Independence Day

 The week prior to the Fourth, found 
Hannah and me scouring places from which 
we could have an awesome view 

of the Stadium of Fire fireworks...

 ...we found a great little mountain side spot 

that seemed just perfect.

 We watched a few breathtaking sunsets.

In the end, we skipped the fireworks but 

were so happy to have found this great spot. 

 On the actual day of the Fourth, Grandma Tomi, Will, and I were the only ones cool enough to go to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade. It was pretty dang awesome.

 I mean Storm Troopers--

 and Senior Missionaries!

 Right???

After all that work Hannah and I did to find the

 perfect fireworks spot...we settled on our own show, right in Angie's driveway. 

Woot.

And there you have it. 

Happy Independence Day.

Of Reunions and Such.

 Once upon a time, I lived in Hawaii with my 

tiny little family of five.

Well, truthfully, we were a family of two, then three, then four and finally five.

During that whole process I had a great friend-- Nicole. 

When we met she was single-

then she became a missionary-

and then she brought her new husband back to Hawaii.

She had her first baby there too.

We had quite a few adventures together:

We were both nannies in the same neighborhood--

each Friday we left work and drove to the temple.

There, we met up with Michael who was 
just getting done with a long day of classes and work.

I opened her mission call while 

she was working on the Big Island...

She said, "I will be happy to go anywhere but Utah."

I got to tell her that she was going to Salt Lake City... :/

We pushed strollers together while we

talked about the gospel, motherhood, and losing baby weight.

We even battled lice together. Yay!

Fast forward 15 years and we finally met up again last month.

So much catching up to do--

but it was almost like no time had passed at all. 

Her little family had grown to a family of seven just like ours.

Missing their oldest who was just dropped off at Utah State.

 

 I took one picture and then Will got a hold of my camera...

Awesome job Will.

Even after all these years, we sure love these guys.

Aloooooha!

On the Second to Last Day in May....

On May 30th, 2015, my last child officially became a teenager. 

(You can probably guess how I feel about that). 

This is the same kid who told me 

he wouldn't turn 5 if it made me sad. :) 

Unfortunately, aging is beyond my control 

and so it happens whether I agree with it or not.

This year, Will asked for a cake in the shape of the Mexican flag

 in honor of Jordan, who usually celebrates

 his Sunday birthday with him.

Jordan is serving a mission in Mexico.

 

Will's birthday request was a new suit. 

I was super happy to oblige.

As always, we gathered with family to celebrate...

At the ripe old age of 13, Will has dwarfed his grandma.

We sure love this kid!

She's Twenty-One!

Happy Birthday to my niece, Meghan who officially turns 21 today.

Sunday, we celebrated with a chocolate Oreo cheesecake

 and a whole slew of family. 

I took this one picture at that party. 

Dang.

Having just recently finished her third year of college, 

Meghan has switched gears and has decided to to go on a mission! 

She is smack dab in the middle of doctors' appointments and bishop's interviews etc.

We could NOT be more excited for her!

Happy Birthday Meghan! 

Great things are in store. :)

Avoidance.

I have been avoiding my blog for a really long stretch of time now. 
I'm trying to decide if it's time to pull the plug, or just hang on until I feel like writing again.
I just don't know.
Life has been a little rough for a few months.
Nothing too monumental but just enough pummeling that I don't really want to keep a record of it anywhere, you know?
And so I haven't.
Last week, we sat in the Stake President's office as he officially released the bishopric of which my husband is a part of.   He gave each of us some kind parting thoughts, and  to the Bishop's wife he said: "Your righteous family is a sign of your faithfulness."
Those words pinched at my heart.
Right now, my family may not be the best sign of my personal faithfulness.
Some of us are struggling a bit and such is life. Things will work out eventually.
However, those words from the stake president have rumbled around in my head a bit and have given me lots of pause for thought.
A better sign of my faithfulness might be my hours of  conversations with my Heavenly Father.
My love of the scriptures and listening to the words of the prophets and apostles.
My willingness to serve and help in any way I can.
My desire to be in His house learning more about His ways.
My commitment to be personally prepared each week to renew my covenants with Him as I partake of the sacrament.
My growing faith even as the world seems to reject and denounce the values and principles I live by.
And my unconditional love for my children regardless of the extra gray hairs and wrinkles they are giving me.  :)
The greatest sign of my faithfulness may be my unwavering knowledge that I am divinely connected to my Heavenly Father and Jesus, and that they know me personally and love me.
That's a sign I can be at peace with.
And so for now, Michael and I are just rolling with each punch and smiling as we keep telling each other: "Something GREAT is about to happen!"
Yup. Fingers crossed.

A gorgeous double rainbow appeared right outside my house last night.

I like those kinds of signs too. :)