Giving Thanks

Being the time of year that it is, I can't help thinking of all of our blessings, reminiscing, and getting a little too excited for Christmas. It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week, but I am all too ready for a good long break from school. Teaching has really helped me see just how blessed I was to be born into the family I was, to be raised the way I was, and yes... even grow up in Tropic. The church has played such a huge part in my life and I don't know where I would be without it. The blessing of a Temple Marriage is one that I hope I never take for granted. Today in class, a couple of boys started singing primary songs during 'workshop' and I didn't stop them, even though I should have. It was so sweet to hear those tender messages in the middle of my crazy day, I just let them sing on since no one else complained.
I am convinced of the power of prayer. I know that the Lord gives us what we need. I overheard a talk the other day about praying for what we need. The Lord doesn't give us scorpions when we ask for eggs, he doesn't give us a stone when we ask for bread, so why do we complain when our 'eggs' aren't cooked the way we like? The Lord gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. We should be praying in a way that aligns our will with his. Only then will we be truly at peace and on the right path. Anyways... I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving, fun with family, and that we all can realize and give thanks for our blessings.

Trick-or-Treat!

Halloween was fun this year! We were a fairy-tale family- The kids at school loved my costume, it was fun to be dressed up the whole day- except for the glass slippers!

My Prince Charming...

I had a lot of fun making our costumes! I used my prom dress, but I made Lainey's and Josh's costume.

The 'Charming' family

The girly girls...

Lainey loved Trick-or-Treating! She would take her bucket, knock on the door, and everyone gave her tons of candy because she was so cute! It was a lot of fun and the weather was awesome!

We've done a lot since the last post, and we wanted to share at least a little of what our life is in pictures. Grandpa Evans Passed away on October 18. He left a big hole in our family that will be hard to fill. Ever since I can remember, I have wanted Grandpa to know who I married and my kids. Josh had the opportunity to get to know Grandpa first hand while he lived with them for the 3 months before we were married. He learned how to get hay, ride up to 'Little' and open gates, and he also learned that "that which does not kill us makes us stronger" Grandpa always had a comment about the size of Josh's feet, calling them skis, or saying "Well, it takes a bigger foundation to build a Temple than an outhouse!" Grandpa Evans worked in the Temple with Josh's grandpa Max, so they had a special connection there. When Lainey was born, Grandpa insisted on coming to visit and bring us dinner (It had to be on a Tuesday because that was the day you could get a chicken fried steak meal for $2.99 from KFC) It was so sweet to see how tender Grandpa was with Lainey. I am so grateful that he was as much a part of our lives as he was. He was a great man and will be greatly missed... So if you live in Southern Utah and you see the big bull... think of my Grandpa- The original cowboy "On Top of Ol' Brian Head...."

Getting wood by Tropic Resevoir... Josh was happy to be reunited with his old jeep for a day...

A trip to the Zoo (sometime in September...)