Whirl Wind Summer…

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how stinkin’ busy we’ve been lately. I recently got called as the new Young Women President. I know. What in the world were they thinking?! Believe me I ask myself that every single day!! I have wonderful counselors and advisers that make up for way more than I am lacking! We just got back from a week of girls camp. What a blast! It was seriously so fun! We took them to Bear Lake, the Minitoka Caves, floated the river at Lava Hot Springs and really roughed it… I’m talking infinity toilets and all! ha! It was SO good for all of us prissy girls!! We had THE BEST camp director ever, she is also my next door neighbor! LOVE her!!! She had some really cute ideas and it was the perfect mix of spiritual and fun. She gave the girls a swagger bag at the beginning of camp with homemade chapstick- I’ve got to get the recipe it was SO awesome! A journal etc.We did a night hike, she lit up glow in the dark signs and had the girls stop at each sign up the hike to read a scripture or thought. As I walked up the trail and paused I looked up into the starry sky. I am so thankful for the beauty that surrounds us. I know our Heavenly Father is looking down on us, wanting to give us everything that He has. I know He knows us each as individuals, blesses us and is directing our lives.

 

The day after we got home from camp me and my sister in laws threw a super fun bridal shower for Kenzii. Here are a few pics. Our theme was “Love Birds”. We did an Italian Soda Bar, made the best cupcakes I’ve ever had. GO HERE for the recipe! {Thanks Lyndsi for the recipe!}

My SIL Chelsea did the games- SO cute! They were fun and quick. ;) He says, She says- where we asked the bride and groom to answer some questions and the guests had to guess whether he or she said it. The other game we played was Bridal Shower Bingo. You guess what the bride is going to get and fill in the bingo card accordingly. We did a prize for bingo and a black out.

Now we are packing up and heading to Bear Lake for a week. I love summer, but when I’m in the middle of all the work I feel crazy, if I just  stop and pause, I know why we go to all the trouble. It’s totally worth it for the kids. They don’t get many summer’s in their sweet lifetime that will be so carefree and I want them to have great memories. It’s definitely worth it! I hope you are each having the most wonderful summer full of good memories too!

Thankful Hearts & a New Surgery Date…

As we approach Thanksgiving tomorrow, we want to tell each of you who visit us here, at home, in prayer, in service and many other ways,how very, very grateful we are that we have you in our life. Supporting us through this difficult trial. We love you. We can't wait for the day when it is our turn to give back. We say it again and again, but we are humbled by the wealth of blessings we see each and ever day. Though the road has been extremely difficult, we have hope & we feel slivers of peace throughout each day.

They have bumped dad's surgery up to this Tuesday the 29th. Mom & dad will travel down to Huntsman's on Monday for the MRI & pre-op anesthesia and then they will decide after studying the MRI what the best plan is for dad's leg. We will keep you updated here as we receive more information from my mom on that day. We are holding a fast this Sunday for those who feel so inclined to participate with us for dad, that everything will go smoothly for him. Thank you so much. We truly feel the strength your prayers and fasting bring. We post most of the updates for dad HERE.

We leave you with a beautiful inspiring message.

Happy Thanksgiving. We truly have so much to be grateful for.

Wow. What a week. It's been crazy, hard & I never want to repeat it but- you know what we made it through it! On to the next adventure right?! My parents are on the way home from Salt Lake as I type this & we can't wait to have them closer & back in the comfort of their own home. It's hard to be in a hospital. I have learned so much about the person I want to be through this. I want to be more caring, giving, concerned with others. It's so easy to just go about our lives living them and looking out for ourselves, while we hardly notice how many people are suffering, sad, lonely or in pain. It makes my heart ache.

Did you know that October is Cancer Awareness month? Through some wonderful friends and family we came across this awesome song-





and this inspiring video. I hope you will take the time to watch them both. It's worth it.


Enjoy your weekend.

My Thought Train, want to ride it with me?

Here is some randomness for you. These are some of the thoughts going through my mind right now.

