Date night…

cleaning the boat
charging the battery
sipping diet coke
enjoying the music of the 80’s
declaring ourselves the best boat launchers EVER.
wondering why we don’t take this 20 minute trip south more often.

the…

(the photographer... me, & mostly Kylee!)

July’s travel log…

On Sunday, Evan left for Phoenix for a business trip.
He was gone only a few days, but we scheduled a slight detour.

Bright and early Wednesday morning, the girls and I packed up the car,
dropped Chester off at Grandpa & Grandmas
and started our road trip.

First destination, Las Vegas.
Only for dinner and a nights rest…
but not before picking up an extra passenger.
Evan joined us and was our chauffer to our final destination…

But first, a cold trip to the beach
where we laid around, took pictures (acquiring some scrapes in the process)
and shivered.

it was relaxing, in spite of the chill.

We spent the next three days in the park.
After the first day, I came to accept two facts.
1] no matter what care and attention I pay to my feet, Disney always delivers blisters
2] prickly heat has become a permanent part of my early summer wardrobe

 

I will share more later.
As for now, I am tired and I am so very much looking forwarding to sleeping in my own surroundings!!
It is not very Disney…. but it is fitting to say
There is no place like home!

Thank You Harry

Dear Harry Potter:

Thank you for giving my girls something to love for so many years.
Thank you for the gift of reading… over and over again.
Thank you for their excitement before each new movie.
Thank you for inspiring them to get good grades so they could skip school after each midnight premier.

Thank you for inspiriting others and their great creativity.(see below)

You will be missed.

Crazy about Harry.

Quotable

"Do not spoil what you have
by desiring what you have not;
but remember that what you now have
was once among the things you only hoped for."

~Epicurus

Bridges

I read a quote posted on a friends blog.
I immediately looked for the source so I could read the rest of the text.
I am so thankful I did.

In May, President Monson spoke at Dixie College
as they celebrated 100 years.

He spoke of three bridges:

1] the bridge of attitude

"Attitude can make all the difference in our lives, and we control our attitude," he said. "It can make us miserable or happy, content or dissatisfied. To a great degree, it can make us strong or weak."

It was the philosopher William James who developed the "as if" principle: If you want a virtue, act as if you already have it. If you want to be brave, act as if your are brave. If you want to be happy, act happy.

"Change your attitude by trying the 'as if" principle — it can work for all of us."

2] the bridge of integrity

"Being true to oneself is anything but easy if the moral standards of one's associates conflict with his or her own," he said. "The herd instinct is strong in the human animal, and the phrase 'Everybody else is doing it' has an insidious attraction. ...

"Nothing takes more strength than swimming against the current. You, my friends, are strong and must at times decide to swim against that current."

3] the bridge of service

"During your life you may achieve wealth or fame or social standing," he said. "Real success, however, comes from helping others."

All will have opportunities to serve.

"The blind and the handicapped need friendship; the aged are hungry for companionship; the young need understanding guidance; the gifted are starved for encouragement. These benefits can't be conferred by reaching for your checkbook. Personal service is direct and human."

… one's personal service may not be dramatic, but it can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts and lift precious souls to new heights.

"My young friends, your life will be fuller, richer and happier if you seek for and find opportunities to be of service."

I find myself, again, full of short comings.
It seems, that the simplest things, are the most difficult to live by.
I believe my attitude and integrity are in line with His teachings,
but I struggle with the simple acts of service.
I tend to “pick and choose”.
I know I need to just “go and do”!

I think I will start with Visiting Teaching…

4th of July

City Festivals and Carnivals
Badminton and Horseshoes
new K-9 cousin
Burgers & Dogs (hot off the grill)
Backyard FULL of family

More badminton
Fire & S’Mores
Backyard FULL of friends
Noisy fireworks past midnight!

I love summer holidays!!

Perfect Balance…

Above, is a list I compiled for myself after today’s Relief Society lesson.
We talked about how we should

”take care of the essential things which will save and sanctify
us and the things which are necessary to make us personally
self-reliant and useful in the Lord’s kingdom.” Julie B. Beck

I believe, that as we focus on the essential’s, and prioritize that which is necessary,
those things that seem nice become less significant, less important.
I also believe in this irony: as we focus on the essential,
the necessary and nice fall into their appropriate place in our lives,
and we find ourselves, being able to manage (and enjoy) all of these things
in our crazy, busy lives.

I know that I have a lot of work to do!
As I review my list, I know that the least of my attention it on the essential.
I know that I must refocus my attention, and only then, will I find the
perfect balance.

Kicking off a 3 day weekend…

After a spontaneous decision, Kylee packed her bags
and took off to Portland with some friends.
Determined to have some fun of our own,
the rest of us kicked off the weekend with a bang.
(Literally!)

We started our day with a movie…
Transformers at the new Cinemark down the street.
Followed by few errands that we had to get out of the way,
especially if we wanted to eat!

Later, we threw some chairs in the back of the truck,
packed a small cooler with some water,
grabbed the camera and the dog,
and headed west to Riverton for some fireworks!