Remembering

I am going through the last 8 years of pictures as I am working on the video for Spring's baptism.  It is so fun to remember all the laughter, tears, joys, struggles, and to see how the Lord's tender mercies have blessed our lives.  I have laughed at old videos and am amazed at how much has changed, yet stayed the same too.  Needless to say, it is a fun walk down memory lane.  I just came across this picture though that just made me laugh.  Do you think this is a foreshadow of what is to come in a couple weeks?  It gives a whole new meaning to "cupcake wars!"

Girl's Night

With the boys gone camping Spring, Mary, and I had our Girl's Night. Spring kept telling me, "This is the best night ever!" We went shopping and found some fun craft things to do. Then we went to dinner together. It was so cute to listen to them talk and be able to focus just on them. Mary was so cute saying she liked our party but "when do we have cake?" We finally had to stop calling it a party because she thought we needed cake, candles, and presents for it to be a party. The girls had fun painting their mirrors. Then we went out to Handels for ice cream. We watched some "Food Network" shows before finally heading to bed around 11:30. The girls thought it was great to sleep in bed with me. They actually slept in this morning until almost 8:00. It was so nice! We got up and made some cinnamon rolls and finished their mirrors. It was so strange to not have any diapers to change and to only have 2 of the kiddos home. I kept thinking I was forgetting something. I loved the time we had together and I am so grateful that they look forward to this weekend as much as I do. It brought back memories of what my mom would do with us girls when Dad and Brandon were away. How grateful I am to a wonderful mom that taught me the importance of cherishing the time we have together with our children. I am so grateful that family is such a blessed part of my life.

Time at the Temple

Last night Joel and I were able to attend the temple again together. We have committed to attend the temple at least once a month together. We schedule the day on the calendar for the entire year. Once it is there, we don't let anything change our plans to attend. Our trip to the temple trumps all other activities. We are so grateful to have been able to do this consistently for almost 5 years. Many times people comment that they don't know how we do this with young children and our response is, "We don't know how we couldn't do it." There have been times when it would have been easy to find an excuse to not go that night. How thankful I am that this is a commitment we have made together with our Father in Heaven. This gives us the strength to keep to our commitment.

I know our Father in Heaven blesses us when we make temple worship a priority in our lives. We need the peace and calmness that surrounds us within the temple walls. We receive answers to questions, comfort and strength, increased understanding of our Savior and the Atonement in our lives, and a continued resolve to live according the commandments and covenants we have made. I am so grateful to be close to a temple. I am grateful for a loving husband that finds value in us attending the temple together. I know it blesses and strengthens our relationship.

Joel and I were talking on our way to the temple last night. He mentioned that on his way to work yesterday he was listening to Elder Scott's address from conference entitled, "Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need." We enjoyed sharing our thoughts on this talk and we felt much more prepared for our time in the temple last night. One particular quote from Elder Scott spoke to us because yesterday was one of those times that it would have been very easy to stay home. Elder Scott counsels us:

"When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan. This pattern will guarantee that those who live in the shadow of a temple will be as blessed as are those who plan far ahead and make a long trip to the temple.

What is there that is more important than attending and participating in the ordinances of the temple? What activity could have a greater impact and provide more joy and profound happiness for a couple than worshipping together in the temple?"

Ten Years

Joel and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary last Friday. I say "celebrated" even though it didn't turn out quite like we expected. Joel had set up to have a babysitter come Friday evening so we could go to dinner together but at the last minute she wasn't able to come. So, we stayed home. We made the kids hot dogs for dinner and then Joel went out and brought home some Mexican food for us after the kids went to bed. We spent the evening enjoying our meal together and being with each other. It is getting more difficult to find a babysitter that is willing and comfortable to watch 5 children, especially with the ages of our three youngest. It all worked our fine though. We are so blessed to have each other and to share our desire to continually make our relationship stronger. We were thinking back to when we were first married and counting all the wonderful blessings that we have had since that day. The decision we made to be sealed together 10 years ago has brought countless blessings and joy into our lives. We have 5 wonderful children, a best friend in each other, strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and the start of an eternal family. There really isn't anything more we could do to celebrate than to reflect on the wonderful blessings our marriage has afforded us.