Beautiful Temple

Utah is so beautiful with its temples and general splendor.

And trampoline-ing with the boys was a blast.  We're having so much fun here.  It's a great place to be, even if it's been 103 degrees.

Manti Pageant

My sister and I rented a home in Utah for a few weeks and one thing we just had to do -- we attended the Manti Pageant!  The best thing ever!  I had gone when I was a little kid, probably 25 years ago, no joke, and had not remembered much of anything.  So my cute sister Amy and I took our five kids, collectively, and headed to the beautiful Manti temple for the evening.  I will never forget it.  We had such a fun time.

 

 

We arrived right at 6:00, right when the gates open, and had front row seats!  We lucked out.  We ate so much food, ice cream, and slushies.  We got home at 1:30 a.m.  Ha!  It was worth it. 

Father's Day

I feel so lucky to be married to this guy and have these darling children together with him.  Jason's a great dad.  He's seriously the best around.  Hard-working.  Dedicated.  Loving.  Fun.  Righteous.  Tender.  All of the above.

The End

 Last day of school is always a bittersweet time.  Jimmy came home from school and fell into my arms, weeping, because he is going to miss Ms. Lewis.  I told him I always cried on the last day of school, too.

And I almost did cry yesterday, hugging Jacob's teacher, Mrs. Jorgensen, who happens to be the most wonderful teacher of all time.  I am not exaggerating.  She was an answer to prayer.  She instilled in Jacob the confidence and the direction that only a teacher could.  Parents can only go so far sometimes, you know?  I love that she "took the wheel" and steered Jacob toward not only straight-A success but also directed him in such a way that he bloomed and blossomed as a student and as a young man.  I can't tell you how revered this woman is and always will be in our home.  We will bless her name forever. 

And the good news is:  She's in our ward.  So we get to see her every Sunday, too, and put our arms around her.  She has a solid testimony and a wonderful family.  We adore her, okay????  Ha ha ha

Anyway, summer has begun and THANK GOODNESS!  Not a moment too soon.  I always am ready for summer to arrive.  And then in August, I'm ready for school to begin again.  Just always doing the flip-flop about that.

Happy summer!

Air

I prepared my lesson to teach the young women in my ward yesterday on the priesthood; what it is and its value to them, and to their lives.

I wanted to stress to them the absolute and utter importance of making sure they marry a man who honors his priesthood, who wants to take her to the temple, who wants to exercise not only the authority of the priesthood but, more importantly, the power of the priesthood in his family.  (There is a difference between authority and power!)

And then the thought came to me that the priesthood is like air.  Neither the Church nor any of us would survive very long without the priesthood.  It's like the air we breathe.  I confessed to the girls that growing up in a home where my dad honored his priesthood covenants and then marrying a good man who does the same has meant that I have taken this gift for granted on many occasions.  Just as I do being able to breathe. 

I never stop and say to myself, "Thank you, air, for being there.  Thank you, air, for keeping me alive.  Thank you, air, for sustaining life in all things!"

I know it sounds a bit juvenile and elementary, but this is how I feel about the priesthood and the blessings it provides in my life.  I certainly take it for granted; this marvelous gift, this blessing most treasured above all else -- and it's right here in my home.  I have had access to it 24 hours a day since I was in my mother's womb!  And thankfully, the priesthood is eternal, which means I will benefit from it forever.

I hope the young women understood my point.  I was grateful that the "Air" analogy popped into my head at just the right time. 

The church is true, ya'll.