Lately...

I recognize it has been a while since I last posted. I did not mean to keep a sad post up for so long. Anyways we have been doing a lot of fun Summer stuff. So here is a little for you all...
We have been camping.
One of the nights we were camping it was a Tongan wards' Fathers and Sons outing. We happened to be camping in the same camp ground as them. They were roasting a pig and let the boys help turn it a couple times. Dave even ate some with them, but not me, I was sound asleep. (He thought he had the swine flu afterwards, but I told him you don't get it from pigs)We have been to the Trafalga a little family fun center a few times, which included Bumper Cars, Mini Golf, Dippin' Dots, and lots of fun Arcade Games.

We went to St. G for Mothers Day weekend, had a swimming party at Uncle Ed and Cheryls' home...

Then we had dinner at my moms with the whole fam damily...This is in the evening playing fun games and chatting about EVERYTHING...

Oh and last night Dave and I took this lovely picture that I wanted to share.
I love him!

Life!

Lately I have been feeling like I am living someone else's life. I have felt a little out of place to say the least. I feel like I am Living a Dream. The things I am doing right now are part of my life dream, they simply are not happening on my time table. The Lord's "timetable" is often different from our own.

This past weekend we went camping. Last weekend we were in St. G. It has been a blast! I'll post some pictures later. As I have said before Dave is the cameraman now that my camera died, so as soon as he uploads the pictures I'll post some.

My mom got me this for Mothers Day.

This is what it is...

I know it is blurry so this is what it says, Father and Daughter "Celebrating the bond of love between fathers and daughters".
This last week was my dad's birthday. I don't know why, but I bawled. I just wanted to be able to call him and say "hi" and ask how his day was? My dad has been gone physically for almost 9 years now. I say physically because I know he is here with me in some form that doesn't allow me to see him. It is kinda strange how when someone close to us dies we never know when we're going to have a sad moment and just miss them like crazy!
On my dad's birthday I just wanted him to be here so I could see him and hear his voice and give him a hug. I know that he is with me more now than he could have been if he were alive, but it is not always easy. I am grateful I have learned from this experience because I have empathy for others and can "morn with those that morn" better, and "comfort those who stand in need of comfort" better, but that does not always make it easy.
I love life and I love learning. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who does not let us do it alone.

So Can You!

This morning in my scripture study I had a thought I wanted to share. (I started reading the New Testament this year because I want to get to know Jesus Christ better.) I have noticed a lot of people around me struggling, as well as myself, ALL wanting to understand the struggle better...

St John chapters 15 and 16 are what I read this morning (read them if you want), but look at this CH 15 Verse 2; Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
What is purgeth? In the reference below the scriptures, in the LDS reference section of the King James bible, it says purgeth- purifies. To test, try or prove.

So is that what the struggle is all about? To test us, to try us, to purify us so that we will bring forth more "good" fruit? I think so. I look at all of the GOOD fruit that has come from my cousin Brittany's experience (click to read) with the death of her baby and all of the GOOD that has come from the NieNie dialogues (click to read). That is "Good Fruit" and God seems to be using them as a way to spread forth good fruit. May I say to those struggling, He allows it because He loves YOU. God knows you can do it!

In John 16 verse 32, Christ is speaking, he says, Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
May I suggest that YOU are not alone because the Father is with You! He is with us all, loving us and strengthening us to keep on going!

In a couple verses in John 15 Christ calls us His friends. This is comforting to know because as long as we keep the commandments we are His friends. If I have a friend in Him I believe I can do all things. So Can You!

First week...

Well I just finished my first week (30 hours) of work as a graduate intern and these are my thoughts...

(Just so you know, I am working with troubled youth)
As people we need to be secure with who we are. I watch these teens struggling to be liked, struggling with attachment, struggling with depression, struggling with choices and one of the biggest things I see they need is a little love a little self-esteem.

Why can't we all just be happy with who we are, happy with who others are... "you be you and I'll be me and if by chance we find each other it will be beautiful!" (I heard that from a friend, I think it is a hippie saying or something). Anyways it is true. I think if these kids could see themselves from God's eyes they would be a LOT better. We all would, if we could see what God sees. We would treat ourselves better and we would treat other people better. I think that if there was a way to help them see this it may just solve most of our problems. I guess its like the commandments, love God and Love your neighbor-as you love yourself!

We are supposed to First Love God and then Love our neighbor, but this takes first loving who we are, because we are supposed to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, so if we don't love who we are then how can we love our neighbor??? I pray for help to see people, especially these kids, how God sees them. It makes my eyes water when I get glimpses into the Love of our Father. I wish I could give it to them, but it seems they have to struggle for it, they have to want it and work for it.

I am grateful for this chance to make a difference and hope I will! I am grateful that my boys can be home with their Dad as I am doing the things I am "supposed" to do. Life is Good. We are blessed. I am grateful to know that God loves me. I am grateful when I am reminded how special I am because it reminds me how special others are. LOVE!!!!!

Change of subject...
Here are a few pix from what we've been up to. I had a few days off so we decided to do some fun FREE family stuff.We went to a dinosaur museum.

We went for a hike.

We did a couple puzzles.

(I liked this picture of myself so I had to share it. Love yourself, right?)
We also did a couple other things like getting ice cream and go karts and mini golf... but these are probably enough pictures for now.