Paraguay Bound...

Our Hearts are Super Sad right now as we had to say goodbye to our Favorite Miss Rachel Hunt!!  She has brought so much sunshine to our lives over the past 9 months.  It was hard to see her leave but we know that the people of Paraguay are going to be truly blessed to have her in their lives for the next 18 months. 

Rach and the kids

We have a tradition to take a picture in front of our house when our favorite missionaries leave!

I hiked the 'Y'...and didn't even DIE!!!

 So my sister and I have these crazy things we call a bucket lists.  Not everything on my bucket list is on hers and not everything on hers is on mine.  We have talked each other into doing some crazy things.  Jami has always been an amazing strength to me in SO many different ways.  I couldn't have been blessed with a better example, friend, mentor, and older and much wiser sister!!  I love having her there to cheer me on while accomplishing things on our lists!!

Well...hiking the BYU 'Y' was actually on both of our bucket lists.  We have talked about doing it for years now.  I've always wanted to hike the 'Y' but I never had the guts to try when I lived up there going to college.  Anyway...My mom invited Jami and I for a girls trip up to Utah to attend my Aunt Donna's wedding.  So...we decided we were going to cross the 'Y' off our lists.  If you can't tell by how red our faces were(oh wait...our faces are ALWAYS red), it was a pretty dang good hike.  There were 12 switch backs(I named each one after each one of my kids) and a total of approximately 3 miles.  

Both Jami and I learned some valuable lessons on this hike.  

1.  It never hurts to be a little bit more prepared

2.  Do I discourage people on their Hike through life??

Story:  As we reached our last switch back and we could almost taste the sweet victory of accomplishing what we set out to do, I saw a lady coming down towards us.  In my mind I am thinking, 'here is a lady that just finished the task...I am SURE she will give us some words of encouragement!'  As we got closer I looked up at this lady and said, 'Are we there yet!!:)' and to my surprise she responded, 'Oh Heavens...this was the EASY one!!!'  I about died!!!  I couldn't believe her response.  All I needed was a little pick me up....a little something to help me get through the last 150 feet...but NOOOO!!  This is when I was left to reflect on my own responses to people.  How often am I guilty of tearing others down rather than pulling them up towards their goals??!!  Valuable lesson learned!!

3.  Don't be to prideful because you just might get slapped in the face!

Story: We had just celebrated reaching the top!!  We took our victory pictures and did some victory 'whoop whoops!' and after letting our lungs relax a little we headed back down the mountain.  We were SO proud of ourselves!!  As we were heading down the first switch back we turned this corner and all of a sudden had to eat some humble pie as we see a nearly 80 year old man hiking with his daughter towards the top...AND he was even talking to her.  Lets just say that Jami and I didn't do too much talking on this hike as neither one of us could even breath most of the time:)  It taught me a valuable lesson of humility.  Yes we can be proud of ourselves for accomplishing goals but we've got to keep ourselves humble along the way.  Lesson learned!!

4.  Someone can always do it better!

Story:  We were about halfway down the mountain when we see this young kid RUNNING up the mountain, stops at the switchback and drops down and does 20 push ups, hops back up and starts running again.  Jami asked him how old he was and he was a whopping 14!!  The lesson learned for me was that there will ALWAYS be someone that can do this hike through life faster and better...and that's okay as long as we are doing OUR personal best!!!  Lesson Learned!

I never knew that Hiking the 'Y' would have such a profound influence on me.  I hope to never forget the lessons I learned!!!

 Half way up

 WHOOP WHOOP...Jami and I at the TOP

 after the hike

Thank God for amazing sisters!!!

Quality Time...MuCh NeeDed!!

 Brandon and I and the Burns went on a little get away to Utah over the 24th of July.  I LOVE being in Utah for the 24th, especially when we get to go to the Ogden Rodeo!!  We had a great time staying in Eden, up Ogden canyon in our Timeshare.  Memories were made, friendships strengthened, and love rekindled!!  Brandon and I hadn't been on a get away in quite some time.  I love falling in love with him all over again when we go on these trips!(don't take that wrong...I love him all the time...but it just does something for me when we can get away!)

 Here are some of my favorite pics and highlights from the trip...

 Mike and Brandon chillen

 the view from our balcony

 Temple Square...took a picture of mike and his wives(inside joke)

 The four of us at temple square

One of the highlights for me was getting to see my good Friend, brother from another mother, Richard David Petty.  We NEVER get to spend enough time with him!!

 Me & Richard

 Richard's wife took this picture...LOVE IT!!

On the way to Utah all Mike and Robyn heard about was this Richard guy they were going to get to meet.  I knew Mike and Richard would have things in common since both of them were in the Army and both served in Iraq.  It was funny when it finally dawned on Mike that THAT was the Richard I had been talking about the entire time. 

