BUILDING a Testimony - Spiritual Journal

I am beginning a new tradition in my BLOG. Since we have been encouraged by the 1st presidency of our wonderful church to share the gospel using whatever medium possible. I decided to start a new tradition every Sunday to share a small part of my testimony that has grown as result of attending our sabbath services or some other event that has strengthened my testimony throughout the week.

I will post a small piece of that testimony on this blog each week but will elaborate on those feelings on my "spiritual blog" Build Your Testimony. If you have interest in reading please contact me.

I KNOW this church is true and I know we all receive personal revelations. I am very passionate about writing down the spiritual events in your life. If you will record them there will more direction and guidance from our Heavenly Father to follow.

I KNOW this is true. It is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ
Amen

THANKFUL Thursday

1) That I am alive
2) Maggie (my dog)
3) My kids SPECIAL blankets (Baa Boo, Boo Boo, Way Wee)
4) Early mornings
5) Road trips and long conversations

Politics Shamolitics (edited)

Don't they look good together? I can see it.

Earlier today I posted a rather emotional post, once I cooled down I realized I was ranting. I decided to edit my original post for fear I was being too harsh. What I was trying to say was that politics in general are on my nerves. I will apologize in advance and want to preface this by stating no offense intended to my liberal and democratic friends or family, we are all entitled to our opinions and I respect that. I won't bore you with all my political ideas, I am not smart enough or know enough anyway besides deep down I really hate politics but I do have to say that after watching the democratic convention the last few days (which Hannity says it is the "convention of this country sucks") it has been confirmed to me I am defiantly a conservative and a republican. The outspoken democrats that seem to steal the limelight on prime time TV bug me! Do they ever have anything positive to say, EVER? Though they are stating THEIR opinions, generally THESE democrats are overwhelmingly whinny, negatie, critical, self righteous, fake, full of shallow words and promises and appear to have few things in mind other than taking control of our country's government. They talk about having unity but what it seems they are really after is a monopoly. That would be scary!

John McCain is not my "favorite of all time" candidates, I have issues with him too but there really is no such thing as a perfect politican, he certainly is the lesser of evils and his fundamentals I agree with most, so REPUBLICAN I am through and through!

Go McCain Romney!

Back to School

Back to school here we come! The boys 1st day at Nan Clayton Elementary was yesterday and is was a huge success. It is just the cutest school! School starts very early here and that is going to take some getting use to but besides that, they had a great day, already making friends and they all seem to have fabulous teachers. I am just so proud of my boys, they are all confident and kind and natural born leaders. You would have never suspect it was their 1st day in a new school, from all it appearances it looked liked they'd known the kids in their classes for years.





They get to ride the bus which is new experience for them.

Pedernales Falls State Park

This is the coolest place, Pedernales Falls. It felt like we were right on the bayou, I could have closed my eyes and heard the sirens from "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" singing on the rocks beside me. We had BLAST! We packed a picnic lunch, Sam and Daidy Bear dug in the sand, the boys (B included) floated their bodies down the river and jumped from huge boulders into the water, it was just tons of fun!

1.5 MIllion Bats

We had a great weekend. Our last weekend before school begins and busy family life and real schedules resume. We had heard about the bats that live under the Congress Avenue bridge downtown. There are 1.5 million bats that sleep under the bridge during the day and every night, at dark they come out to feed, it is estimated that the bats consume from 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects each night. We thought what a fun unique thing to go experience. The kids had a blast, but that have a good time anytime we go out as a family, they don't really care what we do as long as we are together. We hung out under the bridge for about an hour, ate ice cream and waited for it to get dark and then all the sudden the bats came... and came... and came... and literally did not stop. We watched them escape their daytime home for about 30 minutes and there was no sign of letting up. It was truly was unbelievable. We had hear that is smells too, which it did but I have to say after reading Twilight, if I could imagine what a vampire smells like it would be sort of similar to the smell of these bats, kinda creepy. Anyway it was really fun and defiantly worth seeing!








Oh and I just have to share this cute as can be cupcake stand called "Hey Cupcake". It is down the street from Ben's office and we pass it going down town. I just think it is SO "Austin"! Did I mention we LOVE Austin?

