Think Positive!

Sunday Thanks

Every Sunday we go around the table and say what we are thankful for.  I love it!  We started it probably over a year ago.  It gives us a chance to talk about something in our life that is important to us and makes us aware that we are and should be thankful everyday.

Jaxon - thankful he sold his bike for $40, he is saving money for a motorcycle or 4 wheeler

Sienna - thankful to be able to go to the temple

Dad - thankful to go to the temple, thankful for Mom (shauna)

Jared - thankful that we are so blessed with so many nice things, house, food, etc.  (he usually says this in his prayers and it is so 'memorized' that it doesn't have any feeling to it, but today was different - there was so much feeling I almost fell out of my chair.  I put 2 and 2 together and came to the conclusion that he must have seen a humanitarian video that showed children in Africa that have nothing.  He even said he was thankful that we had school supplies)

Jonnie - thankful we have the basement to play in

Mom - thankful we had many fun family activities this weekend!

First Corn on the Cob!

So the Corn on the Cob is late this year - must have been that wet spring we had.  This is Shanelle's first corn on the cob.  Bet you can't guess the verdict?!!  I don't know what she loved more the actually corn or using the cool 'corn on the cob sticks' like the family uses.  She likes to do whatever the family is doing. 

Today, she sustained the members of the ward to their callings.  She saw our arms raised, so she did it too!

Oquirrh Moutain Temple

We made reservations to visit the Oquirrh Mountain Temple for Wednesday morning.  I thought that we could do an 8:30 time and enjoy the visit early in the morning before it got too busy and before Jon got too busy at work.  My bad.  Jon's cell phone started ringing by 7:30 that morning.  A client was having trouble with their internet.  We had driven half way to the temple and we were right by the client's site.  So Jon jumped out and we waited 20 minutes.  I was working and then, it was being temperamental.  We opted to go another time.

Today, it was such a beautiful evening I thought, "Let's go to the temple!" This would be our last chance to do it as a family because Jared is leaving for Clear Creek Camp early Monday morning. 

Jonnie grilled us some steaks (it was the only meat thawed and ready to go) and I cut up some canteloupe.  That was our dinner.  Then we headed to the temple.  It is about 25 minutes from our house.  It was an awesome experience.  The children loved looking at the furniture, the frosted glass designs, the stars in the windows, the star-shaped chandelier and the awesome details throughout the entire building.

The pictures/art on the walls are incredibly vibrant and large, lifelike and framed awesomely.  Most of the pictures you have seen, in stores or your own homes, but these were so large.

The Celestial Room was simple and elegant.  Absolutely peaceful.  The children loved going in there.  After that we walked up another level to see the Sealing rooms.  In the stairwell I could see Sienna wiping tears from her eyes.  I love to see that this little girl who is loud, blunt, air guitar strummin',  potty-talkin' with her brothers is also sensitive and sweet.  I love that as parents we can teach her about temples and eternal families, and that when we take her there she can build on her knowledge and grow a testimony with the feelings of the spirit.

The church had created a tent to go into after the tour.  We enjoyed cookies and water, more pictures of the Savior and temples and more talking, thus more spirit.

After that we got a Frosty from Wendy's thats when the spirit ended.  The boys were hyper and laughing and they just wouldn't stop.

Annual Seven Peaks Trip

We took our annual Seven Peaks trip. Fun, sun and lines.  Long lines - I left Shanelle with Heather and I took 3 of Heather's kids.   All in all we had a great time.

Navajo Tacos

So this is Science Jonnie, working in the kitchen.  He got the itch to cook something.  This time it was Navajo Fry bread.  He was pretty happy with the results.  He made a small batch and ate them for lunch.  Jared wanted some, so he helped Jared make his batch.  They were working together in the kitchen, so I was pretty happy with the results!!!!

Freshly rolled out fry bread.  Thanks Jonnie!

 

Sunday Trampolining

For some reason, playing on the trampoline is a Sunday tradition.  Well, truthfully the tramp gets used everyday, and even though it gets used on Sunday, you can tell its a Sunday.  Not all of us stay in our Sunday clothes, you get a variety of wardrobes - anything from pajamas, to Sunday suits (usually NOT the suit coat).  But the BIGGEST reason you call tell its a Sunday is DAD is jumping on the tramp!!!!

 

Take a look at the sunset, the camera doesn't do it justice.  It was a great temperature and great bouncing!

Dearest Son, we don't miss you!

I love finding gems.  I found this in the Church News (i think the July 11 issue), the writer chooses a scripture that he/she had a profound experience with.   I loved it and think it should be passed along.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7

"A little over a year ago, I was in the Provo MTC and struggling really hard with everything. I was very homesick and to complicate the matter, I had caught pneumonia and had been very sick. I was really struggling. It seemed to me that suddenly my world was compacted into a small black hole.

Waking up every day at 6 a.m. and sitting in a classroom all day learning about the scriptures was not my idea of fun. This was something that I had never done in my life. To top everything off, I did not like the snow. Coming from

Samoa

, where there is warm weather all the time, this was a huge adjustment for me. I was used to wearing sandals or going barefoot every day. I was not used to the cold winter weather of

Utah

and was cold most of the time because my body had not yet adjusted.

That same week, I wrote my mom and told her about my feelings and how I was struggling. Her reply came the very next week and I was very excited to hear what she had to say. I was sure she would encourage me and understand my feelings. I opened it and saw that the reply was only two short lines, which read: "My dearest son, We don't miss you. Love, Mom."

Needless to say, this was not what I expected! My heart just sank! I felt very emotional, to say the least.

Later on that week, I read 2 Timothy 4:7 and it really touched my heart. I thought to myself that someday I would return home and would hope to say those exact same words from that scripture and mean it.

The day I received the short letter from my mom was a very emotional day for me. It took me some time, but I realized I must press on and do the work I came to do. My Mom's words of tough love were just what I needed, even though I couldn't see that at the moment. I knew in my heart she loved me and wanted what was best for me.

I am grateful to Heavenly Father for the opportunity to serve a mission. I have had life-changing experiences and have met some wonderful people. I don't know who changed more, me or the people I have been able to teach. Some will be lifelong friends. I know this Church is true and I am so glad to be a part of it. I would never give up what I have grown to love missionary work and bringing souls to Christ. I would encourage any young person to seriously consider going on a mission."

—Elder A Loo, Utah Salt Lake City South Mission