Our week at Lake Powell

Twenty people, seven days, one houseboat, two skiing boats, 8 paddle boards and kayaks,
2467 times down the boat slide, 522 wet towels and more laughing than could ever be counted.

I can't wait to share the photos we took from our trip to Lake Powell with friends.
It was pretty much the best and these people are definitely some of our favorites.

And for those who think that I've overdone it on the pictures, you would be right.
I always do. But you might also be interested to know that I took more than 3100 photos
during our week away. So paring those down to just 100 pictures from our week
on the lake is suddenly looking very reasonable. At least I keep telling myself that.

Awe

The other night, Matt and I were driving home and he asked me to take
a different route than usual so he could take pictures of the sunset.
Which he did. Along with several other super rad shots. Even the ones
I technically took, he deserves credit for, as he set it all up and let me
know how it would look best. He is seriously a photography genius.

I'm so in awe of this kid.

One year

My missionary boy. One year today.

It has been the longest year of my life, but also miraculous and incredible and
beautiful and worth every slow second. Having a front row seat to this boy and
his goodness and his desires and his testimony of his Savior has changed me as a
mother and as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for him and for the privilege
of being his mother in a way I can't describe in words. I love him something fierce.

"I have come to understand much better the fact that the Atonement is NOT LIMITED.
It does not matter how many times we have messed up or sinned or if we did it knowingly
or not or if we are missionaries or youth or adults or how long we have been in the true
church of Christ. It ALWAYS works. If we are willing to humble ourselves and have
the desire to change. As Alma says, "Let this desire work in you." And God will
also work with this desire that is within you. If you want to change, it doesn't matter
the difficulties, God will work to change you and most miraculously, forgive you.
That is the greatest miracle of this life. That Jesus Christ suffered for EVERYTHING.

I love you all and know that this is the work of the Lord. That miracles are
always given to us, but we have to have the Spirit to see them. Please know that
the Lord loves you and wants to help you with whatever you are struggling
with. He is waiting anxiously to bless you and your family. Let Him!"

Past rodeo pictures

I mentioned I was sad I didn't get any photos of my Dad last night,
but have since realized, it is actually just fine. Because I can't think of a group
of pictures I love more than these three...from our trip to the rodeo two years ago.

Our yearly tradition

One of my favorite yearly traditions is rodeo night with the kids and my sweet Dad. I'm not happy
I didn't get a picture of my cute Dad, but in my defense, I always hesitate to pester other people too
much with pictures, so sometimes I just skip on it. My kids? I think we're all aware I never skip on it.

It was patriot night last evening and I wept with gratitude for so many who sacrifice and serve
and give more than I can wrap my mind around. And when they brought out Jennie Taylor, and two
of her little girls, I just sobbed. If you don't know the story of her husband, Major Brent Taylor,
please take a minute to look it up and then say a prayer for their little family...and so many like them.

It was a fun night. Sitting with four of my favorite people, all of us in our boots, just made
me happy. Summer nights are the best. Summer nights at the rodeo are even better. 

PS. Our darling Nate looks forward to those motorbikes every single year. 

I absolutely love watching him, watching them.

My babies

In honor of our littlest chicklet starting school next month, five collages
of my little loves from birth until the age of five.

There isn't much that I love more than a collage of my babies, all together, at any age.
Pretty smart of me to have had six babes to make these collages so uniform and lovely yes?
As if. That would be the Lord. Apparently He wanted me to have lovely collages
in my life. And six chicklets that make me so grateful to be a mother, I could burst.

They are the best. Through the happy and the hard and the heartache and the hilarity,
they are why I was put on this earth. I'm so honored to be their mom.

God is awake

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience
for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished
your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.”

~ Victor Hugo

Tonight

I can't think of anything I needed more than an extended dinner with my Allen sisters.
My heart feels happier and my soul feels lighter. But man I missed the two who weren't there.

So much sweetness

This sweet little cousin babe is visiting and Gracie is absolutely obsessed.

Girls camp

Such a powerful group of girls in one photo! Their leaders have worked their heads off to
make this week at camp something incredible. It makes me feel so very grateful as a mother.

Music and fireworks

Thanks to sweet Grandma Dawn, I was able to take Matt and Annie and go to the
Pops Concert and Fireworks at Weber State tonight. We had incredible seats, right next
to the water and the orchestra and it was just amazing. Such a beautiful night for sure.

Moab in pictures