Reply-To ALL!

Danielle, I think that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (2nd to thanksgiving) because of the traditions that Grandma has created! I used to love seeing my cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Dunns house every year and see what they were dressed up as. I loved the chili and I loved walking together as a family around the neighborhood.

These past few years I have gone to your house for it because your neighborhood is active just like Grandmas was. I love seeing my nieces and nephews get dressed up and be something different for one night! I especially love that they plan their costumes out for several years in advance!

Sean, its okay that you've slacked knowing that you're on FACEBOOK posting memories on there (ahem, obsessed)! But I still would love to see all that stuff posted on here so those without facebook can share in these memories!

I agree that I think it's good and healthy that family should get together and share time, advice, and experiences. It is sad to me that at times not everyone is able to participate. I have always put family first in my life and feel that everyone else is just the same way, but i have to remember that things that i feel important are not always that way with others. Our immediate family (gordon for me) will always come first, but remember that your siblings and parents are just as important and need to feel loved and wanted too. I hope I share my love with all of you. I am so in love with every single one of my nieces and nephews. I hope that see that from me.

We do need to support each other as much as we can. I know that Gordon and I will need it soon with our new house. All of you have gone through this with your families so now it's our time to experience all the renovations and everything that comes with it.

Jared and Hez! I am so ecstatic that you are adding to your amazing family. I can't wait to meet the little guy (or girl).

peace

Observations

Well, Whitney I apologize that I have not participated lately on the blog. I have had things I could have shared, but just never made the time to put it down in words.

Robin just got back with the two girls from their girls trip they had with all their cousins and sisters and Mom and aunts. They went on a short Mexico cruise and had a blast. I just got all the scoop on everyone that went and what everyone did. It sounds like they had a blast together. I'm glad they planned that and went.

I have also gotten little bits and pieces of the Warner girls trip, and how much fun you guys had as well. I'm sorry Dori and Heather were not able to go also, because they missed out. I'm glad to see things like this going on.

My title says "Observations", so you might ask why? I observed family members enjoying being together in a fun invironment, different than normal life. Its great! Family needs to be this way. We all have things going on in our lives, and always will. We need support from those we love and those that love us back. I'm grateful for two wonderful families that we have together from our marriage. I'm grateful that my children have all these wonderful aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas and extended family that they get to know and experience.

What I hope, is that we can all make sure and be supportive to each other in whatever ways we can. There are lots of ways to support, financial help, giving of time to babysit, preparing a meal, a phone call, a quick text, an entry in the family blog, etc.

Heather and Jared, congratulations! I wish you all the best! You will have challenges, it will change your life as you know it, but you will love the expereinces you will have with this late addition to the family. Your kids will have a great love for him/her.

Thanks to all for the support you have given and continue to give to us. We feel it and appreciate it.

Have a good week!

Sunday Funday

I think this is a great idea.  I was just looking through my pics and decided to post some Halloween stuff.  I was just reminded of how we grew up with our traditions during Halloween, and I love that all of us still think it's a big deal.  Usually, Ashley, Whitney, Mom and Dad, and Great Grandma come to our house for chili and trick-or-treating.  I love hearing that everyone else pretty much does the same thing, which I think go's to show that traditions really do mean something.

Sunday Fun-Day

so my memory this week is of a town called Laax Switzerland. Some people may know already that I went to Italy for three months to study. It was the fall of 2007 that I lived in Milan. Well part of the program was to give students 3 open weekends, this allowed us to go wherever we wanted. Dominic (the ex) was planning on coming out to see me the last week we were there which was also part of an open weekend. So with my passion for snowboarding I decided I wanted to go to Switzerland. I mean come on, what better mountains and snow can you get? So i researched the heck out of the country and found this town called Laax. It took us 2 train rides, a 2 hour bus ride to another bus, and a short walk to the town. 5 hours later we were there. It is the most beautiful town I have ever seen, and the mountains were the biggest Ive ever seen! I mean seriously its the home of the Matterhorn!

