29 July 2013
26 July 2013
Why Adam was created before Eve
So here I am studying for a lesson I have to give on families and of course the material covers Genesis 2:18-24, the creation. I am prayerfully studying and trying to apply it to why families are important. Well, I learned something I wasn't expecting, why Adam was created before Eve. You're all curious aren't you? It's pretty simple. Adam was created before Eve becuause if Eve came first she would have been like, "Don't worry about it Heavenly Father, I don't need a man, I got this. " Bahhhhaaaaaa!!! You know I'm right. :) Bryce even thinks I'm kind of funny.
25 July 2013
22 July 2013
More Girl's Weekend
I know you are not surprised that I just barely downloaded my pictures from our wonderful weekend. I bet you are surprised, however, that I am finally blogging a few. They are definitely not as good as my daughters take, but they bring back great memories!
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| At ORD |
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| Waiting for Liz |
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| LIZ!!!! |
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| Looking for alligators |
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| This is all we found! |
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| We did a lot of this.....! |
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| For some reason, most of my kitchen photos have these ladies in them? |
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| My favorite things from Michelle |
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| My favorite things from Jodi |
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| Liz's favorite thing :) |
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| The best flea market ever! |
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| This was Michelle's way of proving she was in Florida |
21 July 2013
19 July 2013
Photo Friday
I finally took a picture! This is my beloved garden, after I spent all evening weeding, pruning, harvesting, and watering.
While I worked the kids played in a kiddie pool and had the neighbors kids over to play on the playground. Somehow, Vida kept undressing herself while my back was turned. I think I got her re-dressed 3 times and then gave up. I did enforce a strict stay-in-the-backyard-when-you're-naked policy though. And as a side note, somehow she did this to her big toes while playing and I'm not sure how.
Also, tonight's harvest.
Also, while Jaime was helping me in the garden she suddenly screamed so loud and became so inconsolable that I thought she must have broken something....and then I realized it was all because she had touched the slimy part of a snail. I tried really hard not to laugh. Okay, I could have tried harder.
14 July 2013
Family Reunion 2014
June 23 - 26, 2014
We will be meeting at James and Liz's new place in Galesburg, IL. You are welcome to arrive early and/or stay late, just let us know, so we can be ready for you! It will be amazing, so plan now to be there!
My Favorite Things . . . Girl's Weekend 2013
I know that I will not do this justice, but I have most of the photos, so I will do my best.
For me the vacation began a little earlier than expected when Dad, Mom, Michelle AND Marquie all met me at the airport. They were a welcome site after a 3 hour drive by myself. Then, we managed to get seats together. It was the perfect start to a perfect weekend.
Our first evening was nice and relaxing. We went to the beach, of course, and enjoyed some reddish brown water which freaked us out a little but we dealt with it and swam anyway. That was until a sting ray came within feet of us and jumped in the water making quite a splash. But we stuck together and made sure everyone got out safely. Then, we enjoyed a lovely sunset on the beach. It was amazing and the sky cleared up literally minutes before it began.
The next day we ran to the store to do a little shopping. Shocking! 40% off everything!!!! You just can't turn that down, especially not Michelle who only stopped when Jodi started to get hungry!
In the afternoon we enjoyed our favorite things. I don't have pictures, but here are some of the highlights.
Mom: Her favorite thing is her family and she is excited to come and visit all of us this year for at least two days. We are all pretty excited as well. She also shared some great quotes, talks and lessons that she has learned in her life. Learning from Mom is incredible, a great blessing and a highlight of our time together.
Liz: She loves gardening and canning and was excited to share some mulberry jam she learned to make this summer. She is also excited about her new house and kept everyone apprised of what was going on with the work being done.
Heather: She LOVES Florida, Florida beaches, sunsets on the beach, and well, everything to do with Florida. She also love healthy cooking and eating Vegan style and shared some of her favorite recipes.
Michelle: She loves a lot of things but she especially loves flower arranging and decorating. She also loves being outside and doing outdoor activities. And she has a new love of writing but they may only be if she is writing about families and parenting.
Jodi: She loves many things as well including doing her nails, lotions from Bath and Body Works (not the fruity ones), reading (she brought the Hunger Games to share and I will admit that I snatched them right up!) and so much more!
