Remember

This last Wednesday we went to the beach with mom, Sophi and kids, Brenna and her mom. What a beautiful day, sun was shining! The week before we were freezing! Sophi had to leave a bit earlier than we did and Sierra built this sand temple. Ashton found something for the angel moroni on the top.

 Friday Sierra got her braces back on, phase 2. She looks so beautiful! On the way to get her braces on she was so nervous and asked, "mom, am I going to get Anastasia, you know that will make me feel wierd." I assured her she was not going to get Anesthesia (she should know from the the last time but I will give her some credit she was only 8). So very cute how she said it though and I always want to remember.

 Friday night we went with the whole family to Mormon Dodger Night. SO FUN! Dodgers played horrible and didn't even get one run but it was still so fun! The firework show at the end was the best part!
A family sitting down the row from us had a brand new baby. The dad was standing and bouncing him in his hands. He was being funny and plopped his baby in the arms of a young guy sitting next to us. I waved my hands and Jake helped me, motion that I wanted to hold the baby. He passed him down to me! The baby was only 2 weeks old and I got to snuggle him. I was shocked! Ashton was saying "mom, are you a stranger!" :)

 On Saturday we all piled in cars and drove to Camp Whitsett. Me, Jake and Sierra went in my mom's car with Norris and Brenna. Mom, Chris and Ashton went in Brett and Briana's car. Nixon was sick throwing up and I'm still hoping Ashton doesn't get sick. He's been sleeping with a throw up bowl for 3 nights now, maybe we are in the clear. :)
The Boy Scout Council from our area built Camp Whitsett a new lifeguard tower in honor of Sam. They dedicated it to him on Saturday and had a small ceremony. It was special and so beautiful. Aunt Ruthie said that Sam was saying alot in the months before he died, "it's about the journey, not the destination." How fitting for my blog, Joy in the Journey. :) Uncle Randy said that he still feels Sam's presence and told a story...Uncle Randy is a beekeeper and Sam used to do it with him, recently Uncle Randy was having a problem with the hive and he was trying to find a solution. He went to bed one night and heard a voice "use pvc pipe." The next day he did and it solved the problem and he said "Thanks Sam!" I believe Sam wants to be with his family and wants to help them. A recent conference talk was discussed on Saturday with our family, sometimes our loved ones can help us more from the other side than they can here on earth with us.
We played on the lake after the ceremony. I took my kids out on a row boat and couldn't get back to the dock when it was time to get off the lake. The wind was blowing drifting me toward the waterfall and shoreline. We would have been fine but Ashton was a little freaked out. :) Luckily my brother was on the lake in a row boat and he came to the rescue. He had Brenna and Rossi in his boat. He paddled over to us, they grabbed our rope and Norris pulled us in. I like to think I helped a little cause I was rowing but who knows, I think he saved us! :) Ashton swam in the lake, we sat on the dock and ate veggies and watermelon. It was a great day. We ate Sonic on the way to Camp Whitsett, that was a fun experience having a guy come out to bring you your food on roller blades. On the way home we stopped with everybody, including Lawrences and had pizza. That was so fun too! Great to be together!
On the way home I got a text from Aunt Ruthie with this picture of Sierra attached. She said "so fitting that Sierra is in this picture, love that girl!" It is such a precious shot, I didn't even know that she had climbed up there.

Sunday we had dinner with Jake's family and Hunter and Rosa are in town. So fun to see them and their munchkins. I got to snuggle sweet baby Scott too!
Last night we had dinner at Grannie's with the Lawrence's, Dunn's, Norris and Brenna cause Uncle Bob and his wife, Susan, were in town from Michigan. My mom picked up Stonefire and we all ate and visited...and picked Grannie's beautiful pumpkins. Pumpkins in JULY! :)