YM/YW Stake Dance

Taylor and several of her friends - always having fun, especially at those Stake Dances!!!

A Mom and her Son

Son's are great to have - especially this one.

"The home is the first effective place for children to learn the lessons of life; truth, honor, virtue, self control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and priviledge of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children and no other success can compensate for failure in the home." -David O. McKay-

Eyes Can Tell A Lot on Us

Have you ever looked into someones eyes? Eyes can tell alot about a person - some eyes are happy, some are bright, some eyes look sad, full of pain, dark and lost or full of life and passion.
Now notice a child's eyes they are brillant, full of hope for a wonderful tomorrow and happy even if it is when they get up in the mornings to ride the bus to school. A child's eyes also shed tears of frustration at times. As we begin to grow up we still cry at times, crying doesn't always mean one is sad it can mean one has happy tears too.
So remember - eyes can tell a lot on us!

Court of Honor

I am so proud of this boy - my son!!!! He earned 5 merit badges at his Court of Honor and is always forgiving of me for never sewing on his other "previous" hard earned Merit Badges. Now that I see he only has 9 of his badges sewn on his sash I guess it is time I do my part to make him the Boy Scout he truly is!!!!

Day of Terror - Remembered

Today represents the 8th anniversary of that terrifying day when two planes flew into the Twin Towers in New York instantly killing thousands. Two other planes, which were hijacked, crashed in a field in Pennyslvania and also into the Pentagon. I saw the damage done to the Pentagon months later and Bryan witnessed "ground zero" when he was in New York a year later. I still get shivers up my spine and tears still come to my eyes when I remember back to that sad day when America, as we knew it, changed and where so many innocent lives were taken. This is a day I think we will always remember where we were when we heard, for the first time, about these attacks and it is something that will forever be imprinted in our hearts. We will never forget those who perished in these attacks even if they were not known personally to us, I still have heard their names read aloud on TV in their honor; nor will we forget the many men and women who are now fighting for our continued freedom.

Beauty

This beautiful sunset, Taylor took from our balcony, reminds me of the beauty that dwells not only in the surroundings we live by, but also of the beauty that dwells within us all.

Finding Joy in the Journey

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

(Thomas S. Monson: Finding Joy In The Journey)

THE DASH by: Linda Ellis/Mac Anderson

I read of a man who stood to speak

at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

from the beginning....to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

and spoke of the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all

was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

that she spent alive on earth

and now only those who loved her

know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

the cars....the house....the cash.

What matters is how we live and love

and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

to consider what's true and real

and always try to understand

the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives

like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

and more often wear a smile....

remembering that this special dash

might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

with your life's actions to rehash,

would you be proud of the things they say

about how you spent your dash?

Our Houseboat

We finally took the plunge and bought into a houseboat partnership - we can't wait to start using it.

First Day of 9th Grade

It's hard to imagine that Taylor is in 9th grade - she is our social butterfly! New beginnings for Taylor will be starting seminary and getting her driving permit!!!!! Can't go wrong with those two things!!!

First day of 7th Grade

This is Derek's last year to be at the intermediate school - he made the Jouralism Club so he is more then happy - take lots of pictures for the yearbook!

First Day of Kindergarten

Kindergarten means:

1. Growing up

2. Getting to ride the bus to and from school

3. Carrying a backpack

4. Having a loose tooth

5. Recess

6. Meeting new friends

7. Learning new things

8. Becoming more responsible for one's own actions

9. Experiencing your first firedrill

10. School parties

One Year Ago.....

It will be one year on August 22nd that we received that heartwrenching phone call at midnight that Bryan's cousin, Dr. Lansing Ellsworth, his son, Dallin, who just applied to medical school, along with seven members of Lansing's medical staff and their pilot had been involved in a fatal plane accident in Moab, Utah.

You never really grasp the information you are receiving as being real. It's more like a dream -or being in a movie. The information received instantly changed lives, changed dreams and changes the way you view things.

There is a reason for everything - everything under the stars. We know that, but living that is different, much more difficult to do. Life does go on, miracles continue to happen, spiritual experiences are felt, memories of their legacy of compassionate, caring individuals remains to all who loved Lansing and Dallin.

Life is not always easy . . . I guess it was not meant to be - was it?

Happy Birthday Taylor

Taylor turned 15 on August 3rd - and what a party she had - food, swimming, watching a movie in the theater room, giggles and lots of laughter. It almost seems impossible that 15 years ago she was born premature at 28 weeks, weighing just 2 pounds 8 ounces and having to spend the next three months of her little life in the NICU at Primary Children's Hospital undergoing many surgeries. She is our little miracle from above.

Even though she was in critical condition for many days, weeks and even months after she was born - Having limited contact with her, having to be in sterile hospital clothing to protect her from our germs, dailey visits to the hospital, lots of near misses, tears, and desperate prayers, never forgetting our sweet Taylor may have been in critical condition she was never alone. The Savior was there with her too. He was with her until everything became stable and He is still with her to this very day. The randon tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father is always a reminder that we indeed have a purpose and are loved from Heaven above.

Possibly a Hidden Talent

My neice, Meghan and her husband are expecting their first baby in December so

I decided to try my hand at making something "homemade and from the heart." I made

the quilt and thought it turned out pretty good for my first time. The other little outfit

was just a bonus - already made from the store!!!

No Pain -- No Gain

As Derek found out - having teeth like they do in "Hollywood" comes with pain!!! He had to have two teeth pulled, which were suppose to come out some time last year and was causing his permanent teeth to veer in directions not meant for teeth to grow in!!! He was a real trooper though. No pain -- no gain!!

There is Nothing Better then EFY

Taylor in her dorm hallway

Lunch at "Pasta Factory" - Mandy Theobald,

Taylor and Aubrey Franklin

It's always exciting to be a parent and be able to sit back and watch the joy and happiness that comes into your teenage daughter's eyes when she is packing for a week of EFY - a place to be spiritually fed, meet new friends, but most importantly the meeting of boys!!! No doubt, this year was Taylor's best EFY ever - she came back spiritually uplifted, surrounded by many new friends, some of which were boys!

Lagoon

Park City - Olympic Park

We all went down the Alpine Slide - it was fast and soooo fun!!

The zip-line was probably our favorite ride - everyone, but Taylor was brave enough to do it - even Tanner went on it!! We will continue to work on Taylor in hopes she will decide to go on it when we return this Fall!!

Tanner and Taylor - what a great sister and brother team they make.