My purpose in Life~

Sami and Zach are "just sketching the mountains."  I love this time of year... The leaves are starting to fall. 

I love his smile.  His eyes wrinkle and shine when he smiles.

It's officially Friday... They broke out their "Butler Bobcat" shirts.  I never thought I would have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader....

These are just a few random shots of the kids.  Once in while, I like to capture a random moment.  That way I will never forget what my life is about!!!

The 35 year old me!

So this morning Zach is at pre-school for a couple of hours and the big kids are also at school.  I did a little exercising this morning.  Then instead of showering and cleaning up I thought I would run to Target because I had no kids and about 30 minutes. 
So, I go to Target and there are about 15 people I know. (remember I didn't shower)  I visit and chat with a few of them.  I meander around and look at swimsuits, they are only $3.98.  Of course there is L, XL, and XXL or XS, all of them are two piece and none have padding.  Good times!  So I look at the cute shoes and jewelry and try to figure out if the tops on the rack are dresses or shirts, and do you wear anything under them?  It was fun to just wander.  I looked at the books and smelled perfume.  I checked out the Halloween isle and passed people and smiled at them.  They smiled back.  I saw a panini grill that I would love to buy and maybe will ask for it for Christmas.  Blah blah blah...So this is how my morning was spent.  As I jump in my truck and leave Target, I look in the rear view mirror and realize that I have a huge black "treasure" right in the middle of my front teeth. 
So not only have I not showered.  I have crap in my teeth and I'm not sure if shirts are suppose to be dresses or shirts.  Plus, I look tired and confused... All I have to say is I embrace this me.  I am 35 not 19 and maybe I can find someone to help me figure out what is actually cute to wear and how to brush my teeth.  God Bless!

Stickers and Dancing

It is Friday... We are just spending time, while the big kids are at school, doing a lot of stickers and a little dancing!!!!

My Favorite Things~

There are a few things that really bring me pleasure..make me smile...make life good!

The first is Chocolate!  I LOVE chocolate..in any form...M&M's.. Hershey Kisses.. Chocolate Chip Cookies..etc..etc..
The next thing I love is to read.  I love a good book.  I love a good story!  I love to hold a book and physically turn pages.  I love the way the paper feels and the smell of books.. I love books and love to read.
I love the full moon.  It is beautiful and magnificent.... I am always in awe at how bright and big it gets.
I love putting on clean socks.  Once they have been washed and dried, they fit tight and snug.  I love putting on clean socks! 
I also like sleeping in clean sheets!  I love the smell, and I love climbing in bed with clean sheets!
I love Halloween.  I like to dress up.  I love to watch my kids get excited about it.  I love Halloween parties and treats.  I love seeing others dressed up and happy.   I love Halloween. 
I love the change of seasons.  I love Spring, Fall, Winter and Summer.  I am a seasons girl.  Out with the old in with the new...  
I love when Chad and the kids are all home in bed and asleep.  My house is quiet and so peaceful and safe.  I love to hear them breath deep and relaxed and I wonder what they are dreaming about. 
I love the telephone... I love to talk...
I love the movie "Pride and Prejudice."

So, I may not be one of these people that dances and sings and writes poetry.  I may not be one of these people that climbs mountains and runs marathons...But I am passionate and I love people!

Trek

This summer Chad and I were asked to go on Trek.  It is a pioneer journey for 4 days and 3 nights, in Wyoming.  You push a handcart.  They weigh about 400 pounds... with all of your stuff on them about 700 pounds.  You dress up as pioneers.  You sleep on the ground with a tarp.  Then for the rest of the trip you walk and talk.  I thought I would share some of the pictures I have from trek.

That is our handcart and our family...notice no shoes...

On the last day we decided to give rides on top of the handcart.  It was fun.  Seanne and Jane are on top!

This is a great picture of how they pulled and no shoes, just rags and nothing else...so so cool!

At the start of the "women's pull" we had no idea what was ahead of us!!!

another shot without shoes....

There was this swampy muddy area and our family decided to give Pres. Mendenhall a ride across... Hold on!!!

Pushing and pulling up hill

Things are starting to get steep on the "women's pull".

Micah and all our shoes!!

We tried to put rags on our feet but they just fell off... This is me!!

Chad was a great leader and always happy... I love his smile!

This was right after the "women's pull".  There are not words to describe the feelings in my heart!

Again, there are no words!

Ma and pa..

