Thanks:)

So many great things have happened the past couple of months. I feel so blessed to have such a great loving, supportive family and so many loving supportive friends.  A picture is worth a thousand words....so I'll let the pictures be my words and express my love and thanks:)

Puerto Rico....

A revolving door trip...you make one loop around and you are spit out back home. We were only in Puerto Rico for TWO days...we must go back(we didn't even see Jorge or Tateanna!) It took us Two days of travel, crazy, not thinking...Ron was invited to go with one of his company's Travelers Insurance...we should have extended!

Sitting in the plane waiting to take off I glanced over and saw this American jet...it just hit me I am proud to be an American. We are going through a lot right now but what if our country was united and had just a little of the patriotism it took to build this great country, if we pulled and worked together. Do you wonder what if Mitt had won?
We stayed in a great place, met some crazy people, went kayaking, snorkeling, read a book, had a great spa afternoon.  I was so excited snorkeling.  Ron found this huge seashell so I'm carrying it all around with me thinking this is amazing...how can I smuggle this home?? (I love seahells!) I get out of the water and within minutes this creature comes crawling out while I'm holding it. I'm screaming, Ron returns it to its home.  Walking back down the beach we found all kinds of shells and I asked the guide(Puerto Rican teenager) can I take this shell home.  Sure, no problem. So I have a treasure! We got to fly first class for one of the legs and that was bad cause now when you're back with the crowd, you know what is going on behind that curtain and you want to be there as you sit there and they are charging $4.00 for a bag of nuts!

This was by our room... was I suppose to be inspired by it??? I could not quite grasp the artist concept  I do love art, maybe it was me!!

The hotel was very spread out.  It had its own private island, lower section you took a little tram to...I know I didn't see half of it because we were only there two days!! We traveled two days to get there...bad, bad planning.  I should have consulted Janae!

The Family is Growing...

The family is growing Camilla and Tanner Wells are officially engaged...yeah we are so excited!! Tanner is an amazing young man and fits into our family so perfect. We all love you Tanner and are so excited. His dad is Julie Bartletts dads cousin...small world. 

Daniel & Brittney are expecting number 2. We are really excited for that, nothing better than being 'mimi' and 'papa'...We are Blessed!

A Plan...

Isn't this amazing?? I think Heavenly Father is a true romantic...how fun would it be to create your own world?? It is so fun to visit every ones blogs and see their personalities come through; can you imagine visiting their worlds? As you can see my mind is everywhere today...we got back from Brian Head last night(had a GREAT Valentines)...Cami is officially engaged! We are so excited for her and Tanner...June 20th. They want to have the reception in our backyard....HELP I NEED A PLAN!!!

I will admit planning is one of my weaknesses. My mind will not quiet today...should I just rent a POD and empty my house and start over? Maybe I should really call CLEAN SWEEP or Natalie Garrett? 

Right now I am just so thankful that Heavenly Father has a Plan. He loves us all so much and takes such good care of every one of us...sometimes we get weak and can't see the Plan and we become sad and fearful thinking this can't be the Plan... but then if we do just one small tiny thing like read your scriptures the spirit just pours over you and whispers to your heart...this is the Plan and it gives you strength to continue....

P.S...I loved King Keiths last post, I'm IN...since this is LOVE month one of my favorite sayings is... "The Love in Your Heart wasn't put their to stay...LOVE isn't LOVE til you give it away"....

My Baby Bear is 18!!!

I really can't believe Darren can seriously be 18...(I don't feel that old!) What a great last child Darren has been.  The cutest little boy...I still can see him in the Primary Program when he was a sunbeam, we were at the back of the chapel and when he finally spotted us, he started waving and yelled at the top of his lungs "Hi Mom" Don Ahern cracked up at him and kept telling me, "he should be in the movies".  He has a very tender heart that surfaced at a young age...Chris Figgins was teasing him about bringing him some treats so one Saturday morning when we had donuts, Darren went over to the Figgins without us knowing and rang the doorbell (early Sat. morning) no answer so he left Chris a donut hanging it on their doorbell. When he went to middleschool and started band with Mr. Matta, his friends thought he should play the tuba because he could fit in the case! It was tough riding the bus with that tuba...so one day he comes downstairs with his tuba case with wheels on the bottom.  He had taken the wheels off his desk and got the drill gun and put them on the school tuba case! I have always loved his bright, ingenious mind...its always at work.  My older kids think I have spoiled Bear which I have what can I say. He is an amazing young man, loyal, extremely non judgemental, he always fights for the underdog.  He has always had friends from all ages and all walks of life.  He will be a great missionary because of his unconditional love for people. He has had alot of great leaders in his life that have seen the best in him, thanks Bro. Hodson and Casey, Bishop, Bro. Wilcox, Sis. Schlauder, Janae, Lucy, Wendi and others.  I know I shouldn't name names but as I'm sitting here and the tears are flowing and I am feeling very grateful for all the help in raising this young man...it does take a village and I am grateful for the village we live in...Darren I hope you know how much you are loved! You have so many gifts, we love to be with you, you add so much to our family...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Sail away....

I started this post and got sidetracked...but we did sail away and went on a Book of Mormon cruise.  It is so amazing to see these ruins...I feel like a dry sponge, right now I want to be dropped into a bucket of water and completely soak in every drop.  I'm so excited to read the Book of Mormon with new eyes...I know it will take me longer but I think that will be a good thing!  Here are a few pictures, we also went to a butterfly conservatory in Key West.  In Canada I don't know how many hours I have chased butterflies around trying to get a close up good shot...it was really easy here...they landed on you.  When I walked into the atrium, I'm sure my heart rate rose rapidly.  They were flying all around you.  You  had too watch where you stepped, all kinds of little creatures! You couldn't scream because it was a quiet, serene environment...I'm sure they would have kicked me out!