Father's

Today, as we celebrate Father's Day, I am so grateful for a Father who created an environment of trust and love.  Through this sacrifice, service, kindness, example, I have been so blessed.  I not only recognize my father's amazing example, but also all the great father's in my life.  My Husband, My Father-in-law, Brothers and Brother-in-laws, cousins, and other men who create environments of love and trust which ultimately help me recognize my Heavenly Father's love and plan for not only me but for all those that surround me.

Mother's

Tonight, I'd like to thank Mother's.  First and foremost my mother, who without question was the best mother for me.  She is and continues to be the epitome of what motherhood is.

Shauna, Lyman, me being held by my mom

Next I must thank my mother in law who welcomed and loved me since the day I entered her life.  She has always taught me about Divine Love and again is the epitome of motherhood.

Sheldon, Conner, Dad Paul, and Mom Paul Mother's Day 2012

As I pondered mother's today I was moved to remember all the many other's who have influenced me and my family.  Adam identified Eve to be "the mother of all living", I believe every women this earth is given the role of motherhood.  Motherhood is more than just having children, it is the sacred role of nurturing, loving, teaching, leading, guiding, and so much more.  It is innately given to us as a gift from God, and if we will let the Holy Spirit guide us in this role it may be used to the benefit God's  children on this earth.  

How I wished I had pictures of the primary teachers, teachers, leaders, friends, and family who mothered me, I tenderly remember young women leaders who were mother's to me, and who as they endured trials in their lives taught me about love, compassion and endurance.  I am grateful to principals, elementary teachers, math teachers, english teachers, PE teachers, and coaches who have all mothered our children.  I have such peaceful amazing memories of those better than good teachers who nurtured our children and help them gain an desire to learn.  All of our children were blessed with at least one school teacher (and some even more than one) that nurtured them in the desire to succeed, love, and serve. I have been so blessed with sisters and sisters in law who have mothered me and our children leading us, guiding us and helping us through the joys and trials.  Not only have my children been blessed with primary teachers, and youth leaders, but over and over again we have had dear sweet friends enter our lives who have gone beyond friendship and guided my children, loved them, spoiled them and cared for them.  How truly blessed we are to have encountered so many mother's that truly have influenced us FOR GOOD.  This video expresses my impressions from today.  

Overdue

Sydnee asked me this week, "Why don't you ever post on your blog".  Instead of giving all my excuses, I'll spend the time updating some fun and amazing experiences I (we've had lately).

FUNNY PHONE CALLS

Whenever my phone rings after 10:00PM, by heart kind of sinks, especially when I see a child's number on the other end.  So on Friday night after we had just laid down at 10:30 to go to bed, my heart jumped when I saw Meagan calling me at 10:38.  I picked up the phone I quickly realized that this was just a question phone call.  "Mom, what's the recipe for oreo balls"  (I'm chuckling a little that this is a 10:30 call, but it's easy -- I give her the recipe).  Meagan again "Were you asleep"  I assured her that nope, we had just laid down.  I mentioned that it was kind of late to be starting her oreo ball project.  She reassured me no big deal she doesn't have to bake anything this should be a quick venture (She needed them done the next morning for a bridal shower).  At this point I knew she was making cake pops too I ask, oh so you already have your cake baked?  At which point she said "What?"  I have to bake the cake, I thought I just put the cake mix in with the cream cheese, like the oreos.  I suggested she may want to recheck her cake pop recipe at which point we both start laughing, and Meagan can't stop. It is good when under the distress that BYU may cause you, that at 10:30 at night you can laugh...  After several minutes of laughing we hung up.  Just in case you didn't know you must bake the cake before making cake pops  (Heheheheh  LOL).

Book of Mormon

On Thursday we read the Book of Mormon for 17 hours.  It was an amazing experience.  We had six young women who were with us most of the day (Josie, Hallie, Bailee, Kaylie, Sierra, and Sydnee).  They read to each other most of the time, but a couple times we listened to the audio, a couple times we read to ourselves.  We read in every different room in our home  We read outside on the grass, couch, and trampoline.  The Young Women did a great job staying focused.  We took some fun breaks, lots of food, Slurpee Runs, Scripture scouts, and Alma Jars and to finish the evening Samuel the Lamanite Wall.  The best part about it was the experience for me was the Peace that surrounded us all day.  I love reading the Book of Mormon in big blocks the story line are easier for me to follow, and I love learning new things every time I read the Book of Mormon.  We laughed, sang, ate, ate, and ate.  We had some older girls and other leaders join us later in the evening, and one of my laurels who gave me the idea came at the end to help keep us awake an motivated.  She did a great job finishing off reading Samuel the Lamanites speech to us.   I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON

