Family Time... they're here!

Yesterday a red van pulled into our driveway. That means one thing... Carrie and the kids are here!YAY!! I wasn't there when that red van first pulled in, but I was there when it pulled in after dinner and boy was I excited. I haven't seen them since Christmas time and the kids have grown up so much! It's been so much fun to be here with them. Katelyn and Kylie are so independent now and they just seem old! They sure do have a lot of fun together and know how to make Mason laugh. Mason is huge! He has grown so much! He's not a little baby anymore! He's walking and talking and so funny! I love having Carrie around; she's a great example to me and I love having her and Lindsey as my sisters. I've been blessed with amazing sisters-in-law. Carrie and I stayed up late talking last night and I am grateful for her listening ear and tender heart.Troy, don't worry we miss you! Study hard!! We'll see you soon! :) Here are a few pictures of our adventures today!  :)

The red van

Kylie

"Stick your belly out Mason"

Katelyn

These little hands bring so many objects to life every day

The pitter patter of these little feet is a wonderful sound

Playing in the water

 As I said earlier, Troy isn't here. He is home in Iowa studying for some big tests. I have had the wonderful privilege of knowing Carrie is missing Troy and Troy missing Carrie. I love knowing how much they care and love for one another. I love knowing they are sealed together forever. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has given us temples and opportunities to be sealed to our families for eternity. I know that I am sealed to my parents forever because of the covenants made in the temple and I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful for the knowledge I have of this principle. I know that families can be together forever. I'm excited for the day when I can go to the temple and be married and sealed for time and all eternity. I love this gospel and all the happiness it brings.

Daddy's girl-Momma's girl

Well it's Father's Day! I don't know if my dad will ever get on to see this, but if he does Happy Father's Day dad! I love you! :) But anyways, I've been up for awhile today, longer than usual that's for sure. I had a terrible time sleeping last night and I was up rather early, but it has given me a lot of time to think. I feel like Winnie the Pooh looking for his honey jar- "think, think, think." But I started thinking about my parents. I know its Father's Day, but I thought of both of my parents. I began thinking of my last post about all my awesome brothers, but then I thought hey they aren't just awesome because they just came that way. They're awesome because of my amazing parents. My parents are rocks in our family. They have always been that way.
My dad is one of the most caring men I know. He has such a good heart and is always willing to do things for others and our family. He is one of the hardest workers I know as well. My dad is always going and doing something and I watch in awe as he hardly complains. He's a hero in my life. I have always enjoyed just spending time with him, even if no words are shared. He's always a big support for me in all I do and all I dream to do. My dad is such a huge example to me and my brothers and I'm grateful for all the things he does to provide for me. I know I'll always be his little girl in his eyes.
My mom is one of my best friends. I swear she rubs off on me and that just makes us completely weird sometimes, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I've been through a lot of struggles and tough times in my life; my mom has always been one to pick me up, help dust me off, and help me through it. I don't know what I would've done without her in those times. Tonight her and I went on a walk up our road and we just talked about some upcoming things that I'll post separately in a few minutes :) I enjoy talking to her and telling her my hopes and dreams. As we were walking we saw Lulabell the Lamb or Lester the Lamb. We weren't sure if it was a boy or girl, but I always seem to be laughing or having a great time and I love that about her and I. I know she's "gonna miss this" when I go to college, but I'm "gonna miss this" too.
I was trying to figure out this morning if I was a daddy's girl or a momma's girl. And honestly I came to the conclusion that I'm just my parent's girl because I don't know! I feel like I'm both and I'm so grateful for both of them! I love so very much and I'm grateful that my Heavenly Father sent me here to them!

Seminary graduation

Basketball senior night



Graduation



Dance recital with my trophy!

Mom and Dad- I love you! Thank you!

