So, I'm not a huge country music fan but I do like a few groups......ALOT! One of them is Rascal Flatts. They have a fairly new CD out and there's a song on it that is so amazing. It's called "Take Me There". The song is about a rare-gem-of-a-guy who wants to know EVERYTHING about his lady love. Here's some lines:

July 6th--Today is Sunday and I was officially released from my calling as Primary President. I've known since Wednesday but today it all sunk in. The ward split last week and most of my presidency went to the new ward. The bishopric felt it was time to release me rather than construct a new presidency all over again. I must say it came as, somewhat, a relief. I've enjoyed this calling quite a bit. There have been many trials and frustrations but none of them can compare to the joy I felt serving the children of our ward. I love them all dearly. I'm thankful for the many people that served and continue to serve in the Primary. I feel kind of an emptiness now. This has basically become a part-time job with all the time put into it but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. The blessings that have come from this calling are all around me. I see how my marriage has been strengthened even more. I have a better understanding and relationship with my children. I feel more confidence in myself and my abilities. I see the importance of creating a foundation of the gospel for my children, the efforts put into building that foundation are so simple and really don't take much time. Both Brady and Elise seem to grasp all the gospel concepts quite easily, I am truly amazed. I see how important it has become to receive frequent priesthood blessings and I'm thankful to have a worthy priesthood holder as my husband to give one to me at any time--usually late at night. I've discovered that, with any calling, you will be blessed far more than you can imagine. To see the blessings and understand them you have to have faith and courage to recognize them and then you'll see that the blessings are all around you and so very obvious.
I'm ready to, again, take on another calling, should there be one in mind for me now, but I also have some personal goals that have been on hold since Brady's diagnosis and then receiving this calling shortly after. I feel I have time to focus on those goals now. Nate and I received a confirmation of the Spirit, last November, that our family is not quite complete. I remember sharing the answer to our prayers with my dad, at Thanksgiving time. He seemed to get a little emotional and expressed a feeling, he has, that there is still another child waiting to join our family. He wasn't sure which one of his children this child was to come to but was happy that one of us received a confirmation of it. He even shared the gender he felt this child is but we'll wait and see! As we find ourselves getting more comfortable with our current family routine, we realize it will be harder and harder the more we wait so we will be working on another addition to our family soon. Our procrastination has been selfish but if it happens, we know it's meant to be. We're ready for whatever our Father in Heaven has in store for our family.

July 4th--We had a "blast" celebrating Independance Day with our neighbors and friends. After last years 4th of July party turned out to be so successful, we decided to make it an annual thing. We brought out the grills to cook up all sorts of meats and everyone brought either a side-dish or dessert to share with the rest. It was hot outside but also overcast so it made being outside bearable. The kids had a fun time using our slip-n-slide and a kiddie pool. I think our grass won't need watering for a few days! The kids also spent time playing some games to earn prizes. Thanks to the courtesy of my dad, who ships way too many Happy Meal toys our way. The adults had a great time chatting and munching on all the yummy food everyone brought. We had games planned but decided to just chat. Once it got dark everyone brought out their boxes of fireworks. Nate, and some of the other men, had fun lighting up all the fountains. We all agreed the best fountain was one called "Zombies".

June 28th-30th--Our family drove up to Wolf Creek, in Ogden Canyon, for the annual week at the family time-share condo. Nate's family has been going up to this condo for many years. It's where they are able to spend time together and enjoy some swimming and hot-tubbing. Nate, his brothers, and his dad enjoy some male-bonding time playing some hard-core racquetball (back in the day, when I thought I was pretty good, they all put me to shame!). This is the same condo Nate took me to meet his entire family for the first time. I remember how overwhelming it seemed to spend a few days with his family and try to get to know them when most of them were so shy and not really willing to open up to me. But I also remember some sweet moments with Nate, just being able to talk and be together.
This year, Elise and Brady found the courage to swim around on their own--with floaties, of course--and didn't seem to need an adult around. I loved watching them kick their legs and stroke their arms as they explored the large pool. Elise was slowly figuring out how to swim without floaties. If we had been there longer she might have learned to swim without them.
We had a great time visiting with family that was able to come. I truly enjoyed myself and I know Nate and the kids did too. Saturday night my brother-in-law, Dustin, and his wife, Crystal, whipped up some delicious shakes. They made Nate and I a Snickers shake. There seemed to be a little residue left of the strawberry shake they had made prior to ours and it made the Snickers shake even better! It actually tasted like banana. So there's a shake to try---Snickers and fresh banana shake, so tasty! Sunday was spent hanging around the condo and plenty of swimming. I took advantage of the excercise room and worked out for about 20 minutes. That night, my father-in-law, Dan, made it to the condo after a long day of bishopric meetings. Nate and I made him a yummy birthday dinner of hamburgers and homemade potato salad. My sister-in-law, Jenny, and my mother-in-law, Rosemary, brought some delicious fruit and we served that as well. After dinner we brought out the Marie Callendar's pies (fresh strawberry, chocolate silk, & lemon cream cheese) to sing to Dan. We gave him a card with a promise to take him to the Desert Star Theater when we go see "Indiana Bones" in a week or so. He loved that idea since he wasn't able to go with Rosemary a few weeks ago.
Aside from Brady and I getting a little sunburnt, we all had so much fun. Everyone got along really well. Brady and Elise LOVED playing with their cousins, Kayla and Quinn. Their other cousin, Cameron, seemed to sleep a lot and then interact at night (he's 14). Nate was thrilled to be able to play racquetball with his brothers, Kip and Dustin, and his dad.
On Monday morning, June 30th, we had to head back home. I had to work in the afternoon so we weren't able to stay any longer. We wish we had been able to. While on our drive back home, we had to stop in Ogden. Brady needed to vomit. We made it to a gas station just in time. He face was ghost-white! As soon as he was able to vomit he was just fine. We're not sure why he got sick but all was well the rest of the day.
Thanks to all of you that came and made the weekend so much fun! We'll look forward to going back the next time!