Called to Serve

I love this guy! I am so proud of my little brother! Today he entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) It feels like it's been a long road to get there.  

It's official! He is now a Missionary getting ready to serve the Lord.

I love him and I know he will be great in all he does!

If you are interested in how he is doing or to read his farewell talk you can see it here.

I have done a lot of thinking the past week (from the time it actually "hit" me he was leaving this week) about different things in life. One thing was when I think back to the time when I left home to be on my "own". (I was actually living with my sis. but that's beside the point.) Mike was only 8 years old.  I was worried about leaving my younger siblings behind! I wanted to be there for them and to help guide them to make good choices and just be there through any bad times that might come. And it was just really hard for them to grow up without me. But, I knew I was not in control, and I was just their sister not a parent, and I had my own life to take care of. So, looking back I think of how I feel like I have been holding my breath this whole time, seeing all of the good and not so good choices made or different paths that could have been taken for Mike to get to where he is, and I was just able to release it all today finally and breathe a little easier. Maybe that sounds silly, but it's really just my thoughts and it makes sense to me. 

1. I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go
2. It may not be on the mountain’s height, Or over the stormy sea; It may not be at the battle’s front, My Lord will have need of me; But if by a still, small voice He calls, To paths that I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine, I’ll go where You want me to go.
   • Refrain: I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord, O’er mountain, or plain, or sea; I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what You want me to be.
3. Perhaps today there are loving words Which Jesus would have me speak; There may be now in the paths of sin, Some wand’rer whom I should seek; O Savior, if Thou wilt be my guide, Though dark and rugged the way, My voice shall echo Thy message sweet, I’ll say what You want me to say.
4. There’s surely somewhere a lowly place, In earth’s harvest fields so white, Where I may labor through life’s short day, For Jesus the Crucified; So trusting my all to Thy tender care, And knowing Thou lovest me, I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere, I’ll be what You want me to be.

Ha-Ha Halloween Fun

A few of the pumpkins on display on the trail

This weekend we had more fun Halloween activities.

At Ha Ha Tonka they had a walk way up to the castle lined with around 100 pumpkins,

and scary things hanging from the branches of the trees

and other cool Halloween decor.

We enjoyed Hot Apple Cider (which was really just a little warm)

 

And of course....

Making yummy smores!

Daddy and Hayden, and Hayden's pose for "take my picture!"

Brandon's eye's are on fire like the dragons'.

They also had ghost tales, been bag toss and little prizes, and a small craft for the kids. 

Alyssa is always so terrified with anything scary that has to do with Halloween. She starts to cry in the store before we are even close the the aisles if she spots it.

So she keeps her distance, while the boys love it!

A Summer gone

Summer came and went so fast. I just want to remember Some of what we have really enjoyed and it is seeing all of the fun little critters everywhere.  They are just so fun, but mostly because the kids get so excited about them.

We saw so many turtles! We did not get many pictures of them though. This Larger one may have been the last one we did see. I like the picture of Alyssa reaching for it. She was crying because she didn't want it to go.

These are random... a baby cardinal, hummingbird, baby groundhog, sky before tornado warnings, the beautiful lake we are surrounded by, and a pretty harmless garden spider that lived on our porch for awhile.

More lake, ringneck snake, butterfly

Of course the frogs! We saw sooo many frogs this year. Brandon caught the one he is holding and was so proud of it. He seamed to like him, it just hung out for quite awhile.

Nature is the best part of Summer I think.

There is so much of it all around us here at the Lake and it is so fun watch and learn with the kids or just go for a walk on trails and enjoy it.

Pumpkin Patch Harvest

Parents As Teacher's has an activity every month to do with the kids.

This was so much fun with the kiddos.

First we went on a scavenger hunt on a trail and at the end there were scattered pumpkins for the kids to pick one and have.

They did crafts, painted and decorated their pumpkins, pumpkin sack races, and a few other various activities. More perfect weather and fun times with my kids.

Happy Anniversary To Us

October 14, 2000

On Wednesday the 14th marked 8 years of being Married.

I have such a wonderful husband and family, and I am thankful for every bit of what I have.

It's amazing how time goes on and you realize that you are constantly growing as a couple and are always learning new things about one another.

I am so lucky to have Justin as a wonderful husband, who really takes care of me and loves me.

He is so wonderful with our children and they love him so very much.

The past years have not all been that easy but I have loved every moment we have had spent together.

  I can't wait to see where our roads lead us in the future.

I love Justin with all of my heart and I am so thankful our family will be together forever!

Love you my Hottie! 

Happy eight  years together!

Tagged

8 TV SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH

(if I had TV to watch....)  1. So, I don't love to watch TV

    although it is sometimes nice

    if I had it to watch...... 

    but here are a few.... 2. Extreme makeover: Home Addition  3. Smallville 4. Animal Planet 5. Some reality TV series 6. Any decor home show

7. How do I look 8. Any of the kids shows with them 8 PLACES I LOVE TO EAT  1. Olive Garden 2. Cafe Rio 3. Rubio's  4. Rodizio Grill

5. Panera Bread 6. Yia Yia's 7. The Mayan 8. The Cheesecake factory 8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

1. Drove Justin to work 2. played with a cute tiny puppy

3.played with the kids at a fun park 4. drove Alyssa to school 5. went home and ate lunch and played with Hayden and Tre 6.cleaned  7. took the kids to the Parents as Teachers monthly get together

8. came home made dinner 8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO 1. Alone quiet time to think 2. time with Justin  3. Mine and Justin's next get away alone

4. Mine and Justin's next date night!!  5. Mike going on his mission 

6. getting in better shape 7. seeing family again 8. Myka to be better trained

8 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT FALL 1. The cooler weather 2. spending more time outdoors 3. changing colors 4. festivities and beginning of the holidays 5 .hot chocolate (preferably Stephen's)  6. kids excitement over the leaves  7. new family pictures  8. bugs start to go away (such as ticks and chiggers!)

