This is the Kyiv Ukraine temple. The picture was taken by my parents who now live just across the street from this beautiful place. For them, I have been a much better blogger lately. I think about them daily and don't want them to miss a moment of our lives. It is difficult not to pick up the phone and call my mom when I need someone to talk to or rely on my father's strength from afar to get through trials. There are a lot of 'hard things' associated with full time missionary service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You give up your own life for a time, pay your own way, leave your family and everything personal behind to serve. And serve selflessly. Yet, it is beautiful to remember, and it does make it easier to let them go, why Mom and Dad are in the Ukraine for two years.
In the House of the Lord the crowning blessings of mortality and eternity are bestowed upon God's children. Those worthy and desiring to enter are blessed with peace, joy, comfort, strength, power and knowledge through the holy priesthood of God. It is a very real power. I feel it in my life. Knowing for myself makes it almost joyful to know that Mom and Dad are making so much of that happiness available to the people of Ukraine through their service. While talking with a friend recently about missionary service she said "You know, maybe I just don't get it, but I just don't see how some one could just leave there life behind." I wish I could quote the Savior verbatim on this one (I am sure I could find it in the scriptures..) "whosoever shall loose his life for my sake shall find it."
This is my parents and my mom's parents. Grandma is 90 and Grandpa is 95 now. Upon leaving my mom noted that it was hardest to leave them behind. My heart tinged. My soul cried a bit. How can you leave for two years knowing that your parents will probably not be there when you get back? Discussing my sadness with my dear husband he wisely noted "But her (mom's) wouldn't have her anywhere else. Grandma and Grandpa know just as strongly how important the work of the Lord is and certainly how needed the temples are." Rightly said. It is that true testimony in each of our hearts that makes this time okay, even great.
With all these raw and lovely emotions in my mind and heart there has been another aspect of the blessings of the temple that has been strengthening me, even if begrudgedly. The LDS Church is a lay clergy, meaning it is the members that do all the organization work without pay. No preacher, no pastor, just a lot of people striving to do their best and working hard. A lot of the callings we recieve to positions require a lot of time; even in seasons of life when I feel like I haven't an ounce more time or energy to give to anyone. This week, words from the teachings of the temple have been keeping me going through preparations for the youth Road Show. In the temple I covenanted to give back to the Lord everything I am blessed with including my time and my talents. Although that sometimes seems like a lot, the other half of the covenant, that side which the Lord promises greatly outweighs any little incoviniences I may feel. But it is contingent upon my believe, really believing, that there is something more than this life. That all pivots on my belief in Jesus Christ. I have to know that He lived to believe there is any really greater purpose to my being on earth. I do know. I do believe. Sure, there is plenty right now in the moment that makes me joyful that could be sufficient enough to live for the time being. But oh how wonderful it is to be guided in prayer and strengthened by the Spirit of God each day with a real motive, and I mean real. It makes each day that much more worth it. The peaceful reassurance of testimony gives a bit more why to it all.
p.s. Mom and Dad, I love you. I am grateful to be your daughter and thankful for your example.
One. One kid in a big tub full of water in the backyard.
Two. Two kids in a smaller looking tub more full of water in the backyard.
Three. Three kids sitting in a much smaller looking tub overflowing with water in the backyard.
This is what Josh did with the kids while I was at the theatre. I love their new permanent face paint - kool-aid smiles!
I am so glad these little crazies are buddies -they are always together egging each other on. Last fall some dudes pruned these bushes back way to much and I am glad that they came back with a vengance in the front yard - I would love to see less rocks!
With Josh home during the day (working night shifts this month) we are getting more projects done and the weather has cooperated beautifully. It has been overcast so we can work outside for more than two minutes without overheating. We got the wholly thyme starts put in the cracks between the flagstone/firepit area in the southeast corner of the yard, then Josh trimmed those nasty dead fronds off the palms.
Before - big empty ugly pot with Hibiscus tree in it struggling to come back from summer dormancy.
After: lovely flower filled pot that is the highlight of our back porch! We put a lot of wildflower seeds in the L-shaped raised flower bed in the Southwest corner which I am really excited for! Even just having mixed some manure in with the clay and put a bit of mulch over the top gives me hope for a blooming desert. Fertile ground is refreshing and playing in the dirt will forever be my favorite hobby! More planting to come, September is a planting month in the desert, what-ya-know? 
