Zach's Mission Call!

End of my second year teaching! (first grade)

My time at Brockbank Elementary is at an end and I am moving on to fifth grade at Larsen Elementary! 

I have learned so much this year and loved my class so much! I haven't worked so hard or felt so rewarded (except parenting)  as I have as a teacher. It is a joy!!! 

Zachary's Graduation

 Zachary graduated from 

Maple Mountain High School 

on May 22, 2019. 

He graduated with honors! 

We are so proud of him and the incredible person that he has become! His choices have allowed him opportunities like serving on the Seminary Council, learning to play his electric guitar and getting his mission papers prepared and ready to go.

The family (except David) were able to attend graduation and go to Sushi Ya afterward for his graduation dinner.

We LOVE his friends and are so happy 

when they come over to hang out with him! 

Losing Dad Terry

Losing Dad was the most tender, sacred experiences of our lives! We thought he would come home but after three weeks of hospital care and 24 hours of hospice we lost him.  

I have journaled the experiences of those weeks and Scott and I feel so honored to have spent so much time with him and Mom as he transitioned into his eternities.  

It's Gardening time! 5/1/2010

Here, almost eight years later, this photo is precious!

Dad's garden is sold, these adorable kids are 25, 19 and 13 and I am going into the next phase of my life. The change is much harder than I could have anticipated, but photos like this remind me how much I have loved each day of my life!

HELLO HANDSOME!

I found this draft from May of 2010 and had to still post it :)  I LOVE this funny kid!!!!

Zach came in the other day and said . . . "If I could turn into anything I wanted, I would turn into me, then I would look in the mirror and say . . . HELL-O HANDSOME!"

End of my First Year teaching!

Memorial Day Weekend

*Vaughn's Daughter, Julie, and Son-In-Law. (Vaughn is Mom's cousin)

We spent the day at the Upper and Lower Cemeteries in Fairview. Mom, Dad and I went in Mom and Dad's van and George drove, Steve drove separately in his truck (3 beagles in the back). We stopped for a burger and shake at TeeCee's and had a great visit with my Aunt and Uncle, Blake and Terry Madsen. It's been years since I've been to Fairview and it brought back childhood memories of family, especially grandparents. Blake lives next door to my Grandparents family home.  

UVU Elementary Education Graduate!

 Dreams do come true!

My greatest accomplishment is my children and family, secondly, my education!

So much love and support! I LOVE them each, fiercely!

My Sweetheart, and greatest supporter! 

We spent an incredible day of celebrating! First, convocation, second, a yummy lunch at Tucanos brazilian bbq, and last, relaxation and visiting at home. (And who could resist a photo opp. with Willy the Wolverine and Emily from my cohort!)

Four more weeks until I'm an INTERN!

My College Career began in January 2015, Spring Semester.  My goal was to get into a classroom as soon as possible.  After many evening classes and working around my Math Planning Time Technician job (14 hours a week, but in the middle of the day), I finished my Associates Degree and began my program.  During the first meeting to orient us to our teaching program the option of being a Clinical Intern arose.  There was a meeting in the other room directly after the orientation.  

The Clinical Intern program would be a pilot program.  Basically, this meant that I could be immersed in a classroom up to two days a week and that I would practice what I was learning in the UVU classroom, in an actual classroom.  I jumped on it, signed up, and the rest is history!

So, I've worked with this group of incredible people for the past three Semesters and have come to LOVE them!  Front row, L to R:  Caroline, Makayla and Heidi

                             Second row:  Christine, Rachel, Megan, Xela and Hailey.

                             Third row:  Candace and Lisa

                             Fourth Row:  Dr. Sandy Jan and Me

                             Fifth row:  Izak and Justin

I have loved every minute of my education.  I can count on one hand the times that a wave of dread passed over me.  The incredible thing is that the dread passed as quickly as it came.  I know that I'm meant to be a teacher, that my education has made me a better, happier person and that because I prayed for direction my decision to return to school was right and confirmed.

The timing of my education was  perfect.  I would not have wanted to change the lessons that my life has taught me outside the classroom and I would not have wanted to be away from my role as a wife and mother.  Being an at-home-mom allowed me the full-time focus required to be the best I could be, learning lessons that I cherish.

Next?  I will intern at Foothills Elementary in Salem, Utah, teaching fifth grade.  I am working on setting up my room, working on routines and procedures and making decisions that will make or break this next year for me and my students.  Fairly daunting!  I'm excited to put into practice the incredible things that I've learned from my professors.  So EXCITED!!!

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Day 1:  Amsterdam, Netherlands

Anne Frank Home

Sealed for Eternity

May 7th was an incredible day! Mom/Grandma Terry was sealed to her Mother and Father in the Provo City Center Temple. Paul and Pat were able to serve as proxies for Rose Ellenor and Ollie. The temple workers treated her as the queen that she is. She was able to prepare to be sealed in the brides room which made the day even that much more special. We love you Mom!

Bored to death. . . .

Perhaps it's the two weeks of sickness, holidays and eating

that has our two youngest children on the verge of bored chaos!

It seems that our evenings begin with the usual "what should we do tonight:  read, 

watch a movie, play a game, go out?"   

And it ends with Scott and I on our computers, Joshua playing a video game

and Addie and Zach terrorizing each other. . .  for sport!

With sloppy, numb-armed movements one will pick up the other. . . 

or sit on the other, at which point their fun (and our irritation) begins.

Whines, grunts, giggles and the occasional tattle-taling wails remind us, as parents,

of our responsibility/stewardship to teach, direct, guide, and (most acutely) entertain.

Scott and I wait and watch to see who is going to break first and get up to re-direct their

behavior.  On a good "mommy" day it's me, on a bad one, it's Scott.

We are learning to block out feelings of guilt, esp. since we broke our tails with our first three

and it didn't seem to make much difference :)

This photo sums up the joy. . . and chaos, of bored siblings, and the guilt-less parents night at home!

Somehow, Josh ends up "helping" with the distracting . . . 

now, back to facebook!

The First Day Back!

Today was our first day back to works and school.  

Well, for almost all of us.  

Scott had one last day off and needed it to recuperate.  

We all seem to love structure and thrive when we have 

somewhere to be and something to accomplish.  

Don't get me wrong.  

We love our down time, and we love being together, 

but the lack of accomplishment makes us restless and a smidge irritable :)

One thing I LOVE about our routine, is bedtime!  We gather for

family prayer, then take time with Zach and Addie to get in PJ's, 

brush teeth and say prayers.  

We are able to read, talk, or just snuggle!

That time of day reminds

me of why I'm a mom and why everything I do is for them.  

I LOVE being a mom!  It's worth every inconvenience and is truly divine in mission.

I suppose it's the sense of accomplishment, in an eternal sense, 

that makes me love it so much!

All Kinds of Happy!

This photo sums up our incredible year!

2013 was so good to us! 

The highlights would be . . .

Becca and Trevors sealing in the Mount Timpanogas Temple

Our trip to Bear Lake with Jensens

Tylers Mission in Taiwan

Robertson Reunion at Heber Valley