{10 for today.}

Love this:) Think about it.

Its becoming increasingly more aware everyday in this day and age that we need to stand alone, stand up and work hard & BE different. Well thats we are:) Don't follow the crowd....

 ----------------------------------------

1. I honestly, as bad as this sounds can not wait for school to start:) Routine, a clean house, non fighting kids sounds glorious;) We just all function a little better with some structure and K is bored bored bored as much as I try to find things for him to do or places for him to go! He ends up being the one teasing/pestering the other kids! AHHH {and I'll admit its a little hard with D gone even more with bishop duties but we manage :) Just makes for really really long days for me:) They kind of feel the same ha ha;)

 

2. WE Finally got out on our boat {one happy husband} and kids seriously we love nothing more then boating and building memories together water sun and toys, make for happy boys {and girls:)

 

3. K finally found a water love and got up on the wakeboard

4. "You can't live a positive life with a negative mind"

-a great reminder so much negativity out there

5. I love the yellow canola fields I am dying to do family pics there soon someday!

6. My kids are growing up way to fast I swear every summer they get so much bigger than the entire year combined!

7. I love Glen Beck -Because he is real,

 opinionated and brings to light the stories media doesn't want us to see hear or think about...so many issues out there check it out

8. I will soon be released from my primary calling of 2.5 years as primary president there are some things I will miss especially those I work with, the funny things the kids say and all the learning and growing experiences I've had. Seriously if you give it your all its amazing what you can take from it and it shapes you, bends you and stretches you and makes you into a stronger better version of what you used to be . I am SO thankful for everything I've learned in this calling I have had amazing councilors who made my job easier, great teachers willing to serve and work with....and really really love those sweet innocent children all 70 plus:)  of them {scared to see what's next;) but whatever it is I'll do my best because if I learned anything in this life its that nothing lasts forever!

Love this quote. I wish everyone realized this.

9. Try this. so good. so easy. even with GF noodles. here.

10. Find some peace. There are perfect days and not so perfect days. But mornings like this remind me that I'm not in charge and that I have a perfectly unblemished day ahead .......its how you use it depends on how blemished it will be....but moments like these renew and replenish my will and drive to be just a little better than I was yesterday...and refer to #1 somedays its really hard;) But I'm trying and thats all HE asks isnt' it:) Do your best:)

"Be happy with what you have, while working for what you want."
"So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied." 

-Helen Keller

Perspective. 

 

Seriously who reads these days ?

Tell me what your grateful for beyond the obvious;) 

Would love to know who still reads 

this old lonely blogger girls thoughts:)

Have a great week we are off to make new memories:)

♥Make yours worth remembering.♥

{SLC trip & Me thinks:) }

Well the week came and went to fast it was cut by 2 days this time as D had to go to Moroni's Quest a youth stake activity for four days before...But we got on the road last Monday night at about 5pm poor tired man as soon as he got home we pretty much headed out! My awesome sil Katelyn watched the three younger ones and K came with us to stay at his aunt's in Utah:) SO it was a fun week exactly the break I needed though it went by to fast:) But its always fun seeing the company grow and move forward and see friends each year!

The first day when we got there we had a couple hours before the opening BBQ which K came with us then we headed to D's sisters place but we ran to city creek mall and spent a little time there....

 First official day started with meetings that we are required to go to Wednesday morn followed by a luncheon and speaker for the wives...then we got the privileged to see three of the six sisters present it was SO fun!! They are so talented and entertaining was a really fun presentation! Check out there blog here

{Have to say the highlight for me afterwards was that Elise the dark haired one came up to me afterwards and told me she reads my blog and had listened to my music when she was getting ready that day! Totally made my day of course I went red with embarrassment or more likely a little star struck that one of them read my little old blog! Anyway it was a really fun day!

Day 3  D brought me breakfast in bed:) my favorite kind:) I went around temple square my favorite place every year ...went shopping to gateway mall and city creek and read a book outside for a bit ended the day off with a fancy banquet and inspiring speaker....Working for the church gives such insight to the vast vast projects and welfare side of things but also the spiritual side of things is wonderful love it!!

Okay bloggers doing something weird so I can't move these pics around but day 2 night we went to the roof restaurant and got this awesome shot of the temple! It was so pretty and I took it through the window too! and a really expensive meal we weren't expecting lesson learned see what the cost is first:( oops!

 We walked around and enjoyed the night together

Got up early friday morn and went for a quiet city run it was SO nice so if you ever wondered what the 5-6am hour looks like here it is! So peaceful!

