Thankful Sunday #5

We are packing up and moving back to Arizona this week! So this will be the last of this series of thankful posts for the time being. I am thankful for:

1. Boxes. Boxes. Boxes. I am thankful for good boxes that we got from the cannery in Mesa and are still, three moves later (working on the fourth), good and sturdy. And I'm thankful that so many of them are packed and stacked against the wall in our bedroom. Many more will join them this week.

2. Getting to church this morning with no bad feelings or sad kids. We weren't on time...but we were all happy, which was an improvement over some other occasions. Joshua decided this morning, as we were hurrying to get him dressed, that he did not want to wear diapers any more. Suffice it to say, it took a little longer to get him ready than we had anticipated. But it was okay. And Adam did great getting ready, which was very helpful.

3. Life experiences that give perspective and understanding.

4. Painters. They didn't paint our apartment before we moved in, so hopefully they were already planning on painting after we move out :). We've done really well at keeping the walls clean, until today, when Joshua got ahold of a red Sharpie marker and added this lovely artwork to my closet door:

Turns out even Magic Erasers don't take that stuff off! But what a cute artist. We sure love him.

5. Simple Christmases. This year will be a little different because we're moving in the middle of December, but you know, I think it will be just as nice. We'll be together, and we'll be with family, and it will be a good opportunity to remember what Christmas is really about, without getting caught up in the details. I love to remember our Savior, that he began life even more humbly than we, that he gave us a perfect example, that he went through all that he did, for us. I love him, and love the chance to celebrate his birth with my children, and teach them about him.

6. The gift of song. I have always loved to sing, and now that I've become a mother, this talent has become even more special to me. I love to sing to my children, and I'm grateful for a voice that was made to sing lullabies.

7. Great movies. We watched one of my favorites, It's a Wonderful Life, on Friday. I am grateful for the chance to share movies like that with my children. They lift me up and help me remember what is most important.

Love you all! Merry Christmas!

Thankful Sunday #4--Only One to Go!

1. Prayer. I am so thankful that I can pour out my heart to my Father in Heaven, and I know that He hears and answers my prayers.
2. Inspiration. Those little whispers that tell me what I need to know and do to be a better mother and wife (and everything else). I'm talking mainly about little things, like when it occurs to me, all of a sudden, that the reason Adam isn't cooperating is because he's tired, not just disobedient. I believe those flashes of knowledge, wisdom or understanding are a gift from a loving Father in Heaven who knows I'm doing my best but still really need His help.
3. Low gas prices. We went to Utah for Thanksgiving for about $20 round trip. Amazing! (Hopefully they'll hold steady until we drive to Mesa in two weeks....)
4. True friends. Thank you!
5. Plants. Greenery always makes the world seem like a brighter place. And I love having a husband who takes care of all of our plants, even the ones that are "mine". It's so nice of him!
6. Enough. We've always had enough. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, a car that runs, everything we really need (and more). What a gift it is to have enough!
7. Richness. We are rich in love, life, and family. We may not be rich in money, but I think this is better.

Thankful Sunday #3--Count your many blessings

1. One kind husband. John is a wonderful example of patience and love. He is my best friend and I can always turn to him when I need to talk or cry or laugh or whatever. I'm glad to have a husband I can lean on.2. Two sweet little boys. I've learned this week a little more of what a special and sacred trust it is to be a mother of boys, and I am eternally thankful to have the chance. I only hope I do it as well as they need me to.

3. Three loving brothers. Much of what I need to know for #2, I learned from these good boys that I grew up with. They have always been so good to me, and I love them very much. I'm so glad to be their sister. (Shown here with our grandparents, Leath and Thelma Cluff, in about 1990.)

4. Four+ years in Rexburg, Idaho. I came here as an 18-year-old, graduated with my Associates Degree at 19 and thought I would never be back. And yet, here we are. But, you know, I love it here. It is a special place, and I am so grateful that I could be a student here and that John is now (and almost done!). I love that along with the rigorous secular education available here, there is also a strong focus on spiritual learning. It really was the best place for me in those first years away from home when I was still figuring out who I was and who I wanted to be. And it's been so good for John, and a wonderful experience for our family.

5. Five(ish) months in Willard, Utah. We had such good experiences this summer! Our ward was wonderful, and even though we weren't there for very long, we made great friends, Adam was in the best Nursery class ever (they were so good!), we were able to give meaningful service, and we learned so much. It was a wonderful opportunity for us and we are so grateful to Barney and Della Barnett, who invited us to come and live down there for free while John interned for them at Willard Bay Gardens. We love you, Barney and Della!