#4s Broken Toe

On Tuesday Fish was hopping around the couches like a bunny with his bosom buddie Ava and fell and while falling jammed his toe against the couch. He immediately fell to the ground and tried with earnest to hold back his screams. Finally Ava came to get me and I could quickly tell there was something wrong, #4 rarely expresses that much emotion while in pain, especially when there is someone around. It took a very long time for his pain to subside. The missionaries happened to be over that night for dinner and they gave him a blessing. He slept pretty good that night and the next morning we took him to the doctor, sure enough there was a fracture in his 3rd tow. Luckily no crutches, he seems to be wobbling around just fine on his heal. My sweet poor skateboarding boy is going to be out of commission for a little while.

I didn't know Fish was so flexible!

THANKFUL Thursday

5 Things I am thankful for today

1) The Book of Mormon
2) Sams breath and humid neck after his nap.(Yummy)
3) That we have an very easy and happy marriage.
4) That Ben is my forever friend.
5) The safety I feel when we are all home.

THANKFUL Thursday

A girlfriend of mine in CO does this on her blog and I think it is a fabulous idea. It is fun to look back at all the things she has been thankful for and since most days I feel like I am going to explode with gratitude this would be a good way to archive my feelings.

5 Things I am THANKFUL for today

1) That Ben is coming home (from CO), I have missed my Sugar!
2) That I have 5 adorable children and actually still want more...someday... maybe... FOR SURE in heaven!
3) That I am healthy.
4) For phones to call my sisters that are far away.
5) For my children hands, that I love to rub with lotion.

I tag everyone I know to make this a tradition on your blog too, your kids will thank YOU for it someday.

Good Old War

Here is a new band I am IN LOVE with called Good Old War here is a music
video, if I were blog savvy enough I would have posted the Youtube video but my sister in law Haley has not come to visit me and teach me the coolest blog-is-ums... (hurry up already!)anyway here is some of their music a perfect blend of
Acoustic, Folk, Pop.... I love them, Simon and Garfunkle'ish but with a modern kick, LOVE IT, love it love it!

UPCOMING Shows in the cities we love
Aug 13 2008 7:00P
Marquis Theatre Denver, Colorado
Aug 14 2008 7:00P
Avalon Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug 29 2008 8:00P
Stubb’s Jr. Austin, Texas
Aug 30 2008 4:00P
HOB Cambridge room - matinee show Dallas, Texas

A Special Visit From Grandma

We just had a fabulous weekend, my sweet mother dear came to visit us. Bless her heart, I love her so much! She is a remarkable human being and am SO grateful to be in her midst and just hate to see her go. She just slides right into our busy (sometimes intense) life, always foreseeing the needs of others by doing laundry, picking up toys, doing dishes, dressing babies, giving a snuggle when a snuggle is needed, anything she can think of to help, she DOES and faster, more efficient and happier than I ever could. Even though she has a ridiculous amount of grandchildren (and children) it never ceases to amaze me how she can always make you feel like you are her favorite (maybe I really am ?:). Even when she has dozens of grandchildren crawling all over her, SOMEHOW she has a unique gift of making them all feel loved and special to her. I have a hard enough time staying consistent with my 5 kids let alone 25+. Besides being vastly talented and amazing she is also a crafted magician, she very cleverly finds a ways to pay the bill at Costco and the dinner bill with out you knowing and if you try to pay, if often makes a scene, she is one stubborn woman:). She is SO generous and loving and we love her and are so grateful for her and all she does and gives especially for the warmth of her love. She is beautiful inside and out and has been a irreplaceable and remarkable force for good in our family. She just makes you happy to be around her; she is calm, happy , positive and fun. Thank you Heavenly Father for sending me to her! She is a spectacular mother and is SO special to me, I am honored to be called her daughter.


We spent each afternoon at the pool to cool off. Yes this is Sam swimming independently under the water.

Ben just loves throwing our kids recklessly through the air.



Natalie and Abe

We had a wonderful sunset dinner at the Oasis over looking Lake Travis.


After dinner we followed the music to the dance floor where we danced and watched the kiddos enjoy themselves. Daidy definitely found her grove, she might have gotten that from her Dad too, it was hilarious, Sam too.





On Saturday we went to the Austin Ice Scream Festival and all I can say it was way too hot. Yeah it was fun but not sure it was fun ENOUGH to justify all the sweat. Kids don't seem to mind though.





Like Father Like Son