Grandma Great

Yesterday, we attended the Apple Tree Branch with Grandma Great to hear her speak.  She recently moved there and the Branch Presidency asked her to introduce herself and speak.  The girls and I joined my mom and Uncle Charles.  Then the surprise for Grandma Great was my cousin, Angela and her family, from Seattle area who were in town for Scott's family reunion.  It worked out for them to come to church with Grandma Great and hear her speak as well!  She did a great job!  Afterwards, we took the time to snap a few pictures.  We have been trying to be sure that we get pictures every time family is in town, just so that we can have some good pictures with Grandma Great.  Here's a picture that we go of everyone who came to listen to her.  I noticed that my PHEBE is doing the "PEACE" sign!  Ugh...I don't know why she does things like that to "RUIN" a picture, but then if you know her well, she can't "RUIN" a picture, but add to it!  She's definitely a SPUNKY girl!

It was fun to have a few minutes with the Walker family.  My girls and Angela's girls just picked up from where they left off last time we saw them (for Bryce's wedding last summer!).  I wish we lived closer so that they could do things more often with them, but it's amazing how fast they "RECONNECT" with family when they do see them!

I'm grateful for my Grandma Great!  She's an outstanding lady for being almost 93 years of age!  She has a strong testimony of the gospel and talks about her family very often and loves to be able to see family and talk with them on the phone or even get mail and emails (HINT to those out of town!).  We look forward to the time we have with Grandma Great!

An accomplishment!!

I wanted to get some of these feelings down so I wouldn't forget them.  Yesterday we hiked together, as a family, to Mount Timpanogos Cave.  This is about a 3.5 hour hike that is STEEP!!!  We did not take any backpacking gear for Phebe since I have given it away to someone who can use it.  Which meant that Phebe had to walk the entire way or be carried uncomfortably by someone.  I told her that if she walked the whole way we would have ice cream afterwards.  It worked! She did the entire hike which is about 3.5 miles total, including inside the cave!  I only picked her up inside the cave so she could see something over the shoulders of the group.  Jamy and I carried Phebe for short minutes coming back down from the cave to give Phebe's toes a rest! They were getting pushed to the top of her shoes due to going down hill.  She was a trooper! The last 1/4 of the hike, Phebe was crying, and feeling likeshe couldn't   do it! Daddy and Mommy were each holding her hands and walking with her when we crossed the finish line with the sisters watching and cheering Phebe on!  She DID IT!!  It is amazing to see the miracle of Phebe's life....she wasn't able to stand alone or walk when she was a very young age of 15 months when we started her journeyof challenges....now she can run, hike and kick and is learning how to ride a bike with training wheels!  I wanted to cry, and I did, inside! My miracle taught our family that we CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!!  We did it!  Sometimes we don't want to take on challenges, but in the end, it is all worth it!!!! I love my husband and girls and I know WE CAN DO  HARD THINGS!!  Of course, as promised, we went out for ice cream.....at LEATHERBY's!!! Love it!

Life....is....unscripted!

Life is unscripted....meaning that no matter what happens in life, there is no handbook! There is nothing to instruct us how to raise our children, how to pick an eternal companion, how to survive on a budget, how to pick friends, etc. But there is the gospel and I'm grateful for the things that I learn from my testimony and for the stableness it gives me in life. No one said this life would be easy, but we are told that it will be worth it. Life is crazy at times, awesome other times and just content at other moments. But life still goes on...unscripted.

I'm happily married to Jamy.  Life is grand! So much more than I ever dreamed it would be as a little girl. I'm a mommy and love that title that I've been blessed with. I'm grateful for my 4 girls and love that they think their mommy is the best. I've had some good competitions with other ladies in the lives of my children, but it seems that they still want to keep me. Thank goodness!

My girls keep me happy and make me proud of the things that they do. I'm grateful that I can be a part of their lives and see the things that they do. I'm grateful that they teach me everyday things that I need to know to be a better person.

I'm grateful for the blessings that I have been given from our loving Heavenly Father. He blesses me and my family everyday in simple ways that I still count in my gratitude journal. 

Once again, life is unscripted...it's never laid out in plain sight for each of us to see...but when we look back at life's happenings, we know that it is INDEED laid out for us. We just need our spiritual glasses to see it!

