My first rose of the year. After the very wet spring and my extreme chopping of my 7 or so rose bushes, the flowers are finally coming to bloom. Roses are my favorite flower, and these yellow ones are so beautiful. I wanted you to share in my simple joy!
Ella has her own blog. It is set to private, so if we know you personally and you would like to subscribe to it, just let me know and I’ll send you an invite.
Ella began violin lessons last March and she plays beautifully. She had the opportunity to perform at the LDS Conference Center with the Suzuki Association of Utah in October as well as the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for Christmas. She received a Superior on her birthday at the National Federation Junior Festivals at the University of Utah. (You can watch her performance here.) She had been feeling stressed about continuing with the lessons though. It was a very big decision for her, and she struggled because she wanted to make the right decision. David and I suggested she pray about it. When she prayed for guidance, she felt okay with stopping the violin lessons. I think I was more sad than she was about it; however, I am very proud about her praying to find her answer.
Aurora adores animals, and she has made friends with one of the horses on the next street over. She calls it Silver, and the horse comes to the fence when she calls for it. She would love for us to live on a farm (a girl after my own heart), and she talks about owning one quite frequently. She is my super helper and is willing to do just about anything I ask. She loves babies and has become our neighbor’s helper as well–her little boy even cries when Aurora leaves. She’s growing up to be quite the little mother.
Lightning has been reading since he was 5–all self motivated–and he still surprises his teachers in church with how well he can read words from the scriptures. He is compassionate and is quick to help someone in need. He loves to help his dad fix whatever needs to be fixed, and quite often he is found outside in our tree or the neighbor’s tree. He’s learning how to be a gentleman from his dad and has been opening the van door for me more often. He received a pocket knife and real tools for Christmas. Needless to say he’s been using them ever since. His enthusiasm for life amazes me, and I’m grateful he’s a sweet, happy boy.
Wendy had a hard time deciding to stay in her primary class at church, but by the end of last year she had decided it was okay to be there (mostly). She was given new teachers at the beginning of the year, and they work so well with her energy. Her primary teachers said that they were quite surprised at how well she knows the songs because she doesn’t seem to like participating in singing time. She absolutely loves having the Parks for teachers. I’m so grateful for her patient teachers and primary leaders (past and present). I know that has made a huge difference.
Peter actually sits with his Sunbeams class during Primary (without me). I didn’t expect that he would considering he’s the youngest in his class and still a 3 year old boy. He’s done really well. Most of the kids closest to his age are still in nursery where it’s mostly play time, not sitting time. Occasionally he’ll ask to go back to nursery, but most of the time he’s happy to be in Primary. He’s growing up!
David was the Young Men’s secretary until last October when he was put in as the 11 year-old Scout Leader and teacher. He seems to be enjoying scouts again. It’s been many years since he has done scouting himself.
After many months of writing, rewriting, organizational changes, etc…David finished his book about our experience leading up to, during, and after our journey to Connecticut. It is written for an LDS audience, and we believe his message is timely and needed by many. He sent it into a publisher at the beginning of May, and we hope to hear back withing the next few months. (Prayers are appreciated!)
He has been in an employment/entrepreneurial transition for several years now. Doing legal work is not his cup of tea. He is now working on getting his message to the world through teaching and mentoring. He’s given several speeches at local libraries, and so far he hasn’t had as much support as he was hoping for. He’s excellent at gearing his message for specific audiences. He has a way with words and ideas. I am always amazed at how he connects things I never would have. He can explain complex issues in an easy to understand way–it’s one of his gifts. He loves speaking in front of an audience and helping people be inspired. I highly recommend you listen to his podcast here to get a feel for what he teaches. Then PLEASE PASS IT ON! Thanks!
David and I both attended the Business of Marriage event this past April. I’ve already talked about it a little in a previous post, and I have to say again that it was an amazing event that strengthened our marriage and put us on a path to making our marriage even better! (We’re one of the couples in the videos on the front page. Gotta love it!)
Brandi
In 2010 I finished with the 2010 TJEd Forum as Volunteer Coordinator in March. I turned over my position as Liberty Girls chapter advisor to my friend, Melinda, and stayed as a co-advisor after May. David and I had a simple, lovely anniversary getaway last July. I resigned as Secretary of American Youth Leadership Institute (AYLI) in September at about the same time I finished as Volunteer Coordinator for the AYLI’s Knights of Freedom Summit.
I became a Family Time and Money Freedom course graduate and attended the Thoughts Alive Mentor Training in Arizona with one of my best friends, Emily. The experience was awesome, and I am so grateful I was able to go and learn from such wonderful people, especially Leslie and Trevan Householder. I made many wonderful new friends. Emily and I came home having two new sisters: Amy and Linda. We shared a condo and a vehicle with them, and I enjoyed our deep conversations, not to mention the foot massage from Amy–our in-house massage therapist–and the yummy green smoothies thanks to Linda!
