This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. I love the 4th of July parade, patriotic music, the hallowed words of our founding documents, and the inspiring lives of those who were raised up to create this system of government that has blessed the whole world.
A friend posted this video on facebook, and I want to share it here.
I hope you enjoy it and feel increased gratitude for living in this land.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Strawberries!
Look what I found today in our 4 planter boxes of strawberries, almost 6 pounds worth.
We will be making strawberry jam tomorrow.
We will be making strawberry jam tomorrow.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Love Stories
I love love stories, especially true-life love stories ~ here are my top two all time favorites.
The number two top love story started in 1975 at Lake Perris California. That is when and where I met Dave. He was home on leave from the USMC for a month or two and since he is a good friend of my brother in law Gene, he and my sister Holly invited him to our waterski outing. We went to dinner a few times with Gene & Holly, then he returned to his duty station in the east. About a year later he was stationed in Orange County where he and I both lived. We started dating off and on; but I also saw him with other girls at activities we both attended ~ group dates, Young Adult dances, firesides, etc. There was no talk between us of marriage, no ‘I love you’, and only one kiss. I was under the impression that we were just good friends. One night in the spring we were together walking through a park. We found a place to sit and started talking. Then, totally unexpectedly, he looked at me and said: “I think we should get married.” I wondered for a second if he was giving me some general advice; there was no shortage of people telling me and other young people my age about the importance of marriage. After all, he is a few years older than me ~ I wondered who he had picked out and even if he had a suggestion for me. So the first words out of my mouth, in response to his surprising statement was, “to who?”
It turned out that he had chosen someone, and he had also picked out someone for me. His response to me was, “to each other!” We talked a little about it, and I am embarrassed now to admit that I asked him, more than once, if he was kidding. He convinced me that he was serious, that he really wanted me. He did not get an answer from me that night. During the next few days I began to see him differently, to understand what he was offering me ~ his love (although he still hadn’t used that word), to support me, to share my burdens, our own home and family. Three months later we were married in the temple. That was many years ago, and only the beginning of our love story. We have shared many wonderful times together, a few tragedies, sorrows, and frustrations; we have had quite an adventure together. Still, the 30 plus years we have shared are only the beginning. I have heard it said that real love stories never have endings ~ and because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and his plan for our happiness, our marriage and family can last through the eternities.
The number one best love story began before we were born. It was then that our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ began. We all knew and loved Him there, we learned of the plan for our progression and trusted Him to play the vital part He volunteered to play in that plan. When we read in Matthew “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ...” we may think that Jesus is giving general advice. It’s true that He wants all people to come to Him, but His invitation is to all of us as individuals. If we ask, and ponder, we will become convinced he truly wants us, that His offer of love, companionship, redemption, peace, and so much more, is to us individually.
As we accept His invitation, He will walk with us through the trials, challenges, and joys of our lives. This story of love between us and our Savior truly has no ending, it will go on throughout eternity.
These love stories are my favorite because I live them, they are as breath to me. They bring me purpose, direction, and immeasurable joy.
The number two top love story started in 1975 at Lake Perris California. That is when and where I met Dave. He was home on leave from the USMC for a month or two and since he is a good friend of my brother in law Gene, he and my sister Holly invited him to our waterski outing. We went to dinner a few times with Gene & Holly, then he returned to his duty station in the east. About a year later he was stationed in Orange County where he and I both lived. We started dating off and on; but I also saw him with other girls at activities we both attended ~ group dates, Young Adult dances, firesides, etc. There was no talk between us of marriage, no ‘I love you’, and only one kiss. I was under the impression that we were just good friends. One night in the spring we were together walking through a park. We found a place to sit and started talking. Then, totally unexpectedly, he looked at me and said: “I think we should get married.” I wondered for a second if he was giving me some general advice; there was no shortage of people telling me and other young people my age about the importance of marriage. After all, he is a few years older than me ~ I wondered who he had picked out and even if he had a suggestion for me. So the first words out of my mouth, in response to his surprising statement was, “to who?”
