Games

We have been enjoying a few games as a family lately. I'm not always good at fun. Sometimes the to-do lists excite me more than fun. I find working fun! But it is good to spend time doing something with the kids that they enjoy. I have made some family history games and an still working on it. We've played Pounce, basketball, various tag games, etc. I think they feel my love when I do. Heavenly Father wants us to be close in work,learning, and fun! So Pounce here we come!

Benjamin's 17

I can't believe my Benjamin is 17. Where did the time go! I love my dear, sweet, strong, smart, fun, adventurous, spiritual son! Just one more year until his mission! I am going to miss him so much! They don't realize they are my everything! I adore my Benjamin! I'm so grateful I've been able to rub shoulders with one of the finest people ever! He is such a good example, has an understanding heart, inspires me and everyone to be better. How can I describe my dear Benjamin in words? Not happening! All I know is as he grows up and is away from home more and more my heart aches! Same with Jessica! These amazing, sweet people are my closest, dearest companions and friends. They are my world and have been for nearly 2 decades. They leave a huge hole when they are gone! I love my dear Benjamin! He will always be my little angel boy no matter how big, strong, and capable he gets! Heavenly Father knew we needed him! I'm so grateful I had the tremendous blessing of being his mom.

Hyrum's Sick

My poor, little guy, Hyrum. He has strep throat and is feeling pretty rough. He got an antibiotic shot yesterday, but it hasn't helped yet. I'm grateful for the herbs, healthy food, and oils we have to help him. I'm also grateful for modern medicine. I'm grateful for the extra time I get to spend helping Hyrum feel better. I pray this experience can bring us closer together.

Fall Gardening

Yesterday we listened to a book while we weeded in the garden. It was such a warm, gorgeous, fall day.  I love gardening! I love work! Better yet, I love working with my family! Heavenly Father is a glorious creator!

Moroni and Jeebz

These two have a special bond! Though 13 years apart they are best buddies! We read George Washington had a big, half brother who was 13 years older than him. He was the world to George.Moroni is the world to Jeebz and the reverse. Heavenly Father so blessed us with our dear friends in our family!

Bustination

We are working in the bus this evening. I love working with my family! We are trying to get it ready for travel and to live in, save money, and have adventures! Heavenly Father blesses us to live our dreams!

Blessed to be a Mother

My teenagers are so respectful, thoughtful, hard-working, self-motivated, funny, social, and absolutely wonderful. They are my dear, dear friends! The other day we had a disagreement about smart phones with one of our sons. Nothing big. He came and apologized and expressed his love and appreciation to us. He humbled himself and told of his feelings. It was such a tender experience. I'm so blessed to have these strong, diligent, humble followers of Christ in our home. They are phenomenal examples to me! I love them so very much!

Sick Tank

I got to stay home with my sick sweetheart, Tank! I love him so much. He's spiritually sensitive and encouraging. He is such a blessing in our lives.

Waking Up

It seemed a bit hard to get up this morning, so I just grabbed my phone and read my scriptures in bed. I love the word of the Lord! Now I'm awake and can easily jump out of bed. Good Morning!

Today I'm taking the kids up for a visit with my mom. That should be fun!

White Board

I'm grateful for a husband who loves to teach his family. He especially gets into it when there's a white board available.

Company Party

Last night we went to Goal Zero's party. It was fun to meet new people and talk to the people Jaremy works with and their families. I so appreciate when people take time to show interest in us. I hope I was able to pass on some encouragement and love to those around me. It's wonderful to know that Heavenly Father knows and loves each of these people; they are His dear children. I hope others feel a bit of His love for them while we visit.

Camps

Jaremy goes on lots of camps with the youth for his calling and as a volunteer Dad/Priesthood holder. He's a good sport (backpacking in the pouring rain with complaining, unfit boys) and generous with his vacation days. He is patient and encouraging with youth who aren't always fun to deal with. I'm grateful for his example of cheerful, joyful service. I pray I can do my part ( staying home and doing what I always do) with cheerfulness and joy.

New Sofa

Our neighbors gave us a new sectional sofa they didn't have room for anymore. It has lots of room for our big family to all sit. It's cozy for reading. It has three recliners built in. It has made story time, scripture time, family home evening, and cuddling so comfy and nice! I'm grateful Heavenly Father sends friends and blessings our way all the time!