My friends came to meet us for a few days and we took advantage of sledding in the gorgeous snow! They didn't have snow clothes so we dressed them in trash bags! Dom and I enjoyed a day up in the Alps, a scenic walk around town, and the Swiss food is to die for!

Sisters Trip

It was a really great trip. It was really fun to just laugh again with all of you. I really enjoyed everyones company. Thank you whitney for your nice words....it was really sweet. Although I dont really know what you mean about I love my family as much as I love how I look....I didnt really know how to interpret that!?! I am grateful I have such wonderful sisters and sister in laws. I really feel like I can talk to you all about anything, and that you will always give me advice when I need it. It has been interesting being the youngest and watch everyone go through their life stages before me so I can learn from all of you and find the good and the bad and implicate it into my life. You all are examples to me in some way or another and even though I never say it I love each one of you!

sisters {my friends}

as you may know, we had our 2nd annual girls weekend in Scottsdale Arizona this last weekend. Last year Danielle had the idea to have a girls weekend because her and Jon were given a free weekend stay at time share hotel if they walked the tour. Great idea right? So she invited all the girls in the family, Robin, Heather, Dori, me, Ashley, Jillian, and Jeny Monson (cousin). We had a great time getting to know each other better without kids and husbands as distractions.

so this year Jillian thought that we should continue the tradition. Her baby was due at the end of February so we planned to do it in Scottsdale about a month after her due date. This gave us a chance to see the new baby and have Jill close enough to home so she could be there.

We invited everyone again and extended the invitation to the cousins, Amie and Katie, and the cousin in-laws. Since Amie is now in Arizona she decided to join in on the tradition. So weekend total was: Danielle, Whitney, Ashley, Jillian, Robin (for a part), Amie, and Jeny.

I was saddened the night before to get the news that Heather was not going to make it. She has her personal reasons for not being able to come and although I found myself upset, I realize that things come up and sometimes "girls weekends" are not a priority in life. We all missed her tremendously.

We had also invited Dori but she said no. Not really sure why but we wish she wouldve joined in.

But all in all it was fun to just get away from the element we are all used to on a day to day basis. I feel grateful to be able to spend that kind of time with my sisters. Most of you know that the Warner kids are extremely opinionated and competitive in their words to each other and to others. So being together with my sisters can get very energetic and loud. We find that we can really talk to each other about how we truly feel and this weekend was a perfect example of that. We said things to each other that may seem hurtful or judgemental, but in essence we say things and ask things out of love for each other. I feel like we have all grown closer to each other through these discussions and observations of each others lives.

I feel close to my brothers but it is not the same as being close to a sister. I love each one of them so much for many different reasons.

Danielle is the example and matriarch of the sisters. She is nonchalant in her every day doings and makes having 5 children and a husband a piece of cake. She is very smart although she can be a little absent minded at times. She has worked her butt off to be in the best shape of her life which gives me the confidence that i can do the same.

Ashley is very quite most of the time, but she is the most passionate of us all about the things she loves. It makes one wonder why we can't be the same way. She LOVES her job and she is amazing at it. She LOVES her family more then life itself but finds it hard sometimes to show it. She makes me laugh with her snide remarks and "whatever" attitude. Ashley will listen and never judge, she is a best friend.

Jillian is the funniest one of all. Her ability to "do voices" makes me laugh so hard that I wish I could be her! She cares just as much about her family as she does about how she looks, and I don't say that out of shallowness. Her style is unique and bold. She has so much potential with her style ideas, I don't think she even knows what to do with it. But someday you will see her name on items in Target! Jillian is an amazing mother.

I love you all so very much.

Happy Anniversary

This is the official day when it all started. Catherine Louise Dunn married David Allen Warner. They have been married for 44 years. They are such a great example of a successful married couple which is saying a lot nowadays. My parents mean so much to me words cannot even express. Although they have 7 children and 21 grandchildren, they manage to have a personal relationship with each one of us. They have taught me so much in my life and have been wonderful examples to me I am proud to call them my parents.

I love you both so much and wish you a Happy Anniversary!

