{Growth}

Sometimes there are times in life where things happen that require us to grow and stretch and do things we don't want to or never thought of. Things that require us to take a deep breath and sometimes wonder how to wake up the next day and pretend all is normal. I can only assume that, as I've never had earth shattering news or devastating news that rocked me. But I watch others go through things that I never think I would be able to handle and I watch them grow and fall and grow again some fall to the side and let it destroy them. While others rise above and become great examples to the rest of us.  They become the pillars, the refiners fire has happened to them and it shines from them they are so much stronger for something that should have knocked them down. Instead its those that rise above those that take what happens, what is given and do with it what the Father intended to strengthen, test and in return opportunities for us all to serve others more. 

{"So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference."} -President Thomas S. Monson

To think of more than just ourselves to reach out, to judge less and to put ourselves in others shoes. We all make mistakes some small, some big some life changing and heartbreaking...... we all need the atonement we all need forgiveness, repentance and a big hug sometimes no matter what. We all hurt, have been hurt and are hurting. Life isn't fair never was and nobody said it was supposed to be we are here for growth, for learning for the test to see if we pass. To see if we rise up, to see if we grow or shrink in our trials. No matter what..... growth does happen..... sometimes it molds us into different people, we all go through things that shape our futures. We all have free agency to choose but when it comes right down to it, I hope we all chose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. Because I know for a fact more growth, more life and much more happiness is there when we do. Reach out see others needs, help each other we are all fighting the same earthly battle to be tested and tried and some just seem to have that trial a little more than others. 

BUT a sure way to be bitter and not rise above :

{3 ways to fail at everything in life.}

1. Blame all your problems on others.

2. Complain about everything.

3. Not be grateful.}

No matter what, there is always something to be grateful for, something to be learned from every situation good and bad and taking ownership of our own life and choices. 

 

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

Its been a busy month around here M's big 10th birthday, & sports days, piano recitals, track and field soccer and spring league and so much in between.... 

Making memories together and on our last month of school I can hardly believe another year is done I will have 2 JR HIGH kids! and 2 Elementary kids insane! Crazy to think about 

I can not. handle. how. fast. time. is. going. please please slow down! 

I'd take my littles eternally their problems are so much easier late nights bottles feedings, tantrums those are the days to really, really cherish. I know that sounds silly and stupid and I really never listened to anybody who told me that, that it just gets harder and the problems bigger and more life changing than diapers tantrums and  late nights. 

I'd take that again in a heartbeat. I love my olders but its harder everyday is a gamble emotions and growing up are just hard things for all of us. 

{This new song on my blog describes perfectly my feelings about my babies....}

...Just slow down babies. It's all to fast....

I truly am your biggest fan children...... just slow down... 

and a year since we moved into this house already....

 {photo credit rhonda steed photography these were taken the morning of moving into this house:)

 My mothers Day present we got kayaks two of them living by a lake its a must right:) {excuse the ghotto in the back our home is a work in progress not that thats our house haha I mean the 2 acres around it;)

 My big M had his 10th birthday!!! and he couldn't be more excited to be 10 my cute cute boy just keeps getting cuter he's always been adorable, sweet & exasperating all at the same time my wild and independent boy I can't wait to see where it takes him in life!  love this wild man:)

 L's piano recital was awesome she did great! Sure love miss sassy pants can't believe she will be in Jr. high nooooo! can't be!

 

 how we both feel about jr. high in the fall!! ahhh

Some sports day fun long jumping love this boys love of life and excitement he is contagious and so full of love and life can't imagine life without him in it he is a complete joy!

this boy. this smile.

 Some track and field for K and a trip to divisionals its been a learning year for this boy grade 8 wasn't the best:(  is any of Jr. high though? Learning where you fit in, who your real friends are, girls... and all the choices and emotions and growth that goes with it makes for typical teenager life {I hear} good boy..... but I wish we could make life easier for all our kids  don't we all. We teach, train and pray and they have the agency to make their choices and learn from them no matter how big or small that's how we learn and grow.