So an awesome few days I look forward to this week each year to see others in the company and spend some time with D just us, and get some pampered relaxation 

{easier to say when someone else if fitting the bill makes it all the nicer too;)

-----------------------------------------------------

ME THINKS.

A  little much lately.

Pornography is an epidemic right now.

I have heard so many disturbing stories lately all route cause of 

pornography.

ITS DISGUSTING. SAD. WRONG. and DISTURBING. Demeaning and Satan sure knows what he's doing for the time being doesn't he.. 

BUT HE WILL NOT WIN in the end.

I can try and protect my children in my home but its SO rapidly available everywhere you turn. It's not a matter of if you will see it... its when....IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL.  IN OUR HOUSE we teach them, warn them and protect as much as we can against it.

It destroys marriages, perverts and twists minds and actions, makes one secretive and guilty everywhere I turn these days I hear another story, another marriage, another relationship tainted and destroyed by it...and it makes me SO scared for my children, for my family for all of us having to grow up in these times where society finds nothing wrong with perversion on SO SO many levels. 

ITS disturbing {oops I think I said that a few times! but its so so true! }

AND

THE other epidemic is the love of self ......I know on more than two hands the affairs, the I'm to good now for my family and husband/wife

I call it the "the GYM epidemic"

Thats where it starts in so many cases

They work out..... become gym and body obsessed and then think they are missing out on "the supposed" life and partying, clubbing "freedom" they never had. The flaunting self love idea.....

The husband/wife isn't good enough anymore, the children are an inconvenience, and their faith and standards get left at the back door for momentary pleasure {or whatever they call it} life?

Limits are pushed, boundaries are broken

Covenants, promises and hearts are broken....

The children are irrevocably damaged because there father/mother thinks the latest clubbing/party late night and looking trashy "hot" is more

important then them. 

More important then bed time stories and dinner and a day at the park. A hug, a hold, a kiss good night.

That "they" deserve a second chance of ME time.

Its so disturbing and so heartbreaking to watch good people fall....

ITS SO sad. I Can't imagine throwing away everything I know and am for exactly what Satan wants us to believe 

That it isn't true

That self love / love anybody is all that matters

self destructive behavior 

That family isn't important

That the children don't matter

That the next best drink, boy/girl and flaunting of the body they think is so hot now that these momentary pleasure are worth losing 

 the very most important things in life. 

The things that matter the most in the end of our life looking back I can promise you it won't be that club or party that will matter.....

Watching people throw it all away for a supposed good time, watching the children suffer, the husbands or wives suffer so bad..... its HEARTBREAKING. 

I'm pretty sure that sadly we all know someone this has happened too.

Its an epidemic.

Commitment is what is lacking in society. Commitment to Tradition. Commitment to faith. Commitment to our families. Husbands. Wives. Promises.  Children. Religion. Faith.

One step at a time ...one slip.... negative unhappy thoughts ...are leading people farther and farther away from what is right.

--------------------------

Well I for one

can't imagine losing my religion, my faith and my family

Because they are what matters most in this life.... in my life.

I have had far to many experiences to deny that the most spiritual happy moments in my life have to do with my faith, my testimony and my family. I can't imagine not having it and them in my life, and the light that comes from it. True Happiness. What life is all about if you let it in.

I KNOW that The Gospel The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true

 I know the Book of Mormon is true

 I know I  have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me and cares about my progress...

I know my Savior died for me that he lives...

I know the atonement is real I've seen it work in my life and the lives of those around me...

I know the temple is the greatest place to be to feel the peace and calmness and beauty..... away from the world...

I understand that there is a plan of salvation that this is our test.
How we live what we do matters..

 It really really does.

When you know and feel and understand the importance of certain things in life nothing can change that.  Don't falter.

I know that obedience=blessing and that is true happiness.

That family is what is the very most important building block of society and together we are working hard to prepare our littles to be strong, honest, happy, obedient faith filled adults.

 Life is to short to mess around especially in these days....to short to take offense,  to short to mess around with trival momentary things, to short to not give our all....

i know.

what I feel is real.

and I wouldn't throw it away for anything.

 ----------------------------------------------

Think about whats important. Really important. A good life. Happiness in what matters. Service. love. faith. charity. patience. FAMILY.
-------

{I know deep thoughts by me this week I hate to see so many people suffering its to much to think about sometimes}

Make it an amazing week. Make it count:)

{Me thinks....}

 This is my continuing goal:)

cause I'm gonna need it:) Between the changes around here and summer;)

..... this is a new familiar site this man heading out:) 

We all kinda miss him a lot..

so we keep busy ....

