One of Our Favorite Vacations...

Last July when my sweet Dad had passed away, we were actually on our way to California for our family vacation when we received the sad news. 

We turned right around and came home of course...but always knew that we would one day take our children back and have that vacation that we never got to take.

When we went back, it turned out to be one of the BEST vacations we have ever had...and I believe in part, that because Heavenly Father is so aware of our sincere hearts desire, He blessed us and we had even greater opportunities than we originally had planned.

Our good friends the Penrod family "happened" to call us just 2 weeks before the fall break to see if "by chance" we might want to go to California with them and share a beach house in Newport Beach that would sleep 14 people...

We were already talking about going there to have our vacation that we had missed before...but this opportunity was perfect for us and so we went!!! :)

My favorite thing was waking up first thing in the morning and stepping right out the back door and onto the warm sand. I would go out and sit in the still morning and listen to the waves and communicate in quiet prayer with my Heavenly Father. It was beautiful.

Then, one by one, little children would start to come from their beds, grab their bucket and shovel, and join me out on the beach! All before ever having any thoughts of breakfast or any other silly cares! Just pure and simple relaxation! It was divine!!!

We went body surfing, flew kites, built sand castles, had picnics, walked the beach, chased the waves, sun bathed, and even buried each other in the sand! :)

If you couldn't tell, Kierra turned her brother Carew into a real live mermaid! :)

This made me giggle when I saw what they were up to!

We also of course had to visit the "Happiest Place On Earth!" 

Disneyland was so fun and we had never been there at this time of year before, so it had an added element of fun and surprise for us...it was magical! :)
(It was also funny while we were here, each of our children kept on chiming in that "we need to have another baby so that we won't have an odd number of people when we go on the rides!!!"
Silly kids :)

We also made a visit to Lego Land...one of our kids favorites since they were little!

Here Carew, Kierra, Dallin, and Clint are waiting to ride a dragon roller coaster...

(I love all of these cuties :)

And here is our group again at Lego Land...we had 2 of our friends children with us as well...little boys that were Dallin and Gavin's ages, who love Legos as well and had never been there before! They were so happy we let them join us, and they were a joy to have as well!

(Kierra, Clint, Gavin, Carew, Logan, Dallin, Landen, and Kambriela...8 goofballs in all! :)

Towards the end of the day at Lego Land there were Stilt Walkers that were dressed up for Halloween... All of the kids had fun Trick-or-Treating around the park, dancing to the party music, and solving mysteries and eating yummy food.

But needless to say, as much fun as all of those amusement parks can be, our favorite time of all was back at the beach. :)

We went to Crystal Cove during low tide and found all kinds of marine life hiding in all of the coral reef. My kids loved finding little rocks, and shells, and crabs, and fish...

Kambriella's little smile says it all... :)

What a handsome couple of beach bums :)

Carew and Dallin and their new found treasures :)

The last night we were there we walked all the way out to a restaurant at the end of the Pier and had cheeseburgers and milkshakes...

Then we were having so much fun chasing the waves and collecting seashells that we didn't even want to go home! We found hundreds of shells that we all collected together that I plan to make into a decoration for my new master bath that Clint plans on remodeling...I can't wait for that! :)

We stayed as long as the day light would...and then finally decided that it was time to go.

I love spending time with my family making memories and building traditions! 

All of our children still talk about when we are going back to the beach house...and all of us agree that when we do, it won't be soon enough! :)

Sleeping Beauties :)

Kambriella always gets so excited when her siblings come home from school! :) She loves to hug them and play with them and tell them all about her day...and then hear about theirs too :)

The other day when Kierra got home, she had gone upstairs to her bedroom and Kambriella ran right after her... It made me smile :)

I listened to them giggling and talking...and then after a little while it was soooo quiet!

Way TOO quiet for a couple of chatty girls! 

So I tip toed up the stairs to peek in on them, and THIS is what I found...

