Stone Sundays

I love Sundays.
It's a day to contemplate, to worship and to renew.
I love that deep, deep feeling of knowing that God is real, that the Savior is real, and that They are aware of me, They know me and my struggles,
and that They love me in spite of all my shortcomings.
I love the chance to escape from the craziness of the world and focus on the things that really matter: my God, my faith, and my family.

I also love the family time.
Time to talk, to pop popcorn and snack while talking, and time to hang
out on Mom's bed while talking.
I love the smiles from my almost grown-up kids here at home.
I love the phone calls I get from my "live-away-from-home" kids.
I love it when Dan comes home from meetings and he tells me
everything that's on his mind.
I love the back rubs he gives me.
I love that Dan always cooks the Sunday dinner.
I love the peace and quiet of Sundays.
As I walked through the house yesterday before dinner,
this is what I caught everyone doing.



Yep, I was doing something very similar before I took their pictures!
I love a good book and a comfy spot!!

In a Nutshell....(part 2)

Continuing on with our last few weeks....

Loren and his Grandma Stone

So, after Danny had to go back to Phoenix to be a doctor (come ON! Couldn't he just stay and play with us forever??) we got down to the business of telling Loren what he should do with his life. Not really, but sort of.
The kids took Loren shopping for clothes, helped him work up a resume for finding a job or two, and trying to sway him on which college he should apply to.
I felt like I was cooking for an army all week.
By Friday, we were gearing up for more guests and Loren's homecoming Sunday talk in church. A friend of Amelia's arrived Friday afternoon and then
Grandma Stone and Aunt Jane came in late that same night.
We also were committed to an NACD yard sale on Saturday - just to complicate things a bit! So, while Grandma & Jane went visiting friends, the kids helped us at the yard sale until noon. After that, the kids went tubing in Zion while us adults recuperated and got ready for Sunday.

Sunday was great.
Loren wore his sulu to church - and he had one for his Dad to wear too!
So many good friends came to wish Loren well and visit with him.
My amazing visiting teachers and some dear friends helped me out by making some salads and treats to be brought over for the visitors on Sunday. I couldn't have fed everyone without them, as I had injured my back and wasn't in very good shape for cooking and baking.
So, they came, they visited, they ate, then they all went home.
Love them all!!
And now there's just the 6 of us left at home. *Sigh!*

In a Nutshell....(part 1)

So much to say - and so much room to say it!! But, in consideration for any of you current or future readers out there - I'll keep it brief.

After returning home from my travels, I buckled down to work, work, work! I cleaned the house from top to bottom, moved furniture, threw loads of stuff away, gave a bunch of stuff to charity, made room for Loren and created a new guest room - all in 2 weeks!! Yep, quite a feat for me, I know.

Amelia & Jon arrived home from their vacation in Costa Rica the day before Loren was due to arrive.

Waitng at the airport....
THEN the BIG DAY!! Loren came home from his mission to Fiji at 11:30 pm on July 29, 2010!! YAY! It was so great to see him. We talked and talked and talked. He shared gifts with us and his amazing spirit and enthusiasm for what he's been doing for the past 2 years.
He's here!!
2 days later, his older brother Danny arrived from Phoenix. And for a wonderful 25 hours, I had EVERY ONE of my children home - under the same roof again - for the first time in almost 4 years!! YIPPEE!!

So, of course, we took family pictures! Here are a few:
Didn't have time to edit any of these, but it is what it is!
I am just so thrilled to have some new family pictures -
and some without the kids making crazy faces!!

My Husband has it ROUGH!

My husband, Dan, has it ROUGH!!
Why? Because he is married to me.
It's true.
So, I write this post in appreciation of him.

We've had a crazy summer. And, with that craziness, we've had some good family time, but also lots of apart time. And very little US time.
So, I get back from a trip to Mississippi and he gets home the next day from a week at Scout camp.
We go on a date. Poor guy, he is completely exhausted from camping all week.
I am exhausted from a 2000 mile road trip.
I am cranky and can't control it.
He is kind and patient.
He loves me anyways.

Next day we go for a morning walk.
It starts out good - not too hot yet - and we hold hands.
But the crankiness rears it's ugly head again.
This time it's because reality has set in again, now that we are home.
We have LOADS of things to do and take care of.
I say some hard things to him.
He tries to understand.
I get frustrated and say more hard things.
He is quiet.

And then he looks at me with that "look".
That "look" that says:
I'm trying to understand.
I love you no matter what.
I'll always love you.
I'll be here forever for you.
And then, even though I don't deserve it,
he braves the porcupine quills that I've put out,
and he hugs me.

I love him SOOOO much.
Thank you Dan.

A Few more Pics from Lake Arrowhead

Takes me a while to get around to checking my camera for extra pictures...
So - here's a few more of our family reunion at Lake Arrowhead.
We took a little "hike" (more of a "walk") down by the Lake.

The Fam

Mary - being happy!

Rachel & Jess - cuties!

Dan - looking cool.

So - our several family reunions have taken up a good part of our summer this year. But - it's the best way to spend a summer, I've decided. It was a good time and I can hardly wait for more next year!!

Tyler Family Reunion 2010

When 2 people fell in love.

It started with just TWO...

And then it grew...

And Grew to this!!
(and that's not all of us either!)

Best Reunion Ever!!

We had a Loren & Nelda Tyler family reunion this past week at Lake Arrowhead.
My brother Steve's family was "in charge" this year, which meant that his daughter Camille planned it. She did a terrific job!
We had great food, played in the water, did some sight-seeing, hiked, ate some more, visited lots and got reacquainted!
The evening programs were SO fun and entertaining;
from the talent show to the auction!
It was a blast!

Here's some pictures:
The four of us siblings: L to R: Oldest to youngest: Steve, Karen, Joyce, Me.
R to L: smartest to ??? (just kidding)

Siblings plus spouses.

My family - minus 3 very important members who couldn't come.
L to R: Rachel, Mom, Mary, Dad, Jessica
I just wish I had played more and sewed less. Next time...
2 years from now - I can hardly wait!!
(...and...A BIG "Thank You" to my nephew Craig and his trusty assistant,
my brother Steve, for the great pictures!! )

Grandpa and Grandma would be pleased....

Brown Family Reunion 2010

Whenever I think of Brown Family reunion I think of...
The Heaton Ranch and

the "pond" (and getting pushed in),

Relatives young and old,
Friends and cousins,

more cousins(that we get to watch grow up over the years),

camping with my family (it's easier now with only 3 girls than when we had all 6 with us - but I missed them),

the A-frame (where the teenagers hang out) and the pond again,

my daughter Jessica who won't let us miss the reunion,
my other daughter Rachel who won't let us miss the reunion,
and more cousins(who are camera shy)!

Alan - you did a great job this year!!
It was one of the best times ever for me!!

I've been going to Brown Family reunion on
Cedar Mountain for as long as I can remember -
which means I've been going since I was 12 years old.
It's a tradition that I hope will continue a long time - and that my children will continue to attend as they get families of their own. (hint, hint!)