Han and Zan

Zander Mack Graves - age 5 months, May 2010.

Sweet freckled nose!

Hannah on the wall - AF Amphitheater.

A weekend visit - Gram and Han and Zan - together again

Kandy runs 4 miles - wow, who would of thunk it

Easter Dinner and egg hunt in the living room - there was snow outside

Garrett is 24, I am 48 - I was 24 when I had him.

Garrett is 24 years old today - birthday dinner

My Baby Boy is Turning 24 - April 21, 2010. Happy Birthday Garrett Bruce Graves

A Hannah Weekend

Zander

Reading a great book and wanted to share an excerpt:

"Like a sapling that bends and gets muddy during a storm, a person who is merely sorry to be soiled by sin will sin again in the next high wind. The susceptibility to repetition will continue until the sapling becomes a tree - a person so strengthened he no longer bends."
Brad Wilcox in the Continuous Atonement.

I love getting "older" and having things like this really "sink" in! I get it when not long ago, I did not. I was "unconscious" on a few levels but am grateful for the growth and learning that being here in a family provides me. I have so far to go! But feel good when each day I can honestly turn my will over to His and see where He leads me! Life is good!

Zander "talking" to Grandma Kandy

Sweet little Zander Boy was talking to me as I took this picture. Cooing and gooing...so cute!

Grandpa Bruce and Hannah Jo Graves

We took Hannah out to dinner at Wendy's and to Petsmart to check out the animals for a date night recently. Here is a picture of the two of them. Beautiful Blue eyes, huh?

Garrett as Basketball Man

Garrett and several friends play on a recreational basketball league in Provo and here is Garrett after a recent game. He's played with these friends since the third grade in some form or sport or another! We are still in the stands cheering them on!

Uncle Eli and Hannah take time out from playing to pose for a picture

Hannah and her favorite Uncle "E" - They are so cute together. He plays kitchen chef with her and she loves it! He cooks and she cooks, they are fun to watch! Eli is a very good sport about it. We all LOVE Hannah and just like being with her and we'll play kitchen chef if it means we get to be with her!!! She's our dolly girl!

Gram, Han and Zan

We recently celebrated Heather and Bruce's birthday's at Tucano's in Provo...both have February birthdays and whenever we have an excuse to be with and play with Hannah and Zander, we will do it!!

Happy Birthday Bruce, B52

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE

I believe each one of us can make a difference. We can each positively impact our family, our world.

"Private choices are not private; they all have public consequences. All immoral behavior directly impacts society. Even innocent people are affected. Drug and alcohol abuse have public consequences, as do illegitimacy, pornography, and obscenity. The public cost in human life and tax dollars for these so-called private choices is enormous: poverty, crime, a less-educated work force, and mounting demands for government spending to fix problems that cannot be fixed by money. It simply is not true that our private conduct is our own business. There is a popular notion that doing our own thing or doing what feels good is our own business and affects no one but us. The deadly scourges that are epidemic all over the world have flourished in the context of this popular notion. But this is simply not true. Our society is the sum total of what millions of individuals do in their private lives. That sum total of private behavior has worldwide public consequences of enormous magnitude. There are no completely private choices." Elder James E. Faust

Miss Madeleine playing contentedly at our visit in January

Temple Sealing

Bruce and I arrived at the Portland Temple and we went to the chapel to wait. Bruce informed the temple worker that he would be a witness in the sealing of Madeleine Bell to her family. Soon Marie and Wade Bell came in and introduced themselves to us. They are Kevin's parents. Corrine's sister and mother came in and met us and then a host of other Bell family members came in and we shook hands with them. Then it was time to go to the sealing room. We went in and found seats, Marie was asked who the grandparents were and she included Bruce and I when telling the temple worker the three grandmothers that were there!! and two Grandpa's. The temple sealer came in and then Kevin and Corrine. Right after that Carter and Madeleine came in and when I saw Madeleine in the hallway - she was radiant and very content. She was cooing softly and had a few fingers in her mouth! I saw heaven in that moment! Bruce and I could not contain our emotion. The tears just rolled and rolled! The sealing began immediately and then when the sealer was done, Corrine stood up, got Madeleine and brought her directly to me! I was so overcome. How unselfish could one young woman be? Bruce got up and sat next to us and he held Madeleine first and then Corrine passed her over to me. I was crying and I whispered to Madeleine that I was her Grandma and that I was very happy to meet her. I told her that I loved her, and I do. I love her so much that I want what is best for her and what is best for her is being a member of the Bell Family. Kevin and Corrine and Carter have waited a long time for her. This is a sweet, loving and God fearing, Christ centered home and family. What more could I want for any of my grandchildren?

We are so blessed to have been with Kevin and Corrine and Carter when Madeleine was sealed to them.

The Bell Family: Kevin, Corrine, Carter and Madeleine

Hannah holding Zander a few weeks after Christmas

Bruce and Zander on Christmas day

Should I say FOUR grandchildren?

Carter Bell. Carter is six years old and he'll have to decide what he thinks of Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Kandy, but if he will have us - we will gladly count him in as well. We love the entire Bell Family!!

Madeleine Ivanna Bell

Well, here's my explanation of why I think "Adoption is about Love"! It is with a FULL heart that I enter this post: Over a year ago, I learned that our middle son's girlfriend at the time was expecting. They were living together in Murray, Utah. Eli and Kelly, soon after learning about being pregnant, ended their relationship. I began praying for them and for my unborn grandchild. I wanted what was best for all concerned, and I felt very strongly that neither Eli or Kelly were in a place in their life to raise this little girl. Kelly told me barely into the pregnancy that she would be giving her up for adoption. I still prayed, as I know people change their minds, and especially after giving birth, she may still change her mind. That time has come and gone now and little Madeleine was heroically and honorably placed for adoption through LDS Family Services. I love, honor and respect Kelly AND Eli for this decision. That is a miracle in and of itself!! BUT THERE IS MORE!!!! Madeleine is the daughter of Kevin and Corinne Bell and little sister to Carter Bell of Eugene, Oregon. The Bell's, through a series of events, which included Kelly selflessly allowing us to view The Bell Family's Blog, have been communicating with me through email for about two months now! Kevin and Corinne's adoption of Miss Madeleine was finalized the Monday after Christmas and they felt it important (I agree) to get to the Temple as soon as possible with their little family. They have graciously invited Grandpa Bruce and I to attend the sealing in the Portland Temple on Saturday January 30th, 2010! With Madeleine being blessed the next day in their sacrament meeting in Eugene. As I write this I cannot contain the emotion that I feel. With tears streaming down my face, I want everyone to know that Adoption Is About Love!!!! I am so impressed with the love Kelly felt for her little girl. Eli too loves his little girl and told me he wanted her to go to a good home and he wanted to be a part of the decision of who that family would be. Kevin and Corinne could not conceive after Carter and wanted to allow him the opportunity to be a big brother and love a little sister. They also have love enough to share with this amazing little spirit and have willingly opened up their hearts and home to not only Madeleine, but to us as well.... There is just so much love in this situation that I simply cannot contain it all and it comes pouring out of me when I think of it!
I have wanted to share this with others for sometime now, but the timing just wasn't right. But the time is right NOW!!!! I am excited and thrilled to be able to post pictures soon of little Madeleine and her amazing family; Daddy Kevin, Mommy Corinne and big brother Carter!!! Thanks for reading! Please come back often to learn of my THREE grandchildren: Hannah Jo Graves, Zander Mack Graves and Madeleine Ivanna Bell!!! ;o) Signed, Grandma Kandy!