Marquie: She loves hair and make-up a whole lot! She loves it so much she was willing to do all of our hair for us! I must admit that I love her doing my hair. She is very talented!
We did have to take a break while sharing to jump in the pool. Imagine that. :)
That evening we did a favorite thing survey and had a great time learning more about each other. We all know each other pretty well, but in the last year we have all grown and changed just a little.
Every morning we had a devotional. While this wasn't the most exciting event I must admit that it is the part that I will treasure most. We shared scriptures, talks, thoughts, feelings and things we have learned in those places and how they have affected our lives. They were very sacred and cannot be adequately described here but know that they were incredible!
On Friday we were determined to get an early start, so we headed out around 10 AM. Yes, we enjoyed sleeping in just a little too much, well, except Heather who exercised in the pool every morning. You go girl! When we finally got out we headed to the Big Red Barn to check out the farmer's market and flea market. We had a great time shopping and seeing all of the fun fruit that they sell in Florida. I am sure that none of us spent too much money!
Shopping makes you very hungry, so we had to stop for lunch to enjoy some amazing sandwiches. But we ate quickly so we could get to the beach!
We enjoyed a lovely afternoon swimming and relaxing. We even got to see the male Petersen's who stopped by to say high and to capture us some sand dollars.
That evening as Dad already mentioned he took us to dinner. We had a great time sharing out last night together with him and enjoying some fun seafood. Some of us ended the day with even more shopping, but I was all shopped out, so I headed to some ponds in the neighborhood to spot an alligator. I failed, but it was fun to try.
It was sad to say good-bye, but we had a great time and look forward to getting together again!
For me the vacation began a little earlier than expected when Dad, Mom, Michelle AND Marquie all met me at the airport. They were a welcome site after a 3 hour drive by myself. Then, we managed to get seats together. It was the perfect start to a perfect weekend.
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| Four great seats together! What a memorable way to arrive! |
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| Enjoying the sunset. |
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| Marquie and her camera, of course! |
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| Stunning sunset! |
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| We all thought we were diehard shoppers until we met Michelle! |
In the afternoon we enjoyed our favorite things. I don't have pictures, but here are some of the highlights.
Mom: Her favorite thing is her family and she is excited to come and visit all of us this year for at least two days. We are all pretty excited as well. She also shared some great quotes, talks and lessons that she has learned in her life. Learning from Mom is incredible, a great blessing and a highlight of our time together.
Liz: She loves gardening and canning and was excited to share some mulberry jam she learned to make this summer. She is also excited about her new house and kept everyone apprised of what was going on with the work being done.
Heather: She LOVES Florida, Florida beaches, sunsets on the beach, and well, everything to do with Florida. She also love healthy cooking and eating Vegan style and shared some of her favorite recipes.
Michelle: She loves a lot of things but she especially loves flower arranging and decorating. She also loves being outside and doing outdoor activities. And she has a new love of writing but they may only be if she is writing about families and parenting.
Jodi: She loves many things as well including doing her nails, lotions from Bath and Body Works (not the fruity ones), reading (she brought the Hunger Games to share and I will admit that I snatched them right up!) and so much more!
Marquie: She loves hair and make-up a whole lot! She loves it so much she was willing to do all of our hair for us! I must admit that I love her doing my hair. She is very talented!
We did have to take a break while sharing to jump in the pool. Imagine that. :)
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| A pool in our backyard. We could all use one of these. |
That evening we did a favorite thing survey and had a great time learning more about each other. We all know each other pretty well, but in the last year we have all grown and changed just a little.
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| Sharing our favorite things! |
Every morning we had a devotional. While this wasn't the most exciting event I must admit that it is the part that I will treasure most. We shared scriptures, talks, thoughts, feelings and things we have learned in those places and how they have affected our lives. They were very sacred and cannot be adequately described here but know that they were incredible!
Shopping makes you very hungry, so we had to stop for lunch to enjoy some amazing sandwiches. But we ate quickly so we could get to the beach!
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| Heather was particularly hungry. Maybe that is because she doesn't spend her time snacking like the rest of us. :) |
We enjoyed a lovely afternoon swimming and relaxing. We even got to see the male Petersen's who stopped by to say high and to capture us some sand dollars.