So ask M what he gets when he asks for a pet goldfish;) I amuse myself but it was a fun joke for a few hours last week. I put a couple goldfish in a baggie and brought it to him and told him to say hi to his two pet goldfish should have seen his face it was SO worth it ha ha!! 

...Despite the hail rain and flooding our garden is actually producing so exciting...... biggest rhubarb leave eh:)

----------------------------------------------------
Cafe rio meals are a favorite with everyone in our house.....seems like its a good Sunday meal lately and if you run out of costco to cook tortillas the next best thing is the  

Our best bites Tortilla Recipe.. HERE

Looking forward to spending a 12 hour drive with D for our {my} yearly retreat... his work seminar:) Shopping, sleeping in, reading whatever I want to do:) Company Appreciation to the wives week;)

Kids are going to aunts houses and Thank you Thank you to them!! Can't wait to head out soon...

-------------------------------

First a little reminder on a topic I can't stop thinking about!

I think one of societies biggest problem right now is Commitment 

To Rules, to the constitution, to callings, to Relationships, to Families 

To those of us as mothers and fathers 

you name it on and on think about those around you ....who are

Giving Up, Caving In, and Quitting....

There isn't a time in history as important as right now to 

STAND UP in so many ways....

Most importantly...

ME THINKS

This world needs help and the best place to start is in the home and teaching our children.

We can save our Nation by saving our homes.

From Standing for Something:

10 neglected virtues that will heal our hearts and homes

by Gordon B. Hinckley

From the section on THE FAMILY:

1. Accept responsibility for our role as parents and fulfill our obligations to our children.

Barbara bush said: Your success as a family- our success as a society - depends not on what happens at the White House, but on what happens inside your house."

2. Get married and stay married

Wall Street Journal -"American society would be better off if more people got married and stayed married."

"Marriage is much more than a civil contract, much more than an agreement between two people. It is an institution essential to the purposes of God. Children are entitled to be born within the bonds of matrimony, and to be raised by a father and mother who honor their marital vows with complete fidelity."-GBH

3. Put the father back at the head of the home.

"Far to many families have been denied the leadership and stabilizing influence of a good and devoted father who stands at the side of an able and caring mother in quietly training, gently disciplining, and prayerfully helping the children for whom they are both responsible."-GBH

4. Recognize and value the supreme importance of mothers.

5. Celebrate and treat children as our most priceless treasures.

6. Discipline and train children with love.

"As the twig is bent, so the tree is inclined."

" Children are like trees. When they are young, their lives can be shaped and directed, usually without much difficulty. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it," {proverbs 22:6}

7. Teach values to children.

"Teach children tolerance."

Teach them respect

Teach them loyalty

Teach them the beauty of freedoms

Teach them obedience to law

Teach them the importance of health

Teach them the quality of charity and the meaning of service.

Teach them that there is a Power greater than their own to appeal for help

Teach them the thrill and joy of learning

Teach them the sanctity of sex

8. Teach children to work.

"An idle mind is the devil's workshop."

Children need to learn to work.

A little hard work breeds a greater respect for personal and public property.

May we show them by example that some of our finest work comes through service to others.

9. Read to and with Children.

"Television is perhaps the greatest medium ever discovered to teach and educate and even to entertain. But the filth, the rot, the violence, and the profanity that spew from TV screens into our home is deplorable. It is a sad commentary on our society." -GBH

10. Pray together.

" I believe that there is no adequate substitute for the practice of kneeling together, morning and evening, as a family in prayer. This , more then fine carpets or the latest in window coverings, will make far better and more beautiful homes." -GBH

We can change the course we are on. We must begin with parents. We must provide, to every man and women, an understanding of the eternal purposes of life, the obligations of marriage, and the responsibilities of parenthood. Then we must teach our youth of all races, languages and cultures that there is a better way than the way so many are now going. It will take patience. It will take persuasion. It will take the counsel of wise fathers and mothers. It will take inspiration and a spiritual guidance that reaches beyond our own wisdom.

-------------------------------

I've been thinking so much about the things that are happening to our world, to our youth, to families, to our society the things we blindly accept. The things that we just let slide by or don't stand up for. 

It makes me sad to think how many things have changed since even I was little.

i sometimes wonder if my children will be able to make it through this life to be strong and grounded and untainted by the things in and of the world. Its scary but we can do our part in our homes to help our children be respectable strong adults.

It starts with us.

It's a big job.

But every day we can make a difference.

IN our homes.

Make it work, cherish it, build them up 

be strong 

don't quit

Reign them in.

Pray.

Be happy.

Keep going.

Something to think about...

Have a great week!