5. (Bonus) Five years this month, married to my best friend. Woohoo! Looking forward to an eternity more. Love you, Babe!

6. Six hundred dollars spent on an old truck that took us to Willard and back and has facilitated John's business this semester. It's been a great truck, and we'll be sad to see it go.

7. Seven days this week to rest and pack and eat and pack some more! John doesn't have school this week, and we have lots to do, so we are grateful for the time to do it. We're hoping to pack up most of our belongings this week...wish us luck!

Thankful Sunday #2

1. A living prophet (see previous post). Yes, I put that last week too.

2. Nice neighbors! We had our very cool neighbors over for dinner tonight and it reminded me how grateful I am to have had so many awesome neighbors, both while we've been here and in Mesa when we were first married. I'm going to try and list them all....
-Cynthia, Risa, Kimberly, Jory,... at the lovely cottage on Mesa Drive
In Rexburg:
-Dan and Katie and their children, Isaac and Audrey
-Aaron and Hillary
-Steve and Debbie and their children, Elizabeth and Henry
In Willard:
-the snake under our steps (I didn't mind that neighbor because he evicted our other neighbor, the mouse in our kitchen. And then the snake moved out too.)
-Barney and Della
Back in Rexburg:
-Jason and Alissa
Not bad for just five years of marriage! And they've all been wonderful too. We truly feel blessed.

3. Good books. A good story always brightens my day. Unless I get stuck in my book and forget to do everything else I'm supposed to do...that doesn't brighten my day. Some of my favorites are:
-Little Women
-Les Miserables
-The LDS Mother's Almanac
-The Chronicles of Narnia
-Anne of Green Gables books (all of them)
-Peter Pan
and the list goes on.

4. Primary programs. Ours was today, and even though Adam got scared and wouldn't sing or speak for the first half, it was still lovely. I love to hear (and watch) little children sing. Especially in this ward where the oldest Primary child is seven years old. Aside from Adam's bashfulness, which he got over when John went up and helped him, the Sunbeams really rose to the occasion and did very well! We were proud of them. Isn't Adam so cute? This was taken last week before church.

5. A reliable car. I think I take this for granted too often, but it really is a blessing to have a car that starts up and gets us where we want to go, every time. And to have a husband who takes good care of our car so it stays reliable. John is great about changing the oil and windshield wipers and making sure there's gas in the car. He takes good care of us.

6. Our small apartment. It isn't that small compared to some, but it is small enough that we can clean it up pretty quickly and make it look like it's been that way all along. (Heehee.) I like that. Not that I'll mind having something bigger when the time comes, but this has been perfect for our family while we've been here.

7. I am grateful for the technology, and the freedom, to express my thoughts and feelings and share them with you from far away, and that you can share yours with me. It helps me to read your stories and be strengthened by your faith and positive attitudes. And it helps to have a link to our far-off families that we miss so much.

8. (bonus) A little boy who loves to sing. He's singing "My Redeemer Lives" right now, and it is beautiful.

I hope I will do better this week at remembering what really matters, and rejoicing in the living beauty that surrounds me every day.

And I'll try to remember these lines from a favorite hymn:
That soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I cannot desert to his foes!
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake!
Even with all the turmoil in the world today, I know we'll be okay, and it will work out. I'm thankful for that.

Love, Anna

Inspirational thoughts

"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

"Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”4

“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”6

The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, “Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.”

These are quotes from President Monson's conference talk last month. They helped me today so I thought I would share them with you. The whole talk is worth reading, and you can find it here. I love President Monson, and am always inspired and lifted by the messages he shares. I know he is a true prophet and there is safety in following his counsel, and I will continue to do so, the very best I can. We live in challenging times, and I am so grateful to have the guidance of a prophet, along with the guidance of the Holy Ghost, as I try to navigate the path of life.

Thankful Sundays

Today marks five weeks until we'll be back in Arizona. With that, and the turmoil in the country and world at the moment, I thought it would be good to express more frequently what I am thankful for and show appreciation for the blessings I have. So each Sunday for the rest of our time here in Rexburg, I'll be listing a week's worth of blessings (7, that is). Maybe it will help me to remember how blessed I really am. So here you go, week 1:

1. FAMILY. My family (at Jake and Nikki's wedding, 2007; Tyler was far, far away, so we missed him, but he is certainly included in this):

They have constantly offered love and support, even from afar, for John and me and our little family. We love them and miss them tremendously.

John's family (at ABCDEFG, in Pine, Summer 2008):

I am truly blessed to have such wonderful in-laws. I love them dearly, and am so glad to be part of them. And I love having sisters, especially such nice ones.

