{this moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

{Gratitude~Cookies~Fake Haircuts}

So I have had a lot of time to myself lately.  Jeremy has been gone to Congo for work.  I have been enjoying lots of reading and relaxing in the evenings.  But I have also been a single parent, which is NOT easy.  We have done so well this time.  This is his 4th trip.  I am counting down the days, but trying to be positive and look to what I can gain from this time apart.

I went shopping yesterday and found this journal.  How is it that things are put before you just when you need it most?  My goal is to fill one page a day with all I am grateful for in my life at that moment.

We have been making way too many cookies since Jeremy has been gone.  But we have so enjoyed them!  I think the kids have the recipe memorized.

I had to tease Jeremy while he was gone.  I told him I cut my hair. He loves my hair long.  So I had to ruffle some feathers and told him I cut it. So of course he wanted a picture. So I sent him this.....

He believed it. Then he asked for another one and wanted to see a better view.  Well that is when my cover was blown.  So I sent him this so he could dry his tears.

He did say he loved me no matter who long my hair was.

I miss him.  Home is not the same without him.  There is something wonderful about a husband and having the priesthood in your home.  You can feel the difference when they are gone.  I am just grateful for such a hard worker and provider.  I can't imagine leaving my family and comforts of home like he does.  We sure do love him and miss him!

{Arizona Indians}

My dad has always loved Indians.  He has studies a lot about them over his life.  He took a day with us and taught us some pretty neat things.  The kids learned how to grind corn to made flour; they learn about how they got their meat and dried it; the learned a game they would play; and they made a pot on their own.  The kids favorite part was grinding the corn.  They spent the most time doing that.  

For lunch we cooked some deer meat and corn on the cob.

Carlee, Loralie, and Savanna made bowls, Fisher made a turtle and Hunter made a bracelet out of clay.

Later for art they painted them.

I love when we get to get out of the house and do some hands on activities.

They learn so much and it is so fun!

{this moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

soaking up some sun

Saturday found our family out to our favorite place.  We cooked lunch over an open fire, we built things, we ate popcorn, we had races, we drew pictures, we all learned how to properly build a fire, we shot the gun and soaked up the sun.  

It was a gorgeous day.  Graham played with his cars in the warm sand making the cutest car sounds with his little mouth.  I love that boy!  Hunter found some old rusted metal pipes and was building things with them.  He is so creative and can entertain himself with whatever is around him.  The girls drew pictures and had races up the steep hill.  Fisher tried to eat all the popcorn he could and insisted on walking around with no shoes.  He has the toughest feet.

Later that afternoon we took them down to the water.  I don't know how they could stand it, but they all put there feet in and said it wasn't cold. That is how bad they wanted to play in it.  After a while they all got out and decided to build sand castles with the one cup we brought.  It was a perfectly peaceful day.  Every time we go out there it is like the time stops.  You are surrounded by beautiful rocky mountains with no view out.    It is lovely there.  A place to stop and really be at peace with yourself and family.

Jeremy and I talked and laughed, played and teased.  I have always felt like when you get away from all the cares of the world and get out into nature you are closer to your Heavenly Father and you can let down your guard and be who you really are inside.  This little bit of Heaven of earth for me is freeing to my soul on days when everything else seems to be caving in.

I don't know if it is me getting older or what but in the past few months I have had my eyes opened to many things in my life.  The biggest is with my children.  I can't get enough of them.  I feel like they are growing faster then I can blink.  I am savoring each day with them and each little moment we have together.  Our ages span from 11 years-20 months.  All six of them is so unique in their personality and they each bring something special to our family.  Things that used to stress me no longer do.  My heart is open to them in a way never before.  How I wish I could have understood what I do now 11 years ago.  I am go grateful for the new view.