This video really touched my heart.  Made me realize we should never give up on anyone, that we have such a responsibility to others.  I am so grateful for all of my blessings, and just like the scripture says, where much is given, much is expected.  I have a responsibility to reach out to others and help in the work on this earth.

Here are my beautiful girls!  They are changing so much all the time.  What a blessing to have them back in the states.

Landen loves to be outside, on this particular day, he was "helping" me in my garden.
Being a grandma is definitely one of the best things in life.

One day when I was out in my back yard I walked by a tree and startled a bird.  Upon investigation, I found this robins nest.  I have had fun watching it.  The birds actually hatched while I was away, but they were still there when I got home for a short time.

OK, so I have some catching up to do....

We went on a fabulous fishing trip with Machans this last winter.  We had so much fun and the following pictures prove it!

The first time I went on this trip, Dave really had twist my arm to get me to go, but I love to go now.  Rusty Bentz is our river guide, and he treats us so well.  The scenery is beautiful, and the company couldn't be better!  

My favorite chocolate chip cookies

I love chocolate chip cookies!  My very favorite recipe comes from allrecipes.com.  I just noticed that they made a video of that recipes and added it to their collection of cooking videos.  I wanted to post the video, but they do not make it available so I am posting a link to it instead.  Here goes:

http://allrecipes.com/video/626/best-chocolate-chip-cookies

Copy and past the link into the toolbar.  Make these and enjoy!  They are so yummy.

I believe

The Gospel really is this simple.  I love this because it makes what I believe so easy to understand.  I know we are literally sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father, He loves us and wants more than anything for us to live worthy to return and live with Him someday.  He doesn't just put us here without
a plan for us to return, he is there for us.  He has given us modern-day prophets, and blesses us  through personal revelation.  We are all blessed with everything we need to make it through this life successfully, but we have to believe, and have faith enough in Him to do whatever He requires of us.  I know that we can make it through the challenges of life, that those challenges are tailored to our individual needs to learn and grow.  As we put our faith in Him, we grow stronger as we suffer challenges.  We don't receive a testimony without the test.  I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven, that knows us more that we know ourselves, knows our needs, and is there for us.  I feel so blessed.

Interesting that I choose to put these beautiful darlings on my post labeled "I Believe" don't you think?
Well, I believe that these choice spirits are part of God's plan.  They are evidence of God's love and his trust in us.  Our children and our grandchildren bring us so much joy.  After all we know that....
"Men are that they might have joy"

     I LOVE being a grandma!  I love it when I get "I love you grandma," completely unsolicited.  What a blessing!

Wahoo!

This is my favorite picture from girls camp!  Bishop Perkins brought up his mechanical bull for part
of his Bishop's presentation, the girls LOVED it!  It was a hoot watching all the young women ride it, and some of the leaders.  Dave was a good sport and got on too, so I couldn't help but catch some snapshots.
It was such a good experience to spend the week up at girls camp with Dave.  The Stake Young Women's presidency did an outstanding job every single day with the program and activities.  The spirit was very strong, and valuable lessons were taught.  The young women just ate it up, and the whole camp had a huge impact on each of them.  It is very clear who is in charge.

This is the cutest little boy I have ever seen!  He has so much fun at our family reunion!  The day at the reservoir was the most fun for the kids....well, for everyone I think!  We got to take Landen with us because Larae had to work an extra day.  He was such a good boy, a pleasure to be around.  Can't help but just love em!

Jeffrey R. Holland

I am reading Hollands book entitled "Created for Greater things."  I love it.  There are so many quotes that inspire me to do and be better.  Following, I have listed some of my favorites:

THINK THE BEST OF EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY OF THOSE YOU SAY YOU LOVE.  ASSUME THE GOOD AND DOUBT THE BAD.

if for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, TAKE HEART.  so it has been with the best people who ever lived.

TRUE LOVE BLOOMS WHEN WE CARE MORE ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON THAN WE CARE ABOUT OURSELVES.  THAT IS CHRIST'S GREAT ATONING EXAMPLE FOR US, AND IT OUGHT TO BE MORE EVIDENT IN THE KINDNESS WE SHOW, THE RESPECT WE GIVE AND THE SELFLESSNESS AND COURTESY WE EMPLOY IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

i suppose no one is as handsome or as beautiful as he or she wishes, or as brilliant in school or as witty in speech or as wealthy as we would like, but in a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can't always command, i think that makes even more attractive the qualities we can command--such as a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another.  these cost us nothing, and they can mean everything to the one who receives them.

NO ONE OF US US LESS TREASURED OR CHERISHED OF GOD THAN ANOTHER.  I TESTIFY THAT HE LOVES EACH OF US-- INSECURITIES, ANXIETIES, POOR SELF IMAGE, AND ALL.  HE DOESN'T MEASURE OUR TALENTS OR OUR LOOKS; HE DOESN'T MEASURE OUR PROFESSIONS OR OUR POSSESSIONS.  HE CHEERS ON EVERY RUNNER, CALLING OUT THAT THE RACE IS AGAINST SIN, NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER.

be a woman of Christ.  cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God.  he needs you. this church needs you, the world needs you. a woman's abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest.

This is just a glimpse of the BEAUTIFUL scenery we got to see when we went bear hunting this week. God's hand is so evident in his beautiful creations.