Timeout for Women

On saturday I was lucky enough to go to time out for women. My very sweet friend Becky called me from OKC to inform me they had an extra ticket I could use. It was totally worth the long drive there and was so uplifting. A few of favorites were Dean Hughes who wrote the 'Children of the Promise' series and talked about not being so competetive with each other and to be more meek and mild. I must admitt I can be extrememly competetive so I needed this! My other favortite was Merrilee Boyack. She spoke of involving our kids in giving of service and finding happinees and joy in life in and through service and teaching our children how they can feel that joy by involving them too. It was so inspiring, and I came home so rejuvenated and ready to try a harder. Lastly was Hilary Weeks who performed and spoke a little. Music is a passion of mine it is the best way for me to feel the spirit. She just spoke a little of motherhood and the challenges and the joys. She sang a beautiful song about motherhood I think it was called, 'If I Just Had Today'. Of course it made almost every girl there bawl. Including me, not that is is hard to get me to cry, I'm a baby!
Anyway I just wanted to write this mostly for me to remind me of my renewed desire to be better because knowing me I will probably need the reminder tomorrow.

Jackson's Walking!

For a the past month Jackson has been wanting to walk so bad, but has only been able to take a few steps and then he falls. But yesterday he just took off. It's amazing how just all of the sudden in one day they can just do it! He was thinking he was pretty cool and spent the whole evening just walking anywhere he could go. It is so fun to see him so proud of himself and having so much fun! I am having problems with my computer so I'll have to add the video later!

Story time

Last night I was trying to prepare my seminary lesson for the next morning while the kids kept coming up and needing something. I was getting a little annoyed, to be frank, because I was tired and just wanted to hurry and get it done. So in order to get them to leave me alone I promise I would share my lesson with them if they would let me read it first. I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before, but it worked. As soon as I finished Sydney reminded me of my promise and I related to them the story of Daniel in the Lions Den which they have heard before many times, and also Shadrach, Meshach,and Abed-nego, being put into the fiery furnace. They thought those names were so silly and would laugh every time I said them and King Nebechenezzar's name. We had so much fun and it was such a fun way to teach them the principle of trusting the Lord.

It made me reflect on teaching seminary. This has been such a tough year for me. I have really been struggling, for many different reasons. And I realize how I need to trust in the Lord more. Teaching seminary has been very difficult. It has been so hard to sacrifice that extra rest in the morning and very hard to prepare a lesson everyday. I have had many moments when I thought I could not do this anymore, which is actually how I felt last night until I sat down with my children to teach them the wonderful things I had learned, and I see how good it is for me, even though it is very hard. I needed this reminder to help me to be grateful.

New addition!

For some reason lately all my posts are about being pregnant or new babies. Is this a sign? Tyler's brother Ryan and wife Kara had a baby in March while we were in Florida. He is super cute and we are excited to have another boy join the crew cuz believe it or not with all these Barney boys, the girls were starting to rule. Not that I can complain about that, but it's nice to even the score a bit, and I'm so glad my boys have another boy cousin. Welcome Colin!

April Fools!!

I know I am horrible! I actually played this trick on Tyler yesterday and had my friends who is expecting take the pregnancy test for me. I took the picture just to tell everyone about my clever trick on Tyler when I thought I could have fun with this!! I actually got a great reaction from Tyler. I was truly feeling not the best yesterday probably becasue I skipped breakfast. Tyler asked how I was doing and I told him I didn't feel too good. He responded by, "Your not pregnant are you." I just smiled and thought this was a great set up. So when he saw the pregnancy test, I got a great reaction! I had him going for a while, but couldn't hold back my laughter. Anyway it was fun. Sorry for the prank.

More Florida Pics

Of course I couldn't document our Florida trip in one post. We also went to the Fountain of Youth where Ponce De Leon landed and found the Fountain of Youth and settle the area. We had fun feeding peacocks and of course we had to drink from the waters there so we could stay young forever!! It really works! It smelled and tasted horribly of sulfur. But I had to drink of it just so I could say I drank from the fountain of youth.
Sydney's favorite part of Florida," Going to Disney World and every part of Disney World"
Layton's favorite part of Florida, "Feeding turtles, seeing frogs and lizards, Peter Pan ride at Disney World."
Jack's favorite, as you can see from the picture he loved the carousel rides he went on two carousel rides and both times held on for dear life when the ride was over because he did not want us to ake him off his horse.