Cone Park

Maggie got everyone passes to tube at the new Cone Park in SC.  The kids had fun.  Ben had a BLAST!!

Christmas 2017

It was a great Christmas.  Went to Sioux City. But Christmas Day Hunter woke with a 102 degree and its lasted two solid days.  Everyone enjoyed their gifts.  Now we're working on finishing the basement and searching for a car/truck for Austin! 😫

Best friends

Maddie lived five house up the street until about a month ago...now they live about 15 minutes away and Ell is so sad.  I hope they will always be friends. 

Christmas card

Thought it would be funny to put a pic of our backs on the back of our Christmas card.  I even put "bringing sexy back" on our cards!  

Sav and Ava

If you search back a few years to our time in Tulsa, you will find stories and pics of Savannah's best friend Ava.  They moved there the same time we did and they got put in the same kindergarten class.  They became immediate BFF's.  We moved to Omaha 2 years later,  and Ava and her mom and sisters came to visit.  That was Oct 2013ish...while here,  Jessica, Ava's mom lost her job and found out her husband was having an affair and wanted a divorce.  Needless to say sending them back to Tulsa after that weekend was hard.  

The girls have remained friends.  A couple months after the divorce, Jessica met Robbie and now 3 years later, they have two additional kids and are moving from Utah to NY.  

Jessica and the kids stopped in Omaha for a couple hours to have lunch and catch up.  I just love them.  She is a good, God fearing woman who values family and country.  She is kind and generous and...just the best.  

The girls caught up like no time had passed...as happens with real true friendships... they pick up right where they left off.  

 I am grateful for modern technology that allows us to feel connected to those we hardly see.  I can't wait to see where these amazing young women end up!! 

Family matters

It's been rough around here in relation to matters of family, both immediate and extended.   Lots of contention and short tempers, flair ups and heated exchanges, some name calling and hurt feelings.  

So last night in a last ditch effort to find some peace I drove myself to the Winter Quarters temple.  I knew it would be closed on a Sunday night, but I just needed to be as close to my Heavemly Father as possible as I had some soul searching questions to ask him.  

I began with repenting for being stubborn and proud.  

For not listening to promptings I had been given weeks earlier and feeling superior to his reminders that I needed to humble myself and attempt to repair the rift that has developed in my family.  I didn't want to.  I didn't feel like I should have to.  

I pleaded to know if it was really all worth it.  All the heartache, the pain, the hurt feelings, the amount of forgiveness required to keep a family together... was it really worth it?   Are family relations really worth all the trouble?  I was feeling sad for myself. My eternal family was beginning to feel more like a prison sentence and less like any eternal reward for work well done.  Did I really want to spend eternity with these people anyway?  I could barely tolerate them for a weekend!  

The answer came as it always does.  A voice spoke within my heart, still and small.  Filled with peace, hope and an overwhelming response...Yes...it is worth it.  They are worth all the effort,  all the humbling, all the pride swallowing, all the heartache, all the pain.  Families are worth all the work.  They are the only thing that is worth it.  

While they don't make it easy, I have my answer.  I will do whatever is necessary to fix it.  I will honor my covenants, I will repent and try harder, I will allow myself to hear their side and be compassionate.  I will focus less on being right and more on being happy.   

They are the only thing that matters.  God says so. 

Eagle Scout

This guy has worked hard for the past three and a half years to achieve the rank of Eagle.  His project and final board of review was last night and he was approved!!  We are beyond proud of him!! 

If she can smile...

Her blood sugars have been higher lately.. not sure why.  On this day she had not been under 200 and while taking a warm bath I realized that if she can smile through it, then I can too!! 

Taller than Nana

The girls

Ell sitting ing on Sav's lap...telling made up stories and laughing.  I'm glad they like each other occasionally. 

Skinny Bones

Took three of the four to Skinny Bones while Savannah went to SC for the night.  I love fall! 

Thirteenager

Savannah decided to ring in her 13th year with a little family cirque show!  I love that she still loves and plays with her siblings!  She is a wonderful sister!  They are lucky to have her!

Two peas in a pod

I am so glad these two have each other.  They really have each other's back.  I image before Hunter joined our family he was worried that he couldn't be without her and she told him, "don't worry I will be right behind you."  

