Kambriella's First Dance Competition

 Saturday was Kambriella's very first dance competition ever!! :)

She was soooo excited and a bit nervous too.

She woke up early Saturday morning and called for her dad to come into her room...

I could hear the two of them talking, but I couldn't hear what they were saying, so I walked down the hall to see what was going on, when I saw the sweetest thing ever...

Kambriella was sitting up on her bed with her daddy's hands placed upon her head. He was lovingly giving her a priesthood blessing that she must have asked for.

I knew she was nervous for her competition, but the fact that she was sensitive enough and brave enough to think of asking for a blessing made my heart so happy. 

What a very special little girl she has always been, and always will be!

 When we actually got to Juan Diego High School where the competition was, Kambriella seemed to be nothing but excited!!! To make everything even better, she had her big sister (and one of her biggest fans;) there to cheer her on and support her! (Along with her Dad and other siblings!)

 Here Kambriella got pumped up with a few poses and a few of her friends ... :)

 Elsa and Kambriella

Kennisyn, Elsa, and Kambriella 

 Kambriella's dance class "Sisters" and Miss Alexa

 Mia and Kambriella

 All of the girls gathered on the stage after the performances to see who won what...and Kambriella's little group ROCKED their 80's dance!!!

 They won 2nd in their division, the "High Point Award," and the Best Overall Choreography

Way to go SISTA"S!!!

 Kambriella ROCKS!!!
And so does Vision Dance!!!

Riley Graduates! Be AWE~FULL!

 "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a gift...that's why it's called the present."

Quoted by Bradley D. Foster of the Quorum of the Seventy at BYU Graduation...

We also heard speeches about going out into the world to "Be AWE~FULL!"

Not to be awful, but to live in AWE of the wondrous things around us in a wonderful opportunity filled world, and then making a difference in it...I will never think of the word awful the same...AWE~ FULL :)

Only a very intelligent person could take such a negative word, change it to become so meaningful, and then give a speech at a University Graduation Commencement ceremony that people will NEVER forget!!!

 Congratulations Riley Drew Johnson for your outstanding accomplishments!!!

Good things like this don't happen by just standing by idly, but by setting goals, working hard, and sacrificing somethings for the best things...

 Kierra is so proud of you too...she kept smiling and "shimmying" :) each time she would say it!!!

 So happy and proud....

 We also had the privilege of meeting Riley's parents Jim (JD) and Susan Johnson. What fun, amazing people they are too! No wonder where Riley gets it from! ;)

 I can tell that Riley's mom and I are going to have fun getting to know each other and getting this wedding planning under way!!! These really are such exciting times that we are in...

 After the Graduation we had a dinner reservation at Tucano's Brazilian restaurant. We had quite a bit of time before our reservation, so we all sat around visiting and getting to know one another. I really enjoyed it. :)

We had fun with the "birthday boy" server...(That's an inside joke;) and eating sooo much yummy food!!!

 Kierra and Riley couldn't get close enough to each other...EVER. :) 

Which makes me so happy for them. THAT'S the way it should be from here to forever!!!

 Then, at the end of the night as we all got ready to say goodbye, Riley spotted a HUGE piece of chocolate cake that didn't get finished on the table behind us...he quickly encouraged his brother~in~law Creed to go gather it in his to~go box because "you can't waste chocolate cake like that!!!"

Kierra, Susan, and I were dying laughing, partly out of disbelief, and partly full of "AWE"...

We were in "AWE" of what he was doing...THIS is living "AWE~FULL!!!"
Or should I say "AWFUL!!!" I'm not quite sure!!! :)

Visits of Love and Visiting Teaching

 Part of my responsibility as a relief society president is to oversee the visiting teaching in our ward. This awesome board has everyone's name on it, and as I prayerfully think about who should go where, it helps me to arrange, rearrange, and "see" everything clearly.

I choked up pretty bad and got all emotional as I talked a little about visiting teaching in relief society on Sunday...I just have such a strong testimony of it.

We sisters really need each other...

Also, Kierra is moving back home today!!! :)  :)  :)
She wants to try and save some money, spend a little last bit of time with the family before she gets married and moves away, and be closer to help with some of the wedding planning details...
she is NOT excited about being farther away from Riley!

"Kambriella! Get your room cleaned or Kierra won't have anywhere to put her stuff and to lay her head!"

 (Luckily with mom's help she got it done. :)

Then, Kesslyn helped me run errands (like she always does. She's my little buddy during the day :)

We went to Kneader's and picked up some salads to deliver for lunch.

(While we waited for our order, she kept on pressing her little button nose up on the chair and peeking at me through the slats in the chair..Look at those beautiful, sweet, innocent eyes...I am such a lucky mom.

 When we got home I was able to take lunch to sweet Sheri, hug her and love her and have a good talk with her...then my mom stopped by for a visit which is always a treat!

Kesslyn wouldn't let her out of her sight!!! 

There is a special bond and connection there between these 2 precious angels...

Then it was clean, carpool, make dinner, get Kierra moved back, have some fun with family...

and fall into bed.

Life is so full and simply amazing. 

Thank you Heavenly Father for each day that is a gift!

Kids Being Kids

 We are approaching the last month of school...which means...

Longer days...

warmer nights...

more time to play...

to stay up late...

to be outside...

and spend lots of time together!!!

I love it, and these giant smiles from kids being kids!!! 