And our family (also summer 2008):

Our little family isn't perfect, but we have peace in our home and we love each other, and that is a treasure to me. I love my gentle husband and our sweet boys!

2. Cell phones. Hurray for free evenings and weekends! (So we can talk to the above-mentioned wonderful families without trying to keep the calls short to save money.)

3. Inspired prophets. Can I tell you how grateful I am for the continued counsel of our prophets, past and present, to stay out of debt, to set our homes in order financially and otherwise, to prepare for the future? We are not as prepared as we would like to be, with John being a full-time student for the past almost three years, but it could be much worse, if we hadn't been trying to heed the counsel of our prophet. I love that even with the warnings and counsel, their messages are hopeful, and they remind me that while what really matters is eternal, we have the help of the Savior in our temporal lives too. We are not alone, and there is great reason for hope. For the latest examples, click here. And here. And here.

4. Nursery. Those kids are so sweet! I'm excited to move back to Arizona, but I am going to miss serving in the nursery. We love it.

5. Target. We went to look for a new white Sunday shirt for Adam on Friday, in Idaho Falls (his old white shirt now has a pink pocket and sleeve, thanks to the red paper I forgot was in his pocket when I washed it). We went to the mall, and in the first store I looked in, something whispered to me that I would find a shirt for him at Target. Well, several stores later, we went to Target, and lo and behold! there it was, the perfect shirt, right price, right size.

6. Enough food to eat. I love this poem, given to me by a friend at my bridal shower:

"Thank God for dirty dishes! They have a tale to tell...

While other folks go hungry, we're eating very well.

With home and health and happiness, I shouldn't want to fuss,

For by this stack of evidence, God's very good to us!"

-author unknown

7. A warm home. Especially in Rex"burrrrrr"g. :-)

Four more Sundays to go!

Anna

PS-Thanks to my good friend Marily for the idea!

Dear Carl,

I've been thinking about you today. Tomorrow is your 22nd birthday. It's hard to believe that you're nearly 22! You've always been my "little" brother, and I don't think I've told you often enough how much it has meant to me to be your sister. Thank you for always being my friend, for talking to me (talking my ear off sometimes) on the phone and being glad to talk to me, for putting up with your big sister's mothering instincts when we were growing up and probably still sometimes, for being so good to Mom and Pa, for always being kind to everyone. You're a great friend to all of us. I love you, and I'm glad to be your sister. I hope you have a wonderful birthday.

Love, Anna

Carl with Mom

High School Graduation, Mesa High 2005

Congrats Barack Obama

I was thinking last night, after being disappointed at McCain's loss, about how blessed we are even to be able to vote for our country's leader. So, so many nations in this world do not get that opportunity and are stuck with whoever was next in line or whoever happened to conquer their nation. This is truly a blessed nation, even with all the quirks and imperfections, and I'm proud to be an American. I'm not upset that Obama won. Every four years about half of all Americans experience their candidate losing the presidential race. I guess it's just my turn. And so, as John McCain said last night,

"These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

"I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that."
cited from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/11/john-mccain.html

God Bless America!

-John

Happy Fifth Anniversary, My Love!

Five years have come and gone, my love,

And here we are, together still...

I loved you then, when we began;

I love you now, and always will!

I love you!

Anna

Well, I just had a loan come through and I figured that we needed a camera... So, since our anniversary is coming is just two days, I got one for Anna. I think it should be a good one and should last us for several years. I guess it's got a lot of options so I can't wait to figure it all out!

Happy Thoughts

I saw this tag on a friend's blog today and thought I would do it, since it would do me good today to think about what makes me happy.

"If you get tagged, you have to list 10 things that make you happy. What are the things that tickle your fancy, make you smile or still give you that butterfly sensation? What things do you seek out and truly enjoy? The only rule is that you can't say your kids or your spouse...it's too easy."