Love this Quote:

 "When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves." -

{10 on Tuesday.}

 Wicked storm clouds the other day...

1. Funny how some days on instagram there are people who post similar pictures who don't even know each other but are on my thread .....kind of like a theme nobody knew about. ironic.

2. We finally bought a new car we've been a one vehicle family for a long time and been fine till now {D has a work truck but its just that a work truck} ...so sat my mom came and watched all six kids;) thanks mom... and we suit shopped and car shopped and had a successful day...we got and bought a beautiful dark silver Toyota Camry and brought it home today..and I kinda really like it;) ...

3. ....in the last two weeks since D got called to be the Bishop of our ward we've had more car conflicts than in the previous 8 years:) fun times...{well that and people don't answer their phones when I call now;) ha ha:(

4. I love hearing successful stories of our children's birth mothers/fathers in their lives makes my heart happy! Love them all! Congrats to K2's birth mom C on her degrees and graduating! So exciting!

5. Life is crazy around here getting used to a new normal of busy and the game of where's dad tonight .... add two more kids ......some hot days and summer home all day long....its pretty interesting around here;)

6. We've had so many storms, floods and hail damage this summer its crazy! our town has been pretty lucky considering so many other parts of the country....we did get hammered a few weeks ago on one side of our house with hail so we have to get it redone.....well soon as the adjuster comes out...

7. So D tells me tonight as he leaves for C town that he was asked to present tomorrow at the International Livestock Congress {where they just happen to fly speakers from all over the world to speak at} and he tells me like its no big deal at all...well apparently its a big deal!! So because he'd hate it that anyone knew;)  I'm sharing it here because its so like D to treat it like its nothing!! humble, no big deal kind of attitude that he has .....love this man. 

 I'm super proud of him. He's worked hard to get to where he is now.

8. Can't wait to get away soon with D of course its my retreat ....not his;) its his yearly work seminar...my get away for the year in a nice hotel, sleeping in, shopping doing whatever I want and I can't wait! etc etc:) But this year we are taking K to spend the week with his cousins in Utah so it will be fun to hang out with just him on the drive too.

9. Love this QUOTE I found the other day:

"Because deep down we know that what matters in life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. Life teaches us that we can achieve happiness when we seek the happiness and well-being of others." ~ Elaine S. Dalton

10. And the best for last:)

 

Happy Summer;) Happy week...

{Wow.}

Not a moment of rest busy busy.....

 My Canada Day Cuties

 The annual Canada Day parade picture 

{and one dork holding a BOM at my head somebody through it to us in the parade;)

 Canada Party at our house and K2's 4th Birthday Celebration!! IT WAS so hot July 1st!!

 Can I just tell you how much we love this little boy cannot believe 4 years has gone by so fast!! This boy is the sweetest kindest most caring sensitive aware boy with a keen memory and a drive to make others happy and have "happy hearts" as he calls it he has a big thing with hearts its all about the heart! And how right he is!! He is SO enjoyable and so kind and makes everyone feel special around him! He wants to be a builder {which is so crazy what they come with his birth father is a builder! K2's favorite cartoon is bob the builder but its one he watched over and over and its not cartoon its an actual building a building and he watches it over and over!! This boy is special he came that way and wasn't hard to work his sweetness and spirit with ours and others around him. He is one of a kind happy birthday handsome Karsen!!

 The day after K2's bday my brother and his wife went on a trip and we are watching their two cute boys:) Fun times in our house let me tell you 6 kids and a crazy ocd mama;) No I have great helpers makes it so much easier with so much help they are great! It's all good we just go with it:)

 So there ya have the Bevans going ons:)) In quick insta form:)

Enjoy life it passes by so quick...

ps. Thanks to all who came to my craft booth it was an awesome successful 5 hours thanks to those who took the time:)) It was super fun:)

--------------------------------------------------------

A little me Thinks thought:)

"When something bad happens, you have three choices: you can let it destroy you, define you, or strengthen you."

its how we deal with what were given but to get things done to grow stronger together, to recognize what we need to do better....we have to move on ....

We've seen the kids grow and change over the years and its amazing. 

I've still cried tears over things long buried but very much a part of me, 

I've still laughed my guts out at something funny my kids did or my crazy D, I've been hurt, been so happy and so blessed.

I've watched so many people struggle and hurt in the last little while and I hurt for them wondering what to do to take it all away...... through it I've learned lessons of life watching them go through painful things and I've learned that letting whats done is done be actually done is one of the best things for us.

because...

 "You will never be truly happy if you continuously hold onto the things that make you sad."

Have a beautiful weekend...