My little sister Sarah is engaged! It's a cute story... it started way back in 1968 when our dad baptized a cute little family that included the future mother and grandmother of the boy pictured above... Pedro Granjia. My dad kept in touch with this family and about six years ago Pedro came to live with my family as an exchange student. He claims to have had no feelings toward Sarah at the time. She claims no such thing!!! In fact she openly admits a crush. Who wouldn't have had one at age 14!!! So then Sarah the next year went and lived in Brazil with the Granjia's as an exchange student for a year. Four years later after emailing and writing back and forth and after Pedro served a mission, these two cute kids fell in love over the internet. So wondering how the real thing would go, Sarah took a five week trip down to Brazil to try out this "new love." Of course they didn't stay in the same house, naturally Pedro's mom kicked him out and made room for Sarah! :) Obviously the five week trial went well and will soon turn into eternal love! They will be married on January 17th in the Bountiful Temple! I'm not counting on that date to be set in stone though, they have moved it up three times now...who knows maybe the wedding will be next week. I am so happy for her! The only sad part is that she will be moving to Brazil for three years and most likely have her first baby there. That will be hard for me to miss, but thank goodness for technology, we can keep in touch so well. Congratulations Sarah I love ya, and Pedro I guess I'll have to love you soon too! :)

Testimony

For all of you who know Lindsie Luke (Kohler), or even for those who don't I'd like you to take a look at her blog. Her dad passed away this week and on her blog she has shared her thoughts and her testimony throughout the whole experience. She is a rock and I was uplifted by her words. I suggest to all of you to go and read her words and do what you will with them. I was inspired by her strength and felt the need to share it with everyone.

She also inspired me to share my testimony. I am so fearful of sharing my testimony on fast sunday in church. I have public speaking anxiety issues. But I always bare that testimony in my heart and hope for the courage to stand and share. It's a rare occasion. But here in the privacy of my home is a little less intimidating and can hopefully still touch hearts and strengthen me and those who read this. So here goes. Lindsie has reminded me how greatful I am simply to have my family and the gospel and the knowledge that it gives us of eternal families and the plan of Salvation. We talked about the plan in church today. We talked about death, and the world's fear of it. I realized I am not afraid of it. I am eager to be reunited with my whole family and to see my Savior and my Heavenly Father again and to meet all the wonderful prophets that we only now get to read about. I hope that I can help my children to have the same faith in our Father's plan for us.

First and foremost I have a testimony of MY Savior. I love him and I know that he loves me personally. I know that he suffered for me in Gethsemane. I know that he has felt my sorrows and my joys, and that he is eager for me to succeed. I am so thankful for His atonement and for the changes that it has helped me to make in my life. I know it sounds weird in a testimony but I also know that Satan is real and that he will do all in his power to make us miserable with him. So we need to do all in our power to push him away. We need to recognize our weak spots and strengthen them so that he has no way in. We also need to recognize the difference between his influence and the influence of the spirit in our thoughts. I am greatful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am glad for the promptings and revelation that come to me in my life when I need it most. I am greatful for a Husband who honors his priesthood and brings the spirit into our home. I couldn't have asked for a more kind or selfless man. He is my inspiration to be better and I love him with all my heart. I have a testimony of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the prophet Joseph Smith. I am so greatful for him and am eager to meet him and thank him for his strength. I am greatful for the strength and courage of the Pioneers, for all that they did so that we can have the religious freedoms that we have. I have a testimony of tithing and the blessings that it brings when we are honest and diligent in paying it. I have literally seen small miracles in my life from paying tithing. I am greatful for the gospel in many aspects of my life, but one of the simple things that might often get overlooked is the friendships that come from the gospel. I am thankful that no matter where I move ( which we have done a lot) I will always make friends within my ward. Friends that have the same beliefs and values. I have a hard time initiating friendships so I am greatful that everywhere I go I can count on going to a new ward and being welcomed and loved instantly by the people that are there. I love the gospel for that. I am so glad that I know that I will have my wonderful Husband and my sweet little babies with me forever. I don't know how people live with the thought of losing the ones they love. I am greatful for temples and the blessings that are there for us to partake of. I have a testimony of motherhood. This is probably one of the biggest challenges in my life, but it has definitely brought more joy to me than anything else that I have ever done. I love my kids and as much as I try to teach them the things that I know everyday, they teach me so much more! They amaze and frustrate me daily and I couldn't ask for a better challenge! This is my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that in sharing it I have helped someone or just given someone else a motivation to share. I don't have many opportunities to be a misssionary but we are told that baring testimony is the best way to start. I encourage all to read this to share your testimonies too, it feels so good!

Family Night Fun

So this was the ultimate family night!

My kids were curious about my body markings for my triathlon. I told them I had to have a number to race. So they said they wanted to race too. So for family night this week we talked about taking care of our bodies. Exercise was one of the categories in the lesson. So we had our own mini triathlon, body marking and all. The kids picked out their "racing clothes" and we headed to the park for our triathlon. The race included running, hopping on one leg and summersaults. We had so much fun!

It's a long story why, but I did the swim leg of the Ogden Valley Tri up at pineview on Saturday for a friend of a friend Wendy Noel. The water was FREEZING! Okay so it was 65 degrees, but after the 78 degree water at powell it took my breath away. I trained during my week at Powell, but I still didn't know what to expect. I had never done an open water swim before, let alone 1000 meters! It was harder than I expected but I did okay with a time of 20 minutes. I'll be better prepared for my next triathlon. I plan to do an open water one next time!!!

Lake Powell!!!

My camera battery died soon after we reached Lake Powell. I got a few pictures, but I am awaiting a CD with more from our friend Lacey. So here's what I have, I'll share more later!

REAL VACATION HERE WE COME!

PETE & I ARE GOING TO LAKE POWELL TOMORROW FOR 8 DAYS WITH NO KIDS AND I CAN'T WAIT! JUST THOUGHT I'D RUB IT IN!

Happy Birthday Dal Dal!

THE CAKE , ANTICIPATION & THE DIVE....TASTY!


CLEAN UP & PRESENTS

Dallin turned one on Saturday. I can't believe he's a year old. I don't remember it being so weird with the other two, but it just doesn't seem like it's been a year. He's my baby. He just doesn't seem big enough to be one, even though I hear otherwise. I guess is pretty chunky. Maybe it's just his cute little baby face. I don't know...but he is one and there's nothin I can do about it! Dallin's favorite present was the tag on the dragon grandma gave him! He played with it all night. I don't know why we bother with gifts at a one year old's party. They always go for the box or the tag!