Summer time.... When the living is easy.

What a great summer so far!!! Camping trip to Goblin, getaway to St. George, Spiritual rejuvination at Girl's Camp, fun memories made at Family Reunion, warm evenings spent weeding in the gardens (which, yes, I do happen to find enjoyable), motorcycle rides up Hobble Creek Canyon, boating with friends on the lake, and today.... off to Park City, my FAV, for a night with some awesome girls:) And it's only JULY!!!

Okay, so onto the inbetween.

I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately.... because, even with all these amazing experiences, life is hard. Olive's continuing to prove that everyday presents new challenges,

Mike may have to go work out of town again, I don't have enough money to buy new carpet, which is a serious issue for me.... and for the most difficult new challenge, we found out last week that Jace has Type 1 Diabetes. It was a tough few days, spent up at Primary Childrens, getting everything under control. But Jace is amazing. He's such a good boy, and is such a trooper. I love that kid so much. It's going to be a hard road ahead, and I have been feeling sorry for myself... which is embarassing to say. He's the one who really has to deal with this, and will continue to deal with this for the rest of his life.

So, I needed to write this post, more for myself, to recognize how lucky I am; how full of good and how beautiful my life is, and honestly, how good life is for most of us.... When I see people around me go through crap, It hurts. But then I remember, we all go through crap, and we all come out of it, eventually. So I need to remember, we'll all get through it, and if we can focus on how blessed we are and the good times, it might make the crap a bit more pleasant:)

"Monroe Dusk"

I purchased my first piece of artwork today:) and I feel pretty good about it too. I have a friend whom I work with at Magleby's named Lesa, and we got to talking one day about how she's an artist and my dad's [literally the most talented] picture framer out there, (Allmanpictureframe.com) and she showed me some of her stuff. I was very impressed and thought to myself "it would be fun to start my very own fine art collection......". But of course this costs money.... lots, so I forgot about it... Until a few days ago, while I was on Facebook and she had some paintings posted which just happened to be on SALE!! Killer sale!!! I started scanning through the different pieces, and just totally fell in love with this particular one. She brought it over, and I fell even more in love when I saw it in person. I really don't know what it is about this painting that made my soul happy, but I don't need to know. I don't question it, I just buy it, hang it, and enjoy it, every day for the rest of my life!! YIPEE!!!

It begins.

Hello to you, new world!

I have often thought about taking the, what seems to be, giant leap, into the "blogger life"; to join all you wonderfully expressive and inspiring people out there who have impacted me with your words. I'm not sure why I finally decided to do it..... to actually take the time to walk in the office, sit down at the computer, sign up for an account, create a title and start typing away.... but here I am, and I feel good. I feel refreshed. I feel that is my first step on a new journey that I'm excited about. I'm excited to share my feelings with you, whoever you are, maybe you're no-one, and that would be okay. I have been thinking so much about the future lately, especially the future of my beautiful, energetic, exhausting, intelligent, spunky, chunky, little Olive, and what I want and wish for her. I want and wish for her to know about this time in her life, this time in her family's life. To know what thoughts go through my mind on a daily basis, the struggles and joys Mike and I face as a partnership and family, what she teaches me from moment to moment, and the miracle's (big and small) the lord SO often pours upon us. I want and wish this for her and for her children.

Despite everything that tends to make me often feel otherwise, right now I feel blessed, I feel happy, I feel thankful. For many things.

I'm excited to begin! I guess this is going to be all for now. From what I'm hearing coming from the N.W. corner of our humble abode, Olive's nap was short lived... and I must attend to my little lollie-pop!