sure sign of summer

Cutting open that first ripe, red & juicy watermelon, to me always screams 'summer's here!' The boys LOVE watermelon & were so excited when I came home from Sprout's with this red jewel! We're so excited that summer is here!!

Soccer fans

Both boys are playing spring soccer & Emilia & I try to go to a few games to cheer our favorite players! This was a really beautiful day, with their games back to back & the boys each played great!

Forever & Always

It's been another hectic May day. But I was just sitting here rocking Emilia to sleep & considering how blessed we are to be safe in our home, when others in Oklahoma were affected by the tragic tornado yesterday. Throughout the world each day, too many individuals are without home, family, food, love & so many other parts of life that I can so easily forget how blessed I am to have in my life.

While I sit here & hold my sweet baby & gaze at her long lashes & enjoy the sight of a slumbering babe- I'll remember that life is precious. As tragedy always teaches - life can go from "perfect" to nothing in mere seconds to minutes.

"And as the mother held her baby she sang, 'I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be'".

Athough I know my babies will be mine forever - not just while I'm living. Blessings.

never eat alone

This morning the boys were in our bedroom trying to avoid getting ready for school.  I came in while they were having a conversation over by our bookshelf, which on the bottom shelf are many of the books Bryson Sr. has acquired over the years on business matters.  They seemed to be discussing this book:

Bryson Jr.:  "See, I told you that you never want to eat alone." 

Jacob:  Why?  Why don't you want to eat alone?"

Bryson Jr.:  I don't know, it's Dad's book - ask him.  But the title says 'Never Eat Alone' so maybe its so you don't get lonely.  Or if you choke you have someone there.  Or so someone is there to tell you stuff - like to eat slowly, or what to do at the table...like Mom does."

Jacob:  Yeah......but I think that sounds like a weird book. 

that sounds a bit odd...

The boys were getting their soccer uniforms on for their games, and were asking what colors they were - they either wear their black or white jersey each week.

Madeleine was by me when I was looking on the calendar to figure out which color each boy would wear.

Madeleine:  "So, did you not put down what team they are playing on because they both play for Odd-i-das?"

"What?  What do you mean?"  I replied. 

"You know - their team names, did you not put them by their team names because they are both Odd-i-das?" 

"The boys don't have the same team name.  Where did you see that the teams both have the same name? 

"It's on their soccer shirts, up in the corner.  In a little oval it says 'Odd-i-das'" 

Oh, honey!  That says Adidas!  That's the company's name who makes the soccer shirts!  They make a lot of sports gear, so that's not the boy's team name! 

"Oh.  I thought that was a strange name." 

Me {thinking}: which one sounded strange, Adidas or Odd-i-das?  

I love when the mind works to put together sense of things that it doesn't know!  It's so often comical to hear us say what is on our mind...it's not just children, but even as adults we come up with some great lines

happiness is...

This girl.  This smile.

May 5, 2013 

If every man were like unto...

Jacob: "Mom, I want to be like Helaman.  Except....well, can I be an army guy?" 

"You can be an army guy, but you don't have to be an army guy to be like Helaman.  To be like Helaman you can be strong - he was strong physically but he was also strong because he was courageous, faithful and true.  Helaman was a great man because he followed Christ and wanted to be like him.  If you want to be like Helaman, you'll be following Jesus and becoming like him." 

Jacob: "Oh.  Then I want to be like Helaman....and like Moroni."  

I love, love my conversations with Jacob.  From the instant he was born I knew we had a wise spirit in our family.  He is a lot of fun, but he has this inner sense of who he is, what he is striving for, and I pray that he will continue to desire to be like these mighty heroes.  He has become even more interested in them and their lives with his scripture reading - what a blessing!  

Alma 48 

11 And Moroni was a ^astrong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect ^bunderstanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

 12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the ^awelfare and safety of his people.

 13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had ^asworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.

17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto ^aMoroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the ^bdevilwould never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

 18 Behold, he was a man like unto ^aAmmon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God.

 19 Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less^aserviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words.