Happy Father's Day

“What makes you a man isn’t the ability to conceive a child; it’s having the courage to raise one." 
-Barack Obama

Here's a small tribute to my dad who is out traveling today. I love you Daddy.


Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads in the world. xoxo

Pictures of Grandad

I thought that I would share a few pictures for friends and family members who live far away.

with his four daughters

I am grateful that he single-handily brought all four of his daughters legally to this country so all of us could have a better life.

walking my Aunt Gina down the aisle

He was a private person who very much loved his family.

Several times events were family only.

picking my mom up at the Oakland Airport
Doesn't she look so cute? 

at my parents' rehearsal dinner
This picture made me laugh, just look at my dad.

One of the last pictures taken of him in his old Cadillac.

He loved driving.

My recent thoughts is that you can't take anything with you but sweet memories.

Things will grow old and get thrown out eventually.

But moments together will always be remembered in our hearts forever.

Graduation Pictures

My in-laws took some great pictures of graduation.

Later when I have a moment to breathe, I promise to catch up and share all the special details.

For now, I'm currently up late packing for our move to Arizona.

The movers are coming in just a few hours.

I can't believe that it's finally happening.

What's even crazier is that we'll be going from 30 degree Utah weather to 90 degree Arizona weather!

It might just be a shock for the first few days! 

I'm sad to be leaving my family and amazing friends.

However, it will definitely be an adventure with my wonderful husband.

I'm still in awe that I made it to graduation!

It took me long enough, with a 2 1/2 year break.

Some of that time was used to work in order to go Brazil, then most of it was used being in Brazil 

and then I took a semester off because of the miscarriage. 

Still, me graduate college?

Never thought it would happen.

But it did.

Believe you can and you're halfway there.

~Theodore Roosevelt

Embrace the Camera Day-Katelyn's birthday

I can't believe that our Sunshine Girl turned six!

She's so grown up.

Last night for her birthday,

the family gathered to watch her soccer game.

She was thrilled.

With Nana

With Uncle J

Then we went to dinner

where she was able to open up

her princess dresses from

Kevin and me.

They're from the Little Dress Up Shop.
Believe me, she loves it and they'll last her until she grows out of them!

It was sweet.

Kevin and Katelyn when she was four.

Happy Birthday Sweet Katelyn!

What a Lovely Easter!

Auntie E worked extra hard this year to make Easter just right.

You see L and B are moving to Phoenix here soon

{thank goodness we'll have a friend close by}

and so it was extra special.

Luckily, it did not rain on our party!

Auntie E joked that next year we'll all have to celebrate Easter in Arizona because

then we wouldn't have to worry if it was going to snow.

There were wonderful decorations in every nook and cranny. Such a delight!

For the best part, the hunt of the eggs.
Some of the eggs contained gold dollar coins, what a treat!

Pretty sneaky, if you ask me.

Little B came and told Auntie B that a gold coin had gone missing.
She then smiled and told him that a Leprechaun came and took it!
She then turned and said to Kevin and I that is what she should have
told the people at the bank that she is Leprechaun when she asked for all of the gold coins.
Love it.

Dinner was an amazing pot luck with several dishes.
But of course, the best part is having everyone there!

While this isn't the best picture, it's how I want to remember our dinners. Everyone sitting around, talking, having a wonderful time. I'll miss it, more that I realize.

Now for the best part!
The treats!

Chocolate Birds Nest

Bunny Roll
I almost didn't get a picture because they were so good!
By the time I remembered this was the last one!

To make the bunny rolls, it's pretty simple.
Take some frozen Rhodes Rolls.
Follow the directions on how to defrost.
To take a bunny roll your need two rolls.
Take one and cut in half.
Stick as ears to the other roll.
Bake according to the directions.

Then take a frosting tip to make ears, eyes and nose.
Put in plain M&Ms for eyes and ears.

Such a yummy treat!

On a side note, I missed these while I was in Brazil.
I'm making them next year for sure!!!

Hope your Easter was lovely!

We LOVE Landon!

Today is a big day for our nephew Landon.

He is going to be baptized by his dad.

We're so sorry that we couldn't be there (finals, sigh).
But know that we love you Landon!

We prepared a special package for his big day.
It included a couple of little things.

A fun coloring book, written by my neighbor
Lene Beckstead.

 Along with a book entitled, White Shirts.
As little girls have steps with white dresses, little boys have the same with white shirts.

Landon we can't believe that you're already eight!
Hope your day is one that you'll remember.

"To be baptized as Jesus was by one who holds the priesthood true and thus obey God's holy laws, is just the thing I want to do."
~Children's Songbook pg. 104
I like my Birthdays

The Simple Things-Ellie's Birthday

I love celebrating birthdays.

Especially when it's for one of our nieces or nephews!

It's so cute to watch their innocence

and excitement of turning one year older!

Ellie turned two.

I just caught pictures a few on my camera phone.

But oh so sweet.

