Pioneer Day

Having been a Mormon my whole life and not really discussing religion with my friends growing up I have discovered that I am terrible at knowing what my church believes as compared to what other religions teach.  When I was about 12 I just off-handedly mentioned Joseph Smith in a sentence and my best friend said, "Who's Joseph Smith?".  I was floored.  I couldn't believe that someone so central to my religion was unknown to lots of people in the world.  When my son's girlfriend joined our church she informed me of some of the differences in what her family believed and what my family believed but I'm still not clear on all the differences.  So, at Savannah's tennis lesson the other day I informed her coach that she wouldn't be at her next lesson because we were going to Utah for Pioneer Day.  Of course he said, "What's Pioneer Day?"  I wasn't as surprised this time but it got me thinking, again, about how many things are "Mormon" and how many people don't know what these things are.  I was very proud to tell him that Pioneer Day was the day we commemorate the saints pulling into the Salt Lake Valley and realizing that this dry, dusty desert was going to be their new home.  They had fled the east on the heels of religious persecution and came to a place "where none shall come to hurt or make afraid".  I get choked up even thinking about those valiant Latter Day Saints who sacrificed all to maintain their religious freedom, even in a country that was founded on the concept of freedom of religion.  These brave, bold saints are why I enjoy the blessings of worshipping how I want to even though we are still being persecuted today.  I'll take the occasional snide comment or the social snub any day as opposed to the burning of my home and the killing of my loved ones.  I have the utmost respect for the early saints and all they sacrificed for their religion and I am very excited to go back to where it all began, in Salt Lake City, UT to celebrate with my people.

Pretty good summer so far:)

It's been a pretty decent summer so far and it looks like it will finish strong.  In May Tanner and Alana went on a cruise for their 5 year anniversary and I got to play with Ava and Sienna.  Soooo fun!  I love those girls.  We painted nails, colored in coloring books, went birthday shopping for Ava, played in the park with Emmerson and Hudson, swang on the hammocks and ran around the yard.  Loved it.  Right after school got out we took our first trip to Fairzona (Landon's pronunciation of Arizona).  It was hot but very fun.  We ate at lots of restaurants, visited some friends who had recently moved there and went to an outlet mall where Bubs got the courage to ride a mechanical bull.  We played in the blow up pool and took a very short nature walk around the neighborhood (it was 90 something at 8:30 in the morning).   Shortly after returning home Van and I went to Catalina Island for Stake Girls' Camp.  It was a blast!  I had so much fun and I think all of the girls did too.  It was so nice to have my sweet daughter with me.  Next we had visitors from Utah.  My niece, Mekell, and her husband, Zach, came to stay with us for his birthday and the 4th of July.  Lichelle and crew came home for the 4th also and we had a wonderful BBQ and pool party at Michelle's parent's house in Valley Center.  So fun to see everyone.  Zach and Mekell went to the temple with Pat and I and I was so impressed that they wanted to take time out of their vacation to attend the temple.  Aleigh Joy got left alone in her house when the rest of the crew went to Utah so she came over and had some sleepovers with us so she wouldn't be scared.  Love her:) Lots more fun things planned so stay tuned:)

Sweet Rylie Ann

I am sooo happy!  Our sweet baby girl is getting better and better.  She is in a big girl crib now that doesn't have any special heated mattress or anything else that is unusual.  She is wearing clothes for the first time.  They are super tiny and cute.  She is unplugged from the millions of wires and tubes that she has been on since birth.  All she has is a little feeding tube, a heart monitor and two little wires in her nose for oxygen  Aubrie and Kyle can hold her whenever they want and they don't have to have a nurse unhook her from tons of stuff.  She can cry now.  She is moving steadily toward the 3 lb. mark.  She is truly our little miracle or series of miracles.  I am eternally indebted to my Heavenly Father for hearing our many, many prayers and granting us this child's life.  I got to stroke her silky little hair the other day and it was pure heaven.  I can't wait to hold her and kiss her and someday tell her the story of her amazing life.  I love you, Rylie.  Keep fighting!