Birthday season begins...

...this week begins the season of birthdays for our family.
Peyton and Nate share a birthday week. 
Within six days we enjoy two birthday dinners...
...one Mac and Cheese, the other Monte Cristo sandwiches... YUM!!!
Two birthday cakes... one chocolate, the other lemon... YUM!!!
There will be no dieting this week I will celebrate my oldest and youngest sons birth...

18 years ago I became a mom...
that same boy will make me a missionary mom...
10 years ago I became a mom to a little boy who would show his mom how fasting, prayer, and faith work...
both will be serving missions...
Peyton has been on one for a long time, glad Nate will get a chance to be like his little brother.

Love you boys!!!

Peyton and Nate



Happy Birthday Peyton

Peyton practicing his photography

My missionaries

Happy Birthday Nate

From 5 to 18 in a blink of an eye...

Graduation has come and gone and I'm still recovering...

where did the time go?

When Nate was little Steve and I use to talk about all the amazing things he was going to do and how we wanted him to do it all NOW!!!

Yes, first time parents are a little crazy,

Why did I want to rush it?

 

It's here...

is he ready?

am I?

 

He thinks he is...

he is the one trying to rush...

I am trying to slow it down

It's too late.

 

A few pictures to document this great adventure we are on

Life and graduation...

 

He looks so thrilled...

what a handsome young man

Graduation cap hair and dad trying not to be emotional

She is thrilled this is not a day dedicated to her

Graduate and family

family... thanks for the support

3 graduates

Now we are on to our next destination in life... a mission.

Nate will report to the MTC in Provo UT to prepare him to teach the gospel to the people in Mexico Mexico City Southeast Mission...

and he thought life was going to get easier leaving home...

We LOVE you Nate...

You will do great things!

what a month it has been...

It is strange to me that the last month of school is CRAZY!! Everything is due, everyone preforms, and this year we threw in a graduation.
It is at times like these when I wonder how moms with fewer kids cope... I'm sure they are busy...just less...maybe??
so here is our month in pictures...

Cams final football game

Cams last band concert

Last Pink Dolphin soccer game

Mase in Pop show

Nate singing his solo for the last time at Pop show

Prom

My final Kindergarten awards

4th grade awards

Singers company

Dancing Divas

Graduation... more to come later.

It is a blessing to be a mom...


a busy blessing!

 

To a life that never sleeps...

...it seems that it was just moments ago when I became a mom.
I am the imperfect mom who became the mom of a perfect boy.
Who once was this...

Has grow into this...

 

 

He did it...

He taught me to be a better mom...

He is a thinker...an observer of the world around him...kind...loyal...quiet...honest...

I am going to miss this guy...

It's hard for moms to grow up.





Happy Sunday...

Today I was in charge of Sharing time (teaching a group of children from ages 3 to 11) at church...
I love being around all of children..
they can bring a sweet spirit to my Sunday...

I sure when the Savior comes again he will go to primary (children's church) first...

My topic today was on the blessings of the Resurrection...
We talked about how Christs disciples were sad when he died...
we talked of those who have come before us who have died, and how we are sad too...

We talked of how sad Mary must have felt when she went to  the tomb to find it empty...
Then how Mary felt when moments later she recognized the Saviors voice calling her by name...

The blessing of the Resurrection is that we ALL will live again...
I will one day see my sweet friend that left this world far to soon...
I will visit with my Grandma O who I still miss everyday...
But most of all I will meet the Father-in-law I have never met...
the man whose influence is still felt today...

Sunday is the day that continues to renew my spirit...
get me ready for the next week...
and helps me remember that I can always be better than I am today...

What a blessing it is to celebrate the Easter season again, to renew, to be better.

Sure helps me deal with the toilet that leaked all night flooding the bathroom, hall, and managed to seep through the ceiling to the living room downstairs..
Good times...

Happy Sunday!

Courage...

Changes are happening around the house...
Some wanted...
Others not...

Many require stepping into the unknown...

One that has been nagging at me for quiet a while...

One that  brings me "present"...

to my children...
to my husband...
to myself...

A step off a cliff...

I will not be teaching next year...

I'm going to be MOM, WIFE, and ME...

How grateful I am to have a loving Heavenly Father who prods me, and at times forces me to look at the big picture.  He has and will continue to guide me, I just need to listen...

What's important...

Wow, it has been a long time...
and truth be told,  I am Okay with that...
I seem to be letting a lot of things slide...
some I am not Okay with...
I should pick a new word this year, but I'm thinking "present" needs to sink in a tad bit more...

Life around here is crazy, and it doesn't show any signs of changing...
at least for a while...

Last month life has given me a chance to reflect and take notice of what is truly important...

A funeral of a sweet friend, a young wife, a mom. She leaves five children, two who are still babies, and a grieving husband...
I asked why...
Other stresses in life were put into perspective as I watched her family grieve for their wife and mother...

What is important...
A bigger and better home? a new car? a larger bank account? all the debt that goes with it?

What is important...
Two things...
Two things that at times have bounced around on the "to do" list because I know that they will always be there...
Two things...

My relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ...
My Family...
These are the things that matter...
These are what make me be a better person, friend, wife, and mother...
Changes have and will be made...
As I ponder a bit more on this subject enjoy a moment in time of what is important to me...