New Blog link

So I get a ton of questions about being an Army wife, and people wondering how it was while we were in the military and now how things are that we are out of the Army that I decided to write a blog on it...  It is more about the fact that you really can stay married and that although the saying "Once a soldier always a soldier" is very true the real battles are the wounds that people don't see every day.  The PTSD and TBI are the ones that truly tear up a family and we have our fair share of those battles.. But we get through them.. As a family together.. So if you have ever wondered..  I will be posting about our battles with it and will also get input from the many other amazing families that we know who also battle it every day...

Hopefully it can help at least one family or person know that they are NEVER alone and help is always there...

http://familywithptsd.blogspot.com/

We shoot off fireworks because WE CAN!!!

In Memory of  Lewis Tenney

So the saying " We shoot off fireworks because we can" was something I heard from a speaker at church and it really hit me hard.  I suppose I have never thought about the specific meaning or just how special having the ability to shoot off fireworks was until I heard that.  Don't get me wrong I am and have always been so thankful and grateful to live in this amazing country but the fireworks meant more to me this year than they ever have.  It was also a very bitter sweet moment to watch them because knowing how much our children and I enjoyed them... also reminded me of just how hard it is for Mike (my hubby) to watch them.  The loud booms, flashing lights, and crowds mean freedom to us but they bring back so many memories for my husband... memories of everything he had to fight for everyday for years in Iraq... We have the ability to to have the freedoms and moments of the holidays that we do because of the brave men and women who have fought for our country. So many have given their lives either by death, or by the injuries seen and unseen that they deal with everyday.  It was an extremely heartbreaking moment to watch my husband hold our 4 year old as tight as he possibly could, trying to fight back the tears and seeing the fear in his eyes but sitting through it knowing that Kayleb was in awe of the amazing colors, flashes and loud booms.   This reminds me everyday of what an amazing father and husband I have and just how lucky I am to have him in our lives and just how amazing it is to live in a country that has so many freedoms.  I pray everyday that we can continue to keep it that way.
     The firework pictured at the top was a tribute to a man named Lewis Tenney who passed away almost a year ago.  We are blessed to have his daughter and the rest of the clan in our lives.  He had a huge part in what our small community is today and although we never had the chance to meet him in person I know that he had a part in our coming here and being blessed by living in this amazing town.  He has touched so many lives and I must say that I am a better person for knowing the sayings, rules and acts he followed and having them to surround us still.  I look forward to the day that I get to meet him and give him a big hug and tell him thank you for having such an amazing family.

So proud! Ashley 8th grade graduation..

We are so proud that Ashley has graduated 8th grade... She will be a High School er now... WOW!!!  It seems like just yesterday she was so tiny we could hold her in the palm of our hands... but now she is turning out to be a super young woman... Congratulations Ashley we are so proud of you and know that your High School years will be the best years in your life...

Priceless, passionate, phenominal PAYTON

Payton overcoming a ton of fears

Well what can I say about our Precious Payton... I call her my "old soul" and for very good reason.. She is 10 going on 40 sometimes.. not that it is a bad thing at all because it is NOT... She just is very wise beyond her years and most people have no idea she is only 10.  Payton is someone you can count on to get things done, she is smart and has always breezed through school and challenges herself in everything she does.  She had a huge fear of heights and when she went on the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course she challenged herself to do do the entire course and she did it!!! They were around 60 ft high and some crazy obstacles but with some encouragement from her older sister she made it all the way through the entire course and was SO proud she did it... 
Payton has a spiritual connection with the lord that even a grown adult might be envious of and she teaches me knew things every time I learn more about her testimony and I look forward to the day that she can teach her own children because I know she will be an amazing teacher.
Her goal is to be a pediatrician and I know without a doubt it will happen, there is NOTHING this girl has said she was going to do that she hasn't done..  and I know this will be no different.   

Love this little girl tons and we are so excited to see her continue to grow...

Our Amazing, Authentic, Adorable ASHLEY

She is so beautiful... and smart...

So I decided that the next few posts would be about our amazing kiddos and we will start with Ashley...

Ashley is the oldest in the house.. Not counting her two sisters who live in California.  She is strong, beautiful and extremely smart.  We can count on her to make good decisions and she has a great group of friends to help her along the way.  She received straight A's this year and I know she will have a great 4 years in high school.  Her goal is to make all A's all for all 4 years and I know she can do it if she puts her mind to it.   She has an amazing singing voice and I pray some day she comes out of her shy mode and realizes that God has blessed her with an incredible talent that she will lose if she doesn't use it.   Ashley can make people laugh and is super goofy, she has a way of allowing people to open up and just be themselves around her and I know that will allow her to make a great missionary and strengthen her testimony as time goes on.   She has embraced the church and her family within it and has been working so hard on her personal progress I know she will just continue to grow with each one she does.   We are so very blessed to have Ashley as our daughter and thank God everyday for all the blessings she brings to our life... Love you beautiful girl!   

Our family....

Our Beautiful Family

Well I have said that I was going to blog for a long time and haven't done it and tonight is the night that I finally decided that I better get a move on it.. Or.. I would NEVER do it :)  

So I suppose I will start by telling you some minor details about us... We are a goofy, fun, loving, and pretty much crazy family that for the most part enjoys being around each other.  We live in the beautiful mountains and have been here since November now and everyday we feel SO blessed to be here.  I truly can't say that enough.. We just love it and truly have found our home.  

Mike was medically retired from the US Army (but I am sure I will post more about that sometime) and well I am working on finishing up my Bachelors in Business but really just enjoy being home with my kiddos and hubby.  

We were baptized LDS on January 25 2013 and lets just say it has been an amazing ride so far.. But I will say we were warned that our coat tails would be pulled back and they continue too... everyday.. but we are strong and faithful and with God on our side we can make it through anything... 

AND SO OUR JOURNEY WILL CONTINUE.... and we hope you come along for the ride... 

“It is a wise and true maxim that families that kneel together stand upright before the Lord!.”      - Ezra Taft Benson