Today as as I was folding laundry, I was listening to Elder Holland's Talk, "The First Great Commandment."  The Spirit touched me again, just as strongly as it did the first time I listened to him speak.  I love the message he shares and he does it with such conviction.  

“If ye love me, keep my commandments,”¹⁴ Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, andResurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it. It was this truth, this reality, that allowed a handful of Galilean fishermen-turned-again-Apostles without “a single synagogue or sword”¹⁵ to leave those nets a second time and go on to shape the history of the world in which we now live.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng

March 24, 2013
When I woke up early this morning before Church, I took our new pup, Andy out for a walk.  I loved the feel of the crisp morning air and I loved the fact that the wind was not blowing!  The sky was beautiful as the sun began to rise.  As I looked out in the field, there were a few deer making their way back down to the river bottoms and geese flying over head.  I'm so grateful for this beautiful area we live in, for the space and safety my kids have to run and play and explore.  I grateful for a new day - a day where I can try to be a better person than I was yesterday. 

It has been FOREVER since I posted anything on my blog.  Time seems to get away from me.  My kids are growing up in front of my eyes and I wish I could make them stay small for just a little longer.  I'm always so hesitant to share things that are important to me, but there are so many things I'm grateful for, so I'm going to start posting those things on here more often.  This is my new Spring goal.  

The thing that I'm grateful for today is: the book by Stephanie Nielson "Heaven Is Here."  It is one of the best books I've read.  It is about faith, endurance, love, kindness and Hope!  She has made me want to be a better person, to be a better mother and to enjoy each moment!  

Here are some RANDOM PICS! Stetson with his new bike. He was so excited! Scott tried taking his training wheels off the first day. (Because his children are so amazing at their bike riding skills!!! ha ha) That didn't last long.
Stetson and his little friend, Naomi. She is the princess and he is "Super Man"! They are so cute together!
This Hawk was determined to take Tucker's dog rope and use it for his nest. The only problem was that it was a little to heavy to fly with. He didn't care who came by him - Houston even tried shooting his bow at it (lucky for the bird, Houston's aim was not on that day!)
EASTER TIME WITH THE BRISCOE FAMILY! The one thing missing was the Phippens - then it would have been perfect!

Travis and Houston! What a couple of trouble makers - but at least they're handsome!
Travis, Zac, Kaylee, Troy & Houston (this is the "more mature" group of cousins.)
This pic shows their "TRUE PERSONALITIES!"
You can't get cuter than this! Lindy, Tate & Jet
Nelson, Grady, Stetson & Annalyn! These 3 & 4 yr. olds are getting too big too fast!
Jaxson, Hannah, JoAnna & Toby. Our big 8yr. olds! (and 7 - Hannah)
Cute as Pie! Miley & Alex
The Easter Bunny, w/ the help of yours truly, set up an AMAZING TREASURE HUNT for the kids. They had to find 16 different clues throughout our yard, the field, tree house and neighbors yards before they came apon their Easter Baskets that were hidden in Gram's garden shed. They LOVED it. Stetson thought finding the clues was the best fun he's ever had!
JoAnna eating the goods from her basket.
Gram and Houston trying to figure out riddles and find clues. It was such a beautiful day!
Scott helping Stetson with the Treasure Hunt! I think Scott had as much fun as Stetson!
The Easter Bunny left me this huge chocolate bunny. It was Awesome!
COLORING EASTER EGGS!
Jo & Stets!

Trav & Houston
Our beautiful, bright eggs! Happy Easter!

Mesa Falls, Jan.28, 2012

Scott, Stetson, Raelyn, Houston, Travis & JoAnna

We went on a beautiful snow machine ride up to Mesa Falls with our friends, the Phillips and Larens. The kids did so well and Had fun riding their own sleds. Even the little ones, Stetson & Naomi, were great sports in the cold and snow. The snow was so deep and the trees, waterfall and mist were an awesome site!

Scott and Houston Carving in the powder. I love the outline of the Tetons behind them!

Our family on JoAnna's baptism day! Lisa Webb gave a talk on baptism and gave each girl and beautiful white towel. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. The Spirit was so strong and I know Heavenly Father was proud of JoAnna for making this decision to follow Jesus. Afterwards, all the family came over to our house for a big luncheon. It was wonderful to have such great family support and love. It was such I nice day. We all really enjoyed it.Whitney Webb and JoAnna Briscoe. They were so beautiful! JoAnna's Gram (Linda) took my wedding dress and made Jo's Baptism dress. It turned out so pretty and she loved it. Gram did an amazing job!
It's great to be 8! JoAnna was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS on Jan. 7, 2012 by her Dad. She was so excited and nervous. I love this picture because JoAnna truly thinks that her Dad is the greatest person in the world! He is her hero!
Jo invited some friends over for a birthday party (Sydnie, Rilee, Jo & Skyler). We took them bowling and then back to our house to decorate cupcakes and open gifts. The girls had a Blast!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANNA BANANA! I made her a magnet board for her room and she loved it. JoAnna is such a great kid. She is happy and full of joy! We love her!

