Blessings for Burundi

I have always known that my parents were special people. For my entire life, I watched them love and serve their family. I also saw them make great sacrifices to love and serve neighbors, friends, and other church members. I have always admired them for the lives they've led, but that admiration has grown to a whole new level since last August.

I love to read about their work in Africa. They have done so much good for the people the Congo and have touched so many lives there. Last week they moved on to spread the message of the Gospel to a country that needs it so badly. They are now in Burundi (a little country next to Rwanda), a country with a history full of violence and civil wars. But now they are ready to have the church established and receive missionaries (my parents!). Their stories from Burundi are amazing and I can't wait to see how the work progresses there.

Here are a couple of my favorite
pictures from their time in the Congo:

Mom with some kids
(She is such a natural with kids,
even if they can't always understand her.) :)

Dad with the elders
(They got a kick out of his "safari" hat,
so they all posed together with their hats.)

I am grateful for their service in Africa.
I am grateful for them.

Making Progress

We have been working with Isaac on making "happy choices" and we came up with a system that works like a charm. We've had a couple of really great weeks, thanks to his new sticker chart. And he has earned enough money each week to pick something from the Target dollar spot. I love to watch him carefully make his selection and then count out his money for the cashier. He is just too cute. :)

So proud of himself!

What He's Been Missing

Derek has been SO busy over the last few months...as in only-around-on-the-weekend busy. I didn't want him to miss out on all the fun, so I sent him lots of pictures from my phone throughout the weeks to show him what was happening around here. I recently uploaded them onto my computer and thought I'd share a few of our favorites. They aren't great quality (because I don't have a fancy phone), but they are pretty entertaining! :)

This is what I saw one day as I came down the stairs
after leaving the boys unattended for 10 minutes.
Live and learn, right? :)

Anytime Isaac does something "totally awesome,"
he asks me to take a picture and send it to Daddy.
This was his Mr. Potato Head creation.

And this was the first time he did a "big boy puzzle."

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I just had to share this one.
He was walking around saying, "I'm the mama!" Ha-ha.
(Side note: I know that most of the pics are of Isaac.
It's not because I like him more...
I just can't get Trevor to hold still long enough to get a picture!)

Trying out Daddy's guitar

Isaac all dressed up and lookin' fine! :)

Don't you just want to come hang out at our house!?!
Funny boys.

Party in Draper!

Last weekend, my sis Corinne and I made a quick trip to Utah to visit our brother, Ryan, and his cute family. It was so good to be with them and they were such great hosts! We did lots of shopping, eating, chatting, and laughing. (Those of you who know Ryan and Linsey know that everything is more fun with them!) :) We were also able to be there for a very special day for their family. My handsome nephew, Calvin, was baptized. I was so glad to be there for his big day.

Here are the highlights from my trip:

Ryan and Calvin

I love this kid!

Here is the whole gang. They are such great kiddos.
I just wish my boys could have been there to play with them!

It was so nice able to spend with Corinne, Ryan, and Linsey.
We had such great conversations
and Ryan was a trooper with all of the shopping! :)

OK...so this picture totally doesn't match all the others,
but I just had to include it because I love Iceberg.
It is one of my favorite places and
they made sure I got my milkshake before I left!

Thanks, Ryan and Lins, for such a fabulous trip.
I can't wait to come back with Derek and the boys.
Utah is definitely on the top of our vacation list! :)

And thanks to my BFF Sara and my hubby
for what you did to make this trip possible for me.

Back at the Funny Farm

I was able to spend the weekend with my brother and his family in Utah (which, by the way, was fabulous...but that's another post by itself!). Derek was such a trooper to take on the boys by himself and all was well when I got home. The house was clean, the boys were happy, and there was even a cherry coke zero waiting for me in the fridge. Pretty great, huh?
It was nice to get a break from the routine and have such a fun weekend, but it was also nice to have the chance to miss my cute little family. I was so happy to see them last night and I totally loved being with them again today.

And THIS is why...

Such silly little boys!