2 sleeping beauties. :)

I thought they were so cute laying there next to each other getting a little beauty rest ;)

(actually we all go to bed WAY too late and I know they were both exhausted!)

I love that even though these 2 "Sissy's" (as they call each other) are 11 years apart in age, they still love each other so much! And they love spending time together...

and even dreaming together too! :)

Concerning Motherhood...

When I was a little girl...I used to love to make believe that I was "the mom." :)

I remember tenderly taking care of all of my babies from the Cabbage Patch doll, to Rainbow Bright herself...to the handmade doll that my mother gave me for Christmas one year.

Those are some great memories.:)

I also remember when I was little, making long lists of names for my future children...

among them I remember:

Jessica

Shale (???)

Whitney and Brittany (for my twin girls of course :) ...

and I very specifically remember planning that I would have 4 children!

2 boys and 2 girls.

They would each be born 2 years apart, and we would live happily ever after. The End. :)

I'm glad that Heavenly Father had a much better plan for me instead...:)

Here is a picture of my sweet children...5 in all...not 4...:)

Gavin Ryker, Kierra Nicole, Kambriella Noel, Carew James, and Dallin Clint

MY SWEETIES :)

My children were definitely NOT born 2 years apart! We have every mix BUT 2 years! :)

Kierra and Carew : 1 year and 1 month apart

Carew and Dallin : 4 years and 10 days apart

Dallin and Gavin : 2 years and 6 months apart

Gavin and Kambriella : 3 years and 3 months apart

No matter the age... no matter the birth order..no matter the number of days or years that separate these siblings...

The bond of eternal family and true charity and love is strong.

They are learning each and every day under the direction of a mother and father some of the most valuable life's lessons both for this life and for eternity.

They are learning how to love, how to forgive, how to ask for forgiveness...

How to share, how to shine, how to STOP being selfish and be SELFLESS...

They are learning how to trust, how to study, how to pray, learn and grow...how to ask questions and how to find answers... how to help others, how to cook and clean and do laundry...and how to clean a toilet the RIGHT way, even if it means that you had to go back and do it 3 times. ;)

There are so many things that a mother is responsible for, and every single day I feel that this is my number one most important job. It is also the hardest job that I have, 

but also one of the most gratifying. 

As I read the conference talk from Tad R. Calister titled,

 "Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children," I agreed wholeheartedly with his words...

" As their prime gospel teachers, we can teach them the power and reality of the Atonement - of their identity and divine destiny - and in so doing give them a rock foundation upon which to build. When all is said and done, the home is the ideal forum for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Also, as influenced by stories from this talk...I love to hear my little Gavin praying out loud for Heavenly Father to help him find a good wife one day. :) I think he has heard it said enough by his father too that marrying the right person will be one of the single most important decisions that he will ever make in his life ! :) 

So, as I have prayed about and contemplated my role as a mother, and the very important calling that I have, I have also asked myself many questions that I still to this day seek answers to...

"Do they all know how much I really love them?"

"Do I do enough individually for each of them to be able when needed to stand on their own?"

"Are they all here?"

"When does a mother KNOW that her family is complete?"

"Am I radiating joy in motherhood so that my daughters will be excited and want that to be their main priority one day too?"

I have found that some questions will always remain because they are a constant.
I believe that I can never tell my children enough, of all of the love that I have for them...so I will continue to tell them and show them each and every day...

I constantly look at them and wonder..."Are they all here??? Who is missing???"
As Clint and I have personally and privately talked about this and prayed about this and gone to the temple seeking answers to this very question, our feelings have been tender and mixed...I think mostly because the work of a mother and father are never really "done."

Over the last year or so, Clint and I have discussed our children, whether or not to have any more...and I know that I have to think in an eternal perspective as I seek my answers because Heavenly Father's will is the one I want for my own...

I love my family more than I can say...
They truly bring me so much joy :)

As each day passes and life moves forward at it's ever quickening pace, I become more and more aware of my role as a mother. I am very aware that they need me. And I need them.