Business

The kids and I are starting a business. It will involve a website, window washing, Christmas lights, blind cleaning, power washing, and gutter cleaning. We are reading a lot about business, but I'm so nervous. Starting the business is one of my Personal Progress goals. Hopefully, the kids will be able to make enough for their missions and educations. Hopefully, they will get a great education from the business as well! I'm so grateful Heavenly Father had blessed me to live in a nation that supports capitalism (for the most part). We will engage in it and defend it!

Tubing

Last weekend we went tubing and hang out with Aunt Rebecca and JD. Of course, Deborah and Robert and Joshua came too. It's fun to spend time with family. It's great to share and receive love and encouragement. I have a new philosophy in regards to extended family events. Show up, put up, and lift up! Heavenly Father have us wonderful families!

KyVan's Wedding

This weekend is my brother's wedding. It will be such a blessing to get together with family! I'm nervous too, about stupid stuff. Clothes,cars,food, schedules, and such don't matter. They are just means to an important end.

Some Things I Know

I certainly don't know the future. But I do know some certain things I need to do to prepare for it.

We need to keep spiritually strong.  Personal and family prayers and scriptures study must continue no matter what! What a blessing they are! We must visit the temple often, do family history, magnify our callings, and build the kingdom. This must intensify no matter what!

We need to become physically more healthy and strong. Eating like a rabbit, exercising like a champion, and sleeping like a log must continue no matter what!

We need to learn much more and fan the fire of learning within our children. Daily reading, trips to the library,math lessons, and soaking up vocabulary and knowledge must continue no matter what!

We need to stay emotionally strong by counting our blessing, serving others, planning, and working hard. We need to do these things with a song and a smile no matter what!

We need to improve our finances! We seem to be doing the right things,but things are getting worse! Oh, well. We can tighten our belts a nd budget better. We can keep trying to earn extra money. This must continue no matter what!

So although we may not know many things we know and can do the most important ones!

Redwoods Vacation

We had a wonderful vacation to the Redwoods last week. I love being with my sweet family and exploring a bit of the immensity of Heavenly Father's creations and meeting a few more of His children.

I'm a bit stressed now. The contract for selling our house fell through. We just bought a van with a $700 payment. That will have to be sold this week. Our finances are extremely tight! It looks and feels like failure is close. But don't worry it's just part of the excitement of life. With hard work, learning and creating new things, growing a delicious garden, and bring as frugal as possible we will succeed! There's no need to fear! If we do these things and keep the commandments the Lord will bless us to prosper in the land.

Streets of Treats

Our ward has a tradition of socializing in the summer by wandering a certain area of the ward where the people who live there set out treats. We munch and visit. It's fun, especially for the kids. It's good to get to know our ward family better. I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed us with a ward family.

The Basics

I'm so grateful when life seems overwhelming or little ones seem to need tons of attention I can go back to the basics. If I can have a personal devotional, exercise, groom myself, clean the house, serve meals, and, read to the kids everyday I'm doing great. Six things, not bad! Everything after that is icing on the cake. With little ones needing nursing,cuddling,following, training, changing, and playing the day can be eaten up fast. I need to stop feeling guilty about my to-do list and just enjoy the moment. That's hard to do when financial pressures loom on the horizon. We will make it! I just need to focus on teaching and training and loving these little guys. Hasn't this been the same story for the last 18 years? You think I would have mastered it by now! But if anything it seems harder now to go slow. Slow is fast with people and children especially. Heavenly Father knows this lesson takes lots of practice and faith! I'm so grateful He has patience with me and keeps reminding me of what is most important. He will take care of less important things I can't get to.

Morning Devotional

Heavenly Father has blessed us with a peaceful,private yard. I love having my morning devotional out here.

Up in the Air

Life is a grand adventure! I have absolutely no idea where we are going to live in two weeks. The bus has been in the shop for 12 weeks and they haven't even started on it. So it doesn't look like our plan of living in the bus over the summer is going to pan out. The house is under contract, but we are in that hesitant stage when they could back out at anytime, so we really can't afford to go get other accommodations. We had been planning on a huge trip to Canada for almost a year, but passports haven't come yet,the bus isn't ready, and we might be moving the week after we get back. Darn it! We were so excited. In fact, being able to afford the trip helped push is to selling our house. However, we would have had to sell it soon regardless. Money is tight! With nine kids on a single income it isn't a shocker. But we are selling the house so we can make headway. Maybe we will be able to save up for some cheap, hunting land or something. Life is up in the air right now and that's okay. The Lord knows everything and He has always taken care of us with a multitude of tender mercies.

