Awe the summer nights!

What do you get when you have lots of puppies, pillows and blankets...

and lots of friends and kittens...

and a great night outside?

Movie night out on the lawn!!!

A great heritage

I was asked to write a letter to Jordan about heritage for Young Women's a couple of weeks ago. She gave me permission to share it with you.


Dear Jordan,

You have been blessed to be part of a very wonderful heritage, into a family who loves you very much. I want to share a story with you today that I may have told you before, but it is one that I want you to remember.

I have fond memories of my Grandma Platt. She loved to bake and she made wonderful things. We got to visit her often and she always had hot homemade bread with her homemade jam waiting every time. We spent many holidays at her home and we got to enjoy feasting on the traditions that were important to her. She was in a wheelchair for most of my life and she was in a lot of pain all of the time. I remember helping her clean out rooms that she could not do herself and I remember how good I felt that I could help her. She died shortly after I got married and I think of her often and try to imagine her pain-free and happy.

Through the years I have tried to be strong through the trials that have come my way. There was one night a few years back when I was particularly struggling with the weight of the world, I remember lying in bed and wondering how I could do what was required of me to continue on. I fell into a fitful sleep and into a dream. I remember standing at the entrance to the dead end street looking up to my grandmother’s house. She was sitting in her wheelchair in front of her house. I started to walk toward her and I could see her stand up out of her wheelchair and start to walk to me. As she did this, I noticed she was no longer old and aged; instead she was a beautiful young woman. She had the happiest smile on her face and I could see that she was laughing.

She started running to me and swept me up into her arms and while swinging me around and around, she gave me the biggest hug. She didn’t say anything to me, but at that moment I knew she was so happy. I knew that she was aware of my pain and wanted me to know that I too would be able to have that happiness someday if I could just hold on.

Heavenly Father knew that I needed that very special moment and I am so grateful to him for allowing me to partake of her love once more. I believe that if the veil could be lifted for just a moment, we would see many of our progenitors surrounding us and lifting us up each time we struggle. I find comfort knowing that those who cleared the path before us are now on that same path walking beside us, helping us, and bringing comfort when it is needed. I am grateful to have a testimony of forever families. The family unit was not meant to be just an earthly institution. It was meant to carry on for eternity and what a beautiful plan.

I also wanted to take this time to tell you how much I love you. I have often said that Heavenly Father must love me very much, because he sent me one of his most precious daughters to help me when times get tough. I truly find strength in your ability to choose to be happy even when everyone around you is not. I feel that you are one of my greatest blessings and I am grateful for the knowledge that this blessing WILL continue on into the next life. I know that if we can hang tight, we too will get to return to live with Him and be apart of a vast heritage that he blessed us with. I love and cherish you so much.

Love forever,

Mom

Baseball fever

So I have been accused of being an embarrassing cheerleader. I don't think that I am. I really don't think that jumping up and down, yelling at the top of my lungs, accidentally sending congrats to a batter who just got a strike, stomping furiously on the metal benches to make as much noise as possible, hollering out the wrong name as I try to send good luck to the upcoming batter, distracting the catcher (on our own team) by telling him in my very loud voice that he is my hero, or running to the dugout after a close game (in which we finally won the number one team) to give all the players a hug, warrants the title of overexcited mom. AND the playoffs have not even started yet. Rob and Jordan are determined to stay in the car and watch those. Well I can go for that. I don't think my legs can take anymore jabs to the shin from an embarrassed daughter telling me to settle down, or my side cannot take the ever so subtle pinches from Rob who has to get up and walk away (with the excuse that his legs hurt) just to get away from me. What can I say? I am sick (with baseball fever).

















Brandon's team is doing very well and is projected to be in the top two. He survived a frustrated catcher who chased him back to third base and tackled him with all his furry. How could anyone hurt innocent Brandon? Rob had to hold me back...
Jordan's team is well, lets just say they have had a taste of victory a few times. BUT they could take second place for the cheering section.
Megan's team really could be great someday. She made catcher the last few games and is in heaven. Finally some action.

The first round of playoffs for Brandon's team start tonight and the forecast does not look so good! Plus Megan's achievement day leaders scheduled an ever so untimely mother-daughter party for tonight. I think God must know that this cheerleader doesn't want to miss a game. Please join in desire with me that the rain will descend ever so hard (otherwise they will still play) so that they will HAVE to reschedule.