This WIND is driving me CRAZY!!!! Absolutely insane. :o/

Does it make me weird if I vacuum at least once a day? It honestly makes me feel like my whole house is clean if I have vacuum lines in my carpet! :) From the looks I got I can tell that yes, yes it does make me a little psycho.

 

I’m starving and I can’t wait to try this for dinner:

{EDIT: It was completely AMAZING!!! This is my new FAVORITE sandwich! YUM YUM YUM} Recipe HERE.

I seriously love trying new recipes it’s almost like going on vacation- it’s something new & out of the ordinary- it makes cooking dinner not such a chore!

Mmm… those Poppy seed pancakes last week were pretty amazing too! Recipe HERE.

 

 

Do I have all the stuff ready to go for YW tonight? Pop bottles check, glue dots, check, scissors check, treat- oh no I didn’t even think about a treat- it would probably make their hands too messy anyway. Right?! We are making these for a Father’s day gift for the men at church: but we changed the quote on them to say

“Some People don’t believe in Heroes but they haven’t met my “POP” 

If you want a copy of our ties- e-mail me at sunshineinmysoul_33(at)yahoo

Wonder what my sisters are doing right now, I sure miss them. Wish they were here to do a craft with me or just sit around and talk, and laugh, and laugh some more!

thinking about family. my little family. Mmm. Sure do LOVE them.

lol.

great reminder- LOVE that mom that jumps in the rain with her kids! That is the kind of mom I want to be!!

 

Do you ever feel like this? Sometimes I have to grit my teeth so I don’t hurt them! ha! ;)

Zach dies laughing at my thought trains that run through my head.  I am a complex person I guess. Haha, NOT! My brain literally jumps from one thing to the next constantly. He calls it Randomnimity. Do you have it too? Please tell me I’m not the only one. :) Happy Thursday!

Become…

With all the rain we have been getting I am trying to remember this: :)

So lets take a look at life. This week I’m preparing a Young women lesson (lesson 22 manual 3) on Eternal Perspective! Such a great topic. Do you know how fantastic the youth is today? I’m so impressed. I’m also in the presidency with the most amazing women. Seriously. Learning so much from all of them. Feeling so inadequate. The Lord lifts up those he calls right?! Praying for that.

I am using this as my handout just in case any of you want handout ideas too:

 

It’s from Rebecca Cooper, I’m going to print it at Walmart and then either make these cookies, click on the pic for the recipe.

or do something with the Rainbow Twizzlers.

Haven’t decided yet.

Do you know what else I want more of in my life right now?

 

 

LESS of me. More of God. Truly, the closer I get to Him, the better everything else is in my life becomes. I am amazed at His love for each of us. Do you know what I am talking about? I want that love for everyone! It is so incredible. I am realizing that we are constantly becoming. Becoming more like Him, or becoming more like the world. Sometimes we don’t even realize what we are becoming, we can get so caught up in comparing, in wanting, in needing approval from the world and just going about our days lost in the race. Well I’m here to say I DON’T want that. I DON’T want to be like the world, I don’t want my self esteem or my daughter’s or my son’s or anyone around me for that matter to have to feel like their self esteem has to come from approval from the world. Does it really matter what I wore yesterday? Does it matter if I don’t wear make up today? Does it really matter if I don’t look like a super model every time I walk out of the house? Is that what God wants? People to look and stare and need approval from each other? Absolutely not. By the way I’m not saying we don’t need to take care of ourselves, we most definitely do! I’m not saying don’t brush your hair and be beautiful. We should. We just shouldn’t obsess or compare. Which is such a horrible trap we sometimes fall into.

I feel like I am on this journey because I very much struggle with approval from those around me. I struggle with insecurities of every kind. I am finding that it is normal! I am on this journey, a journey that is taking me to places I have never been before. I am seeing things in myself that I despise. Things that aren’t right with my heart. I have some dark and ugly pieces to my soul that I want to get rid of, but I am also seeing parts of me that I love, reasons to let God take over my life and live through Him. I want nothing more than to be content in Him. I am learning. It hasn’t been easy, but I feel like He is slowly peeling back those ugly layers and making something more out of me, something I could never do on my own. Today I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me. Who loves all of us. I am so blessed to know what I do. Do you want to know more about what I know? Go HERE. Or feel free to e-mail me, I’d love to hear from you. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being better than you were the day before.

