Just Look Up

It was late start for Jared today and so I asked him to walk with me this morning since Robin was gone.  It was a beautiful morning.  The air was crisp and nice....it felt like fall.  Walking back home down our street the sky was beautiful.  If we would have been looking down at the road we would have missed it.  It took my breath away and I was so glad I had my phone with me so I could get a picture of it.  It made me think how important it is in life to LOOK UP!  There is so much we might be missing if we keep our focus on the ground.  Looking up can offer us hope and peace.

Life is beautiful and good when we focus on the good things around us.  Some times we miss the beauty because we are looking down.  Our focus gets stuck on the things that are hard and stress us out.  Those kind of things will always be but there is so much more that we miss and all we need to do is look up....pay attention.  Acknowledge the good and watch what happens.....we notice more good. It seems like more good things are happening but really it's our focus...the good has always been there. So when you are feeling down and discouraged....LOOK UP!

It's Julie's Birthday

I love the girls my son's have chosen for wives.  I love Julie and I'm so glad that Kevin and her finally crossed paths.  Funny how they grew up so close to each other yet didn't know of each other until the right time.  We love having Julie in our family.  She fits in nicely.  In fact, her whole family fits great with ours.  (Natalie's does too)  I love that we all get along with each other and that joining our kids enlarges both families by not just one but many.

Julie is a happy gal.  She is a great mommy to Kamryn.  She loves her family and ours and is always planning things and inviting everyone.  Julie is a doer....she loves to schedule way ahead and plans her life far in advance.  She treats Kevin good and that means the most to me.  I don't know how I would act if my kids weren't treated well by their partners.  Glad I don't have to worry about that. We are thankful for Julie and the happiness she brings into Kevin's life and ours!

Jared is 15

My baby is 15 and towers me!  Man, Jared grew a lot this past year.  He's tall & skinny, his voice is low, he has a little acne a he even has a few long whiskers on his chin.  These things are normal but affect me a little differently since this guy is my baby.  He still gives me hugs every single day though and lays his head on my shoulder and tells me I'm beautiful and that he loves me!  I hope that never changes....because I love it!

It's fun for me to look back over the pictures and see the changes in Jared.  Along with seeing the changes I think of all the things that he has learned along his journey to 15.  Jared is a smart kid, and he is kind, and sensitive, and strong, and a hard worker, and funny, and polite and respectful.  So many wonderful qualities that will get him far in life.  I'm so glad that Jared was sent to us.  I'm so glad that his life as been spared a few times.  I wonder why that is?  Probably for me.  I was telling Jared about his "birth" day and the weeks that followed.  Jared had the choice whether to stay here on Earth or return to Heaven....he chose here.  We pleaded with Heavenly Father for him to stay.  We blessed him with the Priesthood to stay and get better. When he struggles  I feel guilty.  I think how selfish it was for us to keep him here.  I guess that is our natural instinct though...we fight for life.  We loved him at birth when we had no idea who he really was.  We have a better idea now and I'm so glad he chose to stay and bless our family with his wonderful spirit!  Jared is a special kid! (they all are!)  Man, I love this handsome young man!  Happy Birthday Son!

another play....The Curious Savage

After going to Kamryn's soccer game and taking Jared shopping for his birthday I went to the play with Heather.  She's a sweetie and picked me up. I love visiting with Heather and being around her....she's so much better than she knows!  (probably true for us all) Heather is one of my hero's!

We stopped for dinner at a place that has really good peach shakes.  Oh my heck they were so good!  I didn't think I would be able to finish mine but found it wasn't a problem.  I love peaches and things made from peaches.  At restaurants I like getting peach flavored water. Peaches are the best thing about summer...or one of the best things.

Right before we left for the play I decided to grab a "Scatter Sunshine" bag.  I felt like Barbie needed to receive it today.  Barbie is always doing for others.  She is a good mom and grandma and puts in a lot of time in those two callings.  She is a good sister and has been there for her sister while she is going through rough times with her health.  Barbie just keeps going and doing.  I admire her and just wanted her to know that she is pretty awesome and scatter's lots of sunshine and hopefully my little gift will fill her bucket that she is always giving from.  I love these ladies....all awesome and wonderful!

The play was great.  It made me laugh over and over.  I loved the gal named "fairy".  Her character cracked me up. I loved her expressions and stupid jokes....seriously funny to me.  The whole play was terrific and all the characters were pretty great.  Mrs. Savage was outstanding.  Wow!  She was clever, funny, and thoughtful.  Most of the play was humorous but by the end everyone was wiping tears from their eyes and sniffing a little. I told the gals it was so hot my eyes were sweating. ☺ It was a "make you feel good" kind of play.  The ending was about love and caring for others. I loved this play.

I think it's amazing how fast we make it home....we talk so much it doesn't feel like an hour and a half.
Such good times.  I look forward to hanging with these ladies every month or so!  Again....I am so blessed!

