On the path to the temple

I also have a private blog that is basically my electronic journal. It's where I write down personal thoughts and feelings I have related to our faith-finding journey.
I wanted to post about some BIG plans we've been making that I've neglected to really talk about here because this is a public blog and many different people read it. However it is a really big thing and a big part of our life so I'm going to post a bit about it here too.
Here is an excerpt from my private "Finding Faith" blog....

"....I've grown a lot in the last year. No longer am I doing this for my family only but for MYSELF as well. I now realize the importance of it all and my testimony is growing stronger everyday. Everything makes sense, everything fits and it's like a giant light bulb...has gone on and lit my way. I still have a lot to learn because life is a never ending lesson and I will always have more to learn. However, I feel that my faith is stronger and my doubts are gone. I'm not nervous for the temple, nor do I feel unworthy. Rather, I can't wait to go and I feel Heavenly Father all around me."

I've posted a little bit before about our temple plans but things are finally set in motion and in a little over two weeks we'll be going through the temple to be sealed as a family.

What does that mean?

Here is a short (three minute) video that's very cool on temples and why we build them:


When we are sealed as a family, it means that we are being sealed, or bound, together as an eternal family - that death will not part or end our marriage. We will be married for all eternity as well, and we will all be together in heaven as a family.

As I said before, this is a big thing and an important thing to us. We are very excited.

It's been a long, (VERY long if you account for the time before we joined the church), journey to get here with opposition and trials along the way. However, it makes us appreciate it that much more and learn and grow from the hurdles we had to overcome. With lots of prayer it has all worked out and we're all set finally to go, together, as a whole family. :)

~Bethany

Mini-Updates

We've been doing plenty this summer, but I just haven't got the camera out much to take pictures or had really anything exciting to put on the blog just yet. :)
Mostly we've been doing swimming lessons and just trying to keep the boys occupied. haha
This week starts Brayden's visit with my parents. It will be nice for him to have some time away by himself and for me to get a bit of a break too! haha The other boys will have turns too.

Also this coming week is finally Billy's vacation! wohoo! We had grand plans of going to Utah and had many things planned there, BUT things don't always work out and the more we thought about taking all the kids on such a long car trip - especially the babies - it seemed like it just wasn't the right time to go.
Then we had planned on camping for a few days but the camping spots we usually go to either have burn bans (no campfires!) or are all filled up! So I think we've found a compromise to still have fun and camp a little. We'll try camping with no fire for one day and if its really no fun (no cooking marshmallows or roasting hot dogs or sitting around the fire at dark!) then we'll stay at Grandma Beki's and do some fun things there.
The remainder of his vacation will be spent getting some projects done. Work on vacation! wohoo! Unfortunately he doesn't have any time during the week or weekends for these projects so his vacation will be the only time he'll have!

Let's see..other updates...
We took the kitty we rescued to the Kitty Rescue now so he's just waiting for a home. He's at Petco every Saturday afternoon if anyone wants to see him. He's super cute and SUCH an energetic little thing, always wanting to play. We'd take him but we already have animals coming out of our ears here (well not literally yikes!) Three cats, three lizards and a dog. Brayden is begging me for a guinea pig and Owen and Alex are begging me for a fish tank. *sigh*

Okay that's about it for now....the pictures I'm posting aren't anything too exciting but I sure was excited when I found these camera lens that Billy had gotten me for a birthday present or something but I never used them. I didn't have the time to go through and check everything out - I just used my normal lens.

It's a super cool lens (macro?) for zooming in on things way up close. Everything else in the background fuzzes out. I'm excited to try it out some more, maybe on our vacation on some pretty flowers or butterflies, etc.
Here are the pictures I took to try out the lens:

Some leaves on a plant...


The dragonfly decoration on my doorway:

Some windchimes in my doorway:

And now an up close picture of Alex's lizard...you've been warned! It's really cool though. For a size comparison, his lizard's head is only about the width of 1.5 to 2" although it looks much bigger in this picture:

Summer Fun

I just wanted to share some cute summer pictures I've been taking. Not much of an update. We've just been really hot and really busy! haha
We're looking forward to the 4th of July and just hanging out at home and watching the fireworks in the park.

Brayden and Billy Jr cooling off with some frozen blackberries yummm


What's all over YOUR face?!


What are you looking at?


hmmm what's that thing you're doing with your fingers in pictures all the time and how do I do it?

I think I almost got it....


There - got it!


Brayden threw mud at me!


The oldest and the littlest....

Billy Jr LOVES the kitty. Its his buddy...

Kisses...