Visiting Gladys, Shannon and the Fam..in Orlando

Alicia, Hunter and Henry had one more fun road trip to Orlando to spend the night with Gladys Waters Family, Visit Shannon Sotto and also her Brothers family. We had a great time. One day we went to the park and let the kids play and then off to Shannon's cute house for some more girl talk, it was much cooler inside. I miss Shannon and our talks since she has moved after they graduated and Jason started up a new Dentist Office. Congrats to them for so much success.. all there hard work is paying off. Shannon is so wonderful as a friend and I admire and respect her. I love to watch her be a mom so genuine and sweet you can see what a great job she does by the way her kids shine. I'm so glad I was able to visit with her. Then it was back at Gladys house the kids got to dress up in Daddy's (Mr Paul's) shirts and dance around to the Wiggles, they also played cars, and made tents. It was cute. Ireally enjoyed just being with the Water's family. They are such a sweet and caring family. The kids are great and Paul and Gladys are so cute as a married couple. You can just see how much they love each other and respect each other..... I think the end to a great visit was Paul's yummy chocolate chip cookies.. I think I ate the about half the batch. Gladys is such an amazing mom, hard working, so nurturing, patient and loving. I'm greatful for our friendship.e next day me and the boys went to my brothers house were we got to visit with some college friends that came into town, go out to lunch with Auntie Jacqueline and Hutner and Jackson had a blast playing. They really enjoyed swimming and playing dinosaurs.It was a perfect couple of days away to end the summer.

Do you ever ask yourself....Did I really sign up for this !?!??!

Sometimes I ask myself did I really sign up for all the crazy life experiences I have gone through and continue to go through?! Sure we bring some of it on our selves by just living and making certain choices, but really alot of life is out of our control. I look over my life in the past 6 years and I have experienced, death of a child, stress, trying to be that perfect mom, cancer and loss of a job, struggle after stuggle. There have been so many hours of crying and just wondering about life. I feel like my life is like this song "The Climb", we are always tring to climb this mountain. And THEN... do you have those moments when you feel like the Lord is talking directly to YOU..The past couple weeks I have come to understand that I can't do it on my own and that the lord wants me to come to him, it is like he is standing at my door just wanting to come in. It is interesting how the talks at church have been on FAITH and I have learned so much about faith in the lord it is so much deeper than just "believing in something you can't see" (which I always thought it is just that simple. I truely have been humbled by learning and feeling the lords love for me. When I heard this song I just thought this is soooooo my life and the way I feel. I know some battles in life we loose but what we walk away with is the key. What did I learn from this experence and how did it help me? I read an article from Thomas S. Monson the Prophet for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. that talked about his faith. There were three scriptures in the article that stuck out to me.. 1. D&C 64:29 Be on the Lords Errand, 2. 1 Cor. 9:24 - Run the race of life to obtain the prize, 3. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith! I'm greatful that even thou this life is full of ups and downs, loss and life, disappointments and happiness, he provides a way for us to understand, feel his love, ways to get through that time. So many tools to give us peace and joy.

No matter how hard my trials, it could ALWAYS be worse, but over all i'm greatful that I had the opportunity to study up on this and be taught it in church. I hope when I'm standing in front of my Father in Heaven I can say the same to him... I have kept the faith! I have noticed as I learn more about Faith in the lord I also notice my BLESSINGS. I'm so blessed and thankyou all for being that example to me in keeping the faith, thru your actions and love to the lord. I pray as you all climb the mountain of life as I have you will feel your "Faith" grow.

"The Climb"
I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep your faith
[ Miley Cyrus Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]

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