Know What it Takes! - for YOU

Haleigh and Caleb had the same teacher for 4th grade.
MR. JOHNSON
He taught us SO MANY life lessons.
Whenever someone would say "That's so easy!"
He would reply, simply "For you".

It is not enough to "Know what it takes".
You have to Know what it takes - FOR YOU!

What should we know?

Know your plan and follow it!

Know what's expected; when

Know YOU!
Your abilities AND your limits

Of course it's also important to have the right tools to get the job done.

Know what it takes - for YOU!

Ammon - The Photographer

Let me be honest!
When Ammon insisted on taking pictures to
"earn his cub scout belt loop" {don't think there is one}
I was VERY skeptical.
As he was snapping shots left and right I was thinking about
the amount of time & camera battery I would waste deleting photos.
Little did I know his shots would be some of my
FAVORITES of ALL TIME!

Yeah AMMON!

Utah Trip Highlights!

We flew in to Las Vegas
and drove to St. George.
There we stayed with Stephen & Heidi.
It was GREAT to spend time with them.

Miniature golf!
Can you spot everyone? Heidi, Aubree,Caleb,Ammon, Haleigh & Little Stephen
LOVE the view of the St. George Temple & the red rock mountains in the background.

A visit to Stephen's work & the St. George Temple before we headed for Provo.

This is my BIGGEST DISSAPPOINTMENT of the trip!!
No pictures of my own of the 5 days we spent with the Lewis'.
Jacqie was the photographer of all the events & projects we had going on.
I can't wait until she sends us all copies.
There was much priming, painting, plumbing & more painting - by the adults.
And playing, garden watering & harvesting & swimming - by the kids.
GREAT TIMES!

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House!
It was BEAUTIFUL!

Heidi, Caleb, Haleigh, Ammon, Stephanie, Jessica, Dad

A trip to Silver Lake
Amy, Steph, Heidi, Tabby, Ike, Justin, Caleb, Jessica, Haleigh, Dad

A TEARFUL trip to Mom's grave.

The boys fishing trip.

Nothing biting that day

King Benjamin Camp with the Miller's
in Grandma & Grandpa's backyard.

The trip was the highlight of our SUMMER!

4th of July FUN!!

We LOVE 4th of July!!
Some of our activities that are quickly becoming tradition.

*3rd of July fireworks at the Cumming Fair Grounds with friends!*

*4th of July Ward breakfast at the Foster's, including...
Breakfast
A talk on Independence
Games
Water Slide
The FAVORITE ... The Spontaneous Water Fight
(usually started by the Bishop)*

*Lewis' BBQ for Lunch - BBQed meat,
veggies, potato salad, melon & pie for dessert*

*Southgate Village neighborhood BBQ and fireworks (BIG/REAL fireworks) -
we watched them from our 2nd story porch this year!!*

*Watching the 4th of July celebration from the Capitol on PBS!*

4th of JULY!!! One of our FAVORITE things!
Some of our BEST memories!

Honor FREEDOM!

Freedom is a GIFT; Honor it!!

Freedom of the Press

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Religion

A few of the freedoms we are honoring this month.

HONOR Freedom your own way this month.
It is one of the greatest gifts we have been given!

SUMMER! One month gone, one month to go!

So... SUMMER break is half gone and what have we done?

Scout Camp for Caleb
Cub Scout Camp for Ammon
Girl's Camp for Haleigh and Steph -Steph as Stk. Camp Director
Recover from camp exhaustion (still recovering, but the experience was SO worth it)
Football conditioning for Caleb
Basketball camp and all day tournaments for Caleb
Trips to the Library
Swimming at the pool
Trips to Lake Lanier

What's to Come?

EFY next week for Haleigh
Trips to visit family
Get ready for school
Volleyball practice begins for Haleigh to try out for the High School Volleyball team

AND THEN...School Starts August 10

Seminary and High School (brand new school) for Haleigh
Last year of Middle School for Caleb
3rd grade for Ammon at a brand new elementary school

CRAZY how time flies when your crazy - I mean - having FUN!!

Lemons to Lemonade

When life gives you LEMONS make LEMONADE
Nothing says SUMMER like a glass of lemonade.

LIFE is a bunch of little lessons.
The question is ...
Does the little life lesson become
a BITTER
or SWEET experience?

Some BITTER feelings include
*Fear*
*Anger*
*Harsh judgement*
*Guile*

SWEET feelings include
*Knowledge*
*Peace*
*Understanding*
*Truth*

The best way to change BITTER lemons
to SWEET lemonade
is to add SUGAR.
The best & purest sugar (don't use the artificial stuff!)
is service or good works.
It is through good works that you come to appreciate the
truly SWEET things in life.

Fear turns to Knowledge
Anger turns to Peace

Harsh judgement turns to Understanding
and
Guile turns to Truth


Make LEMONADE today!
You'll find it very REFRESHING!