Go Bulldogs!!! Loud and Proud!!!

This is what I look like!!!

This past Friday was my 15 year High School Reunion. I can't believe I've been out of High School for that long, or that I've been married for 13 years and have 6 kids. There weren't too many people who came to the reunion, let alone friends that I actually remember. But it was great to walk into the commons and feel the nostalgia. I enjoyed my time at Provo High. It was a great place to experience all those "first". First Kiss, first time driving, first time owning my own car, first speeding ticket(it wouldn't be my last),first job, the list could go on. Marcy(she's the one in the photo and lives in Spanish Fork as well) and I left our husbands to walk up and down the halls. Of course a lot of it was gated off, but it was cool how they had the walls splattered with enlarged photos of students from past generations.

I do not long to go back to High School. As much fun as I had, it had it's difficulties as well. But my experience at Provo High helped to shape me into the person that I am today.

I think about the experience that my own children are going to have when they go to High School. I sometimes tremble at the thought of the things that they will see, hear and do. But they were born at this time for a reason and are stronger then I am to stand up to the evils around them.

Wow, 15 years. Damn I look good!!!

For the Love

h

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I took these series of photos when my sister was here and we were at BYU for our family photos. I looked at them and thought this would be great for Father's Day. I love the pure joy that is radiated on Brent's face. Brent had just spent a week away in St.George and hadn't seen any of us. When Grace saw him she wiggled out of my arms and ran into his. Brent was just as delighted with the baby ducks as Grace was.

Just as all things in life, we get better with practice. And Brent has gotten better and better with the birth of each of our children. He practices immense patience with me during my nights with struggling infants. He doesn't miss a ballgame, soccer game, or dance recital. He wants all of his children to be successful in school and talks about college with them. He takes them to football games and golfing. He wants the best for his kids and he works hard every day of his life to provide for them.

I am grateful for Brent. He is a GREAT Dad and I don't know what I would do without him!!!

Look at this Baby!!!

Look at those ruddy cheeks?

Now he's graduated from Pre-school and ready for the big leagues!!!

I was looking through some old folders among my many many folders and came across these adorable photos of Beckham. WOW. WAS HE CUTE? Or what? Small enough to sit in the sink and all smiles. I remember what a happy happy baby he was. Such a joy and treat to be around always. People were drawn to him, and still are. He is so charming, when he wants to be. Now he's 5 and starting kindergarten in the Fall. To sound cliche one more time, where does the time go? It moves with the busy schedules, the day to day chores and tasks that "must" be done. The folder was marked as summer 2005 so Beckham must be about 16, 17 months here. Just about Graces age. All too soon she will be 5 and entering Kindergarten and then I'm going to feel really old.

Oldie, but such a Goodie

Me and Angie

Trying to geta good picture with our girls born just a day apart.

Angie with Reyn(prounounced rain)

My cute baby Grace.

Several months ago my good friend from High School/College called me up. She wanted to go to lunch before she moved her family to Mexico for 3 years. Angie was one of those friends that changed me forever. People move in and out of your life constantly. Some stay and leave a memorable print on your life, changing it for the better. Angie was one of those people. She helped me become more outgoing, confident and made me feel good about the person that I was. She helped to strengthen my weak testimony just by her example. I married first and so I was the one to leave for something new and exciting. I will always remember our time stomping the ground of UVSC, that's what it was at the time. Dressing up for Halloween. Angie, Rachel and I all dressed up as Wenches and had a blast! I also remember getting dragged to tunnel singing in the hopes of running into certain young men. There were so many other events, boating, taking rides in golf carts after hours, dances and more dances and singing at the top of our lunges to Violent Femmes!! Ahhh, the memories. They were such great times.

Now we're both "grown" up with husbands and kids and lots or responcibilities. But we can still laugh and have such a good time when we get together. Your amazing Angie!!! So glad you keep in touch!!!

How do I do that?

As I have thought more about making my home an extension of the Temple many ideas popped into my head. Which of course were some answers to my pleading prayers. I am going to list them in no particular order since they all are important to me.

Daily Scripture Study: We have always been promised that if we read our scriptures that our homes will be filled with a spirit of peace and love. I have noticed a difference in my home since doing this for about 3 months now. One thing that I've realized that has to take place as well is that everyone needs to be open and willing to invite the spirit in. Reading the scriptures helps with this.

Daily personal prayer: My Heavenly Father knows my children better then I do. They are His children placed in my care for their Earthly journey. Who better to turn to for help and guidance then Him.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness: Making sure my home is clean and in order is vital to me to keeping the spirit in my home. When you go to the Temple it isn't filled with clutter, or dust, or even full garbage cans. There are beautiful pictures of the Savior and other important moments in the Book of Mormon and Bible. There are also beautiful bouquets of flowers. When you walk in you immediately feel a spirit of peace and order because of the Interior. Keeping my home clean and orderly with 6 children is some what of a challenge, but not an excuse. My children are old enough now to do their part to keep the house clean. And since this is a priority to me, I am trying so much harder to make sure that my home is clean and orderly. Some days are better then others.

