Saturdays....Busy....Fun

 Saturday's are fun and can be busy.  Right now Parker and Kamryn are playing soccer.  Kamryn plays at 9:00 every week and Parker plays at 11:00. (actually he practices from 11:00-11:30 but he likes me to watch him practice..his games are at 11:30)  It's been fun watching the kids...I can already see improvement.  Today Kam scored 3 goals and both of my grands teams won.

While I was at Parker's game I got a text from Kathy asking me if I was coming to the Blackfoot Fair.  I was going to try to go but had so many other things that I didn't feel like giving up.  Her text triggered my memory of Cassie's shower.  I had Cassie's gift but had kind of forgot that her shower was today.  After the soccer games I went home and her gift wrapped and then I went to the shower. It was a family shower and I recognize most of the people since I usually do get invited to the family showers....and Yes that makes me feel good!  I love the Mark family!  I loved when Cassie introduced me with a big smile on her face as a very good, long time friend!  I'm so happy for Cassie!  I'm thankful for the Mark family...one of the best and closest families I know!

I left the shower so I could go watch Kamryn do a Triathlon.  Her Uncle Rick and his friends put this together for the kids.  They started by swimming in the Dunkley pool.  They had to swim a few laps and it was different for each age group.  Kam is a fast swimmer and was the first out of the pool in her group.

Then they had to dress and get on their bikes.  Kamryn was a bit hesitant and unsure where she was to go.  She got going in the right direction and really started moving when she felt confident in where she was to go.  Lynette (her other grandma) and I followed in my car so that Lynette could video Kam.

The last part was running which is Kamryn's least favorite.  She did a great job though.  She didn't slow down except when she passed the parents but she was encouraged to keep going and she did.  Kamryn acted a little shy today which is something I don't see a lot.  Even in the group picture she was standing just a bit away from all the other kids-that just happen to all be cousins.

I'm proud of Kamryn for trying everything and doing her best at it.  She has many talents and abilities and I like that she is exposed to them early so she can choose the ones that fit her best.

***Later we took a little "Care Package" to Justin's family...oh how they are loved! ♥

Little Acts of Kindness make a Difference

The last week I have been getting some nice texts from some of my friends....let me just say that they make me smile and they are greatly appreciated!  I think Julie must have set a goal or something because she is sending me a nice text every single day.  They are nice and loaded with compliments and expressions of love!  I have prayed over and over that they aren't tender mercies....I hope Julie is healthy and fine and still has many years here to be enjoyed.

Then yesterday while I was visiting with my nieces (Alexi and Shay) I was sharing with them how Larry had been prompted to call their dad before he was made Bishop.  Larry knew that he was suppose to tell Mark that he was proud of him for staying active in the Church and raising his family in the Church when he hadn't been.  He was suppose to compliment Mark for all his goodness.  Larry knew that before he knew Mark was going to be a Bishop.  It HIT me....Heavenly Father was using Larry as His mouthpiece!  Even though Larry thought those same exact things, those thoughts came from Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost who "prompted" him!  Heavenly Father does that but often we don't recognize it.  I started reading the texts Julie sent me as if Heavenly Father were saying those things because I truly feel like Julie was Prompted to text me and say the things she did.  She is really good at listening and following her promptings.

I love how truly involved Heavenly Father is in our lives.  I hope and pray that I will know what He needs me to say and do for His children!  I know there are times when I am following the "spirit" and doing those things that I am prompted to do but I also know that I am probably missing way to many.  I guess that is something that I will work on being better at....listening to and recognizing the promptings I get and to follow through with them.  I really do what to be an instrument for Heavenly Father.

Lunch with My Girls

September 11....a Day we will Always Remember...the day the Twin Towers came Down.

No matter what I am doing on this day I always think back to 2001 when our Nation was attacked by terrorists...when I watched planes fly right through the Twin Towers.  My stomach always hurts and I shed a few tears but we carry on.  I got to carry on with a few of my grands. (Jordyn was a few days ago) I got to play with Macie and Parker while Natalie went to her doctor appointment.  She returned with sad news....there is no heart beat.  My heart goes out to Natalie and her family.  We all get our hopes up and before every child there has been at least one miscarriage and sometimes two.  I told Natalie that she might get to the other side and be overwhelmed with all her children that might be there waiting for her. (I don't know if that happens or not...but I think it might)  Natalie was pretty good and had been prepared in a way for this day. I was the one crying as I held her two little ones on my lap looking at them through new eyes....what miracles they truly are.

