Picture Day

 When Jared received his mission call we decided to have our family pictures takes before he leaves.  We set this day right away.  It's hard getting a day when everyone can come and so rain or shine we were taking pictures.  Well....guess what?  The sky was dark and in some places it was raining and the wind....oh the wind was blowing so hard.  It blew one of our trees over at our house.  It was fierce.  A few kids called to see what we were going to do.  I told them all to pray for a window of good weather.  We had about 20 minutes.  That amount of time would have been good but Jaydan lost track of time and was late.  By the time he got there (we met at Jerry and Darinda's and walked to the dam) the wind hit and a few rain drops sprinkled on us.  We just held on and did the best we could.  Trichelle was really sick and wanted to take everyone's picture first so she could leave.  It took a little longer than she hoped.

We never seem to get all the pictures or poses that I want but that's okay...we got enough for now and there were a lot of fun candid shots.  Roger and Carla came up to take our pictures this year and Roger is great at getting candid ones.

 This is the best of our whole group and far as being serious.  The spacing was off a little in my opinion but not bad.

 I love our fun pictures and those are the ones I was trying to create.  I had seen a picture on the internet and the one I saw was a fun one.  I love fun ones because it doesn't matter who is looking or if their hair is blowing in their faces or anything else.  However I did want to make sure everyone was at least seen.  There were a few that had someone hid. (Macie)

 I adore my crazy, fun family.  They are so great and awesome to make the time to come play for a bit so we can capture a few memories together.

 here's a few more fun shots

SNAP Production

It's that time of year again.  We are performing at Special Needs.  The production is "Hats". The music is so fun and the message is wonderful.  What really matters is what's under the hats we wear.

I missed a lot of practices this year and so I don't know all the songs and I can't see the words in the dark while I am moving and so I hope that I am not being watched. haha  The participants love doing production and are so proud of themselves for doing their parts and participating.  I'm so proud of them too.  They each add so much happiness to my heart.  I can't help but smile when I look at them and see their bright spirits shining so bright!

I'm not sure how I will react when I get released.  So for now,  I will just continue to bask in the greatness of being involved with this sweet group.  I'm glad that Carla and I left the Awaken Seminar a little early so we could participate both nights.  It's so much fun and very rewarding.

I LOVE MY LIFE!

I am so glad that I was introduced to awesome self-help seminars like Awaken and Limitless.  I love getting tools that help me better myself.  Getting to spend three entire days with uplifting speakers and people is one of the best experiences ever.  This time I invited a bunch of people to join me and three accepted my invitation.  I was even more blessed by having these sweet friends with me.  We had some serious bonding that strengthened our friendships even more.  We shared so much with each other.  Breann and Julie helped me realize a cool thing about my board from the last conference, the one that I needed help breaking.  As I shared some things with them they were able to see that my belief on my board that I wasn't believing really was true.  It took an experiment for it to happen but it happened (I manifested $$$).  Right away they could see that I had broken through my old belief and when they told me I knew it was true.  Had I broke the board by myself I would still not have believed the new belief because I needed the proof for myself.  Words alone were not enough this time.  It was so cool.  I love these friends that joined me and shared some wonderful breakthroughs with me.  I felt some pride in bringing them into the Awaken Tribe.

The Awaken Tribe is huge but not everyone attends each seminar and so you really get to know those that do.  I love that!  Friendships are made and your support group grows so much.  I seriously felt a true love for everyone there.  Everyone builds each other up.  We support each other.  We are all Gods instruments and sometimes it's so obvious.  No matter what our personality, we are all very needed and our gifts help others along their journey.

The speakers were fantastic.  Just people like you and me sharing their stories and enlightenment.  How setting some goals and following the spirit can enrich and better our lives.  I feel a pull in me to share my message with others.  Are you wondering what my message is or do you know me well enough already to know?  I think I will wait until the end to put it to see if you know. ☺

We get to experience breakthroughs together.  Some happen while just listening but then we also get to physically have a breakthrough.  The first day we broke an arrow by placing it in our neck and walking into it.  We write down a limiting belief or fear of something that is holding us back from being our best self.  Then you write down the belief without that fear or belief.  When that arrow snaps it is a wonderful feeling.  On Friday we broke a board with our bare hands.  I was nervous for this one because of my experience last time.  I was going to make sure I put something on my board that was easy to believe.  I chose my board carefully (or so I thought).  I wanted one without marks on it and when I saw my board I actually took it away from Carla as she touched it to examine it.  When we went to sit down to be instructed I looked at my board and there were little spirals over 3/4 of my board.  I looked at Julie, Carla's and Breann and theirs were spotless and pure.  I stood up and went to see if any of the remaining boards were better but kept mine.  (I'm thinking it's about the board still as well as the belief....believe me...it's more about the belief)  We listened to Gerald talk about believes/fears that are holding us back and instantly I thought "I'm afraid of being my highest self."  Why should that scare me?  Because my highest self will be doing so much more and right now I'm not confident enough to embrace all that I can really do.  On the other side...my belief right now is "I'm amazing right now."  We got pumped up and we practiced the best way to move our body and arm to break the board.  A few of my team members got right up and burst through their boards.  Before I lost my confidence I stepped up to break my board.  I swung my arm and hit my board and.......it stayed the same. YIKES....I did not want a repeat.  Anthony (a speaker and super nice guy) came and gave me some instructions.  My leader told me that I leaned into the board and dropped my shoulders..he laughed when he told me which actually really helped me keep any doubt or fear from entering my thoughts.  Even though I wanted to step back from the board I trusted and did it again and YES my board broke.  The joy in me was even bigger than I had experienced any other time...again another lesson from my last board. (it has taught me so much)  I was in my leaders arms rejoicing my breakthrough as I screamed, kicked and cried.  It was such a glorious experience.

