One of My Graces

Three years ago we welcomed her into our world, arms and forever family. We gave her the middle name Grace. That she might be a woman of grace "elegance and beauty of movement or expression,seemliness; a sense of propriety and consideration for others; a disposition to kindness and compassion" (Dashboard Dictionary). And most importantly, that she might always remember her greatest of gifts, the unmerited gift of Grace from our Savior.


Our celebration of her birth included a day as a Princess, A daddy-daughter date, a Pinkalicious party with friends, some homemade gifts and lots of love and gratitude.

Adelaide is full of faith, ever asking, ever trying, every singing-reading-teaching-dancing-pretending-learning- loving...

She is quick to remind us of divine grace and often prays "please bless us that Jesus can live with us".

Truly, she has graced us with her presence and I am honored to be her mother.

Here's to being three!

I Love you Adz.

Another Soapbox: Twilight

Yes, I know what comes out today...the Young Women in my ward have kept me informed... and since I'm already on my soapbox, now might be a good time to admit that I'm not a "Twilight" fan. Dare I do that in the world of women's blogging? :) I hope you don't feel as though I am being self righteous or judgmental in my honest evaluation, my intent is neither, truly. I know many a Molly Mormon who love the series and have kept their testimonies in the process. :) Please allow me to unravel some feelings in an unedited manor...

My husband and I recently had the thrill and honor of speaking about morality and standards with the youth, and I have taken a special interest in the influence of the media, especially on our young people. I have a deep love and concern for the dear Young Women that I serve and pray to be able to support them in their efforts to stand up in a world with decreasing standards of morality. It's safe to say I am on the cautious end, interested and invested in avoiding and recognizing the clever ways the media creeps in and alters our realities.

Onto my review...

While reading the first book, I was surprised at how intrigued I was by the vampire content (which I later regretted reading after some disturbing dreams). I found myself interested in the imagination of the author and the vampire world she created. It was fun to relive the exciting moments of high school and dating, thinking back upon those first stirrings of attraction. Then, I began to be troubled by the relationship. The obsession, secrecy, dangerous passionate desires, and even deceit. The vampire cravings that seemed so sexually charged left me uncomfortable and embarrassed. The unrealisitic and unhealtly way romantic love was being portrayed. I worried about how this book might encourage young women to think of themselves and how love should be. They have enough voices telling them they aren't pretty enough, good enough... more in need of the temporal, pleasurable. Heaven forbid they begin to think that they need to have some Edward to really find themselves and be happy. I would not wish for any of them to feel like they are Bella, whose self confidence and worth, purpose and happiness seem so completely dependent upon another persons love. Surely this is not "accepting and acting upon the values" of divine nature or individual worth.

I felt discouraged by the focus on the physical and hoped that the remaining books would portray a more grounded, tempered, virtuous relationship. However, I was not inclined to continue reading beyond the first book (which I'm told is the least suggestive) so I have only heard the remainder of the story through family and friends. Is it safe to say the relationship continued and even increased in it's suggestive, sexually driven, how "close to the line can we be" format? I don't have an adequately informed opinion since I haven't read all the books (although I think I've heard enough to assume as much).

Some women have said that the hidden (yet stimulating) sexual innuendos came as a welcomed surprise for their husbands. That they had an extra little spark (if you know what I mean) in their marriage. A positive outcome for such a reader. But what happens for our young people who may get such a spark of provoked (even as slightly as it may be) sexual feelings? To what degree do we allow ourselves the entertainment of sexual thought? Although sexual abstinence before marriage is heavenly commanded and to be highly commended, isn't our virtue more than just refrainment? Is not our virtue the very measure of our thoughts and desires of our heart?

“Virtue is the chiefest beauty of the mind, the noblest ornament of humankind. Virtue is our safeguard and our guiding star that stirs up reason when our senses err.”(The Virtues of Righteous Daughters of God) ...And most surely our senses can err.

Believe me, I am not embarrassed to speak about the joys of sexual intimacy within marriage. I want all the youth to know how awesome it is and that it should be appropriately anticipated. Sometimes there is an unhealthy silence about this subject than can lead to curious premarital exploration or guilty conscience complex in a marriage. While sexual intimacy is exciting and an important part in supporting love in a marriage, I hope they know that it is not the greatest, strongest, or most needed part of a lasting marriage. (Oh' how I hate the world for trying to tell them differently) An eternal relationship is so different and so much more than that of Edward and Bellas'. Real love is formed on trust, honesty, mutual respect, understanding, communication, service, self worth, and sacrifice. And-Yes, there is exhilarating chemistry! Yes, there is exciting attraction! Yes, there is crucial longing for each other! Heavenly Father made us to be together, to need each other...But not in a desperate, uncontrollable, I'm nothing without you kind of way. But rather in a bridled, eternal, charitable, kind, strengthening, selfless, rest of forever, pure joy way.

Now why can't there be a book about that.

( I guess we have our journals)


Of course I don't think the book is terrible. I'm not naive to the alternatives presented to our youth. Hopefully open communication and involvement with parents in the reading of these books could lead to positive experiences and increased understanding. I am simply disappointed at the influence this book could have on a generation so desperately in need of Heavens' view.

Carry on my dear friends. :)




* I received the following review of the Twilight series a few weeks ago and was shocked when I read it! Let me warn you that it is negative, and disturbing . I think it's important to expect morality in our media and to review, question and scrutinize what we choose to participate in. I am inclined to believe that the author of this review, Camille Turpin, was extremely worked up and spent an excessive amount of time reviewing the books to compile an overdramatic list of it's flaws. She's certainly entitled and encouraged to share her concerns and, while I can't say whether I agree with her or not, I post her opinion for two reasons:To stir interest in parents to be informed/involved with the material their children are reading,
and.... because I have to ask- do these events really occur in the books? If so, how are they to be justified? Please don't bother taking the time to counter all her points, just generally speaking, (those who have read the entire series) what validity is there in this review?