Wonderful Hot Days

Heavenly Father had blessed us with heat,shade,cold water and great company!

Fun Mom

Sometimes I'm more of a drill sergeant than a mom. I need to take time to play with and listen to my kids everyday. The to-do list isn't what life is about. My kids are my life! It's okay to soak in each moment and have fun! I'm not very good at fun, but I well develop a new trait and skill. Heavenly Father will help me because He knows it is important for me to be close to my sweet children. I'm glad He is close to us!

Grand Canyon

My parents are taking Benjamin and Moroni to hike the Grand Canyon. They will be going with my aunts and uncles as well. It's going to be an 18 mile hike down to the bottom and back. Insane!!! It will be a once in a lifetime experience with some of the neatest people in the world! I'm so excited they can go! Heavenly Father blesses us with amazing experiences and amazing people throughout our lives! I pray they can all make it in safety.

Safety and Health

Our little Jeebz is an explorer.  He loves stairs, but falls down them.  Today he disappeared and I found him half way up our very steep, old, wooden stairs.  He is constantly putting everything in his mouth.  We have to watch him every second.  The Lord has blessed him to with safety and health.  Life is truly a miracle.  I'm grateful for all the guardian angels I have on both sides of the veil helping keep my sweet little ones safe.

Making Up

Yesterday morning Jaremy and I got into a doozy.  I hate to admit it, but it was 99% my fault.  The Lord softened my heart after prayer.  We met and went out to lunch and talked it through.  The stupid thing we fought about is of no consequence.  It never is.  I love Jaremy so much.  He puts up with so many of my hair-brained ideas and ways.  I'm so grateful for his forgiveness and that we can make up.  It feels so good to make things right and be close again.  I'm grateful the Lord helps us as we stumble around trying to maintain a beautiful, eternal family.  I'm grateful for repentance and forgiveness.  I'm grateful for the sweet love he has blessed us with.

Book of Mormon

And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

I get hope from this scripture. If we just help or faith to grow Christ will take care of the rest. We must do our part. It is not even close to enough, but we don't need to get discouraged. The Lord will make up the difference. I am so grateful for this.

Monthly Cleaning

Every second Thursday we take the day off of school and do some deep cleaning.  The kids are so great to help out.  They scrub and organize and sing along the way.  Today they are scrubbing the kitchen and playing that they are opening a restaurant this evening.  They are planning on serving homemade pizza! Yum!  I'm glad they have each other and get along so well together.

Jessica and I are eating raw vegan for six months.  Well, about 90% raw vegan.  It's fun, but there are times it's really difficult.  I need to lose about 20 pounds and get buff.  I know I can do it, but it's hard to push myself out of my comfort zone.  I need to push harder in my workouts and in my eating habits.  It's okay to be a bit hungry.  It's okay to breath really hard.  It's okay to do something besides eating to relax.  It's difficult, but I can do it!  I am doing it!  So much depends on me keeping myself healthy, attractive, and strong!  I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with an amazing body to care for.

Priceless Motherhood

Lately, Heavenly Father has been reminding me how important and wonderful motherhood is.  I'm grateful I can read talks from the prophets that tell me how Heavenly Father feels about motherhood.  There is nothing more important that I could be doing.  I can do it marvelously well because He will help me.  This is where I need to be.  This is where I can do the most good.  This is where I love to be.

These precious little ones are amazing.  I wish we could have cameras all over the house documenting all the cute things they say, all the sweet moments, and even the rotten moments.  I sometimes get frustrated with my tiny, dull journal entries.  I just don't have time to catch it all or project it well.  However, a bit of my feelings or events are better than none.  But in a way it almost mocks all the amazing, dear moments because it is so sparse and random.  Oh, well!  Hopefully, the angels assigned to our family are getting some great videos and editing them perfectly.  I'm grateful Heavenly Father does send angels to record "the good and bad [we] say."  I hope we can say and do more good, cause more rejoicing in Heaven, and maybe more laughing.

