To make things clear....

Warning...this is a major venting feelings post..so if you feel like you can't handle some of my honesty...move on....
I won't be able to sleep if I don't write my feelings down today. I love my sweetheart Scott. He is an amazingly strong, hard working, loyal, trustworthy, kind, gentle hearted, and the most dedicated man you will ever know. He is an amazing father! There is nothing more insulting and demeaning to have your husband introduced to strangers as this is Scott, he has an Bachelors degree in English, and a Masters in public Administration from BYU...ask him, what he dos for a living....pause... he's a butcher.....AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION...THE BEST ONE AROUND...WHICH IS WHY THEY PAY HIM THE $ THEY DO!!!!!! 
Now  with this among other comments over the years, "I thought Scott would be a Lawyer or Doctor...he is too smart to be cutting meat..." ON AND ON!!!!!!!!
GUESS WHAT????? Did it ever occur to you people that maybe being there for all of his children's moments is more important than a STATUS...that maybe stability means something to us...that BYU has been good to us....that in order to take a job that would make you people feel better about yourselves, he would have to take a major pay cut and not be able to have the flexibility to go on feildtrips with his princess, take the stats at his sons baseball games, to cheer on his daughter form the sidelines....that just maybe he is happy....just maybe when you say things like that it hurts him and his family...just maybe there is more to life than $ and things...He loves to learn...we were blessed by BYU to have Scott attend school, all expenses paid...KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY THING WE TAKE WITH US!!!!!!! If he wants to get his PhD go for it...but what is important...IS HIS and OUR HAPPINESS...Not who you feel the need to impress by his occupation, or where we live or how we dress, or what we drive.
One of the most hurtful things about the jabs is that we both work.....WE provide for our family, WE have worked for EVERYTHING we have. WE make monthly mortgage payments, car payments, pay for our children's activities, put food on the table, with the money WE work hard for! We serve in our church callings. Which by the way apparently is another thing that really bothers people, Scott should be doing so much more in the church than "just" a primary teacher! What the! Who is any one to judge where we serve...He is an incredible primary teacher, the children love him.
So with these words I conclude, walk a day here in our shoes and find out what kind of wonderful and amazing priesthood holder my sweetheart is...If you take the time to REALLY care and love him, the other stuff you feel matters...doesn't....
So to make things clear....This is Scott...He is the best father and husband any eternal family could ask for.

Taking Risks

This past summer Dallin decided he wanted to give basketball camp a try at the high school. He had always been self conscious of how little he was and didn't want anything to do with the game. He loves the game, always has, just was afraid to put him self on the court. Well he did the camp and loved it. Did extremely well. Got the sportsmanship award. So he decided he wanted tot try out for the AAU Bantom League, not the city league where everyone makes a team and learns the game league, the try out and thanks for trying league but....Well he made it and made the top team for his grade. He did great. I was so proud of him and his growth. He was little but he learned and used his skills. he became one of the best point guards in his league. He could steal and move that ball down the court. He even fouled and took HARD fouls. The last game he had a serious block under the basket....in high school the crowd would have called that swatted. One of Dallin's favorite childhood movies was Pooh's Greatest Adventure. we often quoted this quote:

Dallin you were Braver than you ever knew! I am so proud of your example to go for those things that are scary. For doing it with quiet confidence. YOU will continue to do great things! You took a risk, had no regrets about trying out, and enjoyed this journey!

Congrats to you and your awesome team for winning the championship!

 Risks

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your dreams, ideas before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their certitudes, they are a slave: they have forfeited their freedom.

Only a person who risks is truly free.

– Anonymous

Making Lemonade....

Well it's been a few months...I know...Time to journal what I concluded my New years resolution to be. A few months ago I came to a harsh realization that time was not going to slow down, that I can not stop time, I can NOT create a unbusy schedule, that no matter how hard I tried, I can not keep my children from growing up and I can not control the direction the Lord needs our lives to go. So with all this weighing heavily on my heart, as the holidays came...I decided to relish and live in the now. To create a home and life, that is created to enjoy the journey. To take what seemed to be the lemons in my life and make them lemonade. I still do find myself being incredibly sad that I just registered Abby for her Senior year. That Dallin is about to finish 7th grade and got his braces on. That Emma decided she wanted a more grown up room...BUT I find more excitement in each step...looking forward to all the exciting things always around the corner. We have had a rough year, but as each lemon was dealt, we are finding the sweet lemonade just around the corner. Again the Lord's hand in ALL things...even the little things, the things that you would think wouldn't matter, BUT DO! I have found myself seeking and begging for inspiration in my daily life...wanting the Lord to direct me in His ways...I have definitely found that when we find the sour in life, it appears and He does not dwell, my heart was not open for good...with lemonade and through Him....so many things are possible....Any how...here are few moments, enjoying our journey, making our lemonade...

 Our "Midnight Mass" Breakfast Burrito's from Mc Donalds

 Thanksgiving at the cabin!=)

Emma's first piano recital=)

Sledding with dad behind the jeep

Emma taking her Webkins sledding

Buddy our Christmas Elf brought childhood back to Christmas time for us. He would leave everyday and report to the North pole whether this home was being Naughty or Nice. The reappear in the morning in hiding in random places. He was so much fun to have with us. He left Christmas Eve with Santa. We all can't wait for his return next December.

Even though life has continued to toss us lemons...dental bills, car repairs, overwhelming schedules, broken hearts, school tests, limited sleep...we are finding that within passing days we realize the sunshine, express gratitude, make our lemonade and savor the sweet taste. For we know that the Lord is watching over us and as we strive to live as He would have us live, we will always be just fine=)

...off for some shut eye=) Sleeping in Sunday Mornings...Now thats some lemonade=)