It turned out that he had chosen someone, and he had also picked out someone for me. His response to me was, “to each other!” We talked a little about it, and I am embarrassed now to admit that I asked him, more than once, if he was kidding. He convinced me that he was serious, that he really wanted me. He did not get an answer from me that night. During the next few days I began to see him differently, to understand what he was offering me ~ his love (although he still hadn’t used that word), to support me, to share my burdens, our own home and family. Three months later we were married in the temple. That was many years ago, and only the beginning of our love story. We have shared many wonderful times together, a few tragedies, sorrows, and frustrations; we have had quite an adventure together. Still, the 30 plus years we have shared are only the beginning. I have heard it said that real love stories never have endings ~ and because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and his plan for our happiness, our marriage and family can last through the eternities.
The number one best love story began before we were born. It was then that our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ began. We all knew and loved Him there, we learned of the plan for our progression and trusted Him to play the vital part He volunteered to play in that plan. When we read in Matthew “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ...” we may think that Jesus is giving general advice. It’s true that He wants all people to come to Him, but His invitation is to all of us as individuals. If we ask, and ponder, we will become convinced he truly wants us, that His offer of love, companionship, redemption, peace, and so much more, is to us individually.As we accept His invitation, He will walk with us through the trials, challenges, and joys of our lives. This story of love between us and our Savior truly has no ending, it will go on throughout eternity.
These love stories are my favorite because I live them, they are as breath to me. They bring me purpose, direction, and immeasurable joy.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Scott and Donna
Scott, Donna, and the boys were here for a few days, it was so nice to be together. We didn't do much, mostly eat and visit with a little outside playing thrown in. We love visits from our kids, and anyone else who is in the area. So if you are ever in our neck of the woods please stop by ~ I always have cookie dough in the freezer so we can have fresh hot cookies in a matter of minutes.
in the backyard, Steve, Dave, Scott, and Donna
Jonas helped me with some weeding
Jonas and Bryar
playing at the school playground
He found our leftover Christmas candy
in the backyard, Steve, Dave, Scott, and Donna
Jonas helped me with some weeding
Jonas and Bryar
playing at the school playground
He found our leftover Christmas candy
now everyone has met the baby of the family, he is no longer referred to as the "alleged baby".
Garden update
Our garden is growing! We had quite a bit of rain, and some snow, this spring, but now it's sunny and warm most days. So our plants are progressing nicely.
we decided to try corn this year
Strawberries are a favorite, we have already picked and eaten quite a few. They are red all the way through, tender and very sweet.
The peas are just starting to appear. I picked a few Tuesday morning to share with Jonas.
Our tomatoes are doing well, one plant already has a few tomatoes on it.
We put them outside a little early and a few branches got nipped with the cold; we look forward to some juicy, flavorful tomatoes later this summer.
This is our first planting of carrots for the season
Our second crop of lettuce and spinach, soon it will be too hot for these crops.
We had rosebushes along this fence, but they didn't survive the winter. Last week we replaced them with these privet and sand cherry bushes.
Our two hydrangea bushes come back every spring, and we get some beautiful blooms.
we decided to try corn this year
Strawberries are a favorite, we have already picked and eaten quite a few. They are red all the way through, tender and very sweet.
The peas are just starting to appear. I picked a few Tuesday morning to share with Jonas.
Our tomatoes are doing well, one plant already has a few tomatoes on it.We put them outside a little early and a few branches got nipped with the cold; we look forward to some juicy, flavorful tomatoes later this summer.
This is our first planting of carrots for the season
Our second crop of lettuce and spinach, soon it will be too hot for these crops.
We had rosebushes along this fence, but they didn't survive the winter. Last week we replaced them with these privet and sand cherry bushes.
Our two hydrangea bushes come back every spring, and we get some beautiful blooms.
We thought this clematis was dead, but it made a big come back.
Someday we will have an arbor for it to climb.
Someday we will have an arbor for it to climb.
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