March Madness

Carson had a great time playing basketball this year and it was sure fun to watch him. His team had a hard season but Carson has great sportsmanship and never quits. His good spirit is a great example to us.

"...you can never tell how close you are;

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit."

~Edgar A. Guest

Dog Days of Summer

Dottie the Dog

Well I'm back to blogging. Just thought I'd start by posting some summer highlights. We had a full fun summer. Even had time to play with Dottie. Here she is waiting for me to hit her a tennis ball. What a dog!

Me, Kellee, Carson & Jessica

at Kellee's Graduation

We've had such a joy spending time with Cousin Kellee. We started off our summer by attending her graduation. We are really proud of her accomplishments. She's moved on and is attending Brigham Young University. If she does as well in college as she did in high school...She will Do great!

Angie, Jessica & Janna

Beach Fun!

You never know who might come visit if you just ask. Cousin Janna from California just graduated from high school and came to see us. It was so wonderful to have her. This picture is of them having fun at the Kure Beach.

Angie and Friends from Single's Ward

River Rafting

Angie came back in June and found a job here in Fayetteville at High Smith Rainey Hospital. She lives only ten minutes away and likes the single's ward. She shares teaching gospel doctrine class. One of their fun activities this summer was going river rafting. Do you think she might be having too much fun?

Jessica & Sophia
Stake Camp 2010

I'm so glad that my girls have had good experiences at YW Camp. Its good to know that they can have fun even in North Carolina where it's hot and muggy in the summer. Here's Jessica acting goofy with a friend from the ward. As my mother would say: "the fruit don't fall to far from the tree. "



Dave and some of the Youth and Adult Leaders

Stake Youth Conference

"A More Nobler Desire"

Dave and I got to be host parents for a group of young men at our youth conference. The theme was "A More Nobler Desire" A week before youth conference they were given a challenge to go on a digital fast: no tv, movies, texting, or computer except for absolute necesities like summer homework or keeping in contact with parents. Then the youth did service projects all weekend. Some of our activities included reading the newspaper to the blind over the radio, feeding the homeless in downtown Fayetteville and putting up a fence for a neighbor. It was great experience and helped us all to keep our priorites in order.

Jake the Graduate

Bachelors in Geography

with a minor in Spanish

Jake had a Summertime Graduation. Since BYU doesn't have a ceremony in December, Jake had his celebration in August. He still has a class he's finishing up with for Fall Semester and will be done in December. Then what? Well, we shall see.

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When I moved to North Carolina, one of my first friends was Hilda Brock and she was a wonderful primary music leader. At the end of the summer she would teach the primary children the song: "Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime" after they would learn it she then let the children make up their own verses. I thought it was so clever. I'm so glad I witnessed this wonderful woman sharing her talent and light to all.

Here's my feeble attempt to honor her love for music and show how our family spent the summer:

Oh, what do you do in the summertime

when all the world is green,

do you swim in a pool,

graduate from school,

or play with your dog all day long.

Is that what you do?

So do I.

Round, Round, the Roller Coasters

Everyone that knows me knows I can't do roller coasters...I'm talking about those BIG ones. So when my husband's cousin Jeanette asked if we wanted to spend a day with them at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, I was hesitant. Somehow I had gotten out of taking Angie and Jake to any big roller coaster amusement parks when they were young. Usually they just went with their schoolmates or friends had invited them on their own. I've been feeling a little guilty with Jessica and Carson though because the only amusement park they've been to is Disneyland which isn't really considered a park with the mega roller coasters. So, to Williamsburg we went. Some how I thought that one of my kids would have inherited my genes and their stomachs would feel a little too uneasy, but no chance. They were literally running from roller coaster to roller coaster. It was really a blast to see how much fun they were having. They even caught me at a weak moment and I went on ride with them...never again. What was I thinking???

"We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pickin' and a Grinnin'

Last month I did a class on canning for Relief Society. I haven't been canning lately so it motivated me to get my old jars out. I did strawberry jam, chow chow, pickled beets, apple pie filling and for the first time ever I canned green beans. With my friend Debbie and her daughter Amy, we went out and picked beans for $9.00/a bushel. I was able to bottle 21 quarts from the bushel...whew! Thanks to Carson for helping with the snapping.

"Our Heavenly Father

created this beautiful earth,

with all its abundance,

for our benefit and use.

His purpose is to

provide for our needs as we

walk in faith and obedience..."

~The First Presidency

"All is Safely Gathered In"

Carson turns 11, April 3rd

Last But Not Least

"The Carsons"

1st and 2nd Place

Last night was our annual Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts. It was Carson's "last" race because he turns eleven in two weeks and moves up to boy scouts. He placed 2nd overall among all the cub scouts and got first place in his Webelos Den. It was a fun event thanks to the cub scout leaders. Way to go Carson! Good job.

