Are prayers answered? Pictures have nothing to do with this post. Just added for fun.

Pictures from our swim party yesterday.

With all the hard times in the world today and the trials people are facing. I thought I would share this Ensign article with you. I read it this morning and it really helped me. I have thought a lot about pray and how and when it is answered. I have study pray in the scriptures. I have been praying for a certain blessing and desire a of my heart for a very long time. For many years. I know that the Lord hears my prayers and I even know that in his own way he is answering my pray. Not in a way I want but in his way. In the June Ensign President Uchtdorf share a article "Prayer and the Blue Horizon" You should read it. But here is a part the confirms what I already have learned. That is why we need Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are prayers answered? I testify that they are.
Can we receive divine help, wisdom and support from heavenly realms? Again, I testify with certainty that such is the case.
Obedience assures us an answer to our prayers. We read in the New testament that "whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22)
The answers to our prayers come in the Lord's due time. Sometimes we may become frustrated that the Lord has delayed answering our prayers. In such time we need to understand that He knows whats best for His child, and being a perfect God, He will answer our prayers perfectly and in the perfect time.

Love this article. I am grateful for pray and the many things I have learned through trials and many many many hours on my knees. Pray always and be believing.

A good read.

I just finished this book. Love it! It's about the war in heaven. It's the first novel in a new series, The Great and Terrible, In the time before Creation, before so many of the children of God turned away from their Father and walked knowingly in the dark, there was a choosing, a sifting, a contest of ideas and a battle for souls. There could be only one plan and one Savior. The children of God had to make a choice. And thus did the great premortal war being.
As the battle between good and evil touched every soul, all of God's children had to chose which side they were on, which principles they would fight for, and what price they would fight for, and what price they would pay.
In this contest before mortality, each of us learned the first lessons of life: The great ones may fall. The wicked can change. The weak and the foolish can become the strongest of all. The battle between good and evil is the same regardless of time or place.

More aprons.

I just keep sewing. I made a few changes on my aprons. Kinda fun. Carlie just finished her apron for Personal Progress . Will post pictures of hers later. These aprons are easy and fun to make.

Jessie Alexis Photography- Hailey Kern

Hailey's mom and I served in Florida as missionary companions. We are BFF. Hailey is a amazing girl. She has so many gift and talents. The thing I like best about Hailey is she is so kind and outgoing. Includes everyone. She share her talents with everyone. She sings, she dances, she is in drama. But she is so not drama. We love you Hailey. Check out Jessie photography blog out here for more pictures of this beautiful girl.

Had a great weekend!

Rylie at the confidence course

Katlyn

Scott

Me

We had a great time this weekend. It rained and rained Saturday and Sunday. It was a great time to read a good book or play some fun games. We played a lot of Settlers and Rummikub. Went to church on Sunday. That is when Jessie and Jason came. Jessie had a wedding on Saturday. (We are proud of her and her little Photography business) We had a lot of fun riding the four wheelers on Monday. Yay for the cabin.

Holiday weekend at the cabin!

Here we come.

Tyson Gray goes to the Temple.

Judy and Tyson

Russell and Tyson

You are who your friends are.
Tyson has always had good friends doing good things.

Tyson went to the Temple on Thursday night. Russell and Judy now have had four missionaries. What a great day for Judy and Russell. We love you Tyson.

Last day of school and swim party.

Rylie

Lydia and Rylie

Carlie and Mel

These two boys in the picture are my favorite. Tyler and Ben. They are such good boys and gentlemen. Carlie and Rylie have been lucky to have such good friends at the school. When they got out on Thursday we had a swimming party at our pool. Yay for summer and swimming. We have a busy summer planned. I love the summer.

American Idol finals tonight!

Scott and I are big American Idol fans. This is my pick Kris Allen. Maybe it is because he is so cute. But I also would buy a Kris Allen CD. I did stay up and vote for him. Good luck Kris.

Swimming in our pool.

Our beautiful backyard.

Bethany

Tyson and Eden.

Bethany and Eden.

This the second party at the pool this summer. Saturday Carlie had a group of friends over to swim. We had a great time. I enjoy swimming with our friends, and seeing my children have a good time.

End of school activities.

Joe, Mel, Rylie, Maggie, Tyler, and Carlie

Beautiful girls!!

Rylie's class had a bowling activity to day. Rylie, Lydia and I went. We had a lot of fun. We find out that Lydia is an awesome bowler and well Rylie and I, not so good. Then the girls had a last chance dance in Mel's back yard. The girls had fun. Not their favorite dance but a good one. They wish more people would come.

One more activity for the school. Rylie and I are going to Mexico for the service trip. We will be going to a Mayan Village to:
*Provide Medical care
*Rebuild Teacher Housing
*Repair School Buildings
*Fix the Well System
Carlie got to go last year and is really sad the she can't go this year because of OHS cheer. We will miss her! Yay for Rylie and I.

End of year cheer banquet.

Our car pool

Cassidy and Carlie

Carlie getting an award.

JV squad.

Wednesday night was OHS cheer banquet at Pizza Factory. Carlie has had so much fun this year cheering for Orem High. We feel very lucky to be able to cheer at Orem and be able to go to school at Liahona. It has been a crazy year doing both but so much fun for Carlie. We will be doing it again next year. She will be on varsity and that might get a little more difficult. Very proud of Carlie keeping up with it all and getting great grades. Way to go Carlie.

The pool is OPENED!

Saturday Scott and Rylie clean the pool cover to get it ready.

Rylie jumps in.

When we open the pool there is always a competition to be the first one in. Rylie really wanted to be that person. Rylie and her friend Katylin were dress and ready when Carlie ran and jump in with her cloths on. The pool just got opened and the heater just turned up. Freezing! Carlie won but Rylie still wanted to jump in. And that's all. No swimming that day. To cold. But we can't wait!! Just give me some HOT weather and I am in!!Come join us for a swim in the pool real soon!!

Can we do it again next week?

I love getting cards!

My kid gave this to me for mother's day.

Jason, Jessie, Rylie and Carlie cooking dinner. I didn't have to lift a finger.

The best mother's day ever!! I woke up to a text from Geoff (he is in Long Island NY for summer sales) 7:25 am "Happy Mother's day!" Yes he was thinking of me. Then Carlie and Rylie made me breakfast Yummy. Went to church. It was so good all the talks on motherhood.
Came home Jessie and Jason were her already cooking dinner. Carlie and Rylie jumped right in to help. It was so good. We ate outside the weather was so nice. Then I opened cards and the gift that my kids gave me. I cried. I am so blessed. I am so proud of my kids. I love being a mother. The hardest thing I have ever done but the most rewarding. Thank you Scott, Jason, Jessie, Geoff, Carlie and Rylie for making my Mother's day the best ever. Can we do it agian next week?