"...every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result..."
- Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Growing Up

Adelaide has never been one for drawing. She loves to paint and color but drawing has never been something she was very interested in.

Lately we've been working on tracing letters and numbers and she has been practicing on her white board.

The other day I was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework while she was working away on her white board. I turned around and recognized people in the picture she was drawing. She told me it was mommy, daddy, her, and baby brother. I was absolutely beaming with pride. I was so excited at this new development that I wanted to burst.

She drew faces, arms, legs, and even hair. I had never seen her draw anything even close to that before. Anyway, I was thinking to myself that if something as small as drawing people made me so proud, the other accomplishments she will make in her life just might drop me to the floor.

She is totally awesome.

Beautiful Day

Yesterday was gorgeous. We took the dog for a walk on the river trail so he could swim. We figured he wouldn't freeze because the sun was out and it felt amazing! I'm so excited that March is only two days away and spring will be here any minute. I can feel it.

There's something about being outside with the sun shining on my skin that makes me feel energized and motivated. The sun makes me want to get out of bed and get things done. Everything is good and in it's place when the weather is warm and the air is fresh.

I'm stoked.

"It is we ourselves who must answer the questions that life asks of us, and to these questions we can respond only by being responsible for our existence."
-Viktor Frankl

"If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannon be complete."
-Viktor Frankl

"The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it."
-Morrie Schwartz (Tuesdays with Morrie)

"If you're always battling against getting older, you're always going to be unhappy, because it will happen anyhow."
-Morrie Schwartz (Tuesdays with Morrie)