Foreordained

I was foreordained before I came to earth to be a mother of many sweet children and the beautiful wife of my dear husband.  I'm grateful I've been reminded of this.  It is not too hard.  I can do this job beautifully for I was designed, tutored, mentored, and trained for ages to do this job gloriously.

The constancy of motherhood enables our true selves to be exposed and molded most rapidly.  I'm grateful I have one opportunity on top of another to mold patience, love, kindness, and gentleness into the deep fibers of my soul.  Heavenly Father has placed me in a perfect workshop for building character.  And as I form my character I also form the generations to come.  I'm grateful for this trust.  I'm so grateful for the aid and comfort He gives me along the way.

Answers to Prayers

On Monday I was struggling with thoughts of failure.  I felt like what I was doing wasn't making a difference.  Maybe it's a combination of postpartum blues and midlife crisis.  I don't know.  I kept feeling like I should be further along in my character development by now.  For the first time in my life I started to doubt my worth to God.  I felt like a total disappointment to Him.  Because where much is given much is expected.  I prayed for some help, because I know these feelings don't come from God.  I wished I could have an angel come and tell me exactly how I should be feeling and how God felt about me.

During Family Home Evening Natalie gave an excellent lesson on faith.  Then she asked Jaremy to bear His testimony of Christ.  I haven't talked to Jaremy about my feelings, but it was like what He was saying was an answer to exactly what I'd been praying about.  I wish I could have had a voice recorder right then.  But at least I remember Heavenly Father was answering my prayer;  He had heard it.

Yesterday I took the kids on a ride on some dirt roads in the mountains.  It has been an extremely mild winter, so I was happy to take advantage of the dry roads.  We were enjoying the cedar trees and mountainside while we listened to a book about the pilgrims.  Then as we went down a huge hill it became extremely muddy and slippery.  I barely got down the hill without sliding off the road and rolling down the hillside.  We didn't get stuck because gravity pulled us down the hill.  When we got to the bottom there was another steep hill on the other side covered in deep mud.  We were trapped.  I had no idea what to do.  I was afraid we would have to be towed out of there...in the spring.  I was afraid if I tried to go either way I would slid off the road and roll down the ravine.  At the very least I figured we would get stuck in the ruts of deep, slimy mud.

Right then I told the scared kids I had no idea what to do.  I had been silly coming on this drive and getting us into this mess.  I said we needed to pray because I really didn't know what we should do.  I prayed.  I asked if we should go forward.  Didn't feel terrific about that.  Yes, a stupor of thought.  Same with turning around and going back up the hill we had come down on.  Again, I didn't feel good about it.  I wasn't sure I was getting an answer.  I felt like an idiot for getting us into this predicament.  I thought well I guess I'll just go forward. But as I started it looked terrible and I felt bad about it.  Then Heavenly Father gave me an idea.  Back up the hill the way we had come.  I thought backing up would be even more difficult, so I knew the idea hadn't come from me.  So that's what I did.  It worked.  I had better traction and control.  As I started to back up, self-doubt crowded in, I ask myself, "Now do I turn left to go right or is it the opposite."  Again I felt an answer.  I didn't hear words, but I felt, "Don't over analyze this.  You know how to do this without thinking about it.  Just trust yourself."  Then a picture of myself as a child in our tiny pickup truck in Honeyville popped into my mind.  My dad had me practice backing up along a road in our field for hours (well it seemed like hours).  So I just turned on auto-pilot.

The hill was at least a quarter of a mile long.  But I was again given the idea, just take it one bit at a time.  That's what we did.  Yes, we still slid and got stuck a few times.  The kids screamed in the back of the van when they feared we were sliding over the edge.  But we made it a bit at a time.  We backed up, got stuck, wiggled our way forward and backward, got out, then back up again. At first it didn't seem like we were going anywhere, but we kept at it.  Finally, we made it to the top of the hill where we could turn around on dry ground.

Heavenly Father has taught me a lot while I've thought about this experience.  In life we are going to get stuck.  Sometimes it's our own fault, sometimes it's just life.  Either way Heavenly Father can and will help us if we turn to Him.  I also feel Heavenly Father was answering my prayers about my feelings earlier in the week.  I need to have more confidence in myself as I try in my backward way to follow His teachings and promptings.  I don't need to over analyze.  I can just act in love, follow my gut, and keep trying to improve and build the Kingdom.  Most of the time it doesn't seem like we are making progress, but that's okay, just focus on the moment.  If I make progress in that moment, no matter how small (smiling instead of frowning, hugging instead of spanking, singing instead of yelling, blessing others instead of whining, helping a child with school instead of watching the news, etc.) eventually I'll get to the top of the hill.  I will slip and slid a bit.  That's just part of the fun!  I don't need to worry; Heavenly Father is helping me.  I need to have confidence that I am a precious daughter of God, with great potential, and with great accomplishments already under my belt.  I just need to be humble, hopeful, and faithful.  Then with the Lord I can get through any situation big or small.