"I was a big Twilight fan. It was fun. It was fluffy. It was a nice change from all the heavy stuff I usually read. And the author was LDS. But as the series progressed I became more and more disenchanted. Then came the last book in the series, Breaking Dawn, in which the main characters, a human and a vampire, get married.
I could write all day about the things I didn’t like about this novel– it was poorly written to say the least – but those are the flaws that make me merely roll my eyes. What makes me angry is the sneaky sex stuff, disguised as a contemporary teen romance/fantasy/ vampire story. That’s why I’m now a Twi-hater. All I could think of while I was reading the last two in the series were two questions I often ask myself when presented with something I want to read/watch but I’m not sure I should: What good can come of it? And what bad can come of it? At the very best, the good that can come of the Twilight series is the idea that young people can wait until marriage to experience physical sexual intimacy. At the worst, it introduces girls and women of every age to edge-of-the-cliff sexual 'morality' and unhealthy, extreme, and twisted ideas about sex, marriage, and motherhood. To illustrate, I made the following list of wrong and harmful ideas presented in the Twilight series.
*Dangerous people are sexy (Twilight pg 190/Entire Series)
*Love should be enduring no matter how unhealthy or dangerous it is for you (Twilight/Entire Series—Edward agrees to turn Bella into a vampire so they can be young together forever)
*Some people think it's not a good idea to have sex before marriage, but it's fun to see how far you can go before you cross the line (Eclipse—Edward wants to wait until they are married to have sex, but Bella wants to do it before then. Edward insists he is trying to protect her virtue—which she laughs at—but they are having this conversation on a bed which he has provided while he kisses her neck and puts her leg over him)
*If you use self-control, you can go really far before actually having intercourse (Eclipse/Entire Series—Bella and Edward are constantly trying to push how far they can go physically before he is out of control, which means he may kill her at any moment.)
*Even if you think premarital sex is wrong, sleeping together and sneaking around behind a parent's back is ok (Twilight/Entire Series—Edward spends each night in Bella’s room, listening with supernatural hearing to her father in the next room to make sure he won’t come in.)
*Parents don't know what's good for you in terms of love. (Bella’s mother is very critical of youthful love/marriage because she is divorced. Bella treats her as though she is a child who needs to be taken care of. Bella’s father does not like Edward, but Bella continues to see him anyway.)
*Marriage is something to be feared, and which may ruin your enjoyment of sex. (Eclipse—Bella wants to have sex before they are married because she hates the idea of marriage and wishes they could just have a physical commitment. He wants to wait until after she is a vampire because it could be dangerous for her. She refuses and only agrees to wait until marriage as long as she gets a real honeymoon while she’s human. She constantly complains about marriage—see BD Chapter 1.)
*Sexual intercourse is the best part of love, marriage, and human life. (BD page 482—'Our time on the island had been the epitome of my human life. The very best of it. I’d been so ready to string along my human time, just to hold on to what I had with him for a little while longer. Because the physical part wasn’t going to be the same ever again.')
*If sex is good, it will probably be violent. (BD Chapter 5 and 6. Edward bites pillows, shreds clothing, creates bruises all over Bella’s body, and breaks headboards apart. He tries not to do it again, but Bella convinces him to and downplays her injuries.)
*If sex is violent, it will not hurt you as long as you are really into it. (Bella does not notice the destroyed pillows or her bruised body until she wakes up the next morning. Pg. 89)
*The more violent and out of control the sex is, the better it is. You might destroy things, but that just means it was great. (Bella has dreams about sex after Edward refuses to do it again until she is a vampire. She wakes up and convinces him to do it—page 106-107. He destroys a headboard and they joke about it. Later on they decide to do it again and make a joke about destroying the headboard again—page 117.)
*In a perfect world, we would desire and be able to have intercourse all night long, and wish it would go on longer. The best possible scenario would be for our bodies to never wear out and for our desire to be constant. (BD page 482-483)
> *Sex is more enjoyable if our partner's body is perfect (BD page 482). If you really love your partner, you won't mind if they are in love with someone else too, or that they want them around all the time (Bella loves her 'best friend' Jacob, and desires him physically in New Moon and Eclipse. Jacob is desperately in love with Bella. Edward brings Jacob to Bella and lets them have a dance at their wedding, and then allows him to hang around afterward). In fact, if you really love them, you won't mind if they have sexual intercourse with someone else (Edward, thinking their baby is dangerous and should be aborted, asks Jacob to tell Bella they could have a physical relationship so Bella could have less dangerous children—BD page 180, 181).
*Sometimes people might desire a child to be their mate. It's innocent as long as they don't act on it till they are older (Werewolves often 'imprint' on another person, meaning they have found their mate and cannot control whether they want that person or not. Jacob 'imprints' on Bella’s half-human infant).
*When you love someone, you desire them physically every moment of your life. You will have to distract yourself with daily life in order to keep your mind off of sex, but it always there, in the background, and can be turned on at any moment, blocking out everything else (Bella is constantly losing concentration and forgetting totally about her child when she looks at Edward and thinks about sex BD page 487).
*It is normal and good to picture a person you love naked before you are married (BD page 349).
*As long as the actual motions of sexual intercourse are not described in detail, it is ok to write and read about a physical relationship between a married man and woman--including where they are, what they are wearing, how long it went on, the positions they end up in, that certain motions of their bodies will stimulate sexual desire, and how they felt during the process (BD chapters 5 and 6, and especially page 481-485).
*If you really desire your partner, you might tear each other's clothes off, destroying them in the process (BD page 481).
*You have absolutely no control over who you love and how long you love them. Once you find that person, it is easy to love them and you will do anything for them. If you really love each other, you won't have any real problems (Entire Series—imprinting idea, Jacob and Edward are willing to risk their lives several times over for Bella, and in BD after they are married Bella and Edward never have a single argument or hardship. Their entire life is a happy honeymoon with a perfect child.)
*The pain of losing someone you love is so painful that death is better in comparison. If you really love them, you'll never ever get over losing them. (This idea is expressed several times mostly in New Moon and BD. Edward is going to kill himself when he thinks Bella is dead. Bella wishes she were dead after Edward leaves her, Jacob wants to kill Edward if Bella dies and Edward makes sure he promises to do it, etc.)
*Sexy people are tall, muscular, perfect. Normal people just seem so childish. (Bella doesn’t take highschool boys seriously, and is only in love with vampires and werewolves who are superhumanly strong, tall, hot or cold, etc.)
*Sexual intercourse is the most important part of marriage. (Again see BD 482 and subsequent vampire life.)