1. The feeling that Heavenly Father loves me and is happy with me and I've done what He wanted me to do. Knowing He watches over me and my loved ones, and answers our prayers, and that we aren't left to muddle through this life alone, but He'll help us through.
2. Leaning my head on John's shoulder and holding his hand. Going on dates with him.
3. Reading to my children. There is something magical about holding them both on my lap with my arms around them and reading happy stories together.
4. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Being sealed to John and our children in the temple and knowing I can be with my family forever.
5. Beautiful weather. Rain in Arizona, peaceful (not windy) snowy evenings in Idaho, crisp fall days with the smell of wood fires burning, warm summer days after long winters, the newness of spring. It always makes me happy to be alive and able to get out and enjoy it.
6. Playing the piano. I'm not great at it, but it always soothes my soul and makes me happy to play the piano. Especially when it's a real piano, not a keyboard...ah, someday!
7. Cooking something yummy for my family in my clean, bright kitchen. (It's not clean and bright all the time, but when it is, I love it!)
8. Fresh flowers. Cut, planted or potted, I just love to see them and their beauty brightens my day. My first semester at Ricks College, I walked down 1st West every morning to school (I lived just north of the stadium) and growing out of the middle of the sidewalk were some little orange daisies. They were so bright and friendly-looking, they always made me smile and they always made my day better.
9. Apple crisp. As a horticulture student, John gets apples for free from the orchard on campus, and we've been eating lots of apple crisp. I love it! It smells and tastes so good. Yum. And fresh fruit in general makes me happy, especially the free kind.
10. Joshua's kissable cheeks and Adam's cheesy grins.
11. (Bonus) Holding my sweet baby who has just fallen asleep in my arms.

I'm not much for tagging people, but if you could use a boost and would like to do this, consider yourself tagged! It will brighten your day.

Anna

Regarding Proposition 102 (AZ) and 8 (CA)

Hey folks, I've been trying and trying to rewrite this in a way that will express our views best, but I just can't say it better than this article by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We agree whole-heartedly. Marriage is going to be defined one way or another, and my personal view is that society in general will be adversely affected if marriage is re-defined to mean something other than one man and one woman. Please read this article, ponder and pray about the decision you are making, and then vote your conscience. As for John and I, we are in favor of these amendments, as they will preserve our rights to worship as we choose. Do you realize that if same-sex marriages were legalized, churches who refuse to perform them could be in violation of law and could be prosecuted? That is scary to me, as I know my church and many churches believe that same-sex marriage is wrong and would not do it. So, as for me and my house, this is a proposition we support. Make your own decision, vote your own conscience, but please take these things into consideration when you do. Thanks! Love you all!

Here's the article:
The Divine Institution of Marriage

Thoughts

I was talking with my mother a few days ago, and she mentioned that many of the challenges she has had in her life have helped her to be able to relate to other people who are struggling. They have blessed her to be able to help other people better, because she can understand them better. That struck me, and as I pondered more about it that night, I thought of a scripture--the same one I shared a couple of weeks ago after the miscarriage.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." -Alma 7:11-12

I would not have chosen this experience, even if it will help me understand other people better. I think it has been and will be of help to me, because, like my mother said, it is a chance to learn through experience things that will allow me to better assist other people who are struggling. But I wouldn't have picked it and I still fight against it sometimes and wish it wouldn't have happened. The Savior, on the other hand, chose to take upon Him the pains of all people: the pain of sin, the pain of sickness, the pain of sadness and loss. He did this so He could understand perfectly how we feel and help us in our trials. That's why we can truly say that we are not alone in our suffering, because not only is our Savior with us, strengthening us and suffering with us, He has also been there before, and has felt what we are feeling, and knows how to "succor", or minister to, us in our sorrows. And when we suffer, though, unlike our Savior, it is not by choice, it can help us to be more like Him, and more able to minister to those around us who are also hurting. Maybe that is one reason things like this happen.

Thank you all for your kind words, faith, and prayers. We have been strengthened by your love and support. I'm sorry if we have given the impression that because of our faith, this experience has not been difficult for us. There have been lots of tears. We are just private people and choose to keep our tears to ourselves. Please forgive us for not expressing that better.

With love, Anna

Picture Tag

We've been tagged (why is there no way to dodge or outrun this kind of tag game?) so here is the fourth picture in our fourth picture folder. I carved this for Anna last winter when we went to a friend's cabin. There was more than three feet of snow on the ground.

p.s. It says "ANNA"

Groundbreaking

Our stake was recently created and because of that we don't have a building yet. We had a groundbreaking last Saturday. We were all able to attend. Fortunately, we also had some friends there who had a camera.

Adam was first (they talked a long time)

Joshua's turn

Rexburg's perpetual "how-well-do-you-know-the-other-roads" construction.

Experiences

We've had some sadness in our home in the last little while--we were expecting a baby next May, but for some unknown reason we lost the baby this week. This has been hard for us. We are grateful for our understanding of God's plan for us and for the knowledge that our family is eternal, that we will be together as a family forever, if we are faithful.

This scripture about the Savior brought me comfort as well:

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our truest friend, and that he suffers with us when we suffer, and mourns when we mourn. He is with us in our hour of sorrow, though we cannot see him.

Please don't worry too much about us--we have a loving Father in Heaven and kind friends here below, and they're taking good care of us. We have two precious boys to hold on to a little tighter and we have each other. And we're doing okay.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers in our behalf. We love you.

