Taste Testing

Kierra and Riley made an appointment to meet with the caterer Craig Borlik at the Castle where they will be having their wedding reception, where I joined them and had a fun time meeting the chef and taste testing his not only DELICIOUS, but BEAUTIFUL creations!

 We were trying to get an idea of what foods we should serve at the reception...

and the only conclusion we came to is that we CANNOT go wrong with Craig in the kitchen! 

Everything we tasted was to die for, and my mouth is watering RIGHT NOW as I type this just thinking about how yummy it all was!

I think we are trying to decide on either choosing a carving station with open face meat sandwiches, salads, fruit, and dessert ~verses~ an authentic Crepe Suzette build your own crepe station...

We are getting so excited for this special day to arrive...but I am also finding that all of this planning and preparation is half of the fun, so we are really just enjoying each thing we get to do each new day!

I love these kids and am truly overjoyed at the relationship they are building and the strength they are to one another. I'm truly blessed and one lucky mama!!!

Honest Man, Honest Living

   When Clint started his business with his dad 16 years ago, I remember feeling a tiny bit nervous, but 100% peaceful about supporting Clint in his decision.

 I promised when I married him to support him and love him with my whole heart as he turns to Heavenly Father for direction on how to lead and love our family...and he does it beautifully!

 Little did we know that the business that started out making just over $100,000 the first year would 16 years later be running a multi million dollar company...but it doesn't surprise me, because Clint relies on the Lord to guide him in every decision he makes, and with the Lord on your side, you can't go wrong. 

 Every year now for the past few years Clint puts on an annual open house and invites all of his customers, potential customers, and vendors to come and share their ideas, questions, and of course FOOD together. :)

Yesterday was the open house and it was a hit! They gave away prizes in a drawing every half hour, they walked around his new building, and saw new equipment...

 Everyone got to choose their sandwich from the Melty~Way Food Truck which is to die for!!! They also had soup, salads, fruit, chips, desserts, and drinks. 

Kesslyn was a great marketing tool for Clint ;)...making friends with everyone she saw, 

waving, saying "Hi," and just being her cute self. :)

 She also had a bag of chips (or 2) in her hand the whole time...she had so much fun just wandering, exploring, and being around her favorite person..."Dada." 

What I think is so cool is how Clint LOVES her so much (as with all of his kids, but especially when they are little:) and how he WANTED her there. He's not too busy, or too proud in front of customers to take time for his little one. In fact, I think he is pretty proud of her!

 He carried her around on his hip for a while or let her be on his heels as he ran around the shop and met with people... I love that he is who he is regardless of circumstance, or situation, or who is present. He is a loyal, devoted husband, father, and family man, and I LOVE him!!!

Premier Vehicle Installation has been a blessing to our family in so many ways. 

Clint has been able to provide service and help to others through the success of this business...we have been fortunate to provide assistance to those who serve full time missions for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints, in a way of "giving back" a little of what Heavenly Father has blessed us with...

and now, it is going to be OUR turn to send out a missionary! Carew may be getting his mission call in the mail today!!! Whatever happens, Clint will continue supporting the church in every aspect that he has been blessed with and he will continue to do it happily and lovingly., and is fortunate to be able to do it through the business that has been built through the blessing of our loving Heavenly Father.

Thank you for everything you do Clint...you are an honest man making an honestly living and doing so much good in the process...I love you!!!

The Gardens With My Mom

 Well, here we are back at one of our very favorite and most beautiful places!

The Thanksgiving Point Ashton Gardens.

 But this time I wanted to take my mom! I took my parents here with me and Kambriella a few years ago, and this was the first time my mom had been back since my dad had passed away. It was a very sweet and special day... we rented a golf cart and puttered around taking in all of the beautiful sights and SMELLS!!!

The flowers were breathtaking!!!

 Kesslyn was perfectly content to sit on Grandma's lap the entire time!!!

 They both loved the snuggle time and any time I would ask Kesslyn if she wanted to get out of the cart to take a picture she would say, "uh-uh." ~ And then I would ask her if she just wanted to cuddle with Grandma and she would say "Ya." :)

 When we finally parked the golf cart to go into the Light of the World Garden, Kesslyn went around happily again waving to all of the statues of Jesus and saying "Hi!" She LOVES Jesus! :) She was so excited to be there and did not want to leave!

 She would just find a spot to sit down by Him and smile and wave...sooo sweet!

 When we came up to the statues of the First Vision, Kesslyn very quietly walked right up beside Joseph and looked up at Heavenly Father and then knelt down so reverently. It was amazing to see and the Spirit was so strong. By the time I found my camera and took it out she had moved on to looking around, but I KNOW that these little ones can feel and are touched by the Spirit and are very aware of truth and light.

