These pics are worth at least 5K

So here we are warming up for the race. Always look so pumped up and excited before the race!:) Ivy is posing with "Clara" from the Nutcracker (Utah Valley Regional's Ballet this year). We will get to see the show on Dec. 22.

Not pictured: The girls zooming in to the finish line, Taryn's and my post run shot- red faces and all!, and girls receiving their 1st and 2nd place awards!

Bubble Bath Wisdom

Ok, Ladies: You know those nights you need to stay up and do to know that you're alone, human, and have creative thought? Uh-huh, that's what I'm talking about here.

I came home from the hustle, put the kids in bed, cleaned out the bath (because that's me) and drew a scorcher! Hair up, candle burning, I slide in, not quite prepared for the heat, but ready to forget about it all, about my dear friend's mess of a life, and that heat feels so honest and I'm ready to hear my own thoughts, the deep down ones.

Here it is: What have you done for your spouse today that retells he's the ONE you chose. The ONE you live with and for.

I see, for her, that this is where it goes wrong. Did I remind him today or have I forgotten for a few weeks? You know he's a little less than thoughtful and he said some really stupid things. Imagine yourself like Scrooge and the whole world looks fresh and new, you want everyone to feel your new truth and you need to practice to realize it. Do that small thing that matters to him. Remember your honeymoon? We all have it there somewhere.

Song for the day: Jonny's (Mayer, that is), "Another Kind of Green"

Or just put on your favorite sultry Julie London album and let her sing you into love.

Just journaling for you girls who are listening, J

Landmarks of Berlin

Harrison, here are the landmarks that you asked for: Alex is East Berlins tv tower and is easliy the most visible landmark in Berlin. This is the nickname the tower was given because it is in the Alexanderplatz or the plaza named for Alexander. Next is Else, another nickname for a beautiful statue she represents queen victoria, but was given the face of a different woman and has her nickname. This was the first beautiful thing I saw when entering Berlin. She took me by surprise and Burkehardt drove around in different ways so I could have the best view.

Now you see me at the amazing Brandenburg Tor or gate. This is what separated East and West Berlin. It is now a symbol of passage between two free areas and It is central to an amazing city. I visited this as my first site. There are guards that will give you a copy of the original passport you needed to pass into the East. It's fun. I had to tip him €1. I'll show it to you all when I get home.








The Berliner Dom or Dome is still one of my favorite buildings and it is in one of the buisiest streets. Tarnished and beautiful, I wonder what kind of people worked here through the years and what the old walls know.


This is the quick tour, but I will show you everything you want to know when I get home. See if daddy will let you get on the internet and look up some of these sights to read about their history. I love you all so much and you are in my heart. Love, Mom

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp 26.9.07

This was a pilgrimage for me. I was 140 kilometers from Ravensbruk, you remember the Hiding Place, Mom? Corrie Ten Boom, Betsie and Father were all here. I felt their spirits as well as many others who suffered at Sachsenhausen special SS training camp. The suffering unimaginable and you can truly hear the whispering if you will listen.

The gateway that all new prisoners entered through. Words on the iron gate are, `work sets you free.'

The barracks are special to go into. There was a feeling that this was the personal quarters, some humanity still left here The structure was original and not renovated. A beautiful contrast.

Although a painful visit, this trip fills me with gratitude and love for all of mankind. I have a new resolution that I will not act in anger or abuse others for my own gain. I have been so blessed by the words and life example of many Holocaust survivors: Elie Weisel, Corrie Ten Boom, Nien Cheng and the list lives on....in my life.

Guten Tag! Hello from Germany- 29.9.07

I took these pictures at the Saturday market today in Prenzlauer Berg. you can later see the entire market collection displayed in my home. Color, natural beauty, real life, you know. Please read and see the pictures from bottom to top, I uploaded them in the wrong order.

So I can happily admit that I looked forward to the European patisserie. This was our breakfast choices for this morning. I had the item in the right corner with raspberries on it. Everything I hoped for and more! I also had a mini quiche and a lemon and verbena herbal tea. No loss for beautiful organic herbal teas here. Another favorite of mine is a lime and ginger one with a bit of brown sugar in it.

Here I am at the weekly Saturday market in Prenzlauer Berg (res and shopping district within Berlin 29.9.07 ) The market has all of the standard vendors: butcher, baker, pastries, produce, baskets, flowers, jewelry, and cheese as seen here. The man on the right teased me that he would charge me 5 Euros to have a picture of his cheese, but in the end was happy to hand me the knife and hug me for free!

Above is the most beautiful building in the Schloss Sanssoucci palace collection of buildings. This is a garden and palace build by Fredrich Wilhelm IV I think and his palace and park is in the most quaint town of Potsdam. I loved all of it, but the gardens were someplace I thought I could never leave. Just watch any of my favorite Victorian films to view the immense and beautiful gardens. Equipt with Greek statues of all kinds throughout and satellite buildings for acres. Windmill, fountains, columns, surrounded by forest, it is a slice of heaven here on earth.



