Tests...

Today I am thankful for the tests that I have been given, because if I were given some of the tests that others have been handed, I'm pretty sure I would fail..........

music....

I love music! It speaks directly to my heart! I think i will start posting some lyrics to some of my favorite songs. I think the ability to write thoughts, feelings, beliefs, fears, emotions, experiences, wishes, lessons and loves and put them to music is a great gift! I am so thankful for the gift of music .

I have a few friends going through very difficult times and i know several children who have disablilities, some severe and some not so much. It brings this song to my heart.

This song was given to me by my favorite Seminary teacher of all time, Brother Shelton. He saved my life, and I'm forever greatful........

The Test

Tell me friend, Why are you blind?
Why doesn't He, who worked the miracles, send light into your eyes?
Tell me friend, If you understand.
Why doesn't He with power to raise the dead just make you whole again?

It would be so easy for Him,
I watch you and in sorrow question why,
Then you, my friend, in perfect faith reply,

Didn't He say He sent us to be tested?
Didn't He say the way would not be sure?
But didn't He say we could live with Him forever more, well and whole,
if we but patiently endure?
After the trial, we will be blessed,
but this life is the test.

Tell me friend, I see your pain.
Why when you pray in faith for healing, does the crippleing thorn remain?
Help me see, if you understand.
Why doesn't He who healed the lame man, come with healing in his wings?

It would be so easy for Him.
I watch you and in sorrow question why?
Then you my friend in perfect faith reply,

Didn't He say He sent us to be tested?
Didn't He say the way would not be sure?
But didn't He say we could live with Him forever more, well and whole,
if we but patiently endure?
After the trial we will be blessed,
but this life is the test.

Tell me now, why must you die?
Why must your loved ones stand with empty hearts
and ask the question why?
Help me know, so I can go on.
How when your love and faith sustained me,
can the precious gift be gone?

From the depths of sorrow I cry
though pains of grief within my soul arise.
The whisperings of the Spirit still my cries.

Didnt He say He sent us to be tested?
Didn't He say the way would not be sure?
But didn't He say we could live with him forever more, well and whole,
if we but patiently endure?
Ater the trial, we will be blessed,
but this life is the test.

Janice Kapp Perry

how much.....

......of ourselves do we give up to make those around us happy? If we give up too much, we loose our identity. We becomes someone that fills others needs. We don't even recognize our own needs, or feel that they are not important.

We forget what makes us happy, or even the feeling of happy. Happiness becomes something we see in others, or try to bring to others.

Maybe its the fear of finding out who we really are, wont be-or meet the expectations of others or ourselves. That somehow it wont be good enough or right.

And maybe, its not even knowing where to start..................yeah, maybe.

carvin pumpkins in parkvalley

we went out west for the deer season, we never hunt we just love being out there. this yr only brandi and her friend kayden and i went out from our family and them my two sisters and their families and my mom and dad. I was a great relaxing time and we had lots of laughs around the campfire......

Ru's pinky......or whats left of it!

Yuck, huh? i thought by now this thing would look a little better, nut it doesn't to me. The skin was growing wrong on the top of it so the dr. decided to freeze/burn the skin off. He was so tuff, no tears when they deadened it even.

Hopefully for him it will start looking better soon.

Feeling it!

I love this picture of Stets, It is his true smile! They had just won a very important football game that they didn't think they could win. Their whole team finally felt "good enough". I Love ya bud!!!!

friends....

SMILE STETSON!!! or ill make you smile.funny kids
brandi could only make friends with the bovine
Mick was helping the board guys, and he was doin a mighty fine job!!!

more wahsing.....

washing

Wash, wash, wash, thats all we seem to do with this piggies. Cause they love to get dirty. It is much funner to wash them with buddies, thanks friends for makeing our trip way more fun!!!

snotsy

Brandi was just wanting to get a little too friendly with this steer, there are huge snot wads heading at her somewhere in this picture........hehehhe

State fair fun....

This is Brandi's friend Kayden's steer, she was pretending that she knew what she was doing here.....


Im pretty sure the steer is wishing B had a tic tac.

First Date Dance for my B

Exciting yet a little sad is how i would describe the night of B's first date, at least for me...She looked beautiful and she was so excited!!! She went with Kayden to his Homecomeing in SF, which is great because we are going to be at the State Fair during our Homecoming so she still go to go to one... Love you B, it is tons of fun being your mom!

Band-aides, I should have had someone teach her how to wear high heels way before now!!!! OOPS!! moms bad. :(

THis is called holding....duh....

Stets was haveing a little trouble with this little 32,

Stets just kept trying to get him off,

But he just kept hanging on, in football we call this "holding" Im surprised Stets didnt just turn and deck him, glad , but surprised.

FOOTBALL has begun!!!!

stets is telling joe how good it feels to lay a kid out!!!

Since Ru hurt his finger he hasnt been able to play so he gets to be on the chain-gang

thats Stets and Keaton tackleing ....

that is stets and keaton flatting....

WARNING: what you may see could be disturbing for some viewers...

This is what happens when you combine steel, cement, and flesh.... the flesh NEVER wins!!! this is what happened to Ru's finger at the fair this yr. He was playing on some of the gates when one swung shut, Ugh! All the way to the hospital he just kept saying, "I dont want a shot, will i have to get a shot?" he is petrafied of needles. I cant say that i blame him. He is a trooper and tough as nails!!! Split the bone but it should heal good.....

hmmmmm....

Friendship is as delicate as a glass, once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks"

My sweet 16 yr old...

It really happened, she turned 16 on the 25th of august. I am speechless as to tell you how i feel about this beautiful girl that God blessed me with. She is my best girl friend ever!! The flowers are from her guy friend, Kayden, and the next picture is of the gift that stetson gave her----a rubber chicken---with a note that says "nothing HONKS as good as you !" because of her laugh. And yes that really is her laugh.......








The next one is a pooh bear that ruger gave her, because that is of course her favorite character ever....since birth.
Levi gave her some pooh bear coloring books with new crayons. I love it when the boys want to get her something from them without help. it truely shows their personalities.



Her dad and i are still trying to locate her birthday gift. im sure she thinks we just havent gotten her anything, but some gifts just take time.....