{Sunday Fun-Day}

so its been almost three weeks of silence. How can 14 of us have absolutely nothing to say? well ive come up with a way that we will all be able to participate without feeling like we dont have anything to say. its called "Sunday Fun-day!" the object of the game is to post a few pictures from your computer that are from the past. They can be from 20 years ago or one year ago. Talk about the memory and experience you had. Try to make them about family. for example, I wouldn't post something about me and my friends going out to dinner one night, but i would post something like a trip we took over the summer!

sound good? pleased participate and PLEASE post "reply posts" to everyone else's even if it's a few words.

My memory is of Newport from 2006. This was the second year (I think) that mom and dad got the beach house down there. I love this family vacation we get to take each year because it brings us all together for a week. Even though the dads aren't there the entire time the grand kids have soooo much fun with each other and the girls can relax and enjoy a break from their homes.



Look how young and cute Jensen was! and this was the year that Mitchel really kicked butt boogie boarding. Jillian was pregnant with her first and she looked so cute in her bikini. She had her baby shower at the cheesecake factory with all the girls! The boys went to surf camp and the little girls loved playing dolls everyday!

The newest member of the Family!

HAPPY BIRTH-DAY 'Beckham Todd Farnsworth,' 2nd born to Jillian and Todd (our number 7)on February 25th. I am so excited to see our new boy grow. Their first girl Berkeley is the cutest most funniest kid ive ever met! If you haven't seen her or Jillian lately then you MUST check out her blog www.jillianfarnsworth.blogspot.com

Congrats on everything going smooth that day and that the baby has all his important parts! You two are amazing parents!

Love you

Ashley's dream

Wow! I never have dreams like that.  I agree with Mom.  I think it's a sign reassuring you that you are loved and that Christ does know you and has already suffered for all of us.  Sometimes we forget that we really are significant in his eyes and that he really does know how we feel, because he literally does know exactly what we are going through.  We love you too.  Carley was sad that you weren't at dinner on Sunday.  She was asking for you.

Reply-"Dream"

Dear Ashley,
I started crying when I read your blog entry about your dream. I hope you know that the dream is telling you that our Savior loves you and cares about you as does Heavenly Father and your parents. Just remember Christ has gone thru all the pain you are going thru and will go thru in your life time.
Love you, Mom

New Topic-My dream last night

I had the craziest dream last night. Part of my dream was me and whitney and i think maybe dad and grandma and some other people. We were out in the desert or something camping…I don’t know. I just remember what the landscape looked like, it was desert like, with canyons and beautiful skies. It was gorgeous. Anyway, all of the sudden, it was like we were in Africa or something because all these beautiful animals came running by, from a far. There were zebras, lions, giraffes and others (I know this sounds really weird). There was something about them though, they were magnificent looking, almost magical or something. Anyway, they all come to a point and gather around this area that was sort of like a raised rock and they all stop. Then, all of the sudden, there’s like clouds around this rock and a man appears. Whitney and I run over there and are crying. It’s Jesus Christ and he looks just like they depict Him in the pictures at church. He has brown sort of long hair and a beard, a white robe. He’s smiling and holding His hands out and you can see His scars on His hands from far away. So, we are running toward Him and we hold His hands and kneel at His feet, we were so happy to see Him.

That was the end.

Weird, huh? You know how you can effect your emotions from a dream? Well, I definitely felt elated after this one.

Reply-"Fire"

So Im really excited Todd that you have decided to blog a bit! Its nice sometimes to get words out on paper (computer) rather than holding it in!

We have ALL had our "fire" in our lives, each in a totally different way. We have all learned to endure and keep fighting which makes our family strong! I look up to all of you and all your families. You have all been examples to me in so many different ways you'll never know. Im proud to call you my family.

Todd, thanks for your words regarding your past behavior, your trials, and your goals. You are an amazing man with so much in store for you. Remember you are still young and able to create and design your future to whatever you want! And i hope that you will give us advice on our new house. We really need help from all aspects of the project!

Sean, you are the biggest example to me. No matter what happens to you, you seem to always stay optimistic and keep moving forward. You have never felt sorry for yourself or let others see your pain and struggle. I respect how motivated you are and the confidence you have in yourself! I think you are more of an example to others then you may sometimes think.

