Sisters...

Sisters

doing homework...

A beautiful sight at the end of a long day.

Where Were The Marshmallows?

Sunday was chilly.

After church, the kids department had Family Fun Day.

Everyone had a blast.

They fed us mexican food... yum.

Then the kids played on inflatables.

When we got home, the weather was perfect for getting some jobs done that just can't be done during the hot weather.  Who wants to do anything when it is boiling outside?  Not us!

There was some painting and cleaning up of the outside... which is a huge problem for me.

We all like a little pride in our homes when we drive up, right?

Anywho...

My dad started asking me some questions about our garden next year.

What did I want to plant?

How big did I want to make it?

We got busy talking this over and then took a walk out in the left front field to kind of map out how big we want this thing.

I was told that we would need to mow very slowly through the overgrown brush around the perimeter and then burn the inside.

I guess those boys meant NOW!

Then next thing I knew, Dad was mowing and then as the sun was going down...

the kids came running in to tell me that they were setting the field on fire.

I walked outside with the bigger girls and...

indeed...

fire was everywhere.

But...

it did warm things up a bit!

Mark is seriously having too much fun out there!

The little firebug!

Buck doesn't really care for the fire..

He proved several times why he is named Buck.

Above is Miranda and Sydnee...

my walk around the perimeter of the fire, "garden", partners.

and...

To prove that I actually live here too...

A photo of me at the fire.

It was a fun and productive way to watch the sun go down on a sunday afternoon...

But, where were the marshmallows?

Loves to Tell the Story...

Growing up is hard to do...

Besides all of the hormonal issues, there are just a lot of things to learn and experience.

Miranda has been on overload the last couple of weeks.

She has been very busy with a homecoming project at school and has been getting home late.

She is tired.

She may not be hearing everything I say to her.

We had a very specific conversation about exactly who was riding home from church with her last night...

She may or may not have been listening when I told her that she would be giving her younger sister a ride home.  Do not forget her, I clearly said......

We arrived home...

followed a few minutes later by Miranda.....

alone.

There was not a soul in the car with her...

Her dad immediately sent her back to the church to pick up her sister...

as the phone rang with a very tear filled Sydnee telling me she had been left at the church.

Thank goodness for a wonderful church family who loved on her a bit until Miranda was arrived.

They offered to give her a ride home, but Miranda was already on the way.

Poor Sydnee may be scarred for life!

Miranda, however, will never live this down.

We have been telling the story of losing Chey... twice... once when she was  a year and a half old...

We were at a car show and I stepped away for about 30 seconds...

Daddy swore that he would keep an eye on her...

She was gone, lickety split!

Thankfully we found her, but that traumatized me big time...

And then, the story that Chey hears at least 30 times a year...

Chey was with Bampa at Marine World when she disappeared on the way to the bathroom.

I think Bampa was traumatized because he loves to tell that story!

I think we may be telling the story of Miranda and Sydnee for years to come.

It's a good thing we were able to laugh about this...

after putting some fear into Miranda.

Caving...

My oldest daughter just told me that I don't blog anymore...

but it has only been 3 days...

and I have been busy!

On sunday, after church, the youth went caving (spelunking).

They started out so clean...

Yet, ended up sooooo dirty.

Then they went out and took a hillbilly bath... in the river...

so they could get back in their cars and drive home.

"Thank God I'm a country boy"  is going through my head right now.

After her "bath" in the river she drove home and she had changed jeans... so she would leave her car a major mess.

It's a good thing she had a blast!

She was very excited about jumping in a nice hot shower, though.

I had pictures of the bath and the cave and...

Yeah...

I can't find them.

Sorry.

I am just so excited to see this church really invest time in these young people.

They are a great group of kids.

And...

As Miranda tells me all of the time...

"Ritchie is the best youth leader  EVER!"

Miranda...

Miranda leading a group at vbs...

Miranda is one of those amazing people who is good at so many things.

She plays the guitar like a pro.

She loves Jesus with her whole heart.

She is great with kids.

She is one of those people who can think of a fun activity on the fly...

and the kids love her for it.

It doesn't matter if those kids are her younger siblings or kids at church...

They just love her.

So do I!

7 Days Until the Big Wedding Event

Embellishing...

When Galen (my soon to be son-in-law (son)) saw the photo of Miranda with Nate from a couple of days ago...

He said, "That girl needs to eat some meat!  She looks like a holocaust survivor."

Do her arms look meatier in this photo, Galen?

She really does eat...

She is just nearly 10 feet tall...

Well, I may be embellishing that a little bit... but she is very tall!

Now Do You Understand...

The picture is for me...

It makes me feel better when I see someone laughing...

You see, yesterday I went to get the girls birth certificates and found that someone had removed them from their appointed location (that I have kept them safely in for 22 years)...

And now, they can not be located.

I spent several hours tearing the house apart trying to find them.

Gone.

Completely.  Gone.

So...

Now I get to figure out how much it is going to cost us to replace all of these...

YIKES!

