So Sweet!

My Noah is very loving at bedtime and enjoys cuddling and rubbing your ears (it's a fetish). Anyway, last night Noah was snuggling in bed with David and I, when he turned to me and said "Mommy, I just love you. I want to marry you." It was melt my heart cute. Then David started tickling him and responds with "Hey that's my wife I already married her" and Noah told him "Find your own girl."

We All Know They Grow So Fast .....

One thing that I have been continually praying for is to be able to enjoy my children. Sometimes, they are just so much work I feel like I am just enduring them and not really enjoying them. I have prayed to be able to learn how to play with and love them and yet not neglect responsiblies; to be able to judge which responsiblities were really important and which were optional or could wait. I have made this and studing the gospel my focus; And I have to say I am really loving my kids. Everyday, I am amazed by things that they say and do! They shower me with love and affection and make me feel so needed. I can see them say or do things that I have taught them and that makes me feel small moments of success. I am thankful for the answer to this simple prayer.

Family Home Evening Success

At church yesterday, my Lacey got up and bore her testimony. She did a great job and I was very proud of her. It also set the example for her brothers, who then wanted to get up and bear their testimonies, only problem; they didn't know what to say.... so tonight we decided to have Family Home Evening be about Testimonies. The Earlywines were over for dinner, so they stayed and we had FHE together. I set up a fake podium, equip with a step stool and microphone. We talked about what testimonies are and why we share them. Then we gave everyone the opportunity to practice their testimony amongst family where it is a little less intimidating. The little kids jumped at the chance to talk in the microphone and we taught how to bear testimony, then the older kids participated and ultimately, the parents did also. It was a great family night where we had fun and taught our children gospel principles.

Jacob was kind of a heavy breather and liked to lick the microphone ... at times it was hard to be reverent while listening to him. :)


Noah needed some help at first but then became very confident and did great!
Macy was not the least bit embarassed or shy and only needed a little bit of help as well.
Hanna was a bit hesitant, feeling kind of akward even though it is just family, but once she decided to get up she was able bear her testimony without any assistance! Awesome Hanna!
Oliver was like an old pro ... he also did a great job bearing testimony of the things he has learned to be true about the gospel and Jesus Christ.

Dave shared his testimony about the Atonement and his gratitude that he didn't have to be perfect. But that he just had to do his best and repent of his sins.
I bore testimony of the Resurrection and our Premortal Existence.
David bore testimony about the Preisthood and the way we can use it to help us in our lives.
Diana bore testimony of Tithing and expressed gratitude for the blessing that she has received as a result of being a full tithe payer.

(The microphone was a hit, if anyone wants to borrow it for their own testimony FHE, just let me know.)

He Found A "Nut"

Saturday night, Noah picked up a sliced lemon from off the counter and was thrilled to find a "nut" inside! It went something like this .....

Noah: "Mom! A nut, a nut! I found a nut in this lemon!"

Me: "A Nut? Let me see." .... "Oh, you found a seed."

Noah: "Yeah, I need to plant it and grow you some lemonade!"

Here is Noah, planting his lemon nut (in our garden) to grow me some lemonade!

It was too cute and he was way to excited for me to explain to him that that is not exactly how it works! What are the chances that he will forget?

Prayer Request

To everyone who is checking this blog to see how I am doing, Thank You ... but Bruce (mom's husband) is the one in need of prayers. He is enduring well, but it is just so heartbreaking to see him suffer. He is living alone, in Mesa at a "house" (i use that term very loosely) he owns, which has no air conditioning. He is constantly working in his junk yard, garage or "house" moving stuff around trying to feel productive but all in all he is lonely and bored. He's can't drive ... we all try to do our part to check on him, occupy his time and let him know that we love him but inevitably there are still silent times when the reality of this tragedy stabs him in the heart. I believe that faithful prayers calling upon the Powers of Heaven can truly be used to accomplish miracles, please use your faith to help soothe his aching heart and reduce his suffering.

Word to Describe Me (Jul 3 - Jul 9)

????? - I really don't know. I am still enduring, kinda conflicted, emotional but not overcome .... thinking maybe I need to go back to the MD to evaluate meds and to the therapist to understand my feelings. Enjoying my kids and studing the words of our Prophets.

Last Day of 2nd Grade

Well, despite the year's events, somehow we made it through the school year? Thank you to all my silent helpers that picked up my slack and filled in when necessary. Lacey did fabulous in 2nd grade! She is a superstar at math and has excelled with her reading. I am so proud of her study habits and hard work. She is such a wonderful daughter; I am lucky to be her mommy!

At this point, the camera is handed over the Lacey to capture her memories from Mrs. Wright's 2nd Grade Class. Hope she's not interested in pursuing photography?

(Hey, it's 3am and I don't care that the picture is turned. I'm just glad to have it posted :)
This is Lacey with her best bud, Joelle! They have been in every class since kindergarten together.

This is Ms. Liz, teachers' assistant, for Mrs. Wright. She loves Lacey, says she reminds her of herself when she was young. Carefree and social!