 Richard and Mike

 Mike and Robyn

 Brandon and I

 These boys were hilarious getting fishing stuff...they were bound and determined they were gonna catch the biggest fish ever caught at Pineview Reservoir...they caught NOTHING!!

 Old Glory being flown in at he Ogden Rodeo

 Robyn and Mike at the rodeo

 Brandon and I

Another Highlight was getting to see our favorite guy in Ogden...Mitchel B Herzog!  He was a missionary here in Heber a few years back that we still keep in touch with.  Love this kid....we need to find him a wife!!

 Me and Herzog

The best Highlight of the trip was getting to attend the Salt Lake Temple to do Baptisms with the Burrell Family.  So glad they let us crash their party and let us join them!! It was a neat experience getting to be with Mike and Robyn the first time they attended the Salt Lake Temple.  For me...the Spirit was so strong and a testimony builder for sure!  Look forward to going back when we can do a session. 

We had a great time chilling at the lake after the Temple.  It was nice to just relax and not have to go anywhere.  

 Come on fishies...where are you??

 I swear there's got to be some fish in there some where!!

Robyn and I

There are definitely things we learned and things we would've done different. But over all it was a trip that was much needed and enjoyed!!  Can't wait for our next adventure!!!

A Year Without Him...

Today is the 1 year anniversary of my Dad's death.  It still hurts...I still cry...I still long to hear his voice on the other line when he would call me almost everyday...I still long to hear his words of wisdom when I would go to him with a problem...I still miss his big bear hugs...I still miss...him.  There are moments that it feels like he has been gone forever, yet I can hardly believe that it has already been a year.  I have learned so much about myself, about the gospel, about my relationship with my Savior and my Heavenly Father, and just how close Heaven really is to us.  There is no doubt that he is still actively involved(when allowed) in our family's lives.  I have felt him on multiple occasions and have had the Spirit confirm that he has been allowed to be with us at certain times.  I would say that over time it has gotten easier but that wouldn't be the truth…I miss him just as much today as I did a year ago.  I think as members of the church we fool ourselves into believing that death should be easy and that we shouldn't feel certain steps of the mourning process because of the knowledge we have…but to me the gospel makes death manageable.  I've learned that it's okay to ask why and to be angry and to go through those steps, But I have also learned that there is sweetness in our Savior's death and resurrection...through him and only him are we allowed the blessing of being reunited with our loved ones.  I look forward to the day that I can throw my arms around my Dad and get one of those big bear hugs.    

 Love and Miss you Daddy!

A few of my favorite pics of the big guy...

 Mom and Dad April 2012 dancing at their 50th Anniversary Part

 My favorite scary face

 Always teaching us how to work

 Teaching us from the scriptures

 Always willing to explain how something was done!

 Always making the grandkids feel special

 I will forever be his baby girl!

 My parent's hands just a few hours before he passed away

 The day they started their temple calling

 Our last family reunion

 My hero

 Miss him like crazy!

 8th grade graduation

 Christmas 2011

 Our fishing trip May 2012

 Our last time to sing 'Daddy What If' with him...Father's Day 2012

 Maron and her Papa have always had a special bond

 Lee's Ferry May 2012

Last picture I took with Dad

BACK TO SCHOOL!!!...A mother's independence day!!

 I am a horrible mother!!  I am not one of those mother's who are sad on the 1st day of school!  Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my kids and it saddens me to see them grow up so quickly, but I LOVE the structure that comes with school.  It seems as if our family goes to hell every summer and we can't seem to read our scriptures and we average family prayer like 2 nights a week.  With school comes a schedule that I love and the structure that we all need.  This summer has been a rough one...for some reason I feel as if Satan has taken up residency in the back bedroom and won't find somewhere else to go.  So here is to another school year and a little bit more sanity around this joint!!!

Happy Mother's Independence Day!!!

 My 5 Mtn. Meadows Boys...Mrogon, Paul, Zach, Caden, Miles

 Can't believe my baby boy, Miles(Kindergarten/Walker), started school this year!  He loved his 1st day!!

 Our two 3rd graders...Paul(Cronin) & Zach(Duncan)

 Our two 2nd graders...Morgon(Crandell) & Caden(Perguson)

 Our 3 Capps Kids...Porter(6th/Maner), Amelia(5th/Maner), and Michael(6th/Starkes)

 Tristen is a big sophomore!

 Eva is a big 8th grader!!

 Had to take a picture of Maron...she says she is in Baby School and that Mommy is her teacher!!

Mallori starts Pre-School next month with Mrs. King!!!