Life...is....unscripted!

Last Day of School!

Today is the last day of school!  I always look forward to the end of the school year and looking ahead to the summer plans...but then as we get closer to school starting again, I'm always anxious to get that day here too!  Never a win win situation!

Mallory is done with 8th grade, Gabby is done with 6th grade, Morgan is done with 3rd grade and Phebe is done with preschool.  For the first time of my life, in the fall, I'll have everyone in school every day for at least half the day!  WAHOO!

I'll try to catch some pictures of the "first day of school" this year and the "last day of the year"...so maybe we can compare!

Bring on the SUMMER!!!!

May is over!

Today is the last day of May and it FLEW by fast!  Lots of things still left to happen for the last week of school next week!  Then the craziness picks up!  Every day something gets added to the family calendar!  We're packed!  I hope that there is SOME time to breathe and SOME time to play together as a FAMILY!  I'm sure there is "life after teenagers" but it's going to be a LONG TIME!  I'm glad that my older girls will be able to have some opportunities to grow on their own and to have experiences together, but it is only the beginning....our family will have to become accustomed to GIRLS CAMPS for a long time!  But I LOVED girls camps and I'm confident that each of my girls will too!

We would love to know if any of you have plans to come to Utah....we'd love to make time for us to see you!  Keep in touch when you can and let us know your plans!

Happy SUMMER!

Catch up!

Okay, well, staying current went to pot, but at least I'm trying.  We celebrated Phebe's birthday this month as well.  She was hoping for a bike with training wheels....and she got it!  She even got a new helmet to wear while she's riding.  For those of you who have followed her trials, I'm not sure that even I or her Dad were sure that she'd ever be able to ride a bike or even RUN!  And she's mastering both quite well!  Miracles of tender mercies!

The rest of the month is kind of a blur with many things running together and on top of each other!  It's been a crazy busy month and we are actually looking forward to the summer!  Although, it is already becoming full with many things to do!

We had a great Memorial Day weekend!  We spent it at Bear Lake with my parents and then we returned home to join the "rectangle gang" for the annual breakfast!  As usual, it was YUMMY!  It's always fun to eat and visit with the gang!

Life is busy, but we're definitely trying to keep ahead of the game.  Lots of things coming our way, but excited for it!  Looking for a window of opportunity to take a family vacation and we may be heading to LV....but that's up in the air for now...we still need to contact the relatives and see what works or doesn't work.  Or, maybe we can just drive to AZ instead?  Hmm...tempting, but we'll see!  Was hoping to get to a Temple Open House there, so maybe that's my good excuse to plan for...we'll see!

Life is good...keep us in touch whether via blog, texting, facebook, emails, or other technology, we love hearing from you all!  By the way, this is an old picture here, but it's a picture...I need to get the pictures off my phone - maybe this will help me to remember to do it!

Mallory!

Mallory turned 14 this week!  Wow!  Time flies when we're having fun!  And YES, we are having fun being an eternal family of GIRLS!  Mallory had an extremely busy day on her special day, but we still managed to make it a fun day!  We are looking ahead to another birthday this weekend!  I love having a reason to shower the girls with attention (for one day)....and then it's back to the grindstone!  Life still has to continue on!  It may be crazy at times, but it's always been worth it!

Mallory - you are an AMAZING young woman!  You are doing things so much more than I was at your age!  You are an example to many around you, including your parents and sisters!  You have always done the best you can in life and you continue to do so.  You have a way to reach out to some of the special spirits on this earth - that skill comes naturally to you!  I love that about you!

Mallory - you are one of my best friends!  I know sometimes I have to be a Mom to you, but I love when I can be a friend to you as well!  Life can be a challenge at times, but you get through it!  I love you Mallory!

Mallory - thank you for EVERYTHING you do for your family!  Your sisters look up to you with their eyes and want to be "JUST LIKE MALLORY!"  You are a choice spirit and I'm blessed that you are the oldest and understand the responsibilities that come with being the oldest!  You also know how to be a nurturer!  You are the 2nd mom in the family and that is a quality that will enhance your own experiences in the future as you become a wife and mother (in 50 years!!). 

Mallory....I love you....no matter what!  Once my baby, always my baby!  LOVE, Mom