Yellowstone

We are back from Yellowstone, and how much fun it was. I can tell you how wonderful that trip was. Good fun, Good friends, and all the out doors you can Handel.
We saw all kids of good things from wonderful waterfalls to lovely springs and hot pots and more animals then you could see at the zoo. But the very best part. Two bears. That's what I wanted to see most of all.
The kids had a great time. The camp ground we stayed at was great. Right by the lake. It's called Madison Arm Resort if you wanted to know. Great Great Great. We could not have asked for more.
We loved it so much that we could have stayed one more week. Although it is always nice to come home.
Maybe I will figure out how to post a picture soon and you will all be able to see how wonderful everything was.

Summer Time

The first day of summer. How wonderful. Hot days warm nights, Cold Water, swimming, fresh veggies from the garden, sunblock and bug spray.
Some sound good. Some not so much. To me they are all Great.
I love summer. It is full of fun times and warm winds. I love rain storms on a really hot day, and getting to go out and play in it. I love ice cream, Like you need summer for that. I love warm tomato's right out of the yard. I love cool grass on my bare feet. I love hot sunshine when the kids are running in the sprinklers.
Its all good. And when it gets too hot. There is cool air just steps away right in the front door. What could be better? Oh, could be that I get to enjoy summer with the kids. See it can get better.
Have a wonderful warm week.

O how they grow.

I was just thinking about Haybear getting ready for her swim meet in Montana. She leaves at 3am in the morning. I have been having a hard time with this trip. I don't like her going so far away for so long. I can't just get to her if she needs me. 10hours that's far. I just don't like it.
I know part of it is because it is so far, but I think the bigger part is that I will miss her. I miss her when she is at school. And that is only 7 hours.
I know she will be OK and I know she will be cared for by good people. It just wont be me.
I wander if that is how my Father in Heaven feels. He know where we are. And he trusts the people that are taking care of us, But he is not here. He's not the one teaching us any more. He has to trust that we learned what we needed from him before we came to earth and now he has to just watch from the stands.
It makes me even more grateful for the guiding spirit. I can feel his love even though he is not right here. I hope Haybear can take my love with her too.
Wish her luck.

My good guy

First, Kelly the potato's are blue indeed. Bright indigo blue on the inside and good to eat.
A lot of you have posted congrats for Brad and his new calling. So for those of you that do not live in the ward any longer Brad was just put into the Bishop brick 2nd councilor.
Some of you have asked how he feels about it. I would say he feels humble. Not prepared and probably can think of more then 10 men that could have been called in before him. I am sure he thinks that he is not prepared and I am sure he is right.
As for me. I feel grateful. Grateful to have a good man in my life. To know he loves the Lord and will serve when asked. To know that he will set an example for the kids on how to serve. They need that.
I know he has learn at the feet of good brothers in his home and in our ward. He has been guided by friends and family, and has taken those teachings to heart. I know that he follows the prompting of the spirit. And that he acts when prompted.
I truly am blessed. Blessed by Father in Heaven to have given Brad to me. Lucky to have meet him when I did and thankful that he looked my way.
I think I'll keep him.

Laugh out Loud

I know that it is my night off, but I can't sleep. Why? you might ask. All the boys are camping (father and son camp out) half the house is gone. Nothing is worse then that.
So I thought I would share my Holden nader funny. He is a born comedian. 4 years old and the jokes never stop. Anyway back on topic. The funny
I am in the middle of a meeting with Sonja and he is interrupting
Holden: mom, mom, mom, mom, Danika
Me: yes Holden
Holden: feel my muscles.
and he is out of there. We laughed a lot. It was nice. Lighten the mode. Which was heavy. You know one of those kind of church meetings. We both needed that.
Maybe my Nader knew that a smile can lift many burdens. Leave it up to a four year old to know what you need even when you don't
Now to top the night. After the meeting was over and the kids were put to bed. I went out to think on the swing, and how nice to see my very good friend walk across the street to sit and talk. The brownie was nice but the conversation was better. Thanks Jen

Changing the veiw

I try to find a blessing in the daily taskes of my life. Or a lesson to learn that can help me or uplift me. Weather I am playing with the kids, making dinner , or working in the yard.
I used to think that there were tasks that we did because they had to be done. What could I learn from doing dishes? Well I found a blessing from doing dishes. My little tree in the front yard. A variegated willow. It has been putting on its summer leaves and from the kitchen window I can see the pink leaves on the top of the tree. A view you can not get from the swing or step or sidewalk. You have to be above it to see how lovely those leaves are. The tree is beautiful from every angle. green and white and pink from all views, But it is from above that you see pink all over.
I like to think that that is the view my Father in Heaven likes the most also. The view you get from looking down. A view you get when you change the way you look at it.
I think that is true in most everything in our lives. Something hard or trying may very well be so much more beautiful when looked at from another angle.

Potato's

I just finished planting my garden tonight. Green goodness all over and my hand smell like dirt (someone should make a perfume that smells like that. ) I can smell good dirt from a mile away.
Any way back to the green goodness. Rows of tomato's squash , hot peppers and cucumbers, and yes potato's.
This is the first time we have grown potato's (and suggestions will be helpful ) I am looking forward to this new veggie. We planted red and white, butter and blue. Yes there are blue potato's. Rows and rows of potato's. Now lets see if we can get them to grow.
I look at my grarden as a story of my life. A new adventure. A new challenge. What steps do we take to prepare. Do we get ready those thing we need, to grow something new. Do we tend to that new thing , giving it all that is required to bring about the fruits of our labors. Are we putting forth the work needed to gain something, or do we think it will grow on its own. I never have found a potato in my garden yet. I am sure it is because I have not planted one until now. And I really don't expect that once I put the work into this I will get watermelon out of the ground. But I also know that I wont get potato's unless I feed, weed and water this.
I know that is something like any good thing in my life. If I want something good to come from my work. Fruits of my labors I have to put the work into it. My kids, My marriage, My calling, My job. Anything good that I want to come from them I have to put the work in first.
Wish me luck.