A Special Day For Colton

Today Colton received the Aaronic Priesthood. I am so grateful to have a husband worthy to give him the Priesthood and a son worthy to receive it.

Colton Is Twelve

Today is Coltons 12th birthday. This afternoon it really sunk in that my first born baby boy is not longer a little boy. Time goes by so fast -much faster than I want it to. I remember the day that he was born I promised myself that I was going to be a perfect mother. :) Boy was that a quick promise broken!!!! I just remember thinking I wanted nothing but the very best for him and I wanted to do everything I could to make that happen. Life lessons certainly have taught me that no one is perfect and life isn't perfect......... but I love him just as much today as I did the minute they put him in my arms. When he was born I felt such an overwhelming love, unlike any love that I had ever felt before. For the first time in my entire life I felt complete. Of course I felt exactly the same way with Kaden and little Porter but Colton was my very first glimpse of such a perfect love.

I can't express in words how grateful I am for Colton. I love being his mom. I love watching him grow and turn into a young man that I adore. He is sweet, kind and he has the most tender heart.

I heard a quote once that said, "What if the fruit of my motherhood is who I've become by raising them." My children have changed my life, made me a better person, made me want to continually seek goodness and want to become the best I can be. I've made many mistakes in my 12 years of being a mother but I will feel like I have succeeded in my quest if my children leave my home KNOWING that they were loved by their mom.

Colton I love you!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Colton and daddy sleeping soundly in the hospital

(sorry these pictures are so fuzzy - they are attached to the pages in his baby book - so I had to take a picture of the picture) 6 Months Old

One Year Old

Three Years Old And A Big Brother
Mom And Colton
I took this picture today. Colton is officially a Boy Scout and he is so excited! He went to an awards ceremony last night and they gave him this shirt. He loves it!! I love this boy and his silly faces. It is so hard to get him to smile for a picture.
Back of the Beloved T Shirt
Mom and Colton

I don't know what it is about a Chinese Buffet but my kids LOVE THEM!!!!! Colton picked that as his birthday dinner - I gritted my teeth and tried to pretend like there was no place else I'd rather be. (I'm not a fan of the Chinese Buffet)

Guarding the cake from a little brother very anxious to "help" blow out the candles

"Mom please don't make me pretend to blow out the candles...... "
Sometimes I hate digital cameras - we missed the moment.....

Colton opening his gifts - he is loving his life
I just love them!!!

Happy Birthday Colton

WHEW!!!!!

Those of you that have been in contact with Dave and I lately know that this past couple weeks have been a little bit stressful. Dave has completed every phase of his program here except for the official Apache course. Of course that is the most important because that is what he will be flying :) not to mention it has been his dream almost his entire life.

Dave had a very difficult test on Monday which would determine if he would stay here at flight school or go home. They have implemented a new policy and of course Daves class was the first class to go through under the new policy. The policy is.... if you do not pass the entrance test then you have 24 hours to take a different test or you are out of flight school. That would mean for us and most every one else at this point in their training that you had spent 18 months here for nothing. So this meant hours and hours of studying (Ignoring others comments about not studying) and lots of anxiety in preparation.

Anyway..... Monday Dave had his test. It was actually quite a spiritual morning for our little family. I know that there were so many prayers being offered on his behalf and then to hear my little guys one by one tell me that they had said a prayer for their dad was heart melting.

Dave passed his test. Not only did his pass his test he scored 100% on both sections. Twenty people took the test and eight failed and have to retake it this morning. It was a difficult test. We are hoping for the best for the ones that are having to retake it - some of these guys are friends of Daves and he is heart sick for them.

We took the opportunity to talk to our boys about the power of prayer but also talked to them about the importance of preparing yourself and doing the work. They witnessed the hours and hours of studying that went into the preparation for this test. All in all it was a great learning experience for our family - But BOY AM I GLAD IT IS OVER!!!! :)

Poor Puppy

I had to take a picture of this because it is so funny. Every time the boys go to school, or go outside for any amount of time this is what Indy does. He loves Colton and Kaden and they love him right back!

