MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS FAR AND NEAR

Well, it has been one interesting year for the Ginn family. I do know that we made it through 2010 and are all healthy and happy and oh so grateful for all of our wonderful blessings. One of the things that happened for our family this year is moving into our new home. We have thoroughly enjoyed living here and are so grateful to finish building it. Our children are growing and developing so quickly and I am trying to enjoy all of those little moments that are left to enjoy as they grow and mature.

Caroline continues to polish her talent of playing the piano. She continues to share her talent with others by playing for sacrament meeting, firesides, and the most special her grandmother's funeral. She did not care for high school so we are doing home school using the BYU online courses. She is in the 9th grade this year and started seminary. She is up every morning and seems to like attending. She is a big help around the house and I am grateful for her especially being the oldest. She is a good example to the others.

Melanie is in the 7th grade this year. She recently just received braces. If she does well and follows the orthodontist instructions, she only has to wear them 18 months. Melanie is playing basketball on the Rec team here in Benson. She is new to the sport and trying to learn how to play.Melanie loves being apart of the Young Women group in our ward. She is the Beehive president. I appreciate all of the help she gives me with Kimberly. I love her very much.

Hannah is in the 4th grade this year. She loves school and her teacher. Hannah participates in the choral group at school called VOICES. She has already performed on Veterans Day and in the Benson Christmas parade. She is also taking violin lessons and doing quite well. She loves attending the Activity Days at church. She is such a sweet and special part of our family. I love the spirit she always carries around with her.

Kimberly is 4 this year. She will start school in the fall and I will be very sad. She is the EverReady bunny and we all enjoy watching and keeping up with her. She loves her Sunbeam class because her Nana teaches it. She will be moving up in January to CTR4. She loves Primary and singing time. Kimberly cracks us up with some of the things she comes up with. We all love her sweet spirit and lovable personality.

Gregg continues to work hard to provide for our family. He also works hard as Bishop and is doing his best for the Lord. This year was hard for him because of the loss of his mother. He still struggles with her loss but knows his Father in Heaven is there to help him along the way. I love and admire him so much. I appreciate his example and love for others.

As for me, I continue to raise my children and be the best mother and I wife I can be. I love teaching seminary and just took on another calling as the Activity Days leader for the Faith in God program. I stay quite busy with everything and I would not have it any other way. I just turned 41 on the 9th of this month. I still feel young and hope I can feel that way forever. I love my Savior and am so grateful for his redeeming sacrifice. I know that He lives and loves us all. This wonderful time of year our hearts and minds should be set upon our Savior and how He is portrayed in our everyday lives. May 2011 be a wonderful year bringing many blessings to your lives.

Our family wishes you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a GREAT 2010!!

Happy Birthday Gregg

We love you very much! Happy Birthday!!!!

Melanie is 13!!!

Happy Birthday Melanie!!!! You are certainly growing into a beautiful young lady. We love you so very much and have been blessed for the past "13" years. I cannot believe that you are a teenager. Heaven help your father and I !!!!

We Honor Our Veterans

Saturday we got a chance to participate in our annual youth stake project of placing flags in front of grave markers for our veterans. The weather was cold but the good feelings of honoring our veterans warmed our hearts. The turn out was not as many as last year, but the youth still did a phenomenal job. Caroline and Melanie enjoyed showing service as well as seeing there friends from the other wards.
I am so very grateful for the men and woman who serve and protect our freedoms. Freedom is not Free!

We Are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father

I was able to finally finish my Personal Progress book that I started over a year and four months ago. As a Young Women leader I wanted to earn my medallion to be an example to all of the girls especially my own girls. I was able to complete this goal before I was released. I am truly grateful for this wonderful book and the inspiring goals it helps each girl to meet. I am sad to say that I never completed my Personal Progress book when I was in Young Women many years ago. It is never too late and I am so thankful that I was able to finish. This is the brand new medallion and it has a ruby at the bottom. There are also some subtle differences to this one compared with the previous one. I know my girls want to earn their medallion and I will be there to help in any way. Our stake also gives these beautiful ceramic temples to those who earn the medallion. They come to the wards to present them. I am sad not to be apart of the Young Women Organization any more. I truly loved working with each and every one of them.