5 big blessings

In my previous post I talked about some blessings in my life that are up and coming, but I forgot some that I've had forever. There's 4 of them; They're protective, smarter than me, and have known what to say to me to make me become a better person. They're my big brothers. I'm spoiled to have four big brothers who love and care for me. And growing up, I think I took them for granted. I always got so frustrated and upset when they'd tease me. I didn't like them picking on me even in a joking way. I didn't take to it very well then, and I still sometimes struggle with it. But as I started a new job and have been around some of my co-workers and have been teased, I realized that because of my brothers I can handle being teased and I can tease back. When we were younger after church one day, they told me I wasn't a very good singer; the achievement day girls had sung in sacrament and I was a little too close to the microphone. That day I didn't take that too well, but they told me the truth and now I joke and laugh about how terrible I really am.
Today has been a long day to think. And that's when all these different things with my brothers came to mind. I thought of one of my brother Troy and his example as a husband and father. He lives in Iowa, but he's always one to listen to me when I call him up. I'm excited for him to fly out soon and be able to spend a few days with him. Then my brother Trent and his humor. He always has something to say or do that makes us all laugh. I've been able to watch him take on all sorts of new projects as he and his wife have been in their home and expecting their baby. Then comes Jared, but I'm going to save him for a minute. Then comes Cody. He's on his mission right now, and we didn't always get along before he left. But since he left, he's become one of my best friends. Through emails every week (except for when I'm too tired to email :)) we've built a friendship and I'm excited for him to get home in 11 days!! Alright so I skipped Jared because tonight we went to town to grab a bite of eat. Everyone always says we're so much alike, but I don't know about that. I sit in listen to him and I'm just amazed. He is so strong in his testimony and in everything he does. I look up to him a lot (as I do to all my brothers). And he may not know, but sometimes I sit in silence when I'm with him because I just enjoy being with him. He speaks his mind and is very straight forward, but sometimes I know he says things because he wants to protect me. As I'm getting ready for college, he'll tell me different things and I know its because he wants the best for me.
I may not be the best little sister all the time and I may give my brothers some attitude, but I hope they all know that I love them and am so grateful for them and their influence in my life. I've watched them all go on missions and serve our Father with faith and trust in His plan. They all went through challenges but overcame them and I'm grateful to have been able to have developed a testimony of missions before this next little road bump comes along.

This one really captures who we are :)

Elder Fowler

Trent and his wife Lindsey

Troy and his little boy Mason

Prom night: Jared didn't get to have his "man" talk with Kyle

Elder Fowler

Trent and  Lindsey

Troy and his wife Carrie

Seminary graduation

My other big blessing is that of my older brother, Jesus Christ. He gave His life for me, but not before He went into the garden, bled from every pore, felt every possible feeling, heartache, worry, and pain that we would know and then even more. But despite the pain, He did it anyways, to give all of us the opportunity to return to His and my Father's presence. I will always be indebted to my brother, friend, Redeemer, and Savior.
I'm so grateful for all of my big brothers and the sacrifices they make for me and the love they show to me. They truly are the best big brothers I could have ever asked for.

Why am I doing this?!

I have no idea why I'm starting a blog. It may be because I've been working hard on my photography blog and wanted another one for just me... but maybe not. It might be because I have family who live all over.. but maybe not. Call me crazy, but I want to do a blog because of everything that's going on in my life now. There's so many exciting things and changes coming along and I want to share them. First off, I GRADUATED!! Finally!

Well, for now I'm just working! I start college in January at BYU-I to major in photography.

Let's see, could my life get any more blessed?! I think so! My brother Troy and his wife Carrie and their kids are out in Iowa as my brother attends medical school. But this week, Carrie and the kids are coming out! Troy will be flying out to drive home with them. But anyways, I get to see them! Oh my goodness, I'm telling you I'm blessed!! More good news!! I am soon to be an aunt for the 4th time! My other sister-in-law could be having her baby any time now and I'm so excited to see this beautiful little baby fresh from heaven! And the list keeps going.. my brother Cody comes home from his mission in 15 days!! Holy smokes, where did that time go?! But I'm very excited to see him and spend time with all my family while they're home.

And one more blessing... Like I said previously, I just graduated and all these changes are happening! But I'm blessed enough to know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and is watching out for me. I could be so very overwhelmed and scared at everything that is happening, but I know that He will never leave me comfortless if I never leave Him. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I'm so blessed to have the gospel in my life. I know that it has helped me make the decisions I have and I know that I will be guided and directed as I seek for my Savior's help.

I'm so very blessed and I'm excited to blog some more! :)
Smile all the while!