While we were singing to her, she sang happy birthday too.
It was adorable!

The cousins are thinking the same thing, "Let's eat cake!"

I'm going to miss every single one of my nieces and nephews.

The sad part of moving so far away.

But hopefully, they'll visit sometime.

Happy happy birthday Ellie Dear!

If I had wish then it would be a happy, happy birthday to you from me!

Joyful Moments-One year

{don't forget it's the last day to enter our giveaway here, I'll be announcing a winner tomorrow}

It's been one year and today, I'm taking in as much JOY as I possibly can. 

These people bring me JOY:

First, my man who stands next to me. No matter what.

My sweet mom who loves me for who I am.

My amazing dad who taught me self worth and to stand up for who I am.

May 2009

My brothers who are my best friends.

Fall 2009

My wonderful sister-in-law Jen who gave advice, love and patience through it all.

Jen and Nate Summer 2010

These people bring me so much JOY and I don't know what I would do without them.
To us, family means putting 
your arms around each 
other and being there.  
~Barbara Bush

If you'd like you can read a few posts that helped me by writing my feelings- here, here, and here.

Please join us in the continuing journey of finding JOY!

I will blog about my Joyful Moment every Friday, 

where you'll be able to link up your blog as well, 

until the following Monday. 

Here's the details for you to join in the photo challenge:

1. take a picture that brings you JOY

2. blog about that Joyful Moment, include our button{on the right} or simply link back to this blog

3. link your blog post up below

4. visit the other Joyful Bloggers and leave happy comments

5. enJOY!

Valentines Love

My inspiration was from Swoon.

I changed it up a teeny bit because we gave them to both sets of parents.

But for Kevin's card, it's almost the same but the inside has a personal touch.

On the right in red, is a LONG list of all the presents that Kevin gave me over the weekend and me thanking him.
He spoiled me way too much!

One of my favorites gifts {besides CS5} is a subscription to Pretty Little Lovelies Club!
It'll be a treat to receive a surprise in the mail from lovely April every month.
I'm really glad that Kevin picked this off my list of wishes. So sweet!
{and a great deal, you should really join just because you deserve it.}

Sunday, was a fun family Valentines dinner.
The favorite had to be the dessert {of course}.

Kevin's mom made jello hearts.

My sweet nephew loving his jello heart. 

A man is not where he lives, 
but where he loves.  
~Latin Proverb

Kevin's World - The Facts

Last week, I wrote about my family studies class and what I was learning from it.  Recently, Lisa and I have also started reading together a book entitled Strengthening Our Families written by professors from the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and edited by David C. Dollahite.  It is full of valuable insights into family life.  Because of my sudden exposure to family studies from multiple angles, I am going to dedicate this space to writing about families.  I can't tell you for how long, but I will keep on the topic until I run out of things to write about.

{source}

One of our recent readings from Strengthening Our Families included some statistics about chastity and marital fidelity that are not often cited.  It references studies that show the benefits of marriage on physical and mental health, economic status, and sexuality.  Indeed, for those who look, the evidence of the good that marriage does for individuals is abundant.  The joy that is brought about by marital and family life brightens the day of millions of people from all walks of life.  However, the truths of marriage are not frequently brought up.  Whether through simple neglect or something more sinister, many elements of society portray marriage as something that is at best unnecessary and at worst damaging.  How can that be reconciled with the unstated good that it does every day?

Once we look beyond the sophistry of demagogues to see the facts that lie beneath, we become much more capable of finding the joy that lies in reality.  All the smoke and mirrors that are placed before us may tantalize the senses and keep our rapt attention for a short time, but at the end of the day, only that which is real can bring us real happiness.  In all areas of life, once we find the truth, we are free to pursue it.  As we search for joy, may we look where the sun shines, exposes the lies and imitations for what they are, and may we bask in the glow of that which we know makes us happy.  Because when all's said and done, no one knows what makes us happy quite like we do.

And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free.

- John 8:32

New Years Fun

Dear Joyful Friends,

We're headed out the door to go skiing today! Wish us luck that we won't fall too much. 

I haven't been skiing in years which will add to the adventure.

In the meantime, I'd like to share some pictures from New Years that I just simply didn't have time to post or forgot about until I started cleaning out some of my folders.

The day started out by happy baby Carson greeting us.

Followed by a few of our nieces and nephews with lots of food.

Kevin being the wonderful husband that he is, cutting up brocoli for a veggie tray.

However, the celery accidentally was left in the car overnight and froze. It was that cold outside.

Kevin playing Wii with nieces and nephews.

Don't forget smiling Carson with his New Year's hat sitting with his mom, Cheryl.

We love family parties and are going to miss them once we move to Arizona.

I guess we don't know how much we'll miss them until we move down there. 

But in the meantime, we'll keep partying all that we can.

"So much of what we concentrate on in mortality-power, prominence, property, prestige-are things that we don't have any evidence will make any difference in the next life. But family will!
~Dallin H. Oaks