9 Year Anniversary

For our 9 year anniversary we headed to the Red Lobster for the famous, once a year, all you can eat shrimp!  Then, we headed out to shop for our new car.  By the end of the next day we were driving our new Corvette convertible home! (We have actually been looking to buy this car for the last year but FINALLY found the stellar deal we were looking for, which happened to coincide with our 9 yr mark.) Every time we hop in this car now, it will remind us that the last 9 years have been one SWEET RIDE!!  :)  

Fairs and Berries

Lizzie had a play date and was gone most of the day so Julie and I had a "Mommy and me" date!  We headed to a local farm and picked blueberries to our hearts' content.  Julie was an excellent little picker and when I told her she could eat some of them, she responded, "No, that's ok.  I want to save ALL of them for the muffins!"  One on one time with my little girls is invaluable.  Whenever it does happen, it is always a treat.   It's days like this that make my heart feel so full it might burst.  I love both my girls so much and relish these special moments we share together. This is definitely the stuff life is made of.  

The little girls and I had a blast at the 4US family fair!  All the activities, inflatables, and games were free.  Donations were encouraged and it was a GREAT cause!  This charity raises money to buy ultrasounds for pregnancy clinics.  These machines significantly raise the odds that mothers will choose life over abortion.  These are also the locations where abortions are chosen most frequently.  I was very excited when a friend told me about her friend, who founded it.  Sometimes the Pro Choice and Pro Life debates are so dead end.  This cause is actually DOING something about it and in such a positive way.  We had a great time and were happy to support the odds of life for those without voices yet.  If you want to know more, check out www.4us.org.

Baby Wyatt

This is such a hard post because the right words just don't seem to come to me.  I couldn't bare to post anything when it happened.  Sometimes there are no words to express the deep pain and grief that come with losing a loved one.  Especially, when it's your sweet little baby nephew.  Wyatt David Lauper, you were so perfect, so sweet, and loved by so many people.  Your passing away broke all of our hearts, and we all still miss you so much. We think about you often, and pray for your family who misses you, here on Earth, even more.  

On August 10, the whole family gathered together to remember little Wyatt on his 1 year old birthday.  We met at his grave site to reflect on his life, leave flowers, and present various mementos to Aaron and Michelle.  We then headed to the temple  as a family for more reflection.  The saving grace of this whole devastating loss is the comfort we find in each other, family, and most importantly, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The pain is very real, but so is the hope.  "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." "Why art thou cast down, o my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God." -Psalms 30:5; 42:5.  It will take time for Michelle and Aaron to heal, but we know that through Christ and his Atonement, it will happen.  In time, all will be restored and that sweet little family will be reunited once again!  We love you Wyatt Lauper!