Jafar Phillips...

So...we totally got a snake a few weeks ago! At first, we feared the kids (namely Emery) would have a hard time with it, and especially at feeding times... We were wrong!

This girl makes me laugh. Her face lighting up and smiling as she watches a carnivorous predator devour an innocent mouse is hysterical! She loves it, and even cheers him on. "Good job, buddy! Good job eating your dinner!"

Emery's First Day of Preschool!

Emery's all ready for her first day of school!

(This girl and her facial expressions...)

First day was a SUCCESS! 

(My little cheeky girl snuck her lipgloss in her bag...she makes me laugh!)

Emery's Open House...

I cannot believe my littlest little is a preschooler already!

Emery with her teacher, Mrs. K!

San Diego for my 29th birthday...

This amazing sister of mine treated me to a weekend getaway to San Diego for my birthday...for some much needed sand, sea, and serenity.

We walked around Seaport Village which was perfection!

Ate fish tacos above the sea...

Lucked out with AWESOME parking at the beach...

...and ate sushi at sunset.

Logan turns E I G H T!!

Hold to the rod, CLING to the rod...

We hear the words, "Hold To The Rod." Which I envision a hand holding on to an iron rod while moving forward.

But what happens to the grip if you should happen to trip on an unforeseen rock or dip?

(did you like that rhymin'?)

But honestly. That grip MAY catch you, or you may unthinkingly let go to catch your fall.

What happens to that grip "when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo...?"

That simple- even steady- holding to the iron rod WILL NOT be enough.

What we should sing are the words "Clench your hands to the rod, the iron rod, as hard as you possibly can."

And teach them - everyone- to envision arms wrapped around this rod. Back bent, feet moving forward, eyes on the tree. 

When we met with our Bishop, before we were married, we were given the advice to make each other-  with Christ - our first priority. No matter how many or few children we had, my husband was to be my first priority. A triangle was drawn to show how we are working with Christ AND our spouse. I with Christ is Daniels first priority. And Daniel with Christ is my first priority.

I found this quote and I love it. Even though my first reaction as a wife may be to want Daniel to cling tightly to me, I know that in order for us to rise above, to endure through the rough waters of this life, we must cling to the Savior, cling to - as Nephi described- "the word of God." 

"As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father’s instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior." (Russell M. Nelson)

When rough waters hit, I want my husband clinging to the Savior, so our children can cling to me, and I can cling to my husband, and he can lead us to safety.