She came along 22 months later and he needs her.  She calms him and makes him feel secure.  They knew they needed one another and that they needed to close enough image to be friends and peers.  

I am so grateful Heavenly Fayher sent Ell when he did.  I know I felt overwhelmed and questioned His timing and plan for our family, but He knew what I didn't.  They needed one another.  His plan is always better than mine.

modeling pics

We got some "mother and me" tops in the store for fall and Dana asked if Ellorie and I would "model" them!  When we were done, Dana gave Ell her pick from the flower cooler and Ell got a pink long stem rose which was displayed on our kitchen table until it all but disintegrated.  She was very proud of it.  I am glad we did it, cause... isn't she cute!

Fake glasses make better art

Pres. Russell M. Nelson's visit

It was such an amazing weekend.  Pres. Nelson was funny, witty, and kept the kids so engaged in his message.  These are the notes I took-

Rules of Perspective- Elder Anderson

People must be more important than things. 

That which lasts for a long time is more important than things that are temporary.  Things that last forever are the most important of all. 

What you do and who you are is much more important than what you say. 

Life, like a picture, takes on beauty and balance when you focus on the things that matter most. 

"You must want to fly so much that you're willing to give up being a caterpillar." - Sis. Nelson

Things to give up- 

1. Change your music
2. Throw away certain books.  Pornographic?
3.   Stop drinking Monster's.  

Look at your life, what could I give up?  

Immerse yourself in MORE Light. 

Not even once.

Pres. Nelson

The only ultimate safety in this life is never taking the first step.  Never take the first step toward an end that you know is wrong. 

Begin now to prepare for marriage. Put it on the high pedestal that it deserves. The one thing that matters is your family.   Keep the commandments if you want to have joy.  Protect yourself by compliance to the law.  A good marriage is two imperfect people trying to be better.  Contemplate. Communicate. Elevate.  With your kids- Catch them doing something good and praise them.  Honor your own parents. Write a letter to each child- one piece of paper- express faith and testimony, hope and love. 

Prepare for eternal life now. Qualify to live with our families and God forever. Patriarchal blessings will help you know where your lineage comes. Remember the proclamation to the world.  Understand and live by it.  

Pursue education.  It is a religious responsibility. Don't be a quitter in school.  You can do hard things.  

Pay your tithing. Trust the Lord. Continue to read the scriptures. Grow in spiritual symmetry.  Don't let the husband be the scriptorian,  and the wife the Christian. 

Sunday Stake conference

Sister Nelson-prepare yourself for general conference.  When we pray to fill the measure of our creation, it changes who we are and who we are with. Our light needs to be bright enough to light the world around us. What would you stop doing and start doing if we knew we would meet with the Savior in 6 weeks? 

Pres. Nelson- when God works miracles in our lives, the least we can do is acknowledge them.  All your children should be taught in the Lord, then great shall be their joy. Eternal life is possible to those who qualify. Resurrection will happen for all.  Eternal life with God is only available to those who qualify. When we take the Sacrament we promise to take on His name, to be christians, that we will obey the commandments, and then he will bless us. 

This dispensation will not end in apostasy.  It will end with the second coming of Jesus.  It will not be limited by location. The gospel will cover the whole earth.  This dispensation is so different than any other dispensation of time. 

Hunter gets baptized

I just really love our family.  I am so proud of Hunter and his decision to be baptized like Jesus.  He is making good choices and is turning into such a strong, independent boy.  

Wisconsin Dells in pics

Ridiculousness

This dog is ridiculous!

Lady Antebellum concert

Ben and I tookAustin to his first concert.  It was fantastic!! They were great.  Kelsie Ballerini opened.  We sang and danced and had a blast!! I love having older kids!!

Back to school with the boys

I love our back to school dates!  This is me and the boys at Hiro 88!! 

Handsy Senator

We met the Senior Senator from the great state of Delaware- the honorable Thomas R. Carpet.  Can't remember much of what he said, but I can remember what both his hands felt like on my arm and back. 😬

Road trip to D.C

This was us after 18 driving hours to D.C., 10 miles away from Mina's house and stuck in traffic!

This is how we looked just a few short hours before!

After the rain

We got caught in a rain storm and got drenched!  So we jumped in the pool fully clothed...cause why not!!

This was Maggie and I in the downpour.  Soaked and happy!