Easter

I am so grateful for Easter, or what Easter represents. Words can't represent how I feel. I know that Jesus Christ loved us so much that he died for us, or for me. I know he overcame death through the Resurrection and because of that we will all live again. This is more real to me this Easter because of Ben's recent passing, and I am so uplifted by the spirit that comes with the trials we go through in this life. I don't doubt the plan of Happiness laid out for us in this mortal life and I think it is a gift of faith I've been given to have that testimony.

Family picture by Aften

My good friend Aften took these pictures back in December. She was awesome to fit our whole family in one frame! All 39 of us, and most of us have eyes open and faces toward her. She is so good, and had so much fun and we all enjoyed her as well. Small world story, she and my sister were chatting and discovered Aften dated one of my Neeley cousins back in the mid 90's. I would have loved to have her in the family, but I am just grateful she is my friend.

I love the zoo

During spring break I went to the Zoo with the girls while Tim was camping trying out our new pop-up camper. I think the zoo keepers put something in the animal's food on Saturdays because I've never seen so many animals up and around at the zoo, especially the cheetahs. They were circling around and it was fun to see. Audrey was making acquaintance with a little squirrel on the Arizona Trail where Emma could see all the bighorn sheep (she has awesome vision) and Kennedy loved the carousel. It was a fun day and we missed Tim but he had a great time eating grubs and smellin' of camp smoke.Audrey trying to coax a squirrel to her hand, she was being so still!

The girls on the carousel, Kennedy loved it!

Mr. Otter out to play

Cheetahs moving around, yeah, they are real! Kennedy loved watching them.
I've never actuall seen the cheetahs move, it was a first for me and Kennedy was mesmerized by them walking around.

Run for Africa's Children

I had a survey on here about whether people would run with me for Care For Life, and it was a pathetic response, but I've never been good at sales, so whatever. I went with just my girls and we had a great time. Tim didn't come with me, so I wasn't able to run the actual 5K but we did do a lap around the lake at Kiwanis park and it was a beautiful day. We saw Tim's mom there because she is the U.S. Executive Director for Care For Life. There is a great energy at running events. I aspire to have the positive energy I feel at events like this on a more regular basis, it is simple and motivating, fun and healthy and the girls all had a great time.

This is the kids lined up at the line for the kids dash. I was so proud of Emma helping Audrey out, and so proud of Audrey for staying by Emma the whole way. I wish I had the camera video of the race, Audrey cracked everyone up because as the kids ran down the way to the cone and turned around to come back, Audrey was at the end of the pack, and just turned tail and ran back to me because she saw everyone coming at her. She had the best look of pride on her face!
Next to Emma in line is a classmate from school, She turned to Emma and said Hi and Emma was so surprised and I was so thankful Emma didn't play her shy card, but actually was friendly! Big steps taken that day by my girls.

Kennedy was warming up for her run (I absolutely love the headband!)

Rockin' out to the music

All the girls

Emma and her classmate Leah

I love how Audrey just moves the whole time to the beat, and Kennedy looks like she might be doing business and of course Emma is, Emma. It was a pretty good band too.

We had a great time, I am so inspired by my family who does so much for others. My mother-in-law and my own mom who always are examples of service and helping others and finding joy in service. I am humbled to be in the family I am blessed to be a part of.

All that Glitters

Audrey got the star princess treatment at Glitter Box at San Tan mall. She danced and twirled all the way around the mall, looked in every mirror she could find and best of all, she left the 'do in all day. That is unheard of for her!

Usin' those chompers...

Kennedy loves her teeth, she is a biter like I haven't had before. (not excluding toes so watch out!) I got an apple out to eat and she decided it was hers. She figured out how to get her teeth into it and that it tasted good and that she absolutely didn't want to share with me. She is wise now, she knows "fakey" cry/pout and fakey laugh and how to throw full blown kickin' and screamin' tantrums (I have to lay her on the floor to get it all out because I've almost dropped her she throws back so quick). I love this stage because she is so fun to tease. We love you Kennedy, but stop biting our toes, stick to apples.

"Nice apple, I think I'll have a taste...

This is pretty good, I can get some big bites with these teeth, then I choke and mom takes it away from me...

So I scream, almost fall of the couch, and then...

I get my apple back! "

tenderheart

Emma with puppy: I must have passed on my delirious love of animals to Emma. She was cuddling on this puppy that belongs to Tim's brother Jake, it's a puggle and it is so cute! I remember my mom getting upset with me for sleeping in the garage with stray cats because I didn't want them to be lonely or cold...I'm not much of a cat person now, but I do love animals.

Miracles

This past week has been full of miracles. I won't share them all because they are so personal and tender, but I cannot ignore the fact that through this tragic time in my family's lives we have witnessed miracles that come only through experiences such as this. My personal testimony is there is no denying that our Savior Jesus Christ wants us to have joy in this life. I am so grateful for my Savior and for the peace he offers if we will accept it and have faith that all these things will be for our learning and experience. When we are faced with trials in our life we find out what we're made of; what we beleive, what we value, what we love and who we are. I have been somewhat on spiritual "cruise control" for the last while and and Ben's passing has caused me and my family to slam on the brakes, swerve and really take note of our surroundings and also to check the map (my silly analagies). So much of what we want to see isn't on the map of life, but I have had a witness of peace that the plan of salvation and happiness through our Savior Jesus Christ is real and applies to me and my family and each individual here. Affected by this is my attitude towards my blog. I actually had scheduled 5 posts on Thursday night before the accident and I was so proud of myself for being so "on top of it" and now I read them with new perspective and I want to start them over, so they'll come out, just different, and better. I'll quit rambling now, but I am so grateful for the growth that comes through life's challenges, and hopefully I might even be grateful for the challenges, but now I'm just... working through it.