Here are some additional disturbing events and images in Breaking Dawn.
* The heroine/mother drinks blood while pregnant and her baby drinks blood from a bottle.
* Pregnancy is portrayed as horrific, involving the fetus breaking the mother’s ribs and pelvis, giving her huge bruises on her abdomen, and the baby sucking the life out of her from within.
* In the childbirth scene the mother vomits blood and is ripped open by her vampire husband’s teeth, the baby bites the mother immediately after birth, the mother dies in the process of the birth, and the vampire bites and licks her body back to life.
* Vampires gather from all over the world to save the vampire/human baby, and the heroine/mother and hero/father do not mind that they are drinking human blood and murdering the local population. In this book vampires are not ghouls and devils but superior beings.
I heard somewhere that Stephanie Meyer had concerns that this last book in her series had content that was too mature for some of her fans and tried to have a warning put on the book, but the publisher wouldn’t allow it. Please. As if a warning would have kept 11-year-olds from reading Breaking Dawn after they had been so cleverly hooked with three previous books. When you begin a series for young people, you have a moral obligation to keep it geared toward young people. We can only surmise that somewhere along the line Stephanie Meyer, our own wildly successful LDS author, sold out. Everybody knows sex sells.
-Camille Turpin

Soapbox 1: Halloween, Why the Scary?

I apologize to all you Halloween-a-holics in advance, I've read of your enthusiasm and anticipation on your blogs and adore you in your decorative devotion to the event, but I'm just not big on the holiday. Don't get me wrong, I get hugely excited about dressing up, especially dressing up the little people. We had a blast at our ward trunk-or-treat and taking our gals around the neighborhood. I'd be up for a good costume, candy giving party any time of the year! And I love sprucing up the home for the change of season and holiday...I just don't understand the scary factor. Why the little ghosts, witches, spiders, eerie jack-o-lanterns, oozy bloody/dead things, creepy tomb stone stuff? (I can't even do the cutified, nicknack versions of the tradtionally scary.)

I had a hard time explaining the purpose of the holiday to my little Adelaide and after researching it decided I preferred my naive version. Here's where my sister would add in "remember this is coming from someone who couldn't even handle the movies Pirates of the Caribbean or Spiderman", and she's right, I am extreme on my scare toleration monitor. I had to put down Harry Potter in the 4th book because it was feeling too dark and I even fast forward scenes with villains from classic disney movies. I just don't find any thrill in freaking myself out and anytime I have, I'm usually disturbed beyond the moment. Do I sound heated? I'm not really. I just don't understand how "scary" is so popular, when to me...it's just scary.

Now...I know I might scare some of you at my attempt as Cruella De Vil (Addy's request) but our sweet little sleeping beauty and cuddly 103rd dalmatian sure took any scare out of me.

Keep on :)

My Hair, Our Papa Bear, and the Big State Fair!