Campfire Eclairs & a Super Hero…

So you know when you get super comfortable with your life and things are going just fine, and then Heavenly Father realizes it’s time to make you stretch and grow?! Well that’s my life right now. I guess it’s a good thing, but man, sometimes growing hurts a little. I bet you can all relate. To tell you the truth it’s my own fault, I have been praying for Heavenly Father to mold me into the person He wants me to be, to bless me with patience, compassion & more humility. Looks like He has a plan. I hope I’m ready.

I just got called to be back with the Young Women (the youth group in our church) I’m a little nervous. I serve with the most amazing women & I already feel very inadequate, not to mention I don’t know how I will ever have the energy to  keep up with these incredible young girls! ha!

We had our first activity, and I already learned something new and YUMMY for that matter!

We made Campfire Eclairs

recipe & picture from {family spice}

1. Pre-soak your large sticks in water for 20 minutes to prevent burning
2. Cover your stick with butter, to prevent sticking.
3. Open and unroll:
   • 1 package refrigerated biscuit dough
4. Stretch out and flatten one biscuit round in your hand.
5. Stretch the dough over your stick, smoothing out any creases. For quick and even cooking, make sure dough is about 1/4-inch thick,
6. Place dough covered stick over the flames and cook until evenly browned, about 5-10 minutes. Rotate stick continuously to prevent burning.
7. Biscuit shell is done when all sides are browned and inside is cooked through.
8. Carefully, remove biscuit shell from stick.
9. Fill inside with:
   • pre-made chocolate and/or vanilla pudding
   • strawberries, sliced
10. Top éclair with:
    • whip cream
    • chocolate sprinkles or candies

 

 

 

Trust me just, GO HERE & look at THIS it’s beautiful! I love the reminder!

 

 

Do you or have you ever dealt with Infertility? I came across this beautiful post and had an AHA! moment!! Go read her blog. I think you will probably be able to relate. Some people just have a way with words.

 

Particularly this part:

Dear (insert your name here),

You are a good mom. You love your children.

Heavenly Father knew that you could handle this trial.

He CHOSE you.

It is hard.

You can do hard things.

Sometimes when you feel your blood boil, and you want to scream at the top of your lungs,

"IT'S NOT FAIR"

It's ok.

Because it's not fair.

Life is not fair.

And that is what makes it all so beautiful!

You are right, it would be far easier to have a body that works.

But yours does not.

And even though you are learning and growing so much because of it,

sometimes the pain feels like it might suffocate you.

But your infertility is not about you.

It is not an attack of your character.

It is not a punishment for something you have done.

It is not because you are incapable of being a great mother to many.

You are not broken on accident.

Heavenly Father did not skip over you because you were undeserving.

You were not forgotten.

Instead, He hand chose you out of the crowd, and precisely changed you to be the person you are. I believe he took you aside, put his arm around you, and with tears streaming down his very own face, knowing it will break your heart, asked if you if could carry this burden.

He promised you would never be alone. And he would bless you!

But, he would need to make you differently.

Not to break you.

But to create miracles for your eyes to see.

Every day.

You were not stripped of the most sacred act of multiplying and replenishing to your hearts content, because you were not worth it to be made whole.

You may feel broken, and forgotten, in your divine right of motherhood.

But you were made from scratch!

Everything you have been given, has been given by God.

"The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Cry until your soul hurts. Because it is hard.

But don’t ever feel broken.

 

I am feeling grateful today. I truly am blessed. I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He is there waiting for us to reach out and ask for His help. I’m always amazed at how He is right here, involved in the big miracles and in all of the little details in our lives as well. We must trust in Him, we must have Faith in him. We must look around and notice that He is directing our paths. We must realize that we are enough & He will take care of the rest. He is in charge, and I’m okay with that, more than okay, I find great peace in those words. I am not alone, and I don’t have to control all the details (which is often hard for me, but I am working on it!)

