I'm publishing this before proof reading it (!!!!) because it's really late. If I don't get to bed right when Richard does, he's already asleep before I get there, so I'd better go get ready for bed or I won't get e'en one sentence of pillow-talk. :)

Hello.

I don't know if I should write a blog or a quick e-mail... I need to get to bed, but wanted to jot something about how we're doing. I'm feeling GREAT! Last week and this week have been going really well. We're very blessed and happy. Prayer has been key in my feeling an increase of joy in life. It is so wonderful to experience the involvement of a loving Heavenly Father in my life. I have seen many blessings and miracles. Also, I'm taking time each day to write a quick entry in my journal about worthwhile things such as events of the day and Heavenly Father's hand in those experiences. I am so grateful for prayer; that we can invite the Spirit to be more involved in our lives. I am so happy to see with such clarity the blessings that come forth from putting first things first, specifically including a meaningful morning prayer in my routine. If you're not already kneeling in prayer at the opening of each day for a personal prayer, I encourage you to do so! It really makes a difference!

I'm also making progress with physical goals. Well, last week I didn't exercise as much (we were house-sitting and it was easier to not do it)... but I'm doing better than earlier in the pregnancy when I was just Miss Lazy-Pants. With the weather so nice, sometimes Isabelle and I walk Richard to school, which, round-trip is like a 30 minute walk. We see cows, horses, alpacas, dogs, birds on the way, which is fun for Isabelle. She pretty much said "alpaca" today.

My other goal was to decrease my treat and sweet intake. It feels so good to overcome temptation and feel in control. YES! I can have a treat on Friday, Saturday OR Sunday, and on Monday if it's in conjunction with Family Home Evening (and special occasions). Earlier today I was tempted to have some candy, but I moved it to be more out of sight and redirected myself (I guess). Then tonight I had some ice cream for FHE. I took a somewhat smaller serving than I would have before my goal, but I don't feel bad about eating a little. If it was too stringent a goal, I think I would just get discouraged and give up all together. Before my goal for a time I would sometimes eat candy or treats during and eat a bowl of ice cream pretty much every night. Yikes! So I've definitely improved.

I'm taking an Institute class on Friday evenings with a new-member friend. It's been really RENEWING to have time away from being a mom and homemaker for just an hour and a half. Richard is THE BEST for taking over putting Isabelle to bed that night. I get done at 7 so that still leaves time to hang out with Richard. (Isabelle goes to bed between 7 and 8.) And now Richard is going to start going to Institute Tues and Thurs during lunch and I'm going to come on Tues. It's during Belle's nap so a friend and I are going to swap babysitting for an hour and a half each week so I can go. I'm SUPER excited. The teacher of that class is our former bishop, now stake president, and I really like him a TON. He's amazing to the max. The class is Celestial Marriage, which Rich and I have pretty much taken twice already (once before marriage, once after), but he's such a good teacher and gospel principles are eternal regardless of how many times you hear them or what stage you're at in life, so it'll be good.

Richard is sitting here next to me studying for his Wed. test. I'm tired and should go to bed (should have an hour ago), but I feel bad getting to go to sleep when he doesn't get to, so I try and be productive while he works....

Oh, and it's going better with my calling too. Another testimony of the power of prayer! Honestly. I was having a really challenging time and it's so neat the things I have learned from the experience. I never doubted that my calling came from the Lord. I always knew it's what I needed, possibly because it was so challenging. I have grown and learned so much and even I enjoy it. (I'm a Valiant 10 Primary teacher.) It really makes a difference when I seek the Lord's help and guidance with preparing, teaching, classroom management, increasing love, increasing the Spirit in the lessons.

This past week I tried really hard to start early preparing the lesson, like we're counseled to do. I started preparing on Monday. Since we were house-sitting, it was hard to work on my lesson a lot throughout the week. Saturday night rolled around and I wasn't completely ready. In addition, the lesson itself was a really hard one to teach. (It was of 3 Nephi 17, my favorite part of the entire Book of Mormon where the Savior blesses and heals the Nephites and blesses the little children.) I was trying hard to create a good lesson, but didn't really have any activities to supplement the scripture account. I prayed for guidance. Throughout the week, I'd started to read the Teaching, No Greater Call manual. That night (Sat.) I unknowingly opened up to a lesson in that manuel that uses 3 Nephi 17! (The lesson is for adults, teaching about loving your students like Christ loved the Nephites.) It was so neat to have more help suddenly for the lesson. I used some of the ideas there.

My prayers turned to be a pleading to have the Spirit be the teacher and that each of us in the class could have a personal spiritual experience.The result was wonderful. In class, I learned I didn't need activities for this lesson. Pure and simple scriptures and discussion were all we needed. And the children seemed to get good things out of the lesson.

One blessing that made a big difference for me this Sunday was that I felt my love had increased for my students. (Another thing I've been praying about.) From some of the guidance put forth in the Teaching, No Greater Call manual, I've adjusted my teaching/attitude and could feel the Spirit more abundantly during class. Toward the students, I was more encouraging, loving, patient, and kind which in turn helped them feel the Spirit more. They responded by being more attentive and reverent. And when they lacked attention or reverence, I didn't feel frustrated. In retrospect, it was like I was given a boost of energy because I wasn't wasting my energy on feeling upset or impatient. It was really neat. SO: Prayer works. I believe the fact that I even starting to study the Teaching, No Greater Call manual was prompted by the Spirit. It's been very helpful.

