Funnies

The girls have been saying the funniest things lately. I just have to document them because I don't want to forget how cute they are before they become teenagers : )

Situation: In Dillards with 4 little crazy wild girls.  Aunt Joy telling them if they don't behave she'll have to sell them to the zoo.  Walking out of the department store:

Tianna: "Mom, you can't sell me. Remember?  Families are Eternal?"

Me:  "I know. That's exactly why I can sell you then just get you back in the eternities."  

Tianna:  immediately starts bawling her eyes out.

It was so funny... after (through my giggling) I explained that I was in fact just kidding and I would never sell her.

Situation.  We went in DI and I saw a really cute denim jacket for Tianna.  She tried it on and walked around the store with it on.  We bought out stuff, walked outside and got half way to our car

Tianna: "Mom! We didn't buy this jacket. We just stole it!" 

Me: "uh... why yes we did! Thank you for reminding me Tianna!" 

One day, Adelia, who I'm trying NOT to potty train until we are settled into our own house, was trying NOT to take a nap.

Me:  "Adelia, go to sleep and when you wake up we can do something fun." 

Adelia: "Buy panties?" 

Me:  "uhhhh.. yeah I guess." 

So we bought panties but thankfully she has once again lost interest in potty training. 

This last situation is funny NOW but it was very much NOT funny when it happened. 

At 3 am I heard Adelia's door open.  I was so tired that I thought I'll just lay here and wait until she comes in to my room (which is what she always does when she wakes up early (early as in 6:30 or something).  Well, I started to doze off and realized she never came in.  I went out, expecting to find her sitting at the top of the stairs or something.  She wasn't there but her door was shut so I went to the bathroom and started to go back to bed. Then I decided I should check.  I went and felt around in her bed for her. I couldn't find her. 

So I went to Tianna's bed to see if she crawled in with her. No. So I figured she must have gone downstairs. On my way to my parent's room I looked in all the normal places she would go (I mean, it was very very dark after all). All was silent and dark in my parent's room and I figured if she was there they would tell me. Getting more concerned I walk back through the house, this time with lights on. I looked back in my parent's room and Tianna's room and went to tell Luke I couldn't find Adelia anywhere.  He was so incoherent that he doesn't even remember me telling him that.

Well I am completely freaked out by now. Frantically I look everywhere once again and this time I went back inside my parent's room to look around.  Seeing the light on, my mom woke up and said, "Are you missing someone?"  I start crying with relief, "YES!"  She was sound asleep, snuggled up with Grandpa.  

WHAT A STINKER!!! And my mom and dad had fallen back to sleep so they didn't notice me checking around their room before then.  Oh I was so relieved to find her.  Needless to say, I did not fall back asleep for a long time. 

  

August's Hard Days

August means many things... like end of summer activities and school starting, but for our family, it means anniversary and birthday time... for Vittoria.
On the 16th, two years ago, our beautiful and special niece returned to her Heavenly Father's arms after a very valiant battle at Primary Children's Medical Center... and also after nearly 8 years of physical trials.  She was born with a connective tissue disorder called Marfan's Syndrome.  Basically, all her soft tissues were weak-- including her heart.  In July 2009 she underwent her second open heart surgery to prevent her aorta from rupturing.  The first one happened when she was 2.  When she was 2 1/2 she had her first back surgery and continued to have back surgeries nearly every 6 months following.  She was so strong and always recovered far quicker than expected by the doctors.  It was inspiring! So, when she had this open heart surgery scheduled, none of us worried that she would do anything but sail right through it.  Unfortunately we were wrong.  There were complications after complications and an entire month of agony for her dear parents.  It was a very difficult time for our family.  On my mom's birthday, Sunday the 16th, while waiting on the heart transplant list, Vittoria passed away.
Now, the 16th of August is a hard day for us--especially for my brother and his wife.  But, it's also still my mom's birthday and although she'd rather we just forget it is, we still like to honor her AND remember Vittoria.

This year we met up at the cemetery at 5:46 (the time she was both born and passed away) and were there to show our respects and to support James and Val.

 Afterwards we came back for a special dinner planned by Tianna.  She insisted we give my mom a menu and have her circle her favorite choices for each course.  It all turned out delicious... especially the cupcakes!

The next hard day is 1 week following the 16th, on the 23rd.  That is Vittoria's birthday.  She would have turned 10.  We had a balloon release at the cemetery at 5:46 like we have the past 2 years and then came back to my parent's house for pizza.