Mom & Dad's Visit

My parents are learning to paramotor.  Exciting!  Their lessons are around here so they stop by afterwards.  It's fun to visit with them!  I love my daring, amazing parents.  They have always tackled learning, projects, and life with a can-do attitude!  I'm grateful Heavenly Father blessed me with such wonderful parents!

Bathroom Remodel

Yesterday the kids had the day off school.  We spent the whole day building a wall in the bathroom, sheetrocking it, plastering, and problem solving.  It was wonderful to see the kids work together and figure things out together.  They learned a lot and developed their creativity and team working skills.  They also worked harder than a usual day.  I thought we need a lot more days like this.  We need to experience real problems and challenges and fix them regularly.  Book learning is wonderful, but working in the real world is also critical.  Developing patience with each other and a good work ethic is essential as well. In some ways I feel we've become a little soft.  So I'm going to make sure days like this happen more often.  I'm grateful Heavenly Father gave us each other.  I'm grateful I know we can be together forever.  My heart would break if this wasn't the case.

Personal Progress with Natalie

Natalie just turned twelve.  She is determined to earn her Personal Progress in one year.  She is amazing!  She already has developed so many of the qualities of a righteous woman.  She is anxiously engaged in a good cause.  She can do so much in a day, a lot like my mom.  She has tremendous energy and focus.  Yet along the way she thinks about others and instinctively helps them.  Natalie is always happy; her smile is contagious.  She has such a loving, fun personality.  She is a planner, an organizer.  There is nothing she can't do.  And she does it all with a baby on her hip and a smile on her face.  I watch her everyday and pray I can be more like her.  Natalie, I love you so much!  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father let you be my daughter; you are a beautiful blessing!!!

Natalie has also encouraged me to earn my Personal Progress along with her.  That's going to be a challenge, because she is hard to keep up with.  Right now we are working on having the faith to say our prayers, morning and night.  As I've taken a bit more time to communicate with Heavenly Father I've felt His Spirit and encouragement more.  Prayer is such a blessing!

Bus

Did I ever mention we bought a bus!?  We are so excited!!!  We set a goal in 2014 as a family to buy a bus and convert it to an RV.  We didn't make it in 2014, but we did it in 2015.  The Lord helped us so much!  We accomplished a pretty hard goal for our family.  It took a ton of waiting and discipline.  We also ended the year out of debt and with a year's supply of basic food.  It feels so good to follow the prophet.  The Lord helped us do this; He answered our earnest prayers.  

We are excited to travel in the bus, but even if it just sat in the driveway it is worth it.  This because in case of an earthquake our house (made of brick and stone in the 1870s) will probably not stay upright.  So we can at least have shelter in the bus.  It also will make a great guest room.  We are so blessed!

Here are some of our goals for the bus:

• Strengthen Our Family
• Make fun, amazing memories
• Improve love and patience
• Become hardy, prepared, and more adventurous
• Appreciate the great outdoors more
• Strengthen our physical bodies through exploration & events
• Grow a family culture of unity that will make us inseparable forever
• Invite the Spirit into our family by doing the following
• Strengthen Our Extended Family
• Visit and serve our close family more easily
• Visit and serve our distant family
• Attend big family reunions
• Organize and hold big family reunions
• Get family histories from relatives
• Digitize and share family histories
• Take trips with extended family
• Do More Family History and Temple Work
• Work at many different temples
• Visit family history sites & get pictures
• Index and fill in trees along the way
• Share the Gospel with More People
• Meet lots for people & share gospel
• Have a family blog sharing our adventures
• Display on the bus some of what makes us happy
• Serve, visit, and love many, many people
• Enhance Our Education
• Explore our nation’s history
• Appreciate our pioneer history
• Increase our understanding of different cultures, places, science, geography, geology, language, etc.
• Attend southern homeschool conference
• Meet experts
• Go WWOOFing
• Learn how to create & share an incredible website
• Learn skills to earn plenty of money on the road