Another new do! Although I STILL get complaints from ward members for cutting my long hair, I've gone even shorter! The only rumor that I wish to dispel is that short hair is "easier to do". Such is not the case for me. To actually get my thickness of a mane to shape takes more time than I ever invested with the long locks. Don't get me wrong, a long time for me is like more than 5 minutes. I've worked out a sleep on the wet hair system though which has simplified the process. Wasn't sure I really liked it at first but it's growing on me! ...pun intended :)

My Dad, Papa Steve, used his vacation time to come and visit us Texans! He is a man of ambition, fun, curiosity, and tenderness. His ability to enjoy simple things, his attention to detail, and appreciation for history, make him the perfect sight seeing companion! And boy, did we see some sights! What a gift to have had that time time with him...sweet memories that will last forever. We love you!

One of our stops was Dallas/Ft. Worth- Our hopeful cheering sadly turned to admitted defeat for our Cougars at the TCU game... but we headed to "the biggest state fair in the country" and were thrilled to see our PIG pull out back to back come-from-behind wins...and let me tell you, we were a cheerin!


That State fair was as Texas as it gets...everything big, friendly, country and fun! Finally, close to closing time, we decided it was time we ought to head home...

Cheers And Tears!

It was with cheers and tears that we welcomed our new nephew, MalaKai, into our family (via long distance speakerphone). Tears of gratitude that we are so blessed to have a precious spirit join us and cheers for his rocking Mom, Heather-my beautifully talented, patient, valiant and humble sister-in-love, who non-complainingly championed her way through his birth...and to his new Dad, my brother McKay, who caught him with strong, faithful, tender arms! We love you three!

Tears...

I think I must be a crier. I am easily brought to tears in prayer, bearing testimony, hearing testimony, listening and watching children, hearing music, or any other time when I am still and brought to a realization of My God and his tender mercies in my life. I often feel like the Nephites after their witness of Heavens help "their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction." (3Nephi 4:33) It was only recently I read that among the obvious powerful gifts of the spirit is a simple gift of being able to weep. (Elder Marvin J. Ashton "There Are Many Gifts")

Very rarely in my life do I shed tears of sadness or frustration. Yesterday I had such an occasion...

I had just run to the bathroom when seconds later my little Kamorah came towards my direction with a plastic bag. I soon noticed it was medicine and that she had some remnants of the coding on her face. After quickly examining the bag I was in distress. I had no idea what medicine it was nor how many she could've taken. I got terribly concerned. Tragic thoughts spilled into my mind as I strategized what to do. I called my husband (trying not to freak out on him as I knew he was responsible for the medicine being left in a children accessible location). Indeed he had just cleaned out a bag of old IBUprofen from his car. At least I knew what it was.

A personal encounter my dad had with a child dying due to accidental overdose kept replaying in my mind. I tried gagging Kamorah to throw up into the sink, my tears gushing now. And with repeated efforts in plunging my hand down her throat she wouldn't throw up, and even occassionally would laugh at me, thinking I must be playing a game. Please Kamorah, just throw it up!

I looked down at Adelaide who had been lovingly stroking my leg and I sensed a calm feeling, a reassurance of the spirit saying "she's going to be fine". It slowed me in my panic, but unfortunately, I ignored it at first. "Don't worry, she only sucked on them" I heard in my mind...but too worried, too untrusting of "feelings", I didn't listen. I didn't think she could've had more than a few since she was literally only apart form me for a few seconds, but how could I know for sure? I was doubting and questioning. I tried to see if she would be tempted for another one and she strongly pushed me away. I called poison control who confirmed the peaceful promptings, saying IBUprofen was one of the safest drugs and that a child her size would've had to consume more than 13 to go to the hospital. Spencer said there were not even that many in the bag to begin with. I finally gave in. She would be okay. I let the peace and comfort in. I was so relieved. I just held my little Morzy, and began to cry again. This time the other tears. The tears when you realize you've been given a gift from Heaven. Tears when you're reminded of what really matters. That each day is precious, each child a miracle, each moment something to be grateful for. The tears of a heart swollen with joy.

