The Old Testament

Steve and I read through the Old Testament, I'm so happy to say we've done it, I can't say I've ever made it entirely through it before. It's been quite a feat, We have studied an Institute Manual, and the Old Testament made easier with it. By the way I really like the books (Scriptures made easier-by Ridges) It's taken us two full years to read it all. Anyway we were discussing it the other night and I said it's been kind of hard for me to understand all of the Old Testament. Justin said, "Mom, no one expects you to understand all of it, you were just a little girl when it was written."
I love the humor in my family, alot of times at my expense, but I really do enjoy it. All of my family makes me laugh. Thank heavens for the humor that life has, it sure would be a sad life without it.

Summer Days Fly By

Wow does time ever fly by. The summer is almost gone and I hardly had time to blink. We have done alot of logging this summer, we took out all our big trees behind our house. It has opened our views to nice sunsets but also to a busy street behind us. We have been so secluded, but not anymore. The trees were pioneer trees and were so old they had to come out. One almost hit the neighbors house and took out the electricity for half the block. It blew up TV's and furnaces. I'm glad we hired it out and didn't try it ourselves. Jared warned us not to try it because the trees were rotting out. After we finished up with that we had the irrigation ditch re done which has allowed us to irrigate for the first time in about 3 years. It's been nice to get some water so we have a little green around us again. The lawn was all that was green the pastures only recieved moisture when it rained. Sometimes I forget we live in a desert, but believe me we do.
We had plenty of reunions and campouts, every weekend was booked. I'm hopeing to enjoy some weekends working around the house for awhile.
Justin has been with us for the summer as his apartment was taken away for the landlords son, he wasn't sure where he was going and didn't want to sign any agreements for a year. Now he has a new job in Kayesville. And is actually moving today, he starts the 1st of Sept. at his new job. We're excited for him. He's been working nights and thats hard on a body!
Well thats pretty much our life for the summer in a nutshell, Nothing to exciting but we love it!

Loving Life

I don't post as often as I'd like, because its hard for me to put my thoughts into words. I know thats hard to believe because I love to talk, but putting it on paper is harder for me. I have a quote I love by Ezra Taft Benson, he says: "Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.
I have such a happy life, I'm thankful for good parents, both my own, and my inlaws. I have a wonderful husband, who supports me in all I do. Great kids, who have taught me what's truly imortant in this life and the best grandkids in the world. We are so blessed with many friends and family who influence our lives daily. We truly do live in light and love. Thank you all!!

Graduations!

Two amazing accomplishments in our family recently are the graduation of Justin with his Masters Degree, and Melissa's graduation from USU this month. Both are incredible achievements, Justin has worked hard on his degree, while working to put himself through school. Working nights and classes and study during the day. Way to go Justin!!
Melissa was almost ready to graduate 10 years ago, and was finishing her last credits with and internship. She was pregnant with Emily and the doctor put her on bedrest so she couldn't finish up at that point. Ten years and five kids later she is graduating and walking on Saturday. We're excited for you Melissa!! Our love for our little family was beyond anything we ever imagined the best thing is the love just continues to grow.

We went to a couple of soccer games in Kaysville on Sat. and what a fun time we had. Emily and AJ are on the team and they do an awsome job. Tony's sister Sly is their coach and does an amazing job with the team. We love watching them play. Plus being with family is always a great thing, there's absolutely nothing I enjoy more.
Melissa, Emily, Eliza and I went down early to the baby shower of a good friend. It was good to visit and catch up on what was going on in their lives. Sometimes life gets so busy it's hard to make connections with the people we love. We met up with Steve, Tony and the boys at the game and then went to dinner with Tony's family that evening. It was a nice day, I think we need more of those fun filled days.

How old are we?

Yesterday Kaden came home from primary all excited. He tells his mom and dad, guess what, Heavenly Father created the first two people, a boy and a girl. Their names are Adam and
Eve. After that he created Grandpa and Grandma! WOW!! I guess we are older than dirt.

Every morning as I get ready for the day I hear a grinding/knocking sound in the pipes somewhere. I've been telling Steve about it but he's never here in the mornings and it doesn't seem to happen when he is home. But this morning he heard it, (actually I'm so used to it now I didn't even notice it today). Anyway he starts going around the house to see where it's coming from. It sounds like the pipes to me. I've looked and looked but can never quite tell where it is. He walked outside and came back in chuckling. Come to find out, it is a little woodpecker hitting the chimney flue. I'm releaved, at points I've thought the house might blow up or something. Some fixes are just easier than others.

What a beautiful day it is today. I love it when the sun is shining, everything feels so happy and right with the world. I'm just thinking about how blessed I am. I just watched on the news today about the little kids coming from Haiti and joining their new families. What tragic things they have all experienced, coming to new surroundings and people they will have to get to know, and yet they were smiling and happy. They are able to live in peace and comfort here. What an amazing blessing, that is so easy to take for granted. I love the goodness of people, and the trust of children. My heart and prayers go out for all the people who have stepped up and helped a child in need.

Life's blessings

I've sat down and tried to write a few times, it's sometimes hard to express in words, the feelings and experiences life gives us. I haven't had words to describe what I wanted to say. The things we have experienced with Melissa's surgery and complications of that have been life changing for us. We are grateful that she is on the mend and able to be back in the riggors of life again.

Some times we don't think about what a blessing we have every day to be in good health. It's something thats easy for me to take for granted, I hope to think about it every single day. Another blessing we recognized is the service that was rendered from so many people. Everyone was so good to all of us through this time. There were so many acts of love and service all around us. Sometimes the world focuses on the inhumanity of mankind, but you don't have to look far to find that the goodness far outweighs the bad.

I learned many things though this experience, to many to list and besides I can't put much of it into words. I do know that supportive family is huge, I watched both the Larsen and the Yeates side of the family pull together to support, and that was wonderful to me! It didn't make a difference how close or far away, everyone showed love and support. It was incredible!

I've always loved Tony Yeates but I found an even greater respect for him as I watched him love Melissa and rely on the Lord.

Steve had the flu through the whole thing and couldn't even visit Melissa, he waited patiently for updates, praying continually for her healing. Through fasting and many many prayers we were blessed with a miracle. I'm so thankful for a knowledge that God's hand is in our lives. I saw his hand many times.