Friday, April 30, 2010

Lakeside

One of Benson's brothers and his wife and kids moved up to Lakeside in December - we were sad to see them go but we're not gonna lie - they're really fun to go visit! It's like having a family cabin since they're nice enough to let people crash there pretty much all the time.

After we went whitewater rafting a couple of weekends ago we decided to spend the night with them since we were already half way to their house!

We had lots of fun playing with the kids, eating pizza and staying up late listening to Heidi snort from laughing so hard.

Sunday afternoon I had a "picnic" in the backyard with the kids - it was such a beautiful day!

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Can you imagine your backyard looking like this?

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For our picnic we ate kettle corn I brought up that we got at a baseball game a day or so before. Jake ate tons of it and kept calling it the Baseball Popcorn.

When we were packing up to leave he asked me "Do you think you're gonna take your baseball popcorn with you?", so I let him keep the rest.

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I showed Maesyn how the pine trees smell like ice cream.

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Kids don't get much cuter than this...

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Rafting!

If you've ever wanted to go - you should! It's so much fun! We had the same guide as we did last year and let me tell you a sunny warm day made it 10 times better than last year's overcast rain and snow!

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* I don't think it's possible for glasses to look any more nerdy than they do in this next picture.
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

In the Garden

I know you've all been just dying for an update on our garden! Right?!

Well today's your lucky day.

Our corn is getting SO tall

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We're getting lots of tomatoes
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(and ladybug friends)

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And the most exciting part?

Peaches!!

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We planted this tree last year and we weren't expecting it to produce for at least a couple more years so it was really exciting when we went outside and saw little peaches starting all over it!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Easters

Easter and conference should be the same weekend every year. It was so fun to hang out with family all day, eat lots of good food, and play with these cute kiddos.

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Our amaryllis also bloomed for the first time Easter week! It was beautiful!

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Friday, April 16, 2010

Acceptance

I had a wedding shoot scheduled.
I planned every detail out.
I knew exactly what time I needed to leave to be at the temple just before they came out.

Left two minutes late. "It's okay" I told myself "I left myself some wiggle room."
It was all fine and dandy until I hit the freeway.

For some reason when there is a cop pulled over on the side of the road all lanes of traffic feel they need to slow down by 10-20 miles... "It's a natural psychological phenomenon" (name that movie)

It took me a good 15 minutes to get two miles. I looked at the clock and it read 1:15, the time I had scheduled to be there waiting.

This is where the panic set in.

"Oh my gosh how am I going to make it on time? What if I am late? What if I get there and they're all sitting outside waiting for me? What if I get there and they've all left because they were so sick of waiting?! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!"

I picked up my phone and called Benson - he's my voice of reason.

"It will be okay," he told me "Just say a prayer and drive safe."

I prayed the rest of the way there, outloud even, but for some reason I was still worried about making it on time.

"Do I really lack that much faith?" I thought outloud (I talk to myself in my car sometimes, mostly when I am trying not to freak out. Don't judge.)

I realized it wasn't a lack of faith. I know that Heavenly Father is capable of doing whatever we ask of him. I also know that just because we ask something of him doesn't mean he will do it (even though he can).

This made me remember that he is much smarter than I am and has a better view of what I need. I also know that he loves me dearly and has my best interest at heart.

So wouldn't that mean if he chose not to answer one of my prayers when I want the way I want that it would be because what I want isn't really what I need? Yes, I think so.

Then the realization hit me, "I don't have a lack of faith, I have a lack of acceptance."

My worry isn't caused by my lack of thinking that he can or will, it's my lack of being able to accept that if I get a "no" than that's what's best for me.

I finished this thought as I pulled into the temple parking lot. I walked quickly to the front steps, still praying. I met the brides friend outside and she let me know they hadn't come out yet, but that they'd just finished their sealing and were changing their clothes (meaning my "late" timing was actually perfect.)

I thanked Heavenly Father many times for getting me there safely and answering my prayers. I also asked to help me remember to be accepting of his will since, afterall, he knows better.

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Benson and I talked about this concept later that evening. We started talking about how it applied to all areas of life. We talked about how if we pray in faith and do our part that everything will work out the way it is supposed to, that everything will be okay.

What if we could always remember that? Think of how much less stressfull life would be if we knew that always.

Although it may take all I have to get this through my head, I am going to try my hardest to keep this in mind.