And One More Happy Birthday to Us.

Today we celebrated one more time.

After all, you can't have too many birthday cakes.

Especially when they are this delicious...

No words are needed, am I right?

Earlier this week, I received this amazing cake...

So really, maybe you can have too many cakes

 but I am not complaining.

 Not one bit.

Happy, Happy Birthday! 

Christmas Problems

Let's just say you know someone--

Someone who is oh-so-ready to start playing Christmas songs...

...in  August.

And it's a deed that is practically unforgivable in his or her family. 

Here's a secret.

This song is almost unrecognizable on its face as a Christmas song.

I have played it many, many times without any acts of rebellion.

And it soothes the Christmas longing that has somehow surfaced way too early.

Go ahead. It's David Osmond after all.

And we all know how I feel about him :)

August Birthdays--

August birthdays would be mine and Michaela's-

Michaela was in England on her birthday--I was in Provo. Hmmm.

Nonetheless the celebrations were wonderful.

Michaela is 22...

...and I am 51.

I am also the queen of birthday selfies,am I right?

I can speak for myself and say that the outpouring of love on my birthday was simply overwhelming. So many wonderful friends who amazingly never forget my birthday,

 unlike me, who is often bringing day late gifts--(yay for me). 

I was particularly touched by the efforts of my children, 

ALL five of them,

 to give me a wonderful day. Tears for miles over here.

All that to be followed by Carrot Cake this Sunday.

Thanks Angie :)

Ahhh...life est goooood.

A Little Bit of This--A Little Bit of That.

Summer is over. 
The proof is--I have two children who 
just finished their first week of school.
Wow.
It's been a fun one. I mean that sarcastically AND sincerely.

Here is our summer in a nutshell: Girls Camp, wedding, visitors, and a Washington/Oregon trip. 
And of course,
a little bit of drama interspersed here and there. 

Yep-fun stuff.

Here are a few captured moments:

First, little miss Scarlett returned with a vengeance. 

LOVED by all thoroughly and completely.

And the wedding of the century took place with perfection personified.

No visit with the Hurst girls would be complete without a trip to see the "animals."

Springville has its own nature reserve if you didn't know....

Washington holds Hannah's heart in its hand. 

She feels a kindred spirit with the water, the clouds, and the rain. 

Pokeman hunting was the highlight of our day in Seattle for these boys :/

We visited Grandpa Labit in Winchester Bay, Oregon for the first time.

It was amazing. Loved every minute of our visit.

Will especially loved Go-Karting....

 We put on some extra vacation pounds right here at Grandpa's. 

#worthit

Obligatory picture of the Space Needle :)

My personal highlight of the summer? 

My return to the world of fitness. 

Yup, after a two year break, 

the Provo Rec Center has my back. Woot!

And the Nike Outlet in Washington equipped me with these sweet shoes.

And so that is that- onward to fall.

Orange and red colors on the mountain--I've spotted you

 and I am full on ready.

Education.

My brain and my heart are jammed packed with awesomeness from Education Week.
So much to process about what I'm learning and feeling.
Here is a gem that was passed on today.
LOVE this. Love, love, love this.

“Jesus of the Scars” by Edward Shillito

If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars. 

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

Primary Makes Me HAPPY.

I love being the Primary Music Leader for oh-so-many reasons.
But the biggest reason is that it just makes me so dang happy.
Happy in a real-life, smile on the inside, kind of way.
A couple of nights ago, at a wedding reception for a friend, 
a little girl came up to me and threw her arms around my waist 
and and gave me the greatest hug.
I desperately tried to remember how I knew her, and then I realized she was not from an active family but had come to primary  a couple of times. She had never acknowledged me at church but somehow at that moment I was her friend. HAPPINESS.
I love the little sideways smile that a child will give me as they sit with their family in sacrament meeting. My heart melts.
And I love the kids who watch me so earnestly during singing time singing with every ounce of their heart--not many do that but the few that do?? They kill me.
But most of all, I just love teaching the gospel through music. 
Music is my love language with God and I want to do my best to make it theirs.
Happiness is Primary children :)


Shabbat Shalom.