I Love Mom

 As I was busy working out in the yard on Saturday, Kambriella came running,
"Mom!!!! You have a treat on the porch!!!"

 The box said, "I LOVE MOM" and was filled with sweet deliciousness!

Also a cute little note to the "sweetest" mom out there! ;)

Thanks Kierra and Riley for making my day so "sweet!"

 On Mother's Day I got to spend some time on zoom calls with family.

First we visited with Clint's family for a little while, and then I got to visit with my mom, sister, and brother. It was fun to see them all together! I really am grateful for the technology that is there to bless our lives and keep us connected, even when we are far away.

 My mom is just so sweet and I have hated the thought all along of her living alone as a widow, but especially during this time of quarantine. Her days have been so long and I just wish we could go see her. BUT, she LOVED talking with and "seeing" everyone and so I hope that it made her day.

She is a VERY loving mom. In fact, I honestly cannot remember her ever being mean or losing her temper with me. She has such a big heart, and after raising 9 kids, my hat goes off to her over and over and over again! I love you mom!

 After our zoom calls, we had sacrament meeting in our home, some talks by the teenagers about mothers, ;) ;) and then we did Come Follow Me and watched the Mother's Day video I made on the big T.V. for fun.

It made me so happy doing it, and I consider it my "quarantine souvenir!" :)

 For our Mother's Day dinner, Carew decided to set up the canopy and make it a nice dinner outside. Clint grilled some teriyaki roast steaks, and we played games outside all day long. Spike ball, catch with the baseball mits, and we even watched a show put on by Kambriella and Kesslyn...the Tiger Agility Course?? I think that was what it was called. I got cuddles and massages and all of the things that I love, but lucky for me, I get those most of the time anyways. ;)

It was a happy Mother's Day indeed. :)

A Mother's Day Video ~ Mother's Day 2020

 This past week has been SO fun! 

When I was out running each morning of the week before last, I kept having the thought come into my mind of making a Mother's Day video for the sisters in our ward. 

I kept dismissing the thought thinking to myself, "I don't know how to make a video!!??"

But guess what??

When Heavenly Father wants you to do something, He provides a way.

 With the help of my ward sisters and friends we made an uplifting, fun, and inspiring Mother's Day video that I hope will brighten everyone's day this year.

My little girls came with me to Thanksgiving Point for part of my filming, and we made it a "girl party" according to Kesslyn... ;)

 It was almost kind of like a gift to myself too, walking around the beautiful gardens there for the first time this year on the weekend of Mother's Day! It was such a beautiful day, all around.

 The video we made was LARGELY made possible by the hard work of my son Dallin too. He did it willingly and lovingly, editing the video, doing all of the hard parts that I knew I could NOT.

It was fun to spend that much time with him, and to see how smart and talented and capable he really is. 

He complimented me and built me up, even when it was hard and I wasn't fully confident in myself.

Thank you Dallin!!! I know you are capable of so many things, and through the spirit I can see even more of the divine potential that is inside of you.

I'm praying for Heavenly Father to shower blessings down upon you in whatever way He sees fit because you surely deserve them today for all of the love you have given your momma.

 Watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/LmhjHc47xek

Let's Do Yoga!

 The other day Kesslyn came up to me and said, "Mommy I want to play with you in the back yard...and maybe do some yoga!"

When I heard this I was standing in the kitchen and was just trying to finish up "school teacher" duties, preparing food for dinner that night, and trying NOT to burst out laughing at this CUTEST, SWEETEST little angel bug of mine!

First of all...YOGA??? Where did THAT come from?? My kids do know that I love to run and go to aerobics, but I've never really done YOGA! It was just so innocent, grown up, and cute. :)

 BUT, this short little "expression of words" to ME wasn't really saying "mommy let's do yoga," but to ME it was saying, "Mommy I love you so much and just want to be with you and spend some time with you."

I took the invitation quite seriously and changed into some comfy exercise clothes, and took Kesslyn out in the tent that the kids had put up in the back yard, and we did "yoga." ;) ;) (But only for about 5 minutes.:)

After Kesslyn was tired of doing yoga, she went in the house and brought out the little fishing game and we played that together WAY longer than we did yoga. ;)  

It was so sweet playing with Kesslyn. 