How neat it is to know that the design and purpose of our existence is to experience real joy. To know that the commandments and guidance our Heavenly Father gives us is to guide us to that very end (and to give us a joyful journey on the way). I believe that's why I feel so happy lately. There is so much power in the little day to day things we do like prayer and scripture study. (I think that's why Satan works so hard to keep us from them.)

We love you!

Another neat thing, I was able to serve other people three different times today and they were each connected with prayer. When we ask, he truly does answer.

Good night.

Trip to Idaho 7/2008

Richard, Amy and Isabelle took the long trek from Kansas to Idaho in July this year. We stayed in Idaho and Utah, visiting family and friends. Our first stop was the Webbs (Debbie is Amy's sister, her husband Brady, and Hannah, Eli and newborn Jonas.) We were also happy to be there for the Jonas' baby blessing on Sunday.


Isabelle, Mallory (not related, but Isabelle's cousins' cousin) and Eli swinging in the Webb's backyard the day of the blessing. Some family came over for some cake after church.




The pool is discovered.

I love the look on her face! She finally realized she wasn't a huge fan of being wet while wearing clothes.

A nice dry outfit, ready to get dirty!! (At least dirt washes out more easily than food!) Isabelle "digs" playing in the dirt and Mom gets a kick out of watching her in discovery mode.

Adjacent Isabelle's dirt party, Richard, bro-in-law Jason and his kids do their preferred Sunday activities.

Another day we go to the Idaho Falls Temple and feed the ducks.

Aunt Amy doing Hannah's nails. :)

Out to eat to a pasta place. YUM YUM YUM! Aren't they cute holding hands?

Cousins: BFF

More to come!

Photos at KSU Gardens July 1, 2008

A family that we are friends with (the Hageys) recently found out they're moving to Las Vegas in a short time! We got together a bunch of us to take some group pictures before they had to... desert us. While we were at it, our friend photographer took some individual family and other shots. We really appreciated her taking pictures for us. (Thanks Melissa! Maybe this can be some good advertising for you. :-)

Our little family.

Look closely and you can see my little baby-belly bump.

Heartwarming, I know.

I don't know why, but Isabelle was really uncomfortable with getting too close to the water fountain.

It would have been a cute picture with Isabelle in there with the other kids...

but the little darling "hung out" with Dad instead.

Amigos queridos

Purple: Jill, Mike, Dixon, Will Gamble; White: Thomas, Dave, Lisa, Lily Thorne; Orange: Henry, Derick, Morgan, Spencer Hagey; Blue: Richard, Isabelle, Amy Brooksby; Red: Jeremy, Evherettt, Amelia, Florence Boyle

Lisa, Jill, Morgan, Amelia, Amy

Isabelle Haven photo shoot...

Want a taste?

Suit yourself, more for me then.

Isabelle's "funny face." She makes it on cue if you ask her to make her funny face.

She gets a kick out of it. Daddy teaches her lots of funny tricks.

Isabelle really loves flowers.

A-choo!

One of my favorite pictures.

Wildcat in training.

(KSU Mascot, for those of you who didn't know.)

Mmm, look at that handsome smiling profile.

A couple of cheesey random solo pics of me.

We'll bid you hasta luego with Richard's favorite picture.

Independence Day Delights

(Body written by Amy, Pictures and captions done by Richard.)
With the Fourth of July having come and gone, we hope you all enjoyed it; complete with friends, family, fun, FOOD, but most of all, that you took time to think upon the many people who have sacrificed and who are sacrificing so much to maintain our beautiful and free country. Amy says she is so grateful to live in this wonderful and blessed nation.

Our day began with a combined ward flag raising ceremony and breakfast held at our church building. Amy had been asked to sing the National Anthem at this event. She felt honored, but knew she needed Heavenly Father's help if she was to do well. So she practiced a lot and prayed a lot. "I wasn't nervous until night before. In retrospect, I realized that might have been the most nervous I've ever been for a solo." She was glad that she could get it over with in the morning and enjoy the rest of the holiday without worrying.

Isabelle with some friends at the breakfast.

Isabelle being silly and cute at home.

We enjoyed relaxing and watching Independence Day. Amy cried a laughable amount. Bless her little pregnancy-hormone-laden heart. Later, we went to a barbecue hosted by a family in our ward; the whole ward was invited. It was a beautiful day. We were surprised it wasn’t miserably hot like last week. Isabelle enjoy playing with other kids. She didn’t want to go in the “bounce house,” but she did swing, teeter-totter, use a tricycle, enjoy the dogs, play in the sand, eat the sand,....

Isabelle on the teeter-totter with a new friend. She wasn't heavy enough to push her side down, so Daddy had to help her.

Isabelle sporting a patriotic hat. It got glitter all over her.

Though the hosting family is known widely for their fireworks show, we left before they got started. Isabelle was already up way past her bedtime, plus we’d forgotten ear plugs (especially for Belle). Plus, well, frankly, Amy just really isn’t a fan of loud (or even really of fireworks-- I know, what a party-pooper.) So, we watched some from our parking lot when we got home. Tons of people do them here in Kansas because few fireworks are illegal.

On the drive home, Isabelle started singing and directing herself. It was so cute.

Isabelle driving us home from the BBQ.

That’s our day in a nutshell. Mostly it was just fun to spend time as a family. Isabelle and Mom got Daddy for the whole day!!