Yesterday

Celebrating this tremendous boy

Exactly twelve years ago today, this incredible boy joined our family in one of the most sacred
experiences of my life. Everything is better and brighter and more happy and fun because of our
Nathan. He is athletic to a degree that I've seldom seen in someone so young, loves his Savior and
his Heavenly Father deeply, is brilliant beyond measure and as hilarious and energetic as can be.
His extraordinary heart and extreme kindness bless me on a daily basis and I just can't believe
God would allow me the beautiful privilege of being this boy's mom.

Happy Birthday my amazing Nate! You are so deeply loved.

Lake Powell ~ Beauty edition

And finally, it seems appropriate to finish my Lake Powell posting with the beauty that
took my breath away, over and over again, during our trip. God loves us. I'm positive of this
truth. And one of the ways He reminds us of that love is with the gorgeousness of nature. 

 I'm so thankful. 

For beauty, for family vacations, for fun and laughter and time together,
for those I love most in all the world..and for a God that gave them all to me. 

 Oh He's something else.

Lake Powell ~ Just for fun edition

I love these people so much. And how well they get along and adore each other (and let's be honest,
tease each other). It's just the greatest privilege of my life to know them and to love them.

Lake Powell ~ Cliff jump edition

Cliff jumping at Lake Powell, it's just the greatest. At least to watch.
But these six cliff jumpers disagreed and would rather experience it themselves.

The first cliff we stopped at was just under twenty feet. Which may not sound like much, but it definitely
is. All of these brave chicklets of mine took at least one turn leaping off. Pretty impressive I'd say.

And then afterwards, Jacob drove to something a bit higher. More than twice as high actually, as we
discovered with the help of a ski rope for measurement--a calm and easy 42 feet to be exact. About forty more
feet than I would ever like to descend from. But Matt, Ben and Nate disagreed. Pure crazy cakes I tell you.

It was a fun morning. And I have the coolest kids. Plus these photos of them I'll treasure forever. But especially
the first, eighth and twelfth ones. My six darlings, a favorite silhouette and an older brother that was so proud of
his youngest brother for what he just did, he couldn't help but smile that big--yeah, I'm a fan of all of it.

Except actually jumping off a cliff myself. No to the thanks. Plus a big old never. Squared.

Lake Powell ~ Waterski and tube edition

 And on to some waterskiing and tubing photos.

That Jacob Allen and his crazy athleticism in the first shot. Blows me away every time. Matt was
the only one that tried a little skiing, as evidenced in the third photo. The others claimed they
didn't love it. But I'm pretty convinced they just know they can't keep up with their handsome dad.

Side note: Excuse the fact that I look annoyed or yelly in my tube pic. Quite the opposite.
I love it a lot. You wouldn't know it, but that is my competitive/challenged face.