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| This is the only place on the beach you will find 6 modest women. |
That evening as Dad already mentioned he took us to dinner. We had a great time sharing out last night together with him and enjoying some fun seafood. Some of us ended the day with even more shopping, but I was all shopped out, so I headed to some ponds in the neighborhood to spot an alligator. I failed, but it was fun to try.
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| We just couldn't help but get a picture with a Palm tree. |
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| Heather sporting her new clothes and her necklace from Costa Rica! She is looking good! |
It was sad to say good-bye, but we had a great time and look forward to getting together again!
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13 July 2013
An Evening With The Ladies
07 July 2013
Sunday Afternoon Bishop
I'm pretty sure this pictures is self explanatory!
Note the new jeans! I used a flash, didn't even disturb his snoring....and, he is on a United Airlines conference call.
06 July 2013
Photo Friday
I'm sorry I am late, but I just thought this photo would be fun. The boys had a blast with Bryce visiting. They played board games, computer games and even tried to create an app together. It was great uncle/nephew bonding time!
04 July 2013
Remembering...
In many parts of the country... it's hot. In fact, it's more
than hot... it's sweltering. Yet, despite the heat and the generally somber
mood of the country, there will be 4th of July celebrations all across this
country. It will be a day of flag waving, barbeques, family gatherings, street
parades, and picnic lunches. Each of them will commemorate the founding of this
country, and each will remember the sacrifice of those brave patriots and every
solder that has come after them who has fought for liberty and freedom.
However, ten years before America actually declared her independence, revolution had begun. And that revolution began under a 100-year-old elm tree in Boston, when on September 10, 1765, a copper plate with large gold letters was hung in its branches, declaring the tree "The Tree of Liberty."
To understand the inscription, we need to realize what was happening at the time. The British had accumulated a massive war debt during the French and Indian War and they needed a way to pay it off. Much like today, the first and most obvious means of raising revenue was through a tax. And on March 22, 1765, the Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament.
This tax had an effect the British were not expecting... it enraged the colonists like no other tax had up to that point.
You see, the Stamp Act required a tax be paid on ALL documents: legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and even playing cards! The colonists viewed the tax not only as an onerous financial burden, but as a form of censorship since it would limit the colonists' ability to read and write freely.
The colonists' anger would not be abated, and one hot summer day, August 14th, 1765, a crowd gathered around this large elm tree in Boston to protest this onerous tax. In the tree they hung an effigy of Andrew Oliver, the man charged with collecting the Stamp Tax. There was also a British cavalry jackboot hanging from the branches. An imp-like devil poked its head out of the boot. In its hands was a scroll that said "Stamp Tax."
This was the first blatant act of defiance against the British Empire. This is why the great elm tree became known as "The Tree of Liberty." And this was just the beginning! As 1766 rolled around, the tree became a rallying point for the Sons of Liberty, men who were to become the leaders and champions of the forthcoming American Revolution.
Even after the Stamp Act was repealed, the revolutionary movement continued to gather steam. And with the siege of Boston, the first phase of the American Revolution began. British Loyalists cut down the Tree of Liberty in a spiteful act of retaliation against the liberty-minded colonists. But the memories and values that tree represented continued to live on in the hearts of the colonists. Soon flags began to appear with the Liberty Tree image emblazoned on them and were flown in many battles during the Revolutionary War.
And yet, for all that the Liberty Tree stood for, few Americans today know about this important chapter in American history. We have lost our way... we have forgotten where we came from. Our national memory of these events have been all but left in the dustbin of history. Children today can't even tell us who the Founding Fathers were. They can't tell us why this great experiment in liberty was even begun. And they don't understand the basis of what Americans have inherently believed through the years and why. Perhaps this is why Thomas Jefferson cautioned:
"Yes, we did produce a near perfect Republic, but will they keep it? Or will they in their enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of their freedom? Material abundance without character is the surest way to destruction. I tremble for my country when I realize that God is just."
Look around you. What we have today is exactly what Jefferson described: "Material abundance without character." And that lack of character brings us lack of morals and integrity in the political process, with elected officials who are more worried about the money they can squirrel away in their freezers and offshore accounts than they are about keeping the Republic. We live in a time when avarice and illusions of power compel men and women to enslave their constituents in onerous tax burdens and to deprive them of their inherent rights under God.
