all these pets, just don't know what to do

Well, I'm such a proud mama! Our tadples are growing like little weeds. One has actually turned to a baby frog. We have had so much fun taking care of..... oh ..... about 200 tadples. Ya I know it's excessive, but when did we ever do anything small??? Anyway, this summer, we were swimming in our pool and we had a transplant for a couple days, a raccoon. He actually ate out of our hands. Poor thing was half starved. The picture of Morgi and Ry were this summer, the day we had the raccoon, they were being silly in the pool, but it's a cute picture

A fabulous Sunday

I haven't written in so long, but I wanted to tell you all about this last Sunday and what led up to it. It's a long story....

You all know Sasha, our husky. I got her from a girl who's family wouldn't let her keep her anymore. Well, we have stayed in touch. I have felt inclined to share the gospel with her. Come to find out, she is already Mormon. Hmmmm...... didn't see that one coming. Well, she left the church after her family had a falling out. She has a husband and now an adorable baby girl. Well, lately she has been calling me and asking me for a Book of Mormon for her Mother-in-law. Then she called me and asked for the Bishop's number. She had her parents come out to bless the baby, and she wanted to set that up. Anyway, the 21st was the blessing day. Her husband, Jon, is..... well, not so thrilled with having his baby blessed. But she stood up to him and said this is important to her and that he would be there. He showed up, along with his real mother, and his grandparents, all of whom and completley against the whole thing. Well, her dad gave her a beautiful blessing, and in the blessing he blessed her with wanting to be apart of this church, and to be a good example to her parents. Well, after the blessing we had the speakers. Every speaker, all 3, were exactly for Mary. I was stunned, I just couldn't help crying. Even the youth speaker was directed exactly at Mary. It was quite amazing. After the blessing though, his family got up and left. I was really disappointed in them that they would do that, but atleast they walked into the building. Well after Sacrament meeting, they wanted to leave, so I went out with them and took pictures of them. I walked the parents to their car and we talked for over an hour. They said that I was an answer to their prayers, and they couldn't believe how this whole thing came about with her giving me Sasha and all.

I forgot to tell you, Thursday, Mary called me and asked if she could bring her parents over to introduce us. i said sure, and said why don't they come to dinner. They came straight from the airport to our house. I thought it was so strange that this girl I hardly know, though getting to know, wanted me to meet her parents. I think it says something about the connection we have. Anyway, they ended up staying 3 hrs. It was so lovely. Jon, her husband even came, though he's not thrilled with our friendship either. So back to Sunday....

While we were talking they told me that Mary feels like she is too far gone and can't come back to the church. I also feel like there will be a huge rift between her and her husband if she does come back. It was so powerful our talk, the Spirit was very strong, and I saw the love and the hurt they feel. They love Mary so much, and want only the best for her. They know, like we know, that the only way to happiness is through the Gospel.

Oh, I also forgot, the choir sang a beautiful arrangment of O My Father. Her mother leaned over to me after and said that was her favorite song, so I'm glad it went well. I was nervous with the family there.

Anyway, it was so wonderful to see this whole thing come about. The Spirit was so strong that day. I went back into church and just sobbed the rest of it. Everyone asked what was wrong, but I just said they were tears of Joy!!! I'm so proud her Mary for choosing to bless her baby, and for standing up to her husband in order to get it done. I love her so much. She is a wonderful young woman, and I see so much potential and love in her. Even Karvel, the Bishop, came up to me afterword, and said, wow, that was amazing. I told him thank you for picking the topics, and he smiled and said, I didn't, the stake did today. Holy Crap!!! I just get goose bumps thinking about it again.

I know it's a long road for Mary, and I don't even know if she will come back to the church. But for her to even step into the building with his family is so huge, you have no idea. I feel blessed to have been there Sunday to wittness it.

Take care and lots of love,

PS. We actually have a couple tadpoles who have little baby legs. Can you believe it????

Bug made the volley ball team!!!!!

Yup, I'll let her tell you the whole thing, but Bug made the 8th grade volley ball team. Good job, baby!

Kevin's new calling

Well, Kevin has a new calling. He is now the High Priest Group Leader. He's feeling a little overwhelmed. I was talking to David Mosher (Bishopric) and he was telling me how it happened. He said that they had 3 names on their list, Kevin wasn't on that list. Karvel asked them that think about it and pray and write down the name that they want as the leader. All three came back after church with Kevin's name on it. Guess the Lord added Kevin's name to that list, lol.

Last week was the start of school. It was also the start of Rylan's speech therapy. We asked to get on the list at the hospital and they said it was a year waiting list. I can't believe they would make kids wait a year to get help! Anyway, we needed to get a doctor's referel, so we called Dr Krenning, our friend, and our ENT. She wrote the referal and faxed it over. She then called and said you get Rylan Pickens in NOW!!!! In less than a week we got a call. She was an answer to our prayers. Well, I took him in On Wednesday and she asked what my concerns were. I told her that I think Ry has Asphergers (Autism). So she started asking questions, she soon stopped and said, "He doesn't have autism, he has Sensory Integration Disorder". I had no clue what that was, but I guess he gets too much senses and doesn't know how to handle it. Very closely related to Autism. We are officially going to get tested in Columbia at the Autism Center, and if they feel he is Autistic, then they will send us over the the Autistc side. I can't tell you how relieved we are to finally have an answer. SI dysfuntion is so much easier to treat then Autism, so we pray that this is what he has.

