The Jarvie Family

Naval Academy Graduation

2009-06-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

We went to Annapolis in late May to see John Money graduate from the Naval Academy. It was such a great week of patriotic festivities! After the graduation, it was fun to see him being saluted as an officer.

Pismo Beach

2009-04-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Oh, how we love Pismo Beach. A family favorite for years, we have so many great memories of being there with friends and family. This year we joined some of the young single adults from the Newport Coast Ward on a weekend trip they had planned. We had so much fun and are so grateful that we got to make a new memory of an old favorite!

San Diego Excursion

2009-03-06T08:50:00.001-08:00

Jeff and Lauren and I went to San Diego while she was home from BYU. She has gone with friends to a great dessert place down there, and wanted to share it with us. It was right next to Balboa Park, and we visited the Automotive Museum while we were there. It was a beautiful day for a drive down the coast and we had a blast!

A Great Birthday Week!

2009-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

I had the best birthday ever on March 3rd! First, the day started with my seminary class surprising me with a party--they had posted Happy Birthday signs on street lights and traffic signs all the way from my house to the church. Then there was a trail of signs from where I park to the door. They all arrived and waited outside until everyone was there, and then came in singing--they brought treats and drinks---it was so fun---I love them so much!

In the afternoon, Ann and I went up to Disneyland --they are giving free admission on your birthday in 2009! Since I already have a pass, I received a gift card for the admission cost---$69. I bought a Monorail Set with the gift card--very fun!

We had a great time!We went out to Pomodoro for dinner, and then enjoyed a delicious birthday cake! Lauren baked me a beautiful 4-layer strawberry cake--she was home for several days after mid-terms at BYU. The best seminary class ever? Disneyland? Gourmet Cake? All my family? It was one great birthday! THANKS EVERYONE!

Fun With The Singles Ward!

2009-01-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

Jeff and I joined the Newport Coast Singles Ward Friday night for another camping trip. We went to Joshua Tree National Park again, and this time our camping spot was even more beautiful than the one we were in last November. The sky was full of a million stars and the weather was great. Jeff always sets up the most comfy tent for us. About 60 people came out ---Saturday morning after Burt Tarayao cooked a fabulous Hawaiian breakfast half the people went rockclimbing and half went shooting. It was a blast! We love the singles ward so much!

This is our tent at Indian Cove Campground

Burt made a delicious breakfast

Rockclimbing was available right at the campsite!

Setting up targets to shoot at

Your view (if you are an unlucky target!)

Dave Streiff (ward clerk) supervised the shooting

Jeff with a 22 Rifle

Me with my new 22 cowgirl revolver

Camping in Glamis!

2008-12-29T17:29:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas Jeff and I took my quad and his motorcycle out to Glamis with The Fisher Family--Derek, Gwen, Andrew, Brendan and Cole. We had a great time riding on the sand dunes and shooting guns. It was super-cold at night (in the 30's) and we were happy that our camping equipment was up to the task. We had a great time!

I've Been Elfed!

2008-12-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

One of my seminary students thought it was high time to show off my dancing skills. Also starring Cody Tuma, David Livingston, Katie and Shannon McCormick. Good stuff.

Understanding Cats

2008-11-27T08:35:00.000-08:00

We rarely see our cat Rory. Sometimes the only proof she is still among us is that food disappears from her bowl. She is completely anti-social and will not come near any of us. We all imagine that she is so skitterish because she has many tales to tell about near-death experiences with coyotes that roam our neighborhood, but we'll never know for sure.

So imagine what a mystery, and almost an insult it is that whenever Lauren comes home from college we can find the cat curled up with her when she is in bed. The same Lauren who teases her relentlessly, never buys any of the cat food, doesn't pour it in the bowl, doesn't put the flea medication on her, or any of the other mundane chores of pet ownership. Go figure....

A Most Exciting Sabbath Day

2008-11-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a bit of good old fashioned religious persecution to bring a feeling of peace and contentment to my heart. Where could this happen but in the Lord's true church? Our church had much of the credit heaped onto us for the success of Proposition 8, and I couldn't be prouder! So yesterday a temple protest was held on the corner next to the stake center and temple.

Like President Kimball said, Because this is the Lord's true church, the day we stop facing opposition is the day we need to start worrying!

