The villain, the heroine, and the hero.

Here is the wonderful story I was able to go see at Brock's school. It was so cute I HAD to post it!!

Just Hanging Out

For all of you wondering what life is like with five boys in the house here you go. For fun they wrestle, play video games, play ninja (don't ask just picture bruises, cuts, and tears!!), and now have learned a new way to just hang out. To all the boys out there-play away!!

A Well Balanced Diet

Last night Tristan performed at her last concert for orchestra. She did great and looked beautiful...much better than her blurry pic shows!! :) As much as we got used to having the cello around, she decided it is not for her...oh well, maybe another child will make great music around the house! We have high hopes for Brayden who can be seen jamming to hymns in the middle of sacrament meeting. :) Afterwards we decided to go out for dinner to celebrate (Tristan's performance...not the fact she is quitting!!) We took one look at Connor and realized he has the idea of a balanced diet down. Now that is a diet we can all handle!! By the way he ate it all and topped it off with french fries!

Turn left here...no, wait, right...no wait left...

There is nothing quite like womens conference...lots of laughter, long lines, the best brownies, really sore feet, amazing service and the spirit that can only come from the presence of tens of thousands of women, united by purpose and the love of God. The only thing that is even better is going with family who is also attending, hoping to become better wives, mothers, and individuals. Womens conference is a time to reflect, reevaluate, and remember who we really are and what we are really here to accomplish. Just days before we left I was telling a friend how overwhelmed I was with my inadequacy and my lack of influence on the world. I felt that I wasn't making any sort of difference for anyone. After Women's Conference I had a renewed vision of the importance of motherhood, sisterhood, and service. I realized that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. I may never be in the headlines or win the nobel peace prize but in the eyes of my family I am a hero. We, as women of God, do have purpose- greater than we realize most days. Changing diapers, doing endless laundry, teaching our children their divine worth, being an example to friends, standing firm in our beliefs and not apologizing when much of the rest of the world thinks that only women in the spotlight and the news matter....these are the things we do daily to make our portion of the world a better place. To all mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, and friends...keep up the good work...nothing is more important than the work you do.

Prayer Rocks...Multiple Uses

Each of my four boys came back from church on Sunday holding a prayer rock...not a little run of the mill prayer rock but a nice sized, if you lay your head on your pillow you will feel this rock, prayer rock. Darrin and I looked at each other and said, "Rules, now!" No throwing, hitting, or tossing. Four boys...four rocks....hmmmm. Needless to say, yesterday they came home with the rocks, today Connor has one less rock and Brayden has one nice goose egg. I am not sure if that is really the purpose of the prayer rocks but I will say Connor took one look at Dad and started to pray...maybe they really do work.

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

As many know, this last year has been a tough one. But one thing I have learned is we truly are here to help each other. I wanted to start my blog by saying thank you. Thank you to all who have lifted and loved me and kept me on solid ground. Without you I don't think I would still be smiling, loving, and laughing, and on most days doing even more than just surviving. Thank you to my honey who is still my best friend, who is always trying today to be better than he was yesterday, who laughs with me (and sometimes at me), and sees my good and my bad and loves me anyway! Thank you to Becky who is a sister at her finest...a friend, a confidante, a supporter, and a cheerleader. You tell me constantly that I am doing ok and that tomorrow will be a better day and you can somehow listen and talk even with 3 kids in your background and 8 in mine (Barb's kids are here too!) Thank you to Barb who tells me I am strong and beautiful, everyone needs someone who makes them feel they still have so much too offer even when life gets you down. Thank you to my good friend Taunie for knowing more about me than any friend should have to and loving me and my family wholeheartedly. Thank you to Wendy (and her friends) for making me laugh and making me feel funny...a true compliment from the master comedian. Thank you to Chris and Jen for showing me true strength in the face of adversity, for keeping my faith alive in the power of the human spirit, and for always putting others first and caring about other people's problems even when theirs are biggers than most of us could ever imagine. Thank you to Grandma, Aunt Luan, Dad, Kendra, Cheilah, Adam,and Marylyn and Jack for always being concerned about our financial situations and helping us in every way you can while still letting us know you realize we are truly doing all we can...thank you for loving us, and never making us feel second rate. Thank you to my kids for making me smile always. Thank you to too many others to name but please know we truly do need each other and I truly do appreciate you all. I love you!!