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Let Me Push You Again

I watched a mother pushing her little preschoolers on the swing at the Alpine Park while I was waiting to get my hair cut. As I watched her from the salon window, pushing back and forth and back and forth, I realized I was getting a huge lump in my dry throat and all teary-eyed. I wondered when it was that I last pushed my little boy in the park swing. I wondered if I had done that for the last time. When did that happen?

I realized it was last Summer, when I was so happy to finally take my kids to the park and have them at an age where I could just simply lay on a blanket and soak in the warm sunshine, without being needed to catch someone at the bottom of the slide, hold up little hands as they hung on the monkey bars, or push the swing. Finally I had arrived....blissfully I enjoyed the summer...I don't think I was even required in the swimming pool last year. I could just grab drinks for everyone, save the picnic table, and read on my lawn chair.

Now, as I watched this young mother, I hungered to push my little boy again. I wanted to go to school, scoop him up in my arms, and take him to the park. Life is like an hourglass.

A Bend in the Road

Sometimes we come to life's crossroad-
And view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision,
And knows that it's only a bend.

The road will go on and get smoother,
And after we've paused for a rest-
The path that lies hidden before us
Is often the part that is best.

Have courage, have faith, and get stronger,
Let go and let God share the load-
Have faith in a brighter tomorrow,
You've just come to a bend in the road.

Family Vacation To Sunny California

Disneyland

Hob-Nobbin' with the Big Mouse and his Minnie.

Sea World

Wild Animal Park

Always the favorite....swimming in the pool.

...and some sandy-toe-time at the beach!!!

Blackberry Days

Washington D.C. Trip

Cierra and I went on a mother-daughter trip to Washington D.C. for 5 days. It was such a treat! I don't think things could have gone more smoothly or have been more enjoyable. We had a great time seeing all the sites, museums and monuments.

The pretzel stop was part of our everyday schedule.

One of the highlights of the trip was going to the Washington D.C. Temple and being able to do baptisms there with Cierra. It was so fun spending time together.

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

This is our new little kitten Saffron. Barry and the kids gave him to me for Mother's Day. Whenever I see him, the words from the Sound of Music, "...these are a few of my favorite things," comes to mind.

These are a few of my favorite things:

Spending time with my cute kids and husband
When Brayden comes to snuggle me in bed every morning (Little boys are the best!)
Chocolate "Nutty Monkey" Milkshakes
Sitting in the Sunshine
Lunch with Friends
Roxberry "Blueberry Blues" smoothies
Warm bean bags on my feet
When Barry brushes my hair while he's watching a football game on T.V.
Oobee Blankets
Putting on my pajamas after church
Wearing my ankle braclets to yoga and painting my toenails to match my yoga mat as soon as summer starts

We also picked out this little orange kitten for my mom, but the white one is "Saffy."

MaLeah is my kitten loving friend!

How has the hand of the Lord touched my life or the life of a loved one today?

I keep thinking about a conference talk I heard years ago by President Eyring. He spoke about how, every night before bed, for years, no mater how tired he was, he would take a few minutes to write down his response to the question, “How have I seen the hand of the Lord reaching out to touch my life or the life of a loved one today?” In the busy moments of the day, I regret that too often, I overlook the tender hand of the Lord.

UpLiFT

Surround yourself with people that uplift you...
Uplift the people you are surrounded by.

Enjoy-Create-Uplift

CReATe

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. The bonds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. See how many smiles you can create, identify a space and beautify it. As you do, you will not only improve the world around you but also the world within you."

Enjoy-Create