what makes me happy...

I really haven't had much to say lately. Not super happy, not super sad. Back to feeling like I shouldn't even bother writing if I have nothing profound to say. Silly, I know. But how I feel, just the same. Alot has been going on the past few weeks. A Schofield wedding in Idaho (picture above). Dave's father being diagnosed with Parkinson's. A visit to Washington to see my sister Laura. Her delivering a 20 week stillborn baby boy our last day there. Kay Richard Gehring. Kay - Gunnar's Dad's middle name, Richard - our Dad's middle name. He was beautiful and perfect. I love Laura and am really proud of her. I will treasure the time we were able to spend there for the rest of my life. Beyond that actually. Eternal families are what make me happy. Eternal families, MY family, the sweet peace the Lord provides when we think we can't continue on with our next breath.

yum.

Guess who found a baggie full of malt ball easter eggs?

be available...

Read this beautiful thought in an interview with Michael J. Fox the other day. I always knew I loved that guy.

{Always be available to your kids.

Because if you say, "Give me five minutes,

give me ten minutes," it'll be 15, it'll be 20.

And then when you get there,

the shine will have worn off

of whatever it is they wanted to share with you.

I've never gotten up to see something

one of my kids wanted to show me

and not been rewarded.}

I want to always be available. I felt like my parents were always available to me. I can remember many times, walking back to my Dad's study, needing him, but catching him in the middle of something. He would always put it down. That made me confident. Secure. It made me feel loved and treasured. I want that to be me. I think we always need to be willing to stop what we are doing if someone needs us. It will wait. Whatever we are in the middle of will wait.

m & e...

One of my very favorite pictures from our trip. It was very eventful. Very emotional. But this picture captures how I feel about the whole thing. I love the Gehrings so much. I feel peaceful and happy when I am with them and am counting down the days until I will be again.

thankful.

Today I am thankful for...

eternal families

prayer

a loving Father in heaven

the priesthood

the Comforter

the perfect plan of salvation.

what is it?

What is it about hotels that makes them so magical? Are they magical for your kids? I love them. Maybe it is knowing someone will be by to clean our room in the morning. Maybe the TV 2 feet from my bed. The ice machines down the hall. The heated indoor pool. The crisp, clean linens. We stayed at the Marriott in Boise last week for Uncle Tommy's wedding. Somehow we got the handicapped room which was a dream. It was HUGE. Maybe they somehow knew we were squeezing 7 people in there. Molly started unpacking all the bags as soon as we arrived. Everything went into a drawer. Diapers. Wipes. Stuffed animals. Snacks. Scriptures. Shoes all lined up in a row...and tears if they were moved. It drove me nuts, but in a "you're so cute" kind of way. :)

new scout...

Alex is finished with Cub Scouts. Crazy. He is a New Scout now, until he is 12 and becomes a Boy Scout. I remember my tiny little 8 year old starting the program 3 years ago. He was so little...and SO excited. That excitement never wore off. That is one of the things I love so much about Alex. His enthusiasm. I'm sure there are 11 year olds, maybe even friends of his, who think going to scouts is lame. A chore. Something to check off. Something their parents make them do. Alex loves it though. I think it's a combination of being with friends, learning new things, and making tons of cool stuff. He has loved his leaders...and let me just say that being a cub scout leader is work. Fun, hard work. Way to go Alex! We are so proud of you. <3