As we seek to learn and grow, and find answers to all of our questions in life, we will learn and grow together, and find our answers all along the way...as we experience this mortal journey together...JOYFULLY enjoying the journey!

I do not know everything that Heavenly Father has in His plan for me, but I do know that He loves me deeply, and that He is proud of me for embracing my role as a mother.

I know that He smiles at me when I give the love to each child individually that He would give to them personally if He were here.

 I know that my plans as a little girl were "a good idea..." but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Heavenly Father's plan for me is the best thing for me.

I'm so grateful for the calling of motherhood and for the opportunity to share in the sacred and important responsibility of trying to help my children return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father. With the gospel to guide, and Clint by my side...we will get there... together! :)

Kierra Nicole ~ 17!

My sweet Kierra Nicole turned 17 this week and never ceases to amaze me with the

 beautiful young woman that she has become...

Talented in so many ways and simply bursting with a pure heart of gold.

Kierra has loved dance for so long and it really is a part of who she is! She recently auditioned for the BYU summer intensive program, and we will hear by the end of March if she makes it or not...

either way, Kierra is very confident that whatever happens is the path that will be right for her, and will be what Heavenly Father wants for her to do.

Kierra has many friends that are good examples in her life! Friends that encourage her to develop her divine qualities, and who support her in all her endeavors. This is a picture of Kierra and her sweet friend Emma when they were going to a dance in a group together. They plan on going to St. George together this summer, going to EFY together, and spending any extra time working on their tans out by the pool. :) Emma is a true friend that brings out the best in Kierra! Her family is amazing and her grandpa is a general authority which is pretty cool...She shares all kinds of neat stories from him...it's nice to know as a mom that your children's friends have as high of standards as you have for your own family...after all, I believe it really does take the whole village to raise a child! :)

Ahhh dating...:)

This is one of those crazy things that you know eventually will come,

 but when it actually does...WOW!!! Hold on tight! 

Kierra has very high standards for choosing who she wants to date, and so far for the record has sent off a couple of missionaries that I know are hoping and praying that she will still be around when they return home in 2 years! This guy right here is one that treated Kierra like a queen and she has fond feelings for ... Adam James...Hmmm....I guess time will only tell...:)

Being a busy teenager with school, dance, a job, young womens, and other family responsibilities...Kierra hasn't really had time for a real "Party" for her birthday... But as her favorite momma ;) I was more than happy to fill the order of:

1) A favorite birthday cake

2) My special homemade banana bread per birthday girl's request :)

and 3) a surprise lunch date during her lunch break from school!

My sweet sister Tiffany brought her daughter Lexi (far right) to Kierra's school and dropped her off at the main office with balloons, a teddy bear, and a gift to surprise Kierra! Kierra definitely was surprised as she saw Lexi standing there...ran and hugged her..and then scooped her and her friend Emma up and met me and Tiffany and Kambriella at Subway for a bite of lunch. Even though Kierra had so many other places to be ON her birthday, we all knew it was so important to try and do something sweet for our sweet Kierra to try to make her day feel as special as she is!

Thank you so much Tiffany and Lexi for helping to spoil my Kierra!

Something very special to Kierra and I that I wanted to include in this birthday post was the fact that we both have recently earned our Young Women medallions together!

 This was a goal that we had set out to do together almost 4 years ago...

When Kierra turned 12 and entered the young womens program I can still remember the day that her leader came over and presented her with her personal progress book and journal, and all of the other tools that would help her to achieve these goals. I remember hearing words spoken by our church leaders that mothers were encouraged to work on this program together with their daughters...

I knew that this program was inspired and that I would come closer to my daughter if I would do this with her. I have always tried to be a good example for my children to follow, but it was also amazing to me what a good example Kierra was for me to follow while we were working on our personal progress together...

When Kierra and I recently attended a councilor meeting at the high school to help plan out the rest of Kierra's high school career, I was humbled and touched as her councilor reported to me that Kierra's plan after high school was to be a mother.