 Sunday fun playing, exploring and spending time together sometimes thats a rarity with D's big jobs and time consuming demands on him we sure love the time we do get.... some of my favorite times are when we just go and get away together and remember who we all are as a family, together.

 My bow boy who loves all things boy

 and my early morning sanity and sunrises. much needed...

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

How about an awesome recipe...... keepers we call them around here:) The kind everybody loves. I have a love for brownies and ice cream once or twice a year and I put up with the stomach ache these were perfect :) 

recipe found here

 

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

Something to think about.

 

"Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result." -Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin


Have a beautiful week. Chose to make it a good one:)

{ Of this be sure.... }

 

So remember when I thought at the beginning of the year I would blog more and have all this time. Apparently not happening, averaging only 1-2 a month but I am still here. Life just does get busier and busier as the children get bigger and bigger and more involved in things but keeping them busy means less time to fight and get in trouble not that they would ever do that;)

 I've been subbing more and the kids are full into spring sports and ready for school to be done I think. Its pretty much a daily battle to get K2 moving in the morning always starts off..... with I just want to sleep longer I just want to stay home with you all day I think I'm sick.............. but we somehow get him ready and on the bus happy within 15 minutes. I think we are all ready for summer soon a month and a half left of school we can do it. 

I find that life is flying by the children are seriously growing up to fast for my liking right now between all we have................. the givens piano cubs YM  activity days and the extras ... soccer basketball baseball and softball....yep we are a little mental around here but they are all loving the things they are involved in and 

whether or not they are all stars in it that  they love it is what matters and that makes them all stars to me:) 

We have been on spring break, had a basketball tourney and so much in between... guess I should start with our awesome spring break trip to st. George again ha ha.... it was so fun the kids are at the perfect age and were so awesome we did 3 out of  4 of the hardest hikes at Zions it was pretty incredible. It was so nice to feel the sun and then come home to warm sun too. 

 The beautiful St George Temple and some squinty eyed bevans'

 Hidden canyon Hike

Snow Canyon Dunes

 Top of observation landing..... which the range at about K's elbow is angels landing in the background!

Top of Angels Landing so amazing

 I love this picture and this boy:) looking out below on the way up to angels landing

 love this teenager he is such a joy 99% of the time ha ha 

here is a great article too if you haven't seen it read it:) on raising awesome teenagers

Red Cliffs hike and swim holes so pretty and pretty awesome

 Everything was amazing and new to him he hiked like a boss!!

 Chats along the way...

 Lots of memory making that will last forever love this sweet & salty family of mine:) 

Proud of them all they all did things they thought they couldn't do and conquered it heck I did too and nobody better then these 5 to share it with! okay fine a few more;)

This boy is going to be 10!! this week what?? How! 

Look at this beefcake:)

 success ! We did it!

 lizard catching

 muddy muddy Bryce canyon hike check out our shoes...

 Bryce Canyon. the man.

 My baby is getting so tall! I had my shoes off and they thought it was so funny they called me a hobbit.... lovely children;) i tell ya.

