Summer Days

Clint and I have had a lot of fun these past weeks. Here are some pictures to prove it!

Clint and Tilby a missionary buddy who just got home....his mom makes some wicked cafe rio:)

Memorial day with the fam! We played some football, went fishing ate delicious food and enjoyed dessert as the sunset went down over the mountains. It was very wonderful and serene.




Jazz and Laker game with our friends! It was fun to be in that atmosphere but sad to see the Jazz get killed. Eh well, there is always next year.

A couple of weeks ago Parker was playing in a tournament for school and they needed some more players, so they threw Clint right in there with the rest of 'em. It was fun watching them play together and seeing how Clint just fit right in with the team. Presh! Oh, and they won.


Best Friends wedding! So fun to go to one and see how happy they are. Weddings are a beautiful thing.


I love how relaxed summers are and all the fun we get to have with family. I am still hoping for the warm and sunny weather to hit us here in Utah.

What is Perfection

I think everyone has a different definition of perfection, what it is and how it is achieved. I read this story the other day and I love how the Father describes perfection. I know its a long story but it is worth the while:

At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of one student delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son, Shay? Everything God does is done with perfection, but my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?"

The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish and stilled by the piercing query. "I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that he seeks is in the way people react to this child."

He then told the following story about his son Shay: One afternoon, Shay and his father walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they will let me play?"

Shay's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shay's father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shay could play.The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said "We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay's father was ecstatic as Shay smiled broadly. Shay was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base. Shay was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay should at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. One of Shay's team-mates came up to Shay and together they held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay and his teammate swung at the ball and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had Shay run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shay, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second." Shay ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home.

As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third." As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, "Shay run home."

Shay ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."

It's stories like these that make me want to be a Special Education teacher. I hope to see many moment like these throughout my career and life. May we all take a moment to help someone else:)

My life

March and April are busy months with birthdays, double dates, jazz games, matching shorts (so cute) and just living life to the fullest! Pictures of our new haircuts will be coming up soon:)

General Conference

I realized I have not mentioned anything about general conference when it was a really amazing conference a great time for families to get together. Clint and I were lucky to spend the weekend with his parents and grandparents. It is so fun to be with them whenever we have a chance. I have a lot of pictures from the past while to post so hopefully I will get to that soon.

As for conference I really enjoyed all of the talks. They all brought so much to think about, new guidance and light to bring into my life. One talk that I have been thinking about this morning was the one Elder Ballard gave one Women and their roles. I particularly liked the quote given by Joesph F. Smith “It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to lead the . . . women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and . . . purifying to the children of men”
I find this very inspiring for the women in our day. It is so often that I watch a t.v. show or look through magazines where this life in the business world and of luxury looks so appealing to me (I would never be able to attain this life style on my teaching salary anyway...but I wonder if my Mom did not teach me how important and wonderful the role of the mother is if I would have done things differently. I guess what I am saying is that I look forward to the day of being a Mom and teaching my family the important principles of the Gospel and the importance of being a Mother and Father some day.

I love that Ballard took the time to just address the ladies and remind us of pretty much how amazing and important we are. It is nice to hear that sometimes. I am grateful for the weekend of Conference that we have to hear from our Prophet, Apostles and other important Church Leaders. I am grateful for my life and for the Gospel that I have been taught in and someday I will teach my family as well.

"Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman."

Bees

I truly learn something new everyday. Friday I was sitting outside of my office enjoying the beautiful sunshine when I felt a sharp sting on my elbow...and it didn't stop. I threw off my jacket thinking I had a spider or some other kind of gross bug biting my elbow. As I was hitting my elbow, freaking out and ready to strip down (whew glad I didn't have to go that far) to find whatever it was that was biting me my friend David saw a bee fall out of my jacket. I had no idea Bee Stings hurt that bad!

I got some ice and froze my elbow off until the pain started to subside. I took some Benadryl to help that night and the next day I woke up to a bright red and swollen elbow. I swear it looked like I had elephantiasis. Today, three days later, 10 Benadryl later, my arm is no longer swollen but is still bright, bright RED!!!

So, what did I learn. Bee stings hurt like nothing else, don't ever think about striping down when in a panic, and I am slightly allergic to bees! Crazy!

Hope this makes your day!

This is a video that Clint shared with me yesterday and I just had to share it with the Blogger world...Bon Appetite!

April Showers

April showers has a different meaning in Utah than other places (CALI) it is not a light rain with rainbows and that refreshing smell after....rather it is waking up in the morning to a fresh layer of snow on the ground and freezing wind as you walk to class. It is so cold (mind you we are in APRIL now) that I could see my breath as I walked to campus this morning. April showers I think not!