Black cars, blue cars, green and gray,

Do-da, do-da!

Are running on the track today,

Oh, do-da-day!

March Madness for 10 Year Olds

Carson with Coach Spivey

2nd Place Winners

Carson ended his basketball season with 2nd Place in their League at Gray's Creek. So the team got to go to a single elimination tournament in the county. They won their first game and lost their second. Carson had a really good season this year. His coach said his "quick release" shooting helped the team with a lot more scoring and his teammates voted him best defensive player on the team. Next year he'll move on to the 11 and 12 year old age group which for me, is the funnest to watch. Go Carson!

Warming Up Before a Big Game

Carson Gets an Award

Carson earns his Arrow of Light

Last night we had our annual Blue and Gold Banquet for the cub scouts. Carson got his Arrow of Light award. A special friend in our ward, Gary R., made each boy a plaque with an arrow that has painted on it markings that represent each award received in cub scouts. It was a special night. Carson will be moving on to boy scouts in April. Its been fun to see him grow and learn in this great program.

"I, Carson, promise to do my best

to do my duty to God and my country,

to help other people,

and to obey the Law of the Pack."

Cub Scout Promise

FRIENDS, OFF AND ON THE COURT

CARSON & AUSTIN BEFORE GAME, SATURDAY

Carson and Austin are good friends that started playing basketball when they were seven years old and they were on the same team. They're playing for their 4th year now and they didn't get on the same team this year but are still buddies all the same, showing good sportsmanship, even when they play each others.

"You can discover more

about a person in an hour of play

than in a year of conversation. "

Plato

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

Carson said to me the other day, "I love Christmas" and I asked him, "why?" and he said, "I don't know. . . it just feels good."

I believe the Holy Spirit truly rests on us during special occasions and the celebration of our Savior's birth is one of those occasions. I'm so grateful for Him and I'm glad that a ten year old boy could "feel" the holiness of this time of year and remind me of what Christmas is all about.

The most important and most significant

of all events that have happened

in the history and life of mankind

are the birth, life, death and resurrection

of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten of God the Eternal Father."

N. Eldon Tanner

GHOUL DAYS!

(from left) Jessica, Eric, Carson, Cassidy & Lil' Carson

We had fun "trick or treating"

in the neighborhood with friends.

Ghoul days, ghoul days, goody, goody, ghoul days.

Ringing the bell of your neighbor's place,

Hearing him yell at your funny face.

You were the greatest ghost I've seen;

I was the witch whose hair was green.

And we haunted the house on Halloween,

When we were a couple of ghouls.

"Jessisca" THE GHOUL

Isn't she a beauty

"Carson" He's a NEWSIE

He's obsessed with this movie

"Dottie" THE DEVIL

How true it is

"Abby B." & "Kellee B."
They dressed up as HYMN BOOKS

So clever!

FUN, FUN, HALLOWEEN!

LEARN TO LAUGH

I loved general conference this weekend. I always look forward to listening to the leaders of the church. One thing I like to do is pick my favorite talks out of all who spoke and its always so hard because I love them all. Anyway, here's my top three. First, I liked Elder Wirthlin because he was so funny. He talked about adversity. He told some funny personal stories and gave good advice from his mother. She always told him, "Come what may and love it." My favorite quote:

"Learn to laugh...

next time you're tempted to groan,

you might try to laugh instead.

It will extend your life

and make the lives of all those around you enjoyable."

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Second, I enjoyed Elder Ballard. He gave a history of the great and marvelous work of the restored gospel on the earth and the challenges of those people who brought forth the gospel in thses latter-days. He encouraged us to keep our faith and I especially was inspired by these words:

"The Lord isn't asking us

to load up a handcart;

He's asking us to foritify our faith.

He isn't asking us

to walk across a continent;

He's asking us to walk across the street

to visit our neighbors.

He isn't asking us

to give all our worldly possesions to build a temple;

He's asking us

to give of our means and our time

to continue to build temples and then

to attend regularly the temples already built.

He isn't asking us to die a martyr's death;

He's asking us to live a disciple's life. . .

We can't afford to be superficially righteous.

Our testimonies must run deep with spiritual roots."

M. Russell Ballard

Last but not least, I loved President Monson. He is always so upbeat and positive. Here were some of my favorite quotes:

"Don't let important things pass you by. . .

have joy in the journey. . .

There is no tomorrow to remember

if we don't do something today. . .

Rather than dwelling on the past,

we should make the most of today--

of the here and now,

doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future."

Thomas S. Monson