Danielle. I love how prepared you are. I really want a fire box AND 6 months worth of food storage. Now that we are getting a bigger place Gordon and I plan on saving and preparing for the worst.

I hope everyone plans for the negative things that could possibly happen to our nation. We all need to plan together and figure out how to stay in touch and work together on these things.

What is with the fires?

I know we were lucky, but we just recently had a close call with all of the fires in our ward and stake boundaries.  I think it takes something scary sometimes to put things into perspective and remind us of what's really important.  Even though we were fine, I did a mental check of what we would take if we had to get out.  After the fire, I finally put together my "fire box" that mom and dad gave us, and double checked my food storage.  Things in this world seem to be going downhill and all we can do is be prepared spiritually and physically.  I admire you guys and all that you've gone through, you will only be stronger for it.  I feel like we are incredibly blessed in our family with talented, ambitious, and hardworking people, and I can see it being passed on through the grandkids.  That's one of the most important things; handing off the responsibility to the next generation.  I'm proud that my brothers and sisters and in-laws are all great parents and examples to their kids, and I'm grateful mom and dad taught us to work hard, and stand up for what's right.  I hope that all makes sense, it seems kind of all over the place.  Hope everyone is healthy and happy.

Trials by Fire...Todd's First Post

Alright, I am ready to do my first post.

I just read Sean's post about the fire and it made me think of some of my own trials and the experiences that Jill and I have had over the past few years. It has been an unbelievable roller coaster of joy and pain. Similar to Sean, at times it feels as though Murphy's law has dialed me in and handed me beating after beating. (A la Investment scandals, townhome fires, lawsuits, real estate project fiascoes, etc.) I'm 28 and I've already risen and fallen twice in a big way. I'm in law school and I'm already tired of litigation because of my fun times in the private investment world and real estate industry.

The real poetry of my woes has been that despite all the stress and disappointment, we have had some of our happiest moments while going through the low times. We have found out things about ourselves that we never would have known without challenges. We have grown closer as a family and we have learned to appreciate simplicity in life. Realizing that one doesn't have to have wealth and "things" to be happy has been an incredible blessing, especially for me. I think Jill had that figured out long before me. I'm very lucky that she has been patient enough to let me figure it out.

My new thought process: Life is as good as you want it to be. Perspective makes all the difference. As Sean mentioned, there are people suffering real challenges in the world and I wouldn't trade with anyone. My only hope is that I can learn everything I'm supposed to learn from these trials and come out a better person. I suppose as long as we're composed and handle things correctly, we can have peace by knowing that we're emerging stonger and more capable than ever. I hope this didn't come across as overly preachy or "poor me" in tone. Sean's post just struck a chord and I felt like putting some of my thoughts down on paper...errr blog paper.

On a different note, law school is. . .good. The best way I can describe it is a mental marathon. The material isn't that hard, it's just an issue of keeping tuned into all the minute details. I'm not sure exactly where this road is going to take me. I'm not fully convinced that practicing law is what I want to do. I still find that I have a love for "the deal" and I'm hoping that I can use my law degree together with my finance/real estate background to get into something that really charges me. (Ok, ok and something that makes sick dough). I'm terrified of being on someone else's clock and having to report to someone. I signed up for a mock interview program last week and I had my first job interview of my life. I wanted to get a few under the belt before I have a real one.

Whitney, I wanted to make sure you know that when I read your post I immediately started thinking of ideas for your condo and how I would go about doing it. Everyone thinks of Jill as the creative one but if you've ever seen me go to work on picking out paint, tile, countertops, fixtures etc., you would know that I love to do that stuff. When I say "do" I don't mean actually perform labor but I enjoy designing rooms and getting the Julios/Juans (see earlier post for discussion) to install and perform labor. Handy is something I am not. I would be glad to come consult the next time I'm over there.