Ward Camping Trip

2008-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

The singles ward went out to Joshua Tree National Park for some rock-climbing and camping. Over 50 people attended, and we all had so much fun that we are planning it again asap!

The Cradle of the Restoration

2008-11-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

Jeff and I are just back from a vacation to beautiful Palmyra, New York to see the sites where the church was restored. It was so much fun!

Joseph Smith Cabin

This is my favorite--if you stand looking at the Joseph Smith Cabin, and then turn around, you can see the Palmyra Temple at the top of the hill where the trees are cleared. Could Joseph ever have imagined the day?

The path to the sacred grove.

Our sweet missionary guide, Sister Porter.

The Sacred Grove

The Peter Whitmer Farmhouse, where the restored church was organized with 6 members on April 6, 1830. Over 13,000,000 members today and growing fast!

The Palmyra Stake Center, where we went to church on Sunday.

Palmyra is about 90 miles from our airport in Buffalo. We spent the final night of our trip in Niagara Falls, which is just across the border in Canada from Buffalo. We had a spectacular view of both Horseshoe and American Falls from our room.

The Future of the Church is in Good Hands

2008-11-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Remember the image of Noah standing there on the log with the ark half-built behind him, imploring the people to listen to the voice of the Lord? I feel like we have just come through a similar battle with the success of Proposition 8 in California, where the voice of the people declared that they would like marriage to be legal and recognized only between a man and a woman. It was hard fought, and the singles ward jumped faithfully into the trenches. Jeff and I were so proud.

“There are times and places in the life of every nation when great spiritual heights are reached, when courage becomes a living thing, when faith in God stands as the granite mountain wall, firm and immovable…..”

Heber J. Grant

What more can I say--I love the courage and faith displayed by our young singles during the battle to promote and pass Prop 8. Other people aren't so happy....

Is there not a Cause?

2008-11-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of a few of the great young adults from our ward, spending another day in the sun on a street corner to get the word out about Prop 8. There were probably about 50 kids there---we were so proud of them! Thousands of cars passed by honking and giving smiles and thumbs up. Later on we had a pizza and a phone-calling party at the Packer's house. What a great day.......

Major Endorsement for Prop 8

2008-10-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Nationally Acclaimed Pastor Rick Warren Announces Support for Proposition 8
October 24, 2008
Contact: Meg Waters, 949-461-9700
Lake Forest—Rick Warren, nationally acclaimed pastor and author of the New York Times bestselling “The Purpose Driven Life,” announced today his support in favor of Proposition 8, California’s Protect Marriage Act.
Warren, founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, affirmed his support of the proposition, which would restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, in his News and Views email which is distributed to church members.
“For 5,000 years, every culture and every religion - not just Christianity - has defined marriage as a contract between men and women,” Warren wrote. “There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population.”
A link to a video on the Saddleback Church was included, where Warren further discussed his support of Proposition 8. (http://saddlebackfamily.com/blogs/newsandviews/index.html?contentid=1502)

Jarvie/Foy Laugh of the Week

2008-10-23T11:26:00.001-07:00

The appearance of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live gave us a big laugh during an otherwise depressing presidential campaign...

Block it Like Brody!

2008-10-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

I have the cutest son-in-law----just try to get it past him!

Fire!

2008-10-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

October is fire season in Southern California, and we had one in the brush close to our house today, but the wind was not blowing toward us so we were never threatened. All of Harbor View Phase 3 was evacuated to the Pavilions Supermarket. In the end, some homes were damaged but none were destroyed (it's hard to believe when looking at the pictures)---great job firefighters!

Please Vote Yes on Prop 8

2008-10-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

Last night the leaders of my church asked all of us to post this important information on our blogs. For information about this proposition, please study the www.ProtectMarriage.com website. The opponents of Proposition 8 have tried to paint this as "Proposition Hate". In fact, this proposition takes no rights away, it simply provides a legal definition of the word marriage, a traditional institution that we as members of the LDS Church believe is sacred and ordained by God.

Joyful Reunion

2008-09-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Jeff served his mission in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1978 to 1980. This week we had the opportunity to spend time with two of his fellow former missionaries, Dave Swinney and Keith Adam. Keith and his family were visiting from Australia.Elder Swinney, Elder Jarvie, and Elder Adam

It reminded us of the encounter in Alma, Chapter 17, which reads, "....Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God."

