Best Friends

Laura Lorenzen is Carly's best little girlfriend. They have so much fun together. They play dress-up, shopping and just plain 'ol love to be together. Needless to say, Carly just loves it when Laura comes over to play.



Well, Laura came over the other day and things got pretty quiet while they were playing in Carly's room and so I went to check on them and here's what I found:

Painting eachother's nails! Is that the most adorable thing EVER!!!

What Is A Peacemaker?

Okay. So I gave the lesson on being a peacemaker in Relief Society yesterday and I'm still confused....

I know what a peacemaker is: someone who helps others be happy instead of angry (blah blah blah). That goes without saying, but what if something needs to be said or something needs to be made right and others don't like it? I mean take the Prop 8 situation, for instance. That certainly didn't create peace in our community or our country for that matter. In fact, it created quite the opposite. Allbeit, we weren't the one's screaming obsenities at passersby, but we were the one's who stood up and said, "Absolutely not." and that did not create peace.

So it goes in our daily lives... or at least mine. I'm not a mean or rude person. At least, I don't think so. I know there are those who would beg to differ, but honestly, my heart is in the right place. I have come to terms with my "honesty" and rather like it. And this is where the confusion lies: Is a person considered not a peacemaker because one is honest and forthright? Being forthright and honest can sometimes cause contention. Also, sometimes we must stand up for what's right and not back down. And that almost always causes contention. How can we go through this life -- this life where we have to fight (literally fight) for truth and righteousness -- without causing a degree of contention?

And how about in our marriages? I mean seriously. Sometimes, it's a fight that creates peace. I mean, honestly a fight can bring out truth and the truth creates understanding which in turn creates peace. But that fight had to happen before there was understanding and peace.

So, this is why my lesson was so hard for me yesterday. I am not a peacemaker. I have peace. But I'm not a peacemaker. Sometimes I am. But not always. And sometimes I feel (and am even prompted) to speak up -- to say the thing that is sometimes the hardest to say -- the truth. And here's a truth I must say now .... I hated that lesson!

Face to Face Tour

Last weekend Mike and I went to the Billy Joel/Elton John Concert. I can't even begin to tell you how fabulous it was! We're standing at our seats (because it was so hard for me to sit down -- I was so excited!) and I turn to Mike and say, "I think I'm going to cry." These guys are some of my most favorite rock stars ever! And if you ask me they are two of the last true rock stars left. They sounded amazing and can still bring down the house.

The link below is the dynamic duo singing Piano Man together. This wasn't the concert we saw. This was in Tampa, FL, but it's almost exactly the same and will give you a good idea of what we saw. The stage set up is all the same and Elton is even wearing the same costume. However, I think our concert was better. Billy heard the crowd singing during the first chorus and stopped playing and let us sing. It was so cool! Anyway, here's to Billy and Sir Elton! Love You!!! WooHooo!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1pbvoD214Y

Big Bear

On our way to go-carting, alpine sliding & tubing.

Hanging out on the porch swing.

Ski School for Rob.

Ski school was a little harder than he expected. He thought he'd be doing jumps and flying through the air by now. Instead he kept falling down. Needless to say, he wasn't too happy with skiing. Can you tell?

Hangin' out at the cabin.

It was so much fun!! I love cold weather. I really do. That is the ONLY thing I miss about Utah. In fact, it cracks me up what Californians think is cold weather. The first day we were in Big Bear it was 65 degrees. The second day it was a little cooler due to the storm coming in and the third day was spectacular! It snowed and was blizzardy. We spent the morning in the cabin with the fire blazing. I loved it!

Our Trip to Monterey

I Love California!

Dennis The Menace Park

Pebble Beach

I have more pics but these were some of my favorites. You can tell from the kids how great the weekend was. It was absolutely fantastic and very much needed. More than anything, though, I fell in love with California all over again. We had so much fun!!!

Back To Reality

So I did it. I had my facial and massage yesterday and let me tell you it was absolutely heaven!!! I felt so alive and so regenerated afterwards I felt like I could conquer the world! I'm not kidding. It was wonderful! Then today I had a great lunch with some fantastic women who make me feel so loved and whom I have such a great time with that it's always a bummer when it ends. I'm so blessed for so many things!

But it's time to get back to reality. My house is a wreck because for the last two days I've done nothing but indulge myself. But honestly, I don't feel bad at all about that.

A Great Weekend

In spite of Mike being gone all weekend, I had a great weekend. Friday night I invited a couple of girlfriends out for date night. After all, why waste a perfectly good baby sitter just because my husband is out of town, right? So we went out had dinner, went to a chick flick, and had dessert afterwards. Good times. Good times.

My girl, Robyn and her husband and, of course, their baby boy, Andrew, came up the next day and spent the day with us. Robyn and I went to a baby shower and then came back and hung out and then we all went to the park. It's just fun being with them. The kids just love them and Robyn and I can laugh into the morning together if we had the chance. Love you guys!!

The kids and I had a great day at church today. The spirit was strong and we saw our friends. Mike came home and we were thrilled to have him back.

And for tomorrow..... a massage and facial for me. hehehehe.....