Yellow water lilies, a swimming hole, and being all in...

Scott and April told us about a neat little place 

they'd gone kayaking through lily pads. 

A few weeks ago they invited us to come check it out!

As we crested the hill, this was the sight spread out before us!

The lily pads had totally taken over the waterway 

since Scott and April were there last!

Scottie went out to see if it was possible to paddle through them. 

Nope, no going through 

so as he was turning around 

he decided to pick a yellow water lily for April. 

On the shore, we were talking and laughing 

and when we looked back out at Scottie, 

this was all we saw! 

A foot!!!

Yikes! 

Turns out yellow water lilies have super thick, 

fibrous stems which make them near impossible to pick. 

Scottie's an all in kind of a guy for sure!!! 

He reminds me of an awesome talk last General Conference...

Stand Up and Be All In

Plan B took us to April's childhood swimming hole! 

I've heard the best stories of her growing up 

on "the Ranch out to Henry". 

It was such a treat to see it first hand! 

Many years ago, BC (before children) the Mr. and I 

carried snorkel gear in our car, 

you know, 

just in case the opportunity arose. 

 ;)

We learned that from Scott and April. 

So when we got to April's old swimming hole, 

she grabbed the snorkel gear from their truck and Scottie and I were off. 

Rascal was all in for a minute but it was mighty cold 

so he turned tail and climbed back out.

We followed Scott and April in their flaming watermelon 

through pastures and fields and past this guy. 

We ended up at Blackfoot Reservoir 

where we found lots of open water. 

We sure love these two!

Thanks Scott & April for your great company 

and the super fun day!

She is glorious...

We rarely get to the movies so I don't know when we'll see this one but boy howdy do I love this cover of the song Glorious! Have you seen it yet?

I love the way he sings this song AND I love the message because I totally believe it's true. I see it in the awesome people I work with, my neighbors, my kids teachers, our friends & family, and even drivers on my commute to work.
 

I saw it in my first college roommate. I was assigned a dorm room and when I got there the girl in the room had designated the entire closet, desk, shelf, window, doorway, and "air" in the room to be hers! My mom saw the fear on my face and she mentioned a friendly brunette girl named Laurie I'd waved to in the court yard, a friend of my cousins', and said maybe I could switch and room with her? We made tracks and I mean FAST to Laurie's room. Her roommate hadn't showed up yet so Laurie, mom, and I took off for the RA's office to ask for a switch. The RA said yes we could make the change (I've wondered if mom slipped her a few bucks haha) and quick as a rabbit we had my stuff out of that first dorm room and in with Laurie. I always felt a little bad for the poor girl that ended up in that first dorm room with the "air" girl.

Laurie must have had three hearts cause she was totally full of love. She ended up marrying one of my cousins (she always thought he was so cute) and lately has been writing me about our oldest twig, Zac, on his mission. She's been so supportive and helpful, totally glorious!

My brother and sister-in-law called Monday night to let me know Laurie had passed away suddenly Saturday night. I can't stop the flood of tears...for her...for her family...for her missionary who just left on his mission less than two months ago.

If you get the chance will you please include Laurie's family in your prayers?

Thank you for being glorious.    xoxo

Super Siblings...Temple Tuesdays...Forever Families...

I have the best siblings a girl could ask for. Just one case in point. When our parents passed away 3 & 4 years ago, my siblings asked if I'd like our parents' temple ceremonial clothing for my kids. It was such a generous, thoughtful, tender gift from them.

This past June, Zac and I were getting things ready for him to receive his own endowment in the temple and when we opened Mom's & Dad's little suitcases and I was swept away in a flood of memories because the beautiful clothing inside still had Mom's & Dad's scents.

I'm grateful for temple covenants, sealing power, and personal witnesses that family relationships can continue after our time here in mortality.

Zac decided he'd like to do temple work every Tuesday before leaving on his mission to North Carolina, hence, Temple Tuesdays were hatched. We loved being in a temple every Tuesday doing work to bring families together.

Grandma and Uncle Wilson came with us that first Tuesday. Wilson drove all the way from Colorado to be there - thanks Wilson!

 Our fantastic Stake President came too - what a man.    (Sorry no picture)

One of our Temple Tuesdays occurred while we were on vacation in Oregon. The Portland Temple was very quiet on a Tuesday in the middle of the day so we had all the temple workers in the baptistry to ourselves. They were delightful and we could have stayed and swapped stories all night (quietly of course).

When Zac was in the MTC we received a message from the Buchanans, who moved away years ago but happened to be in Provo, saying they saw Zac and his Companion coming out of the Provo Temple - and so it continues.   :)


If you want to know more about temples and forever families click here.