After I came home from Arizona, our ward was given a new bishopric. With that change, I was released as Secretary in the Primary Presidency and put in the Young Women’s organization over Personal Progress. (The new online tracker is awesome for the YW, their moms, and leaders if you didn’t already know!)
In 2011 I was able to attend Kirk Duncan’s Master of Influence seminar in February. We hosted my friend, Linda and her son during the event. I really enjoyed going with them to the event while David was taking care of the children (though having David with me would have been awesome!). The event was a lot of fun and gave me much to process and do. The whole three days were so high-energy, and I soaked it all in! I highly recommend what Kirk teaches. He not only teaches about body language, but how to listen to your body to help heal yourself. Fascinating stuff!
I finished up with our Liberty Girls chapter as a co-advisor and took on doing it as the chapter advisor again. Gratefully this time I don’t need to host it as well. It’s the only way I was going to advise again. I’m helping with my son’s Knights of Freedom group as well since all the moms participate. I may be helping with a YASA group if it continues on. I already mentioned helping with a Transition to Scholar group with Ella teaching Art. I’m also helping Queen Emily again with the Knights of Freedom Summit, only doing Family Activities Coordinating instead or being in charge of the 100 or so volunteers. It’s more manageable for me right now.
I planted most of our garden, watermelons and pumpkins excepted, and the kids and I are very excited about what we’re getting this year. Our family has been also gardening at a friend’s house. She has a lot of land to plant, and we’ve enjoyed several weeks worth of planting, weeding, and play. We all look forward to this year’s harvest and preserving.
I am still administrative coordinator for my book group, the Eliza R. Snow Association, also known as ERSA. I absolutely love the sisterhood we share and the amazing conversations we have. I look forward to it every month. I highly recommend starting your own group if you don’t already have one!
I’m singing in our ward choir again after a couple years hiatus. I really love to sing. It’s a secret passion of mine though I’m still scared to sing by myself. I’ll just belt out the songs in church with everyone else singing with me. :) A duet would be welcome, but I’m really bad at “putting myself out there” and volunteering for such a thing. I guess I just need some encouragement. lol
Other happenings this past year
Aurora is my sweet, helpful, compassionate child. She loves children, and quite often can be seen playing with a small child while a mother (including me) is taking care of other duties. Our neighbor’s toddler cries when she leaves because she goes over to help a lot. I love that she’s learning to mother so early. She is my girly-girl and quite often can be found running around in a skirt, sewing something new, asking if she can help me, or cooing over someone’s baby.
Thank you, Aurora, for choosing me as your mother! You are a joy!
To read her birth story, click here.
Lightning is now a Cub Scout. He has been excited to go to scouts for probably over a year. His grandparents gave him a scout shirt, book, and patches for his 8th birthday. He couldn’t wait for his first den meeting this past Friday, and he even read some of the book before even attending. I love his enthusiasm for everything “boy”!
I’m so proud of Lightning for choosing to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this beautiful morning. The Spirit was strong, and I loved every minute of it. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter boy! Lightning was so happy and excited all morning long. He seemed extra attentive to the talks and what was going on while he waited for his turn to be baptized. It was a Stake baptism, and I have never seen so many children being baptized. There had to be around 15. Needless to say, the chapel was packed with people and they opened the gym to accommodate all of those in attendance. The counselor in the Stake Presidency joked that it looked like Stake Conference.
Our ward was last and had three boys being baptized including Lightning. I didn’t mind so much, but all of the children in the congregation seemed to. We sang so many songs that I almost lost my singing voice. David got up and bore his testimony during one of the breaks between songs. Finally the time came to go to the room for the baptismal font was so full of people, there was standing room only. I was so grateful to get to watch it. I’m sure no one would have argued if I stood in the middle just so I could watch the ordinance, but I didn’t need to. After all, I was his mom!
David baptized Lightning and later confirmed him a member of the church after they were all dried off. Lightning was so cute and happy when it was all over. He’s such an angel boy!
I’m so grateful for our many friends and family who came to support Lightning. We enjoyed a luncheon on his honor at the pavilion near our church building. I was sad that my dad couldn’t stay for the luncheon because it had taken so long (nearly two hours) and he needed to go back to work. Other than that everything else seemed perfect. We were so blessed to have everything go as smoothly as it did. I didn’t even feel stressed about it. I let the whole day just flow from one thing to the next. My planning had paid off, and with the help of the Spirit I remembered everything I needed to do.
Something we’ve missed in the past is doing a family photo before or after an event like a baptism. This time, I made sure to get one! One of the benefits of having a photographer as one of my best friends is that she can take a nice, quick family picture! Thanks, Tamra!
We spent the rest of the day letting the kids play while we rested. I didn’t realize how much the excitement and planning took out of me. I ended up with a headache but even that didn’t dampen my joy.
Lightning, I pray you remember this day and keep it close to your heart, always! I know I will!