Logan has started seminary, they have accomidated the band members, so the kids go just Wednesday mornings, then 2 hrs on Sunday evenings, so they will get their time in. Once Marching Band is over they will go to seminary 5 days a week.

Toriann has been watching the Olympics with me, and she has decided to try out for the Volley Ball Team. We watch beach volleyball, and she's in love. Don't know if she'll make it, but she's excited to find out. She's so athletic, I think she will do fine. The problem is next year, she now has to choose between volleyball and Cheerleading! Oh to have such choices in my life. LOL!

I finished my first baby quilt that is machine quilted. It is so darling. Only have a picture on my cell phone and I don't know how to put it in here. Oh well. Have a good week, Love to all!

My fun, busy, but yet gross week.

Wow!!!! I just got beck from girls camp about 4 hours ago and I had a BLAST!!!!! . . . . Well, except for the muggy, muggy weather. Since we were right by the lake it was just so sticky, hot, gross, sweaty, and just dehydrating.

We arrived there tuesday and I met my J.C.s and my level leader. We had an opening fireside and we met the camp director then. It was the same as last year. . . Every night we had a ward devotional and tuesday's one was were we had a cup full of m&ms and we had to eat all besides 3. Once everyone was done we found out we had to share some certain things depending on the color. Like brown was share and emabarising or funny moment.

Wedensday we had to go on hikes and lucky us, it was a down pore!!!!! The level 2 girls were originally supposed to go on a 5 mile hike but because of the rain, it was just barely a mile hike. During that time we collected trash and some leaves, sticks, rocks, and whatever else we could find for our calosh. That night for our devotional we talked about some qualities we had. Next, we talked about our devine qualities. So our leader would say like, "Who are you, Tori?" and everyone in the group would name some things off that you were or that you did or something like that. And to my very great surprise. . . everyone, even the girls that I have been having trouble with said that I was Christ-like. And once I heard that, I just started bawling!!! I didn't know I had that big of an influence on all of them. Even the leaders agreed on that and said I was an example to them. WOW!!!!

Thursday, from 9-12 the 1st and 3rd years went boating. then we had lunch and then from 1-4 the 2nd and 4th years went boating. So we got to go on the tube and get flown off of it. . . you know how that is. =) After that we got dressed for the bishops night. Our theme. . . well one of them, was a cowboy type of thing. So we had to dress up as cowgirls. Some of my friends had put eyeliner on themselves to look like beards and mustaches. It was so fun!!! One of them was my "boyfriend" you could say. So the bishops had a shoot out with marshmallow guns. It was fun because a lot of the girls had their own guns too and we shot the bishops. For devotionals that night we talked more about our devine qualities. Our leader decided to have all of us girls to know at least 3 different devine qualities. I decided that I would have Christ-like, kind, and talented. When we decided on which quality, we had to remember the names or else that meant we didn't really feel like we had that quality. 

Friday, we went boating again, but like the paddle boats, canoes, and kiaking. 2nd and 4th years went from 9-12. Then from 1:30-4 the others went. So I'm glad I got in the morning because it was a supper hot day!!! Then at night, we didn't have a ward devotional. This is the special night when it's like almost the only reason why you come to camp. Our them was "Like the Stars: Steadfast and Immovable." And wow!!! It was an amazing night. So we all walk down to a corner and the J.C.s start singing hyms. And one by one, the girls in the line watching and singing with the J.C.s go on the path that goes in the middle of the camp ground. At the very begining, a leader handed me a bag of gravel and said, "these are your trials. Carry them while you are walking. You have to do this by yourself. This is your burrden." And so I walk on and a few leaders later, a leader says to me, "I know it is very very hard to remember the savior all the time. But it is your job to remind yourself and others that He is always there. NO MATTER WHAT!!! This message I'm giving you is only for you. Not for the girl in front of you and not the girl behind you. Only for you." I still have been crying about it when I tell it to people. So all of the leaders from the stake were lined up giving everyone hugs and saying "I love you" At the very end, Sis. Nicoliozo, the stake camp director said, "now is the time to let go of all your trials. It's time to let them go and move on. Now go and throw your trials in the fire, and watch them burn into the flames and never think of them again." I'm even crying right now as I'm typing this. Once we were all in the place where we were supposed to be, we watched a slide show of all of the pictures the assistant director took of us. After that, Sis. Nicliozo stood up and bore her testimony for the last time. This was her last year being girls camp director. When she was done, we all stood up for the last time with her to say the young women's theme. Everyone could hardly say it because they were all crying so hard. Last, in our cabin, our ward had a testimony meeting and it was the strongest one I have ever been too. I bore mine. The spirit was just so strong. Mostly because of a friend who just had a very, VERY!! strong testimony that made everyone cry. It was just so peaceful and wonderful.

I just really needed this girls camp. I think this time, it was a special one for all of us going through these really hard times. My testimony has grown so much from this. I will never EVER forget this wonderful girls camp. 

New frog eggs

Well, I can't remember if I wrote that Kevin killed our tadpoles. It was a sad, sad day, but today as we were swimming, Rylan noticed some more frog eggs. I was actually very surprised because the frogs usually lay their eggs from May into the end of June. They had sunk, so it was hard to get them, but I got eight measly eggs. Hopefully tomorrow I will find some more. This time we will use filtered water to change the water with. Pray that it works!

What I've been dong with my new machine!

Well I have been so busy with my new sewing machine. I finished my table runner and I pieced a new quilt together. Very easy to put it together. I even learned how to miter my corners. It was no small feat, but I finally did it.