A Mixed Bag of Marbles

Today has been an emotional day.  We have been fasting for Trent's sister Tania today.  She had her 7th baby 10 days ago.  She had  a rare postpartum complication-a coronary artery dissection.  She has a tear in an artery and has had two "heart attacks" in the last few days.  Yesterday Trent talked to her at her request that she speak to all of her siblings before she has surgery.  She will have bypass surgery tomorrow morning.

As I was sitting in sacrament meeting today I just kept thinking and praying for her.  I couldn't help but hold my little friends a bit closer.  I was doing pretty good to hold it all together and then we sang hymn 81, Press Forward Saints for an intermediate hymn.  The ward music director stood up before this song and asked that we really feel the spirit as we sing this song with power.  Trent said he does not think he has ever heard our ward sing so well.  The spirit overwhelmed me and the tears came as I listened and read these words...

1. Press forward, Saints, with steadfast faith in Christ,
With hope’s bright flame alight in heart and mind,
With love of God and love of all mankind.

[Chorus]
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ.
Receive his name, rejoicing in his might.
Come unto God; find everlasting light.

3. Press on, enduring in the ways of Christ.
His love proclaim thru days of mortal strife.
Thus saith our God: “Ye have eternal life!”

 Everyday we have to continue to press forward through this life that is not easy to navigate.  On Sunday I also read the conference talk More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us.  You can find it here.  It is all about our trials and afflictions and it really is an amazing talk.  One quote from it reads, "We must be careful that we don't resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature."  I know that my trials are not always easy to bear and I keep praying for Tania, Nathan, Kama and Bob, for Benjamin, Samuel, Hannah, Camilla, Miriam, William and Julia because I know that their lot probably seems hard to bear right now.  I cannot imagine not being able to see or hold my new baby or hug my children.  As I went to Primary and we spoke about the temple and the eternal nature of families I was reminded of the words from I Will Follow God's Plan for Me particularly the line that reads,

I will follow God’s plan for me,
Holding fast to his word and his love.

Easier said then done right now when this family is faced with a lot.  I felt such comfort as I thought of these words and then as we sang them.  We have to believe and hope and pray and have faith in that plan that God has for us.  His love and His words will guide us as we strive to press forward.  As Elder Johnson said, "Being good is not enough.  We want to become like the Savior..."

My day had lighter moments too.  In Primary today one of our 4 year olds was cracking me up.  He made several comments but at the end of sharing time we were talking about how we can keep ourselves worthy to go to the temple.  He said, "I commit way to many sins to go to the temple!"  I asked the children what they can do if they make mistakes and they all responded with REPENT.  Conner's sweet face and seriousness today made me grateful for Heavenly Father's plan that we have Primary and we can learn together.  I feel the same as Conner somedays...I make way too many mistakes why does Heavenly Father trust me with anything.

At the end of our day Trent was going to a general Priesthood meeting.  Jack asked if he could go.  He had worn shorts and golf shirt to church but as he was getting ready to go to the meeting with Trent he came down with his tan pants, white shirt, bow tie and blazer and expressed that he needed to look really nice for this meeting.  Trent and I look at each other like who is this kid tonight?!?  We asked him if he was feeling ok?!?  He smiled his trademark smile that seriously melts my heart.  When this kid is sweet it is better than any treat.  He has such a sincerity about him.

It was a challenging fast today.  And I hope that Tania felt the prayers and strength of her family all around her.  I hope that we can all put our trust in the Lord this week.

My handsome guys.  All ready to go to the Priesthood meeting.

Summer Friends Party

Because it was such a success last year we decided to do it again....

Luc, Jack and Ruby each invited friends to our summer party.  A total of 24 kids came this year.  They swam, jumped on the tramp, played in the sandbox, had snacks, ate pizza, had popsicles and called it AWESOME!!

I seriously love having this party.  It is so much easier than doing individual kid birthday parties and they get to see their friends in the Summer especially the ones that we can't easily schedule play dates with.
Here's the group (most of them anyways)...

Jack with Chace, Charlie and Easton.  

(Charlie and Easton are part of the group that Jack's preschool teacher called the BYU Boys because they would chat about sports everyday at preschool and then play sports at recess.  There were 4 of them that were the BYU Boys...Jack, Charlie, Braiden, & Easton).

Kallie was the water girl.  We experienced technical difficulties with a tube on the waterslide right before the party was to start.  Thank heavens duck tape and prayer fixed the problem for the party!  The water was not spraying out right for the top slide so Kallie helped keep it watered down.

