More Summer Fun!

Here is Kelsey enjoying her bath time! She is so cute . . . and she really likes the water!

About two weeks ago we had the opportunity to go up to San Diego (ok, technically San Diego is down south, but we went up to the mountains) to stay at a nice resort for a couple of nights. The room had a full kitchen, a huge living room, and a nice bedroom with a washer and dryer. Our friend Justin was in town from Utah, so we invited him to come with us so we could have a Bachelorette Finale Party! Boy was it fun. We got pizza, chips, and cookies to celebrate. During the day we went swimming and played ping pong. It was a nice and relaxing get away!

Our room had a big porch with an electric grill, so we decided to cook up some burgers!

The boys (Kyle and Justin) went exploring in the deserty mountains around us, while the girls (me and Kelsey) enjoyed the scenery around the resort.

Here we are at the Pioneer Day Celebration. Kelsey was the cutest little pioneer girl. I realize Kyle looks a little silly in this photo, but this was the only one to show off Kelsey's cute outfit!

Here is a better one of us. Kelsey is getting a little thicker these days. Look at that double chin!

Here is Kyle and his youngest brother Adam making their "stick biscuits"

Here is me, Kyle, and Adam roasting our stick biscuits over the coals. After you cook them, you could put lots of different toppings inside. I chose to do butter with cinnamon and sugar. It was delicious!

In other recent news, Kyle and I gave talks on adversity in church yesterday. Boy are we relieved that they are done and over with! We received many nice compliments, which was very unexpected. I always think I do such a horrible job with things like that. It was especially hectic because Kelsey was freaking out before church started, and I didn't even think I would make it into the meeting in time to give my talk. I won't bore you with all of the details, but everything turned out to be ok. (Thanks Chelsea for watching Kelsey for me!)

Anyway, we both focused a lot on why we face adversity. I took the approach that one of the main reasons trials come into our lives is so we can progress. Even though it is so difficult to realize or understand why things happen during the hard times, we must ultimately remain faithful and put our trust in God. I have felt this so readily in my life over the last few months. There have been occasions recently where I didn't think I could have the strength to keep enduring the trials I felt bombarded by, but I know now that I have become a stronger person because of them. I know sometimes it feels like when you are doing the right thing, you feel like things should go well in your life. I have learned that doing the right things does not mean that your life will be perfect, but that those things are fortifications to help you get through the hard times. Kyle focused a lot on the question of "why bad things happen to good people." He did a very good job of explaining that God must allow murders and other bad things to happen so that he can be a just God when those who have wronged need to be punished.

Also, I got a bill last week from the Pediatrician, but it was the wrong person. I had to call them to tell me they sent me the wrong bill, and it ended up being this HUGE mix up. They can't even find Kelsey in their system! I still don't know what's going on, but someone really messed things up!

In other news, Kyle had a job interview at an advertising firm last Thursday that went well, and we will probably hear back sometime next week because that is when the position is actually becoming available. Please keep the happy thoughts coming our way!

Oh yeah, we went to the beach last week, and I went boogie (sp?) boarding for the first time! (Unless I went when I was really little and don't remember.) I just felt like a little kid, and it was so fun! Kyle was trying to teach me how to time it and everything. It was really fun because I got a free lesson from the hottest instructor ever!

Kyle left early this morning to go up to Mammoth for a high adventure trip with the young men, so I am left as a single mom for the week. We shall see how this goes. I will have to report back later. Kyle's dad and brother Adam are also on the trip, which will be fun for them to have some quality male bonding time. Wish me luck!!!