The Underrated Duty

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy, we sow anonymous benefits upon the world. -Robert Louis Stevenson

Perhaps you think you'll be happy when you get a bigger kitchen, or a new job, or the perfect someone with whom to share your life, or for me, maybe when I get my basement finished. "Happiness is not a posession to be prized," "It is a quality of thought, a state of mind." Happiness is a living emotion.

As I thought about these simple statements last night when I had a few quite moments, I recalled the simple happiness I felt today and these are a few.

1. I felt happy with the loads of soft, floral smelling towels nicely folded on my kitchen table anlong with loads of children's laundry washed and folded with love, just waiting to be put away.

2. Looking out my back window and seeing Graci, laying on the hammock, basking in the sun so content like.

3. Riley, so excited, coming home from a day of High School, and saying, Guess what? I got Royalty for the Junior Prom! How exciting is that! Happiness is knowing that your children are having a great time in H.S. yet making good choices and having great friends and doing the things that will make great People.

4. Hattie came home with a piece of paper and was so excited to show me and handed it to me and it was a A+ in Language Arts. Happiness is knowing that you have instilled in your children that hard work does pay off and always strive to do their best.

5. Watching two games at one time. Layton playing baseball on one and Hannah playing softball on the other while parked in between the fields so I could also watch Graci playing at the park. Seeing Layton up to bat with such confidence that he could do anything that he set his mind to do and watching him with such a smooth stroke of the bat and seeing that ball fly over the fence and into a trailor park! HOMERUN!! Seeing Layton be so Happy can only make his Mom so happy. He is truly the hardest worker I know next to his Father and having him overcome such obstacles in his life that has brought him to this point is truely a blessing.

6. Hannah coming home from school with a four on her spelling test and knowing within herself that she did a great job! Also, she was so excited after softball that she was going to be either Pitcher or First Baseman.

7. Graci, running over to the car and was so happy that she had made a new friend. Also watching her stand up to some bigger kids because they had a toy that she had taken to the park. Watching my children have the confidence to reach out beyond themselves to make a new friend or to stand up for right truely makes me happy!

8. Watching them all on the trampoline after school with Riley's friend Dani having a great time together jumping and talking brings happiness.

It is definately the simple things in life that bring me such happiness! My Family is the biggest part of that Simple Abundance.

It is time to update my blog again! So much is happening, I don't even know where to begin.
General Young Women's Broadcast! What an exciting time in my life. I have looked forward to this night for a long time. I was able to go with Hattie to the Broadcast for the first time and it was so fun. The broadcast is amazing, so many great speakers who are inspired and who are just what the girls need in this time of their lives. Afterward, Hattie and I ran to Rock Springs to first go to Los Cabos to each Mexican Food, which we both love and also to get more fabric for my second curtain. What a great night. One that I will cherish. Thank you Hattie. Later in that week, I received a phone call from the Stake Girls Camp Director and she asked if I would be a cook this year for Girls Camp. Heck Yes!!! Good Times to be had at camp this year. Watch out Hattie for the SNIPES!!!


Track, Softball, and Baseball are all in full swing now. Layton is throwing the shot put and discus this year for the first time and is doing great. We were able to go watch a track meet today in Rock Springs. Brings back lots of memories. Running the 100m, 200m relay. Good times!! Layton will be awesome if he keeps up with it his high school years. He is also playing baseball. He was not going to do both but his coach from last year found Torrey and I in the grocery store and asked why his first baseman did not come out this year and we explained that he was going to try Track out this year and was not sure that he would be able to do both but his coach said that he would work with him, just get him out to the baseball fields, we need him so Layton was excited because he does love Baseball. Hattie and Hannah are both playing softball this year and loving it. Torrey and I are Assistant Coaches. I know the girls love to have us there.


Riley is going to the Junior Prom! Riley and his Seminary teacher were in on it together. Riley has Seminary 5th period and Dani has it 6th so Riley stayed in the bathroom after his class had left and his teacher than introduced him as a special musical number. He came out and played Dani a song on the piano and then put the words to ask her to go with him into the song. She loved it and I guess she was crying near the end of it. Way to go Riley!!! Making the girls cry. He is just like his father in many ways. I will have to post it as a song on my play list. I think it is called "Beautiful". Last night she came and kidnapped him and threw a blanket over his head and took him to a swing by the river where she had a blanket with champagne glasses and sparkling cider and a poster that said she would go with him to the Prom. Good Times that will always be remembered!!! Riley also has his board of Review tonight to become a Life Scout. He has six months to get his Eagle project done. Way to go Riley! Layton is already a Life Scout and has a few more Merit Badges than Riley so we are going to have two Eagle Scouts very quickly. I am crossing my fingers. Nice Job Boys!!!


My Baby turned 5!! It was just yesterday that Graci was born. She is such a sweet little girl. One that is so excited to go to school and mostly to ride the big yellow school bus. She is very ready to go and is even reading some of the Dick and Jane books. She is a wiz at Math and plays Phase Ten like a champion. She amazes me. I know that we will struggle with trying to wake her up to get ready in the morning. She is a sleeper and needs a good 10 hrs to keep her happy. It is a good thing that we started her on a schedule this year as she has to wake up and get ready for her daycare a couple days of the week. That has and will be our only struggle I hope.
Life is good. The kids are accomplishing great things and all staying very close to the gospel. Torrey and I have definately been blessed and we thank our Heavenly Father every day!!!