Christmas Day! 12-25-2011 We had such a nice Christmas! My parents came over at 5:30 am to open gifts w/ us. Everyone was pretty excited about their gifts. The best part of the day was going to church and celebrating Christ's birth with our ward family. I really enjoyed having Christmas on Sunday. I wish it were that way every year.Houston, Travis, JoAnna & Stetson (above) Raelyn, Scott and Stetson (below)
We LOVE having my parents next door so we can share our everyday lives and big holidays with them. It's great! (Lynn & Linda)
The Boys!
J0Anna
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Terry's! 12-24-2011

After dinner, the kids had push-up contest and a leg/plank contest. It was quite the entertainment.

Scott - What a tender Christmas pic! smile.
Stetson and his new airplane!
Grandpa Terry - the Best Grandpa Ever!
Travis, Troy & Lindy

Halloween 2011. JoAnna was a vampire, Houston was some dude w/scars on his face, Travis was a creepy skeleton guy & Stets was a bug. We had a fun Halloween w/ the Briscoe fam and we only did a little trick -or-treating which was fine w/ me.
Oct. 2011. I went with four of my girl friends to the Oregon Coast for five days. We had such an amazing time. We had no schedule to keep and no one to take care of. It was beautiful on the beach and in the mountains. I LOVED every minuet I was there. It went way too fast!

Emily, Shawna, Raelyn, Kristin & Debbie
We played on the beach every day. This is my kind of life. Shawna, Rae, Kristin & Debbie

Shawna, Emily, Raelyn, Debbie & Kristin.

July 9, 2011

My "Stott" family cousins! It was so great to see them. We don't get together too often. Raelyn, Kim, Mark, Mandy, Dana, Nick and Sean.
JoAnna, Travis and Houston. Swimming at the lake.
July 6, 2011. HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY HOUSTON!
I made him this cool magnet board for his room. He loved it.
This was my sorry attempt at a motorcycle mountain cake. At least Houston thought it was cool!
Houston invited Kyler and Gunnar to go boating for the afternoon for his birthday. Those boys had a blast!
THE 4th OF JULY!
Raelyn and Stetson
Lynn and Linda (AKA: Mom and Dad)
Houston and Grandpa Terry
JoAnna and Travis!

July 1st! My boys making BIG fun out of a LITTLE swimming pool. They were hilarious!Trav
Hough -dog
Houston and Tucker!
Mingo Reunion June 25, 2011
Brandon, Houston and Travis
Me and Stets!
Jo, Rae, Lace and Nelson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STETSON! JUNE 23, 2011!
3 YRS. OLD! WOW! Stetson has been the sweetest little guy I could have ever asked for. We have truly loved having him.
Gram, Houston, Grandpa Lynn and Grandpa Terry
Scott and Jo having fun with the bubbles. Stetson having a great time opening gifts!

LAKE POWELL! MAY 28, 2011!
Houston and his lizard.
Shelby and Stetson
Travis - showing us how SURFING is done!
Shane
Travis, Shelby and Stanton!
Stanton, Stetson and Sterling. (say those names three times in a row!)
The kids loved playing on the red rocks. It was so beautiful!
Shelby, Laura, Linda and Raelyn getting a little sun!
Stetson squishing the lizard.
Scott and a boat full of the funnest people on earth! SMILE!
JoAnna had a great time collecting sea shells.
Houston, Shelby, Sterling, Stanton and Travis

Girls Trip to N. Carolina! May 21, 2011
Raelyn, Loranna, and Valerie
We had such a great time together. It was so fun to laugh and just be me for a couple days. I loved being with two of my best friends ever!
Rae & Val! We visited the Biltmore Mansion and Gardens. The largest home in America. It was amazing. The South is such a beautiful place with so much history.
Loranna and Raelyn. Thanks Lanny for letting us come visit you and your family. We loved it!

May 17, 2011
HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY TRAVIS! You are such a great kid.
Aunt Trisha made Trav a Pirates cake that was AMAZING! and she went all out on decor and favors. Thanks Trish! You made Travis' day so memorable.
Travis got a cool new bike for his birthday. I let him skip school and we went on a long bike ride and out to lunch. I enjoyed spending the day with my oldest boy!
Travis, Stetson and Tucker.