreadlocks...pretty sketchy looking. Hope mom's not reading this...one time in High School Christy and Kathy threw a party...everyone was there including Bamboo man...must have been some party!!!

d.)...last one...the unibomber...he sits downtown with an overcoat and a hood...even in the heat of the summer...with sunglasses...and a sleeping bag...he walks around talking to himself..making hand gestures like he's planning something.

2. I'm in a rock band. No...not a group of ladies who sit around playing Rock Band...I'm a singer in a rock band. I'm having SO much fun!

3. I'm meticulous about cleaning my ears...weird.

4. Sleeping alone is difficult for me. When Rocky's out of town I get Camille to sleep with me.

5. I never lock my doors...only at night. I inherited that from my parents. They would leave town on a two week vacation and leave the house unlocked...they didn't even own a key to their house. I'm not quite that bad...but close.

6. I love the smell of puppy breath...don't know why.

And now I tag...Christy, Jaylene, Danielle, Megan, Julie, and Susan!

Lee Boys

2008-10-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

I don't think I ever thanked Heidi enough for this amazingly sweet gesture...all of her boys shaved their heads in support of Michelle. She was honored and kept this picture of them in her hospital room. THANK YOU LEE FAMILY!!!!

Missing Michelle

2008-10-10T09:39:00.001-07:00

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2008-10-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

2008-10-05T23:18:00.001-07:00

2008-10-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

2008-10-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

2008-10-05T23:14:00.000-07:00

2008-09-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

Diaper-Man....he's fierce! I love taking pictures of Kathy's kids...they're so adorable and expressive..here's a few...

2008-09-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

I hate this hat!!

2008-09-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

Beach brothers...

2008-09-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

Jumping Jack...

2008-09-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Sophia in Humphrey...

2008-09-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

This picture miraculously appeared on my front step yesterday...made me cry again. I first saw this at Education Week this year. I had to stop and shed a few tears as I admired the beauty of the painting that captured Mary with her son Jesus. It affected me so much that I had to walk away and try to put my mind somewhere else or I would end up in the fetal possition sucking my thumb right there at the BYU bookstore. A few days before Michelle passed away I had an impression about Mary, the mother of Jesus. I understood a little of what she went through, as she witnessed her own child crucified, with nails in his hands, wrists and feet. As I watched Michelle's body being eaten away by cancer, I understood in a new way what that must have been like for Mary to witness her beloved son suffering as he was torchered and died. I was humbled and grateful for modern medicine that kept Michelle as comfortable as possible as her body suffered the ravages of Leukemia. This picture captures so beautifully the love they shared, as I shared for Michelle, and the Saviors awarness of what Mary was going to have to suffer as she witnessed his crucifiction and then grief that she would suffer after he was gone. It depticts the Saviors sorrow, as I know he feels grief for my suffering the loss of Michelle. It affects me on so many levels...I absolutely LOVE it.
SO....which ever angel sister or sisters made this magically appear at my doorstep...a HUGE THANK YOU!!!

2008-09-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

...the look on his face before he gets bucked off...priceless...

2008-09-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Mom

2008-09-11T06:48:00.001-07:00

2008-09-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Joyce

2008-09-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

2008-09-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Brock after his first college football game. He played an awsome game!

2008-08-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

2008-08-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe she's not here....I miss her SOOOO much!! She had so much passion for life, she loved her family and friends, she loved music, to dance, to laugh, shopping, girlie stuff, movies, she loved to hang out with her cousins, she loved family gatherings...with aunties and uncles and grandparents, and she absolutely worshiped Megan and wanted so much to be just like her. She was fiesty, funny, brave, loving, humble, mischievious, courageous, patient and so full of life. She definetly left her mark on this world and on my heart. As my heart breaks today I'll try to focus on all that we have to look forward to when we can all be together again.

Meggie tagged me

2008-08-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

8 Things I am Passionate About:

1. Family
2. The Gospel
3. My guardian angels
4. Being a grandma
5. Music
6. Photography
7. scrapbooking
8. Sunsets

8 Books I Have Read and Enjoyed:

1. The Book of Mormon
2. Glass Castle
3. Twilight
4. The secret life of Bees
5. Gone With the Wind

8 Words/Phrases I Say Often:

1. What?
2. No, but thanks for asking.
3. Do you have homework?
4. Hey little monkey!
5. I'm tired
6. I love you
7. He's so cute!
8. Grandma loves you!

