Can I just tell you...?

How AWESOME it is to have a REAL house. I'm talking about my own 4 walls, and all the floors belong to me! We have been married for almost 8 years and up until May 22, we've lived in an apartment or townhouse. All of our places have been sufficient and we were mostly content with each home we've lived in. Having a wonderful family to be with is really the most important thing but to be in a house. Some of you can relate to this and some have only lived in an apartment as a single adult. It doesn't matter. I have a real house! A huge garage that fits our bikes, camping stuff, skis, a van and a car, a freezer, Stan's fix it supplies, and room for more. We also have a yard where the kids can run, throw a Frisbee, hit a ball with a bat. We get to mow the yard, water it, green it up, etc. Over the next several months, we will have ripped out our carpet and replaced it, painted all the walls, hopefully get some curtains up, maybe even obtain some real beds. Our bunk bed frames got lost in the move somehow so the kids are just on mattresses on the floor. It's fine but we have something else to look forward to. It has been a lot of work but it's so rewarding to make it ours, slowly but surely. To go to bed and not have cigarette smoke and vulgar language drift in my window . To feel safe to have my kids out in front of the house, mostly. As long as they stay on the driveway. To not hear people yelling and screaming through the walls, except for my kids. I LOVE having a real house!

I tried!

Last weekend we had our first of many 'at-home vacations'. I read in an LDS living magazine article the fun and economical way to have a vacation. We are always into cheap ideas and the kids are so easy to please right now! We had a back yard campout and I will post pics as soon as the computer allows me to do. We need a new computer. Anyway, the fun started with foil dinners that were absolutely delicious. I was impressed with myself. I cooked those and corn on the cob on the BBQ. After eating out on the deck, we set up our tent and built a fire in our pit. We roasted marshmallows for smores. We watched a movie in the tent to get the kids into their beds. Brynn and Joel slept great and wanted to sleep out there the next night. Stan and I didn't sleep at all. It rained so hard for half of the night, Macy got dripped on and I was cold. I made it until 4:45 am and then Macy and I came in and had a great sleep until 7:30. It was a fun experience. The rain was so typical of camping for me. I remember rain on many camping trips as a kid. I was so glad to be in my backyard and not in the boonies!
I forgot to mention earlier that Stan and I have new callings in our new ward. He is a helper in the nursery! I get to play the organ in Sacrament meeting and the piano in RS. But I get to share the job with another lady. It's awesome! We feel so blessed!!

What a difference a week makes

I've wondered over the past couple of days why I'm not suffering and mourning more than I am. I have almost felt guilty that I'm being insensitive or something. Then it hit me today and Stan and I have also talked about this... Numerous people have been praying and fasting on our behalf. We went to the Temple on Friday and I realized why I was there that our names were on the prayer roll. The reality of the that wonderful process set in as I felt the peace and love and faith of those faithful people attending the Temple. They were praying for US! Then today during testimony meeting, I realized more powerfully than ever, that the Savior's Atonement was exactly for that reason! He suffered so we don't have to and so he can feel what we feel. That burden has definitely been lifted from my shoulders. In fact I only carried it for a very short time. I feel like such a slow learner. I guess I haven't ever had anything that seemed like a big trial before. Now that I have, I've received so much strength, peace, and comfort. It is all too amazing to me how the Lord works.

O Canada AND 4th of July

This week we get to celebrate two holidays. For Canada Day, some friends in the ward invited us over for an afternoon BBQ. It was fun. We spent the evening at the park with the kids and came home to watch a movie. We were able to see Fireworks in Beaumont and Edmonton out of the windows of our home. That was really fun since we didn't feel like going anywhere. The kids were so excited to be able to stay up until 11:30. It was fun just being with them and enjoying all the fun things they like to do. Today we are celebrating with some American friends. I should try to take some pictures. But here is one of the kids...

We were able to go to the Temple last night. I felt so much peace, it was amazing. I feel sometimes like this experience never even happened. It feels like it has happened a long time ago, even though it was only a week. I know all the prayers are helping. THANK YOU EVERYONE!