To My Sweetheart

It's raining, and my heart is full. I hope you know the feeling of being so in love that you ache with joy and tremble inside at the thought of the sweet person who lights up your days and touches each moment of your existence, whether by accident or with tender thought and care. I feel that more often than I deserve. You inspire me to reach, you love me into being more and give me reason to work harder. You are the one I want for forever and eternity plus infinity! All my thoughts feel so pretty inside my heart, I hope you can catch a glimpse. Your expressions of love, your small deeds and motions of grandeur, carry me on through the swirls of experiences life brings. I live to hear your car pull into the drive way each evening and love to run into your arms and feel your soul entwined again with mine. You are tangable proof of God's love.

My Beautiful Mother

I have an amazerating, spendiferous mother. She inspires me especially through the little things she does; playing on the floor with the kiddos, keeping her tile gleaming white, always serving, whether family, friend or just someone in need, smiling and bringing joy whereever she goes. She knows she is a daughter of God and shares His light with all those that meet her. She also is a nut through and through. She has taught me how to enjoy being silly and make a fool out of myself and love it. She is the McGuyver of the family; she can make anything you need out of the most random items. She is constant in her search for knowledge and truth. She loves to read, mostly non-fiction and almost never from front to back. She loves to talk about livers functions, states and capitols, indian tribes, geological formations, presidents of the church, prepositional phrases, etc. She has wonderful quotes taped to the cabinets in her kitchen as well as the walls of the bathroom, reminding us all to be better or laugh harder or think thinner. I am always striving to be as wonderful as she is. I love her mucho!

Daddy - Zanna - Laney

Richard and Zanna were so cute together today I just had to take a picture. It made me think of this one of Richard and Laney that I took in almost the same spot about a year ago. I love daddy-daughter photos. These girls sure love their daddy! So do I!

My Sunday Darlings

These are my boys, my Sunday sons. I teach Sunday School to the 14-17 year olds. Aren't they a good looking group?! They are good boys too. They all come from amazing families, with parents who have taught them well. They are a delight to teach and strengthen my testimony every week. They are so great to eachother, looking out for everyone and making sure they all feel included. They know how to work hard and want to be righteous. I love to hear about their lives and see them growing into adulthood. It is like a peek into the future for my own boys (who are growing too fast). I have loved being their teacher for the last two years and hope to be able to continue being their teacher for a few more.

First Week of the New School Year

Here are our first of the school year photos. The kids are all loving school; of course they haven't really had homework yet. They are all getting so old.

Drew and Nate are in 1st grade. They are in different classes and have different hair cuts, Drew spiked and Nate longer and combed, their idea. It really helps to know who is who especially from the back.

Josh is in 6th grade.

Sam is in 7th grade. Jr. High age, oooh scary!

Sara is in 3rd grade.

Tim is in 4th grade.

A Couple of Cute Kids

So, yesterday Daniel told me he knew who created the whole universe. He said it was Uncle Bill. We do not have an Uncle Bill, so I asked him who he was. He said that Uncle Bill lived with Dad's mom. I asked if he meant with Grandma Alger and he said no Dad's other mom. Richard doesn't have another mom. I could never figure out what he was talking about but boy was he excited about it.



Tonight, Laney was looking at the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling in one of the bedrooms. She was inspired by them to sing Twinkle Twinkle. She was singing with so much spirit. She then sang it a couple more times. Then she turned around and looked at a different spot and said, "Now here." She proceeded to sing the song to the next star. I think she was intending to sing to each star individually but got distracted. Kids are so funny!

I really need to get more sleep.

I have had a hard time sleeping since we got home from vacation. I think I just enjoy the quiet. I am excited to get back on a schedule with school starting.