Mission Call

Sarah received her mission call to HOUSTON, TX mission while we were in Palau.  We were so grateful for the Family Support and friends who were able to be here with her as she opened her call.  When we returned we started planning and knew we were going to have to move quickly.  The weekend of March 15th was a sweet weekend.  Again we felt so blessed to be surrounded by Family and Friends as Sarah received her endowment.  She was so prepared.  She did a great job taking in the experience.   It was tender to watch her and know she was in the right place at the right time and she was worthy to be there.  Sunday she spoke in church and did an amazing job, sharing her thoughts on Choices, and her Choice to join the church.  She had great support, and it was good to see her Shine.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives and be partaking of these sweet experiences with her.

Sisters!!!

Those who did baptisms while Sarah received her endowment (minus Loryn the camera girl)

Missing our Christiana and Corey, but knew they were with us in heart!!!

Palau

For our 25th wedding Anniversary, my sweet, romantic husband planned a trip of a lifetime.  We planned it with a friend we met in Belize last year.  On February 18th we boarded a plane to head to Koror, Palau.  Palau is an Island about 600 miles away from the Philippines.  I truly don't know that I ever figured out the exact time difference but I think it was 14ish hours.

The first day of diving we did some simple easy dives.  The group we dove with are extremely experienced.  Sheldon had a new camera he was learning to work, but was able to capture some of the beauty we experienced.  There were 14 divers altogether.

Daniel was our dive master and Ashley for our captain.

Sam, Daniel & Sheldon

Ashley -- Boat Captain

 Each day was similar, but lots of different dive sites.  Daniel would say each time we entered the water  "Wall on the right, Sharks on the Left" or "Wall on the left, Sharks on the right".  This was pretty true.  I think we saw shark on every dive, some dives just a few, other dives hundreds.  It was breathtaking, not just the sharks, but also the coral, color, amount of fish, landscape underneath the water, turtles, manta ray and clown fish with their anemone (these two were my all time favorite).   We dove our first wreck, and our first cave dive (Chandelier Caves were another WOW experience), We dove in current (or what I call current) almost every dive.  We dove in the Pacific and Philippine Sea.  We were able to dive North which is an area that isn't dove very often.  We learned how to "hook in" to the reef.  That was my favorite. I felt like a balloon flying in the sky, I LOVED IT.   Twice a year (March and April) right before the full moon the Moorish Idol (a fish that looks like Scar in Finding Nemo), span.  This was one of the most spectacular views we saw.  As we watched this it looked like a waterfall of fish going up and down the reef.  Not only was that spectacular, but because of this it draws more white tip sharks into the area.  Which was just awesome.  As we dove this day everywhere I looked there were bright fish, sharks, coral.  It was just breathtaking.

Hooked in watching Sharks

Coral  was spectacular

My Favorite Anemone & Clown Fish

One of the best parts about these trips is getting to learn about others.  Our dive master Daniel was from the Philippines but had lived in Palau for quite a few year, Ashley was from Palau, our driver was from Bangkok and only went home once or twice a year to see his wife and kids.  He was the hardest working man we met.  We did 21 dives.  This time Sunday fell right in the middle of the trip, which was an ideal break to take from diving.  It was good to attend the branch in Paula, and we were glad the taxi driver knew how to get there.  Every night (except one) we ate at a little "cafe" in the dive shop.  Fhey was our waitress, she was from the Philippines and was amazing. It was different dining than we've ever done, one cook and meals are served when they are finished.  The first person is usually done 15 minutes before the last meal was served, but the food was great.  The best fish and chips I've ever had.

We also ate on the island Palau Survivor was taped on (I think that is what it is called, I don't watch the show), we "mudded" in the lagoon of the rich and famous, and drove through the famous arch.  All fun experiences

Arch we drove through, beautiful

The rest of our boat, Me, Marty, Jeff, Carla, and Jim

I think overall the thing I am most impressed with is the gift I have received to be able to witness the beauty in the ocean.  I am often inspired by the beauty that surrounds me birds, mountains, flowers, grass, trees.... but every time I dive, I am amazed that there is just as much beauty under the water that was created for us by our Savior and I have been blessed to witness it.