Those days are such an emotional experience.We all know we get to see her again, and because of the temple sealing, her parents will get to have her forever, and that is honestly the only way we find peace.  We miss you and will love you forever Vittoria!

This is the Place Heritage Park

The 2nd Saturday of August, we went to This is the Place Heritage Center.  Yes... more Pioneer stuff!  From the sound of our blog posts lately it seems like we do a lot with Pioneer related things.. but ya know, with listening to "the Work and the Glory" books has really sparked a love of our pioneer forefathers.  And Tianna is very interested in them and their way of life as well.  So, back in May we bought a Groupon for discounted tickets to the park and mid August was our first chance to get up there.

And it was worth the wait! The kids had so much fun.  We happened to be there on a day when it was a Civil War reenactment day.   Our girls enlisted into the Union Army and went around the park getting their rations , their payment (bubble gum wrapped like coins) and more.  They also got to check out the cool pioneer buildings, ride ponies, do chores, ride the train, pan for gold (fools gold) and eat ICE CREAM! it was super super hot... but very fun!

 My BFF Janelle came with us for a bit (and let us stay at her house Friday night)

 Civil War band member

 Old school laundry time!

 Pannin' for gold

 One of Brigham Young's houses.  Tianna HAD to go inside because, hello, it's PINK!

 and the walk up was so pretty!

I'm so glad the Pioneers found Utah. We sure love living here!

The Great Ferron Mountain

The night of our temple trip we met up with our friends, Blake and Chantel and began our 4-wheeling campout.  To top off such a spiritual evening, we had a small miracle happen in our behalf.  See, we have never traveled that direction to Ferron Mountain (which is the opposite side of the mountain range than we are use to.)  We were trusting the gps and direction giver on Luke's cell phone and Blake was following us.  We headed up this windy dirt road and made lots of sharp turns.  By now it was really dark too... and we were out of cell phone range.  We made a quick turn and Blake missed it.  We had to travel quite a ways before we could find a spot safe enough to turn around, and we could not get ahold of Blake. We prayed we could all find our way and meet up once again.  To make matters worse, Blake didn't know how to even get to the intended camp spot Luke had in mind.
We turned around and immediately we came upon some people from the DWR. They told us we would never make it to Ferron Mountain the way we were going.  Great... So we headed back to the spot we lost the Merrells.  Shortly after that we were stopped by a truck from the Forest Service. They asked if we were with the other people from Castle Dale and that they had sent them back to town to go the right way.
It was such a miracle that we each found out about the same time we were going the wrong way.  Within minutes we were reunited and all headed in the right direction.  I have such a testimony of prayer!

At our camp spot we unloaded and sat under the great night sky watching a meteor shower and visiting with our friends.   In the morning we woke up to this gorgeous view:

 Then our ride began at Spinners Reservoir.. while we waited for one more friend, Jeff.

 The wild flowers were incredible and the grass was higher than any of us have ever seen up there.

We had an excited ride and covered more than 50 miles that day.  There were river crossings, a gigantic mud puddle Jeff got stuck in, and Blake trudged right in and lost his shoe, and view points that took our breath away! 

 The shoe was found! yay!

 My sweet hubby gave me a growing bouquet throughout the ride

 Then we found a snow drift... it looked more like ash from a volcano.  but that didn't stop boys from being boys! If you look closely you can see Luke's snowball launched right at his innocent wife!

It was such a fun day! And luckily our girls had some fun of their very own.  They got to spend Friday and Saturday with their grandparents at the Emery County Fair.  We got back in town just in time to catch the free concert.. unfortunately by the time Danny Gokey finally came out it was already well past their bedtime so we only heard 3 songs.  The opening act was okay.. but I really looked forward to hearing more Danny!

 Our girls have the best grandparents! all 4 living sets!

Notice the butterfly in Adelia's cheek. that thing would not come off easily like they usually and she wouldn't let us near it to get it off.  "Leafe my buff-eye awone!" (leave my butterfly alone!)  It stayed on for most of the week! It was cute! 

Special Night at the Temple

The weekends in August have been super fun... and SUPER busy.  Just like usual at our house, I guess.
The first weekend Luke met my dad, my sister, and I at the Temple in Manti.  First we ate some yummy food and then we did Sealings.  It was one of the neatest temple experiences I've had.