She "taught" me how to play and even "let me win." 

I have learned that this calling of mother is one of the most important and influential roles that I will play in their lives, and will quite possibly and most likely be their best training ground for when they grow up and become a mother one day too.

Oh how I love all my children and being their mom. Yes, it's hard some days, but most days it's the most rewarding thing I do. Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me the opportunity and blessing to be a mom, and for my little ones who love to just "be with me" even if that means doing a little yoga. ;)

Date Night on Cinco de Mayo

 Last night I had a date with Clint, the most anticipated night of my week!!! ;)

With it being Cinco de Mayo, I sent the kids to get their own dinner from Cafe Rio, and then Clint and I went to a new Mexican place that we love called Rancherito's.

It was packed and so we drove off in to the sunset and grabbed some dinner form the shortest drive through line we could find...literally! Everyone was having the same idea as us, I guess. 

We ended up getting Culver's and driving to the temple parking lot to sit and eat our dinner.

 Honestly I wasn't very hungry for food, just hungry for some intimate and uplifting adult conversation.

That was what we had, and it was the best part of the date. :)

We walked around the temple grounds admiring the beautiful full moon that was shining down on the temple (and NOT doing it justice with this photo!) while we were both wrapped up in my single jacket, Clint's arm in one side and mine in the other. :)

We walked and talked while we were snuggled close and it was SO nice.

We actually discussed what we have seen change in our family or in ourselves during this pandemic, and for both of us it was the same.

We have LOVED the slower pace of life and the abundance of family time. We have missed the temple and seeing the people we love, and we are happy to see that our testimonies are strong. Even without organized "church" we are faithfully living the gospel in our home, and  having "church"with our family. We dress in our Sunday best each week, and feel an abundance of the spirit that Heavenly Father is sending JUST for us and I love it. 

No, we are definitely NOT perfect, and YES, sometimes the kids will fight or get on each others nerves, but all in all we know we love each other, and that's why we are here. To help each other progress and return to our Heavenly home one day.

Together I know we can do it, and I'm so lucky to have Clint as my best friend and greatest support by my side.

Family to Love

 If you want to have some real fun during a world pandemic, all you need to do is have a camp out in your back yard with your cousin! :)

 Xaxton has been staying with us for about a week now and I don't think he ever wants to go home. EVER. 

 These kids LOVE to be together, and I LOVE that they love to be together. :)

One of the many tender mercies of God's hand in our lives...family to love. :)

Peace to my Heart

Yesterday morning as we were all getting ready for home church, Clint said to Kesslyn, "I love your beautiful dress Kesslyn! You look so beautiful like a princess!"

I had to agree!

My sweet little baby is a princess (just like my other girls) and she looked so cute in her little "hand me down" dress that I had gotten at the DI for $3.

I took pictures of her out in the yard while she was just dancing and playing around, and for a few moments it felt like time was standing still.

It was a sweet part of my Sabbath day.

 I also spent quite a bit of time on the computer yesterday preparing food orders and working on ministering assignments.(Clint enjoyed organizing his baseball cards while I was busy...;) It's a special part of my responsibility as a relief society president, and I always try hard to think of each individual and what their needs might be in all different aspects of the service. I rely heavily on guidance from the spirit and from Heavenly Father and my bishop as I try to complete the assignments and make sure everyone is accounted for. No empty chairs, right?

I also have had my sweet parents on my mind a lot lately.

I miss my dad and I can't help but worry about my mom who is always alone, especially during this pandemic and time of social distancing. I know that angels are with her and my family, and that my dad is one of them, but that there are many more angels that I don't see, and yet I know are there.

I'm grateful for the knowledge of life that is perpetuated beyond the grave and that we will one day be with our loved ones again. I believe that wholeheartedly, and it brings peace to my heart.

Back to Friends

It's the 1st of May, and there is beginning to be a feeling of optimism in the air as today marks the day that some things in the community will begin to reopen from the closures from the pandemic.

Kambriella went on a bike ride and picnic with her friends, and it was the first time in a long time that she was able to be with friends. It was definitely a happy day. :)

We look forward to the good that lies ahead!

Happy weekend!