Today was one of those days...

Today was one of those days where clarity came in a flash!

How many days in our lives can we say that clarity of something that has been eluding us for so long, comes in a flash?

For those of you with flashes of brilliance, you may have many days like this.

But for me, today was a miracle.

I feel so blessed to be able to take the things that are weighing on my heart, and gain an understanding that I never had before.

I was touched by people around me who probably had no idea the impact they were having on me.

A sister who was willing to listen, a stranger who smiled while reminding me of promises, and longtime friends who said just the right thing to calm my heart.

I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who reminds me that I am important to him.

I am one of His daughters.

I am one of His children.

And he loves me...no matter what.

After letting go of things that aren't in my control, and feeling a peace that I haven't felt in a long time, I came home and witnessed this.

I watched as John mowed the entire property with Tymber safely tucked in his lap, singing "I'm yelling timber..." in her ear.

I love their smiles, and I hope I will never forget how I felt feeling my Heavenly Father touching my life, and watching Tymber's earthly father touching her life.

Life is a gift.

Nothing is guaranteed, but if we trust in the Lord, it will all work out!

The Foot Book with the girls' favorite person...Daddy!

I love the little moments.

It's the little moments that we tend to forget, but sometimes leave the biggest impression on who we are when they are all seamed together in one wonderful life.

This was one of those moments for me.

I have been working really hard on cleaning out closets, bathrooms, desks, and dressers in all the girls' rooms upstairs.

I was showing John how hard we have been working, and showing him our laser-like precision in getting rid of clutter and teaching the girls to share what we have been blessed with, and this is the scene that was my favorite of the whole room tour.

I felt a little like Martha in Luke 10:40-42, "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

John chose that part.

The part where you stop looking around for what needs to be done, and you do what needs to be done...time with little girls.

I just stood in the doorway and watched.

I witnessed them come to the room, one by one, following the voice of their dad.

I knew I didn't want to forget this moment.

There will many more times where dad reads to them, and introduces them to Dr. Seuss, Judy Blume, and Tolstoy, but this was a sweet reminder to me.

A reminder that I was doing something good, but sometimes I need to chose "that good part."

The part where the girls are snuggled in their beds listening to Anne of Green Gables. 

The part where I never turn Easton down when he asks me to tuck him in.

The part where A.J. just wants to stand in the kitchen and tell me story after story of his day.

The part where I glance at John at the dinner table and mouth the words, "I love you."

The part where I am Madie's shoulder to lean on, and her cheerleader in every endeavor.

Life is good.  Oh so good!

I am a blessed mama!

Little girl...Heaven on Earth~Daddy-Daughter Dance 2012

When you are a little girl, does anything get better than dressing up like a beautiful princess, going to a "ball" where they curl your hair, paint your nails and even let you wear makeup, and then finish off the event dancing with your dad and sisters?

Let me just tell you...

For my Brooke, Ellie and Annie, the answer is without hesitation, "No!"

Life is wonderful when you get to do those things with your favorite people on the planet.

A few Saturdays ago, the girls and John headed to the Stonegate Ward's Annual Daddy-Daughter Ball.

What an event!

They entered the building where there was a place to take a picture that was decorated with a sweet bench, balloons galore, and the perfect setting for the beginning of the magical time with dad.

I know that John never, ever, ever, ever imagined that he would be blessed with five girls who absolutely adore him.

John was blessed with one sister, so he came with limited knowledge of the complexity of a girl's world.

But this day, he was there.

Really there.

Smiling, doting, complimenting, loving each of those girls individually.

My heart actually warmed watching him dancing with our sweet girls.

He wasn't thinking about work, or which car needed attention, or what games he may be missing.

He was thinking about Brooke Elizabeth, Ellie Jane and Annie Grace.

They are the luckiest girls on earth...and so am I.

Camping with Dad...Lucky Easton!

This last weekend was Easton's 11 Yr-Old Scout camp!

Two days with his dad to get dirty, pass off some merit badge requirements, eat food right off the fire, and so much more!

They spent the day before packing everything they needed to have a great time, loaded the car, and were ready first thing in the morning.

Do you think Easton is happy? Look at the smile for the answer!

THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOWED UP WITH 36 HOURS LATER...

YES...A 21-inch trout caught with his bare hands! He was beaming!

They found a large lure in his throat from the unsuccessful try of probably an experienced fisherman, but he couldn't escape Easton's fast hands.

The sisters needed a touch and a picture!

They found lots of eggs! I wasn't really up for the taking the graphic pictures, so Brooke took over. She did a great job capturing the cleaning of the fish!

Happy Father's Day

Honey, the kids wanted to tell you the things that they LOVE most about YOU!

A.J. said, "My favorite thing about dad would have to be how invested he is in my future and how selfless he is."

Madie said, "I like how he is always funny and how he does his "Jared" voice."

Easton said, "How much he loves you (he was talking to me.)" My favorite answer, but I absolutely agree with all the others.

Brooke said, "How supportive he is to me!"

Ellie said, "That he married you! (Once again talking to me.)"

Annie said, "I love daddy very much!"

Honestly, I couldn't have put it better than that!

I love him! I love that he loves me! I love that he supports us in everything we do! I admire how selfless he is! I love how he tries to figure out things that aren't perfect and always tries to make them better. My heart literally jumps when I see him across a room!

Happy Father's Day to the one we LOVE!