:)

There's No Place Like Home

When we moved into our house the walls were eggshell white and the furniture was sparce. With a few craigslist/thrift store finds, some gallons of paint, a little sweat and creativity-we've transformed our blank house into a colorfully comfortable home. It's not one with fancy upgrades and top of the line furniture, but it's ours and we love it! It's more than sufficient for our needs, a place we feel blessed to own. Here's a look at some of our summer painting projects:






















































































































































































































A total of 12 colors (two of them mixes)

Beige-Tan (with a hint of olive), Paprika Red, Earth (a greenish tan), Mustardy Yellow, Pale Cloud Blue (with Spencer's array of Historical Places and Documents), Sagish Green, Bright Rose Pink, Light Rose Pink, Gray-brown, Dark Brown, and mixtures of lighter tones for the floral designs (created by adding white to some of the base colors).

How's that for a rainbow! Lots of work and late nights for these rooms! I actually find it exhilarating. Two more rooms to go!

His and Her Citations-Counting My Blessings!

On his way home from a meeting, Spencer got pulled over for "disregard [of a] stop sign". Too bad he didn't have his updated insurance card in his vehicle. Make that two citations.

I tried to comfort him when he came home. Reminding him that it happens to everyone, that it's not a big deal, that money comes and goes, and that what was most important to me was that he was safe. I wished I could take away some of his concern and frustration. Finally we went to bed with him saying "Oh' well" to the event, and I was happy.

I woke up the next morning and decided it was time to file away all the old car receipts and info that had been piling up in my van. So I took out everything in the glove compartment and started sorting. In the middle of sorting I decided to head over to the park for play group. Singing with the windows down (not only for fun but sanity- our AC is out) we slowly strolled our way towards the park. I even looked down at my speedometer, proud that I was gently braking so as to remain under the speed limit. Then... lights a flashin in my rear view window. I was more than shocked. The best part, (you got it) my updated insurance card was sitting at home in the sorting process. Make that another two citations (mine is the pink ticket) :)

So we drove to another park while I was attempting to control the shock and disappointment that was making its way out in tears. I was trying to tell myself what I had told Spencer the night before, but it wasn't working. I was feeling embarrassed,stupid, frustrated and concerned.

Sitting in the car at the park, my precious Adelaide asked me why I was crying. As I turned and looked upon my daughters faces, my mood instantly changed. I was overcome with love and gratitude. "Is that all?" I thought. So, i'd been pulled over (with a beautifully clean record I might add) the day after Spencer...So we both were ridiculously without our insurance cards...So we'll both have to go to court to show that we were insured and pay some fines... Maybe our insurance will go up, maybe the fines will be big, but-that is all?!!. As I looked at my girls I was overwhelmed by how simple, easy, and blessed my life is. Here I was with them, safe, happy, healthy-with plenty to meet our needs. If my biggest downer is something so trivial- I'll take it!

Oh' well!

The words to the song "Count Your Blessings" came to my mind repeatedly throughout the next few days and especially a week later when Spencer was actually in a car accident on the freeway. Again, no one was hurt, just scratched up (replaceable- you can't take them with you anyway) cars.

Talk about counting my blessings...and indeed feeling surprised at what the Lord hath done.

"When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end."

Jr. Vampire?

So I'm strollin down the aisles of Walmart, whistling actually, savoring the fact that my adorable little girls are content sitting in the shopping cart letting me pile food on them (you heard me: content, children and shopping in the same sentence). I noticed that Kamorah had her mouth on a yogurt and seemed to be trying to get into it for a while, and since there was no spillage- I let her continue. It wasn't until I got to the check out stand that I saw this

Exhibit A:

This would have been cute enough for me since I am in love with her fabulous gapped teeth.

Exhibit B:

The plot thickens. I find not one, not two, but three of these "marked" yogurts.

Best yet, two of them are nearly empty.

No other holes but the slants for the teeth. You tell me?

Exhibit C:(this is the culprit in one of her usual under the table hide outs- obviously trying to disguise herself with a new hairdo)

Olympic Obsession!

