Rambling thoughts for surviving the storm ...

It's been a busy summer with a lot of comings and goings, family visits, birthday parties, babies growing up and all the daily stuff. It's a joy to have the little people under foot and reminds me many times of when our big ones were little and how hectic the days can be. Once you're a "mom" the daily needs consume ... balanced meals, creative stimulation, survival skills, offense and defensive protection ... and certainly no self-indulgence time. Some days you just wish the sun could be the moon, for just a minute.

But it is a blink! These hundreds of selfless acts of service are molding your family into men and women of strength and confidence, joy and peace, understanding, kindness, faith ... all the things you are praying for them to be. Sometimes I miss being in the eye of the storm, yet see from a different view now where the air seems clearer and easier to breathe. So grateful I had the blind faith to find peace in the storm and know "this too shall pass," therefore my mantra became, 'find joy in EACH day.'

So in watching our young families in the eye of the storm, I often smirk with familiarity as it's the same story. Yet in this season (gwamma), we no longer walk in blind faith, but know the Lord DOES build men and women of light (as witnessed in Andy, Todd, Heather and Ashley). I am grateful for the power of the family circle and our responsibilities to it no matter which station we occupy. He is a wise Heavenly Father to give us family support to lift when one is down, (or pull down when one is too high), and to carry one anothers burdens. It is continued joy for us!

So young ones, just be the sun. The moon comes out ... eventually. xo












"In these preparatory years, you young women spend much of your time in schools or jobs where you receive accolades, honors, awards, ribbons or trophies. When you move from that stage to young motherhood, there is a dramatic drop-off in outside commendation. Yet in no other capacity is there more opportunity to serve selflessly as Christ would do by taking care of hundreds of daily physical, emotional and spiritual needs. You will bring the light of the gospel into your homes -- not to be seen of others, but to build others -- men and women of strength and light."
~Susan W. Tanner ~

Education Week in Provo!

Couldn't wait to get off the plane and up the mountains!

We took the little hike at the top of Sundance to get a sequel to pics from years ago with Riley. It is a wicked little slippy slide on the way down!

Katie was a great study buddy and fun to share our treasures of learning together. It was a privilege to just listen and learn this week without a lot of responsibility...felt like a teenager again(except with the desire to learn this time!) Norlene hooked in for a few days of class and it was great to catch up on the news and remember how much I miss her! The week was full of serendipities running into different people on campus, hanging with our Music Friends and sucking in as much of the beautiful mountains as I could! God's great tender mercies!
We timed it just perfect to see Rebecca and Zavior in Utah too! He is adorable and at such a fun poser stage! So cute!

Pilot Andy

I was having a bit of buyers remorse on my camera because it is quite a bit larger than I want to be packing around, but it hasn't taken a bad shot yet! Today sealed the deal when I went to take pics of Pilot Andy! He's flying past me and the camera is great to freeze frame and shoots at 6 1/2 frames/second. It gives me a lot of extra pictures to delete but at least you know you're not going to miss the golden shot.

This is his Nilla plane and I'm tickled proud he knows what every one of these buttons mean and when to pull them! I taxied down with him from the hanger to the runway and then got out to be his paparazzi, armed with a radio to hear him communicate with the airport. His take offs and landings were perfect and it was great fun to share in his hobby. I can't wait until he can take passengers cuz I'm ready to go!

Lazy days of summer

Marking Generations

Ernie and Germaine rolled into town for a few days and it was fun to catch up on their life and relax swimming, playing cards, eating cream puffs and stage some generation shots.



This face shows the delight of cream puffs!

Small and Simple Things

We've had fun practicing with our new camera - a Canon D40. Andy, Todd and I each bought one and all have much to learn in our quest to go pro.

Here are some of my porch friends ...

Still a few gecko's hanging around even tho Roxy remains a devoted hunter and has significantly reduced our population of frogs and bunnies.

My hummingbird feeder hangs (out of Roxy's reach) just outside my office window and gives much joy to observe the small and simple things of life.

dear hair, you are still short.

 

oops, i did it again.

Summer Splash!

We are an entourage arriving at the lake! Boats, jet skis, several tubes, knee boards, wake boards, skis, coolers and a lot of kids! Justin got a new boat adding to the toy chest and so did Jay ... it's a bit over the top but no excuse to be bored or idle!
I didn't get pictures of the boat, but here's the wake size - great for boarders!
These are at the private lake. Haley Mae has the no fear blood and is a little fish in the water game to try anything. She has knee boarded before but this was her first time to take off by herself w/o daddy in the water. Andy and Chris are awesome on the slalom course. Those buoys just come too fast for dad and I as we are happy to be at the little lake for smooth water! That may be on my summer goal list to sync the timing. Chris is a great multi-tasker!