To My Special: "Guess Who?"

I recieved a really thoughful note in my mailbox today that was incredibly insightful, and I am pretty sure that I know where it came from, but for the sake of not making myself look foolish I am not going to venture the incorrect guess. So for the sake of my already borderline brain we will call you "Guess Who."
The note talked about a parable of a farmer and an old mule. The gist of the parable is that the farmer is trying to bury the mule alive in a well, and begins throwing dirt on top of the mule. The mule doesn't succumb to the sorrow that he feels from being buried alive, and instead shakes the dirt off his back and stands on it. Well the rest is history, the mule gets out of the well after shaking and shaking and shaking the dirt off its back.
"What seems like it will bury us can actually bless us based on the way the we handle the adversity." "Guess Who" Thanks for loving me and thinking of me, and for knowing the way to touch my heart. I do need to take the adversity in my life and step on it rather than be buried by it. I guess it really is true that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Pickle Makes Jamba Juice....

When Johanna got up this morning I was making pancakes, and she wanted to help. She decided that she wanted to make Jamba Juice since she knows that is her dad's favorite treat (for those of you who don't know, Jamba juice is a company that makes fresh fruit smoothies). I asked her how she was going to make Jamba juice and she told me that she needed the water on, and a cup. The result was water all over my floor, but a busy child for the next 45 minutes. When she was finished moving water back and forth from one cup to the other, she then took a drink and proclaimed "mmmmm, So Good!"

I got the biggest kick out of the fact that she wanted to make Jamba juice since her Daddy likes it so much, it was so cute! It was really good to have her being so funny this morning because I woke up feeling quite sad as I sometimes do when I think about my parent's impending divorce. I don't care what the experts say, divorce is hard on kids, no matter what age they are. It is especially hard since I didn't see it coming, or have any warning. And in the face of all the beautiful and happy things that have happened so far this year (my college graduation, Ali's high school graduation, Cole & Aly's wedding, and the birth of my Son) there is always a haze in my sky thinking about my family falling apart. But the good that is coming through the haze is that my mother is a strong smart woman, and the ties that bind family together are very strong. I do know that the pain of the divorce will pass, and our relationships will be forever different, but always as strong. I love my parents so much, and wish them the peace and happiness that they both deserve.

Random Things

Well Hello All! Nothing extraordinary has happened this week, although Biggie has begun eating solids, which he does with gusto! He really seems to like sweet potatoes, just like Pickle did when she was this age.
I did realize that feeding a baby was a lot like riding a bike, it just comes back to you. We did discover that he really doesn't care for oatmeal baby cereal, which goes hurtling out of his mouth like a rocket if you try to feed it to him. With Biggie there is no in between, that goes for everything in his life.

Pickle went swimming with Aunt Ali yesterday and has been simulating freestyle on our living room floor ever since. It is such an amazing feeling to watch your children be loved by your siblings, Pickle has amazing relationships with Ali and Cole, and has made a truly wonderful connection to my sister-in-law-to-be Alyson. It just makes a Mom feel good to know that their kids have no shortage of love and affection.

By the way, we are only 3 weeks away from Cole & Aly's wedding.......

Joe is RMFL All-Star Game MVP

Joe played in the all-star game for the Rocky Mountain Football League yesterday and made us proud! He had 6 catches, 145 yards, and 3 touchdowns (the picture above is of his 3rd touchdown)!!! (For those of you who don't know much about football, that is an incredible game...) The game was in Pocatello, Idaho so unfortunatly the only person from the family there to support Joe was Dad. But I am sure that Dad did enough cheering to make up for us not being there. After the game Joe and Pops slept over night in the camper, and then spent the day fly-fishing on the Portnuef river, what a way to end the season.

Joe was the all-star game MVP and also got the Scoring Champion award for the season! We are so proud of Joe and his accomplishments, and we are looking forward to the next Utah Wolverines football season!

European Vacation...

Hi Everyone!
I just got home from the most incredible experience of my life. My sister and I both graduated from school this year (her from high school me from college) and our parents decided that we should celebrate with a trip, so they sent us to Italy and Greece for 2 weeks with a group of people from Ali's school. We spent time in Venice, Florence, Rome, Delphi and Athens. We also had several day trips to places like Pisa and Ferrara.

It was so amazing to be able to see architecture like we saw, and be in places (like the streets of Venice) that far outdate anything that we have ever walked on. I have a huge appreciate for Catholic churches after this vacation, they are incredible in their detail and significance. It takes worship to a whole new level.
Florence was an amazing city, and probably my favorite overall. The picture above is a view of the city from a near by hill.
This picture is of the Duomo in Venice, which is one of the first main sights that we saw when after arriving to Italy. It literally took my breath away, and I think that I stood speechless for a period of time....
We had so much fun that we have decided to save for another European vacation.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this trip, I know that it really was the chance of a lifetime! I was so lucky that my awesome husband and spunky mom were able to watch over the kids while I was gone. That truly was a labor of love!