I can't be the only one who stays up till the wee hours of the morning with Olympic fever..?? Sure I have DVR (with only a few hours left I might add),....but with 2 little ones that I don't want to ignore and a sincere hang up with watching something after it makes headlines, I have found myself chanting, cheering, and crying well into the AM's every night of these inspiring Olympics. I'm not kidding when I say I think I have seen every minute of NBC's Olympic coverage (except of course the commercials, and some of the daytime team sports- no offense water polo, I just can't handle thinking of you treading water that whole time, seriously? How? I can't watch it. You rock though.)

There is nothing like it! Seriously. The capabilities of the human body, the power of hard work and training, the setting and achieving of goals, the spirit of unity. I LOVE IT! It makes me want to go hug my neighbors and train for a marathon at the same time!

I'll be compiling a list of my favorite moments. I doubt it could be kept to a top ten. Far too exciting! Go USA, Go World!

Who's Busy?

I think almost anyone can say that they are busy. We all have more to do than time to do it. Lately I've piled quite a bit up on my plate. I like it that way. Along with the normal (if any part of life can be called that) family responsibilities I've added stimulating summer projects, amusing family visits (with all the extra house organizing preparation and activity planning), and an exciting (and a bit overwhelming) new calling as Young Women's President. Unfortunately my blogging has fallen a bit off the priority scale. Once our time is up with family, and my sweet hubbs returns to his full time teaching and studenting, I'll be anxious to write about all our summer adventures!

As for now... I'm going to end this to share in some of our favorite-family traditional-olympic cheering. Isn't it about time?!
(Did you catch this)

My Morzy

My precious little Kamorah turned ONE this last week! No mother has adequate words to describe the love they have for their children. This little one is an angel in my life who offers me such light, love, hope and joy by her exuberant, trusting, playful, and pure presence.

How happy I am to be your Mother... how grateful, how humbled, how honored, how completely inspired I am by you.
In your baby blessing you were blessed to have a special connection with your mother. I cherish that- and pray to live worthy of such a gift as you. I love you more than mere language conveys. Happy Happy Birthday. Stay true, my precious precious sweetheart.

The Good Old Earth

I had a profound experience viewing the discovery channel specials When We Left Earth and In the Shadow of the Moon - personal accounts and history of the astronauts who have traveled beyond our world. I was deeply moved by the witness they expressed in our creator and the reality of our minuscule place in such a grand universal picture. They all mentioned how grateful they felt when they returned to earth, the beauty, the people, the life.

While working for Disney in Florida I was able to see a shuttle launch, actually getting as close as any civilian could (Definitely among the top of my greatest life experiences). It was amazing. Feeling the heat on my face, hearing and feeling the sonic boom (when an aircraft flies at the speed of sound the air in front of it is compressed so much that it forms into a shock wave that travels out through the air and even reaches the ground), watching, gazing until I could see nothing more. Awe struck.

"By viewing the stretching cosmos, we can humbly contemplate the vastness of divine handiwork. Long before He was born at Bethlehem and became known as Jesus of Nazareth, our Savior was Jehovah. Way back then, under the direction of the Father, Christ was the Lord of the universe, who created worlds without number—of which ours is only one(Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2).How many planets are there in the universe with people on them? We don’t know, but we are not alone in the universe! God is not the God of only one planet!"(Elder Neal A. Maxwell-“Special Witnesses of Christ")

Just Us- A night out on the town!

What a delightful Anniversary we had! For the first time since we've had our girls, we spent a night apart from them, all alone. After getting over my mother monitoring-always looking over my shoulder unable to just relax- mode, we had a most pleasant time. We took the downtown view in from the Tower of the America's, strolled through hemisphere park, went out to eat with a gift card (we even ordered appetizers, a first!), and had a late night swim in the spa like pool. We were even treated to chocolate covered strawberries (delicious) and a bottle of Chardonnay (which I tried to return or exchange) from our courteous hotel staff. I love you Babe!