Hand Made With Love...

These little beauties are sitting on Kierra's old bed (now Kesslyn's bed:) holding their Owl Pillows that their Grandma Trickett had made for them! These were 2 of the hand made items that went up for bid at the family reunion auction, and with no prompting from me, they both saw them and wanted one! This made Grandma Trickett very happy because she had put a lot of love and effort into making them and really wanted them to be received that way too! ~ And they were. :)

So, you could say "this one's for the books!" Because it is... a sweet heirloom memory that needs to be remembered...beautiful hand sewn pillows made by Grandma Trickett! A real treasure indeed! :)

Feeling Spoiled On Our Getaway!

 Our second day in Couer d'Alene was sooo enjoyable and relaxing!

After sleeping in as long as we wanted, we had a late breakfast, went for a scenic drive, and ended up at a hiking trail called Mineral Ridge.

 We walked and talked, and talked and walked...climbed the trees and took in the fresh air and the views...

 The hike was only about 3 miles total and so it didn't take us long to get to the top where we could see the lake, and all the pretty trees...there were sooo many trees!!!

 We also enjoyed a quiet minute to ourselves at the top sitting on a bench where we read our scriptures and really focused on the peaceful feeling around us. Times like these I wish I could just push pause and stay there forever...

 As we headed back down the mountain we continued our conversations and enjoying the views...I particularly liked the cute boy that was walking right in front of me...;)

 With more time to kill, we decided to go take in the new Jurassic Park movie! So we headed to the theater, grabbed a coke and some popcorn, and sat down for the fun! The movie was intense as you would expect from those Jurassic Park movies!

 After the movie, we walked around exploring town a little, and then met up with Cody Bach (Clint's Sound Off rep that was also joining him for the business meeting he would have tomorrow...which was the main reason we came up here anyway...) and had a delicious dinner right on the lake. 

After dinner we went back to our hotel, but not until we went and got ice~cream! ;)

We went to our room and snuggled up in bed with our ice~cream and each other.

I felt soooo spoiled!!!!

 Then, we were up at 5:30 a.m. where we went for a relaxing soak in the hot tub (because you HAVE to soak in the hot tub when you go to a hotel!!!;)

 Then after soaking we went BACK to bed and slept another 2 hours!!! (Did I mention how spoiled I felt??)

Then, Clint got ready and went to his meeting with Kootenei County Police Department, I packed up and checked out of our hotel, and then went shopping while I waited for him to get done at his meeting.

 When he returned, we went to lunch, headed to the airport, returned our rental car, and got back on the plane to Utah. We came home to some very happy children with hugs for all, and a VERY sweet Kate that took over the very hard job of mine so that I could go and enjoy a few days with my sweetie.

Thank you again Kate for EVERYTHING that you do for our family, and especially for Carew.

You a re a gift to us all!

A Getaway to Couer d'Alene

Monday went from a day of preparation, to an evening of relaxation...literally.
After cleaning, unpacking, laundry, and repacking, Kate made it to our house to stay with the kids while Clint and I took a little getaway to Couer d'Alene Idaho!❤❤
We flew into Spokane Washington and then drove about a half an hour to our hotel in Couer d'Alene. We both got pretty motion sick, so we went to our room and rested for about an hour before heading out to a delicious, beautiful, and romantic dinner at Cedars Floating Restaurant!
Clint had prime rib and crab, and I had cedar planked salmon. Our tummies were full and our taste buds very satisfied... what a beautiful night in Couer d'Alene with my sweetie. Thank you Kate for the willingness to help us take this little getaway!! This one on one time with each other is sooo important and much needed! We are loving every minute of it!❤

Clements Family Reunion

 This past weekend was the Clements family reunion  hosted in Milburn at our cabin!

There were about 60 people, lots of games, and LOTS of little ones...Grandma Trickett put on a fish pond for the kids where they could win prizes...we played Bingo, Bunco, card games, hide and go seek and exploring games...

