Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th. I want to thank all our service men and woman who have or are still fighting for our freedom. I'm so grateful for the sacrifice that each one has made to ensure I have the liberties that I have grown so accustomed to. To the families of those who are serving I pray the Lord comforts you.

We took Grace to feed the ducks. Apparently we haven't been eating enough bread because we had quite a bit that was stale. Grace said the cutest thing when I was doing her hair. I had just dressed her in a red white and blue outfit.
The conversation went a little something like this:
Grace: "Mom, do you think the ducks will like my outfit?"
Me: "Well,a,I guess they will,sure."
Grace: "Do they know it's the Forth of July?"
Me: "I don't think they celebrate the Fourth of July sweetie"
Grace: "Maybe they are afraid of the fireworks."
Me: "Probably"
I love kids. I am always humored by what she thinks up.
I love the 4th of July. It is such a fun time. This year, well like every year, we had a barbecue at my parent's house. This year was a blast! Not only did we have family but we had friends, friends of family and family of friends. My mother loves to entertain and she is good at making any event a fun one. We just finished cleaning up after this years extravaganza and she is already planning next years party. We had great food, a pinata and a watermelon eating contest. Jason took home a $25.00 gift certificate for the Texas Roadhouse. By the way Jason, your in charge of the prize for next years eating contest. We had enough fireworks to rival the Stadium of Fire. Okay none of them really left the ground but we had lot. Frank and my brother were lighting 3 at time and it still took forever to finish. I was a little nervous how Kohen would react to the fireworks. I kept his ears covered the entire time but he talked and laughed. I think I watched him more than the fireworks. Afterwards we headed over to West Jordan High's parking lot to watch the big ones that the Western Stampede let off. It was a great day.

Mother's Day

A friend sent me this e-mail and I think it pretty much sums up how I feel. There is no other sound in the world more precious than your child saying "Mommy, I love you." I truly feel blessed to be a mother.

Before I was a Mom:
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom:
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom:
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up l ate hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom:
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom:
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom:
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every
10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Easter

After a wonderful church service we had lunch at the Red Lobster with Grandma, Grandpa, Mindy, Roy, Erika and Dylan. It was lots of fun. Grace and Dylan were quite intrigued by the lobster tank. We spent the afternoon at Nona and Papa's house and had a wonderful Ham dinner. Grace had a great time searching for eggs that were filled with coins and candy. (Gracie is saving her money for Disney World). When Chris and Kay showed up we had a grown-ups egg hunt. The sun had already set so we had to use flashlights. It was tons of fun. I will admit, I did get a little competitive.


I can't believe that Easter has already come and gone. I can't express how much this holiday means to me. Forget about the candy, the bunny and the eggs. Easter has a much more profound meaning to me and my hope and desire is that my children will also know the importance of this wonderful day, Resurrection Sunday. For it was on a cross 2,000 years ago that my savior gave his life, not for anything he had done wrong but for the sins of the world. No one forced him to lay down his life. He could have called a thousand angels down from Heaven to take him off that cross but he stayed and died for me. Words can express how deep a love someone must have to give up his own life for someone else. The miracle of the cross is not just that he died but that he did what no other man has or ever will do, he overcame the grave and rose again three days later. For if it were not for his sacrifice I would not have a way to Heaven. He was the perfect Lamb who made a way for me to be forgiven of all my shortcomings, failures and sins. I am thankful for having parents who taught me the true meaning of this day and I pray that I can do the same.
After a wonderful church service we ate lunch at the Red Lobster with Grandma, Grandpa, Mindy, Roy, Erika and Dylan. It was lots of fun. Grace and Dylan were quite intrigued by the lobster tank. We spent the afternoon at Nona and Papa's house and had a wonderful Ham dinner. Grace had a great time searching for eggs that were filled with coins and candy. (Gracie is saving her money for Disney World). When Chris and Kay showed up we had a grown-ups egg hunt. The sun had already set so we had to use flashlights. It was tons of fun. I will admit, I did get a little competitive.