 As we drove around in awe of the beauty that surrounded us, my mom and I talked of what the gardens in heaven must look like...hard to imagine how beautiful they must be...

 My testimony is strengthened each time I am in the beauty of nature and surrounded by Heavenly Father's creations. It truly is glorious and beautiful, and wonderful to me. :)

Miles For Dave

 Since today was the day that Dave Penrose would have been running in the Boston Marathon, but now wouldn't be, we gathered pictures of his friends, family, and neighbors and the number of miles that they ran in honor of Dave.

Dave's brother Ron wanted to do this and make a video out of all the pictures to give to Sheri and her boys just so they could see how many people love Dave and their family.

I thought it was a beautiful idea and I hope that it brought a small portion of healing to their heart. :)

These are only a few photos out of many... :)

REMEMBER: "As I have loved you, love one another." 

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was a fun filled time with family and friends and activities that reminded us of our Savior and the significance of everything that He has done for us...especially His Atonement and Resurrection. 

We took the kids (except Dallin who was gone for acting that day) and visited the Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point and their annual tulip festival! Everything was breathtakingly beautiful!!!

 A sea of lavender...

and Kambriella's favorite color, and Clint's...Angels Red.

 So delicate and soft...

 Sitting in the Secret Garden together, Kambriella showed the effects of staying up late EVERY single night of Spring Break! She was EXHAUSTED!!!

 We went to visit our favorite part of the Gardens...the Light of the World Garden.

 Kesslyn had a fond connection with "Jesus." She waved to Him and said "Hello" to Him each time she saw a new statue. There is a sweet reverence there in the garden that I just LOVE.

 With it being Easter weekend, this statue of Christ carrying His cross touched me deeply. I got up under the statue so I could look into His eyes...He WILLINGLY bore this heavy, heavy burden beacause of LOVE...

The Resurrected Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene... 

 Heavenly Father abd His Son Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and called him by name. He KNOWS each of us and loves us individually...

 This sweet baby LOVES her siblings, and Kierra especially. :) You should see her go running into her arms every time Kierra comes home. This is just kind of like a picture definition of love and joy right here... :)

 There is beauty all around, when you're with those you love. :)

 After we spent time in the gardens we took a lunch break at Zupa's. YUM!!! :)

 Then, we headed home for some cleaning, yard work, and a short nap for a few ;)...

Clint and I then had a date to a special Easter concert later that night up at the U in the Libby Gardner Hall,

We were privileged to hear the Utah Millennial Choir and Orchestra sing and play their hearts out to the most powerful and moving songs about our Savior in honor of this Easter weekend.

We were a part of many standing ovations that were rightly due to this amazing performance...

 ...and my sweetheart was literally moved to tears after many songs. The Spirit was so strong and this touched my heart so much. :)

 My sweet boy. XOXO

 Then, on Easter morning, we attended a neighbor's mission homecoming, and then went with Carew to Patriarch Shelley's home where he received a beautiful and inspired patriarchal blessing.

What an absolutely special gift on such a special day. I love you Carew!

 We attended church and sacrament meeting and then came home to gather our family for a yummy Easter dinner. Kierra and Riley were there to welcome us when we arrived home from church. :)

 I love that they are close enough that they can still come and see us and be with us for these life celebrations! I love them all so much!!! 

(Can you tell Kambriella is still feeling the effects of the late nights of Spring Break??! :)

 AND...my sweet Mom surprised us and decided to drive up from Mesquite to join in the celebration!

She is such a beautiful lady and she has been such a positive role model and example in my life.

 I count her as one of my greatest blessings! :)

 The Easter Bunny did visit our house on Saturday as well, and also left a basket for Kierra and Riley. 

They were happy to get them ...but not as happy as they were just to be together, right? ;)

 When we all sat down to the dinner table together, Clint and I both took a minute to share some thoughts and testimony about our Savior Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ's Atonement, we are blessed to be able to be free of pain, suffering, sadness, and despair...not that those things will not be a part of our mortal experience (because they will) but that WHEN we are experiencing them we can turn those pains over to Him and find lasting peace. I love that we can literally use that power every single day of our lives.

We ate a delicious meal and then headed to the basement where we participated in our

 "3 Days of Darkness" Easter egg hunt.

When Jesus died on the cross there were earthquakes and storms and the earth was in turmoil.

We turn over the furniture in the basement and hide the eggs "among the rubble" to represent what happened in the land when Jesus died. Then, we turn out all of the lights and blindfold everyone to give them a feel of just how dark it would have been for the people then. We were only in the dark for about 15 minutes...and I still heard little children  say that they were "scared."

They all had to feel their way through the darkness to try and find the eggs...just imagine how hard it would have been to actually have been there and feel that deep darkness for 3 whole days!!!

 I think everyone had fun and spirits were high! I LOVE this family of mine!!!

Happy Easter ! :)