It still shocks me that the last time I blogged we were in 4 feet of snow in New Hampshire hittin' the Enfield slopes with great friends. Has 9 months really gone by since that post? I like to blog. It's fun for me and I hope that I will be doing it a little more often. Life has been crazy since that last post, but to simplify things--sold our home in NH, bought our home in ID, moved and we are loving living in the west again! I'm not making any attempt at "catching up" but I'll post a few pictures so we can keep up with family and friends. So here's to returning to the blogging world!
A few weeks ago our Stake Patriarch spoke in sacrament meeting. He made his way slowly to the stand and then gave the most stirring talk on HAPPINESS.
He began: Finding happiness is the whole meaning of our existence. He said that if we want to argue with him about this we can come over to his house. But beware, he said, "you will lose because I have a whole line up of batters that will prove I am right". He quoted Socrates and Plato--and if we're too stubborn to listen to them he said there are 56 more strong men (whose signatures are on the Declaration of Independence) that would argue for him, too. Joseph Smith would be on his side. He said he'd be willing to listen to our argument, but we would lose. The last of his line up was Victor Frankl a famous holocaust survivor with his quote:
"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. " On this particular Sunday, I needed this quote. A LOT. I still need it! Just a little reminder that we all have so MANY things to be happy about--that 99.9% of the time grumpiness really isn't warranted. When you think about it--why is it so hard to not be grumpy sometimes? We have so much! Jason's Grandpa Kemp actually said it the best. He has severe macular degeneration and he has lost most of his sight. As we were leaving his house this summer he said, "Well, I can either be blind happy or blind angry. I think I like blind happy."
He began: Finding happiness is the whole meaning of our existence. He said that if we want to argue with him about this we can come over to his house. But beware, he said, "you will lose because I have a whole line up of batters that will prove I am right". He quoted Socrates and Plato--and if we're too stubborn to listen to them he said there are 56 more strong men (whose signatures are on the Declaration of Independence) that would argue for him, too. Joseph Smith would be on his side. He said he'd be willing to listen to our argument, but we would lose. The last of his line up was Victor Frankl a famous holocaust survivor with his quote:
"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. " On this particular Sunday, I needed this quote. A LOT. I still need it! Just a little reminder that we all have so MANY things to be happy about--that 99.9% of the time grumpiness really isn't warranted. When you think about it--why is it so hard to not be grumpy sometimes? We have so much! Jason's Grandpa Kemp actually said it the best. He has severe macular degeneration and he has lost most of his sight. As we were leaving his house this summer he said, "Well, I can either be blind happy or blind angry. I think I like blind happy."
There's danger in making a list because I have millions of things to be happy about--but, here are a few just because I have pictures of them. :)
Close to Grandpas and Grandmas
Kemp cousins with Grandma and Grandpa
Learning some skills from grandpa
A good school to attend and great friends all around us who helped us find the school and always help us know our way around town.
Tyler, Jordan, and Carter on their first day of school
Time at home with this little princess. I am so blessed to have this time with her. She makes me smile.
Sarah on her bike w/balloon from grandpa
Finding new places to enjoy around our new home!
Camping!
Fall and Football
Go Ty!
TD run for Jordan!
More femininity around the house.
Big pony and little pony watching Care Bear be rocked to sleep
And lots more things that keep us busy and make us happily tired. We miss all our wonderful friends in NH--but we are loving our new home in the west and the great people we've met here!
Sarah asleep at our kitchen table
Close to Grandpas and Grandmas
Kemp cousins with Grandma and Grandpa
Learning some skills from grandpaA good school to attend and great friends all around us who helped us find the school and always help us know our way around town.
Tyler, Jordan, and Carter on their first day of schoolTime at home with this little princess. I am so blessed to have this time with her. She makes me smile.
Sarah on her bike w/balloon from grandpaFinding new places to enjoy around our new home!
Camping!Fall and Football
Go Ty!
TD run for Jordan!More femininity around the house.
Big pony and little pony watching Care Bear be rocked to sleepAnd lots more things that keep us busy and make us happily tired. We miss all our wonderful friends in NH--but we are loving our new home in the west and the great people we've met here!
Sarah asleep at our kitchen table
8 comments:
I'm so happy you are blogging again! Your kids are super cute, and I'm glad you are back in the West. Is that your backyard behind Sara rocking the care bear? Looks awesome.
I'm sorry, Sarah.
Look! Sarah's hair has gotten long. See never loose faith.
Thank you for posting this Steph. I think that everyone needs a reminder to help put things in perspective. I love the pictures too.
So glad to see you blogging again. I like seeing what you guys are doing and being able to stay in touch at least a little bit. I like your thoughts on Happiness, I could use the reminder of those things more often. Thanks for sharing.
It's so fun to see pics of your new life in Idaho. (and the across the country pics are amazing, too!)
Your kids are beautiful, your yard is beautiful.. (is that a peach tree I see in the back corner?..) ;) hehe
Love this post Steph! I think we all need this reminder...OFTEN! I was so excited to see an update from you, and of course I LOVE the pictures! Sarah's hair is adorable!(It has gotten longer since this summer!) Ooh, and that back yard...WOW! I just wish we could come visit:) Miss you!
I'm so glad you're back to blogging! I love reading your posts, you put things so well and I love to see what you guys are up to! I still can't believe you have a girl :) She is so precious - the carebears and ponies...such a different world huh?!!
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