Phil's Triathlon

So Phil and I have done a short little triathlon a few times and I went to sign up for it again last summer, but they had doubled the length so it was now an Olympic one. I was signing up late and we only had a week to train and I was sure I couldn't swim a mile so Phil did it on his own. He did a great job and the kids loved seeing him at the finish line. He was hoping to be finished under 3 hours since he was about 90 minutes on the sprint ones and he killed it and came it at 2 hours 47 minutes. We had a good laugh that they guy who won finished in just over 1 hour 9 minutes. CRAZY! Later that afternoon we hopped on the ferry to go to Vashon for his 20 year class reunion.

Summer Days

I know I have mentioned how wonderful this summer was, but I just have to say it again...THIS SUMMER WAS WONDERFUL. My kids are at the perfect age to enjoy just about anything even an afternoon in the park throwing a football around and a little family ultimate Frisbee. This day was some time in the summer, I couldn't tell you the actual date because it could have been any number of days we spent outside enjoying each other. I remember a time when I was sitting on the couch with three little ones sitting around me and thinking it would always be just like that and now it is so different, but also so wonderful. I love my little family and all the time I get to spend with my kids. This month of January we are doing no "screen time" which means no tv, computer/games or movies for the kids. They had been so great about it and have found so many great things to do together. Plus we have had a ton less fighting which is wonderful!

Cancer

This picture was taken last year around this time. My great friend Alexis and lots of others had been helping out with our remodel project. One night they were all at our house until around 2:30 in the morning working to clean things up for our family Christmas party. She has served with me in church callings, she is wonderful and amazing and I love her dearly. This year she is battling cancer. She is one of the strongest women I know. She was meant to be one of those pioneer woman that pulled the handcarts, but right now she is at home sick and tired. She does chemo and radiation everyday and it makes me so sad that I can't do more for her and her family. Cancer stinks. My dad had colon cancer when I was in the 8th grade and again when I was a junior in high school. I knew it was hard and that he was sick, but I think watching a friend go through it I now realize that my parents didn't let me see how bad it really was. I talked to him about cancer once Alexis was diagnosed and asked if there were days he wanted to die. He said that he did and that he hated how sick he was and how much pain he was in. The first time he got cancer I got mad at him and didn't want to talk to him. I really just didn't want him to die and leave us. I love my dad and am so glad that he is still around. He is a great man that I now know has been blessed with the power to be healed. I know it is a gift of the Spirit and that he is a miracle that I will appreciate everyday.
I think that was one of the things that scared me the most of Alexis getting cancer. I even told my mom that I was afraid I had already used my cancer miracle. She told me to let Alexis be another persons miracle then. We did a ward fast for her and I think that was the easiest fasting has ever been for me. I fasted that she would be able to take the chemo pills because she is not good at swallowing pills and she has been able to take them. I know that fasting works and I now know that I didn't use up my cancer miracle because there isn't a limit on miracles. God loves us and is aware of Alexis and that He has a plan for each of us. I have faith that He hears our prayers and He will answer them and we can feel peace and comfort right now when everything feels so scary and hard.

11 Years

Miya you turned 11 today. Yikes! I can't even believe you are that old and yet I really can't remember what is was like before you came to our little family. You are a beautiful and wonderful girl and we are so very happy that you are in our family. Here are 11 things I love about you:

1. You love to cook and you will happily make lunch for your family Sundays after church while I am at meetings.
2. You are an excellent example for your brother and sister.
3. You are dependable.
4. You are the best babysitter. You always are willing to make dinner and you have everyone in bed and asleep when we get home late.
5. You are smart. Every time I am at your school another teacher comes up to tell me how smart you are and that you are always asking amazing questions. You started taking my Japanese book to school and have started teaching yourself Japanese.
6. You are kind and take great care of other kids.
7. You are willing to try new things. You try to cook harder things when dad throws them at you.
8. You like to have fun. When we were camping this summer you jumped right off those rocks into the river without a second thought. Then you jumped off the higher cliff when you went back with just dad.
9. You listen to what Heavenly Father wants you to do even when it is hard. You thought about quitting piano until you prayed about it and knew is was a talent Heavenly Father could use from you and you have been great about practicing ever since.
10. You love earrings. It took a few trips to the mall to get the job done, but once you got your ears pierced you have loved wearing different earrings.
11. You are always prepared. You are the one with the snacks in your bag or the one with something to draw on if we are waiting in the car for something.

I love you so much and am so grateful I get to be your mom.

Father/Son Campout 2013

Cannon looks forward to the fathers/son campout each year and was super excited about all the time he gets to spend with Phil. They got there a little late, but found a A-frame campsite that nobody was using so they spent most of the time just hanging out alone. They even brought Settlers of Catan to play Friday night by flashlight. Cannon got up early and stoked the fire from the night before and had a nice fire going before Phil crawled out of his sleeping bag. They hung out Saturday morning at Nisqually doing the service project and playing kickball before heading to Olympia for a little tour around the Capitol building. I am so glad to have such a wonderful husband who loves spending time with his kids and makes things so fun.