feeling grateful

I literally have hundreds of pictures to upload from our summer field trips and activities... And I will eventually get around to it, but this morning (before we head out the door to make pizza at California Pizza Kitchen) I want to quickly share two.


Aaron and I had the opportunity to go to Girls Camp on Friday evening. It was so fun to be there with the darling girls in our ward and share in their testimony meeting. Sam and Keyonna are no longer in our ward boundaries-- but we love them like daughters and see them often (they are in many of the hundreds of pictures I still need to upload.) This picture was taken during a little fireside before testimony meeting. Aaron had a hard time being serious and kept making the girls laugh during the very spiritual talks..


While sitting through testimony meeting, it was hard for me to come to grips with the fact that I am no longer 15 anymore. The memories I made at girls camp are some of the best of my teenage years... and I still love (and keep in touch with) many of the friends I made in my ward growing up. I was so lucky to live where I lived and associate with such wonderful people. I had the BEST leaders who sacrificed so much so that we could make the memories we did. so grateful for them and the influence they've had on my life.

As I sat next to my husband, trying to stay warm, I couldn't help but wish for everyone of these young women to grow up and meet their own Prince Charming who will love them and take care of them. During my testimony I told them if I could give them any advice, it would be to find a NICE guy who will respect them and treat them kindly. Some may have crushes on handsome, popular, athletic guys-- but if they aren't respectful and kind, none of that really matters.

After girls camp, our weekend was really busy. We didn't get to relax much and it seemed like Aaron was so busy helping neighbors move, doing pro-bono lawyer stuff and serving in his calling. But when he arrived home late on Sunday afternoon, all was right in the world. We had a yummy Sunday dinner and then took our kids (and dog) on a long walk. Simon started out riding in the wagon, but ended up pulling all three of his brothers for the majority of the walk. Sunny was hyper and happy, each of our kids were laughing and I was feeling the little girl inside my tummy kick away. I know I am living the rich life.

When we came home from our walk, we made no-bake cookies and had a light-saber war (kids against adults, kids won). We read scriptures, put Simon back in his crib a dozen times and said prayer together as a family. The kids slept in a fort in the loft and Aaron and I stayed up until 1 AM recording hilarious voice messages on our phones to use for our alarms the next morning. I was laughing so hard... mostly because Aaron can sound exactly like James Earl Jones when he wants to.

Today is the beginning of a new week and there is a lot on the schedule. This stage in our lives can be exhausting at times, but I hope I am taking advantage of the here and now. Before I know it, another 15+ years will have slipped by as quickly as the last 15 have passed. I feel deeply grateful for the people who have shaped my childhood, the little children who have turned me into a mother and the nice guy who has made all my wildest dreams come true.