Just some food for thought!!!!!

Was reading through my journal last night and came across this entry. I had just finished reading a book and this was a statement that was in the book. I had been going through some personal struggles at the time and I am sure that is why this jumped out at me.

"I don't always know for sure what the Lord expects of me each day, but I always seek to know his will. I agreed to come to earth and take on all these customized challenges." "The question is am I willing to let my weaknesses, my flaws, and my afflictions bring me closer to God? Even my missteps are part of His divine choreography aimed at my growth and progression." His divine choreography aimed at my growth and progression I loved that. It is so true how we work through our challenges, will draw us closer or away from our Heavenly Father.

Fun with the Salt Lakians

We have had a fun filled week with the Ogden Children. Desirae went to girls camp so we inherited the kids for a week and it was so fun having them. Here are some pictures of the fun we had not in the order done, but we had lots of fun.
This picture is of a picnic we had up in Oak Grove, we drove up for lunch and because we made them stay where we could see them they all got bored really fast so we didn't stay long. It felt good up there it was 10 degrees cooler than at home. This is what Ellie wanted every time she saw her grandpa she would bat her big brown eyes at him and she would get him to push her on the swing.

We went and fed the ducks up by grandma greats house in Bloomington Hills I think most of the ducks have gone north for the summer. It was 112 when we were out there feeding them, and there were not as many as there usually are.

We spent a few days at the pool at Brits and Dans townhomes. Abbie loved having Uncle Dan throw her up an into the water.

Joshua

Abbie

We had lunch one day at pizza factory

We drove by the Bringham Young home and then went to the Visitors Center and walk around the Temple.

This is Shrek Raylie, she loves this wig and then she stuck the shrek ears on, pretty cute.

This was Terrorist Josh and his accomplice.

More fun at the pool, we have Abbie, Raylie, Sharise and Ellie.

Cheezer Raylie

Ellie tanning

Uncle Dan and Emma, didnt get the best view of Emma she really has a cute face, it's there somewhere. :)Luke, Grandma and Raylie.

this is how the girls spent their time and...............................

this is how the boys spent their time.

All in all we had a fun week, not to many arguments, they got along pretty good. We did mix them up a few nights some here some at Brittanys. We will be meeting Des and Mark in Fillmore tomorrow to make the Kid exchange. Thanks for the fun week!!!!!!

July 3rd, 4th of July celebration 2010

This was our day on the 3rd Leeds and St. George celebrated the fourth on Saturday. We started with getting up early and going to the Town Park for breakfast. (didn't get pics) was good food. Let the kids play for a bit and talked with friends and neighbors. Came home and let the kids play in the water and just was plain lazy until Josh and Sharise got off work then we had a BBQ and later went to the Sunbowl for fireworks. We usually sit on the church lawn across from the Sunbowl. But Sharise suggested that we go right into the Sunbowl and I think that will be our new spot from now on. It was not that crowded at all. Thanks Sharise!!!
The last picture is of little Raylie cakes she just couldn't make it any longer.

Remembering Dad

I can't believe it has been a year since we brought Dad home from the Hospital. I remember anticipating the trip home from the hospital and how he would do. They had him pretty drugged up so that he could make the trek home. I remember Kathy and I getting his bed all ready for him in the dinning room. Waiting for the ambulance to bring him home. Brian had gone in that morning to be with him. Brian followed the ambulance home. I had an uneasy feeling when the ambulance pulled up. I remember a month before the uneasy feeling I had when he went into the hospital I felt like it would be his last trip to the hospital I needed to be there. I was able to spend the month up there with mom and be with dad the last month of his life. Anyway the ambulance pulled up and they brought him out and I heard him say "its warm out here" Brian told him that he was home. They brought him in got him onto the bed and instruction was given by the hospice nurse. Mom came in and held dads hand and told him he was in the dining room and he would be able to look out to see his garden. He opened his eyes and looked around and with a peaceful look he closed his eyes never to open again. The nurse left. Brian had hired a 24/7 lady to come be with mom to help her take care of the house and other needed things. She was shaving dad and I was in the next room. I heard some noises coming from Dad that made my heart sink. I went in there and we called Brian in I was holding his hand and talking to him with no response at all. He took a few shallow and long in between breaths and was gone. He knew he was home and that his family was around him and he was able to give up the fight. He passed away at 4:00 pm after only being home for 1 hour. I am so grateful that I was able to be with him for the last month of his life and when he left this earthly existence. I know I will see him again, but for now I do miss him. I love ya Dad.
This picture is his last plane ride to Kacie's wedding, this was his blue tuxedo. :)

The rest of June 2010

Hang on picture overload here. I spent last week up in SLC with my mom cleaning more of her yard and getting weeds pulled and cleaning her garage. I have to say we did get alot accomplished while there. But mingled in with the work we did have some other fun too! This picture below is Luke playing croquet Luke style. We had a BBQ at Grandma and Grandpa Fowlks, Roger was in town from TX. G & G Fowlks

Brit and Lucas

Thursday they got Dads headstone set so we went on Friday to visit Dad and see his headstone, I really like how it turned out. That is MOM and DAD standing by the lake in their younger days. :)

Friday evening we went to Desirae's to have dinner and celebrate Joshs birthday and have smores we had a great time there everyone enjoyed their smores with their over sized marshmellows.

Logan enjoying his.

Here is Emma Blemma enjoying hers

Raylie was lovin that smore

Ellie decided that the smore was way to messy so she just went for the mellow

And there is Abbie she was REALLY enjoying that smore

Josh too the mellows were huge.

You can see where the Kids get it from

Grandpa liked his he wasn't quite as messy.The next few pics are of our garden I told Danette I would post some pics of our little garden. I harvested some strawberries when I went out to take pictures, they are not to big but they are very tasty.

Before they were picked.

Our little strawberry patch.

Here is our first little tomato turning red I can't wait to have garden fresh tomatos I love them.

We put in a drip system and I love it because it really cuts down on the weeds. I have to pull a few every now and then.

I would like to put in another grow box for next summer and double the size of our garden, I guess we will see what next year brings.

Here is our first little corn on the cob, it is so cute. It has such pretty little hair growing right now.

Happy Fathers Day Dad I love and miss you!!!!!!!

June 2010

The many faces of Raylie Cakes. We had planned an outing (thanks Chantelle) to go to Zions but we really didn't want to pay to get into the park so we found a park in Springdale right by the river and had lunch and lounged around. Josh had to be at work at 3 so they departed and the rest of us went to the big screen to watch the "Treasure of the Gods" which we had not seen in a long time.

Having fun swimming in Grandma and Grandpas pool its fun to have family down.

Celebrating Sharise and Joshs' birthday. We had a great time, first a dinner of Chicken and dumplings. They each got their own cakes. And the pictures of Luke is him after cake and ice cream taking a bath in grandma's sink.