Also, I appreciate every one's patience with me as I slowly emerge from my pompous shell and get used to kids, soccer games, family history, kids and Whitney's tattoos (j/k). I know that I've been self centered at times but I am determined to keep growing closer to the family. I have learned to love each of you and I know you guys are there for us whenever we need you. I hope you all know that you can count on Jill and I for anything as well.

Finally, at this moment we are all facing different challenges in life. As Sean said, things can change for the better way quicker than you can imagine. In the meantime, focus on simple happiness, keep pushing, and enjoy the journey. I'm pretty sure that's what this crazy life is all about anyway.

Update and just stuff

Hello all,

Whit, I feel bad I did not respond to your post. What a great exciting time to be a part of purchasing a new home, especially the kind you have to fix. It will have so much value to you when you are done. I will try and help wherever I can.

So to update, last year in March, we lost our shop in the fire. I had no insurance. Not sure if you all heard the story, but I dropped my insurance company I had, they didn't want to insure me because I didn't have sealed electrical boxes and switches. I had new quotes, and I procrastinated and did not get it taken care of. I mean, who's shop would really burn down? Anyway, it was deemed an accident, but it was shown by the fire department to have started in my unit. No criminal liability, but an insurance company is coming after me for $40,000 in damages. Warner Cabinets is an LLC, so I have an attorney helping me right now to make sure they don't come after me personally. As far as the company, I am closing it as Warner Cabinets and Millwork, LLC and opening another one as Quality Woodworks, LLC. Start over...again!

So, I try to grasp what's going through my mind...why me?...why again?...when will the bleeding stop? My answer is, we all have our problems, and I like mine better than others. There are so many worse things going on in peoples lives right now, I would much rather have the problems I have. I still have faith that I can handle what is placed before me. So, we handle it. Robin is a great partner to have. She still has faith in me, and my abilities. Wierd thing, we are acually getting busy. I have 2 entertainment centers lined up, a re-finish job in the works, and another huge entertainment center that just called me a couple days ago. I have a new home, and another one that I think I am getting any day now.

My kids are heathy, my wife is healthy, I have my home, we have our needs met as far as food and clothing. We are working on our food supply, and have a lot of it. Robin is working on regular foods we eat everyday, and making sure we have 3 months supply. We are working toward eliminating our debt. We still don't have a backyard, but I think we will do grass for the time being and some trees. And we are going to plant a big garden with Ken and Amy in our backyard.

What's the point of all this babeling? Be grateful for who we are and what we go through. We are all being put through the refiners fire. We need to make sure we do our best to get through problems. Work hard, give service, and be thankful for what we have and who we have in our lives. Because, in an instant, that can change!

Love you all, my family, my people!

And here's a pic to remember!

whitney

I don't know about everyone else, but I've talked to you a lot in person about the new house and everything, so I think that gets me off the hook.  One thing I do want to say is a huge Thank you to you and Gordon for watching the kids.  It sounds like it was not what you expected, and I'm sorry about all the mishaps, but you could look at it as good training; nothing ever goes as planned when there are kids.  I'm just glad I could count on you, the kids had a great time and they love their aunt Whitney.

Reply-"Ashley and Quotes"

so i have to say that I'm really bummed right now. I posted something that is big in my life (getting into a house) and NOBODY said anything! I even left it open at the end of it asking for opinions and answers to questions. SO why didn't any respond?

THEN, Ashley posts about good news with her job and you all responded right away with "way to go's" and "congratulations." (no offence ash, you know I'm routing for you) So did I do something to offend everyone?

Danielle. I think that game sounds so much fun. I have about 100 quotes from 1 movie, but i really need to work on my other stuff! cant wait to get there!

quotes

We played a game the other night with our friends.  It was simple; guess the movie quote.  I was crying from laughing so hard, and it made me excited for our girls weekend, because I know I can count on some good ones from the girls, so get prepared and brush up on those funny movies!

Ashley

I was thinking just what Jillian said, then I read her comment.  That sounds very complex, which means you should be getting paid more.  I know we've talked about that before.  And yes, it did remind me of the office, one of the best shows ever.  I'm proud to see my sister kicking butt out in the real world.