We need to remember. We need to remember how our liberty was won. We need to remember the virtues of faith, love, and self-discipline. We need to remember the values and morals that made this country great.
However, ten years before America actually declared her independence, revolution had begun. And that revolution began under a 100-year-old elm tree in Boston, when on September 10, 1765, a copper plate with large gold letters was hung in its branches, declaring the tree "The Tree of Liberty."
To understand the inscription, we need to realize what was happening at the time. The British had accumulated a massive war debt during the French and Indian War and they needed a way to pay it off. Much like today, the first and most obvious means of raising revenue was through a tax. And on March 22, 1765, the Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament.
This tax had an effect the British were not expecting... it enraged the colonists like no other tax had up to that point.
You see, the Stamp Act required a tax be paid on ALL documents: legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and even playing cards! The colonists viewed the tax not only as an onerous financial burden, but as a form of censorship since it would limit the colonists' ability to read and write freely.
The colonists' anger would not be abated, and one hot summer day, August 14th, 1765, a crowd gathered around this large elm tree in Boston to protest this onerous tax. In the tree they hung an effigy of Andrew Oliver, the man charged with collecting the Stamp Tax. There was also a British cavalry jackboot hanging from the branches. An imp-like devil poked its head out of the boot. In its hands was a scroll that said "Stamp Tax."
This was the first blatant act of defiance against the British Empire. This is why the great elm tree became known as "The Tree of Liberty." And this was just the beginning! As 1766 rolled around, the tree became a rallying point for the Sons of Liberty, men who were to become the leaders and champions of the forthcoming American Revolution.
Even after the Stamp Act was repealed, the revolutionary movement continued to gather steam. And with the siege of Boston, the first phase of the American Revolution began. British Loyalists cut down the Tree of Liberty in a spiteful act of retaliation against the liberty-minded colonists. But the memories and values that tree represented continued to live on in the hearts of the colonists. Soon flags began to appear with the Liberty Tree image emblazoned on them and were flown in many battles during the Revolutionary War.
And yet, for all that the Liberty Tree stood for, few Americans today know about this important chapter in American history. We have lost our way... we have forgotten where we came from. Our national memory of these events have been all but left in the dustbin of history. Children today can't even tell us who the Founding Fathers were. They can't tell us why this great experiment in liberty was even begun. And they don't understand the basis of what Americans have inherently believed through the years and why. Perhaps this is why Thomas Jefferson cautioned:
"Yes, we did produce a near perfect Republic, but will they keep it? Or will they in their enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of their freedom? Material abundance without character is the surest way to destruction. I tremble for my country when I realize that God is just."
Look around you. What we have today is exactly what Jefferson described: "Material abundance without character." And that lack of character brings us lack of morals and integrity in the political process, with elected officials who are more worried about the money they can squirrel away in their freezers and offshore accounts than they are about keeping the Republic. We live in a time when avarice and illusions of power compel men and women to enslave their constituents in onerous tax burdens and to deprive them of their inherent rights under God.
We need to remember. We need to remember how our liberty was won. We need to remember the virtues of faith, love, and self-discipline. We need to remember the values and morals that made this country great.
01 July 2013
36 Wonderful Years is Just The Start
Mom put a great post on Facebook but I want to add that while I am not with her for this celebration, I love her and she is the light of my life. Thank you dear for being my reason...
Summer Fun!
Okay, I think it has been long enough since I posted anything! First off Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad and Heather and Joe! I hope you are having a fabulous day! Now here are some pictures of our summer adventures.
We had fun camping at Tinny Flats in Santaquin Canyon. We didn't see any cougars (apparantly they have been hanging out) but a deer walked right up to us. So brave. We also really enjoyed Justin and girls and a suprise visit from Marquie and Patrick.
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| Daniels new toy! |
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| We hiked to the Payson P. Julia and Jackson made walked the entire way! |
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| We were hot, dirty, and tired when we made it back. It was a fun adventure! |
We had fun camping at Tinny Flats in Santaquin Canyon. We didn't see any cougars (apparantly they have been hanging out) but a deer walked right up to us. So brave. We also really enjoyed Justin and girls and a suprise visit from Marquie and Patrick.
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