 

And is this not the cutest little super hero EVER? Seriously. ♥ I turned my head and you stole a piece of my heart. – unknown

This little guy told his teacher @ church that his dad makes money and his mom makes cookies! I've laughed all day about it!

 

California + Pinterest = one happy me

This post is for Miss Kelie- who told me exactly what she thought of me going so long without a post. ;) No really, I had no idea it had been a couple of weeks. What is filling my time? Well a little trip to California,

 

which was bliss. Our kids have been begging to move there… WHERE IT’S WARM!!! haha. We hit up beaches galore!  

& Disney Land

Can you believe this is the ONLY picture of Mickey Mouse or any character we saw! We were TOO busy riding rides! Brooklyn was a maniac & LOVED all the rides! Her favorite was probably Soarin’ Over California @ California Adventures! Crazy thrill seeking girl! haha!

 

had a girls shopping day, had a few too many cups of yogurt land,

golfing, Jazz vs. Lakers game… you name it we packed it into our week!

Not to mention we enjoyed my little sister’s resort-like home! {THANKS ANGIE for letting us all crash at your place!}

If the kids weren’t at the beach, they were at the pool! We had a blast!!!

What else is consuming my time? A little thing called Pinterest- It’s beyond addictive! I love it and am totally hooked! It’s

There have been so many times I wanted to bookmark a particular website or photo from a website without saving it to my computer. Well, Pinterest solves that problem!  You drag their "pin" button to your bookmarks tab and then anytime you're on a website and see something you want to save, you click the pin button and it'll save the photo and link it back to the website on your boards.
You can create different inspiration boards in categories.  I've got a style board for Party Ideas, Style & Fashion, and boards for things like recipes, home design, books to read, Places I want to Travel & a bunch more!  Here are some of the things I've pinned:

Use a muffin tin to dye Easter Eggs! Idea from Parent Hacks

Cirque, Italy

EeEK! Aren’t these so Stinkin’ cute for 4th of July?!!!

You can find all kinds of goodness through Pinterest, from food to photography to shoes and everything in between.  But to get on Pinterest you have to sign up for an invitation from them, or be invited via e-mail from an existing user.  So if you're interested in signing up, just leave me your e-mail address and I'll send you an invite!  Once you're on, you can follow me here: http://pinterest.com/scattersunshine/. 

LA-LA-LOVE it!!!! I can’t hardly stand all the inspiration on there! I’m afraid I’ll be pinning much more than blogging from now on! ;)

Trying to pretend it’s Spring…

Put up my Spring Wreath… well Spring in Idaho is a JOKE! ;) Crazy weather!!! Good thing we are headed south at the end of the week and will hopefully enjoy some sunny California weather!

 

Well it’s a good day to get some things done around the house. First on the list: Make a new batch of this tasty granola!

Zach likes Crasins in his.

I like Blueberries in mine.

Zach & I moved to Texas for a little while before we had kids. When we finally decided to make the move home, we took a detour and stayed in this darling little beach house on the coast of California with some very dear friends of ours. It was there, watching the sunrise & the dolphins dance in the waves off the coast that I was introduced to this granola.  I knew I had to have that recipe. We have been making it for years now. It’s healthy and delicious. I give it a definite 10 in my book!

Even though Mother Nature would disagree with us, we are starting to bring Spring to us! Go get your new eighteen 25 Spring Download! EEK! I love when they come out with new Subway Art! Download it HERE.

Aren’t these darling? Get  your Sweet Tweets download HERE.

I have shared this before, but I thought I’d share it again. I made this Peep cake a couple of years ago. I still think it’s darling! Go HERE for the recipe.

My cute friend Nancy hosted a darling  Bling Out Baby Party. I am loving these cute Tulle & Silk flowers she made. Check out her tutorial HERE. ♥ them!

Here are a few General Conference Packets to print out for your kids. I love how they have EVERY age covered this year! I know these are a life saver for us so we can enjoy conference, and so can the kids!

 

Also a friend of mine shared this family’s need for a little sunshine in their life right now. Ashlee lost her husband a few weeks ago, we are doing a little service project for her and her 5 young kids.  If you think you might be able to help this beautiful mother of five go HERE.