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

~~~~~~Me Thinks Thoughts~~~~~

SO lately more than usual on the news in the world we live in is so,so  crazy! I can hardly stand it. I have a hard time truthfully seeing the  I look back and see what I thought was crazy and ridiculous over the years and now its just plain crazy things I can't even wrap my head around..... people write terrible things from behind a keyboard and have no idea how warped and messed the media is. Media is a one sided agenda meant to appease the 1% and its like common sense doesn't exist its like people are blinded have lost everything that is important and this free whatever you think is acceptable crap just flies of the shelves. Its insane to live in a world like this now. I pray for the day the Lord comes back to relieve us its so so wicked! I fear for my children and grandchildren for what is to come....

I went to TOFW this past weekend it was incredible and just what I needed ......David Archuletta came it was so so good {he is so painfully shy poor boy!} But his music was so so good ....this one song called Broken touched me and is exactly how I feel for our children...

 Go here to listen to it

"Broken"

I know you don't wanna say goodbye yet,
But she can't survive here with just a petal
You still have one wish but it'd be useless,
More than roses have died in this desert.
Child, it seems that younger and younger,
They start to wipe your minds clean.
But how, I wonder, just barely under,
Do your eyes continue sparkling?
And I-I never want to open up your eyes, everything's broken.
And I-I never want to open up your heart, everything's broken.
I don't understand why they are gone,
Or what reason there is to be strong.
I still try to love but I'm in a place where
Doing what's right is so wrong.
But if you see me ignore the gun,
We are still fighting for life.
Here's our wish just to exist
In more than our eyes.
And I-I never want to open up your eyes, everything's broken.
And I-I never want to open up your heart, everything's broken.
Do you see what I see? Do you feel what I feel?
It doesn't matter until we see broken lives heal
Do you see what I see? Do you feel what I feel?
It doesn't matter until we see broken lives heal
Oh oh oh oh oh...
And I-I found it hard to open up my mouth, will they hear what's spoken?
But I-I saw when I opened up my eyes, invisible children.
Broke, but not broken.
Broke, but not broken.

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

Everythings Broken. One day it will all be new again.

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

 K got braces and a mouth of metal he had a rough start to learn to eat properly as he has head gear equivalent in his mouth to move his jaw forward think he's good lookin now wait till these babies get off;)

(he had strep in his eye this day poor kid he had a rough week that he got his braces on..}

 Player of the game :) he was pretty happy its been an interesting spring league year a few surprises, hurts, and finding his place part of growing up I suppose was what it is.... M played this year on a team too first for most of them lets just say they had fun and they are learning;)

We've had soccer start a first for K2 and by far he is the best little aggressive grade 1er yet of our kids and he loves it:)

 Mothers Day was Sunday we got our yearly photo even if kids like to make faces I still love em:) Can't forget Birth mothers day too Saturday how blessed we are to have each of them and the miracles and lives they changed because they listened to their hearts and changed all of our hearts.. Thankful blessed and so so grateful for all these little nerds:)) They make my life complete they make me smile, laugh and cry but together we are forever and I will be forever thankful for these miracles in my life... {this mothers day was so good besides that D had to fly away to Kansas for work ....but he fixed my dishwasher! Heavenly gift we've been washing for months by hand..... HE also bought us 2 kayaks since we live on a lake I'm super excited we all love water and pretty much anything to do with it so we are all excited to do some kayaking! 

.....and the kids were so good and nice to each other for the most part :)

“The older I get, the more I am convinced that parenthood is a key to understanding Heavenly Father’s love for us, “After all, what better way to learn the depth and breadth of His love for us ― than learning to love and sacrifice for the children He lends to us?” 

-Linda K Burton

 This was amazing got to go with friends family and be uplifted and filled.....love my friends and family....

 

...and if you've never heard of Gentri look them up they are so so good their harmony is amazing loved listening to them!

and somewhere in there we had our 19th! anniversary crazy how fast times goes by and here we are all these years later 

here's to eternity together...

 Oh how I love these guys!! I want them to be happy their whole lives to be happy, to find joy and deep testimonies, good lives full of wholesome families of their own. To feel the peace and joy that comes with choosing the right by being obedient and learn to listen to that still small voice.  

My heart aches to think about the future because everywhere around me I see marriages crumbling, hearts breaking, trust broken, sex addictions that destroy families, everywhere we look society is crumbling and with it tradition and values and all that is sacred that are so needed. 

Though I know I have to strengthen my walls and stand for the right and teach my children it feels daunting some days, competing with the evils all around us where doing whats right is wrong according to those out there. 

But I have faith too. I have joy right here and I hope my children will always feel this. this feeling right here. and that they will want it for themselves when they go out into the world. My prayers are full of pleading. Sometimes tears and always love that no matter what that we all might make it. 

That the tears and pain here on this journey will someday heal our hearts and heal what is so broken on this earth. 

For all of us.

"Even perchance we fall, and lose our way for a brief time, we MUST hold onto the beauty of our faith. We have no reason to deny all the miracles we’ve seen in our life’s journey."

 Make it a good one...