Quote of the Day

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"The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving ways of the kingdom of God and the taking practices of the world."
by Robert D. Hales

Shad's 1st Birthday

Three Cuties

Shad (almost 1)

The Pumpkin Patch 2008

A pretty scene from Niagra Spings

Quote

"Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together."

M. Russell Ballard - General Conference 2008

Shad at Rock Creek Park

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Brayden and Tyson - Olympic weightlifter hopefuls

Brayden and Tyson - Olympic hopefuls

At the Twin Falls Temple

Kiara and Tyson

Jael, Anson and Shad

Great Grandparents with kids

Jael, Anson and Shad at the Twin Falls Temple

Duties

Husbands Direct Righteous Living in the Home

" 'Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it' (Eph. 5:25). With that kind of love, brethren, we will be better husbands and fathers, more loving and spiritual leaders. Happiness at home is most likely to be achieved when practices there are founded upon the teachings of Jesus Christ (see Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). Ours is the responsibility to ensure that we have family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Ours is the responsibility to prepare our children to receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation and the blessings promised to tithe payers. Ours is the privilege to bestow priesthood blessings of healing, comfort, and direction."
Russell M. Nelson, "Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women," Ensign, May 1999, 39-40

The Rock

Balanced Rock Park

The Park

Kiara hiking up the hill,

The Cave, the kids love to climb.

Sarah and Eric at the Cabin. (Shortly after a hail storm)

Tyson hiking in the woods

Fireworks at West Yellowstone

Quake Lake

Yellowstone Park

We had a really nice time in the park over the 4th of July. The only flaw in an otherwise perfect weekend was that we had car trouble on the way to the cabin. Our hosts (Harry, Carol, Sarah and Eric) treated us to some great scenery and fun drives though some beautiful country. Everything was so green and the flowers were so pretty. Here is a photo of some of what we saw. I will post more later.

Tyson fishing at Balanced Rock Park

Tyson wanted to catch a fish or a snake. We didn't have a pole or line, so he made his own. A branch and long grass from the bank of the stream.

Fun at Dierke's

We all had a great time at Dierke's. Daekon and kiara love the diving board and the others loved the sand and splashing. We all enjoyed the sunshine.

The Visit

Great weekend!!! Visiting VIP's, Lynda, Tony, Daekon, Brayden and Ashlyn Meza and Sarah, Eric, Kiara and Tyson Badger came to visit over the weekend. What a special time we had. We went to Dierke's Lake and waded and swam and got sunburned. What fun. Daekon, Kiara and Brayden are great swimmers and divers. We went to the movie's (Wall-E), a fun movie for the kids. We visited Balanced Rock and we visited and had a good enjoyable time. I will try to get some pictures posted soon.

The Visit

Great weekend!!! Visiting VIP's

Shad

Shad is so fun and is getting such a special personallity.

Anson deep in thought

Anson sometimes seems to be in such deep thought. I wonder, is he figuring out some new idea, or is he figuring out a secret plan or maybe he just wants to see the cows.

A Cute Dancer!!!

Jael danced so good. She is really cute in her dance outfit. "Thanks" Jael for giving us a good time.

The "Badgers" at Centenial Park

Quote of the Day

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"We . . . need to prepare our own seedbed of faith. To do this we need to plow the soil through daily humble prayer, asking for strength and forgiveness."
by James E. Faust

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us — even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will."
Joseph B. Wirthlin - 2007 Oct. Gen. Conf

A Great Quote

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Gordon B. Hinckley

 
"Teach [your children] tolerance.  They need not surrender their own beliefs while extending tolerance to those with other beliefs.

"Teach them civility toward others.  Conflict between the races will fade when all of us recognize that we are all part of one great family.

"Teach them respect---respect for others, respect for the property of others, respect for the opinions of others, respect on the part of men for women and women for men" (The Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 663).

The Meza Kids - Easter 2008

Photos taken by Lynda

The Story of Francis Scott Key

Quote

God knows you and what you can become because He has known you from the beginning when you were His spirit sons and daughters."

James E. Faust

Just a Note & High Flyin Tyson

Hi, just a note to say I've missed posting. I was getting in to the habit pretty well for a while, but then things got really busy at work and I haven't had a chance to really collect my thoughts. Hopefully in a couple of weeks things will settle down a little. Anyway I sure enjoy the other blogs and hope Sarah can get things figured out. She could really come up with some good things to put in it.

Here is Tyson, having fun on his bike for the 1st time this year. He is really excited that he doesn't need the training wheels anymore.

Cathy and Bill

This is a photo of Cathy and Bill in the Rose Garden at the county fair summer 2007.

A beautiful dancer

Kiara just competed in a dancing competition in Utah and came in second place in her solo dance.  We are really proud of all the hard work and effort she devotes to her talents.

A Pretty Girl

A fun day last summer.

Scripture and Quote

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: 2 Nephi 32:7

"And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be."

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Lorenzo Snow

"There are some who do not learn and who do not improve as fast as they might, because their eyes and their hearts are not upon God.  They do not reflect, neither do they have that knowledge which they might have; they miss a good deal which they might receive.  We have got to obtain knowledge before we obtain permanent happiness"

At the lake in 2007

Everyone had a great time at the lake last summer. I haven't done much with the photo's, I think I am a little behind.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

"I believe that through His atoning sacrifice, the offering of His life on Calvary's Hill, He expiated the sins of mankind, relieving us from the burden of sin if we will forsake evil and follow Him. I believe in the reality and the power of His Resurrection. I believe in the grace of God made manifest through His sacrifice and redemption, and I believe that through His Atonement, without any price on our part, each of us is offered the gift of resurrection from the dead. I believe further that through that sacrifice there is extended to every man and woman, every son and daughter of God, the opportunity for eternal life and exaltation in our Father's kingdom, as we hearken to and obey His commandments. "
Gordon B. Hinckley - Ensign Jul. 2006

Sisters

Righteous Character

"When protected by self-control, righteous character will endure for eternity."
by Richard G. Scott

Gratitude

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf. Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind. Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden. Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely. Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry. Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job. Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life!

by unknown

Faith

Faith

The Apostle Paul taught that "faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Alma made a similar statement: "If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see.

Parenthood

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Gordon B. Hinckley

"Of all the joys of life, none other equals that of happy parenthood. Of all the responsibilities with which we struggle, none other is so serious. To rear children in an atmosphere of love, security, and faith is the most rewarding of all challenges. The good result from such efforts becomes life's most satisfying compensation. . . . I am satisfied that no other experiences of life draw us nearer to heaven than those that exist between happy parents and happy children"

Jael, Anson and Shad

Jael is such a cute girl. She is always lots of fun.

Anson is so busy (always going to work). He has to have his cell phone (or maybe 2) and his palm pilot and his computer bag.

Shad is growing so fast. He has such a cute smile.

Mom and Dad