You have to see THIS!

All our adventures for July were captured in one place!  You can see them here and enjoy the fun vicariously.

"Sisters, Sisters"

Many people have actors or singers as their heroes while they are growing up, not me.  The person I think I looked up to the most while I was growing up was my sister.  I have always watched what she does and wanted to do just as well as she did.  She played the piano beautifully, so I wanted to play the piano beautifully.  She drew fun pictures, so I wanted to try and draw fun pictures.  She started jogging and running races, and I thought it would be neat to do the same thing.


More importantly, while we shared a room during my early teens I saw her reading her scriptures, and she shared what she was learning with me.  I saw that and decided I wanted to learn from the scriptures for myself.  I saw her faith and example, and I want to be just like that.  She has been a great example to me, and I am so thankful she was the one I looked up to.  Many of the good habits I have are because I saw her doing it and decided I wanted to do it too.

She has a way of making me smile.  She finds humor in everyday, she always makes me laugh.  I am thankful to have a sister.

We have laughed about this song in days long ago, but it always reminds me of my sister.  Thanks, Gaylene, for being my sister and my friend.  You really are amazing!

Temple Perspective

I have an amazing husband. Perhaps I have said that before, but he continues to surprise me and make me smile.  We took our monthly trip to the temple and met up with cousins.  We decided to spend all our time at the temple instead of finding the nearby park to play at.  I was worried how the children would fare at the temple.  Clark had a fun idea to take pictures of the children doing fun things.  The children loved having pictures taken of themselves.  There were a lot more, but these were my favorites:

"My little sister"

A snack!

Squish...

A handful of cousins.

Big to small.

We love the temple, and even though it is a long drive for the children, I love that we all go together.  We know our family can be together forever because we are working on building it together.  (our beliefs on eternal families)

Cleaning Makes Messes

After breakfast I finally jumped to the task of cleaning the guinea pig cage. I finished cleaning the cage at last and turned around to see this mess. I think I might have just went to collapse on the couch if the couch hadn't been covered with stuff.  At least they are having fun, right?

All the fun you can have with play food and felt.  I had no idea the felt people led such exciting lives until I heard the stories the children had to tell.

At least the guinea pigs have a clean house.  I only wish someone would come clean my house too...

Giggle Pigs

Giggle Pigs, the nickname for the cute guinea pigs that Clark came up with. His reason is that it makes us all giggle to hear the cute little piggies when they squeak, skitter, and chirp. How the children love these cuties, Patch and Shadow (but David wants them to have creative spellings of "Pach and Shado", which I just can't bring myself to do).

We have been dreaming of getting a little pet, but have not been able to see it happening.  Then suddenly someone was giving the whole package of two female guinea pigs and cage, etc., together and we jumped at it.  I think we will be a pet owning family from here on out.  There is something special about loving and taking care of something so innocent and pure. I love seeing my children care for them like they were their own babies.  We voted on what we wanted to change their names to, but we decided the names they had suited them just fine. 

Patch, lives up to her name with all her spots.

Shadow, lives up to her name being shy.

Rebecca has informed us that we are now a family of eight, and she is the proud big sister of two little sisters.  Our guinea pigs are now a part of our family.  I guess we need to find little cars seats for the giggle pigs for when we take trips as a family.

Temple

We took a trip to the nearest temple and had a great family visit. The temple has become such an important part of our family. For those who would like to learn about our temples you can go here, which will let you find every temple that has been built and learn more about why we build temples.

The temple has been important to me throughout my life.  It has been a beacon of peace and perspective.  I have taken the example of my Grandparents and parents that we can draw closer to Christ and our Father in Heaven  when we enter the house of the Lord.  When I finally reached the age I could go to the temple I did so eagerly.  I know that as I continue to go to the temple it will help me keep Christ at the center of my life, and the life of my family.  I want my children to learn where they can go to draw closer to heaven, and that is in the House of the Lord.

During our last visit, our goal was to take pictures of our children so that they can have their very own picture of them at the temple.  These are the pictures we were able to take, and we have already hung them on their walls.  I loved hear and seeing their excitement that they wanted these pictures on their wall.  I know that having these pictures up will add more to the Spirit in our home.

I love to see the temple,

Benji-man

I'm going there some day,

Andy-roo

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.



David-doo

I'll prepare myself while I am young;

Becca-boo

this is my sacred duty.

 

I love to see the temple,

I'll go inside someday.

I'll covenant with my Father;

I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I've learned this truth:

A family is forever.

 

 

Every time our family sees the temple we like to sing this song.  I do love to see the temple, and I love what the temple stands for.

Remembering

What do you do when you don't have any roots where you are living on Memorial Day? We were excited to see that our village had a small parade in honor of the soldiers that have died. We went to that and felt it was a moving experience. Along with honoring the soldier, I had my grandparents and other family in my thoughts. We had a neat day that really had the spirit of remembering in it.

We went for a walk through a nature preserve as well.  These folks are my joy.  I sure love them, even if they are a bit crazy.  I loved that they wore matching shirts, even Rebecca's is a super-hero (Word Girl).

Here we are watching for the parade.  It almost looks as though the children are saluting the soldiers; however, it is just the sun in our eyes.

We are thankful to all those who have paved the way to helping us have the life and freedom we enjoy.  We truly are bless.