I don't want to go into detail, but I have been struggling with something a lot lately. I have a wonderful life; a fabulous husband, 3 beautiful and healthy children, wonderful parents, a beautiful home and cars, a strong testimony, loving friends and a whole lot more. However, there is something in my life that is not in harmony. I have been wanting to fix it, but have trouble putting aside hurt feelings and strong opinions. I know it NEEDS to be done, but it's easier said than done. I have spent countless hours troubling over it. I have gone to the temple about it and have prayed countless times. All signs point GO. Ugh. Why is this so hard? Well, I was pouring myself into a past Ensign recently and came across something that President Thomas S. Monson said. The light bulb went off! It was just what I needed. He said...
"To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility."
Wow. Perfectly said. You see...I want to live greatly! So starting today I am going to do just that. I am going to do what I know I need to and face the problem I'm having. I am going to "face trouble with courage and disappointment with cheerfulness". Wish me luck!
July 30, 2010
Words to Live By...
July 28, 2010
July 26, 2010
"Dead Fish"
My girls crack me up for a number of reasons. One being this...they come up with the most random things. Peyton is nuts! She recently started acting like a "dead fish". You can't truly appreciate it unless you're in person cause it's hilarious. 
So...the other two started showing us their versions of a dead fish. It was just funny! Ah, I love them! :)
The Company Luau
I love the company Scott works for! Every year they do a summer BBQ for us families. This year they decided to do a luau at Thanksgiving Pointe. It was amazing! The weather was perfect, the show was awesome and the food was delicious. They always do big raffles and guess what? We won something this year! We won this Blu-Ray disc home theatre system. Scott and I were especially stoked cause our current one was dying. Yeah!
The girls and I waiting for the show...
They had professional dancers. This guy was performing a warrior dance and came at the girls. It scared the crap out of them! It was soooo funny.
The show was great and made the girls want to become Polynesian. :)
The waterfalls there were gorgeous so we took advantage of it and got some good photos.
They have this big "Noah's Ark" water park where the kids played in. It was so cute!
They also have the most amazing gardens there. We loved walking around and enjoying nature.
Cool cave!
Lions, Tigers and BEARS....oh my!
It was a perfect day thanks to a GREAT company! We look forward to what they have in store for next year. :)
Mini Society
Back in June Kaleigh's school did something called the "Mini Society" for Economics. Students were encouraged to create a "business" and would have a couple days set aside to sell their product or services. The intent was to teach students about losses, gains, buying and selling. I thought it was brilliant! Kaleigh was very excited and decided she wanted to have her own bakery. As mentioned below, my Mom was in town and decided to make Kaleigh a personalized apron, visor and goodie basket. We were told siblings could be employees so Mom decked Shayla out as well. It was adorable! 
Peyton decided to work so I got her dressed up as well. Kaleigh sold chocolate chip cookies and brownie bites. She made a killing! (fake money)
The sisters were great employees!
The next day she sold Otter Pops and did extremely well again. It was a great learning experience!
Thanks to Grandma Griffin for decking the girls out! :)
A Visit from Dad and Mom!
I had known that Dad and Mom wanted to come up for Sarah's Utah reception (on June 12th), but Dad's health was giving him some problems and it was looking like they wouldn't be able to come. Dad's doctors, with my doctors approval, finally cleared him to go as long as my doctor would keep watch over him. I was SO excited! As of 3 days before they came I didn't think they'd be coming. When I got the call I was so happy. Especially to learn that they'd be coming for almost a month. Dad can't, and shouldn't, do stairs anymore so Scott and I happily gave up our room so he wouldn't have to climb. They came up on June 11th. Yeah!
Sweet Sarah and Kyle came over to see them that day. Mom was pooped! lol
I have always known what a stud Scott is, but having them here made me realize it so much more. Dad can't do a lot of things anymore because of fractures and things so Scott was more than happy to do them for Dad and give Mom a break. Here he is giving Dad a good-old-fashioned- shave. :)
Here's Dad rocking on the porch and trying to smile. He was in SO much pain the whole time but tried his very best not to show it. He's amazing!
