Mothers Day

Its mothers day, and its caused me to do alot of reflecting. Steve and I have talked many times about our family and we are so grateful to have wonderful children. I know Mothers Day is for honoring our mothers and I honor and love my mother and my mother in law. They have been amazing influences in our lives, and taught both of us the truly important things in life.
Right now I want to say thank you to my children who also have taught us the truly important things in life. It is my honor to be their mother. Each one of them has blessed our lives in so many ways. We LO VE them!
When I became a mother I wanted more than anything to be the best mother in the world. I wanted life to turn out perfectly for my children, and I didn't want them to have any painful experiences in life, I wanted to protect them.
What I've learned thru life is that life is not perfect, nor would we want it to be. We get bumped and bruised but we pick ourselves up and go on, and it makes us stronger. Some of my most painful experiences in life are my most treasured experiences. Though I would never want to experience them again and would never wish them on anyone, I would never trade the experiences, for the lessons they have taught me.
At one point I honestly thought I was not up to motherhood, I'd failed my children and my greatest goal in life was to be a good mother, so I thought I had failed myself too. That night as I prayed, the thought came to me. . . If you could help anyone in life who would you choose to be there for? I knew the answer, it was my family, then the thought "Thats what family is about, helping each other through the hard times that come." That has been a blessing in my life, its not about perfection in this life, its about turning to the Lord and seeking his help, and then in turn helping each other.
My children have been there to help me and support Steve and I, all the time. I hope we can return the favor. I feel it a priviledge to be a mother!! Thank heavens the Lord gives us the chance through all of our imperfections, to have that opportunity.
I read an article recently that asked "who taught you the most your parents or your children? Wow, what a thought provoking question. I've contemplated that question alot and I think my parents laid a foundation, and taught me with great faith, and love. My children helped me learn to apply what I knew, I got a glimpse of the love of the Savior. I love motherhood, Its the best and the hardest thing I have ever done. I have grown so much thru the many experiences life has given me.
Thank you to my children who have taught me more of the Savior than I ever could have imagined.
You're the best thing in my life!!!!! I love my family and I'm thankful for every experience I have had with each of them. Thanks guys!

Hardware Ranch

We took the grandkids to Hardware Ranch on Friday afternoon to see the elk. It was a beautiful day and not many people were there. For early January the temperature was mild and the weather was beautiful. On our sleigh ride there was only one other couple besides our little group. The horses were Norman and Beauty, Norman was being trained and I thought a couple of times they might run away with us. They were pretty excited and skiddish. It was fun to see the elk, and we all had an enjoyable time. We couldn't have asked for a nicer day. And who better to spend an afternoon with than some of our favorite people. On the way home we stopped in Hyrum at McDonalds and got kids meals, but the most fun was playing on the playground. We couldn't get them out of there. When we told them one more time down the slide they just never came back down. Except little Porter, but then he would look at us and race back up. We spent about an hour and a half there, but what an enjoyable time we had. They begged us to take them for a sleep over after but their parents squelched that idea.

Aj (blue coat), Kaden (front), Kimball, Emily, Grandma and Porter

Aj enjoying the sleigh ride

Grandpa and Kaden, Kimball, Emily, Aj, Porter and Grandma

Kaden

The Elk

Kimball

Porter

Kimball

Aj

Emily and Porter

The Larsens met up Blacksmith fork canyon in June and we camped, played in the river and had an amazing time together. We even set up a outside movie one night. My mom came and stayed one night with us and Sharons mom came up too. We had a blast together like always when we get with them. They are some of our favorite people in the world. So glad we're family.

Reunions are some of the best times we have to get together with family and catch up on each others lives and spend some good quality time just being together. We are so lucky to have wonderful family on both Steves side and my side. We had time to enjoy reunions on both sides this past summer. We love the time we have to spend with each other.

Emily was baptised this past year, its hard to believe that I've been a grandmother for 8 years, and at the same time its hard to think of life before I was a grandmother. I love to watch my childrens families grow and learn, seems like we were just there minutes ago. Time goes by so quickly, I've enjoyed each season and its no different now. Its wonderful to see my daughters doing the mothering. They do it so well, I love to watch them. Melissa and Tony are great parents, they are teaching their children everything that is important in this life. Way to go Emily!! You made a great choice to be baptised keep it up.

2008 was a great year for us, I'll put a few of our favorite memories of last year. They are in no particular order, just some of the fun things we did in 08. First of all Justin graduated from USU and is working on his masters degree now. We were so proud of him, he has worked himself through school and continues to work as he works on his masters. The day Justin graduated two of our nephews graduated too. Cara's husband Bryan, and Meagan's husband Howard. It was an exciting day for all of us. He walked and that was so neat, I didn't realize the feelings we would have as he walked past us. We were so proud of his accomplishments.

Well we're trying to start a blog. My girls said it was easy, but we'll see.
Life has been good to us. We have experienced all kinds of things in
our 31 years of marraige. I used to want to look ahead and see what was
coming but I've learned that its better to take life one day at a time.
We have had some wonderful experiences in our life together, and
some that have wrenched our hearts to the core. The thing I'm the most
thankful for is that we have experienced it all. . . together, and each experience
has strengthened us as a couple and as a family. I thank the Lord everyday
for family. Truly my greatest blessing!