Amazing friend=Amazing Summer

This is Amber....and she's amazing.

She was like medicine to me this summer....she helped me find me again. I realized so much about myself this last summer and it was because I had a wonderful friend by my side, who loved me for me. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father brought Amber into my life at a time that I needed it most. Before she came to live in Prescott I was in a rut. I was much happier than I had been a year before but I was still lonely. I was awkward. I was still shy to tell my story. I was unsure of myself and honestly lacking so much confidence. But Amber helped me out of that rut....it wasn't anything in particular that she did or said, just an unspoken belief she had in me that helped.

We had so much fun this summer. It was like being a kid again, I felt alive. And felt a happiness that I hadn't felt in about 10 years. She broke me out of my shell....and I will be forever grateful for that. I still am awkward at times, and still short of some confidence. But I'm not afraid to tell my story. Love me or hate me for it...it's mine and I embrace now.

Back to Amber...we had fun this summer. We hiked. We camped. We took a spontaneous trip to California. We volunteered. We played in the mud. Our adventures will continue because we will be friends for life. She is an amazing friend, and amazing "aunt" and I'm blessed to have her in my life.

Here are some pictures from our adventures!

OK, so here's the back story to this conversation....Kohl has asthma and he struggles when it comes to running, especially up in Snowflake. So last year we did the Pioneer Day run....I was wanting to run, but Kohl my little wheezy man couldn't....he ended up hanging out with one of his aunts and walking the race while I ran it.... SOOO this year he did the run again and this is our phone conversation about it:

Kohl: Mom I did the run this year! And I think the medicine (inhailer)is really helping me.

Me: I know, Aunt Odie told me you ran the whole thing, all two miles.

Kohl: Did she tell you I threw up afterwards?

Me: Yes she told me that also.

Kohl: Yea it was gross, but mom remember how last year I came in 116th place.

Me: Yes Kohl I remember...and yes throwup is gross.

Kohl: Well guess what I got this year.

Me: Trying to be positive and optomistic, while also realistic and not wanting to guess 1st if he got 2nd or 3rd which could possibly make him sad (I overthink the majority of things).....I don't know son, 5th?

Kohl: No, I got 73rd!!! And my son, bless his little heart, was just as excited about 73rd as he would have been with 1st.

I love him....and am so very proud of him whether he's 73rd place or 1st, he's a champ.

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable; impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least the risk of tragedy is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of and perturbations of love is Hell. We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as this the way in which they should break so be it." C.S. Lewis

My Bishop shared this quote with me a couple of weeks ago, and it has become one of my favorites...just wanted to share it.

the heart can break, it can be crushed, shattered and stomped on....but it can heal.

i know.

because mine has.

but i am a happy girl again.

don't get me wrong... i am still me

i still cry, still get frustrated and get impatient waiting for mr. right...but i'm happy.

i hike again,

and i go camping.

i took a spontaneous trip to california just because i had a smoothie that reminded me of the beach.

in less than 3 weeks i will be in havasupai with my best friends,

i have 2 beautiful children, who i miss very much at the moment.

i have the best and most crazy family a girl could ask for.

i played in the rain today...it reminded me of when i was little.

and most importantly i have a Heavenly Father who loves me...he's pretty awesome...and i love him too.

life is good.

Look at that face.......

How can you not smile while looking at this......

The Soundtrack of my Life....

While getting ready this morning.....

Kohl: Ally get out of here I'm brushing my teeth.

Kohl: ALLLLLYYYYYYY GGGEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTT OOOOUUUUUTTTTTT!!!!!!!

Me: Kohl talk nice to your sister.

Ally: (just cries cause she has now been banished to the hall)

Me: Kohl say sorry to your sister.

Kohl: Ally I'm sorry.

Ally: apparently pouting

Kohl: oh don't look at me like that, you know when you look at me like that I can't be mad at you. uggghhh fine you can come in but don't get into anything.

And this is how it goes the majority of mornings, and I can't help but smile. I'm blessed to have my children, and love their special relationship....and I LOVE the soundtrack of my life....have you stopped to hear the soundtrack to yours??

BuY me SoMe PeaNUTs and CrAckER JaCKs.....

So this last weekend my friend Amber, Kohl and I got some baseball action at the Diamond Backs game......it was a blast. So much fun to get out of Prescott and just hang out.... we got to meet up with some great friends, and enjoy some guys in their baseball pants, ok truth be told we weren't close enough to enjoy the guys in their baseball pants, but the rest is all true. Even though it was a 195 outside the roof was closed so it was nice and cool for us. My Favorite part of the day though was when Kohl said "Mom when is halftime"......apparently I'm gonna have to teach him some basics when it comes to sports. I sure do love him and love the time we get to spend together. Here's some pictures from the game! Love to one of my besties also, Amber, for coming with us!