Fall is official

Last spring we purchased season tickets to the BYU football games. We went to our first game on Saturday. Unfortunately we were having so much fun that I didn't take any pictures. We bought three tickets so each game we can bring one of the older girls. Aspen came this time. She really liked the idea of getting treats, the game was a little hard to follow :) She loved the cheering and the music. She loved the Cougarettes and Cosmos. At one point when a player was down she started to cry b/c she thought he was dead. The last half hour was really tough on her, but she was triumphant in the end as were the Cougars. I look forward to more games and more memories. I love football. I love the crisp air, which actually wasn't on Saturday. (it was really hot!!)I don't know much about football but I know enough to know when to cheer and when to gasp in dismay. I wanted to wear a hat but the only one I had was my Texas Longhorns hat. You can be loyal to two can't you? I did run into a couple of guys wearing their UT shirts though. All in all a great day! Can't wait to do it again!!!

Another wedding

So there was another wedding. Ray's sister Abbi got married August 22. We got together for family pics the day before. Our family pictures are on another camera, as are Steph (Ray's sister) and Craig's. But I am posting some of the other family pics. The official family pic is on the other camera as well. It was fun to be with family for the week. We went down to Lehi and stayed at Ray's grandparent's for a few days. Jes the youngest of the group is starting her freshman year at BYU. And Rach and Michael have just moved here from TN. Michael will be getting his master's from BYU. Jake and Heidi have just moved from Provo to live in TN where Jake is teaching biology at Fairview Junior High. I love this family b/c there is always something exciting happening, something fun to look forward too.

Jes with Mom and Dad Griffin

Rach and Michael with their girls Khallilia (4) Revekahlei (2) and Sunshine (6 months)

Seth and Katie with their bunch Olivia (5 in October) Reis (3 in October) and Seth (1 in September)





Jake and Heidi; Gracie (2 in November) and Elle (hatched on June 6 2008)



The Newlyweds Ray and Abigail Willardson

The Grankids with The Grandparents

A funny family

Alexa

I just love this kid.

My kids

The Funk's

My sister got married July 19th. I don't really have any pictures b/c my Dad and her friend were the photographers so I didn't really take any, and really I don't remember having my camera. I think Raym did. I love the look on Wayne's face in this picture. My kids looked so cute. It was fun fixin' up the girls hair. That day it was 100 degrees and we all felt it. But the day went pretty well and the bride and groom now reside in Orlando!

So Funny

I found this link on a friends blog....so funny!!!

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/ellen-gladys-hardy-p1.php?emf

Thoughts

Wow where do I begin? If you know me very well you know that my life is ever "evolving". In May my life changed once again. My husband lost his job. There is so much more that goes into it, but suffice to say that while it was hard I knew that it was a chance for us to "start over" again. I came into this marriage very much broken and badly bruised. The Lord healed me not once but twice. My husband stood by me through that time. It was hard for him, but he never left me. And not only did he not leave but he supported me, with all the nightmares, the therapy, the endless hours of crying and confusion. He never put me down, never said one negative remark to me about anything that I endured or how I handled it. During the past couple of years the Lord would often tell me that there would come a hard time for Raym, and he asked if I would stand by him. Of course. Well the hard time came, and it has been really hard. But I did as I promised. My husband had developed some not so great coping skills while helping me through my trials. I didn't even know they existed, but all the cards are on the table and we are organizing and going through them TOGETHER. If our marriage made it through me, we can so make it through some not so great coping skills. We have grown so much together these past couple of months. My marriage is becoming so rooted, so deep. I have gained such a testimony of what it is to mourn with those that mourn. I love my husband so much, I am so grateful for his humility for his willingness to hear and his willingness to try to change.



We have a new job now. He is a sales consultant for Home Depot. It is a commissioned job, not one we would have ever thought we would have. We prayed though and the Lord told us it was right. We don't have to move which really is such a great blessing. I wish I could describe what my heart sees. I know that the Lord will take these "not so great things" and turn them around and make them a blessing unto us. My husband stood beside me through things that I know not many men could have endured, and I know that Lord knows it. I see the light of the Lord in my husbands eyes in a way that encourages and uplifts me.



I have a testimony of growth and change. The Lord does not condemn us. We do that enough on a daily basis. It isn't about being perfect it is about growing, reaching and trying. We are mortal so we will not be "perfect". But we can perfect our desires, our thoughts, and with time our actions. This life is about the moments, and what we take away from those moments. We have an opportunity to take something momentary and make it eternal. I am thankful for a perfectly patient Heavenly Father and my Savior who made it possible for change.

Red Butte Gardens

We went to Red Butte Gardens last month. These are not all the pics I wanted to post but each of these pics took 5 plus minutes each....so I will post the story and the rest of the pics tomorrow...

More from Aspen

One rainy day we were running lots of errands. Our last errand was Wal-Mart so we were in there a while. When we came out the sun was peaking out of the clouds and it was no longer raining. Aspen so very casualy says, "well I guess the itsy bitsy spider is coming out again"...I totally cracked up. I love that girl!!!!

Life according to Aspen

Aspen : "Mommy do you remember when the frogs in Tennessee would pee on us?"

Mommy: "Um yes, that was the frogs way of protecting himself when you were bugging him"

Aspen: pause, look off into the sunset "yeah I wish I could go to the bathroom on people when they bugged me"

a conversation Aspen had with herself after I made her share a sword with her brother

Aspen: "it isn't fair, I have to share everything, I shouldn't even exist, unicorns and fairies don't exist so why should I exist?"

once while visiting cousins Aspen explained this to me

Aspen: "Mommy I feel tired"

Mommy: "well sit here with me and rest for a minute"

Aspen: sigh "I need to get down there (downstairs), b/c when I am tired I just have them run around and around the room until I am ready to play again"

Them meaning her sister and her cousins.

Snow in May?

If you click the pictures you will some small white things which flutter and flip as they fall from the sky. Last I checked those white things were referred to as SNOW!!!!! I tell ya! I am impressed though...SNOW on MAY 1st...

Pretending to cook

One of my girls favorite things to do is to pretend to cook. And I love watching them. It is fun to listen to their dialogue b/c it really sounds like me when I am cooking, well and they throw in some ratatouille lingo. Who knows maybe one of them will be a famous chef in Paris :)