Anna

Sunday Stories

John and I have been called to serve in the younger Nursery in our ward. Joshua would normally start going to Nursery in two months, but this calling means he starts early and comes with us. It's so fun to watch him learn in this new setting and to see how much he really does understand. (I'm afraid our big boy Adam overshadows him a bit at home.) He doesn't really talk yet, just knows a couple of words, but yesterday the children were coloring a picture of Jesus after our lesson. I was telling Joshua about his picture, and he pointed right at Jesus and said, "Jesus". I guess he's been listening after all!

When we moved back to Rexburg, the Primary presidency asked if they could move Adam into Primary now, instead of waiting until January, since he is one of the more mature kids in Nursery and there was only one child in the Sunbeam 4 class. We agreed to it and he started last week. He loves it! Our dear friend Marsha Johnson, who happens to be the 1st counselor in the Primary presidency, said that his first week was great. They learned about prayer, how we shouldn't say the same things all the time but should pray from our heart. Adam said, "I have a heart. And bones." Marsha: "Yes, you do! Did Jesus give them to you?" (or something like that-sorry if I quote you wrong, Marsha.) Adam: "Yes. And muscles."
Before bed, Adam was getting ready to say his personal prayer, and I mentioned that maybe he could thank Heavenly Father for his heart and bones that he was talking about earlier. He proceeded to thank Heavenly Father for his heart, bones, muscles, eyes, ears, hands...and every other body part he could think of. It was so cute.

We love our delightful children! They are so fun!

New Blog for Plant Questions!

Check out my new blog - plantwizard.blogspot.com and start asking your questions. Tell your friends too!

Well, we made it back to Rexburg and the weather is beautiful! It was nice to be in Willard for the summer but it's nice to be back for my last semester.

Now we just need to unpack...

Oh yeah, we lost our camera in AZ so it might be a little while before we get pictures on here.

Just a couple more candid Joshua pictures.


















'Talking' on the phone.

Well, greetings from Willard! We are all doing well up here. We're just so excited to be coming down to Arizona next month. Here are a few random cute pictures of my beautiful kids.

This picture was initially meant for the previous post.

















Adam at the Logan Temple. We went up for a birthday present to me.






















Anna and Adam dancing at the Ogden Temple.

















Adam on the steps of the Salt Lake Temple. We went down to Temple Square just last week.

















Joshua's 1st birthday cake.

Adventures in Utah

Well, I'm not going to go into great detail about any of these pictures, so hopefully they will speak for themselves. Love you all!

Moving!

We are moving to Utah for the summer for John's internship. We will not have internet access so we may not be posting to the blog much. Have a great summer and we'll see you in the fall!

John's "New" Truck

We bought this 1983 Ford F150 from our old Elders Quorum President. It's OLD, but it runs great, and it was in our price range. John is having lots of fun fixing it up. Let us know if you know a good place to get a replacement tailpipe!

Valentines Video for Anna

Here is a little video I made for Anna. I was going to burn it onto DVDs, but I guess our computer doesn't think we have a DVD burner. That's why it's on our blog.

Enjoy!

Sick Day

We've all been sick this week, and at the recommendation of John's mom we came home early from Island Park to take Joshua to the medical clinic in Rexburg, since there isn't one close to the cabin. After the test confirmed that Joshua did, indeed, have the flu, which means that all the rest of us have it too, since we've all had the same yucky symptoms, we picked up the prescription for Joshua and headed home to crash. John took care of the kids while I laid down (what a nice husband!) and when I came out again this is what I found. Actually, Adam was still nodding off when I came out there, so I leaned him over and he promptly fell asleep.

Snow Day

We went up to a cabin in Island Park last night. John has a friend whose grandpa lives there, and so we went up so John could help his friend clear snow off roofs and porches and earn a little extra money in the process. There was so much snow! Two feet, at least, in the driveway, and more in other places. John's friend, Josh, cleared a path for us and then he and John cleared the rest of the driveway while we sat in the house, nice and comfy.

John carved my name in the snow as they were clearing the driveway. What a husband I have!

Clearing the driveway...

The final product:

...and there isn't a car under there...

Just a Note

I've just posted lots of our family movies--we sure love these little boys God has blessed us with! They are our treasure, and we wouldn't trade them for all the riches of the world. When it comes down to it, what matters most is family...thank you for being part of ours. We love you.

Bashful Adam

Our Backbending Baby

Building the Outhouse

There was a gingerbread (graham cracker) house-building contest at our ward Christmas party. We decided to do something a little different....

Cutie Joshua, and some Bashful Adam

We Love Our Boys