I'm grateful for….the Book of Mormon and my ancestors

I go through spurts where I am good and being consistent in my scripture reading and then sometimes I'm not. I have been pretty good lately and I have felt a huge difference this time around! I have noticed I have more patience with the kids and I'm more optimistic, I feel more inspired in how to handle stressful situations and I just feel good! I am so grateful for the gospel and I truly believe it is here to help us get through this life and return to Him. I just love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!!! I hope I can make my ancestors proud for all they sacrificed and did as members and pioneers. They had to go through so much and if they can do it then I can too! I find so much strength from them.

Mya said…..

Mya found wax in her ear and had some on her finger and said, "look dad there's food in my ear" hahaha

Happy Independence Day 2014

Thursday the 3rd I went to the Colonial Days in Provo with my friend Michelle and her kids. I just love history so much! and I love to see how they lived and survived in the past.

We spent the 4th of July in Franklin. We went up on thursday night painted Mya and I's toenails festive red and blue. Grandpa even let Mya try it on him:) and made our new traditional red and blue m&ms in rice krispie treats.

Friday morning went to the parade friday morning in Lewiston and got lots of candy (mya had no kids next to her so it was all hers), that afternoon my dad rode the 4 wheeler, Jaxon rode the motorcycle and Dean drove Mya, Hunter, Jakey, and I in the side by side up to Indian flats. It's a beautiful ride up Maple Creek (we would love to have a home there) and basically it goes all the way up the mtn and the view is amazing! it overs looks Franklin, Preston, Lewiston and all the little towns in between. The trail was blocked off but my dad said, "it shouldn't be" so we just opened the fence and went right up :) later mom and I went to Gma Smith's to go through some more stuff, I got an old trunk that I want to use for pics I'll have to try it out on Mindy's little one when he gets here, Mya played in the water slide with Jakey and Hunter later that day. Dean and I and the kids all got into a water fight! it was so fun! Dean of course had to "win" by dunking me in the pool:) man I love him! Then Dean had a little nap then we had a wonderful dinner full of family and laughs, then we lit our own fireworks that night.

Saturday morning my mom watched the kids while Dean and I went on a horse ride with Papa Sid and Belle joined us up Cherry creek to scout out some deer since Dean and I both drew deer tags this year!!! wahoo!!! I'm so excited! It was a beautiful ride and we just love our conversations with Papa Sid-he is a great man! That afternoon we invited a neighbor girl, Alexis Denton, to play in the kiddie pool with Mya and Baylor, my mom and I lounged in the sun and chatted. During that time Dean and his long time friend Russell Ward went golfing in Preston. We had dinner and watched the horse movie, secretariat.

Sunday we went to church and it was fun for me to catch up with my long time friend Kristina Crosland and my old young women leader. We had dinner at the Hansen's and played a game called cub. 

only a few words can sum up this weekend: Family and Fun! I'm so thankful for our families and the closeness we all share. God is great for creating the Plan of Happiness!

2014 Family Pictures

During the weekend of Shalese's reception and Baylor's Bday I had our family pics taken by Ann White (she did Baylor's newborns for free) she is so sweet and talented. Here are a few of my favorites:

Baylor LOVES cows..

One monday evening I stayed with my inlaws because I had a skills training day the next day at the Logan instacare and then the kids and I drove back tuesday evening after I was done. anyway…monday right when we got there Geraldine said, "Sid's on a call that's at a close dairy. He's delivering a calf what to go?" of course I wanted to go! so we went with the kids and Mya got to see the calf come out and said, "the baby cow came out of the mama cow's milk." haha yep:) then I held Baylor and he heard it bellowing after Papa Sid revived it a bit. and he nervously giggled and looked at me for approval and I laughed so he laughed then the calf bellowed again and he full on laughed! it was so funny to see how enthralled he was with this calf. Maybe we have a future vet on our hands:)

Grandma Estelle Smith's 1941 table

I got to take my grandmother's table that she got from her mother and father for her wedding. they were married toward the end of 1941 just before Pearl Harbor was bombed and I love it so much! it needs new chairs but it has 3 little leaves to add to it so it can grow with our family and I'm very sentimental and I love wiping it down and thinking of how my dad grew up eating and playing ping pong on this table:) I'm sure there were hundreds of lazy house wife pickles that were served on this table, plenty of card games, and I know there were even some arguments among the table.

I miss my grandma so much and cherish all that she has left me, especially the non tangible things such as the stories of my pioneer heritage and the love, kisses, warmth, and smiles she always gave me.

When Dean and I went to the temple this last saturday there was an elderly woman in front of us and I just teared up because I want so badly to sit next to her and listen to her talk. I'm so grateful that there is the plan of happiness and I know that I will see her again, thank goodness for that or I would be a wreck.

Mya said….

Mya asked Dean if he wanted some princess food, he said yes and she came back with her toy princess in her toy frying pan hahaha