A full heart, and thankful tonight

for two vehicles that run

for a home that is my family's refuge from the world

and warm beds to crawl into at night

for legs that allow me to walk and run

for two children I wake up each day for

and a husband who kisses me and tells me I'm beautiful

for scriptures and prayer and revelation

for a living prophet on the earth

and to be a Latter-Day Saint

for hot, homemade whole wheat bread

with honey butter

for freshly-powdered toddler bottoms

for shelves full of vibrantly colored mason jars holding the seasons harvest

and a mother who patiently teaches me these things

for a neighbor who rolls my garbage cart back to my house

when I havn't quite gotten to it yet

for my ancestors who have gone before me, who I feel

strengthening me and pushing me forward, cheering me on

for a trial that has humbled me

to my knees

and for my Savior, who knows me, my heartache, my shortcomings, my strengths

and who gently lets me know

of His love

and for a knowledge that HE will come again - I know this

these are the things I am thankful for

tonight.

An outing

A 4 day weekend...

...makes for a couple fun projects with Porter and Mom:

A cake that was out of this world!

Porter mixed, poured, baked and frosted. (He requested that I help him smooth the frosting at the end.) He spent several minutes throwing the mini chocolate chips on the sides so that they would stick - plus a big 'ol chocolate chip smiley face. Porter was pretty proud of his creation so he ran a piece across the street to Uncle Ed who appreciated Porter's efforts. (The next day, I ran a huge piece to my nephew Wyatt for his birthday so that I wouldn't be tempted to eat anymore. It was really, really, really good.)

And then,

Porter and I worked hard at coming up with a slogan for his upcoming student council campaign. Each candidate can put up one poster in the gym. This is what we came up with:

Porter enjoyed being on the student council in the fourth grade. He didn't run in the 5th. And this year he has decided to run for VEEP against 5 others. He gives his speech over the intercom on Friday morning. He's had a fun week so far and is enjoying himself - and that's all that I ask. He knows to be a good sport whatever the outcome. (I can't help that he got the student government bug from his mother.)

Yeah. The poster makes me crack a smile every time I look at it.

It's so.....Porter.

Missing Her Tonight

On the one year anniversary of my mother-in-law's sudden passing.

This is the last known photo of my mother-in-law. It just happens to be with Porter right before they headed off together for a concert. Two weekends later she was taken from us in an instant.

We miss and love her and cherish our memories of her. And tonight Porter read the words of the hymn 'In Our Lovely Deseret' for us right before family prayer. She whistled it nearly every minute of her day.

We can still hear her whistle.

hats

Bill came home from work last night just in time to eat dinner. He had had a bad day.

After dinner, as he sat on the couch, his little Evelyn came up to him and said, "Daddy wear hat."

Bill said, "You want dad to wear a hat?"

"Yes," she said. "I wear hat."

And so he grabbed her hand and they walked down the hall together as Bill said, "What hats should we wear?"

Well a moment later they emerged wearing hats. And Evelyn said, "Bye, bye Mommy!"

Bill looked at me with the 'what should I do?' expression.

And I told him that he had better at least take her for a walk.

And so, they left.

And I wasn't far behind, running out the front door to see if I could get some shots of them in their hats, on their walk:

Stopping for some conversation.

(*Notice my HOT honey who has been working hard at eating right and exercising so he can be fit and trim.)

"Can daddy have some kisses?"

"Schmooooooooch."

"Oh, I love your hugs. Dad neeeeeeeds your hugs."

(What is it about little children and their ability to sense when you are having a bad day?)

"Hey dad, look at mom over there taking pictures of us from the front porch with her telefoto lens."