This is a group shot of our whole family!

We had 12 youth assigned to us.  Chad and I were to be their "ma" and "pa".    Trek was a hard, but an incredible experience.  I was not that excited to go.  We slept on the ground.  We were cold at night.  We were dirty, so dirty.  It was hot.  We got blisters on our feet.  One day I only had 2 girls finish out of 6 because of the elements and sickness.  We bonded.  We laughed.  We cried.  One day we gave our kids a little pep talk about facing adversity with hope and challenged them to walk 2 miles without shoes.  They all did this.  No questions asked, they just simply sat down took their shoes off and did it.  It was amazing and so humbling to think that I had the opportunity to spend time with such strong human beings. 
The girls watched as they called all the men away and we began the women's pull.  It was 2 miles long.  It was a steep, steep hill.  There were 7 of us with a 600 pound handcart.  It was tough.  One of the toughest things I have ever done.  As I pushed along with these girls, I was in awe at their strength, determination, and faith.  When we finally reached the top, the men in our family were standing their with wild flowers and drinks.  But before we drank or did anything else, we hugged, we cried, and we said a prayer of gratitude.  That night I had the opportunity to watch Chad administer to one of the girls who was so sick and not feeling well.  It was one of the most stimulating days of my whole life.  I was depleted mentally, physically and spiritually, yet I felt so strong and inspired by this group of kids.  A lot of other special experiences happened that day... they are just too precious for me to write about. 
A Couple of them had terrible blisters on their feet, one girl had heat a stroke, several just had heat exhaustion and were beat up.  We helped each other out.  We took care of each other.  I heard two of the girls sing, one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, without a stitch of music or practicing.  I listened to them bear their testimonies.  I watched them serve each other.  I watched and helped them bandage each others feet.  I watched them dance and laugh together.  I watched them cheer for each other and support each other.  We had races and played some fun games. There isn't enough time and not enough words and space to say all that I want to say so for now; We made memories, but most of all we felt the love of our Savior and the power of the Holy Ghost.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so glad I was there to be a part of it and to share it with Chad!

Pre-school

Zach, Afton and Peter on their first day of pre-school!

What can I say!  He is 3..... He wears big boy underwear and goes to school... Where did the time go?

Torri

Dear Torri,

Today is your 17th birthday!  There are a few things I want to tell you.  The first is that I love you.  Then next would be that I miss you, I really really miss you.  If you were here with me today I would for sure have called you.  In the next couple of days we would have gotten together and had a family birthday party.  Can you believe that you are 17?  That is 17 earth years old.  I don't know how old your spirit is, and now you know a lot more than I do.  Torri there are so many things I want to say to you.   Thanks for coming into our lives when you did.  You seriously brought me so much happiness.  I didn't have my own children then, so I loved you like you were my own.  After your mom had the twins you and I slept together on your bedroom floor and sang primary songs half the night.  I came to Salt Lake and spent almost every weekend with you.  I baby sat you and took rode trips with you.  I fed you yummy cereal and changed your stinky butt.  I kissed you and tickled you and watched you grow up.  I sang songs from the movie "Grease" for you and you thought I was crazy.  I didn't know how much I could miss you.  I would love to see you at the age 17.  Would your hair be long and pretty or still thick and crazy?  Would you have your drivers license, yet?  Would you be going on dates and hanging out with girlfriends?  Would you still love Hannah Montanna and the color pink?  Would you still love pasta and salad, or would your food interests have changed?  Would you be a nice teenager or a snot?  There are so many things I wonder.  But there are also a few things I know!  The first is that you are happy.  I know that your spirit is still living and that you are smiling somewhere and making others laugh and feel happy.  I know that you are an adult and doing all the things you should be doing.  I know that you feel so good.  That you can run and not be weary and walk and not faint.  I know that being able to spend 14 earth years with you and your sweet spirit was a privilege and an  honor.  So here is to one of the coolest young ladies I know... Happy Birthday!  I love you......

Trust=Love

Zach was so happy to see Chad when he got home from Canada. 

There is a sweet bond between these two.  Chad calls him, "Moffy".  None of us are sure why!  When Zach has a bad dream or is upset at night, he crawls in bed with us, and immediately cuddles next to Chad.  He is big and strong and safe.  Chad teases him and wrestles with him and makes him laugh.  Zach trusts him and depends on him as does all the family!  We are thankful to have such a good dad and husband!!!!