Today I got to take all my girls to lunch.  I love these gals.  They are all such wonderful examples to me.  I really do learn so much from each of them.  They are so much better than I was at their ages which is what I have always prayed for.  They are so beautiful...inside and out!  I am thankful that we had an opportunity to all be together and enjoy each others company.  Since Julie's birthday is next Wednesday..we had them sing to her.  I really enjoy the little ones that get to join us...it's their time now.  Each little one has such a cute personality...I love them all so much!  Life is Good!

Food 4 Thought Friday!

Food 4 Thought Friday! 

A little feast without the calories!! 

Go HERE to JOIN IN!!! 

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥   

Breakfast ~ If you were invisible where would you go and why? I think I would like to go inside the White House and see what really goes on there.  I don't have a good feeling about that place or the people that live there.

Lunch ~ What kind of celebration would there be on a "St. YOU" day? A Do Unto Others Kind of Day!  I would want lots of colored balloons everywhere for decorations and to give to all the kids because I think balloons are fun and they make me smile.  Everyone would go do something kind for a stranger and report about it so we could all get new ideas on how to serve others. The News Paper would be filled with only the Good Deeds from the Day...no bad news!  There would be chocolate and caramel and lots of water for everyone. Smiling would be required all day. ☺

Dinner ~ If you named your children after your pregnancy cravings, what would they be named? Truthfully I don't remember any cravings but I do remember a few foods that made me gag.  With Trichelle I couldn't stand Rice Krispies cereal.  I lost it once and haven't eaten it since.  When I was expecting Kevin I gagged over Chocolate and Chicken...I know....weird huh? Kevin loves both.  I had to regain my love for Chocolate when he was born.

Midnight Snack ~ Name the top three places you love to be. On Vacation...pretty much anywhere.  I love being in the Temple...I always feel so loved and safe there.  I always love returning to my home...no matter where I've been coming home is always the best feeling.

Recipe of the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?) Listen and Pay Attention to the Spirit.  Heavenly Father is so much more involved in our lives than we realize!

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SNAP....It's Started Again

Every year...after our summer break.....we start SNAP (Special Needs Activity Program) by having a dance with other Special Needs Groups.  This time the North Ogden group hosted it and it was fun.  They had really good music and lot's of cookies and nacho's.  The participants love the dances.  I love watching them.

I was made the President over the girls and still don't have a first counselor.  We have 9 stakes which means around 55-60 wards and the agent Stake Presidency hasn't been able to get me a counselor.  I think they ask a Stake to come up with the people they need but for some reason a counselor isn't being called or maybe isn't accepting.  Finally they asked me if I had any suggestions.  I wanted to laugh because I'm not sure which stakes are really in our council...but....immediately a name came to my mind and I submitted it.  I know I was suppose to submit that name but the thought came to me that the person does't necessarily need to accept the call.  Some strange events happened and she knew she was going to be called...someone called her to prepare her for the call. (who does that?)  Anyway we chatted and she told me that she trusted my inspiration.  That's when that thought came to me that she didn't have to accept.  I told her not to rely on my inspiration....I was suppose to ask for her....but that doesn't mean she needs to accept.  Maybe she just needed to know that she was asked for...I'm not sure about that part...I just know I did my part and the result doesn't matter to me.  Things will work out and hopefully I will have a first counselor soon.

Labor Day...the Break Between

Trichelle text me while we were at the park and asked if we wouldn't mind if Ivy and Zaden joined us.
They had been "laboring" in their yard and earned a break.  I suggested we take Baby Behr so she could watch her little's enjoy themselves.  We were about ready to head home anyway for a while.  It worked out great.  This cute little came over and we got to snuggle him for a few hours before Trichelle and her kids came back.  They had played the carnival games and came back with their pockets full of little toys.  I could tell they enjoyed themselves.  We enjoyed ourselves too. ☺

 Larry needed to meet a guy at his shop and I had to drive with him so he could bring his truck home. (Kimi wanted to stay with Behr)  We left and Larry forgot his keys and so we had to turn around and ended up being a few minutes behind the guy he was meeting.  While we were gone my cute friend, Kim, came by with a bucket full of treats.