The girls loved having Mom read to them. She is such a great Grandma!
I forgot to bring Mom's Mother's Day gift down with us for the wedding so we were finally able to give it to her. This necklace was one of the things. It was ironic how well it matched what she had on that day.
This was a precious moment. Sarah gave Dad a gift that made him cry. I had to capture the moment.
Kaleigh was having an activity at school one week and Mom was sweet enough to make Kaleigh AND Shayla matching aprons, hats and baskets for it. She's so talented and the girls were in heaven!
I just LOVE this pic!!!
Dad had been quite sick the whole time they were here but proceeded to get worse every day. On May 22nd we took him into the hospital and they found that his blood levels were dangerously low. They needed to keep him for a few days and do a couple transfusions. He is so amazing! Here he is receiving an IV while SMILING! He's my hero, seriously.
When the grand kids start Kindergarten Mom always buys them new clothes for the school year. Mom decided to take Shay shopping while they were here so she wouldn't have to mail things. Shayla was SO excited to have a date with Grandma. They even wore matching lipstick! It was precious.
We went to lunch at Cafe Rio and then they headed off.
It was so sad to see Dad have to go into the hospital here but I was very relieved that he was being well taken care of.
Dad came home from the hospital late in the evening of the 24th. Scott gave him a much needed haircut. We were so happy to have him back! He looked much better.
Danny brought the boys over for a couple hours one day and I snuck a picture of Mom and Gabe. He's so cute!
One of the biggest things Dad said he wanted to do while here was fire up the pit and have hot dogs and smores. So we did! Everything was SO yummy and we had a blast together. We were outside for HOURS!
The girls enjoying their grub...
I can honestly say that my Mom is SUCH a wonderful Grandma. She spends so much time kissing and loving the kids. There is no doubt that she loves them. She just sits and talks with them and truly knows them. They feel that and respond to it so well. She and Shayla have a special bond and always have. It's the cutest thing. This picture of the two of them cracking up together melts my heart.
Time for Smores!
I was so glad Sarah and Kyle joined us. It was so fun! Scott and Kyle are quite the wood choppers. :)
It was such a beautiful night!
The girls thought this hat would look great on Grandpa and it did! So cute!
I'm also so grateful to Dad for being such a wonderful Grandpa. I know that he's hurting and doesn't have much energy but he still takes the effort to love the girls and show it.
We went to one of our favorite spots one day...La Caille. Sarah, I and the girls walked around while Mom and Dad enjoyed the scenery from the car. It was beautiful, as always.
Dad's health continued to suffer so Mom thought it best that they head back home immediately. I was bummed that the time was cut so short, but understood. I insisted one a "last supper" at Cafe Paesan in Orem. Danny had told me about it and how good it was and friends confirmed it. For those that don't know...it's an Italian version of Cafe Rio, owned by the same owner. It's SO good! You should definitely try it. We all loved it!
Their Caprese Pizza is BOMB!
The next day, the 29th, they headed home. Dad's friend Brent flew with him to help him and I drove with Mom to help her. It was such great quality time that I'll cherish forever! We laughed. We cried. We talked. We listened and sang to music. We held hands. It was wonderful!
And HOT going through the California deserts. Yuck!
Mom and I both share a love for the Del Taco in Lenwood, CA. I promise you'll never find a better one. Those people know how to work it. We both got tostadas that had a TON of cheese on it. We were cracking up!
All in all I loved every minute I got to spend with them. It wasn't the "perfect" trip due to sucky circumstances but we made the best of it. I am so thankful; to have such fabulous parents. I can't imagine my life without them and I hope to never have to. Relationships are most definitely a two-way street and I'm glad that I am doing my part to nourish such a loving relationship with my parents. I know that I'll never have regrets and that's a great feeling! I pray they'll be able to come back in the near future. ♥
