Baby Girl!

Once:

Now:

She's all grown up!

Happy birthday, Baby Girl!!!

Keeping Christ in Christmas!

I love Christmas! I love spending time with family, enjoying the lights on Temple Square, my Christ tree & all my different nativities, and I love spending time pondering on Christ, His life, and what He means in my life!

We were fortunate enough to pick a semi-warm night to see the lights! So fun!

A week later, my camel had 'grown' an icicle beard!

My Christ tree- thanks, Charly, for helping me decorate!

New nativity from Mexico- Char & Ben gave it to me- too cute!

My favorite because of the sacrifice of Char & Jon...

LOVE this one- all the kids w/ tennis shoes!

Luke, Jon and I were able to go to Tooele for Christmas Eve! It was so much fun to visit with family- especially those that now live in California and my dear MIL! She is so thoughtful and kind!

And Luke and I got to talk with Sister Call (AKA Abby)!!! Yes, we were in the bathroom due to the crazy fun party going on- but Abby looked and sounded so peaceful and happy!

Then there were the other family get togethers- at my parents, at the Smith's (for the Doctor Who Christmas special, of course) and for our kids just yesterday- missed the boys, though!

And Jeremy's homecoming today! As he comes home from serving the Lord, it is a perfect time to reflect upon why we are here on this earth!

I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ!

Always Mom

Twenty-four years ago today, I became a mother...

The years between then and now have been the best years ever! So many wonderful memories, so many yet to come...

But being a mom also has so many challenges. And as your children grow, being a mother can be filled with heartache for their decisions. I am so grateful that my own mother lived long enough for me to be a mom during her lifetime. Because I was also a mother, my mom shared her thoughts and feelings on choices I myself and my siblings made- I got to see being a mom from my mom's eyes.

That helps now when I need the reassurances that other's choices place in our lives... I have hope that things will get better, that people will choose differently in the future...

And I get to savor the wonderful moments of being Mom.

Thankful 13!

13 things to be thankful for in 2013:

1. I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! Life has so many challenges- but I know all of the challenges have a purpose for me, personally. I know where I have come from and where I am going. I know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and knows me as His daughter.

2. I am thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. I am not yet perfect- or even close. I am so thankful to know that I can repent and try again in life.

3. I am thankful for Luke. He is such a perfect match for me. Our personalities fit so well- and he is such a wonderful husband! He tries every day to be the best husband he can be- and always will!

4 - 12: I am so thankful for: Allen & Cassie, Eric & Alison, Ben & Charly, Sister Abby Call, Jon and Josh!!!

13: I am so thankful for my family! I have the best parents and sibs, etc! And now I also have the best in-laws, in-sibs, etc!!

So Many Downs, So Many Ups!

There are so many things in life that can be considered as bringing me down...

things at work, things at home, things out and about...

But there are also always things that bring me up! And they are everywhere too!

Although Jon lost another car- due to a breakdown this time- he was able to sell it, come home safely, and find other means of transportation all on his own.

Although there was a very stressful situation at work in which I was expected to fix a situation created by someone else and that had come to the attention of our district superiors- the mom proclaims she 'loves' me and is 'so happy someone finally understands'! (hopefully this mother's opinion will last for the next 1 1/2 yrs!)

Although Luke seems to have as many days of setbacks as he does days of progress, he is the most wonderful husband- and perfect in every way for me!

He made my birthday (which was also the day of the previously mentioned stress filled meeting) just delightful! Perfect card, perfect date (to the temple, no less), perfect gift!

A bread machine and knife!

I love the timer... filled it up on Saturday evening and woke up to fresh bread 5 minutes after getting up!!!

Yum!

Being married = the ultimate UP!

I would highly recommend...

Growing Pains- for Mom!

My little boy is all grown up...

Wasn't he just little, like yesterday?

Now...

Still a great looking young man- but just a bit taller! :)

Happy birthday, Jonathan!

I am so proud of the talented, creative, generous, hard-working young man you have become!

(even though I do feel the growing pains!)

I love you!

Playing With My Boys!

So fun to be able to spend time with kiddos when they are now 'adults!'

Sharing the joys of Cafe Rio with Josh- and hearing the thanks for the college care package = Great times!

Hanging out with Jon while he discovers that retro is cool = my idea of a terrific day!

Even helping Luke & Jon and then Luke & Ben move this way-heavier-than-it-looks (but wonderful) desk out of the truck and into the basement = memorable moments...

(and yes, that is how Luke typically dresses around the house when it is warm enough for the rest of us...)

I just love playing with my boys!

Road Trip: Days 11 & 12- The End...

Thursday, July 25th... 

It had been a bad night for me on Wednesday... the worst for camping = KOA- tent site right next to a busy road and freeway! and bathrooms not the best - plus a thunderstorm in the night did not help. I did not sleep well at all... so was very tired and therefore felt sick.

But on the bright side, Luke is a fabulous husband! Not only did he take care of me the best he could, he drove all day!

We stopped at the Martin's Cove Visitor Center. What a special place. I have ancestor's who belonged to the Martin Handcart Company. What an example of courage and faith!

Everything you might have in a handcart- not much.

and the Sweetwater River- crossing this in freezing temps over and over would be so hard!

Friday, July 26th- The Call Camp!

the Amazing Abby!

Road Trip: Day 10!

Day 10: Wednesday, July 24th- Mount Rushmore... and so much more!

We started the day with a huge getting-lost-detour... But it was a good thing. We actually drove through an Indian Reservation, and it was very enlightening to me- I knew the history, in part, of the government setting aside the unwanted land for the reservations, but driving through this one solidified the facts in my mind, It is so sad that the greed of so few could affect the lives of so many generations of people. 

Oh, and I saw a 'dinosaur'...

Then, Mount Rushmore...

You cannot truly comprehend how huge and magnificent this monument is in scale unless you have been there- Luke believes this now...

And we got to eat in the famous (from that Hitchcock film) cafeteria!

Luke had a buffalo burger...

And enjoyed the other wildlife while hiking the trails:

After we left Rushmore, we took another huge getting-lost-detour... but again in a good way!

We drove through Custer National Park- beautiful! At least if you don't mind the hundred hairpin turns in the road and the one lane tunnels through the mountains... it was worth it to see this:

And coming around a bend in the road, we had to stop as another herd came directly at the car!

Good thing they went around...

What a wonderful day!!!