A year already

(Thanks for letting me borrow this picture, Megan)

Since I use my blog as a journal, I wanted to take a post and reflect on the anniversary cummemorating my dad's death. He died a year ago on Nov. 10th. I thought the day would be hard but I found an amazing amount of peace was with me. I took the girls to Logan so we could spend the day with my mom. I didn't want her to be alone. We ran some errands and then took a visit to the grave. Like a year ago, it was a beautiful and mild day. We pulled out a chair and spent quite a while sitting by the grave and enjoying the beauty that surrounded us. I then dropped off the girls with my brother-in-law, and a couple of my sisters and I took my mom to dinner at El Sol- one of my dad's favorite restaurants. My mom guessed what he would order and we sat and shared some memories of him. It was a nice evening followed by a run to Sam's Club.
I miss my Dad so much. I think about him when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. I'll pick up the phone to call him and ask him something or I expect him to walk throught the door on his lunch break. I remember his smiles and his goofiness (the pic above where he was making me laugh so hard). I am a silent mourner and find myself crying for him in the early hours of the morning and when I'm alone. My heart constantly aches for him but I find peace and solace in my firm testimony of eternal families. I will see him again. I did find out some interesting news that day. My dad never served a mission and was always sad about that. Someone posted on Megan's facebook that dad was instrumental in her family joining the church. He also made an impact on a new couple in his ward when he was placed as their home teachers. The couple lived in the retirement community and were inactive. My dad's quiet friendship and example helped activate them. What a gift for me of knowing he truly served a mission here on earth without even realizing it.
I love you, Dad and know that you are happy and free from the toils of this earth. I look forward to the day that I will see you again.

Family Pictures

We have an empty frame on our wall for our family picture and we keep talking about filling it but hadn't gotten around to it. We finally got our acts together and found some clothes that would match each other (I know, not a requirement but I think it looks good anyways). Since Scott is a poor student and this semester has been extremely tight financially, we couldn't afford to use any of our friends who do their own photography. Instead, we borrowed (sorry mom and Heather for causing a problem) my dad's camera. My brother-in-law, Trent, took the shots. It was a beautiful day with the only hitch being the runny noses both the girls had. Enjoy, they sure turned out great! Thanks Trent.

Halloween fun

The trick or treaters

Paige, the butterfly, flying at the trunk or treat




Halloween was spent in Logan this year so Paige could trick or treat with her cousins. Paige was a fairy princess butterfly (I know, you have to stretch your imagination a little bit) and Ashley was a clown. We trunk or treated at my mom's ward and then headed to her cousins neighborhood to trick or treat. Ashley helped her aunt Megan hand out candy while Scott and I took Paige around the block. Paige was so funny because she tried to help herself to all their candy. She had such a great time and now we have candy galore which we've been using as poopy treats.