Fresh Bread

Ella (8) is teaching Tank (6) to make bread this week.  They do an amazing job!  I don't even enter the kitchen.  Ella makes beautiful bread and has since she was six.  All the kids older than her also make delicious bread completely on their own from memory.  Tank is learning fast.  It sure helps to have the kids serve the family in this way.  We have to make a batch at least once a day.  Yesterday we made two, eight loaves.  Seven loaves were gone before 24 hours were up.  A big family eats a ton!  It's fun to try to keep up!  I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed us with enough to eat and the joy of fresh bread!

Health Habits

Learning to rule over this mortal body is a huge challenge.  It's fun too!  I feel myself getting stronger since Jeebz being born.  I've had to really work at it!  Weight is hard to burn off, but I'm slowly gaining control.  I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed my efforts and gives me hope.  Because sometimes it could be discouraging. I've set eating seven habits that I want to master.  Plus, my workouts are planned and going great.  I'm building muscle -- ouch!

1. I eat at least two servings of raw vegetables before I eat anything else at each meal.
2. I am totally raw on Wednesdays.  
3. I don’t snack between meals.
4. I fast for 24 hours every Sunday.
5. I eat only sunshine for breakfast.  I eat between 600-700 kcalories for lunch and dinner.  (If I find I’m losing weight when I don’t want to I increase this a bit.)
6. I don’t consume sugar, white flour, chocolate (not because a little is bad, but because I quickly become addicted), artificial sweetener, coffee, tea, or carbonation.
7. I am vegetarian, except during the winter when I eat a bit of meat.

Presidents of the Church

I've been so blessed to read the Church's curriculum, "Teachings of the Presidents of the Church."  They have lifted and taught me over the years.  This year we are studying the life and words of Ezra Taft Benson.  Just reading about his life has been inspirational.

I am really struggling with being a mom.  It is truly the hardest job.  Okay, what other job do I know!  I lose my hope and patience and charity when I'm disobeyed.  When the kids fight like crazy I'm faced with the same feelings of failure.  I have to remember who they really are: valiant followers of Christ.  I have to help them remember that in kind, sweet, patient, encouraging way.  I have to not just subdue feelings of anger, but annihilate them.  I pray Heavenly Father will forgive me for my impatience and help me raise these young folks.  I pray they will not fail because of me.  But that they will succeed gloriously in spite of me. I pray we can have loving relationships.  Right now I feel like these desires are near impossible.  But I just need to be meek and lowly, teach with kindness (even when they make one bad choice after another), and pray like crazy!

Let's be clear.  I have great kids.  But some of them do not seem to have any desire to learn exact obedience or love for each other.  I understand them messing up sometimes, but I'd like to feel that they at least thought it was important to try.  I don't have a close relationship with some of my children right now.  That makes all the difference.  They don't care to obey me, because I haven't paid the price for their friendship.  I will try harder to swallow my anger and pride and earn their love.  For starters, I'm going to go up and talk to the ones that have been sent to their beds.  I will keep a prayer in my heart.  Wish me luck!

Saturday Morning

The house is quiet.  Just the heater running.  I've read my scriptures, said my prayers, studied a phrase in Chinese, and watched a YouTube video on how to drive the bus.

Jaremy is at Lowe's buying things to help the heater run better.  It has been very cold.  I'm so grateful he knows how to fix things around the house.  He also fixes the cars.  It is such a secure feeling knowing that Jaremy knows and can do so much.  Jaremy has been blessed with many skills, talents, interests, and qualities.  He is detail-oriented, but also sees the big picture.  He figures things out very quickly and fully.  He problem solves, designs, and invents like nobody's business.  He's amazing!

After Jaremy gets back we are going to the recreation center to workout.  Today is Saturday, so my schedule says I need to bike for 30 minutes, work my abs for 10 minutes, and my lower body for 10 minutes.  I love getting a chance to release some energy.  Yesterday I walked for 2 hours and 15 minutes.  I had Jeebz on my back for an hour of that with Adelynn and Ella at my side.  We are training to earn the hiking and backpacking merit badges this summer as a family.  It will be a huge challenge and tons of fun!!!  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father lets us bond as a family, set goals together, and enjoy one another's company along the journey!