Tonight's rodeo

If I haven't mentioned it once or fifteen times, rodeos are kind of my favorite thing.
I just really, really love them. And we decided to go to one tonight. We invited
my parents to join us. My mom wasn't feeling well at the last minute, but my
dad came and I'm so grateful. And Jacob and the boys ended up not being
able to come, so we invited a few friends instead. It was a really fun night.

Grace and my dad. I will love this picture forever.

I might love that my dad owns cowboy boots. Because he was a real cowboy,
long before it was popular. I buy cowboy boots to attend rodeos. He has earned
his cowboy boots through hard work beyond what most of us could ever imagine.
Resulting in the most incredible, humble, genuine cowboy heart I have ever seen.

 Very few things matter to me as much as teaching my children gratitude
and respect for this country of ours. And seeing my baby girl with her hand
over her heart, when the flag entered the arena, had me all mushy inside.

 Annie and her darling friend, Camryn.

Ben and his awesome friend, Grant.

I told them to cheer as loud as possible. They happily complied.

My sweet Nate loved everything about it.

I just really adore this dad of mine.

But this girl could possibly rival me. She adores her granddad something fierce.

I'm so thankful for family, friends and a whole lot of fun.

PLS graduation

Jacob is home. After spending the week in Dallas and hanging out with these gentlemen.
You know, like most normal human beings do on a regular basis.

Poor Jacob Allen and his boring life.

Prayers for Brynn

My heart is so heavy. Many years ago, we had the blessing of living in Missouri for a couple of
years. While there, I made a friendship that still, to this day, means so much to me. Her children
were my kids' best friends and I will be forever grateful for that time. That sweetheart all the way
on the left has fought and is fighting a battle that is breaking my heart. All I can think about
right now is sweet Brynn and her family and especially her mom. My prayers are constant that
somehow the miracle all of us are looking for is the same one the Lord is willing to grant.

A good Thursday

One boy covering his mouth after laughing so hard and so long
that he was worried he would interrupt others at the restaurant...

...one girl playing super heroes with her darling friend...  

...and one boy outshining us all during our very loud
and crazy singing party on the way home tonight.

It was a good Thursday.

Youth conference

So much power and goodness in one picture. I'm so happy for my
three oldest and the next few days they are going to experience.

Lunch with Grandma Dawn

Lunch with this lovely lady was pretty wonderful today.
And then helping her choose new glasses was just an added bonus.
I so enjoy time with her and her incredible kindness to me.
She is amazing and darling. I'm so grateful for her.

God's kindness

I'm so undeserving of my Heavenly Father's incredible blessings to me, but I'm so profoundly
grateful for them. Our oldest received his patriarchal blessing today and I don't know that I have ever
had such a powerful and sweet payday in my many years of motherhood. I'm overwhelmed to the
deepest part of my heart and left that experience a different person. God is so good. God is so kind.

Hike 3 of 17

Waking up at 6am on a Saturday in the summer isn't my favorite.

Until I get up here and realize it was so crazy worth it. 

I'm so thankful to finally be back hiking.

SCO retreat

This handsome guy spent the last three days at an officer retreat for all of those who will
be serving the student body at his high school this coming school year. From what was
shared, it appears to have included a whole lot of fun, an amazing learning experience
and very little sleep. I feel such gratitude when our kids have the opportunity
to do good things with their time that also help them to become better people.

Afternoons with Grandma Cammy

A few days ago, darling Grandma Cammy asked me to come and take some photos of
her gorgeous yard, since she wanted to always remember it this way. It meant so much
to me that she would ask and I loved taking the pictures and loved the time with her.

Then today, I spent another afternoon with her. We were able to go through the pictures
I took and pick her favorites to put up on a wall in her house. And here are a few of the finalists.
I truly feel so blessed for any amount of time I spend with this incredible grandma of ours.
And I may or may not have thrown in that last picture myself. I tried to convince her she wanted
a really large picture of her cuteness on her wall, but for some reason she didn't go for it.

But I love it so. And love her even more.

Another Elder Fernandes

Two and a half years ago, we had an amazing young man from Boston spend a short time with us before leaving on a mission for our church. The past two days, we were blessed to have his younger brother do the same. Having Lance here was such a privilege and it has meant so much to us that both of these young men have wanted to be with us prior to their mission. I know it is because of Jacob (their previous bishop and good friend), but I have still had the blessing of having them here and am so thankful.

This afternoon, Jacob dropped Lance off at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo to begin his two-year mission. He will soon be traveling to Taiwan where he will serve the Lord and the people of that incredible country.

I've had an overly emotional day knowing that in just one year, we will be doing the same thing with our boy. Jacob asked me to say the prayer this morning before he and Lance left and I'm not sure he wasn't regretting it half way through when I was too emotional to speak.

I love this church, I love my Savior and even with the emotions it brings up, it is an absolute​ privilege to know that several, if not all, of my children will serve Him on a full-time mission. Because I know God loves His children. I know it. And if this is what He asks of us, then count me in.

Independence Day

Fireworks

So very grateful for my country, my family and my God. What a sweet day of remembering.

And what an amazing show tonight from my parents' yard.

Grand finale

A finale of sorts for my wonderful mom to celebrate her recent birthday.
My parents came to dinner and dessert tonight, with a talent show in
between. It was such a wonderful night. We laughed a lot. If I haven't
mentioned it, I'm so grateful for my amazing and good mom.
And I really loved being with my parents tonight.

And oh Gracie girl...such a shy and quite child.
I like to think she is just celebrating my mom, who she is named after.

Cute girls and rodeos

This cutest friend of Annie's invited her to go to the Oakley Rodeo with her today and
I'm so excited for Annie. And a bit jealous. I sure love me a rodeo. But just three more
weeks and we will be going to one as a family, along with my parents we invited,
so I'll just be patient a little longer. And today I'll just be thrilled for Annie girl.

I'm so thankful for my kids and their darling friends.

An exciting day

I'm not sure I can stand the cuteness. Good grief, I love this boy so much.

June phone pics

At the beginning of June, I posted this picture and message on Instagram,

Hey June, thanks for showing up. Because I was thisclose to breaking up with May.

I might like watching Matt's parkour lessons, almost as much as he loves taking them.
What would it be like to be this cool? I'll never know.

From June 10th:
It is a bit on the late side and the last of about thirty kids just left our house.

A few things I know for certain from this evening:
1. I'm old. And staying up super late makes me feel ancient.
2. Teenagers are really loud. Thirty teenagers are really, really loud.
3. Teenagers are really cool. As in I absolutely love them. A lot. As in a lot, lot. 

When you walk into the room and this is what greets you.
Your mother's heart melts into one giant puddle. 

An afternoon swimming with my fabulous in-laws and
the kids' darling cousins and aunts. It was a good day. 

Dinner tonight with two of our favorites. These kids absolutely adore their
Nana and Grandma Cammy. And I agree. They are the best and we love them so. 

Isn't Grace cooperative? And adorable?

High adventure

This is a powerful picture to me. These young men and leaders are headed out for a
few days of adventure. Beginning with a visit to the Logan temple and then on to
Bear Lake. The youth of the world are really good. I believe that with all of my heart.
I'm so privileged to know so many of them. Especially that incredible boy of ours.

Scout camp

And he's off. We will miss him, but he is about to have
six days of scout camp fun and I'm excited for him.