This is the Kyiv Ukraine temple. The picture was taken by my parents who now live just across the street from this beautiful place. For them, I have been a much better blogger lately. I think about them daily and don't want them to miss a moment of our lives. It is difficult not to pick up the phone and call my mom when I need someone to talk to or rely on my father's strength from afar to get through trials. There are a lot of 'hard things' associated with full time missionary service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You give up your own life for a time, pay your own way, leave your family and everything personal behind to serve. And serve selflessly. Yet, it is beautiful to remember, and it does make it easier to let them go, why Mom and Dad are in the Ukraine for two years.
Saturday fun time: Daddy did a more saddle broken horsey ride for the kids. He likes it better that way so he can see their faces. The whole time they were riding Danny, using Josh's shirt as reigns, was riding him hard and yelling "C'mon Horsey! Giddyup!" over and over again. They were both tired after a good long ride.
After the horsey ride Faith told us all stories, including showing the pictures and being rather acurate.
Sunday the kiddos woke up pretty snotty. The cure, hot chocolate, which apparently mixes quickly with boggers.
We found the rare opportunity to wear sweaters in Arizona. Soak the kids in a warm tub for long enough that when they get out into the air conditioned house (to 77F) they are shivering! Finally, a purpose to have those sweaters lying around. Speaking of around, the kids love love ring around the rosies.
This is one of our favorite museums and they have new exhibits now! I couldn't pass up the bed of nails AKA the new time-out bench (yes that is me holding the power...uh...I mean the button)
As Danny was quickly manipulating the joysticks to get his plane aflight - hard jerk up followed by hard jerk down in fast sequence - he kept yell "GO RIGHT PLANE!" When we told Danny it was time to go to the next thing he always said "Alright," which is his common phrase of approval.
Now that Josh is on his new work schedule and had the day off, we finally filled int he dumb gap between the two patios. Since we got all the pavers laid out we used the extras to fill in the gap and then put pebbles in to still have drainage. 
Danny is all sorts of independant now and gets himself dressed. Fun to watch.
Nap time: later than usual, Danny just fell asleep on the couch. When her buddy was no longer active, Faith got bored and decided to have a nap too and found that little corner of the couch to be next to her brother.
I wish you could really see how smashed is little face is.
Unprompted, I think there was some reference to dress, Danny went to his room and found all elements to his Black and Decker power outfit - including tool belt and put it all on by himself! I am so impressed with him being able to dress himself now.
Friday we joined the YMCA for some back to school family fun for as long as we could in the heat. It wasn't until the next day that our adventure really started. We had been telling the kiddos that we were going on a fast road trip this weekend and it would be an adventure so by Friday Faith was asking "When are we going on our adventure?" So cute.
The party started Saturday after I was done with theatre. We loaded up and headed for New Mexico "Land of Enchantment." (so says the billboard) On the drive there we had several failed attempts to pump up the tires a bit and finally found a place that had enough air pressure to get the tires filled correctly, and until such time Josh was fretting over it excessively. I do appreciate that he worries about such details because I kinda treat cars like disposable unessentials. On the car ride there we taught Faith how to get semi-trucks to honk their horn! AWESOME! It made me so excited to share the joys of real car trips with my kiddos! We sang songs and read books and looked for trains, which there are a lot of in NM as well as border patrol cars. 
After driving for a good while and it was getting dark Faith said "I want to go back home now, my body is telling me it is time to go home." She was getting tired, so we had to get her excited about our hotel room. Which wasn't really exciting until the next morning when we shared the joys of jumping on the beds with them and having pillow fights!
The whole purpose of the trip was so I could get my Zumba Gold liscence. Whoot whoot! Yep. I am a liscenced Zumba instructor and I love it! So while I was in class all day, Josh took the kids to some Church, to Barnes & Noble and then it was gracious enough to cool down a bit and they found an awesome park to play in until the came to pick me up. Then we drove back home.
The kids were troopers for such a quick trip. I couldn't fathom being away from them for a night. Josh and I really like long car rides for the time it gives us to reconnect. It was enchanting.