I almost let the flood gates open because I was so proud of my daughter and that she had recognized where her main goals and priorities should lie...she didn't even hesitate when she announced this to her councilor! He commended her and then asked her if there was any other areas that she was interested in for college...

After we had a brief discussion about her commendable goal, we also then discussed that she was also very intelligent with a straight A high school career and that she could probably do whatever she put her mind too. She has expressed that she would like to become a nurse and have that for an occupational goal as well...so she is preparing to receive her CNA so that it might make it easier for her to be accepted into a nursing program for college...

Kierra and I have a special relationship.

I know that first and foremost I am her mother. And I love it. 

She is first and foremost my daughter...and I love her!

But we are also sisters and friends and she has such a pure heart and soul and she brings the spirit closer to me through her relationship.

I have been blessed to have a teenager who loves and honors her parents and brings an increase of love into our home when she is there.

When your teenage daughter asks if for her birthday she can just have time with her mom, then you know that you are special to her and that you are loved. Kierra always makes me feel this way and I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with her for a daughter. We are enjoying the ups and downs of this mortal journey together as we move forward on the Lord's side.

Kierra, Happy Happy Birthday my sweet!

Thank you for being an inspiration and a gift to me...I love you!

My Heartthrob, My Valentine :)

I love my calling of being a wife! 

Ever since I was a little girl, I remember how I wanted nothing more out of life than to meet my Prince, marry him in the temple for time and all eternity, and then live happily ever after! :)

Well, here I am 38 years old young ;) ...and living my "happily forever after!"

Life has taught me a thing or two along the way though...

 I have learned that what you think about your spouse is exactly how you will see them. No, I am not perfect, but I believe I can love my husband perfectly if that is what I choose to do!

 I have always admired the strengths of my sweetie, and have always tried to calmly overlook any of his "flaws"... I have always tried to be very pure in my thoughts and words about him.

I have chosen to never say an unkind word to him or about him to anyone...especially our children! In fact, I have tried to do the exact opposite! I will repeatedly remind my children how they are the luckiest kids on the earth to have Clint for their dad! And even to this day, they will agree! :)

I have learned that dates are a MUST! No, they don't have to be extravagant, but one on one time with each other every week is simply necessary in order to focus on each other. When we go out, we get to talk about each other and NOT our children! Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my calling as a mother and I LOVE our children! But I believe that if I am happy in my marriage, then I will be happy as a mother too! 

Going to the temple, praying together, studying the scriptures together, and bearing testimony to each other is essential too! Oh how I love to express my love and gratitude for my husband out loud as we talk to our Heavenly Father together. I feel a deep inner sense of love and peace and reassurance that I am the most precious thing to Clint, and when that feeling of love is amplified by the warmth of the spirit and the confirmation from Heavenly Father of His love too....well, you can see how much strength that can bring to the most important eternal relationship of marriage.

The lessons I have learned are many...I could go on and on...but I feel it enough to say that marriage is ordained of God, and that I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for this man that has proven to be the greatest blessing of my life! 

Clint and I on the beach in Cancun...sooo beautiful!

Clint and I at a catered dinner on the beach in Cancun...

(I wish I had a picture of us while we were line dancing!!! Hilarious!!! :)

Clint and I stopping for a picture and "another" hug while on a 26 mile snowmobile ride on New year's Day. I loved that he let me drive so he could "hug" me the whole time :)

Clint and I at one of the many JAZZ games that we get to go to! Having season tickets has been a great way for Clint to take turns taking me, and all of our kids on one on one dates. It's always a "win-win" even when the JAZZ don't win!

Clint and I sneaking away for a romantic night's stay at the Grand America...What a perfect little holiday getaway and a great way to squeeze in Christmas shopping without the little ones!

Clint and I at the Conference Center for the First Presidency Christmas Devotional...Our kids were with us too...(minus Kambriella) but of course we had to get a picture together :)

Clint and I in front of the "Tree of Life" in Draper. We had the family there too, but again, had to sneak a picture while the little ones were busy rolling down the hill! :)

Clint and I in front of Bill White's Porsche at Billy Blanco's in Park City. 