Now do you understand why I need the smily picture?

p.s.  After about a total of 7 hours of searching, a complete night of praying, and finally feeling like we would have to spend a fortune to replace all of them... I just found them in  a location that had been checked by 3 people at least 10 times!  They are now under lock and key!

Today...

Today is May Day.

But, more importantly...

Today would have been my grandmother's 86th birthday.

This woman taught me so many things.  Some of which include... baking, cooking, putting family first... but she really taught me how to make the hard choices.  She taught me how to give a task everything you've got and then a little more.  This lady was one of the hardest workers I have ever known.  She taught me how to smile even when faced with what seem like insurrmountable trials.  This woman taught me how important it is to slow down and enjoy what is right in front of you.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

We miss you!

This is a photo of my grandmother holding Miranda... 16 years ago!

Art...

Miranda's self portrait from awhile back...

I totally see it!

Art...

This to This...

16 year old girls are ever changing.

Their hair.

Their makeup.

Their bedroom furniture...

Their moods!

In the blink of an eye, you can go from this to...

This...

It's a portrait of a 16 year old girl...

and it's beautiful!

Strange...

So, there is this thing that has happened in our home twice before...

Girls turn 16 and start doing some really crazy things...

Miranda is no exception!

I thought that maybe if I turned the photo black and white it wouldn't look so strange...

Nope...

Still strange...

I know for a fact that I did not go through this strange stage when I was 16!

And...

There is only one person left who truly knew me back then...

and he isn't talking...

Right, brother?

RIGHT?!

Miranda's Home...

Is there anything better than seeing your child so excited about God that they are tearful and full of desire to see God move not only for them but ALL people?!!

Miranda came home from Acquire The Fire today.

She had the best time.

As some of you know, she is an amazing guitarist herself... so getting so see some of her favorite Christian bands play was such a great experience.

She got to see Esterlyn...

and Leeland (her alltime fave!)

She even got her pic taken with the lead singer of Esterlyn...

The funny thing about Christian kids from Utah is that they really don't have a clue about Christian life outside of this state.  As many of you can guess, living in this state can be a little difficult for Christians.  Everything, and I mean everything, is ran by the religion that is dominant in this state. (media, hospitals, schools, etc...)

These kids were shocked to see a billboard with a Bible scripture on it!  You just don't see that here. They saw Christian items sold in stores.  They were amazed.  You can try to explain to your kids how different it is anywhere outside of this state... but until they see it for themselves, they just can't imagine it.

Miranda was able to get autographs from some of her favorites.

The trip home was fog filled.

I loved that Miranda took a picture of the big screens when they put up there...

If you are from Utah yell "I love Jesus!"

Many times, people discount this state... they forget that there are many of us Christians here that are fighting the good fight...

It can become discouraging sometimes.

It is great to know that someone remembers you are here.

I want to say thanks to everyone for prayer, money, etc... in helping Miranda to make it to Acquire The Fire.

If your child has a chance to go to one of these conventions around the country... DO IT!

They will come back changed.

What Happens...

What happens when a little brother decides to tell on a big sister...

THIS!

Keep It Up Girl...

Miranda has been out facing the elements...

wandering door to door...

like a poor homeless child...

begging for money.

Her youth group is going on a trip to Aquire The Fire.

She needs $157.00...

So far, the good neighbors have come up with $45.00...

Keep it up girl.  You'll be there before you know it!

Not Christmas Day Photos...

No, these are not photos from our wonderful Christmas day celebration.

These are photos that we took to remind us that Cadi was here for Christmas and... that Miranda was 16 once...

I don't know about you, but I love photos... and you don't have to walk very far in my house before you know I love photos...

They are everywhere!

I think these will be joining the others on the wall.

Beautiful!

However, I do promise to get through the Christmas day photos in the next couple of days.

I will!

I will...

Birthday Celebration...

Miranda asked for homemade bread bowls and potato soup/corn chowder.

How could I turn her down?

Especially when it is her birthday...

...and I love potato soup and bread bowls!

I think she loves it too...

She also asked for a soda pop cake.

Oh, baby!

This day alone may add 10 pounds!

You only turn 16 once, right?!

I couldn't waste the cake on my fingers...

Daddy loved this picture.

Our oldest girl and our youngest girl.

We are so blessed to have Cadi actually want to join us through the computer for these family celebrations!

What a blessing to have raised such wonderful young women!

Cadi gave Miranda a beautiful scarf...

We probably will see her wearing that to church this sunday.

... and the tradition continues...

Grandma and Bampa gave her money... always loved... she already has plans for it.

They gave her a figurine that has been given an important place in her room...

and they gave her a key chain for when she takes her drivers test and gets the keys to the cars.

Momma and Daddy then gave her...

bom bom bom...

a really nice guitar case!

She has been asking for one of these for over a year!

The smile on her face was the biggest thank you!

Wow...

Look down the table at the beautiful faces...

God knew just what I have always needed.

Even when I didn't know it...

He did.

Happy, Sweet 16 my wonderful daughter!

I wish I could put into words how much I love you and how truly blessed I am to have you.

Some day you will know.

You will understand that what you feel for your daughter is what I feel for you...

For now, I will just say I love you and...

Happy Birthday!