Angels Exist

When you aren't feeling too hot and you have to be a mom anyways, and you go and get dressed and do the things that your family still needs...then you return home to find dinner brought to you by a friend...

then you  know for certain that angels really do exist.

This one's name is Emily and she happens to be a really, really good cook! I love you sweet sister friend!
You are an angel!

The Dress

 Kierra's beautiful wedding dress is here!!!

Though it still needs altered and built up to be modest and temple ready, it is a gorgeous dress covered with sparkles and lace!!!

 Kierra is a beautiful girl that looks stunning in the dress...but her smile is what wins me over...:)

 She is so happy to have found what she was dreaming she would find in her wedding dress...

 We are also going to have the seamstress add buttons completely down the train...

 ...and not just simply stop where they are now...

Something about the buttons going all the way down the train looks so elegant, sophisticated and romantic.:)

 The lace trim is so delicate and makes such a statement... I simply cannot wait to see this dress once it's final and complete!!!

 After we picked up the dress and dropped it off to the seamstress, we stopped at the mall to look for brides maids dresses...what a fun chore!;) That, and having lunch with Kierra!:) I love this girl!!!

 Also, along with 4 basketball games, and birthday shopping for Clint's dad, Carew went to MORP with Kate. She's such a sweet girl and I'm so glad that Carew has chosen to have friends with such high standards...the kind of friends that make you want to be a better person...that's soooo important!

SWEET

The simple pleasures of an ice~cream cone...

 A heartfelt thank~you note from a friend...

The unbreakable bonds of love between sisters...

All these things are SWEET to me and fill my heart with JOY!

Utah JAZZ

 It's PLAYOFF TIME!!!! :)

 It was so much fun to be with my sweetie on a Friday night at the JAZZ game!!!

He bought some lower bowl tickets to the playoffs plus our 2 regular season ticket seats...

 ...which made some brothers in our family REALLY REALLY happy!!!

The energy in the arena was soooo high!!! It was fun and exciting, and we ALMOST won.

Better luck next time. ;)

But it looks like Carew had a win /win situation because win or lose, he still got to take Kate to the JAZZ game! Fun, fun, fun with these cute kids and this sweet family of mine!!!

GO JAZZ GO!!!

Called to Serve in Italy, Rome!

 After I arrived home from the Castle with Kierra and Riley, I headed straight to the mail box where we have been anticipating Carew's mission call to come...

Guess what???

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :)   :)   :)

 Just look at that name!!! ELDER Carew James Trickett!!!!! Wow!!!!! :)  :)  :)

 Carew had decided that he wanted a few special people to be there with him when he opened up his packet, so we planned to do it at 9:00 that night so that people could have time to get off work and travel to our house. The amount of positive energy that was flowing through my home was UNREAL!!!

ALL of the kids were feeling the effects of it too...smiles, laughter, and love going all around... :)

We decided to go out to dinner while we were waiting for 9:00 to come. :)...so we let Carew choose and it's no surprise, he chose Chik~fil~A! :) We ate dinner and when we were done we came out only to find the most beautiful double rainbow that was stretching all the way across the sky!!

I took it as a loving sign from Heavenly Father that he loves us and is very aware of this special day...the day Carew has been preparing for his whole life! :)

 We headed home from dinner and got things ready for the friends and family to arrive...and they did!!!

I believe that there were around 60 people there

 which was so great to see such love and support for Carew! 

(You can't see everyone in these photos either, some were still around the corner!!!)

 It makes a momma happy to know that her children are happy...and loved!

 Carew thanked everyone for coming, listened to people try to guess where he would go, and then asked his Dad to offer a prayer before he opened his call...

 And then he read the words that we had waited so long to hear,

"Dear Elder Trickett, 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter~day Saints.

You are assigned to labor in the ITALY ROME MISSION!!!"

It immediately felt right. :)

 "...It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.

You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Italian language..."

...signed President Thomas S. Monson :)

THIS. IS. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

The room erupted in cheers and everyone was so happy for Carew!

But no one happier than Carew. :)

 Surrounded by our family's love and support, Carew is ready for this exciting call to serve, and just like Elder Bednar said in his conference talk, Carew is called to the work!!!

 We were so happy that Kevin, Laura, and their family could be there to share in this experience with us! 

We love you guys!!!

 ...and Grandpa and Grandma Trickett...

 ...and Kambriella...again... :)

 ...and Dallin and Gavin, his 2 favorite brothers! ;)

 ...and his favorite cousin Maicen! :)

 ...and Colby... :)

 ...and Tiffany, and Kesslyn! :)

 ...and Carew's future big brother Riley...:)

 ...and LOTS of friends...like Autumn and Hannah...:)

 ...and Pierce. :) We LOVE Pierce. :)

 ...and Kate. :) the one that Carew was the happiest to have there. ;) ;)

We love Kate! :)

 But there will never be any bigger fans for Carew than his Mom and Dad!

There is nothing in life that brings greater happiness than to know that your children walk in righteousness before God. All I want out of this life is to be able to take all of my loved ones with me back to live with Heavenly Father again someday...TOGETHER.

THAT'S what Carew is working on...and he's going to go and tell it to the world...

or at least to the people in ROME, ITALY!!!

Carew, I love you so much and mean every word that I read to you from Alma 38...

Don't ever forget it! :) 

Now..

Forza Italia!!!

(Come on Italy!!!)