Clint became friends with Bill through work and he has invited us to come and try the food at all of his 9 restaurants in Park City! Pretty fun!!!

Me and my sweetie...Here he is once again sporting those baby blue eyes that I first fell in love with, and have always loved every day ever since! I love you Clint!!!

Valentine's Day was yesterday, and we were fortunate to have a date night alone...but like I have always said, it doesn't really matter where we go, or what we do..Being together with him is enough.

I have always felt like I have been treated like a queen, but I feel like it has been our mutual love and respect, and always "putting the other one first" that has helped us to come as close and as strong as we are today. I have been spoiled rotten and gotten to see and do some pretty awesome things with Clint...but even if I were to take all of that away, I would still feel like the Queen that he sees me as.

As much as I have loved the memories we have made, some of my favorites are still the most simple and sweet ones that I hold dear...sunrise hikes... walks in the falling snow after shoveling the driveway together... sitting up late at night and talking for hours... and his happy eyes and sweet smile that greet me with his warm embrace every single time he walks in the door...

He's my heartthrob, my Valentine, and my Best Friend for eternity!!!

I love you Clint!!!

A Friend in Elsa :)

Any day off from school quickly becomes my "favorite day." :)

I love having my kids home, and the calm feeling of  NOT having to rush off anywhere...

It's a rare thing, but I love it.

On Monday there was no school for the holiday and soon the phone was ringing 

and everyone needed a friend! All of the boys had a friend over and then Kambriella's friend

 called and invited her to go swimming! 

To say that Kambriella was excited would be an understatement!

She quickly ran upstairs to her bedroom to grab her suit when I heard her squeals of excitement turn into "words to a friend!"  :)

(Kambriella) : "Elsa! Guess what??!! I get to go swimming with Emrey! Can you believe it?"         

("Elsa" voice by kambriella) : "Wow! That's so exciting! I'm so happy for you!"

(Kambriella) : "I know, right?"   :)   (Can you hear the teenager in her voice?;)

I loved hearing her tell "Elsa" about her plans and how excited she was.

 It made me smile. :)

With this cute little "heart string moment" I realized that I had never posted the cute pictures from Kambriella's "FROZEN" birthday party! So, here are some "Elsa" gems...

Kambriella "Letting It Go"

Kambriella's Snow Globe cake

The "Ice" on the cake..

Pin the Nose on Olaf :)

Kambriella's invitation...

(Back of Invitation)

And, if you couldn't have guessed...

Kambriella was "Elsa" for Halloween. :)

Our cousin Xaxton the ninja, Gavin and Dallin the sumo wrestlers, Autumn as Spider woman and friend Hayden as a patient.

Fun times! :)

                                

Embark in the Service of God

Embark!

Here we are together eager and ready to embark

On a journey to serve God; Let your desire be the spark!

Then let the spark ignite a flame to share the gospel light,

To serve our loving God with all our heart and all our might!

A testimony strong that you are precious in His sight,

Clears the darkened skies in a world that can’t tell wrong from right.

Our actions send a message for the entire world to see,

With all our mind and all our strength we will serve Him faithfully.

It’s like an SOS coming across a stormy sea…

We’re engaged “Serving Our Savior” as He bids “come follow Me.”

There are confusing messages the worldly waves toss to and fro,

But the SOS gives direction and tells us where we want to go.

“Search Our Scriptures” daily and words of prophets quickly heed.

“Stand On Sacred” ground right where you are through word and deed.

Let the temple be a constant source of safety, peace, and love

And like a lighthouse lead the way back home to Father up above.

We’ll be “Strengthening Our Sisters” and having fun along the way,

As we sacrifice our time we’ll “Set Out to Serve” from day to day.

It’s time for “Serving Our Savior” with all the energy of heart!

That we may “stand blameless before Him” as we embark and do our part!

~By Susette Trickett

January 17, 2015