Summer's End

So I tried mutliple times to upload pictures. Will try again later. But here are my thoughts for now.

Summer is at it's end. We've had a great summer. I have so enjoyed being home with my kids. We were able to work hard on our back yard and I am so loving it.

We got to go to 2 new temples (well new to us.) We spent time with family, we learned church history, we made fabulous memories, and visited friends.

It is with some sadness that we aproach school days. I admit, my kids are ready to do something new. To have a little break from each other. But they really are good friends.

I have enjoyed watching my children grow.

My baby boy is growing up.

David is so funny to me.

He likes dirt, but can't stand mud.

He likes to play in my mom's freezing cold creek, but hates the hose.

He loves to eat sticky things, but as soon as he's done he must be washed off.

He sleeps with his hands behind his head.

He loves "tractor machines."

He sings songs to himself all the time.

His favorite movie is Thomas the Tank Engine.
I can't believe my baby is 2!

HOME

Back from the mega vacation. Will post on that later.
Lately I have felt a great peace about our house.
This is a good thing. Many days I feel super cramped.
But not right now.
I suffer from envy often.
Some days I am not very grateful.
But right now, for this season, I feel at peace and happy with where we are.
Interestingly enough I came to this peace while we were off on vacation.
And when we got home an opportunity came up to move to a MUCH BIGGER HOUSE with a BASEMENT!!!!
It was sorely tempting. And yet, I knew thru prayer that we were to stay in our current home for now. And there was great peace with that decision.
Sometimes I struggle with answers, not knowing exactly what I should do.
This was not the case this time.
The answer was clear. The peace that came as a confirmation was powerful.
It still gets exciting when we try to squeeze in guests, but we love it. And I am grateful to feel "at home".

Driving the Trail.

These are my kids.

My Big Kids.

There are more pushing in the back.

Wish I had a picture of them pushing.

These kids are amazing.

I am brought to tears when I think of how hard they worked.

How dilligent, patient, and kind they are.

I miss them.

LOTS.

On Monday for Family Home Evening

We drove the trail of the trek.

It was a sacred experience for me.

We learned so much.

We grew.

We loved.

We LAUGHED!

I loved driving the trail.

It took me back.

It gave me perspective.

These kids are nothing short of the LORD's Army.

They are amazing.

I love you my big kids.

You can do anything.

(I know I haven't posted really about this. It's hard to. It was such a special experience. It's really is like trying to convey how you feel about the Temple. Words just aren't adequate. The emotions are just so strong.)

McNeill's

(The Boys walking to the Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant.

What you don't see are a gazillion mosquitoes that ate us!

And that this is almost 9pm!)

(oi! it's hard to wake up!)

(Do I snore in my sleep? Sorry!)

(I wanna play with "Tessie" Open the Tent!)

(I Love His Smile!!)

(The air mattress stayed inflated ALL NIght! Can't ask for more than that!)

(Don't I look so cute waiting for the Pageant to start! You wouldn't have guessed I wouldn't quit crying earlier because they woke me up to come...started at 9:30pm!)

(Sitting outside the Manti Temple. Rachel loves it! So pretty. Wants to get married there! We sang I love to see the Temple.

Jacob-Abby-Rachel-cousin Julie-David)

(My Man and his Momma. LOVE HER...& HIM!)

(Lita and David on his birthday. He was so sick. Fever. Ended up Double Ear infection.)

(Rachel and David were big troupers. 9 and a half hour car drive. They did great. David slept most of the trip due to his fever.)

(Ohh sweet peace as they sleep! Check out the back seat!)

(The Temple at Night.)

(I'm so comfy in my sleeping bag! Love the 3 room tent! Our Mansion Tent as Evelyn calls it.)

We attended Winslow's McNeill family reunio this year in Manti. It was AWESOME.

We drove Thursday all day and had a pleasant drive.

Friday we got up early, showered, and the adults attended a LIVE session at the Manti Temple.

It was so neat. I had never attended a LIVE session before. I learned so much! The rooms were incredible gorgeous and it was so neat to be there with Winslow's extended family. Brothers, Sisters, In-Laws, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles. It was so neat!

Later we tried to go swimming at the pool by our campsite. TOO MANY TEENAGERS!

Friday night was filled with more cousins and fun! The kids found playmates and friends and had lots of fun.

