217 day, 31 weeks Update

Here we are now in November!!! YAYA!! The time started to slow down around September as the dates got closer to October. Adam left Afghanistan and arrived in Fort Bragg October 25th!! Now we are waiting to hear when he can come home. People keep asking me if we have a date yet, but this is how the Army is.. haha .. They never give us dates before hand because it can compromise safety and security of the troops. So as soon as he is on the plane is usually when I know. It's hard to plan anything around it. We are just hoping he is home in time for Thanksgiving. Adam is wanting to surprise me and the kids also so it will be very likely that I will have no idea when he will arriving anyways. And for those that will know don't tell me anything!! ;) We are just so excited to get him home we can hardly stand ourselves! Kyly is certain he is still in Afghanistan, which is fine its hard to understand at her age. Until daddy is home he will be there. Its just such a relief knowing he is safe again. This Friday is his Birthday he will be turning the big 30! I wish he were home to celebrate with but we will for sure be making up for it when he gets home... 

Halloween was good fun this year. The kids were so shocked that I wasn't in my typical holiday spirits.. ok so was everyone.. But I did manage to get some decorations up and an awesome front porch scare for Halloween night! Keplar was a ninja and Kyly was a Fairy princess and I was a futuristic goth. We went trick-or-treating with our good friends and neighbors the Anhder's as always! :)  The kids had their fall parties at school the following day and I was able to attend those. Kyly's was cute and fun she had a really good time. Keplar's was amazing! We have some amazing parents at our school who step up and really do an outstanding job! They did a Harry Potter party and even had a magician!! I got a video of it I will post later for you all to watch. As for me I have been staying busy with my Photography and my It Works business. I'm pretty well consumed with being a Mother, photographer, church callings, and everything else! :) I'm starting to be able to breath again after Fall family pictures are over. They all have turned out beautiful too!! I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween too and are looking forward to the upcoming holidays as well! :) 

Special Military Fireside

It was a great privilage for me and Adam to attend a special fireside held here in Utah on the 31st for all Military members in Utah. Click here to see. President Uchtdorf, 2nd counselor in the first presidency in the LDS church, spoke to us for almost an hour. He said so many amazing things that we were able take into our lives and build stong testimonies on. One topic he talked on that Adam and I already had a strong expeirence with was working together toward our goal of an eternal family even though oft times we are far apart. When Adam leaves we do this. We pray, read scriptures, and continue to keep the covenants we made in the temple. By doing this it is really true that distance becomes shorter and hearts are made stronger and united as one. We have lived this principle and have seen the blessing from it.

Being in the presence of that many faithful members of the church and the military was so powerful. I can't even describe my feelings of graditude and love that I was feeling. These people have sacrificed so much to serve God and country, and are still faithful to the covenants they have made. Adam is one of these peoples. He is so loyal, honest, and self sacrificing. I have personally witnessed his sacrifices and his acheivements in serving God and Country.

When I read the scripture in Alma 48:17 about Moroni. "If all men had been, and were, and ever would be,like unto him, behold, the very powers of hell would be shaken forever; yea the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children."..... I think of Adam....... He is like unto Moroni. He is a Soldier who is loyal and faithfull to God in all that he does. He has the strenght and courage of Moroni to fight for others freedoms and stand up for truth. He serves our country as faithfully as he serves the Lord. I am proud and honored to be his wife.
"No greater love hath a man, then this to lay down his life for another." John 15:13 The Savior showed us the true meaning of love and service. This is what those who serve in the military are willing to do and have done to protect Americans and our Freedoms. I'm gratefull to have been at the feet of an Apostle of Jesus Christ for an hour and feel of his love and support he has for these great men and women.

Govenors' Day

Every year in September the Utah National Gaurd has an annual Govenors' Day. This is where the Govenor of Utah inspects his soldiers at Rice Ecceles Stadium at University of Utah. It is quite the impresive show to see all the Soliers lined up in formation presenting colors. Me and the kids went to watch Adam march. There is alot of things that go on that day for the family. We met up with Adam's brother Joe, who goes to school down there and got to spend sometime with him.


Most of the Utah National Gaurd

Adam is the one in front

Adam's unit (197th Special Troops Company)

Keplar and Kyly

The sun was bright and warm