LJ Gunnerson Reunion 2011

We had such a fun family reunion at the cabin this weekend!! Friday night mom and dad did an authentic Philipino dinner, then we roasted marshmallows and made smores.






Saturday morning the boys went fishing while the girls did facials, pedis, and made jewelry!




The boys with their fish.






Matthew won an award for the BIGGEST fish! (He caught TWO!!)

In the afternoon we went for a short hike, searched for butterflies, played pool, watched movies, took naps, played some games, played tetherball, and shot BB guns.





Saturday night we had a dutch oven cook off with some REALLY yummy dinners! Then we got some different awards.

And here are a few fun photos.






Thanks Chris and Heather for all your planning and mom and dad for all your work!! We missed you a ton Geoff, Jadi, Nate, Janie, and kiddos--hope to see you soon!!

Happy 4th Anniversary!!

Darin and I had a wonderful 4th Anniversary! Saturday I went to Wes Truman’s funeral. I thought that it was going to be such a sad funeral and that it would be hard to celebrate our Anniversary right after going to the funeral, but I was wrong! (As I often am). The funeral was AMAZING!! I cried a lot, a little because of sadness for Lori and her sweet kids, but mostly because I feel so blessed in my own life—especially to have a testimony of the gospel. It was fun to hear new stories about Wes, as well as reminisce on things I knew. What an amazing guy! And Lori was remarkable! She looked beautiful, and she gave an amazing talk full of faith, hope, and love. My heart still breaks for Lori, but she made me appreciate and love Darin even more than I did before!

After the funeral Heather, Rick, Ben, and I went out for sushi. I can’t remember that last time that I was together with just my siblings. We had so much fun! I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. You know that kind of laugh that you are so embarrassed that you are laughing so hard, but you just can’t seem to get in under control? It was like that for at least an hour straight! We got a flat tire on the way home (but luckily I have two awesome brothers that changed it in a hurry) and hit a bit of traffic so we got home a little later, so right when I got home I fed Lindsay and Darin and I headed straight for our date!

Darin got us a reservation at The Melting Pot! Mmmm….so yummy!!







I love every chance I get to be alone just with Darin! I feel so blessed that Darin is that man that I ended up with! I couldn’t have gotten a better husband and father for my kids if I had a million years to search! He really is the best for me in every way!

After the melting pot we went to Liberty Park to go for a paddle boat ride, but there were no paddle boats, so we just enjoyed a nice walk in the park and enjoyed visiting with each other.







I love being with Darin, and I love that our kids love being with Darin too. You should have seen Matt’s face when we pulled up from our date! He yelled, “Hey!! That’s my daddy!!” Then we all just sat on the grass looking at clouds! And luckily for us, mom snapped a picture! It is times like this when life doesn’t seem to get any better! I am the first to admit that life isn’t always perfect at our house, but I am glad that life can be filled with perfect moments like these.



Sunday was technically our actual anniversary, and I was really glad that we celebrated on Saturday because Sunday was SUCH a busy day! I had Ward Council in the morning, followed by 3 hours of church meetings, where Darin taught Young Men, and I taught Young Women. We came home, ate a quick bite of cereal, then Darin went to a Young Men’s meeting, then he came home and a few minutes later I had a Stake Youth Fireside. It wasn’t until about 8 o’ clock before we were able to just sit down and relax together.
Since Lindsay is still nursing, and doesn’t take a bottle very well, we can only be gone for a few hours at a time. And since we went to Anniversary Inn for the 1st night of our honeymoon, I thought it would be fun to go there again. So, I recreated the “Presidential Suite” at our house.

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(I know I’m silly, but Darin is nice to put up with me.) It was a WONDERFUL anniversary weekend! Thanks Darin! I love you!!

Happy Anniversary Darin!

Happy Anniversary Darin! Thanks for the best 4 years of my life!! I LOVE YOU!!!

To Lori

Spencer Wesley Truman
February 15, 1981-July 4, 2011

My cousin Lori is the most darling and righteous person I have ever met. I remember joking with my family when we were younger that Lori would NEVER find a husband worthy of her. But, we were VERY wrong! Wes was the PERFECT match for Lori! Wes loves Lori (here) and Lori loves Wes (here).

I remember sitting at their guest book with my cousin Whitney at their wedding reception. I remember just watching the two of them together and thinking to myself, “I hope I can find a husband like Wes.”

A few years later I was able to take Calculus with Wes down at BYU. He was always so nice to save me a seat twice a week, help me with questions (so I wouldn’t have to raise my hand in a class of over 100 people), and just talk with me between classes.

We LOVE Wes AND Lori. They have been more than amazing examples to me and to my family. Every time things seemed overwhelming, or I felt discouraged with Lindsay’s condition I would just think about Wes and Lori. I would read and reread their blog for words of encouragement.

Last year the Truman’s did a family home evening on the Plan of Salvation. You can read her whole post here, but I just want to share part of what Lori wrote.

“We talked about what happens when people die. We talked about the spirit world. We discussed the reality of the Savior's resurrection and the reassuring truth that we can be together with people we love even after the separation of death. It was a meaningful, memorable conclusion to our little series of field-trips - maybe my favorite of them all. The cemetery proved the perfect spot to testify that Christ will truly come to earth again and that resurrection will really happen.”

What is this thing called death
This quiet passing in the night?
Tis not the end but genesis
of better worlds and greater light.

O God, touch Thou my aching heart
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is no death, but only change,
With recompense for vict’ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.
Gordon B. Hinckley

I hope that they can feel that same spirit this weekend. Love to you Lori. Our heart aches with you and for you. Thank you for your example of unwavering faith. Love and prayers. “The Gospel’s True, and WE LOVE YOU!!”

Happy 4th of July Weekend!!

We had a WONDERFUL, but BUSY 4th!

We started on Saturday and had a ward breakfast. Darin's scouts did a nice flag raising ceremony, and the food was yummy!






Sunday we went up to Kamas for our niece Liv's baby blessing, followed by a yummy lunch at Rick and Olivia's. We also got a few family shots while we were there.





Monday morning we went to my aunt's house for a yummy breakfast!! We have such an awesome family!! I just LOVE being with them!!







Monday afternoon we went up to the Gunnerson cabin for a yummy BBQ. It was so fun to see all the cousins again. We don't get to see them enough.






Monday night we watched fireworks with our neighbors. It was a beautiful night!!



Tuesday morning I hiked up to Ensign Peak with my aunt Kathy's Young Women, and I gave a little talk on based off of President Uchtdorf's talk, "Your Happily Ever After." It was the PERFECT temperature and a BEAUTIFUL morning!

Would YOU Like to Walk With Us

Click HERE if you'd like to read more about Lindsay's story.

Many of you know that Lindsay has Hydrocephalus, but if you are like me (or at least like me 5 months ago), you probably don’t know much about Hydrocephalus. I have learned a lot about it recently, and have joined the “Hydrocephalus community.”

There is going to be a walk on September 3rd 2011 in Sugar House Park. It is to help raise awareness and raise money for research. We would LOVE you to join “Team Lindsay” and walk with us! We may even come back to our house for some Root Beer Floats! It is free to do the walk, but donations are welcome!

We look forward to seeing you! Click HERE if you’d like to join our team or donate money.