Relief Society Luau

About 2 weeks ago, on June 17th, we had a Relief Society Luau. It was very fun and we had such a great turnout!! I was very pleased with how well it turned out. I always get nervous when my committee and I are trying to plan these things and pull them off............but I have such a great committee that it always turns out so well!

Above, was our food table.

To the right was our drink table.

This was our entertainment. Our R.S. President, Tina, has connections to New Zealand because her parents live there. These were some family friends who apparently now live up in Bountiful and came down to perform for us. They were really fun and taught us some new music and dance moves!

Chayton's Soccer Game

A few weeks ago I took pictures of Tylor's soccer game...............now it's Chayton's turn! This was his last soccer game of the season, which was about 2 or 3 weeks ago now. He's such a great little soccer player! We're very proud of him!

Here is Chayton with a couple of his teammates.

Here is Chayton in action on the field.............and his Dad, Jeremy, is the coach. You can see him to the left of the picture.

Chayton going for the ball, and trying to keep the other team from scoring a goal.

Here's another action shot of Chayton! He's the sweeter, more loveable of the 2 older boys, Tylor and Chayton. But he's also the most agressive on the soccer field and really puts everything into it. He really is a good soccer player. It'll be fun to see him improve even more the older her gets.

New Bed Mattress

OK..............So Matt and I have needed a new mattress for our bed ever since we got married over 5 years ago. The mattress we had was the same one that he had as a kid growing up and was just worn out and not the most comfortable anymore. We keep putting it off, waiting until the right time to finally spend the money to get a new one.

FINALLY! We got a new mattress on Memorial Day. RC Willey was having their big Memorial Day sales and we finally were able to pay cash and get a new mattress and box springs! To make a long story short, we had a water bed frame that Matt's oldest sister, Julie, had given us a couple of years ago. The water bed mattress was punctured somehow in the move to our house so we ended up putting Matt's queen size mattress in the frame, which left some space on either side to bump my legs every time I got in or out of bed. Now we finally have a California King, which fits perfectly in the frame but we had to buy a new sheet/comforter set to fit the mattress as well. I still need to get a skirt to go around the end, too, to hide the mattress.

We are very much enjoying our new bed..................it's VERY comfortable!! The only problem we have now is...................we can't get out of bed in the morning anymore!! :)

A Plea for Prayers

Since Matt and I have so many wonderful friends and family, I thought I would appeal to everyone for some additional prayers for a family in our ward who really needs them right now.............

To make a long story short, Clint & Rachel Emery have been married for a few years and have been trying to get pregnant for quite some time. With the help of a very common infertility drug (yes, one that I have tried myself before) they were finally able to get pregnant..............with TRIPLETS!! Rachel started having some complications from the very beginning and was put on bedrest right away for several months. Our Ward has really been so great about rallying around them and trying to help out in the best ways possible, such as bringing in meals to them, etc. After a couple of months of bedrest at home, Rachel was then put in the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy. Unfortunately, they were not able to keep her from delivering the babies way too early...........................

Rachel delivered Logan, Conner, and Brayden into the world at the end of May and the 3 little boys have been struggling just to stay alive since they are so weak and not fully developed enough yet. 2 of the boys weighed in at 1 pound and some ounces, and the other little boy weighed in at 2 pounds and some ounces. The 2 smaller of the boys have had some complications of their own and it's been somewhat of a fight to keep them alive. The larger one seemed to be doing well and was the stronger of the 3.

Unfortunately, little Logan Emery's kidneys ruptured and he died on Monday. He was the 2 pound baby that had been doing so well.

As you can imagine, Clint and Rachel have been having a tough few months and are struggling to keep their brand new little family alive and growing. Losing one of the babies is a really tough blow to them and they are in great need of all the prayers and love they can get. My plea to you is to please include the Emery Family in your thoughts and in your prayers throughout the comings weeks, months, as they struggle to keep the other 2 babies alive and growing.

The Emery's are having a graveside service tomorrow, Friday, at 11:00 a.m. for little Logan Emery and anyone in the Ward is invited to attend. We are also having a Ward Fast on Sunday as well, for all those who would like to participate.

Again, please keep this family in your prayers!!

Salt Lake Temple

Above is a picture of Matt and I that was taken on the steps of the Salt Lake Temple.

While we were at the Temple, I took some pictures to show how beautiful the grounds are right now..........................for those who don't live close enough to see it in person.

Introducing.........Mike & Heather Stringham!

