a visit from the COW boys...

In February, Eric called to say he was coming out to get some cows (yes, COWS) and wondered if he and his boys could stay at our house overnight as it would be too late for him to drive back to Vernal. It was such a lovely visit! We wish we could have enjoyed more time with them.

Tunturi C4 Cross-Trainer Elliptical - $400

We are selling our 2005 Elliptical, which still retails for $1300, for $400. "When" we used it we really enjoyed it, but we were only disciplined enough to exercise regularly at home for the first year of owning it. Then we took a 3-year hiatus until we joined a gym last year. If you're wanting to get in shape for swimsuit season, this could be a very affordable way to do it! Email me if you're interested: brettandhope@gmail.com

get a clue...

One of our favorite games to

play as a family is CLUE JR.

We don't get to do it often, as we have to wait until

busy-body Carson is preoccupied or asleep,

but it's worth the wait as we have such a fun time!

First we played "boys against girls" but then

we had fun doing kids vs. grownups.

Here, the kids are whispering their strategy to each other.

Too bad their "whispers" are loud enough for the entire room to hear!

So fun playing DETECTIVE...

always on my mind...

it's there.
no matter what.
i try to distract myself, but no matter what i am doing, a part of my brain and a huge piece of my heart is unceasingly devoted to them.
and that's when i close my eyes and try to connect with the Divine...hoping the Lord truly is aware of the prayers in our hearts. the prayers we repeat over and over and over, if not verbally then silently, even subconsciously as we do other things.
they are on my mind
and
in my heart.
in so many hearts.
and because of that i am comforted.
because He does.
He does know our hearts.
and that's what's gonna get them through it.
that's what's gonna get us all through it.

SLICE 'N DICE...

THESE ARE MY LITTLE CHEFS, HELPING ME OUT IN THE KITCHEN. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, THEY DECIDED THEY WANTED SLICED BANANAS WITH THEIR LUNCH!

FAVORITE QUOTES from April 2010 General Conference:

This Conference I prayed to receive some specific instruction and, as usual, Heavenly Father did not let me down. There were two issues on my mind as Conference weekend approached (1: questions and a desire for reassurance regarding a beloved family member's health, and 2: a need for guidance and direction in a certain aspect of my own life) and I felt my Savior's arms around me several times as I listened to the counsel and love offered from our Church leaders. I fervantly scribbled eight full pages of their words, but here are my favorites:

President Packer:

"Authority of the Priesthood comes from ordination. POWER of the Priesthood comes from faithful, obedient, honorable living."

Julie B. Beck:

"There has never been a greater need for increased faith & personal righteousness."

"Qualifying for the Lord's Spirit starts with worthiness & desire. Then add to it with temple worship."

"Insight found in the scriptures increases in time. Write & read impressions & ideas."

"Promised personal revelation comes when we: 1) ASK, 2)PREPARE, 3)GO FORWARD WITH FAITH."

"Peace, joy, & hope are available to those who MEASURE SUCCESS PROPERLY."

M. Russell Ballard:

"When you are willing to listen & learn, some of life's most meaningful lessons will come from those who have gone before."

"It is critical parents & children listen to and learn from each other."

President Eyring:

"Personal Progress requires Consistency, Effort, and Learning."

"Personal Progress helps you understand who you are, why you are here on earth, and helps you prepare for the day you enter the temple & make covenants with your Heavenly Father."

David Bednar:

"The best Family Home Evenings are not necessarily the product of pre-prepared or purchased lessons."

President Uchtdorf:

"It seems only proper that we extend to others what we so desperately want for ourselves."

Donald L. Hallstrom:

"Great joy is sometimes opposed by great pain."

"Spiritual declines can happen as an affect of how we respond to our trials."

"Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually."

Quentin L. Cook:

"We must find time to slow down, ponder, & pray if we want to feel the spirit in our lives."

President Monson:

A Hopeless Dawn

"To understand the meaning of death, we must understand the purpose of life."

"I have read, and I believe."

"The darkness of death can be dispelled by the light of revealed truth."

Revelation 21:4

Bradley D. Foster

"There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood."

"A distraction does not have to be evil to be effective."

"The end will be better than the beginning."

James B. Martino

"Each of us will face trial & tests, but it is how we react in those situations that will get us through them."

"We may never know in this life why we face the things that we do, but we can have confidence it will be for our good."

"What we can learn from the Savior's last hours on Earth:

1. He desired to accomplish the Lord's will, not his own. Trust in Heavenly Father.

2. He did not complain or murmur. Instead of asking 'Why me?', ask 'What am I to do? What can I learn from this? How can I change?'

3. Seek greater help from God. Often the answers from Heavenly Father do not remove the trial from us, but He will always strengthen us.

4. Learn to serve & think of others in the midst of your trials.

5. Forgive others & do not seek to blame our situation onto them.

6. Keep an eternal perspective."

Gregory Schwitzer

"A person can never be a good judge without the gospel in their life as a reference."

"Learn to listen to the Holy Ghost. Listening is vital in developing good judgment. Provide a quiet environment where one can listen & ponder. The peace that comes from listening to the spirit removes any fear of making a wrong choice."

and the quote that meant the very most to me, the one that was an answer to my prayers, was:

"Many blessings in life are missed

because worldly judgment was applied

to what was really a spiritual decision."

(Elder Schwitzer)

latest guilty pleasure...

I love this show on A&E, "Kirstie Alley's Big Life". Let it be known I am NOT a reality TV fan, but I have to admit how much I chuckle watching this show. It's honest, it's funny, it's real, and I so can relate to her emotional-eating issues.

such a CHORE...

Wyatt emptying the dishwasher

---------------

This is why we have children...so they can get to the point

that they eventually do all our work for us!

Thankfully I have fabulous little helpers who are

still young enough to pitch in with a SMILE (most of the time)!

Halle folding socks

H.H.H. (Triple Threat)

To celebrate sweet Heather (L.)'s birthday, Heather (H.) and I took her to lunch at the newly-opened Salt City Burgers in Bountiful on 500 S. (which, by the way, was very delish and super-reasonable prices...yummy sweet potato fries and kid-size oreo milkshake, too!). It was a wonderful escape, going out with two fun, beautiful friends, kid-free! Thanks, ladies! Looking forward to Heather (H.)'s birthday lunch in a couple weeks!

2010: Year of the Tiger

We had a fun Chinese New Year party with our dear friends, the Hodges. To prepare, the kids made a Chinese centerpiece.
Of course, we had so much fun during the dinner party that I didn't actually take any pictures. And thankfully, I continued not taking pictures at the "after party" (the part where we all got the runs from the Lo Mein...)