Storm comin' in...

I was bringing Brooke home from school the other day and we spotted a storm coming in.  It was such a beautiful day, so it was weird to see a wall of snow suddenly rolling in.  She ran in the house and grabbed the camera bag and we drove to a spot with no power lines or trees to obstruct our view and got this shot.   I wonder if we'll be chasing anymore storms anytime soon...

Happy ’werewolf’ girl says she’s proud of being special

Worried about what to wear today or that you don't look quite right?  This is an amazing story of the most "unshallow" girl ever.  Inspiring.

Happy ’werewolf’ girl says she’s proud of being special

Happy Valentine's!!

So, sadly my Valentine is in Sweden making a living.  I MISS him!!!!!  

Last night Brooke and I wrapped her box for Valentine's and she went off to school with her little pile in hand.  The junior high and high schooler just ran out like it was another day (not complainin).  

I did a photo shoot yesterday for this little guy and I can't help but smile when I look at him.  Maybe it will make you smile too!!  If you want to squeal with delight for more you can go here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lessons

I know I don't usually share personal "stuff", this is more of a documenting what our family does kind of blog, but here goes.

The other day in my prayers I asked if I could be used in a meaningful way, more than the normal meaningful stuff I do.  I got a phone call.  The. Very. Next. Day.  

I was asked to teach a class for a Relief Society night about scriptures.  I haven't taught adults since I was Relief Society President over a year ago. I'm pretty much out of the loop.  When she asked, I remembered my prayer and thought, oh yeah.   My topic would be Family Scripture study.  Why couldn't I get Personal scripture study?  Yes, we do family scriptures, but it's not always easy.  I don't have all the answers.  I know I love my scriptures.  I know I couldn't live without them.  I know I want my family to feel the same way, but still, I haven't been able to teach them all the things I have learned through my personal study.  They're just not quite as willing.  But I try.  Sometimes it's wonderful and that's what keeps me going, but other times the teenagers come with a blanket over their head saying how long will this take?  How many verses?  I have homework.  Other times we have fun and it opens conversations that we wouldn't otherwise have.  It gathers us together and leads automatically into family prayer.  They hear more than they act like they do.  Those are the things that have kept us going for the past 10 years.  It's not always easy.  Then I thought maybe others felt that way too.  Maybe they didn't want someone with all the answers.  

The lesson was for me.  It gave me the drive to continue on... even it's hard.  I have the faith that eventually it will pay off.

We talked about several things and of course the ladies had some great suggestions.  Mostly we discovered that you have to do what works for your family:

How?

1.     Decide you want this for your family and determine to do it.

2.     Hold a family counsel

a.     Set a time- seek the guidance of the spirit to help you decide

b.     Establish what you will study together.  Consider a certain amount of time or amount to read each day

3.     Try to help each member have their own scriptures.

a.     Take turns reading

b.     Expound

4.     Young children could draw pictures

5.     Read correlating scriptures like baptism, Easter, priesthood ordination

6.     Keep a family notebook for recording questions, goals, or impressions

7.     Stick with it!!!!

2 Ne. 31:20: Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Hang in there!!

Kinsey (can't be 22, cause I'm only 30)

Kinsey had a birthday too!!  It's been a busy month!  We went as a family to Macaroni Grill and then went to her house afterward.  Lane's parents and siblings came too, and Lane even made her a cake!!  It was tons of fun and I love watching how happy they are. 

Happy Birthday to my oldest.  Love you Kins.

Eagles

Bald Eagles in Utah

Bald eagles in Utah, and throughout the country, have done so well in recent years, they've even been taken off the endangered list. Bald eagle numbers have been climbing steadily since they were first listed as an endangered species.
And every year, as November blows in, hundreds of bald eagles fly into Utah. They stay until the ice starts to melt in March. Latest estimates put the number of visiting eagles in Utah at around 1,000. Utah is among the top 10 winter stops for bald eagles. Some years, it’s among the top five.

Held every February, the annual Utah Bald Eagle Day gives many children and adults the first - and maybe only - opportunity of their life to see a bald eagle close up in the wild. As many as 350 eagles have been spotted during a single Bald Eagle Day!  http://www.utah-travel-secrets.com/baldeaglesinutah.html

I did a photo shoot for my friend Mary whose going on a mission this month and we thought it would be fun to see the Eagles before she left.  So a few of us went to where several Eagles had been spotted for years along Utah Lake.  We went early and it was cold, but no eagles!!  So, the picture above wasn't taken by me, darnit!  The article said they start to leave as soon as the snow melts.  Maybe this crazy weather has them mixed up!  It was a beautiful day though and we saw lots of hawks!

 Where the eagles were supposed to be...

A couple of redtail hawks

Mary, Jodi and Kristen- my fellow hopeful eagle spotters.