24th of july

Rob was able to take some family pictures for me. This is my family. My parents and all the siblings minus cameron. I don't know that we have taken family picture for a long time with just us. We are sitting in age. Fred is next to my dad, then kir, me, chris and butch. We are all growing in age. In ways it makes me sad, but I am thankful for the memories I have with my family. There is nothing better to me than to spend time with my siblings. We have such good times and talks and laughs together. My brothers have all grown in to such amazing men. I love to watch them parent their kids and what a good job them do. I love them so much! My sister...well she is my best friend. I love her more than words can say. It is so comforting and nice to have her in my life. I admire her in so many ways. My parents are the best. I have loved that I have been able to go to SJ so much this summer. We have laughed and made memories that I hope to always remember! I am thankful for the way they brought us up and for the family ties and bonds that we all have!





I love going home for the 24th. I love small town life. These are a few pictures that I captured during the parade until my camera went dead!

Commitment

Commitment.....what are you committed to? We had 4 great talks in church sunday from a family who is new in our ward. Their two daughters are in Young Women. One is older and is really a lot of fun and one who is younger and has special needs. I really enjoy both of their girls so much. Their family seems very well put together. I am giving credit to their mom...she must be an amazing woman! Their special needs daughter is a breath of fresh air to me. I love her. I am amazed at how instantly I have loved her. She brings happiness to my soul when I look at her and watch her interact with the others. Anyways...their parents and these two daughters talked on sunday. I was so impressed. Their dad talked about commitment and it really hit home with me. I have been thinking about it all week in fact. What am I committed to? I can make lists and list of things that I am committed to right now.
1. Feeling sorry for myself that Rob's business has slowed down and money is tight, especially since I just cut back to part time.
2. Eating things that make me sick and feel worse about myself.
3. Making time to watch my tv shows that I love so much.
4. Spending time on the computer when I clearly have so much to be done around the house.
5. Feeling mad
6. Feeling helpless
7. Worrying
My list can go on an on. I have struggled with this. I know in my heart what I want to be committed to. What I love more than anything else in this world. It is amazing to me how easily it is to lose sight of why we are here and what really matters in this life. It seems to take tragedies in our lives to wake us up. It is easier to get caught up in others lives that deal with our own and what needs to be done.
I am going to be doing this 3 month challenge with the girls. One part of it is positive thinking. As I have looked in to this more and "tried" it out on myself I am amazed at how many negative thoughts I tell myself on a daily basis. I have become good a rationalizing or justifying my thoughts in my mind. For instance, I always think to myself if I could just get out of the city and move home. Move to a small town I know I could be more focussed and less of the world. Whether this is true or not, it is not my reality and until that day comes when I am able to get out of this rat race I need to be committed to what is right, not what is convenient or easiest. I am tired of the excuses I tell myself of why my life isn't what I want it to be. I sometimes feel I am wasting my good quality time on things that dont really matter.
So today I am renewing my commitment. Commitment to things that are most important to me in my life.
1. I am committed to taking better care of me so that I have the energy and patience to take care of others.
2. I am committed to helping my kids in whatever they need.
3. I am committing my time to doing good and serving others.
4. I am committed to God and living his teachings.
5. I am committed to my husband and family
My list could go on and on. I am thankful for all the many things I am blessed with in my life. I am thankful for my children and that I am able to help them grow in to God loving, hard working adults. I am thankful for church and the constant reminders of what we need to be doing in our lives. It helps me keep focussed on what really matters. I am thankful for my husband and how I have grown to love him. He works hard for us and I appreciate it. I know I will fail and lose sight once again of what matters, but for today I am COMMITTED!

School Starts!

School has started and I couldn't be happier. I know there is the sadness of the kids not being home, but I like the newness of it all. I like the new schedules, the new clothes, the new desire to start off with a bang and accomplish whatever comes our way. It is sort of like the new year, where you get to start over fresh with new goals. This is what the new school year is to me. I have been motivated and happy to do whatever comes my way. This could also be that I am back to work part time. Whatever it may be I am embracing it with my whole heart. I love getting up and having the kids breakfast ready. Picking them up after school and hearing about their day at school. Fixing dinner and once again sitting down as a family to eat it all at the same time. I love it! So while I may miss the summer a smidge, I look forward for the fall with more excitement! Happy School days everyone!

Camping

We were able to go camping two different times with the family. Once over Memorial day and the other a 4 day camping trip over the 4th. We have a ranch that was my great grandparents homestead way back when. The ranch has special place in my heart. I have been to many many family reunions over my life time there. I have so many great memories being at the ranch with my grandparents, playing spoons, getting wet in the river. I am really happy to have my kids experience memories there! My brothers spent the week before we went camping and went and cleaned and cleaned the ranch. It was awesome. They had all the grass areas mowed and set up a volleyball court which the adults were able to have lot of late night games that made me laugh my head off! It is beautiful. I love spending time there! I appreciate my brothers taking time out of their busy lives to go and make it nice for all of us! I was a little worried about the actual camping. I haven't actually "camped" in a very long time. We have our trailer and so we have all the luxuries of home. But the trailer is too big to haul to the ranch....there is no way we would be able to pull it up the hill. So camping it was. We had so much fun! Here are a few things that we did while we were there!




We hung out and spent lots of quality time with family! We slept, laughed and enjoyed each others company. I don't think I have relaxed and enjoyed myself this much in a very long time. I LOVED being away from the stress of the city. I always have something going on and my time seems to be planned to the max. It was so nice to be home! Maybe I will move home!!!











Had fun with all of the kids. We played games, had them all do some sort of a talent which was a lot of fun! Makenna turned out to be quite the magician!





Caught snakes! Can you believe how long this blow snake is? HUGE!


Threw rocks in the pond. The pond is filled with the natural spring water that overflows. I always had fun skipping rocks as a kids in this pond!




Played in the Little Colorado river. The kids had a blast playing and catching crawdads (SP) and floating in tubes down the river to the end of the lot line! Rob and Keirsten even attempted to float. It was a little hard in the shallow places but the water felt refreshing! I was happy to see water in the river at all!










I got to lay in my cot and stare at the blue blue skies and puffy white clouds. Nothing can get better than God's beauty he has blessed us with and family!