Fall Break

Last weekend we enjoyed Fall Break with a little getaway to Yellowstone National Park with our friend the Parkers and the Sorensons.  We took our time driving up there on Thursday, and took a slight detour to stop for a visit with Luke up at Utah State in Logan.

My kids :)

Luke seems to be doing well at school and is figuring things out.  He passed a couple of big tests this last week including his first PFT for the Air Force ROTC.  He really is enjoying the ROTC and I look forward to seeing what opportunities the next few years bring for him.

We stayed in a Hotel at West Yellowstone, MT, and spent a couple days exploring the beauties of the park.

David giving Mia a warming hug (mornings were cold!) 

Kennedy, Lizzy, and Mia 

We encountered quite a few buffalo 

taking a quick break on a stop along the way

You have to pose for a picture at the park entrance!

Mia

Lizzy and Kennedy

David and I

Maybe these buffalo are a little close for comfort!

Stopping for lunch at Yellowstone Lake

Kennedy reflecting

Old Faithful

working on balance along the boardwalk

Our cool shadow pic

David and Kennedy 

It was a great weekend with fun company and we loved exploring the park and sights.  The weather was warm and pleasant.   A perfect fall break getaway!

BYU spectacular

Another week has gone by, full of school, work, soccer, and busy schedules.

The highlight of the week for me was taking the girls to the Homecoming Spectacular at the BYU Marriott Center featuring David Archuleta.  It was so good and we enjoying hearing him sing, as well as seeing and hearing some of the other groups from BYU, like Vocal Point,

BYU Spectacular

The girls and I

We have found ourselves singing the song "Glorious" all week.  That has been one of my favorites for quite a while.  I love the message of the song.  

Just finished watching General Conference.  Inspired for a few things.  Greatful for Shannon for taking it a step further and starting our family Facebook page devoted to our weekly pondering of the scriptures.
"Per Devin G. Durrant's challenge during General Conference, select a scripture each week and post it somewhere that you can ponder it. Share it here with the family. We can use this group to share insight and support with each other! " 

Mine for this week is:
Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Should there be anyone who feels he is too weak to change the onward and downward course of his life, or should there be those who fail to resolve to do better because of that greatest of fears-the fear of failure-there is no more comforting assurance to be had than these words of the Lord: 'My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.'" (Conference Report, Nov. 1999 Ensign, "Priesthood Power")

It's been several years. . . 

I haven't even looked at this blog for about the same amount of time, but a couple days ago something inspired me to look it up and read it.  I have realized what a priceless way this is to journal, and I think someday this will be special for my family and my children.  

I am not sure why I stopped blogging.. . . but I think so much of it has to do with the fact that shortly after my last post in 2013, David's mom, Mary became sick and passed the first week of March.  How do you write about that, and how do you not write about that event and keep blogging? . . . . So I guess I just avoided it and never wrote about it at all.    

So here I am two and a half years later.  Where do I start?  I'll just dive in.  Today will be a post in memory of Davids mom, Mary.  Although nothing I say is good enough. . . I need to say something to move on.  

This is one of my favorite pictures of Mary with my kids.  This was taken in 2009.  And now it becomes a priceless picture.  After her death, I put a slide show together for her funeral, and realized how few pictures we had of her with the kids.  I think she was a little camera shy and didn't like being in front of the camera.  

Mary was a constant in our lives and our kids lives.  She was faithful and really strived to live the gospel.  She attended the temple regularly, read her scriptures, and served her family.  When the kids were younger, and we lived in Springville, she would come down each Saturday night for a visit.  Usually David and I would go get a bite to eat, and we would return to a clean kitchen, bathed kids, the kids read to, and maybe they would be sitting watching a Disney show with their grandma.  Usually she would bring some type of a treat, most common would be powdered donuts, and maybe twizzlers,  oreos, or a Little Caesars pizza to share.  She would say "Don't worry, it was on sale".   She loved her family, her grand children and her sons with all her heart.  

The week before she died she told me "I just want to be there to watch my Grandchildren grow up, but maybe I will need to do it from the other side".  

Losing her was losing someone that loved my kids unconditionally.  Words can't describe the loss to our family.   

I hope she is still watching over us and guiding my children each day.  We love you, Grandma Mary!!