So I have this SUPER cute friend that I work with everyday at PMG. Heather started working at PMG...........I guess it was probably about 2 1/2 years ago and when they hired her, they put her on my team. I helped to train her and she and I have just become the greatest of friends through the years since we've met. I consider her to be one of my very closest of friends these days. Like I said, she is SUPER cute!! She's the kind of person that makes people feel comfortable to be around her and she's always so happy and bubbly..........very friendly and outgoing!

As we've gotten to know each other better and better, our friendship has truly evolved into something that is rare and precious, the kind of friendship you don't find in just anyone and I really appreciate her being a part of my life. We both have agreed that it's no accident that we met when we did!! I've been able to be there with her as she was trying to do the whole 'dating scene'.........and cried with her when she's had her heart broken. I was able to go through the Temple with her when she took out her endowments almost a year ago. She's also really been there for me on more than one occasion when I've had my own trying times and needed someone to listen/talk to. We've had some really great laughs, too!! Heather and I tend to help uplift each other and raise each other's spirits whenever one or the other needs it. Work would definitely be a lot harder if she wasn't there with me everyday!! :) We tend to help pull each other along and keep each other going somedays..................

About a year ago, Heather started dating Mike. They had actually dated for a very short time in the past as well, but it just didn't go anywhere at the time and they had just remained friends. I, personally, don't think that either was quite ready yet. However, on the 2nd try...................it worked out and they were married this past Tuesday, June 10, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Through mine and Heather's friendship, the 2 of us couples have become good friends and enjoy hanging out and playing softball together on Tuesday nights. Matt and I had the pleasure of being able to go to their wedding dinner the night before, on Monday.................and then went to the sealing Tuesday morning. The sealing was beautiful and I'm so glad that Heather is now married to such a wonderful guy and is so happy!! Tuesday night was their reception, which we also went to. Then on Wednesday they boarded a plane and headed to Maui for a week!!

Here are some great pictures of her dress, which was absolutely gorgeous!! I don't think I've seen a dress like hers before. She was a very beautiful bride.............but if you know Heather, you know that she wouldn't be anything else!


CONGRATULATIONS MIKE & HEATHER!! We love you guys!!

Quote

This is another quote that I just ran across yesterday that I really liked a lot.

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.

--Martha Washington--

Baca Family

Here's a cute picture of the Baca Family!

For those of you who are from back home in South Carolina and know my family, you'll appreciate these pictures!! I thought I would take some pictures of the Baca Family and post them on here so that you can all see how much Pauline's family has grown over the years!!

Pauline is my sister and has been married to Jeremy for almost 10 years now. Over the years, they've moved a few times and have finally ended up in Utah. Matt and I are very excited to have them close by to watch the boys grow up and to be able to be close to them all!

Their oldest child is Tylor, who is 8 years old.

Chayton is their next child, and he is 6 years old. He is obviously the one on the right, in the green shirt, in this picture.

Jorden is 2 years old and I call him my little 'monkey'. Sometimes he gets mad at me and tells me very adamantly that he's not a monkey, he's a Jorden!! Notice that he' s strapped into his stroller...........if we don't strap him in he's off and running the next county before you even realize it!!

I missed out on seeing the older 2 boys when they were born so I've really enjoyed being there when the younger 2 kids were born!!

And this is little Kayla, who is now just over 5 months old. Isn't she beautiful!? Pauline was so excited to finally get a little girl!! She DEFINITELY needed some more estrogen in that house!!

Soccer Boys

Just about every Saturday the Baca Boys are out playing soccer for the City of West Jordan,
which is where we all live. Matt and I try really hard to make it to all of their games to support them. Sometimes we don't always make it, but we do what we can!
Here are some pictures that I took at Tylor's game on Saturday. Tylor's team is wearing the blue uniforms this year. These boys love playing soccer! These 1st 4 pictures are of Tylor in action with his team this last Saturday.








Here are some pictures of cute Chayton kicking the ball around with one of his little friends who also plays on another team. Chayton's team color is green this year. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make to Chayton's game that afternoon...........next time, though! And I'll be sure to take pictures of him in action with his team, too! Chayton is the sweeter, more tender-hearted of the 2 older boys, but he's the most aggressive and really plays hard when he's playing soccer! He tends to make most of his team's goals!!













(A large reason I took these pictures is for my Mom and Dad, who are in South Carolina. Unfornately, they don't get to see these boys often enough so these pictures will be able to help them see how much they are growing up! If you want to see the pictures even better, just try clicking on each picture and it should blow it up to a larger size so you can really see them well. Enjoy them Mom & Dad!! We love you and miss you tons!)