Being Needy

I've felt a little needy lately. Not physically or emotionally really. Maybe it's spiritually. I need some reassurance sometimes, well, all the time I think. I read a wonderful speech and here is a little taste of reassurance, just in case... you need some too.

Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, he loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely.

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His children. he loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us. - President Uchtdorf

I testify that God our Heavenly Father loves each of you. He knows your name. He knows your circumstances. He hears your prayers and wants to bless you in every righteous desire through His son Jesus Christ. --Rollin H. Hotchkiss

If you want to read or hear the whole speech go here http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1876 and click on the first choice - pdf download for free

Left Behind

I haven't yet written about my Mom's passing. I think it's a little too much right now.

However,

If Mom has to be gone,

I'm sure glad to have these people
with which to be left behind....

Sunshine

I'm grateful for a little sunshine!

Emma is often so happy-go-lucky. Bouncing off happy even when I'm a little grouchy. Isn't that nice?

Joy Riding!

Grandma talked Grandpa into giving us a Joy Ride the other day!
This is a prize winning little number that Grandpa restored.

I never seen anything so shiney! (certainly never ridden in something this shiney)

It was definately a joy ride for the girls!

Halloween

We had a great time this year carving pumpkins with Brittani, Brian, and Isaiah! We worked long and hard...

sometimes wondering what we were doing so much detail for...

My favorite part was when we all crowded into the bathroom to see the finally effects...

until John mentioned that it might be easier just to go outside where it was already dark.

Friday was fun as we got have Miss Sydney come with us to Trunk or Treat at the church.
This is a super, expedited trick or treating experience. We all go to the church, are served scones and hot chocolate outside, have a quick costume parade, and then everyone opens their trunks, decorated if desired. The kids make the rounds in the parking lot at least once, and we all go home. Very nice, pretty quickly done!!

Owyhee Beauty

John was very firm about it. "We are going on a family trip to the Owyhee's on Saturday!" A little less firmly he asked me, "Do you want to go?" John did some of this.....

The girls did lots of this....

We did some of this... pretty Fun!...

I was shocked at the Rock formations in Leslie Gulch

and the beauty of the desert.

I would've been a lot more excited if I'd known it would be this beautiful.

And on the way home, Emma did this....

and of course, Clara did this.

I Love the Happy Moments

"You have a frog on your plate, Dad.?" -Clara

(About the jalapeno on John's plate. Spoken in a matter-of-fact voice as if we have frogs on our plates around here all the time.)

Secrets whispered between sisters at the table, excluding parents.

"Quick! Look at the rainbow! Run out front!"

and the whole family runs because who knows how long a rainbow will last....

just like childhood.

Friends

We have some friends

who have seen us at our best
and our worst.

We love them because they love us
when we're up
or down.
These friends often beg us
to come out and play.
So,
we usually do.
Throwing our cares over our shoulders,
we go

and they always make us smile.

Second Grade: STARRING GRACE!

I was all worked up about which teacher Grace would get for second grade.

I was worried unnecessarily.
Everything seems to be going along swimmingly.
Grace says her teacher is funny.

(seems a good sort for her.)

Emma's First Day!

Emma's big day finally came! She's probably been ready for at least a year. Grace always made it look so easy.

She got Mrs. Allsberry, who Grace had for Kindergarten.So there was no worry involved.

It appears to have been a shinning success!

Home

All my life, going to Livingston, Montana been a comfort to me. My grandparents have always been there. From the time I was born, I knew there were people there who loved me.

As we make there journey now from Idaho, we exclaim over the familiar breathtaking beauty of the mountains. It's like we haven't breathed as deeply since the last time we were there. The air is fresh and clean and crisp. And we miss mom, because she loved this journey home so much. I remember her as she gazed as we drove feeling the beauty of every mountain, rock, tree and flower as we drove. The beauty of the journey was only outdone by how glad she was to see her family, whom she loved so much.
I feel just the same. I won't breathe as deeply until I make it again.