He's Got Some Moves

I think we may have a future rock star on our hands!!!!

Idaho / Utah

I wanted to take a second and write about my trip to Utah and Idaho. This is my journal so you will have to bare with me as I document every little bit of my trip. Sorry in advance.

I flew into Boise on Saturday night and was greeted by my dad, mom, sister Angie and her little Lyla. It was sooooooo good to see them. You forget how much you miss people until you see their faces and feel how much you love them. Lyla is 14 months old and this was the first time I'd seen her in person. She is absolutely adorable! She has such a silly but sweet personality that was so much fun to watch. I could sit and kiss those cheeks all day! Angie and I only had two days together so we were never in bed before 2 or 3 AM. We laughed and talked and had so much fun together. I've missed her so much and love that she is my sister. Angie is such an amazing girl and I look forward to moving home and having many more late night talks and fun times together. I love you Ang!!!!

My mom and dad worked really hard to make sure that this was a fun trip for me. I walked straight into our house and things were just as I remember them. My mom had all of my favorite treats waiting there just for me and she kept them coming. She really worked hard to make sure that I was comfortable and had a good time.

Thursday I headed to my little piece of heaven in Morgan. Sherry worked her bum off to try and pull off a surprise lunch for me and some of our closest friends. She did a pretty good job only 3 of them figured it out. This is actually a bit of a miracle because Sherry is pretty much the worst liar I have ever known.

When I pulled into the driveway at Sherry's house out came little Lindsay. She jumped right up into my arms and I could not get enough of her. She really does not know me because when I left Morgan she was just a baby. It was so much fun to watch her run around. I think we are friends forever.

I loved seeing little Matthew who is not so little and Katelyn, Kimmi, and Maddi were adorable. I never felt so loved. They were all hugs and smiles. I could not get enough of these kids. I told Maddi to stop growing until I came home and she said, "Ok - I'll just drink a little bit of water." Soooo I gave her permission to eat a little food as well. :)

I truly love this girl!!!!! I could not live my life without her!!!!

(Back) Melanie, Sherry, Janice, Lisa, Em, Aunt Connie, Jen, (Front) Allie, Zoey and baby Kate

We are missing..... Jackie and Jodi :(

I really think that I've been blessed with pretty much the greatest friends in the entire world!!!! I really, really mean that. We went out to lunch together and I looked around that table and felt overwhelmingly blessed. These girls have made me a better person and I love them. Seeing them was so wonderful but I left them missing them more than I ever have. Friends like mine are so rare and I am so lucky to have them.

(Side note - YES I look pregnant in this picture - ignore that - Lets blame it on lunch - not my most flattering picture but oh well) :)

(Grandma and Grandpa Porter)

My favorite quote about Grandparents is ..... "Grandparents always make you feel as if they havebeen waiting for just you all day and when you arrive their day is complete." I love it because that is EXACTLY how I feel with my Grandpa and Grandma. I could not help but cry when I walked up to their door. I've missed them and everything about them and their home. I love being with them and feeling the peaceful feeling that they carry and that they have in their home. I'm a lucky girl to have been sent to their family.

(Grandma and Grandpa Powell)

Angie and I had so much fun reminiscing about the times that we would play at Grandma and Grandpa Powells farm. Chasing bunnies, making forts, playing dress up, driving the old truck out in the field and so many other fun things. My Grandparents have aged considerably in the past year and a half and that was difficult for me.

And then there are these two. I failed big time in not getting a picture of us together but I had to write about the babies in the family. We were able to spend a day in Provo and see where both Jess and Jenn live. It was so much fun but really very sad for me. I'm a lot older than these two and so I feel kind of motherly towards them. I don't like them being out in the big world and having me so far away. They really are doing so good and I am so proud of them. I love that they both show how much they love me - they really are so good to me. I love you both!!!!

Soooo..... all in all I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing more important that having good friends and family. I have relationships with all of these people that will last throughout this life and into the next - I'm sure of that. I am a better person because I have been blessed to know and love so many amazing people.