I had just barely missed her.  I felt bad about missing her but the bright bucket of popcorn made me smile.  Then I opened the card and immediately started tearing up...okay...I cried.  Each member of Kim's family had wrote a little thank you to us for taking the boat up to Bear Lake and playing with them this summer.  They each thanked us while we were at Bear Lake but that wasn't enough...they wanted to make sure we knew they appreciated us.  I love the Taylor Family. ♥ I"m so thankful for such wonderful friends!

Labor Day Celebration

Hooper's Labor Day Celebration is called Hooper Tomato Days and this was it's 90th year being celebrated.  There was so much planned for Saturday and Monday. Breakfast and dinner in the park, fireworks, games, items to buy, music, parade, food, talent show, dog races, rodeo's, baby contest, 5 k run, volleyball contest and lots more!  I think the two day celebration is fairly new but it's incredible and lots of fun!  We missed the Saturday celebrations because we were taxing the missionaries  but we thoroughly enjoyed Monday's Celebrations.

 Monday morning started off with a parade.  There were lots of cars, a few school teams-cheerleaders, bands and SBO's.  Tractors lined the streets...very old tractors.  Primaries had floats and I especially liked our with the cute tomatoes.  Families that have been around for a long time had their own floats.  I was told that the Ropelato's are "famous" in Hooper and so some day we might also have our own float. ☺

 There were business's advertising their business, lots of horses and even carriages.  We were at the end of the parade and the Kamryn and the two girls by us still got lots of candy.  The missionaries were even in our parade.  It was fun...I really enjoy parades.

Watching the parade brought back memories of me being in the 24th of July parade when I was small.  I remember riding on a float dressed like a cowgirl and I had a pop gun.  I also remembering marching in many parades wearing hot wool uniforms with the marching band and even marching in the parades with cute uniforms and high white boots when I was on the drill team.  I'm thankful for all my memories.

After the parade we wanted to watch the bed races.  I remember seeing pictures of Jerry (Larry's big brother) racing and back then every team made their beds and even dressed up...some like babies.  This year they used the same bed and different teams raced down the road and were times.  The Criddle girls wanted to do it and turned to Kevin and asked him to be on their team.  He wasn't feeling very good and volunteered Jared.  They had a team in minutes and were the third team to race.  They ended up winning!  I was really impressed with those Criddle girl's who both ran barefoot.  Larry reminded me that he never wore shoes growing up...those country kids have tough feet.

We watched Jaydan play Volleyball in a tournament and they did really well but didn't win.  There are many good teams that competed.  My sweet Jaydan looked so little playing with mostly tall people.  He's quick and hustles and keeps right up with the others...except for spiking...that's a bit harder for him to jump above the net to hit it down.  It was fun watching all the teams and while I watched I also kept my eyes open for my mom who was going to come down for a yummy hamburger.

I spotted her just as she was sitting to eat her hamburger and so I went and visited with her so she wouldn't have to be alone.  I was really glad I saw her with the park being packed with people.  While she was having her hamburger Kamryn and Kevin came over and Kam had a big bag of Kettle Corn and my mom wanted some to take home.  I went with her to get it and while we were waiting for it in the bright sunlight my mom looked at me and told me I needed to shave.  She said I had whiskers  on each side of my mouth and even under my bottom lip.  I just picture those guys with that tuft of hair under their lips....and thought.....is my eyesight really that bad that I don't notice that I am hairy?  I'm sure it was just the light ... however, I did come home and shave!

After a little break we went back to the park and paid to get into the Rodeo just so we could watch Kamryn ride a calf.  She is so stinking cute and brave and strong.  She was the fifth one to ride and ride she did!  That little calf took of with her and she held on until a cowboy grabbed her off.  She was so cute and raised both arms in the air with a big smile on her face!  I was a pretty proud gramma.  The other riders were all boys in her division and they barely made it out the gate before they fell off...including her cousin, Brixton.  Kam ended up winning $120...Woot Woot!  After she rode we came home and grilled our own hamburgers because we didn't want to stand in a long line.

On Saturday Kevin and his friend Jason won the Red Neck Pollo contest.  Kevin (in the orange) was not concerned that his opponent was a girl and whacked her balloons with all he had.  I heard it was quite the event.  Just a little FYI....Jaydan made the sticks for this event years ago for his Eagle project along with a skee-ball game.