North Carolina Battleship

While at the beach we visited this awesome battleship located in Wilmington, NC. It was a very interesting attraction. Everyone loved climbing up and down inside and out of this monster of a boat.

These bunks were stacked five high. They looked very uncomfortable. A person would be very unhappy if their bunk mate had beans for dinner.

Cool propeller!

What a gorgeous day for the battleship. Good memories and happy moments created. That is what is all about.

October Beach Trip

How cool is it to swim in the ocean in October. We were able to take a long weekend and go to Holdens Beach this past weekend. It was absolutely beautiful. October is a great time for the beach here in NC.

Melanie was to sucker for being buried in the sand.It was in every crevice.

Kimberly loved the boogie board but had a hard time keeping it on her wrist.

She loved the beach more this year than last year.

Gregg was able to unwind and have fun with his girls.

Once Again A Wonderful Conference Weekend!

How I love relaxing and feeling the spirit in my own home on Conference weekend. We watched every session and Gregg got in the extra Priesthood session. I heard a common theme one of many that stood out to me. Gratitude! We do take things for granted and we need to refocus on what is really important. In the first session on Saturday Elder Holland once again gave the most amazing talk. His words hit home with me. I did love hearing from the First Presidency also. In the second session on Sunday Elder Arnold's talk was so heart felt and personal. It touched my very soul. President Monson's talk in the second session on Sunday was uplifting and wonderful. How can one not want to follow such a dedicated wonderful prophet.I will definately be rereading and marking my November issue of the Ensign. It is weekends like these I wish would go on and on. I am grateful for General Conference.

Can I Be Any Busier???

Wow what a month so far. Well, seminary seems to be going quite well. I picked up a new student on Monday giving me a grand total of 4. I love the small class of students. They have to pay attention or they will stick out like a worm in an apple. I am struggling with the early morning part. I do seem to get more done in a day. I have to do two things for myself each day one is exercise and the other is to take a small nap. So far the nap isn't as frequent as I would like. I cannot beleive the amount of studying that goes into each lesson.

I am also still in Young Women's. It hasn't been too bad though. I was told by my husband that I would be released soon. It will be very sad because I have grown very close to those sweet young ladies.

On September 19th this Sunday I was asked by President Catlett our Stake President to speak in the Sunday session of Stake Conference. I have worked hard to put together a 15 minute talk. That doesn't seem like a long time but I have to condensed everything I want to say into that time period. I have never spoken in front of a congregation that large before. I can say that I am a bit nervous but I know I will get through it with lots of prayer. My talk will be on how temple worship has blessed me and my family especially in dealing with the trials of mortality.

And lastly, Caroline decided that High School was not for her. She was so excited about being in High School until she actually experienced it for herself. Not even a week after starting she wanted to be homeschooled again. She told us that she had prayed about it and she knew that this was the right thing. She said that drugs and the mention of drugs were all around her. There are many girls there that are also preganat. How do you prepare your child for such a place. Caroline did not have very many friends there because of moving here a couple of years ago. So anyways, she is being enrolled in some BYU High School courses. As for the band she would much rather play the piano than the drums. Hopefully soon we will find her a great piano teacher.

Along with keeping up with Kimberly, Hannah, Melanie and Gregg my plate remains full more so than ever. I would not trade my life with anyone. I know that this is my calling in life and I will try to be ready for life's challenges. HAPPY FALL YA'LL!!!

New Beginnings

Ok, so here is my brand new high-schooler! She was a little frazzled but made it through the first day. She is in marching band this year and so far is playing the base drum. Caroline will also be starting seminary this year. I know I know these four years will fly by. I still can't believe it!

