Brady is 11!

I can't believe my little Brady is already 11. He is growing up into such a good kid.  He is very kind and always looks out for the one who is needing help.  He love playing with his brothers and especially now that Beckett is getting old enough to play catch and shoot hoops.  I love that he is quiet and a little shy around people.  Reminds me of Chas and how he used to be.  He will get his arrow of light award on Tuesday and advance into boy scouts, we are now in the years of campouts!  I often find him reading "For the Strength of Youth" or his "Preach My Gospel" book.  It's beginning to hit me that this is his year of preparation, as he will get the priesthood next year, wow can't believe it! Only 7 more years and he will be headed out for his mission, wow!! I better make sure he is prepared!
He is really good at math and has just gotten interested in reading, that has been a struggle.  He is a good student.  He is really good at getting up and getting going every morning, he is usually the first one ready to go to school.  He has one speed and that is go, he is going or sleeping.  He is often outside shooting hoops, hitting balls or playing catch.  He is super active and loves it! He tries so hard at everything he does and I love that about him, always trying to be better.
He still loves to tease his sisters, mercilessly, but when he is not around, everyone wonders what to do and that it's so boring without Brady.
Another thing I love is that he will accept consequences without too much drama.  I know sounds funny, but he will be super mad for about 10 minutes and then he moves on.  No dwelling or staying mad for hours, I really appreciate that about him.
He is getting into the "stinky" boy phase, which is not fun for the rest of us, as he can't understand why all of a sudden he has to shower EVERY. DAY.  Such a hardship!
We sure love him and can't imagine our life without him!! Happy Birthday Brady!!

fed up!!

Ok so I am totally fed up with every stinking activity my kids want to do being on sunday.  AFter stake conference the other day i decided my kids need to start seriously saving money for missions and college, what better way by 4H? We have the animals already, well guess what? Meetings are on sunday, seriously!!?? It seems every way we turn it's on sunday.  Can they save money for their mission while breaking the sabbath? Funny, but not really! So no 4H for us this year, maybe next?

What are you passionate about?

We had some friends over the other day and he was explaining to us what he wanted to teach one of his high school science classes. He was telling us all about fish, and rivers, and spawning, and fishing, sutff that honestly is quite boring to me.  But he was so excited that it actually got me interested!  He was so passionate about it, it got me thinking? What am I passionate about?  It has bothered me, really, because I can't think of something that I really LOVE to do.  I love my kids and the gospel, but he was just so fired up and excited about what he was talking about, that it made me long for something like that.  So I am on a journey to find out what that is.  I am tired of living every day just by keeping up with the house etc.. I am determined to do my best at everything that I do, now that's not everything, just everything that I have to do!  And in the process find something that I LOVE to do.  I have been wanting to try my hand at making a bench for the living room, so that is where I am going to start, I may love it, I may hate it, but dang it I am going to try!
So my question is, What are you passionate about?  Please share!!

Trip to Canada

I just got back from visiting Tyanna in Vanderhoof, I feel like it was a very enlightening trip for me personally.  Being able to go and and visit with my Aunts, cousins and Grandma, I feel as if there are a couple of things which I need to always remember.  There are such personal feelings and ties associated with family.  Memories of time spent together are so precious.  I got to take Brooklyn into my Grandma's old house, where we spent almost every sunday afternoon when I was a young girl.  I loved being able to show her places and share memories with her.  I loved reminiscing and coming to an awareness of the wonderful childhood I had and all that contributed to it.  It really was not the normal "growing up" situation.  So some things that I realized and always want to remember are:

1.  There are no tougher women in the world than my mom and my Aunts.  Literally! They clean, butcher, train, ride, drive any piece of heavy equipment, speak with power, love unconditionally and are classy and well learned.  None of them have any higher education, but when it comes to the gospel you better watch out, they know more then most anyone else.  They are champion suppporters of their kids getting higher education and realize the importance of it.  They are not afraid to "reprove betimes with sharpness" LOL but have such love and kindness in their hearts.  I learned or re-learned to look to their examples in my life and know that I can do anything I want to.  My genes are powerful, righteous genes and I want to be like them when I grow up.  I think they invented the slogan "Git 'er Done!"

2. Family is the most important thing.  Even though we don't live "real" close to family, I need to make an extra effort to build those ties with my family.

3. Teaching the gospel in my home is my most important responsibility.  "You can never be over-prepared when teaching the gospel." Not sure whose quote that is, but I need to remember it!  Being open and a good listener are keys to keeping a good relationship with your kids.

4. Teaching my kids how to work and be genuinely good people are my second most important responsibility.  Gosh, my family works hard! Sun up to sun down they are outside working, never stopping or complaining.

5. It is so important to serve others, Aunt Maureen has been on "call" all week to go and help some people, an hour away, evacuate their place if they need to because of a forest fire, at any minute she will quit what she is doing and rush out there with her horse trailer to help.  That's the kind of people they are.

I just want to remember this feeling that I have right now.  I am humbled to know that Heavenly Father trusted me so much to send me to such a wonderful family and also gave me some of his choice spirits to raise and teach the gospel to.  What a blessing, what a responsibility, but one I am ready to re-take by the horns and run with.  Watch out kids I am rejuvenated and ready to take it on! I am so thankful for the reminder!