President Hinckley

I just thought I should tell you of the one time I actually came close to President Hinckley. It was such a powerful experience I have never forgotten it. It was while I was serving a mission in South Africa. Pres Hinckley was coming to a conference center that was very far away from where we were, and my comp and I were on foot. However the other 2 elders that lived with us had a car and we hitched a ride with them. None of us had ever been within a hundred miles of the Prophet so we wanted to make sure we got good seats. We invited all our investigators, but they were all extremely poor and without transport, none could come. So we left early in the morning for an evening meeting and made a day trip out of it. The whole time I was teeming with anticipation for what this meeting would be like. We got there 3 hours early since there was unusually light traffic, and were the first there. I was so happy thinking that I was going to sit in the front row....alas, the entire front 2 rows were reserved for media....this was the first time a prophet had set foot on this continent in a very long time. So I willingly took the first row I was allowed to sit in and passed the time chit chatting with those around me. At length the time came, the 5000 seats in this makeshift hall were filled and I decided to look down, I think I had to tie my shoe. Anyways, at this time I felt like I was blasted by an ocean wave, literally. The feeling smashed over me more powerful than anything I had ever felt in the presence of any person. It was a powerful wave of the spirit, thats the only way I can describe it, and it plowed through us all the minute he entered the room. My heart burned so powerfully within me that it was all I could do to keep my composure. I was atleast 20 yards from him, security was a BIG issue, and the lights in the room so bright he asked to have them turned off so he could see us. I dont remember anything else said really or anything else that happened. I had known for years he was a Prophet. But the conviction that entered my soul that day was something totally different, like encasing already solid concrete in Titanium. President Hinckley IS Gods prophet. I dont believe it, I know it, and Im thankful for that knowledge, and Im going to miss him.

my adorable kids

ok everyone, i had my brother in law, dave, take some pics of the kids while we were in utah this weekend, and they turned out so good, i had to post them. i know everyone says their kids are the cutest, but i seriously think i win!! :) so here they are. i love these sweet kids!!!

my injury

ok everyone, i'm sure you are dying to know what landed me in such a predicament. well, here goes. on wednesday, i was going to pick colby up from the bus stop, which is right around the corner from the house of a lady that brought us dinner while i was down. i thought i would kill two birds with one stone, and return her dishes after i got colby. i pulled up to the house, got out and put the dishes on the bench. i was walking back to the car, literally 3 steps away, and didn't see a big fat hole in the grass. i stepped right into it, rolling my ankle until it popped. i managed to drive us home with my left foot, all the while trying not to cry. thank goodness, when i got home, my neice morgan was waiting with the door open. i told her i thought i broke my foot, and she went inside to get nathan. then the tears started flowing, not stopping until about an hour later. after x-rays confirmed what nathan knew, it was just a severe sprain, i was wrapped up, and sent on my way. 18 weeks pregnant, and on crutches. so the last few days have been quite an adventure. poor nathan, i finally got up again, and i'm back down. i can't even bring myself a bowl to the table for cereal. how do people do this???
and no comments about how lovely i look, i had nathan run in and take a pic so i could post about it. no laughing!!!

christmas break

hi y'all. we have thoroughly enjoyed our time off of work and school the past few weeks. nathan has been spending a lot of time glued to the screen, playing warcraft. i must say, it is a good thing to have a fun hobby, but some of these people take it a bit too far!! not that i know anybody like that...... the other day we were playing outside, kicking the ball around, and shooting hoops. here are a few pics of the crew out back.





and all decked out in their new christmas duds. now we are back to the grind of work and school. can you believe it is already 2008?? that is just nuts. i am feeling old.

Dad and His guitar

For those who didnt know....Nathan has wanted a 5 string acoustic bass guitar for about as long as he has wanted a gigantic pick up truck. The truck is still hiding in the abysmal nether-regions of the far too distant future. But the guitar, however.....he finally got for his birthday last November and feels the need to show it off. In addition, Nathan has become a HUGE World of Warcraft nerd. "Ladies, I know your drooling over me now, but please, hands off, Im a married man." So here his Mage as she looks at the moment being level 30 (They level up to 70 so he still sucks). Anyway...Nathan was bored of the previous blogs and thought he would do something even more lame to kick everyone's holiday spirit into high gear. Happy looserville.
Nathan
PS.... do you like the references of me in the 3rd person? FUUUUUUUUNNY...Ok the mage image wouldnt load...so enjoy the guitar anyways

santa's lap and looking spiffy

hello everyone. here we are again, the kids looked so cute in all of their church finery, i had to publish it. they are growing up so cute!!
here is marne and her sister, tattie. they are both pregnant, can you tell??
all the kids sat on santa's lap at grandma's christmas party. marne was still on bedrest, so she didn't go.


and here's dad with the kids, aren't they about the cutest family in the world??
also, just to update, marne is doing better, but still with limited activity. an ultrasound earlier this week showed the baby growing just as it should, but it is still stubborn enough that we don't know for sure what the sex will be. well, merry christmas everyone!!

Our Christmas letter

Merry Christmas everyone:

Its time, again, for everyone to sit and bear another Gresko family letter. First, we want to extend our condolences. If you make it through this letter and are still sane, congrats. Now on to the family.

This April, Nathan and Marne decided that it was necessary to move from Orem, UT back to Mesa, AZ. As you can imagine, Marne was ecstatic (even though she loved Utah) and Nathan went kicking and screaming. Marne’s family is in Mesa, and Nathan despises temperatures above 80 degrees. So aren’t we all just happy campers now. Anyway, our business here needed our attention since owner absentee wasn’t working out too well. So we up and moved.

Marne is currently pregnant with number 4. She is already on bed rest (10 weeks) and at risk of losing the baby, so she is pretty grumpy with that. She does get to read a lot, her favorite past time, and she loves playing with the kids, her family and friends. She loves to watch House, Bones, and The Closer, and is always willing to have a watching partner.

Nathan is currently playing the role of CEO, mom, and dad. He hates the first 2 with a passion, and loves the last immeasurably. He just turned 30 and could care less. “Its just another day.” He still loves Dr Pepper and wants Santa to bring him a huge 4 door truck….Keep dreaming. His one condition for coming back to AZ was that he was going to pick the house he wanted. He did, and with and acre of foliage to deal with, probably bit off more than he can chew.

Colby is a gentle natured kid. He likes to play and pretend to be whatever superhero he saw on TV that day. He is now 6 and a big helper around the house. It is so wonderful to have him in the home. He started kindergarten this years at Franklin Elementary and is gone most of the day. His favorite thing about school: Recess. When asked what he did at school today he lets out a huge SIGH and says in as somber a voice as he can, “Dad, we only had 3 recesses today!” The poor thing is deprived.

Rebekah is the “giggle-squirt” of the house. She is always begging for someone to tickle her and giggles for no reason at all. She is also a MAJOR dramaqueen. This girl knows how to manipulate. She can pout and cry on the drop of a dime, and dad gives in every time. We are trying to convince her that its ok to sleep in her own bed. She tries to climb into ours about 4 times a night. Eventually our exhaustion gives in and she is set with her knees in our back for the night. Little booger.

Caleb is the cutest little runt of the family there ever was. At 2 he already says prayers (payrs), loves Dora the explorer, and drinks TONS of chocolate milk (cho melk). Whenever Dora turns off he comes running into the room screaming…”Dad, dad…What happen?” He loves his Shampa (Grandpa) an playing with Colby and Bekah.

Well, that’s a little of our life. You can read up on us all year at http://nateandmarne.blogspot.com/

(children, please get your parents permission before going online)

Merry Christmas everyone

The Greskos