One more picture!

I have to post this picture up here too. While in Burley we celebrated birthdays for Grandpa, James, Sean, Dot and Jonathan. Here's our picture of three generations of birthdays together. We love and miss you grandpa Red!! We hope your Birthday was as good as James' was!!!!!!

Going to the Pumkin Patch

While we were visiting with Granny Franny and Grandpa Red in Idaho we went to pick out Halloween pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. We took tons of pictures while we were there, but here are the best ones of all of us. Can you believe we actually got one of both boys looking at the camera? It took about 10 shots to get this one! But they sure are cute.

I love to see it when Ben really smiles big so that you can see his little teeth, and we caught him in between squirms with a little laugh for this shot-- What a charmer this boy will be. He's already talking up a storm. He says Mama, Daddy, banana, please, thank you, grandpa, hot dog, all done, and I love you (or some variation of that). But the best thing about him is that he is just so incredably happy all the time, running in and out of rooms getting into things he knows he shouldn't and thinking that a smile and giggle will make things all okay. He's already figured out that the smile of his can melt the coldest heart...we sure do love the spirit he brings with him.

James on the other is such a ham and will do just about anything we can to get everybody to pay attention to him and to laugh, that is when you don't catch him during one of his stubborn streaks. I can't believe how big he is getting. Just the other day he called down the hall to me, "Mommy have you seen my cars anywhere?" I just smiled and told him to look in his bag. Only a moment passed and he said "oh, I found them in my bag Mommy." I could help but think that before I know it he's going to be asking me where the car keys are, just like that. He really is something else. We sure do love him.

We sure did enjoy our visit in Idaho, but I think the boys are glad to be back in their own beds and back to the usual schedule. Thanks to Granny and Grandpa for everything this last week, and thanks to Aunt Dot and Uncle Johnny for visiting with us as well. We sure do miss all of our family being here in Las Vegas.

Football at the Birthday party

After opening all of his gifts (all of which he as loved), he played football with his new ball and one of his new friends Hayes. Luckily we got a video of it while they were playing. It was so fun!!!

Thanks to all those who came and gave James such fun gifts!! He has already watched the movies from Grandma Julie atleast 2 times a piece. He loves to take all his clothes off and put the super-hero cape on and then he says he can fly...And the motorcyle from another frined entertained him for the whole trip up to Idaho! We sure doe love Birthdays!!

Happy Birthday James

James turned 3 years old on Tuesday the 13th. I can't believe he's already 3 years old, and yet, it feels like he's been a part of my life for so much longer! James specifically asked for a Lightning McQueen Birthday, so we went all out and got him the Cake he wanted. We invited all his frineds from nursery over, as well as Uncle Greg and Teema.

We had so much Fun. The kids played with Bubbles for a while, and played on the swings and playground equipment at our apartment complex. After Cake and more playing we opened presents! James loves that he got present for his Birthday.

James felt like he was living large!! He loves having friends over to play with him

What goes with me?

I recently read an email that contained a story of a woman that had four boyfriends that she cared for in different ways. Then the woman became ill and as she asked her boyfriends if they would stay by her side and go with her, they all turned her down except the one who she had neglected, but the one that had been the most loyal and true to her. In the end the four boyfriends represented four different things in our lives. The first represented our body, which we often lavish and indulge. The second was our possessions and social position, which sadly we often spend too much of our time trying to accumulate. The third was our family and friends, and the last one was our spirit, often neglected, by always loyal.

As I read this parable I was saddened by the sentiments. It is true that when we die our spirits will separate from our bodies, but not forever. Because of the resurrection we will be reunited with our bodies for eternity--our bodies are an eternal gift, so it is important to take care of it while we are here, and not trash it with horrible substances or deface it. Yes, our bodies will leave us when we die, but not forever. Our possessions will indeed leave us, the parable was right on that count. But our family and friends. How sad is it that there are many of us that do not believe that we can take our family and friends with us into the next life. Once again we may be separated from them for a time, but we are not going to be alone in the next life. The gospel of Jesus Christ has provided a way for us to be families forever, sealed both in this life and the next. This immense gift is ours if we accept and live the covenents in the temple!!! Not only our families, but if we share the gospel message with our friends as well, we can have them there with us too! No chair empty, right?

Lastly our spirits, will go with us as well. I have found that as I strive to nurture and care for my soul I automatically start to nurture my friends and family, and my body. I become more confident in my standing with God, and my confidence in myself as a person, and daughter of God grows as well, increasing myself image, so that my social standing and possessions don't seem to matter. I find complete joy in the journey, and contentment with where my life is headed. It's amazing how following God's plan and keeping his commandments, however "socially unpopular" that may be really does bring us joy!! Our Heavenly Father must know exactly what he is talking about when he tells us to follow him to find joy. I know his "yoke is easy, and his burden is light." And that if we take it upon us we really will find rest!