Strength

We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on hearts, written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are
I want to add to the beauty
to tell a better story... (~sara groves)

Redemption comes in strange places...small spaces...calling out the best of who we are...an invitation to be beautiful....to add to the beauty...and tell a better story...

Taylee's First Day

Today was Taylee's first day of Joy School. We have a great group of moms with kids Taylee's age and a bit younger. There are eight kids doing it, the youngest doesn't turn three until the end of September, and the oldest might actually be Taylee? Five girls and three boys. We are all registering on the official Joy School site, and getting the materials for it so it is actually a very structured program. It should be a lot of fun! We are all taking turns teaching units with an assistant mom to help. Each unit last about a month. Taylee is so excited to be a part of school. I'm glad she is in it to get her little mind going, and to have something to keep her occupied a bit this year. Yeah Taylee I'm proud of you sweetie!

The First Day of School......already!

NO CAMERA! Really on the first day of first grade? So I guess I'm lucky I have a camera phone! I can not believe how summer just blew by. It was surely a very busy one, and seemed way too short. I really enjoyed having Teagan home with me. It was a lot harder sending her off to first grade knowing now how much I really miss my little rascal during the days! In her words her first day of First grade was "Rockin" She is so smart I know she will do well!

Teddy Bear Picnic

Thank you Aunt Katie for hosting a simply sweet Teddy Bear picnic!

Lockhart Cousins

We had a great time spending a little bit of time with Jocelyn and her kids. I'm so glad we got to see them again this summer it was really nice. With my camera being broken I didn't get any pictures of them, but I'm hoping to get some emailed over so I can add some!

Mama's gonna Snap

Kate is one beautiful pregnant lady. I know hardly anyone can feel that way at 8 months pregnant but she really is so dang cute! I truly admire her skills as a mother, she is patient, loving, smart, and fun. I always learn from her and am inspired by her. Thank you Beez for your friendship you lovely preggy lady you!

I tried to snap some pics for Kate while I was visiting with her camera but really did an AWFUL job, oh well, I guess that will happen while I'm still learning, too bad though!

Rascals 1 and 2

Yes indeed they are a hoot together. Either revin eachothers engines up, or giggling and having fun together, its a hoot to watch!

Sweet Stuff

One day after the beach we went to Dad's for BBQ dinner and root beer floats. It doesn't take a fancy dinner or desert to make it fun...its just really nice being together.

Squeaky Cheese

A trip to Sandpoint isn't complete without grabbing Dad his souvenir...cheese curds! Brandon is obsessed with squeaky cheese! There is nowhere local to buy it so I take a load home to him from Sandpoint and he is in heaven!

Visiting Grandma's Grave

Every trip home is a very strong reminder of the void that has been left in my life with my mom passing away. Everything is different, not one thing is the same....not even things that haven't changed one bit....if that makes any sense. I'm glad we can take the opportunity to visit her grave when we visit. It helps the girls to remember their loving Grandma Bitton.

Treasure Hunting

One day that we visited Grandpa Bitton it was a little cooler outside. We decided to go to Talache beach and collect rocks. We had India with us too. It is so peaceful there, I could spend all day listening to the waves crash on the shore. The girls always love going there.

Beach Bums

My absolute favorite thing to do when we visit home is head to the beach. Sandpoint has such a beautiful beach. And actually a lot of other really nice options besides the very convenient city beach. We usually end up going there because it is just that convenient, beautiful, clean, and fun! We went twice with the Keller cousins. The kids seemed to play in the sand more than they did the water. The seagulls were so nervy, they seemed to have something for the pirates booty and were willing to come pretty darn close to snag a piece or two. Adalynn was so funny just lounging in the sand with her hands behind her head, she laid there like that for quiet some time, it was cracking us up! What a beautiful place Sandpoint is!

Grandpas

We had fun visiting Grandpa. He is always such a good host to us. Taylee loves his silly songs, Teagan loves his tickles, and Adalynn thinks he's a fun guy to be around.

Sandpoint Spokane & Rathdrum

We took Morgan home to Spokane so it allowed us to be able to visit home. We stayed at Judie, Dad's, and Kates house for a couple nights a piece. It was so good to spend time with everyone! Judie had a bbq at her house. Gordon and his family and Todd were there. Jocelyn had come a few days before me and left a couple days after I came. It was really nice to get caught up with everyone.

BOTH of my cameras are broken so I didn't have one to take pics. Dad was nice enough to let me borrow his for a couple days while I visited so I could at least get a couple of shots in.

Ada 18 Months

Adalynn is a year and a half old! She is still such an easy going little sweetheart. She weighs a tad over 25 pounds. She is such a caring little girl. Anytime somebody says ow, or coughs, or anything like that she says " ya ok?" It is so stinkin cute! She loves to dance and move to any kind of music and has a great little beat to her. She isn't afraid of much. I love her with all of my heart!

Teagans Six Year Pictures

Hold Your Horses

When we went to the Festival of The Nations up at Red Lodge with our friends the Butts we also went over to visit their horses. The girls were able to take a short little ride on them and had a blast doing so! Teagan was a bit afraid at first because she had gotten bucked off a horse at the Lights house a few weeks earlier, but she got up her nerve just in time and was able to get a ride in too.

Service

We had a lesson on service the Sunday Morgan visited. The girls asked me if I could take them to a retirement home sometime to paint "old ladies" nails. I said sure any time. So the very next day I got a call they were ready to go that day! Luckily I was able to set it up at the Butterfly Nursing home to drop in that same afternoon. 4 young women and Morgan came with me and the girls and we gave manicures and painted nails. They had A LOT of fun doing it. One lady was 102 years old, she wanted her nails painted Fire Truck Red, it was just beautiful!

Morgan

Morgan came home to stay with us for 11 days after the Idaho Falls reunion. It was nice to reconnect with her and get close to her again. Life is always busy with the three girls but add a teenager into the mix and it is down right exhausting! (But Fun!) We went to the lake, went shopping, Ice Blocked, went to a ward BBQ game night, watched movies, cooked together, and just hung out and spent time with each other. I took her and the young women to a retirement home and we gave some very old ladies some great manicures. Morgan loves photography, and would love to be a model. So I took her out and got some beautiful pictures of her. I also had my first paid photo shoot and Morgan was able to come along and watch that as well. We also went to the Festival of the Nations up at Red Lodge with our good friend the Butt Family. We looked at the wonderful shops there, had some delicious lunch, checked out the festival and rode horses.

She is turning into such a beautiful young lady. I know she is growing up in such a tough world, I worry about her A LOT! I know she has a very tender caring heart, and would do anything for those she loves. I hope she can believe in herself these next few years and get on a path that will help lead her to success and happiness!