Youth Gems

I signed up for a subscription to "Youth Gems" and I love it!  You can sign up too at lds.org.  It's  a program that sends you a brief uplifting, inspirational, enlightening email twice a week.  There are different categories to choose from like family, single adult, youth, relief society, etc.  I subscribed to the youth one because I serve with the Young Women... and because I sort of sometimes like to think of myself as youthful.   I totally recommend it - it's super uplifting!  Here's the one I received today:

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

Thomas S. Monson, "Finding Joy in the Journey," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 85

Topics: Joy

Tender-hearted

I 

love 

this

 picture 

of

JoLynn...

...except that she's snuggling with a handful of weeds.  Anyone know how to photoshop in a bouquet of daisies or something like that?  

Well, while we're on JoLynn, I think I'll share a story in continuation of my quest to embarrass my children.  JoLynn has very tender feelings.  It doesn't take much to make her bottom lip puff out and cry.  She often cries in her sleep if she's dreaming about someone not sharing or something devastating  like that.  Last night I heard her crying in her sleep, so I got up to see what was the matter.  She was really upset and was barely able to explain what was wrong amongst her sobs.  But she managed to say, "Oh Mom, I really just want a house made out of cups."  me:  ".......okay darling, you can have a house made of cups if you want."

JoLynn: with bottom lip quivering, "okay."

Fun with Shae

What is so scrumptious about a bald, juicy baby in a sleeper?

Unigoat

I know Unicorns aren't for real, but did you know Unigoats are?

This freak of nature resides at one of the many dairy farms here in the Q.C.  That's not his ear sticking up - that's a horn.  Hailey's Kindergarten class got to take a field trip there and it was so fun to go with her.  There was a baby calf born that morning and we got to go see it stand for the first time.  The kids wanted to sing it happy birthday and they named it "cowey".  So cute!

...Not so cute is that giant pile of cow poo right behind our heads in this picture.  Awesome.

They got to sample some fresh milk and ice cream.

Hailey feeding the horses carrots.  They told her "make your hand flat like a pancake so he doesn't bite your fingers off."  That was comforting.

Merrell-thon

Merrell-thon: a noun describing a day of family, friends, fitness and fun beyond your wildest dreams. (that's my friend, Alison on the far right).   How did this all begin, you ask?  Well, my sister Cindy (featured above in the sweet shades) and I decided a few months back that we wanted to run another 1/2 marathon.  But typically you have to pay a hefty registration fee for these events, and we thought that it was crazy enough to run 13.1 miles all in one day, let alone have to pay to do it, so we  decided to do our own...for free.  And somewhere in the midst of our training, all our family members got excited about it too.  Momma Merrell made T-shirts and everyone committed to participate in some way; run, walk, bike or hike with a 20 lb. pack (Dad). Cindy and I routed the course along the canals and surface streets of Mesa, and on a lovely April morning the race began! 

Joel met up with me for the last 4 miles and we crossed the finish line together.  It was nice to have a fresh set of legs to keep the pace (and believe me, they were FRESH :)) Can you tell I'm hating life in this picture?  Finish time: 2hrs. 12 min.

Tyler (Megan's baby), Savannah (Cindy's baby), and Shae.  

These babies are so YUMMY!

That's my awesome 17 yr. old brother Blake on the far left.  Cindy and I trained for this for months, but Blake pretty much just woke up that morning and sprinted the whole way and beat us all.  Punk.

The kiddos had a race of their own at the park.  

Claire and JoLynn with Baby Puppy in tow.

Jake, Ben, JoLynn, Cindy, and Joel soakin' their feet in the pool. 

 It felt soooo good!

The End.

Anyone want to join us next year?

Dream

Want to be blown away?  Check this out!  It will make you feel GOOD :)  I promise!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg