NEVER FORGET

With tear filled eyes and a humble heart I sit and reflect of that day
7 years ago when America was under attack.

It was 7:45 am in Provo, Utah and I was driving to work in my Nissan maxima, listening to the radio, I had just pulled into my parking spot when all of a sudden the song was interrupted by a breaking news update, it was then that I first heard of the tragic event. The World Trade Center had been hit by an airplane. I just sat there listening to what the man was saying in disbelieve. Was this a joke? I sat there for a few minutes trying to figure out what was going on. After sitting there realizing this was really happening, I jumped out of my car and ran upstairs to the Law office to see if everyone else there had heard. I walked in the doors and all the radio's were on, everyone listening in silence. I could not believe it. It wasn't until my lunch break that I ran home and turned on the T.V. that I got to see actual footage of it, I just sat there in tears.

Today was a day of remembrance and prayers for those families who have lost love ones.
I found a couple of video's on YouTube:

I Believe
I Miss You Daddy

I hope we all take a moment to REMEMBER and to pray for those still suffering from that day 7 years ago.

Sundays are AMAZING

I have said it once and I will say it again, "I love SUNDAYS!" They are my favorite day of the week. I woke up on Sunday morning and I was barely able to walk. My back was aching. It took me a few minutes to figure out what I had done to cause me such pain. Then I remembered, I had carried Krew around in is front pack while going for a walk the previous day. I was out running around, going to the soccer game and then to Foodland and McDonald's. 6 hours later I returned home and did not realize the error of my ways until the following morning.

So here we are back to Sunday morning with an aching back. I was struggling trying to help the kids. So of course in my head the question of whether or not I should go to church arises. Let's just say I am so glad I decided to go because it is always days like this that you feel like every message was catered just for you. And this Sunday was just one of those days. I could not believe in sacrament meeting the three songs we sang, were two of my favorites and then one of Aaron's favorites. I even thought it a little odd our opening hymn was "I stand all amazed," usually sung as a sacrament hymn, but they had to sing that one so they could squeeze in my other favorite as the sacrament hymn, "I know that my Redeemer lives." Both of these songs have amazing words that bring tears to my eyes and I will never forget watching my dad (whom I love and respect so much) tear up on the stand as a bishop while singing these to songs on two different occasions. Sunday was testimony meeting and I always love hearing people bear their testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. Gospel doctrine and Relief Society just continued on with wonderful messages reminding me of how to be a better teacher by teaching with the spirit and that "Charity Never Faileth" the motto of Relief Society.

Then as a family we went to the temple visitor center and then on a walk to the beach. While at the visitor center I was trying to take pictures of Kali and Krew was trying to escape out of the stroller. Krew is so strong and pulls him self half way up on things all of the time.

Krew just continues to adore is big sister and always laughs so hard at her no matter what she does. We have also started to notice how much Krew enjoys his fathers attention. At such a young age he always needs to know where Aaron is and wants Aaron's full attention at all times. He loves his daddy and wants to make him proud:)

Kali was running a long the beach and then all of a sudden she saw something move and it freaked her out. We saw it was just a crab, so Aaron picked it up for us all to look at. It was a nice day with the family!

Bella is turning 2

The Ford family (Lance, Kara, Isabella and Bodie) have been on vacation for the past week visiting friends, enjoying Hawaii and Lance played in the Alumni soccer game. It has been so fun spending time with them again and letting the kids play. We went to the outlet mall with them last week and then today we spent time together at Turtle Bay. We also met up with Cassie and Taylor Lee and the Douglas family (Rob, Brooke and Breanna.) They are also on vacation, visiting from WA.

The Ford's vacation ended today, so Kara decided to throw a little birthday party for Bella before they took off, since she turns two on Wednesday. So we had cupcakes and icecream:) So yummy! It was so nice to hang out with the Ford family again and can't wait till we see them again in November for Thanksgiving!!:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA WOOD!!!

My dad is now a proud Grandpa of 4 grandchildren. Two from my older brother Brandon and his wonderful wife Veronica, and two from Aaron and I. I just love this picture of my parents and the grandchildren.

September 6th, many years ago:) (JK dad) the most amazing man entered this world. My dad. He is the most selfless person I know. I have watched this man help family after family financially and physically whenever needed. On a more personal note my dad has helped each one of us children mentally, spiritually and physically and yes, financially through out our whole life.

My dad is an entrepreneur. He started out as a farmer and from there has owned or been a part of a car dealership, Exon/Taco Bell, chemical business (for farms), and now owns The Country Mercantile, which is a store that sells gourmet foods, crafts, and locally grown produce. He seems to kind of get his hands into a lot of different things. He is a pilot, he owns his own twin engine plane. I have many fond memories as a child flying to visit relatives:) He and my mom are scuba divers and have dove in several locations all over the world. My dad also has a passion for skiing and I can remember so many fun ski trips we went on as a family. He use to be a sky dive instructor. I could go on and on. The point I am trying to make is that this man is passionate about life, what ever he wants he goes out and gets it. This man doesn't sleep. Ever since I can remember my dad is up at 5:00am or somedays earlier and goes to bed around midnight. As scary as it his he gets most of his sleeping done while he is driving. He definitely has angels surrounding him at all times:)

My dad started out with practically nothing. His family did not have a lot of money. Everything he has acquired in his life was with his own two hands. And he did it all for his family. He wanted us to have more than what he had. He wanted us to enjoy the "extra" things in life that he did not get to enjoy.

My dad is a very spiritual man. I used him as a crutch for many years of my life because if I ever had a question about the gospel, I knew I could just ask my dad because HE KNOWS EVERYTHING about the gospel, so I would never look it up myself. I did that up until the day I met Aaron, then Aaron helped me realize I should research things myself. I still like to pick his brain about things. I have never doubted my dad's testimony, he has always been an amazing example to me. He is a very Christ like person.

My dad has always been my friend. I always knew I could go to him and tell him things when I was struggling, but he was also my dad, I respected him and knew when he meant business. My dad is the hardest worker I know. He also knows how to play hard as well. Being a parent now, just brings more and more respect for my dad. He never missed any of our sporting events. Many times when we were younger he would even coach them. We went on so many fun family trips and spent so much quality time together as a family, which is why our family is as close as it is today.

I am so grateful for the endless love, patients, support, encouragement, and advice that you have given me through out my life.

I am so humbled and grateful to call you MY DAD!!

Happy Birthday Dad!This is one of my favorite pictures with my dad and I! We have lots of good laughs together:)

visiting Iosepa at PCC

The Iosepa is a 57 ft. long voyaging canoe which took 9 months to build. It was built right here in Laie and is now being stored in the PCC. Iosepa is the Hawaiian word for Joseph. To learn more about the Iosepa click here.

It was a lot of interesting information, and I wish I could have heard it all. The children have very short attention spans so I spent most of my time taking Kali to the bathroom or helping her realize it wasn't the end of the world because her shirt had a little drop of water on it. Kali really does not like to get wet, unless she is wearing her swimsuit and she is supposed to be getting wet. Seriously, if she gets just a little bit of water on any part of her body and she has her clothes on, it is the end of the world as we know it. She convinced Kaiya to switch her shirts, (thank you Kaiya for being so nice) then Kali complained because Kaiya's shirt was falling off her shoulders. I think she was just having a hard day. In the beginning Kali and Kaiya got to present Uncle with a gift, which was fun. And then they got to play around the Iosepa and with Auntie Dina:)

my best friend

On Monday for Labor Day, Angie asked us if she could watch the kids while we spent some time together. "Of course!" was my reply:) I did remember to bring my camera, however, sadly enough I forgot to put the battery back in after charging it. I have done this twice now. So, no fun pictures from that day, just AMAZING memories:) We decided to go to the beach and swim out to goat island, and have our own little private lagoon. We sat and just talked about everything. We really don't get to see each other much since Aaron is either at school, work, or the gym. It was heaven. For me nothing is better than when we get to just sit and really talk, no interruptions and just enjoy one another. Aaron is my best friend, he knows me better than anyone else and he knows how to make me laugh and enjoy life. He helps remind me not to get stressed out over little things. Some believe there is more than one right person for you, that may be true, but Aaron was made just for me. Everything about him complements me and makes me better. I love days like this that remind me how much we love each other.

He is the way

photo credit: Simon Dewey

Alma 4:13
...and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper...

I shared this scripture during my lesson today and with it I shared my own experience which I had yesterday. I was so overwhelmed feeling like I had a million things I needed to get done and failing at all of them. Both of the kids were cranky and needing my attention, I was trying to get laundry done, the house put back together, my lesson finished up, etc. etc. Finally I stopped and announced, "I am done, I quit." Kali just looked up at me with her big blue eyes and said, "mommy, don't quit." I laid down next to her, I just had to laugh. It was then that I decided I needed to say a prayer. I couldn't do this on my own and I was a fool to think I could. I was humbled and realized more than I have ever realized in my life, I have to turn to my Heavenly Father in ALL things if I want to make it through this life, ALIVE and HAPPY:)

I have the most amazing neighbors who help me out ALL THE TIME, and for this reason I just didn't feel like asking someone on a Saturday to watch my kids when I was sure they had plans of their own. After I prayed, Heavenly Father immediately blessed me, I didn't have to ask any one, Chad Crosby asked me if he could take Kali to the beach with them, THANK YOU GUYS, once again, then Hillary asked if she could take Krew. I was able to get what I needed accomplished. Thank you Heavenly Father and thank you Crosby's and Williams for being the answer to my prayers:)

Another wonderful thing I have learned this week, was from Angie Wynes. Here Aunt sent her a letter and in it was amazing advice about raising children. One thing she said was that when you are having a hard time with a child and they are not listening to you or are out of control, stop the situation and pray with them. I have been doing that with Kali all week long. I love it, it calms us both down and then we are able to communicate to each other with out a bunch of whining or screaming. Kali loves it, in fact today when we got home she was starting to whine and I was getting upset so she just started praying, and it was such a beautiful prayer and of course it put a smile on my face:)