{ Time Well Spent }

 

August. The point where I'm done. Done. I need schedule, school and routine. So does my 11 year old ahhh! I'm so done with the heat too and ready for pumpkin everything and boots cardis and whatever else fall. READY. 

D has been gone most of the summer long long hours so its been a lonely me summer with the kids. Though we got him for two reunions and a week at the lake so we count that as pretty lucky:) We've had a crazy summer full of reunions and trips and its been fun and the kids have had a blast but comes a time where we all thrive better being a little busier. I'm sure I'll regret that in a month and I'm sure every teacher is cursing me ha. But I love my kids and I do love having them home and enjoy all that we've done so don't get me wrong. But I love teachers they should be paid top dollar and be getting way more love then they do:) Anyway life is crazy as usual two teenagers in the house now! 

Number One K who just keeps growing and is almost  6'3 and ready to get his drivers in a few months ahhh!! Not ready for a high school kid! 

But so dang proud of that boy he has gotten up at 4:30-5:00 all summer to head to work at the ranch and works all day long and hard and comes home a dirty man such great life lessons. 

Earning money and working hard for it! 

L turned 13! this past week and I can hardly believe she is that old already where does the time go:( I'm honestly in denial that my kids are this old. {partly cause that makes me old ha ha!} She is looking forward to school and a good year so hoping for all good things for her too! She is really growing up into a beautiful young women with a strong testimony and knowledge of all things good.

M has loved his roaming running selling pawning collected entertaining days of summer and could probably huck finn his way through everyday of the year and not go to school ha ha but he is exhausting keeping track of him he needs schedule and routine more than any of the kids! 

K2 was baptized in July and don't think I've seen a kid more excited to be baptized then him he is the smartest boy and feels so deeply and just "knows" things that take the rest of us awhile he's quick happy and so 

 thoughtful of others. He's developing quite the little personality he's pretty funny and thinks he's a big boy now #butforevermybabyhellbe 

He's just so dang cute!

 and D and I have had a crazy hit and miss summer in one door out the other just so much going on in his life between all his demanding positions in life..... me well I'm just here being all supportive and stuff;) 

just doing my thing and hoping I'm doing something right in raising these babies right! Hard times all around us.... we have lots of good talks and study together and you just hope it all sinks in deep and takes root for life. I want so many good things for all of them. I want them to see the healthy relationships around them and the right choices that create happiness. That obedience really is happiness. That life is short and that holding onto what is good will take them so far in life. As well as learning to work for the things they want in life, to have the drive to achieve them and fight for what they want. 

We live in such an instant give me I can do anything I want world that gets stupider and needier and out of control by the day. I just hope they see and feel the spirit within our home and that traditions, rules, goals and creating these memories will and are so so worth it, the greatest gifts in life are right here. 

There is so much more than here and now.

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Loving this quote maybe part of our back to school theme:

"The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. Do not be deceived; behind that facade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. The character of transgression remains the same. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone.  

Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. " 

Thomas S. Monson 

 Love that 

...."STAND FOR THE RIGHT EVEN IF YOU STAND ALONE."

"Be a light for others to follow"

So here's some some summer lovin fun:)

I feel like there were a lot of family reunions for a lot of people a lot of people this summer...

our tally lake vacation was semi fun;) the boat broke down but we still had fun beach days cliff jumping cousins and the last day we took them all to the waterslides they loved that!

I Forgot the part where we went to Utah at the end of June for D's work seminar once again so nice to see everyone and be apart of something much bigger than people realize. 
Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ has blessed our lives in every way.... we work for the church, serve in the church and all our children were adopted through LDS family services & all the greatest events and spiritual moments in my life have been associated with each of these these events and there is no way I could ever deny the feelings, experiences and deeply spiritual parts of my life that I have gained through each one. 
 I KNOW and I have felt so much that despite the trend we see around us those separating themselves from the church or falling away finding offenses and what ever else people find to leave a church its usually something within them that needs adjusting first.
 I know beyond anything that my family, my testimony, and this gospel is much more than this life here and now. I have a Savior who loves me... who love each of us .....who died for us and has a plan for each of us. Yes, there is heartache pain and trials but its usually these times when we need him most when we need to kneel not run away. Don't doubt your faith ....doubt your fears and find the root. Get on your knees and find the answers there because I am quite sure happiness can be and is found in there when we look around and serve others and actively seek for answers they will come. 

ANYWAY one of my favorite things of this trip was literally running into ELDER DALLIN H OAKS on temple square on my run one morning early at about 5:30am around temple square. I came around the corner on the north side and literally almost face to face ran into a man with a cap who said "oh excuse me" and immediately that VOICE! It took everything in me not to act like a 12 year old girl and get a selfie with him.... he was just on an early morning walk with three others too;) haha {{ another fun thing when we were in rexburg a few weeks later kirby heybourne  opened the door for me at the snow building at BYU-I I was all fan girl there too ha ha } but I just said thanks and kept walking:) because I'm like 41 not 12 ha ha!
THE other favorite thing and most amazing choir I've ever heard that three of my nieces and nephews from Arizona are apart of it is the millennial choir & orchestra {read about it on the link} it was amazing like tears streaming down your checks amazing so glad we were in town for their performances! So amazing!! 
And got to go to the temple and lunch with one of our favorite missionaries that served here. It was a nice week. Nice to have great friends who watch over my children like there own couldn't do it without them.

&

Now were ready to jump into fall:)

 

 

Have a great week...