Number 25!

I now have 25 nieces and nephews and I love them all! Brandon and Lindsay were in Beaver for the 24th of July Celebrations so I met up with them for a few minutes at the Wendy's in Orem on their way home. Grant is so cute and I wish they still lived in Provo so the two of us could have more bonding time. I guess I may just need to move to Idaho! Are their any openings at any of the dairies?

As I was talking to Lindsay she was telling me that Grant has brought quite the change to her life. We all face so many different changes no matter what stage of life we are in. Some we can anticipate but most of the time it seems to come upon us without warning. Steven E. Snow gave a great talk entitled "Get On with Our Lives" in April 2009 conference on the topic of change. I would encourage all to read this one!

"By listening to the prophets, keeping an eternal perspective, having faith, and being of good cheer, we can face life’s unexpected challenges."

This weekend we...

Went here...Stayed in this...And by the end felt like this...

SUNSETS...

It has almost been one year since I returned from a study abroad in Israel. In a blog post from that time, I shared how I had fallen in love with sunsets. I was reminded again just how beautiful they are when I watched the sun set over Provo as I reached the "Y" after a hike up the mountain a couple of weeks ago.

There have been many sunrises and sunsets over the past year. It is amazing to me to look back at everything that has happened in the last year. As I left Jerusalem I couldn't have imagined all of the new opportunities and experiences that I would face as well as the passing of many of those same experiences. It is a time of transition and a time of new opportunity. The sun may be setting on some parts of my life but it is soon to rise and I look forward to what the Lord has is in store for me.

"I begin by mentioning one of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth, and that is change. At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: “Nothing is as constant as change.

"Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.

"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

Thomas S. Monson "Finding Joy in the Journey"

A day with the Christensens

Yesterday Adam and I went to the Christensen's to spend the afternoon and evening with Katie and Eric and their kids. We had a blast at the neighborhood pool. Annie loved "diving" and I loved her stance. Fairy in hand and tube around her waist.

Annie and Cameron loved the slide.

We also enjoyed a few games of pool basketball I must brag that Adam and I won 2 of the 3 games. Katie and Eric are great shooters but Adam transformed the game into Rugby-Basketball and I will just say that I was glad that he was on my team!