Dave Swinney, Keith Adam, Litia Adam, Gaylene Adam, Lisa and Jeff
The Adam Family

My Nephew Graham

2008-09-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

I just got this great picture from my 16 year old nephew Graham-- Thanks Graham--that made my day--I hope to come up and see a water polo game soon! Love, Aunt Lisa

Happy and Sad All at Once

2008-09-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

Lauren Jarvie, just a minute ago

Lauren Jarvie, All Grown Up

This past week Jeff and I have been in Utah to settle Lauren in to BYU. Is there really any way to prepare for a child leaving home? It is such a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, we are so happy and full of anticipation for the exciting times and opportunities that Lauren has ahead of her. But then on the other hand, we are at our saddest because we will miss having her at home so very much. WE LOVE OUR LAUREN!

While in Utah, we were also able to go to the Missionary Training Center to see two young men, Nate Packer and Rowdy Day, report for their two years of missionary work. Both had been in Jeff's boy scout troop when they were younger, and later on were in the singles ward with us. Nate had also been in our seminary class for 4 years, and we had spent many years going on motorcycle trips with his family.

We were lucky enough to be able to go into what John Packer calls the "room of doom" where the missionaries and their families part ways for two years. Lauren came with us and we had so much fun watching all the missionaries arrive for their big day! Nate Packer

Rowdy Day

Rowdy and his Family

Anyway, with all of this separation from loved ones swirling around in my brain, right now I am especially grateful that we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, know that through the blessings of the temple,

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER

With Lauren at the temple, 2008

Ann and Brody, 2004

Pismo Beach

2008-08-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I managed one last Pismo Beach adventure with the Packers before Nate leaves for his mission to Everett, Washington in two weeks.

It was super fun and full of great memories of all the years we did this trip!
My faithful quad
Jeff
Nate and John Packer

Highlights of 2008...odds and ends

2008-08-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

A huge highlight for me this year has been getting to watch my nephews play water polo. They live in the Bay Area, and they came down for tournaments. That's Evan (12) up above, and Graham (16) below.

Lauren completed the six year program for Young Women at our church,
and received her recognition medallion.

A great old friend, Angie Miller, visited us from Tennessee, and we all fell in love with her two daughters, Sage and Bailey.

Another San Onofre Summer

Tim Barber, Jeff, Derek Fisher (3 big boys and their boards)

Ann and Brody watching REALLY BIG late night waves crash

John Money

Kawika Tarayao

Singles Ward Kids come down to surf every Friday

Hawaii

2008-08-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hawaii

We visited the big island of Hawaii last week. I was so excited to go and see the Kilauea Volcano, which has had a huge vent going since late March! It was the best! We walked deep into a lava tube and had lots of fun exploring the national park.
Lauren and Margot Money
Ann and Brody Ann swimming with the dolphins!

Ann and Brody diving on The Kona Coast

Swinging Bridge

Picnic in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Families can be together forever

In the crater

Graduation Day

2008-08-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Lauren's High School Graduation

June 2008

Newport Harbor High School

California Coastline

2008-08-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

A Fun Getaway!Santa Barbara
The sand dunes at Pismo Beach
Capitola
Capitola

Jeff and I got a chance to drive up the California Coast in June--we took our bikes in the back of our truck, and had a blast stopping and riding whenever we wanted to!

Paris

2008-08-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

April In Paris

During Spring Break Jeff, Lauren and I went to Paris. Brody and Ann were already in Europe on business, and they met us and stayed an extra week to sight see with us.
We all had a grand time!

Imitating the park gypsies at the Louvre

A few times, while walking around in the park by the Louvre, a gypsy would suddenly bend down and pick up a gold ring in our path and ask if it was ours, and then offer to "return" it to us for a reward. This is a very common Paris scam. Anyway, one day I found three little gypsies of my own.

Water Polo Champions

2008-08-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

CHAMPIONS!!
2008 began with a bang, with Lauren's water polo team at Newport Harbor High School winning the CIF Division I Championship in February! This was a great payoff for years of hard work and dedication!

GO NEWPS!

Lauren jumping in the pool after the victory with her Coach, Bill Barnett
Lauren is in the back row, middle-ish