 We visited with people we love, ate lots and lots of food, and made LOTS of messes!!!

 We had a family auction to raise money for the next reunion...and it is always a hoot to watch Clint and his sisters get into bidding wars with each other! Everything always turns into a friendly competition, and Clint ALWAYS has to win. :) Clint's favorite thing to bid on was all of his mom's homemade treats, but we didn't go home with very many treats because they were all passed around before the auction was even over! :)

 We ate a delicious dutch oven dinner on Saturday night before we headed out to see the Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant! What a beautiful little farming community with a beautiful temple! The evening air felt cool and it was so good to sit outside and listen to the story of some of our gospel history.

 The kids enjoyed being there and mostly being together of course ...;)

We ate treats and watched the pageant and got back to the property at almost 1:00 in the morning!

We were all tired but it was well worth it.

 I'm always excited and grateful for experiences and opportunities that build and strengthen our faith, our family, and our commitment to each other and to the Lord.

And THAT is what this past weekend was all about!

Smile!

 My neighbor sent me these gems from the neighborhood BBQ that we had on the last day of school/first day of summer break! This was a "photo booth" that was put on by the primary kids...

 They decorated our set, and snapped away!!!

 Now if only I could figure out just how to make little Kesslyn smile for her pictures... :) 

Boy do I LOVE my kids!!!

Ministering For Trek, and Nicky and Kinley!!!

 Yesterday I woke up with a very distinct impression to serve the people in my ward by  writing a letter and delivering dinner to all of the adults that are preparing to take the youth on TREK. So, I got to work!

I went online to Papa Murphy's, ordered 13 pepperoni pizzas, 13 orders of cheese bread, and 13 containers of cookie dough! I wrote this letter titled "17 Miracles of TREK" and delivered dinner along with the letter to each family. They are so busy and have so much to do, that my hope was to give them "one less thing to do" by providing dinner, but more importantly through the words in the letter that they would feel the spirit of what they are doing, know that they are appreciated and loved, and that their work does not go unnoticed...

It felt very good to minister to our ward family members in this way, and my children had brightly beaming faces while they helped to do all of the delivering!

 This is just one more example of what the vision of Ministering "looks like."

 Then, later on in the early evening I was sooo blessed to have my life long, childhood best friend Nicky and her daughter Kinley (who is named after me!) visit me during their layover on their way to Alaska!

When Nicky and I were little, we promised each other that we would name our first daughters after each other! And we did! Kierra Nicole and Kinley Susette! Kinley is tall and beautiful and shines like a ray of sunshine! You can really see the light in her eyes, and she has the most genuine smile...

 Nicky is as beautiful and as strong as ever and literally had to "pick me up!!!"

 ...well and then of course so did I...;) After all, that's what best friends do...they lift each other in so many ways!!!

 I drove them to where Nicky wanted to go and eat a salad for dinner...Costco. Yep! We sat and talked and visited and laughed and enjoyed being together...I think in all it was about 2 hours that we got to spend together and I will take 2 hours with them any day!

 We took some pictures and said our goodbyes...

 ...and I smothered Kinley with a little love from her favorite Aunt EVER!!! ;)

 ...got some hugs and sweet love from Nicky who is one of my closest soul mates...we have literally experienced ALL of life together...the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY...and everything in between...and I love her so much because of all of it. It has proven to us that true friends are ALWAYS there for each other, no matter the miles between them, no matter the business of life, and no matter the amount of time between visits! We can literally go years without seeing each other and then be able to pick right back up where we left off before...it is AMAZING and the best kind of friendship to have!!!

I love you Nicky!!!

 Oh...and we totally want to win the $10,000 prize money for the winning photo for the "awkward family photos" contest! This is our "Prom" pose...:) I know..aren't we hilarious!!!??? :)

A Mormon Missionary In Italy!

No, this is NOT the Italian mafia...

It's Mormon Missionaries in Italy!!!