These two beautiful people are Burkehardt and Judith Wallenstein from Berlin, Germany. I am staying in their home and they are amazing! We are at a beautiful vietnamese restaurant here and I am enjoying the eating throughout Deutchland immensely. So far, I´ve had the national dish, schnitzel which is like carne asada, Rob, (or chicken fried steak for the less trained palate:) It is a thinly sliced and breaded veal. This came with potoatoes and cucumber (pickled) served warm. Next thing I tried was something very brave, blutwurst. I think Ill be accompanying Andrew Zimmern on his Bavarian leg! Blutwurst is blood, cooked until it can be sliced. Also a traditional dish. Months ago I would have rather die than try this, but the desire to experience German culture and food and striving for diversity in my life, since Rob and I have taken up The Travel Channel (zimmern's show is Bizzarre Foods- he travels and eats local delicacies around the world). Another dish was a bratwurst and apftlstrudle-strudel with the most amazing cream and ice cream ever! The brats here have the nutmeg flavor and a fantastic texture. Served with a mustard and toast. Also I had to have this giant pretzel you find from a street vender. Fun eating.

Brothu' to the rescue

Jody, my elderly brother sent me these improved photos at Buca di Beppo. Thanks Jod.

And that photo up top...It's as saintly as this sister gets;) Love, J

The verdant color on our side

It's Official: We are walking on our new lawn and we love it.

Thanks to Grandpa Bob we had our first mow yesterday (a foot in parts) and only 5 hours, can you imagine? :) A 1/4 acre of grass and yes, the boys will be learning to mow. Those of you with established lawns may take a roll in the green for granted, but not us, we lay in it for 2 hours or so looking up, making lawn angels, anything to enjoy the fragrant padding under foot. Hooray!

This is my baby's first day of kindergarten, August 28, 2007. I'm still wondering why I spent so much time teaching her, reminding her that she can accomplish anything she wants to in this life and encouraging her confidence, then the moment she walks away from me and doesn't look back, I choke and wish she would just acknowledge me for a moment! It's the truth: Not a glance. She is in-love with Mrs. Wyatt, her froggy weather reporting voice and the starburst candies she gets when she's been an awesome student.

She does her homework when she walks in the door, loves reading and would tie me up for the rest of the day reading at the couch if she could. What a joy. I'll get over it.

But it's my baby!

Last night the Wright family celebrated Christmas 2006. Confused? I'll explain.

Grannie Preece , Corky and DaleAnn Wright gave us Spamalot tickets (Monty Python's Tony Award winning Musical, now traveling across America) and all of us kids-minus Jared and Deanna in AZ :(- finally got to go. Here we are eating at Buca di Beppo-YUM- before the show. Jamie, Juliet and Daniel not pictured here.

What a killer show! I love to hear mom, grandma and Deb laughing till they cry or at least do a smoker's laugh. Rob and I did our share too.

It's true we missed Jared and Deanna, but we got an awesome surprise visit from Wad (J-Rod, or Jared if you like) who made DaleAnn keep the secret from us until a family dinner. All of us control freaks enjoyed the eatin' and his visit this week. He's awesome and always entertaining. Can't wait til December when his whole fam will be here from sunny AZ. Miss those guys so much.
Signing off....Blog on! Love, Jess

Introducing the Greenwells

Life is beautiful. Rob continues to work at the US Postal Service as a Mailhandler and in his Union branch presidency. He is the recording secretary where he employs his supurb writing skills. He is so dedicated and his example of punctuality continues to teach us all. He really enjoys chilling with all of us and playing games-Apples to Apples, Phase 10- (he's the winner now), reading to us, gazing at the new sod we just laid 2 weeks ago and ESPN is probably his next favorite hobby.

I'm working at home and at the kids' school now as a part-time teacher's aide. I love it. I can't believe I get praised and paid all at the same time!

It's been a busy summer with our stake Pioneer Trek that I attended (the prep is all the work, Trek is the fun!), keeping the kids busy and out of eachother's hair and preparing for an amazing trip to see Judith in Europe for two weeks coming up. It will be a new adventure and a much-needed break.

H has a rat on his shoulder at Advanced Hogwarts Scientology camp.

This camp trumped even the annual Greenwell family vacation to Bear Lake! He was sure in his element and enjoyed "Care of Magical Creatures" as seen here. He reads a novel-a-day (Harry Potter 7 in 10 hours!) and can't stop reading so he says, he also enjoys scouts, science, math, Spanish, chess and other games, blading, his brand new birthday bike and his turtle, Murphy.

Donovan is seen here kicking some major rocket tail at the Scout Rocket Derby in July. His rocket, Rudolph won it's share of races. D is loving scouts, friends, biking, blading, skateboarding, reading, art and mostly his serious soccer training with his Peruvian coach. He loves school! What a comfort this is to us as parents.

Ivy was born dancing (she's in the middle above dancing in a summer theatre program), singing and speaking in various accents. She is partial to her Brittish one. She loves to read, learn new letters, her enthusiasm in primary is much talked about- she may just have a primary singing career yet. She bikes, cooks and cleans with mom-really! She's the feminine element that softens everyone's heart.