Afton, Paige and Ruby swinging.

Chelsee, Tess, and Lucie

Kallie showing our "fish" and "chips" for snack!  She cleverly came up with this.

Eating some lunch under the favorite pear tree.

Chelseee loved to pose for the camera.

Ruby is about done...

Another pose!

Jared is one of Jack's good friends since preschool.  Jack and Jared can pick up right where they leave off with playing even when they don't see each other very often.

Issac...this little boy is so much fun to take pictures of.

Jack & Easton

Liz

Chace on the get away trike!

Yeah, it was a FUN party! You can't really tell, but Ruby has a dyed red face.  She was being the clown of the party and rubbed popsicle all over face.  She had a great audience encouraging her all the way!

Taylor Family Campout

My dad's family does a yearly campout/reunion at Millers Flat up Fairview Canyon over the 24th of July.  As part of our Schoonie Summer Camp we went up on Friday this year and stayed through Saturday.  In all honesty I was having a hard time getting excited about camping.  I am not quite sure why??  I grew up camping and should love it, but in the past few years I have been pretty content with 1 nighters.  Our little friends were super excited to go.  They are always asking when we get to go camping.  Jack asks when we can get a truck and trailor.  I am not sure that is in the budget, but probably a tent is.  We want to expose our little friends to camping and give them an appreciation for the outdoors.

Once we were packed and on our way and especially when we reached the canyon I was really glad we were camping.  The weather was beautiful.  The sky was so blue and when we reached the top of the canyon it felt like you could reach out and touch the sky.  That night the stars were amazing.  Trent and I hung out after the movie for a bit and enjoyed looking at the big dipper and other stars.  It really made us ponder the amazingness of our world and what God has created.

I am really grateful for my parents encouraging us to come and letting Luc and Jack stay in their trailer.  Trent, Ruby and I slept in a tent and it was a bit chilly.  I could not believe how much cooler the temps were.  We had a really good time hanging out with family, playing games, the kids biked, riding the rhino, watching an outdoor movie and eating yummy food! 

Glow sticks for all the kids.  Luc jumped roped with them before they pulled them all apart.

Setting up the screen and projector to watch an outdoor movie!

All snuggled in and waiting to watch the movie.

The scenery was beautiful.  Beautiful blue sky and the stars at night were awesome.
  My dad cooking up sausage for breakfast.  My aunt makes sour dough pancakes and then my dad and uncle cooked endless bacon and sausage.

Strike a pose....

All smiles to go on a ride in grandpa's rhino.

I heart my family....

Jack was very excited to go on this bike track.

Is Grandpa OK???

Grandpa was teasing the girls. The girls stood over him trying to decide if he was ok. Then they were chatting about him.

Then Grandpa sat up and went boo! Startled all of them.

At least she is laughing about it and not crying.

Earlier in the day Grandpa cracked an egg on Jacker's head. Jack was a bit upset, but was all good when he got to crack an egg on Grandpa's head! It was a teasing day:)

Happy Birthday Schoonie!

We celebrated Trent's birthday all weekend!

Schoonie Summer Camp + Trent's Birthday = Party Weekend:)

Trent requested my dad's homemade chicken fried steak for his birthday dinner.  My dad cooked up a delicious meal!  It was one of those meals where I did not want to stop eating because it all tasted soooo yummy!

My dad in his element....

The birthday boy!

Enjoying watermelon in the gator...

Birthday treats from The Sweet Tooth Fairy...double yummy!

This little friend definitely enjoyed her chocolate cupcake...

I love celebrating birthdays. Always yummy food and a chance to spend time with family.  Not only did eat good food, but we also went swimming and took a nap!

Sunday Cookies

I always have a sweet tooth on Sunday.  Sunday mornings when I don't have church meetings my little friends and I usually bake a treat.  This week we shared them with others so we didn't have a lot at our disposal to eat.  Sometimes baking/cooking is such a comfort thing for me.

Kallie & Macie

We were so excited that Kallie and Macie could come stay with us for a few days.  The kids had so much fun playing in the sandbox, playing house, playing school, going to Summer movie, going to Seven Peaks, staying up late, having Kallie do their hair, and just getting to spend time together.

Thanks girlies for a great week!

Ruby was pretending to color Kallie's hair.  All of the kids are so good at observing Noelle do hair and then practicing it.  Ruby especially loves to get her hair done.  Most kids cry that they have to get their haircut, but Ruby cries when she can't get her haircut!