"The Prophet Said...

...to plant a garden, so that's what we'll do!" (LDS Children's Songbook, page 237).Our lives have been in kind of a limbo since last October. We thought we might have a huge career change and move to another state. Then Chancho didn't feel so good about it. But we decided to still sell our house. Then, just as of today, we decided not to. Chancho took down the sign from in front of the house while we were putting in the wood floor but it was still on MLS. Today a realtor called, wanting to show the house. I called Chancho and he said, "no." Hurray! Finally we have a decision. We are staying here!


I have wanted a garden for a long time. You know why I didn't have one. Too sick and all that, then I thought we were moving. But I've been looking at my flowerbeds in the backyard for quite sometime and have been thinking, "Those are so full of weeds. What shall I do with them? Can't I just make them into a garden?" Well, today I did. We do have an area on the side of our house that will make a lovely garden one day. But not today. Too much work. Too late in the summer.So, for family night tonight, we planted a garden! Maybe you wouldn't consider a few tomato and pumpkin plants in a small flowerbed to be a garden, but it's a start. The kids LOVED it! They each have their own special plant that they have to water and weed and they hope that in the fall we will make salsa and pumpkin pie and have our own jack-0-lanterns. I hope it will be a success.
Anyway, we had a great little time and afterwards I read a story out of the Friend magazine about a family planting a garden and Pres. Kimball's counsel to plant one. I was surprised at how attentive the kids were and how strong the Spirit was. I actually was not counting on that, but it was there and I promised my kids that if we follow the prophet, even in doing something small like planting a garden, then we will be blessed. And I knew it was true.

A Lot of Photos from a Carnivore

Last Saturday was the annual SO Days. My sister Amy's backyard leads to the local elementary school and park where there is always this big celebration for the 4th of July, including a carnival. She began a tradition several years ago of inviting over as many family (and often friends) that can come to have a dinner in the backyard, talk, go over to the carnival (aka "carniVORE" as my great-niece Elle called it) and watch the fireworks show. Her house is in the premium spot for all of the festivities. We are able to enjoy just as much of the crowd as we want and then can come back to the beautiful sanctuary of her backyard with its two huge, shady trees, trampoline and sandbox.

I do not have a ton of happy memories of SO Days gone by. One heavy memory surrounds the fact that I broke up with my very-serious boyfriend for the first (of several) times just before the SO Days and arrived shattered and in tears to spend the evening. I also have lots of memories of coming but feeling too sick to eat and feeling worse from the heat. Usually one or more of the kids has been too little and would get too tired to enjoy most of the festivities. Last year I was on some major mind-altering drugs and not dealing well with my hairloss and Chancho wasn't able to come.

This year was SUCH a happy time. It could not have been better! Well, okay, it could have been better if all of my family had been there (especially my two younger sisters and, no, I'm not just saying that because I know you two will probably be the only ones to read this). I was healthy and happy with my husband and three children with me and we all had a fantastic time!

Some of the things I enjoyed most:
...a "special dark" vadar

...chatting with the girls
...watching Chancho and String Cheese ride her first "big people ride" together
...watching Deedle getting brave and trying out lots of new things
...the freedom of my children's laughter
...the blessing of wonderful cousins whom my kids adore
(I realize this photo is very blurry, but the moment was priceless--every time their car came around on this little coaster their sisters would cheer for them and they would look at each other and laugh these deep, hearty laughs.)

...snuggling under the stars
...best seats for the fireworks show and kids that love each other