"Lost Connection"

This is a picture of one of my most prized possessions. :)

My wireless headphones and my arm sleeve for my phone!

I use these two babies every single day!!! ~ Usually first thing in the morning when I head out for a run...or a walk...depending on how I am feeling that day. :) ... and then other times I use them when I am doing my household chores...laundry, dishes, toilets...

 it makes the job soooo much more enjoyable!

What I love so much about them is that I am "hands free" and "care free" as I go about my work! I listen to conference talks, or the Mormon Channel, or my Pandora station...or talk to someone that I love on the phone! It's absolutely awesome.

Today when I came in the house from my run, I set my phone down on the counter and proceeded to head downstairs to wake up the little brothers for school. 

At this point I still had my headphones on, and as I entered their bedroom and flipped on the light I heard the voice on my headphones say,

"LOST CONNECTION"

I paused for just a second since I hadn't yet said anything to my boys...and had the most profound thought and prompting from the Spirit...

"DON"T EVER LOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION!!!!"

In just a few seconds of time my testimony was strengthened from a simple lesson I had learned from my phone...I had walked far enough away from my phone, that the blue tooth connection could no longer reach my headphones...and so, I had "lost connection."

In my life I rely so heavily upon my "connection" to my Heavenly Father through my spiritual studies, through prayer, and through the Holy Ghost... that I don't EVER want to lose my "spiritual connection." I want to try to keep a healthy balance in all aspects of my life and I know that if I keep close to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and try to live it every single day, then I can always be "connected" to the one true source of joy and happiness in this life.

I'm so thankful for the still small voice that whispers to me each and every day...and for the "connection" to my Heavenly Home while I'm here at home on earth. :)

A picture and a Surprise :)

This photo was one of Kierra's individual shots from her 2014-2015 school year on the 

Riverton High School Dance Company.

When I saw this picture I was in awe because Kierra really is so talented at dance and I love having such a beautiful pose captured...it seems to say a lot...

Then, the other day I got onto the school web site to check some things and found out that apparently I was not the only one who loved the picture!

THIS...was what I saw...and I'm sorry...but I was a proud mama! :)

They had selected her picture to be the advertisement for the Audition Packet for the 2015-2016 school year Dance Company try outs.

What a neat thing to see..especially when you very least expect it!!!

So proud of my kids :)

I love them to pieces!!! :)

PROM 2015!

PROM 2015!!!

Just look at these 2 cuties!!! I can hardly believe that I sent 2 of my children off to PROM this year!!!

It was so fun shopping, asking, planning, and helping these 2 get ready for their big dates!

Such fun times!!! :)

This year PROM was on March 21st, which happened to be 5 days after Carew's 16th birthday!

So, lucky for him, he was old enough to go! AND...he was lucky enough to have such an awesome experience for his very first date! :)

His date's name was Alexa Milne...an absolutely beautiful girl with  a personality that matched! Alexa had also just turned 16 so this was a "first date" for both of them!

(I think because of where my children's birthdays fall in the beginning of the spring, PROM ended up being the first date for both of them...Kierra's was last year with Adam, and Carew's was this year with Alexa...so fun!!!)

They were absolutely the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! They were both so excited and so nervous all at the same time...and I'm pretty sure I probably embarrassed both of them the whole time

 I was taking their pictures...:) ...but I just couldn't help myself! ;)

...and then there was Kierra and Jacob!

The funnest thing about these 2 being together for PROM is how they are such good friends! Kierra was so excited to go with Jacob just for the fact that she knew she was going to have an amazing time with him! Not only is he a great friend whos so outgoing and funny...but his cousin is Kierra's best friend, and they all ended up going in the same group together...

I think it was Kierra's funnest night ever. :)

Watching these kids exchanging their flowers was a treat too...so excited and yet trying not to stick the guys with their pin ;)

I'm so grateful for my good kids, for their good friends, and for such neat opportunities to grow and have fun in this life. They are some amazing kids...and I'm glad they're mine! :)

The "Dating Date" with Carew!

This cute boy of mine turned 16 on March 16th! :)

And....as per family tradition, we were privileged to be able to take him on the "Dating Date."

This is one of my favorite family traditions that we have with our children!

This is where we take our children for a special dinner and a one on one date with mom and dad to talk about their next big adventure in life...Dating!!! :)

I love going to the restaurants at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City simply because of the perfect view there of the Salt Lake Temple...which is ultimately the final destination of where we want our children's dating experiences to take them to...eternal marriage in the Holy House of the Lord.

With this view set as the backdrop for our dinner and conversation, I feel like I am planting seeds of testimony and strength in the truths of the gospel and eternal marriages and family.

When I made the reservation for the dinner, I told the people there that it was for my son's 16th birthday...so they set out this little sign on the table 

with a white helium balloon attached to it...drawing just enough attention to Carew 

for him to feel a little embarrassed, but a little special as well. :) AND...they set us right next to the window with that beautiful view of the temple. It was perfect.

We enjoyed our food and conversation..which we drew mostly from the pamphlet put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...For the Strength of Youth...

as we talked about dating..dancing...chastity and moral purity...we told Carew stories from our own dating experiences and bore testimony of setting HIGH goals in order to find the perfect spouse one day. I thoroughly enjoyed being with Clint and Carew and watching him absorb what we were saying, and then watching him crack jokes just like his dad would do..:)

After we were done eating our waitress asked Carew if he would like to make a birthday wish...So she took him and his balloon to the center of the restaurant where they opened up the ceiling!

Everyone seated around us sang along to the "Happy Birthday" song as we watched the ceiling open and then Carew made a wish...

...then he let his balloon go!!!

(After he was finished the guys there all asked..."What is her name?" (with a *wink *wink...SURE that THAT was what he had wished for! :)

After we were finished with dinner and dessert, we walked around the Joseph Smith Memorial Building taking pictures...I don't ever want to forget these special times...:)

Carew is a strong spirit with great things to accomplish in his life...He wants to serve a mission one day, and I pray that all of these lessons we teach...not just the "big" ones...but the little ones that we experience every single day will touch his heart, strengthen his testimony, and make him a strong leader. I know he will do great things.

I love you Carew! Happy 16th birthday!

P.S.

Since this day...Carew has been ordained to the office of a Priest and has had the opportunity to bless the sacrament. He's also gotten his driver's license, and gone on a couple of dates, with some outstanding young women! Yay!!! The fun is just beginning! :)