Happy Birthday, Daniel!!

My baby turned 6 today.  Happy Birthday, Daniel!!

BYU football cake and Star Wars Lego.  It was a good day for Daniel.

23 Inches All Together

We've been getting haircuts around here.  And donating it too, to Locks of Love.  Eliza was first.  I failed to take official before and after photos, but I found these that will work.

Before

After.  She donated 10 inches of her hair.

Then it was Audri's turn.  As many of you know, Audri's hair had gotten REALLY long.

Before

After.  She donated 13 inches, and still has plenty left.  They both look super cute, and feel good about what they've done.

Way to go, girls!!

First Day of School

So school has started.  Just like that.  We're back to the very structured schedule.  It's good.  It was time, although I'm always sad to see the summer end.  Dallin and Dailie are both in High School this year, Dallin a Junior, Dailie a Freshman.  They are also up bright and early for Seminary.  Until Dallin gets his license (so hard to believe, but will be a relief in so many ways)mid September, I'm up early too, driving them each day.  Dallin is part of the Jazz AllStars again, and joins the combo group as their keyboardist.  Dailie will start back up in dance class soon.

 Audri is a 7th grader at Lindbergh this year, and excited for a new year of learning.  She'll be a Navigator again this year (like Student Council), and can't wait for gymnastics to start back up.

Eliza is the big cheese on campus this year as a 4th grader at Kellar. She happens to have the same teacher she had in Kindergarten, and she thinks that will be strange, but I think it will work out ok.  She is thrilled to be starting a Theater class soon. 

Daniel, the first grader.  Daniel is most excited about Spelling tests. He thinks it's pretty cool that he'll have those this year. 

We'll see what I get accomplished this year.  I plan to get in shape, volunteer at the school, and try to keep my house in a little better order than it has been....

Here's to another year of school!!

Choosing Covenant

I read this poem on Segullah, a blog I enjoy reading, and I really liked it.  I've posted it, as well as the comment I made on the site about the poem.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this idea.

“the serpent”

you have the power to choose,
he hisses,
wrapping around my discontent with
soothing deception.

he flaunts the power of the gift,
the very gift he sought to crush.
relentless, he presents
option
upon grinding option,
knowing all the while that
I surrendered my gift
years ago
upon the altar.

you were so young,
you didn’t know—
words from the forked tongue,
and yet he bruised Eve’s heel
despite her innocence.

confusion, excuse,
ignorance
fall away, hollow,
as I come to see
the only choice I truly have:

which bondage to embrace

bending my neck, I press ahead,
thankful for the blindness that
enabled me to choose the chains
that bind me safe to Him
who holds the power
to crush
the serpent’s
head.

My comment:  I love this poem. Wow. I have often thought about this concept, especially considering that I was 19 when I used my agency to marry in the temple. I have never wished that I had not made that choice, but I have often pondered on the fact that I made that choice long before I REALLY knew what that choice meant (and I’m still learning). I believe this is where faith comes into play.
The 8 year old, the convert, the 19 year old bride or the 19 year old Elder, all make choices LARGELY based on faith, not knowledge.
“And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” Alma 32:21
How Satan would love for us to abandon faith, and try to go on our knowledge alone. He knows, just as our Father in Heaven knows, that our knowledge will never lead us to ALL the right choices. The difference is the direction they desire to lead us. Satan desires for us to be miserable like he is. Our Father in Heaven desires our eternal joy, as He has. They both know how to get us to their desired goal. Satan uses temptations, Heavenly Father uses covenants.
Thanks for the poem. 

Tell me what you think.

18 Years

So, I have a lot to catch up on with this blog, and that may not happen until school is underway, but I wanted to post this picture, taken so long ago.  I use to think that this day would never seem long ago, but now when I look at this picture, I wonder who those kids are.  Sort of.  At the same time is seems like just yesterday.  How is it that time can do that to us? This photo was taken 18 years ago today.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time.  I thought I was so happy and in love at the time, and I was, as much as my 19 year old mind could grasp those concepts.  The happiness and love that I feel today is so much deeper and more full.  I had no idea then that it was possible. 

Happy Anniversary, Rick.

I love you more and more everyday.