Melanie is in the 7th grade and loves her classes especially Spanish. Hannah loves her teacher and is considered a senior in her elementary school. She is in the 4th grade. Next year she will be in middle school with Mel. They both get a little longer to sleep in the morning because school starts a little later than usual.

What's this you say!! Well it would be classified as seminary materials. Well one book belongs to Caroline and the other larger one belongs to me. That's right, I am teaching early morning seminary this year. I knew it was coming and not a moment too soon. I will have Caroline and two other young girls to teach from my home. I think that it will be great and am looking forward to learning more about Church History this year.

White Lake Weekend

Our Family spent last weekend at White Lake enjoying the humidity free weather. The kids had a blast and Gregg and I enjoyed watching them. I am really a beach person so the lake is not my favorite. The girls would swim in anything the holds water. I think they have fins. Only four more weeks of summer vacation. The days are quickly passing. Enjoy them while you can.

Missing a Friend

My heart is empty and it is so hard to say goodbye. My mother -in-law Norma gave the hardest fight of her life throughout the month of July. She was battling a severe acute case of pancreatitis. On July 15th her birthday she quietly slipped through the veil to go home to our Father in Heaven. I was indeed blessed to be there by her bedside when she quietly took her last breath.What a wonderful woman she was. What an example of someone who constantly served and loved. I know that she was met by her loving parents whom she loved with all of her heart. I know without a doubt where she will be at the last day when our Saviour will return. Our goal as a family is to be worthy enough to be with her because families are forever. I love you Sister Ginn.

A Full Month

This past month has been so busy with birthdays, anniversaries, a sweet visit to West Virginia, and girls camp I am still trying to catch my breath. I took some great pictures of a memorable month with my eternal family.

Caroline turned 14 on June 10th.She can now attend all of the youth dances at church, start seminary and of course high school. I can't believe she is growing up right before my very eyes.

Gregg and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on June 11th. How grateful I am for him and for a wonderful marriage to my very best friend. I can't wait for 16 more.

West Virginia was so beautiful and cool, a much needed break from North Carolina's heat. Once again thank you Bennetts for your hospitality. We had a blast!

Our theme at girls camp this year was taken from a talk given by Elder Wirthlin entitled "Come what may and love it." This is one of my very favorite talks. So the name of camp this year was CAMP LUV IT! It was awesome with air conditioned cabins and mess hall, archery, high ropes with a zip line, canoes, BB guns and don't forget the splendid Olympic size pool. We were in heaven. It looks like we get to go back next year. My girls had such a great time and our ward was very well behaved and had the best time ever. I got help cook so the food was delicious if I say so myself.

Pray for Norma

I have a special request to ask from those of you who know me. My mother-in -law Norma Ginn is very sick and is currently in the hospital. She is in ICU with a severe case of pancreatitis. It is a disease that has to do with her pancreas. She is having other problems as well and is on a ventilator to help her breathe. Her kidneys are not great but doing a little better. This hit her out of nowhere. I have placed her name on many temple prayer rolls and am asking many people to fast and pray in her behalf. I know that the Lord's Will will be done. Thank you for your help. We all love her so very much. She is such a valiant daughter of our Heavenly Father.

June Happenings

Caroline playing at her recital in the Campbell University music hall. She was wonderful playing the Restoration Medley by Paul Cardall which she taught to herself. The spirit was so strong during her performance. What a talent and love she has for the piano. We are so grateful for her.

Pointing out her shots with a disgusted face. She cracks me up!

This month Kimberly got her shots for kindergarten even though she is only 4. I wanted to get it out of the way before time creeps up on me. It was bittersweet because she will be the last child to go through this. She did great and I was so proud of her. One on each arm and one on each leg. OUCH!!

Kimberly's 4th Birthday

Kimberly Margaret Ginn is 4 years old this month. My how time has flown by. Next year she will start kindergarten. She is the last child which makes my sad and happy at the same time. There is a time and a season for everything. She got to celebrate her birthday in the new house which will be the first of many. We love her to pieces and she bring such great joy and happiness to our family.