Happy Easter!

I woke up this Easter morning to snow.  More snow...  My first response was to be annoyed and frustrated after such a challenging winter, but then I thought of this article I wrote this one year ago at this same season of the year.  And I felt hope and peace.  It describes my sentiments today so I thought I would share it.  Happy Easter!  May the light of Christ shine into even your darkest moments!

Last night as I read scriptures with my kids, we read about the people of Nephi after the prophesying of Samuel the Lamanite, and how the faithful watched for the sign of a night with no darkness, “steadfastly… that they might know that their faith had not been vain”. (See 3 Nephi 1:8)  This has been a long, challenging winter for many of us, and I feel that many of us are currently in a similar waiting stage, anxiously looking for signs of Spring, and signs that the cold of the winter is behind us, and that the bright, warm days are finally here.  How appropriate that this season of seeking for signs of hope and Springtime precedes the Celebration of the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It also comes just before we will hear inspiring, uplifting, and hopeful words from His Apostles and our Prophet.  At this wonderful season of the year, may we recognize that Jesus Christ is the reason for the hope that we have, and may we continually look forward to His coming, and watch diligently to see the hand of God our lives, even in the challenging and dark times.  In John 8:12 Christ tells the people, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  I know that as we follow Christ’s example and look toward Him at all seasons of our lives, we will be blessed with His light, and will not walk in darkness.  May we place our hope and faith in Him at all times, and be a light to others that they may want to come to know Him too.

Lizzy's Dance Recital

 

 

 

 

Sewing Project

Several years ago I got some purple fleece from a friend that was moving. I finally started and finished this project that I've been planning to do since then. The girls love the fleece. It's so warm and comfortable. And I now now how to do a collar and a pocket.

Joseph is 7!

Joseph just turned 7! This was the first "big kid birthday party" we've done for him and it turned out great! He wanted to have a Mario party. I made him a Mario cake (it was probably the most difficult cake I've made, but actually a lot of fun too), we played "pin the mustach on Mario", had a Mario pinata, and played a few other games. Joseph had a great time. Happy Birthday, Joseph!

That's a buck!

Do you love fall leaves and the great outdoors? Love the smell of fresh air? Have you ever wanted a pet deer? Visit Ithaca. Note: Hunting not permitted. Deer are friends, not food, even if they eat your garden. :)

Summer Adventures

We are finally just about all settled into our new place. It's been a busy, but fun summer. In early June, we left our home in beautiful Ann Arbor and ventured to amazing upstate New York. We spent a week there unpacking, getting to know our new neighbors, and exploring the many waterfalls and state parks in the area. Then we got on an airplane and headed west once more to the breathtaking mountains of Utah. While in Utah, we were fortunate to see many of our family and friends. The children became experts at going to new primaries, considering that we went to six different wards in six weeks! My favorite comment was from Lizzy in a ward we went to on our way to driving to our new place in NY. During sacrament meeting she turned to me and very loudly asked, "Is this the same bread we have in our church?"
Since we've been home, Ken has hopped right back into working long days and is enjoying having his own office. The kids have been keeping me busy and we've been busy restocking our shelves, organizing, and even were able to have Ken's parents out for a visit. The kids are enjoying the many squirrels, deer, woodpeckers, and chipmunks that live all around us in our beautiful forest home. We are excited to finally have an income and are hoping to get into a house by next summer. Joseph has really improved in reading over the past few months and is really getting into long chapter books. If you ask him about it, I'm sure he'll tell you an earfull :). Lizzy has become quite the tumbler and climber lately and has found that she can make a nice little tumbling ramp out of our futon if she pulls the cushion down low. She'll start taking gymnastics next week. Maddie is still quite the sweetie, and just this week started walking! She has surprised us by pushing away dolls and babies and crawling to the balls and cars. She loves playing ball with her siblings or mom and dad. Here are a few pictures of our adventures over the past few months. The pictures include the Princess Festival, Hogel Zoo, Hill Airforce Base Museum, Lizzy's 4th Birthday party, This is the Place Monument, Waterfalls, and Palmyra. It has been a great summer!

Maddie is walking!