More Birthday Celebrations!

Today is Friday the 13th and it has been wonderful!!!  I went to Maddox with my sista friends and it just happened to be Robin's birthday.  On the way to Maddox I learned that the house we lived in before we moved to Hooper belonged to Robin's in-laws, Byran and Arlene Combe.  I don't know why I never connected or asked if she knew the Combe's but I'm glad that I know now.  I have heard Robin speak so highly of her sweet mother in law,  Arlene without knowing who she was talking about.  I remember Arlene being an "Angel" lady.  She was so sweet! (she just passed away a few weeks ago) 

As always we had a great time at lunch.  I went for the fresh peach pie and ordered that first with a bowl of clam chowder.  It was yummy but I had to finish it when I got home....even that was a bit too much.  Our waitress received the "Scatter Sunshine" bag I had brought.  We thought she was a little overwhelmed and could use it.  She was extremely happy to be the recipient.  It's kind of nice scattering sunshine to others....it makes me extremely happy!  I love these ladies....always a blast hanging out with!  One of the things I like is that they invite me and I don't have to initiate the outing....that is so nice!  I always feel so loved. I hope that each of them do as well! 

Larry and I took Jared to dinner tonight to celebrate his birth since his birthday is on Sunday.  Today worked out best.  I marvel at this kid and how much he has grown and changed this last year. The kid is tall and keeps growing and he has whiskers! ☺ Jared is such a loving boy.  He hugs me everyday a few times and tells me he loves me and that I am beautiful. He is a great kid to end on.....such a joy!  I love his smile, his raspy voice, his hugs, his laugh, his chatter...pretty much every little thing about him!  Glad you belong to us Jared Ropelato.....what a blessing you are!

The Missionaries Came & Taught Us!

We had a great opportunity tonight to have the Missionaries come and teach our family.  They were showing us how they teach so that we will want to refer them to our friends and neighbors.  The Spirit was strong and the message was great.  These two Elders did a great job and I wouldn't have a problem at all referring them.  I like the way they teach these days.  Their message isn't memorized but given by the Spirit.

I was glad our family had this opportunity.  It was also neat to watch at how my kids reacted and their responses.  I love listening to Braxton.  I can tell that he was an awesome missionary by the things he says and they way he says them.  That is true with the others boys too however they weren't here tonight and Braxton was.  I appreciate the missionaries stopping by our house and sharing their spirit and the gospel with us.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is True!!! I'm so thankful for the "good feeling" (the Holy Ghost) for letting me know that!  We are extremely blessed!

Celebrating a Few of My Kids!

I love celebrating my kids birthdays!  I love thinking about them on their birthdays.  I have such great memories of each one of my kids....they are each my favorite.  This weekend we celebrated with Trichelle and TJ and Kevin and Julie.  We take each of our kids out for dinner on or around their birthday.  It's a special time to visit and spoil each child individually....that is until they get married and then we celebrate their spouse with them.

On Friday we took Trichelle and TJ out and had a great time with them.  I love the individual time and always look forward to it.  I marvel at my kids and how wonderful they are.  They teach me so much and I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey with them.  The difficult times were few and well worth going through. (I need to remember that right now with Kimi & Jared...it will be worth it...it will be worth it)

Saturday we enjoyed being at the Temple with Whitney Winter and her great family to witness her marriage in the SLC Temple.  What a day of reward for the Winter's.  We have always loved each of their kids and love seeing them grow and succeed.  Not many were invited to witness the sealing and so we felt very blessed to be there.  Larry was a witness which was really special.  Whitney has always loved Larry.  When she was a toddler and Alan was the Bishop, little Whitney would find Larry and come sit on his lap. ☺  Larry had the privileged of being Whitney's Bishop when she had some struggles.  Those times are priceless.  It was so much fun celebrating with them.  We even went to the Wedding luncheon which was a little too good....and we ate a little too much.  Needless to say we weren't very hungry when we took Kevin and Julie out for their birthdays that evening.

I thought I would be able to fake being full and at least eat a salad and some soup.  Nope....I couldn't even eat my salad. The luncheon filled me beyond full and I didn't have any desire to eat anything else. It didn't really matter though.  Kevin and Julie enjoyed their meals and we had a great time visiting with them.  Kevin and Julie had realized that Saturday was exactly in the middle of both their birthdays and so it was the perfect day to celebrate them.  They told us that the papers are being started for Kevin to adopt Kamryn.  We are so happy about that.  Kamryn is Kevin's and should legally have his last name.

Larry found a few cute little wood plague's with perfect sayings for these birthday kids.  Trichelle's said: Mom is a title just above Queen, and Kevin's said: We interrupt this marriage to bring you the Football Season.  I thought it was cute that Larry saw those plagues and thought of the kids...it doesn't happen all the time.          9/9/13