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die (In no particular order):

1. Clean out my garage.
2. See a broadway play in New York
3. Be in the temple with all of my children
4. Send out a missionary.
5. go back to college.
6. Write a book
7. Run a marathon
8. Get 8 hours of sleep in one night

8 Things I Learned in this Past Year:

1. Faith is about trust
2. There are worse things than loosing a job or having a child stray.
3. I know who my friends are
4. I Love the staff at Children's Hospital
5. I understand how important service is
6. Life is precious
7. My grandsons are amazingly adorable
8. I am SO blessed

People I Want to Tag:
1. Kathy
2. Jaylene
3. Susan
4. Christy
5. Lynda

Education Week

2008-08-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

What happens at 2:00 in the morning when you have nothing better to do....

Maybe a Wiley Dog?

2008-08-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

2008-08-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

2008-08-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

Rocky enjoying the warm ocean and the great waves at Taramar.

2008-08-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

This is the bench that was placed outside of the Cultural Arts Center at the high school to honor Michelle. It says, "Michelle Maline Butler, I can still hear your laughter in the trees and your melody in the flowers. You will be in our hearts forever." The notes are, "I am a Child of God". It is absolutely beautiful, and is placed underneath a 50 year old Pepper tree, where Michelle and her friends hung out at lunch-time.

2008-08-11T23:38:00.000-07:00

Nehemiah meeting his Great-Great Grandma Eudora Maline Rasmussen.

2008-08-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

Luke at EFY Idaho.

2008-08-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

Luke and his buddies all ready to do their Warrior dance for the Road Show.

2008-08-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

Our little surfer girl...

2008-08-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

Camille with her cousins Emily and Kimber on the last day of Surf camp.

2008-08-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

10 months.... since she's been gone. This is her with her driver's license. She worked SO hard to get it...going to "behind the wheel" during chemo...and then finally begging the Dr. to release her from the hospital because she had an appointment at the DMV to take her test. I had to stand in the line at the DMV as she was too weak to stand for long. She passed the test and got her license. It came in the mail and this is her with it, so happy to have accomplished a "normal teenager" activity. She died before she was able to get out of the hospital to use it. This picture is her about a month before she died.

2008-07-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Howlie dealing with the results of her and Louie's weekend....

2008-07-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

9 Months

2008-06-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

Bennett & Camille at the beach for Family Home Evening tonight..We had a good time.

2008-06-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite scenes in Carlsbad. I've been coming to this spot since I was 16. Whenever I need a place to go to think, or be alone, this is where I come.

2008-06-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Just a casual family picture on Father's day. Everyone is here, except Michelle.

2008-06-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Kathy's "Crazy haired girl" Sophia Michelle

2008-06-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

The girls boat

2008-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Another great shot...

2008-06-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

Whitewater rafting in Oregon...

2008-06-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

2008-06-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Camille's 5th grade promotion ceremony...no more elementary school kids! :(

2008-06-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite pictures...Brock lovin up his Aunt Kathy. You can tell she LOVES his affection!

2008-06-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

Celebration of Champions...2007

2008-06-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

Micheal Angel Butler

2008-06-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

Butlers at the Celebration of Champions...in honor of Michelle

2008-06-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Butler with Nehemiah and Micheal.

2008-06-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Nehemiah...oh man I miss him! (and his parents)

2008-06-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

Colin...one adorable nephew!

2008-06-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

This is Louie and Howlie. Howlie is Camille's dog...Louie belongs to the Shuffers. Louie is male and French, Howlie is female. You can guess what happened when Louie came over for a visit. Camille was so disturbed by what she saw, she went in and made up a marriage certificate which stated in part, "I Louie Shuffer take Howlie Butler to be my lofty wedded wife" she even had them sign it with their paw print....she felt much better about Louie after that. He was extremely exhausted after his visit...and we may be expecting puppies in the middle of July.

2008-06-08T15:02:00.001-07:00

Those are pictures of Luke at his end of the year performance for Showstoppers. And also, a picture of the memorial plaque outside of the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center at the High School for Michelle. Luke reminds me of Chris Farley when he performs, he's looking around with a big silly grin on his face...very entertaining.

2008-06-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

2008-06-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

8 Months

2008-06-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

It's been 8 months today since Michelle died. Every anniversary that marks the passage of time without Michelle is difficult. Like you get punched in the stomach all over again. I spent my day catching up on "So you think you can dance" and "the Batchelorette"...a day well spent...not. But dang some people can DANCE! I like to imerse myself in mindless entertainment to ease the pain. Now I'm feeling like a slug, laying on my couch all day with a remote in one hand and a popsicle in the other. Busy day. I must go fry onions to make it smell like I've been cooking..or something...

2008-06-05T14:11:00.001-07:00

Hello

2008-06-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

So, I'm new to this blog thing. I guess I've been "blogging" for a couple of years with Michelle's Leukemia, but hopefully this will be a happier blog.