Everyday is a special occasion ...

With my children, Logan, Utah - 2003

 It's Thursday AKA #TBT (Throwback Thursday) -

So today, in honor of a great quote by Thomas S. Monson that goes -

Everyday is a special occasion ...

Here's a few from days gone by!

Kaleb and Kade - best buddies...

One of Kaleb's Senior Photos ...

Sitting on the front porch with my husband ...

Cookies for Valentine's Day ...

Christmas Caroling for Family Home Evening ...

Walking to the canyon in Afton, Wyoming ...

At the temple with our son, Kade ...

Feeling so grateful ...

Everyday matters.

Our little moments matter and add up to become our lives.

See today as the special occasion it is!

He taught us how to fish ...

The Lichfield Family - 2004

with my Mom and Dad

 Daddy Daughter Dance - 1984 (ish) ...

1970s ...

 We are family!

Fish on!

Family photo moment in mom and dad's backyard

Go Bombers - my dad and mom never missed a meet.

Dear Dad,

Just a little note for you on Father's Day.

Thanks for being one of my heroes! You taught us all how to work hard, how to pray, how to love, how to be kind, how to fish, how to be patient, how to trust in God, and how to live by faith.

I am so thankful to you and mom for the legacy you have left and the way you have made our family the most important thing in your life!

You never missed cheering for us at cross country meets, you never missed having family prayer, you never missed an opportunity to teach us about the gospel and the love of the Savior.

I love you dearly! So glad I get to call YOU Dad.

Love,
Wendy

PS: Fish on!

All you need is love.

Nothing like brothers trying on hats in a toy store together.

Love.

:)

Families are Forever ...

Saturday, January 10th, 2015 -

Dear Self,

Remember this day! So filled with love, peace, hope and happiness!!  :)

Me.

Lunch with Lauren …
(My thoughts on a snowy Thursday afternoon)

My daughter and I have had the opportunity to share lunch time together for most of her life!
(She's 5 so that's a lot of Mom & daughter lunch times)...

Every day before lunch I say to her – “Lauren, I’m the luckiest Mom in the whole world.” And she then says: “Why?” And I reply: “Because I get to sit by you and eat lunch with you everyday!” And we both laugh. This little routine has been going on for a long time.

Today, we were in a rush to eat so we could get her to preschool on time. I quickly made the usual peanut butter only sandwiches (cut into 4 little sandwiches) with some chips, a glass of milk and a napkin.

As I went into the dining room, she said: “Mom, why are you soooooooo lucky?”
I looked at her and said: “Because I have you for a daughter and we get to sit together and have lunch!” “YUP” she yelled.

And even though we were in a big hurry, we still had time to chat about letters of the alphabet, the falling snow outside and would it still be there after she got done with school, and could we make a big snowman later, and did the word Milk really start with M b/c on Blues Clues Steve said cow started with C ….

I love you Lauren. Thanks for all the wonderful lunchtimes. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for blessing me with three awesome kids who add more meaning and magic to my life than I could ever express in words.

Signing off –
The LUCKIEST MOM!!
:)

PS:
I can’t wait for the kids to get home from school so

we can build a snowman or snow creature in the backyard ….

A time to see the SEA ... :)

A Mermaid in the sand ... About to be washed away by the waves

Sandsations! Every year The city of Long Beach holds a sand sculpting contest...
This lady was making a polar bear as part of the event! I had no idea you could make such wonderful things out of sand! It was truly inspiring ...

Statue of Captain William Clark standing next to a sturgeon
Long Beach, WA

North Head Lighthouse ... Long Beach, Washington
(My two sons and I had a tour inside this lighthouse - it was amazing!)

A trip to the ocean …

We just returned from a very eventful, fun trip to the ocean! We were able to run in the waves, sip hot chocolate by the fire, take a tour of a lighthouse, hike, visit an aquarium, walk along the path Lewis & Clark explored and drive across a four mile bridge. It was a vacation full of fun, wonder and appreciation for the outdoors! I do hope this summer has been one of awe and wonder for you and your family … I am so thankful for all the beautiful things there are to see in this world we live in!

Oh the places we can go, things we can see, people we can meet

and stuff we can LEARN!

Cheers to July and all the amazing moments it presented.

The day you were born … It's important!

Let’s talk about birthdays for a moment. We all have them. Some of them may be more enjoyable than others ... but the fact remains, birthdays do not stop coming (until we die). And even then those who loved us still remember us and celebrate the time we were here. Then there are those people who were ultra famous – their birthdays become holidays or at least mentioned on radio and or TV shows as part of the ‘on this date in history’ segments. Fact is – Birthdays matter. The way I see it, the world changes each time a new person is born. Each of us leaves our tracks on the world by what we choose to do with our time on it.

OK what’s up with the chit chat about birthdays you ask? Well, today happens to be the day I was born…! It’s been a splendid day and there’s still more celebrating to do...Might as well ENJOY the birthday fun for as long as possible right?

The day started out with pancakes for breakfast (thanks to my husband for that) and then it was off to our oldest son’s soccer game. Did you know that soccer games are played regardless of rain showers? Wow – it was a wet, cold game!! Our oldest son scored a goal and that was exciting. Way to go Kade ...

Next, it was off to a baseball game for son #2. It was freezing and the 6-inning game took two hours. It was a wonderful two hours though! He’s batting 1000 as he is 6 for 6. Yup – the star hitter of the team! I love watching our kids play sports ... Especially when they love the game and enjoy being part of the team. Way to go Kaleb ...

Then, it was home for cake and singing… What now? Kaleb (the slugger) took 3rd place in a community children’s poetry event and he’s reading it tonight at the Community Center.

His poem is called: Snakes and is simply wonderful!

I can hardly wait to hear him read it on stage - out loud!

All in all, it’s been the perfect day! I feel so grateful to be alive and to have another birthday. Birthdays cause me to reflect and appreciate the days, months and years that I’ve had to live, love and learn – and I look forward to many many more.

PS:
I am truly grateful to our Father in Heaven who showers each of us with so many blessings.
I feel that each day is a gift and want to live them to their fullest. I’m so thankful for my parents who chose to have me and taught me so many wonderful things. I love you Mom & Dad…. thanks for giving me a birthday :) ...

Cheers to time and all the beautiful things we can do with it!