Wedding Pictures

I wanted our wedding pictures backed up. I don't know how to scan, so I took a picture of the picture :)

Zip Line

We have gone camping a lot this summer and we bought a zip line to make camping even more entertaining. All of the kids really enjoyed it. I didn't get a picture of everyone, but it was a success and safe as well.

Stuff

This Etch-a-sketch picture was done by Joshua. I thought it was really good so I took a picture.

This is Mercedes summer bucket list.

This is Mercedes' Etch-a-sketch picture.

She lost two teeth. Finally!

A picture I painted.

A nasty organ that I found in my roast beef at a restaurant. I don't think I will ever be able to look at a french dip sandwich the same way again... or eat at The Vue. Whatever this was, it was about as long as a finger.

Sunglasses and Date Night

Luke got these sunglasses from Nick and Bethany and he thought he looked pretty cool. I agree. He's a cool dude. Luke is such a cute boy. He loves being strong and takes great pride in it. He loves the ladies and is quite a charmer. Older women love him, he knows it and so he plays into it. The other day, Jon Mark caught him pretending to take pictures of an 18 year old girl at church. He was taking pictures on a fake camera and telling her how pretty she was with each pose. 

Last week, we went on a staycation and went to Sunsplash water park. Jon Mark and I watched as Luke struggled to carry his very large tube up the very high platform to get to the ride. He was obviously struggling, but he was determined. Two teenage girls thought he was so cute and they kept trying to help him. Luke didn't want help, especially from girls. He's the man, he doesn't need help... ever. Well, one of them helped him anyway. He got to the bottom of the slide and he stormed up to Jon Mark and myself and told us that he was mad at those girls for thinking that he needed help. He didn't need help or want it. I asked him if he was nice to the girls and he shook his head and said, no. I asked him what he did and he told me that he gave them his grumpy face.

Date night is the best, I love it when I get to hang out with this guy. 

Random Pictures

These pictures must have been when I was trying to distract the kids at church. Church is hard right now. Hannah and Caleb are constantly moving/yelling/talking/laughing... you get the picture. There are some weeks when I literally get no spiritual fulfillment and I leave church with my stress levels super high. I have come to terms with the fact that these many years of going to church with little children will someday pass. And, until that day does come, I go to church for other reasons besides spiritual fulfillment. I go to show my commitment. I go to show a willingness to learn. I go to be obedient. I go to set patterns and to teach my children that church is so important. I go to show my Heavenly Father that my heart is in the right place, even if my mind is constantly distracted. Caleb will be in nursery soon, in just two months time, and then things will get a lot easier. Then, at least I will have two hours to sit and ponder without having to roam the halls. Bless those nursery workers! 

I write this post to serve as a reminder. Someday, when my children are grown, I will be sitting quietly on my row and I may notice a young mother who has her arms full. Maybe I will remember to help her out, or at least remember how hard it is and cut her some slack. And, to my children who will be grown, who will someday read this, I want you to know... I get it. I totally do. Church is hard, but go anyway. Do it anyway, and do it gladly. Make daily scripture study a daily habit so that you don't have to rely so much on the weekly spiritual fulfillment. Everything that is good in my life, literally everything, is because of my commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the source of all happiness. Obedience brings so many blessings, so go anyway.

These pictures are from a fun day we had at the Bass Pro Shop. It was kids night so they got to do the arcade game for free and they got to do some arts and crafts.

Poor Caleb had so many bruises on his head. He fell off of a chair onto the tile floor, and then he fell off of another chair onto the pool deck. He climbs really well, and it is difficult keeping him safe. Our kitchen chairs must be on the carpet so that he cannot push them over to the table to climb on top. The other day, I found him on top of a stool that was on top of the table. We had put the stool up there so that he would stop climbing on it. Well, he was determined and pushed a chair over to the table and climbed up anyway.

My sweetheart looking good!

Answers to Prayers

I had kind of a cool experience today, and I wanted to record it so that I could reflect on it later.

A few weeks ago, I had recorded on this blog an experience I had while I prayed. I desired to be taught and I said the words, "Teach me, I am ready to learn." Here's what I wrote: 

...About a week ago, I was praying for further knowledge regarding the plan of salvation, more specifically the pre-mortal realm. I pleaded with my Heavenly Father to teach me, I told Him that I was ready to learn. That familiar primary song popped into my head and I began to recite the chorus in my mind as I prayed. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with Thee someday. Suddenly, I realized what I had done. Without really thinking about it, I had changed the perspective of the song. I was His child. I was pleading with my Heavenly parent to guide me and teach me. It's what I yearn for. It's what I need. The parent-child relationship with my Heavenly parents became clearer. He was teaching me, through the spirit. He is our mentor. And He hasn't left us alone to figure it out on our own.

Fast forward to today. 

I was approached after church by a woman in our ward. Her name is Sister Lisa Martin. She pulled me aside and told me that she felt very prompted to tell me about a book written by James E. Talmage called, "The Articles of Faith". She said that she had been reading it and got the distinct impression that Heavenly Father wanted to teach me and that I was ready to learn. She said that she didn't know why that impression came to her, but she couldn't shake it. That's when I told her that the Lord was using her to answer my prayer, that I had prayed recently and said pretty much the same words to Heavenly Father that were impressed upon her own mind in regards to me. It was an answer to my prayer. So, I am excited now to read the book and see what Heavenly Father wants me to learn. 

I do know He loves me. I do know that He is aware of me.