there is beauty all around....

......when there's love at home.

For Hire.

(No, not Lizzie) Lizzie went to a birthday party, and this is how she came home. Isn't this face painting so so cool? I think so too. Marlene Fenton is the artist and is available to face paint for your party too. For info and prices contact
Marlene Fenton (Jenn Weech's mom, if you know Jenn) @ 623-933-8030.
She is such a great lady, you will love her!

cute from head to toe.

Ammon loooovees to play under this, and I love to watch him.

I love how he sucks in his lower lip, and this shirt he is wearing is my favorite.

i think I will make a poster size print of this picture. oh those yummy legs. They are so soft and cozy. I squeeze them all day.

his stinky sweaty baby toes. love em'Then Jacob gets home from school, and i am chopped liver. As soon as Ammon hears and sees Jacob he can't stop smiling and cooing. Look at the total love in his eyes. The feeling is definitely mutual.

oh my two handsome boys.

Happy 30th Birthday Teri!!

Back in the saddle and it felt reaaaaallll good. Although being charged by some cows in a field that we snuck into was quite frightening.

look at the horns on that bull. He was so mean looking. This picture was taken right before Teri turned around and saw how close he was. When she did, she threw her orange for him to eat and we hid in the trees before making a run for the fence.

Poor Teri, couldn't relax for quite some time after that. She kept looking over her shoulder nervously. You were a trooper Teri. And we got some great ones before the cow incident. ha.

Like this one!!

Teri, you are beautiful inside and out. I am lucky to have a friend like you!

deep thoughts by heather ives

Have you ever had something happen in your life that is yucky and it makes you feel so bad you want to just hide away and never put yourself "out there" again? That makes you never want to make yourself vulnerable to be hurt again. That makes you feel like the world isn't as great of a place as you thought it was?

Yeah, I have had a few of those lately.

But here is the lesson to be learned. We can't let the one bad experience cancel out or taint the 100's of amazing experiences that we have in life. I think Satan works hard to discourage us because he knows what a powerful force for good each one of us can be. How many lives we can uplift, and make better every single day.

So, I am going to consciously choose to love even more. To serve others even more. To give of myself even more. So what if I get hurt every so often. That is a fact of life that sometimes we will be misunderstood, treated unkindly, taken advantage of, or misjudged. Focus on all the wonderful good in your life and keep on giving!

Speaking of all that wonderful good.........here are some of my favorite recent pictures that remind me of just that.

Ammon on his blessing day.

These two pics are from Rachel's 14th birthday. I can't tell you how much I am loving that we always have a house full of kids. It makes our home a happy place. All of my kids have the most wonderful friends and I love them all. Over the Christmas break there were always at least 5 extra kids that were at the house everyday in and out all day playing. Often we had many spending the night as well. That makes me happy.

I love this picture below. The boys let Rachel smash their faces into her leftover cake.

How could I ever be sad when I have 6 healthy and loving children???? I just really can't. Add on to that, a healthy husband who didn't have a heart attack this year (unlike the past two). Plus, I am feelin' pretty darn good myself these days. smile.

This picture brings me joy for two reasons. One because hello!!! look how cute that quilt and wall hanging are! Which leads me to the second reason. How blessed I am to have sisters that I adore and friends that are as dear to me as any sister could be. The quilt was made by my sister and the wall hanging with Ammon's name is from my dear friend Heidi that I first met in Japan, while our husbands were both stationed there. Moving often can be difficult but because of it I have met so many kindred spirits. Heidi is just one of the many dear women that have influenced my life in a significant way. That have been an example to me, truly cared for me, and made my life better. They are women that I know I could call any time, even if we hadn't talked in years and they would be there for me in a heart beat. I am so blessed!

How could I not be happy when I am surrounded with such beauty and love every day.

Of course, I have to put one more picture of this little man. He just started to really smile and coo all the time. Today as i snuggled and talked with him, I thought my heart would burst for the love and joy that I felt to have this little angel in my life. I couldn't help but cry.

I hope each of you who read this will realize how amazing you are. You have gifts, talents, and experience that no one else has. You have so much to give to make this world a better place. So don't be paralyzed by fear of making mistakes or getting hurt keep you from loving others and letting them love you. So if no one else has told you today. I think you are incredible, amazing, and fabulous. Let's do lunch. smile.