Temple Attendance: I need to spend more time in the Temple. I know that when times are rough, and even when they are not, we gain greater strength by Temple attendance. I miss going to the Temple once a month. Of course I would like to go more, but again, having 6 children and arranging babysitters is sometimes difficult. But as I write this I realize where are my priorities? I do what ever I can to make sure that I exercise my body. Going to the Temple is like exercise for my soul. It is VITAL, for me, my marriage, and my family to survive in such a world as we live in now. So what am I going to do about this? Make it a priority, drop my bucket and run!!!

None of these tasks are earth shattering. They are your simple church answers. But I really have felt for a very long time that when it comes down to it, it is the simple things that will make us strong, that will get us through the roughest of times, that will strengthen ourselves and our families. The simple things are the things that turn fence sitters into unwavering members of the church.

Memorial Day 2009

My cute kids humoring me one more time with a photo

The Wood and Huhtala kids.

Hannah

Annika, sweet thing

Isabel, constantly exploring different ways to pose!

Grace

Haylee thrilled with her triple skipped rock!

Isabel, Annika, Logan, Beckham and Aiden

Whoa, what is that? A bug?

Beckham, Aiden, and Logan
Kings of the mountain, ya right.

Haylee and Hannah, constantly posing.
I threw Grace in there for good measure.

With the kids spread out on this bridge, it really shows
how out numbered Amy and I were!!
Really, 11 to 2?

Amy with cranky pants Aiden, it was nap time.

Lovely Double H

Pouty Jaren

Haylee and Hannah being sneaky

Silly girls, this log probably weighed more then they did combined!!

Jumpin off the hill

Grace distracted by a rock

Grace distracted by a stick

Grace distrcted by bark

A quick pic of a Mom with her baby girl.

We did something a little different this year. We normally spend it with family. My parents were in South Dakota and Brent's family chose not to get together since the boys had to work. So the kids and I took the opportunity to hang out with the Huhtalas. First we ate lunch at a stop half way up Nebo loop. Which ended up being super scary. Amy chose to go to a spot which had an extremely small road. On the way up this idiot comes barreling down the road, instructs Amy to drive up the side of the hill, and I have to drive BACKWARDS so this guy can get by and continue on his way!!!! Traumatizing for me and the kids. And the guy doesn't even thank me as he passes. Sheesh, my life and the lives of my children were in danger and all you can do is give me a slight wave. Jerk. The rest of the time my kids are freaked out and talking about dying. But it lead to a very interesting conversation between my kids.

Hannah ended the conversation with: " At least when we die we'll get to know the name of Heavenly Father's wife and why we are humans and not cats or puppies." Funny!!!

Our goal was to go to Devil's kitchen. On the way up there was this itty bitty sign that said Road Closed. Being the rebels that we are we bipassed this sign and quickly found out why it was closed. The road was completely covered in SNOW!!! So we made a U-turn and took our troops to Payson Lakes. We ventured around the whole lake and drove home.

Later on the Huhtalas came over for a b-q and some American Idol Wii. It was a great time!! I love getting together with my family, but it was really nice to hang out with the Huhtala's. They are pretty much like family anyway.

It was a great and memorable day.

An Extension

Isabel

Hannah

Grace
Pointing her finger, she does this often now when exclaiming "DON'T"

The next series of photos is of Grace with her purse and blanket.
I went a little camera happy, just trying to practice my skills.

Master as picking her nose!

I have thought considerably about being the Mother that my Savior would have me be. How He would have me treat my children, and how differently I would treat them if He indeed were standing by my side. I thought, " would the Savior get as frustrated with my children as I do? Would He allow such behavior and how would he rectify the situation?" It's more then how would I treat my children if the Savior were in the room, but more how would the Savior himself treat these children?

My thoughts were then quickly turned to the Temple. The Temple is where I am closest to my Savior, it is where I can find answers to my most troubling questions. It's where I can feel is love surround me and feel that comforting spirit fill my body and soul.

How do I treat my children when I am on the Temple grounds? I treat them as if the Savior were right there, because He is. In all my thoughts and ponderings I've decided that I need to try and make my home an extension of the Temple. I understand that I will always have moments of break down and frustration, that comes with imperfection. But I can strive to do better, to be better, to treat my children more like the Savior would.

This is important to me. Especially now that summer is upon us and I will be in my children's presence A LOT!!!! Our first day of summer was not too brilliant. It was wrought with fights, petty bickering, complaints about chores, complaints about being bored, complaints about how this is going to be the worst summer ever. I have grand plans for the summer. It will just take some time and a lot of patience before we get this summer gig down. I will need my home to be an extension of the Temple is we are all going to survive.