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST 1. Get more organized! 2. replace broken kitchen appliances.

3.kids to sleep in their own beds all night! 

4. time and motivation to finish some projects I started a long time ago! 5. make time to read more  6. more patience 7.pay off my car  

8. to decorate my house how I would like (probably = the $) 8 PEOPLE I'M TAGGING

Whoever would like to be tagged.....

I really don't like picking people, so go for it! 

Boat Races

The Horny Toad Offshore Super Series National Championship Power Boat Race

One of our outings out together a few weeks back we went to watch the boat races. 

there were fun things to see all over the place. 

As you can see in the above picture the boat coming around has an orange triangle floaty cone thing to the right. It was a track they made in the water with these cones. 

These boats are so big, they have to be lifted up into the water by these ropes attached to hooks on the top and a crane!

It's dark, but you can see us standing by one of the boats while still on the trailer, to give you an idea of size. And look at this huge truck to pull it! 

The boats weren't the only entertainment. Alyssa and Hayden loved their first bus ride on a school bus! That was really exciting for them. They were chartering people down to the race from a parking lot a mile up the road.

And they loved watching all of the big and little fish by the docks.

It was a fun little outing.

Happy Birthday to my Babe

Wednesday was Justin's Birthday.

Happy Birthday!

Since he was away camping with the kids from work we had to go to him.

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures.

We went and found him at the camp site and hung out for a bit and walked Myka around with the kids then went to get a quick bite of food so we could hurry and get him back. 

We took him his most favorite treat I make... magic layered cookie bars.

I had to post these of him to show his true personality. 

Every photo session goes something like this. He is just one of the kids. He always try's to make people laugh. 

We were all happy we could still see each other and that he wasn't too far away.

I think the kids are way more excited about birthdays than we are as we get older.

This was good timing for his birthday... Thanks for this good Tag Jill it was good to use.

A little about Justin.......

Spouse Tag

1. Where did we meet?      That's not a simple answer. But can be summed up....

We met in 90' to 1991 in Kansas where our families were in the same ward at church. I was only there for a year.

We then ran into each other at UVSC in Utah at a fireside where we exchanged phone numbers to only wait another 6 months before seeing each other again at the Provo Tabernacle at another fireside, where we then finally came together. 

2. How long did we date before we married?  6 months

3. How long have we been married? 8 years

4. He surprises me by.... doing many little (sometimes big) things for me.  

 

5. My favorite feature of him is.... His eyes and his smile  (sometimes they go together) :)

6. His nicknames for me are... Hunny, Mamajama, 

7. His favorite food... Prime Rib

8. His favorite sport ....  Wake boarding and Football 

9. Where was our first kiss?  At my apartment by the front door in Provo.

10. Our favorite thing to do? Probably to watch movies or tv shows together when the kids are asleep and just be together.

11. Any children?

Three. Brandon, Alyssa and Hayden

12. Any hidden talents? Hmmm.... his ability to connect with people. ,  building things out of wood... I'm sure there's more 

13. How old is he? 32

14. Who said I love you first?  He did!

15. Favorite type of music? mostly alternative, his favorite at the moment is Angels & Airwaves 

16. I admire him most for.... his hard work in all that he does, and love, care and concern for his family.

17. Do I think he'll read this? Definitely

My little sis Heather shares the same Birthday! Happy Birthday girl! 

You're awesome! And we love ya! Happy 14th!

 

Time together

I love weekends because it usually means we get to spend some family time together after a long week of school and work or just the busyness that seems to happen. Even if it means running errands or such, having the family all together turns a boring chore into a fun outing. This weekend was no exception. I woke up with plans of Justin going to basketball but before he left I would take Brandon and Myka and go for a quick walk. We would watch the first session of conference then go to Arts in The Park with the kids. then go from there..... 

None of this happened. At least not in that order. Instead, we all got into the car, even Myka and went up to Justin's work to do some last minute preparations before he leaves on a camping trip all next week for work.

One of the more fun errands was to take a short ride to the pumps

 to make sure the boat had gas for the trip.

We soon learned that Myka loves the boat and was so calm and relaxed the entire time.

I am sure the nice cool breeze helped. It was another beautiful day!

After the work was all done in the office we went on a drive to record mileage. It's a beautiful drive through our state parks and let everyone out to stretch their legs for a bit and skip rocks across the water. 

We then had a trip to Petco where we saw the kids usual favorites... turtles, fish, and various rodents....

We finally made it to Arts in the Park for the last little bit.

being so late we missed a lot of the days activities. They served lunch and desert, had all kinds of crafts to make, face painting, places to share your own talents, clowns making balloon animals for the kids, a fun little walk through maze, some hands on learning activities.

 

 I think my kids favorites were the ponies, donkey's, alpacas, some small dogs 

and rabbits that they could hold the leashes to (except the bunnies) 

and walk around with and pet and hold.

Alyssa loved trying to have conversations with a pony in it's own language.

The best of it all is that it was all free! it was great.  They held this to support families spending time together and build self esteem. 

So, we missed most of the day of conference talks but, I am sure glad I could go home and listen to what I missed on the internet! I love being outdoors and being there with my family. It keeps everyone in a better mood being outside and wears off a lot of bottled up energy the kids would have otherwise.

I love my husband and all of my kids. I love having the time to be together.