Close Call

Hello Everyone.
Katie wrote a longer version, but for now, I wanted to post just this-- We took a trip with friends to central Utah. There's a place with a swimming hole below a waterfall that we've been to before, in years with much lower runoff. We took the boys wading, and for a while we were the only ones there. Another family showed up with a couple of young girls- perhaps 12 years old or so. Within a few minutes of being there, one of them got caught in a current that pulled her toward the waterfall and sucked her under.

The chaos that ensued afterward is hard to describe. I saw her uncle looking around for help and trying to figure out what to do. Katie gathered the kids away from the water. I had remembered seeing a long branch or small trunk of a tree on the bank. I ran for it, and tried to reach to her from the bank. I got in the water to get closer, and at some point, I was sucked into the current as well. Much of the rest of what happened is both blurry and difficult to put in order. Both of us were eventually forced out of the current, face down, at the same time. I was told by others that I helped save her life. I haven't convinced myself of that. I do know that there were others who did save my life-- my friend Dustin, who pulled me out and breathed for me, and a pair of German doctors who showed up at just the right time. Perhaps we'll post more later, but for now, I just wanted to get a quick update posted.

did you think to pray?

My kids teach me so much and I am so proud of the little testimonies they have. Yesterday we were at Al's sporting goods getting all the soccer gear for Everett. We had trouble finding his size in everything shirt shorts and finally shoes. After much searching I said "Everett boy I just can't find your size of cleats." He said "Maybe we should pray"....and right there in the middle of the sporting goods store he just starts to pray. And sure enough after he prays I see a box that says Size 11 on it and it was a perfect fit. Thanks Everett for reminding me Heavenly father loves us and answers our prayers.

Better late than never

Here are the boys at christmas

Grace

Lately I have been thinking that I am so thankful for my heavenly father and that he knows me and that I feel him in my life. I am thankful that he steers me and guides me. When I look back I can see his hand in my life and now I can I can feel him guiding me as a mother especially. Don't get me wrong a lot of days I feel like a failure and like I am drowning. But then I see the brightness of hope and I realize I am not alone in this. Last Sunday while in primary we were singing scripture power and though I have sung this song many times before when we sang the line "I am changing how I live I am changing who I will be" it hit me that even though reading with the kids seems like it doesn't make a difference and even though they don't just sit there calmly and listen intently I need to be vigilant about it. Because they do have power and by reading with them or at least trying to read with them will "change who they will be." There are many times when this happens heavenly father lovingly steers me and keeps me going. So I guess this is my testimony that he lives and loves me and is there for me extending his grace to me.

Here is some random things about us lately.

Avery is excited to be getting baptized this year and is reading well enough to be read the scriptures on his own. I love this because he wants to read them. One fast sunday we came home from church and I said "come on boys lets go eat lunch" Avery had learned about fasting at church and said "mom it is fast sunday" I said I know but you aren't fasting. (I figured I would start him after he was baptized) and he says "I want to but you never let me I want to do what ever the book of morman says!" I laughed and asked him if he was serious and he said he was so I told him to pick a reason to fast for and go say a prayer about it and then he couldn't eat till dinner. He did it without complaining I was impressed with him. I love it when I see them making good choices without me.

Everett is full of fun and giggles. He has the best smile and laugh. He is always saying I love you and your the best mom ever. He is a charmer and my snuggle bug. He still carries his Blanket everywhere and is loving preschool. He is more of a social bug than Avery and it is hard to get use to. Avery likes to play with friends but doesn't ask to play with friends all the time. He is happy and content to just hang out with me. But Everett need to be with friends all the time.

Beckett is almost 18 months old and is just as cute as always...but my oh my is he trouble :). He is into everything and of course wants to play with everything he shouldn't. He doesn't talk much still but I am hoping that will change soon. He says Dad, This, Up (uk), and Out (ow). I love seeing how much he loves his brothers and how much they love him. It is funny Beckett has them wrapped around his little finger which I think is a big reason he doesn't talk. All he has to do it grunt and hey are both guessing what he wants trying to make him happy. Also he is at the stage becuase he is into trouble that I need to tell him no. He cries when I tell him no and Avery and Everett come to his rescue and tell me to be nice to him and that "he is just a baby he doesn't know better yet" things I have told them before.