what a beautiful mess

I can't believe it's been that long since I've blogged.  We've been super busy around here.   See for yourself: We've gone rampant on random kissing pictures.     The girls had an orchestra concert on the same night as one of Stephens baseball games.  We had to split up for the evening; I was at the game, Trevor was at the concert. They all did a great job.   I love this picture. It's from Mothers Day and I'm determined to frame it and  hang it up in Emilys room just so that when she's going through her difficult teenage years, she'll be able to see how much I love her.   Stephen turned nine years old!  He was so happy with his beanbag chair, books and reading lamp.  Can't you tell?  Candice and Grandma Barwick came for a visit.  Carl and Grandma are great friends... We loved having them come to visit.  It's never long enough. (I mean that Candice!)  That's...

This, as you may already know, is typical Stephen. He always has a new book to read and often after school, he plants himself here on the couch for the afternoon. (at least until a friend comes over to play.) Our church magazines came in the mail today and as I was reading the New Era,  I was reminded of Elder Hollands talk and why it was one of my favorites: "In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited...When those moments come...hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes...The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue-it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.  "...I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have. Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is...

Joshua has this glove that he's cut all the fingers out of.  You can find him wearing it most of the time here at home. He also has adopted his own sense of style.  Everyday it has to be a long sleeve shirt (sometimes with another shirt on top), jeans (no shorts...yet),  and one of his hoodies.  And often his glove.  Annabelle is starting to get her summertime freckles again.  She certainly has some rosy cheeks.  Stephen started baseball again and is doing great! He's the oldest on his team and it shows... Ignore the dirty window below and instead focus on the kid underneath.  And the glove. Typical. You can't see it but I'm sure the stink in that room is horrendous.  I had to buy Josh a second pair of school shoes this year.  The first ones were really good New Balance shoes,  second ones were cheap Kmart shoes.  Never again will I buy Kmart shoes.  The cheaper the shoe...

While I run on the treadmill, I watch The Killers Live at the Royal Albert Hall and this is one of my favorites from the whole concert. The best part of the song comes at 5:10 and then he starts doing his Irish jig- Trevor and I always make sure to make fun of that...Oh but it is an amazing song.