[First of all, I need a disclaimer-- What I'm about to say is not because I'm fishing for compliments, or to show conceit, but it's merely factual and I feel it's just further testimony to me that God knows and loves me.
I had been feeling for awhile that I was not very pretty and having body image issues.  (i know, i'm a girl, and that just comes with being female.. but it was a little more prominent to me lately)]

How that ties to my temple experience is this:
I was waiting outside the bathroom near the cafeteria, while Luke finished up in the restroom.  The sweet sister that directs traffic right there complimented my dress.  Then she looked me up and down and said, "You are very beautiful woman. You have such light about you, a real special spirit.  It just radiates from you."  I was flabbergasted! I thanked her and told her she just made my entire day! I realized that sometimes I don't feel very pretty by the world's standards, but in God's eyes, I am beautiful. And I would much rather have my spirit felt and a light about me than be "hot" or look like a starving super model.

That would have been enough to boost my self esteem.  But then, while doing sealings the Sealer said something about the other couple being lucky to have such a beautiful girl to represent their "daughter." Then the sister from the couple agreed.  Then, after we were finished and ready to leave, one other woman leaned over to me and told me how beautiful I was.  I just couldn't believe it.  I know Heavenly Father inspired those people to say those things to make me feel good about myself.  The temple really is so amazing!

So aside from the compliments I received all night, that was not the only reason that night was so special.  It was just a neat experience because the Sealers were so chatty and talked a lot to our group.  One really neat thing was during some family names for one couple the Sealer stopped and said he felt the spirit of very strongly of the woman who's work they just performed.  I feel very grateful to have been in the temple that night.

Perspective

Yesterday I was having a "feel sorry for myself" kind of day.  We still live at my parent's house (which isn't the problem) but we still haven't sold our house, we are still in limbo, and we keep lowering our price and losing money.  Things don't seem to be going our way and every time we make a decision there is a road block.  I know I need to have an eternal perspective and all our trials are for a reason, and things always work out if you are faithful and trust in God.  It's just all His timing.  I KNOW that. I believe that.... but some days, the circumstances still get me down.  Especially when money is involved...
So anyway, I was having a bad day and just needed a good cry.  And some perspective!

My mom arranged for my sis to watch the girls so I could go with her and my dad to the movie. (Luke stayed in Spanish Fork with our friends like he often does 1-2 nights a week).  We saw "17 Miracles."  Wow.  That is really all I can say.  I am so humbled after watching the suffering of those Saints and all they went through--just to survive! Here I am complaining when honestly, my life is extremely easy!

One instance is the movie, a woman simply gave up. She sat down on a rock, crying, and refusing to go one more step.  Her daughter prayed, a miracle happened and she could go on.  She recounts that any time after that when she was discouraged and wanted to give up, instead of complaining she would say a prayer of gratitude.

Now, if someone who had so little and was on the brink of starvation, freezing to death and utterly and completely exhausted can be grateful, certainly I CAN BE TOO! and SHOULD BE!

So I now vow to do the same.  I will get on my knees and show gratitude for all I am blessed with every time I feel like complaining.  I really am so blessed.  My husband has a good job.  We had a wonderful home to live in while he went to school.  We have a Realtor (my brother) who is doing his best and helping us out so much.  We have a great place to live during our time of Limbo.  My parents buy almost all we need right now.  My kids have fun with their cousins.  We still get to see Luke almost every day.  We aren't totally  upside down in our house like many many people are.  I could go on and on about what we are blessed with.  I just need to focus on them and not so much on my self pity.
Thank you to all the pioneers and for everyone who suffers so I can have so much.

Pioneer Day

I love that Utah gets to celebrations in July.. the rest of the nation only gets to play half as much as us! : )
My parent's stake.. well, it's our stake currently, had a huge party the 21st.  It was fun dressing up with the girls.

They made such cute lil Pioneer children

We spent the weekend of the 24th in Castle Dale and attended Orangville Days. So much fun!

It all started with a very early morning for me-- but I ran my very first 5k.  The one i did last year did not count since i was carrying Tianna or running with her for most of it.  So I count this as my first.  My time was 31:16 min.  Not very fast, but the fact that I can actually run that far without stopping is a huge feat for me.  I use to die after running 1/2 a mile.  I was surprised that I actually took 3rd place in my age category and won myself a Gatorade! Suhweet!

 Parade

 Children Games (free, might i add!)

 Bounce houses

 Obstacle course

 chillin' with gma Belinda

On a side note from all the fun we had-- I am SO grateful for all the sacrifice and difficulties the Pioneers faced so that we could have so much.  I'm so glad we celebrate and honor them each and every July.