As Charles Dickens Said:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
That has been this week.
This is my beautiful friend Rachael.
And when I say beautiful I mean
a beautiful most people lack. She's real. She's strong. She's always there for me.
It's my turn to be there for her. She needs your prayers. She had a aneurysm and hemorrhage in her brain a few days ago. Rachael is 24. She is a wife and a mother to a darling four year old. She's fighting. She's sexy bald...not everyone can pull that off. I love her. I cherish the late nights I have been able to spend in the hospital just talking about life these past few days. I'm so grateful that we can keep helping one another on this journey.

Sleeping Beauty

Someone was the cutest butterfly in the Sleeping Beauty performance at the Covey Center for the Arts last weekend. We are so proud of her hard work and great performance! We feel so lucky to have this little girl "fluttering" around in our lives.

Ethan's Birthday Recap...

It was ALOT of boys, fun and work. In the end, there was one boy who felt really special and so it was all worth it!

This is one of our neighbors that serves more as a grandma to us than anything. Ethan just loves his MaryLou.

The awesome threesome...these boys are going to be friends for a very long time.

Making a wish...that look in my eye says everything about how much I adore this guy!

I'm grateful for a husband who embraces my insanity!

Too bad no one had a good time :)

What goes best after hots dog, chips, cake and ice cream you ask? Oh, more sugar and junk food for sure!

We had a few boys hanging around...

Another family favorite, Miss Aubrey even stopped in!

We enjoyed a movie outdoors in our sleeping bags

Played night games and hid in the tents...

I think a good time was had by all..even the big kids!

And then the birthday boy fell asleep during his own party. I think that means AWESOME!

We even got to wake up with cousins.
I want to make a special shout out to these boys who slept over and kept all the boys quiet (NOT)
in their tents...sorry neighbors, no one SLEPT at the SLEEPOVER!

Family

It seems the stars aligned this past weekend and all of Justin's siblings were able to come together for an awesome visit at Mom and Dad Hill's in Ogden! It's been nearly three years ago since that had happened! We were missing a few spouses and cousins, but it was a great time to get together!

Happy Father's Day!

You Rock, You're RAD and we're so glad we get to call you our dad!
Love you so much!

Flashback Friday

Summer 2005...

One of my last trips home to see my grandma before she "graduated".
This was the first time my boys had met her. Such joy filled the room that day.
You can see how happy she makes me, it's just written all over my face!
Oh, how I loved spending summer's at her house.
I remember waking up with the breeze blowing through the sheer curtains with the smell of the garden gliding though the cracked window mixed with the smell of fresh toast and bacon awaiting me at the table.
I miss summer at my grandmas.
I miss her soft skin and angelic smile.
Her memory is sweet.

Happy Birthday YOU!

YOU....really make me think about things, challenge me and yes it's true sometimes ultra-frustrate the heck out of me almost on purpose just because you can. I want you to know you are so worth it. I'm starting to understand the wonderful complexity that makes you tick. I want you to know that because of you, I am a better me. To the best foot-rubber in the whole universe I want to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Summerfest

Thursday's Thought.....Or Two

It's true, I've neglected my Thursday's Thought for some time now. I came across THIS today and I was just what I needed. It's got to be the thought of a lifetime! I think it's crucial for all of us to realize at some point in our lives that if we will stop being a victim and know that the power comes from within, we can overcome any situation. It reminds me of a quote that I love, one that I have to frequently resort to when I feel I've had more than I can stand:

"No pain that we suffer is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up or character, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called children of God. And it is thorough sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like God. ~Elder Orson F. Whitney

This Book Changed My Life.....

SERIOUSLY.