When I first received this picture of Carew I felt like I was looking at a movie advertisement for "Men In Black" or something to that effect...it made me smile. :)

Especially when I noticed that my FAVORITE missionary in the picture was DEFINITELY the most intimidating looking one...you know, the one holding the pink shopping bag?? ;) ;)

I LOVE seeing the pictures of Carew! I love reading his emails too, but there is something neat about seeing the pictures and trying really hard to imagine what it's like for him over there...

I pray everyday that he will be having good experiences...LIFE CHANGING experiences...experiences that will solidify his testimony and keep him converted to the Lord ALWAYS. 

I love him so much. I love ALL of my kids so much. And there's nothing I want more than for each of them to travel the path of life moving straight forward in the direction that leads us back home to our loving Heavenly Father. THAT is what Carew is doing right now and I couldn't be more proud.

I love you Carew!

A Little Love and a Little Laughter

 Yesterday my kids and I sat down and painted a big banner to hang up on the Gruber's house to welcome them home from the funeral for April's dad. The kids had a ball making all of the hearts, and I kept on telling them, "Do you guys know what this is?? It's ministering!!! :) "Ministering looks like making a banner full of love and mourning with those that mourn." We did it anonymously so that they can just continue thinking of ALL of the people that love them so much...

 I remember a sweet angel doing the same thing for me when my dad passed away and it really made me feel so loved...today when I stopped by to visit April she commented on the sign that someone had made and how they cried when they saw it and they just felt so loved...

 Later, when Clint got home from work, we took the family and went to see the new movie Incredibles 2!

It was hilarious and Kambriella's loud laughter made it that much more funny!!!

 Oh, and Baby Jack Jack totally reminds me of Kesslyn right now...mischievous and sometimes a little monster!!! Can you see it in her face?? ;) ;) 

It was a fun night!

Father's Day 2018

 It was a very Happy Father's Day yesterday for this wonderful man in my life...

Dallin had the idea to make breakfast in bed for his dad, so he woke up early and did it all by himself!

JAZZ and Avengers waffles with syrup, whip cream, strawberries and raspberries, and chocolate milk too!

 It was a fun and yummy surprise to start off the day just right. :)

 We all went to church where Clint gave a great talk about our missionary Carew! He had everyone laughing with his funny stories of Carew, ;) and ended with a very sincere and sweet testimony from Carew...It's been so fun to see the growth come to our son and how much he truly loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Also, I delivered cinnamon rolls and a glass of milk to all of the men in our ward for their Father's Day treat and it was a big hit! They loved it! Then, we came home and sat down together and showered Clint with his gifts. :) I started in with the foot massage while the kids gave him their wrapped presents...a shoe shine kit, a GIANT Hershey's kiss, a baseball trivia board game, and a book called "Dad School."

 It was such a cute story about where Dad's learn all of the cool things that Dad's do...and I don't care how old they get, my kids NEVER tire from hearing their dad read them a good story. ;)

 After a relaxing nap we made a delicious dinner of King Crab legs, potatoes, salad, and watermelon...

 Clint cooked them on the grill and let everyone try them, and everyone seemed to love them! We love seafood and it is definitely a special treat to get this on Father's Day!

 After dinner we took a drive down to Clint's work where we picked up our new trailer with Clint's new Polaris Razor 900 side by side! He got this delivered to him on Saturday and we are so excited to take it to the cabin this weekend where we will be for the Clements family reunion. The kids are SOOOOO excited to take it for a drive soon! I would say it was a VERY successful Father's Day! :)

But of course more than anything I am just so grateful for the devoted, dedicated and loving father and husband that Clint is, for my own Dad who watches over me from heaven, and for a mindful Father in Heaven whom I know loves me very much with all of my flaws,  imperfections, and all...

James E. Faust said, "Noble Fatherhood gives us a glimpse of the Divine..."

Yesterday I watched the Mormon message titled "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" and every time I do, it touches me to know that "Of all the titles of respect and honor and admiration that are given to deity, He has asked us to address Him as Father."

-Quorum of the Twelve Apostles