Saturday the kids did all sorts of crafts and games while the adults took a toor of a home lived in by one of their ancestors. It was gorgeous and I loved it!

After Lunch we took family pictures.

Don't squint too much!

Then we decided to run to Walmart.

Winslow barely survived the children!

Next we all had a time out in the car and changed the craziness!

Then we toured the Temple grounds with the kids.

It was a neat experience.

We had the kids talk only in whispers and we talked of the sacred nature of Temples and HOW Special it is to go inside.

Next we went swimming in the Manti City Pool.

That was a much better experience than the camping pool.

Lots of room. Zero depth entry. Slide. Whirlpool.

We had a great time.

The kids finally took a nap around 7pm! While the adults talked quietly. (It's light till almost 10pm. CRAZY!)

We had to wake the kids up for the pageant.

The pageant was fun and Winslow's cousing brought glow bracelets for everyone. SO FUN!

David had a fever so that was no fun.

But we enjoyed the pageant.

My favorite part was the depiction of Christ in the Americas after his resurection and all the children coming to him.

I was so electrified by the feelings and emotions that must have been there.

The pageant ended after 11pm so it was a late walk home but we did get gorgeous pictures of the Temple all lit up.

We woke up Sunday and decided to head home since David was hurting and super sad!

We made it home and we were sad to have left all our cousins, but have great memories of our trip!

Today

(Manti Temple)

Today I am sensitive.
Today I care what others think.
Today is hard.
Today hurt.

I am trying to remember last week. When I was in the Temple. When the cares of the world faded away. When everyone was dressed in white. A place where everyone is beautiful. Where eternity is brought into focus and I remember that the Lord's plan is different from my own.

Displaced

For those of you who watched Arizona news yesterday, you probably saw the highschool hit by the plane. You also probably saw my house!

We have been incredibly blessed.

My children play at the highschool on a daily basis.

They ride their bikes in the exact area that the plane hit the school.

Yesterday we were watching a movie instead.

How grateful I am to the Lord.

Eye Witness accounts from my nieghbors who were outside said the plane flew right over our houses. Nearly missing our houses and just barely missing the power lines just above them.

The plane crashed no more than 75 yards from my front door.

I thank my Heavenly Father the plane missed my house, and my neighbors houses, as we were all home at the time.

We did not hear the initial crash but our whole house was rocked by the explosion that came shortly thereafter.

A million thoughts went thru my head.

I told my children to stay inside and I ran out to see what was going on.

(One of my first thoughts was that a Bomb had blown at the highschool.)

I ran towards my nieghbor Jaquetta who was in the road trying to clear traffic off our street.

(people had seen the smoke and some the plane crash and were coming to see. we wanted the road clear for medical and fire.)

I ran to ask her what had happened and she pointed to the crash site and said "a plane crashed into the highschool.)

The feelings I felt are hard to describe.

I was shaking.

I was heartbroken for whomever was in the plane.

I was devastated for the damage to the highschool.

I was fearful for my home and family.

There are large propane tanks on the highschool and they are very near my home.

There was concern about them igniting.

So I gathered my children and important documents and we left our home.

I went to Winslow's office and the feel of being in his arms was never so wonderful.

We spent the afternoon and evening with the Wrights (thank you soo! much!!)

We watched on the news as our beautiful highschool burned.

They evacuated (officially) our neighborhood.

The smell is terrible.

It burns your throat and makes you sick.

At 9pm last night , 7 hours after the crash they were still fighting the fire.

My home and the homes of our neighbors were spared.

But our highschool looks to be lost.

And I am grateful.

Grateful for loving friends and family.

Grateful for protection.

Grateful for men and women who came from all around to fight the fire, to protect our homes.

Grateful for police officers who kept the area safe.

Grateful for friends and neighbors who were concerned for our safety and well being.

Grateful for local hotel chains who gave out rooms free of charge to those of us displaced.

Humble and grateful.

Prayerful.

My heart aches for those who were in the plane.

We still don't know who or really how many.

I knew as we were leaving our home

"I have my family, and everything else is just stuff."

The Lord works miracles and many lives were spared.

Summer school was done for the day.

Painters working on the school in the exact area of the crash were sent home early.

Children normally playing at the school stayed home.

Adults setting up for a town meeting had Just left the building minutes before.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES! I know that He watches out for me, that He loves me, that He cares for me.