We watched as others were given breakthroughs on stage.  The last day an amazing one happened.  Ben, the guy in the bottom picture who is ready for a free fall backwards expressed his feelings of not mattering.  He didn't feel loved, needed or worthy to even live.  It was heart breaking and Gerald guided him through questions and techniques to help him heal and change those beliefs.  The entire room poured out our love for Ben.  We gathered around him, to touch him and send our love to him.  We verbally told him positive affirmations.  The love was so powerful in the room and I think everyone was crying at some point.  Then Gerald had everyone so to the stage as Ben stood on a stool and prepared himself to let go of all those negative beliefs and to accept and embrace all the new that was poured into him.  Before falling back and trusting to be caught he shouted out his new belief that he mattered.  He fell, and was supported and raised even higher for a short moment before being lowered and rocked gently back and forth continuing to accept the love being given him.  Then he was stood up and Gerald asked him what he was going to do now?  Ben said he was going to heal his relationship with his mom.  Gerald asked when, and encouraged Ben to do it now.  Ben got out his phone and as he stood in the middle of all of us, he called his mom and expressed his love for her.  He told her he was sorry for blaming her for his unhappiness. He told her she was the best mom he could have ever had or hoped for.  He told her, he was going to be a better son and spend more time with her.  I was close enough to hear her express her love for him and accept his apology.  It was so awesome.

As I think about that breakthrough and the one the previous day I am so glad that Gerald and his team follow inspiration and not a strict agenda.  You just couldn't plan something like that.  My heart was filled the last few days.  My mind was packed with so much information and thoughts of my next step.  I have been truly blessed.

♥ I LOVE MY LIFE ♥ 

***my message is that our thoughts and our smile are so powerful and magical.

Parker Joe is 7

This cute boy is 7 today!  He decided that he was going to have a birthday party and so he started inviting some friends. Good thing he has a cool mom that went along with it.  I love this cute boy.  Parker is so fun.  He is fun to watch play soccer and basketball.  Parker is still really good at creating and loves to build with lego's.  He also enjoys drawing and making things out of whatever he can find.  Parker has a tender heart and he melts my heart.  I love the twinkle in his eye.  It's almost as if you can see the wheels turning in his head.  Parker loves stuffed animals still just like his grandpa.  Parker has lots of friends because he is so nice.  We are so blessed to have this cute boy in our family.  I love our Parker Joe.

Lunch With Cute Jodi

I finally got to meet Jodi for lunch to talk about her Marathon Experience and Boston with the Sista's.  I wore my "team Jodi" shirt to honor her and her experience.  It's always fun visiting with this cute friend and we could seriously spend hours together....actually we always do when we get together.

I loved hearing about all the fun, chaos and memories that they made.  I'm so proud of Jodi for having the strength and desire to run and to run fast.  Jodi is a great example of someone who does hard things and one who sets goals and works really hard for them.  She inspires me to just be better.  I love sharing her energy and love.  I absolutely am so thankful for the people that surround me, support me and love me!

Dinner with Justin and Natalie

I love taking our kids to dinner for their birthdays.  We let them choose anywhere and Justin and Natalie chose Burger Bar.  We kind of thought it was a funny choice but we are never disappointed with the food and so that's where we went.  It was just a little nippy and so we partied in the car! ☺  These two are so dang cute.  We love them and are so grateful for their examples to our family.  We all admire them both because they are each so talented and just plain cool.

Natalie made a yummy Cherry Chocolate Birthday Cake for Justin and invited over to enjoy some with them. Oh my word....it was so good.  I wish I would have brought some home because she was going to throw the rest away since she will be making Parker his birthday cake.  So Much Fun!

Birthdays.....Justin and Kamryn

Today my son turns 34!  Geeze....it seems so unreal.  I love this boy.  He's always been such a good kid.  Justin loves to hunt...he always has.  He is a super hard worker.  Larry put a lot of responsibility on him when he was young and so he has just always worked hard.  He's valuable at TJ Trailers.   He is funny.  Justin can make anyone laugh and because of that talent, others are drawn to him.  Justin is kind and cares about others.  Justin loves his cute wife and is good at showing it.  He admires and loves her and it is obvious.  Justin is a fantastic daddy.  He loves being involved with his kids and they all love their daddy.  Justin is a leader.  Our family has always admired Justin and he set a pretty good path for each to follow.  The people that serve with him at church love and respect this son of mine.  He treats others with love and respect.  It's a privilege for me to call him my son.  Justin is a joy to have around.  Man, we love this kid!

Our cute Kamryn is celebrating 9 years today.  Kamryn is such a fun girl.  She is enthusiastic about most things.  She loves to have fun, create and do things for others.  She dances, plays sports and does gymnastics and she enjoys it all.  She's also good at everything.  Kamryn is sweet and the best big sister ever.  She loves her siblings and helps out with them all the time.  Kamryn is smart and does well in school.  She likes to cook and her cool parents let her make things when she wants.  She loves having others over and serving them.  Kam's favorite color is blue.  Kamryn is kind and thoughtful. She is such a sweetie and I can't imagine life without this cutie!  We Love Kamryn!