Yellowstone

 I love this picture so much and then I looked at Lyla's fantastic face and loved it even more. What a beautiful place and my sweet family. This was really in Grand Teton National Park.

 I was so happy to take the kids through Yellowstone and it was fun to remember how much I loved it when I was a kid. We didn't see any animals in the park, but the hot pots were super cool and we loved Old Faithful.

 I love any pictures with my parents and my kids. We don't get to see each other enough, but we all love it when we can/

 You can imagine coming up to these little pools and wanting to swim before you notice the boiling water.

 Yellowstone Lake is huge. Like 400 feet deep in the middle and I can't remember all the details on the area it covers, but it was super impressive and then had some hot pots on the edges.

 Just as Old Faithful was getting ready to go. We sat eating ice cream in the hot sun and waited.

I love these peeps! Cannon was super ready to go once the ice cream was gone, but we still had to wait another 20 minutes.

Basketball

Miya dribbling with two balls. Her skills improved a ton this season.

Miya and Stasha warming up for the game.



Miya tried really hard to stay positive this season.

Lyla loved playing and had a smile on her face most of the time she played.

All the kids played basketball last winter. It was a little crazy with the schedule and Phil's travel, but it was a really get time. Miya's team went un-defeated and were a lot taller than all the boys teams they played. It would be interested to see the teams meet again in the next few years to see how it would even out. Miya's coach Ms. Thompson was amazing and really had the girls work super hard in practice and play hard in games. She coached most of the girls in another league so they play pretty much year round. Miya worked really hard on trying to step out of her comfort zone and talk to all of them.

Examples

I love this sweet sister in my ward. Laura Wilson is one of the most kind people I know. Plus she is just beautiful (even with what looks like snot on her face). This was at one of our Relief Society meetings and a great shot of the two of us.The older I get the more I see the good in people and the more I come to think that everyone really just wants to feel loved. I thought that when I was serving in Relief Society and I see it now with the kids in primary. We all want to know that we are cared about and that we have a place to feel loved. I so appreciate having good, kind friends who are examples to me.

Cub Scouts

This is from last year...Cannon looks so much more grown up now. What a cute boy I have. This was at the vegetable derby. Cannon and Abe were the winning team with there fast cucumber. It was one of those activities that didn't sound super exciting, but was super fun. This was right before I got called to be in Primary and in Cub Scouts.

Testimony

 

Yesterday was Fast Sunday and Miya was sitting down by Cannon. During sacrament meeting she made her way over by me. She told me that I should go up and say my testimony. I asked her if she felt she needed to get up and say it. She said that she would if I went up there. I asked her if her heart was beating fast and she said yes and leaned in to my side. I got up and said a quick testimony about prayer and an experience with answers lately so that Miya would get up there.
I can't remember what the first part of her testimony was, but that last bit was:
"I know that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins and felt out pain. If you ever feel alone you don't have to feel that way because He know what you are feeling and everything you are going through." She then walked back down to me and sat as close to me as she could and leaned in to my side. It was a great feeling to have her sitting there by me. I told her I was so proud of her for getting up there and for listening to the Holy Ghost.
Sweet, sweet girl. I have been praying lately that my kids would feel the whisperings of the Holy Ghost and that they would be able to recognize the promptings and act to help them gain a testimony of His presence in their lives and that they would come to better understand who Jesus Christ is. It was super sweet to hear her testimony and feel my prayers were being answered. I love being a mom and I love those moments when you feel the importance of what you are doing. I also love those times when you are reminded that the Lord hears and answers our prayers in ways that we can hear...sometimes from the mouth of your daughter on Fast Sunday from the pulpit at church.