Walking in the Light Together Forever

OH HOW LOVELY WAS THE MORNING

2009-07-10T15:40:00.001-07:00

I feel something so amazing as I look at these photo's! You who have been here are so blessed. This is the Sacred Grove where Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.

FREEDOM 4th of JULY

2009-07-04T13:59:00.001-07:00

This is Baby Brock Balmforth's 1st Parade. He didnt ever smile while I was there but he sure was a good little boy.

Isnt he just soooooooooooo CUTE.
This is momma Jessica and Brock. She is a beautiful gal. We love her.

Just too tired for anymore parade. Look at those chompy cheeks. Have to kiss them.

Awake again for the last half. How come that chub isnt so cute when you are an adult?

Happy fourth of July!! Let FREEDOM RING!! I have always been a patriotic person.. The sight of the Flag,the Pledge of Allegiance, and Star Spangled Banner always send a chill down my spine and a tear of gratitude to my eyes. This year Ashley and I attended the parade in Idaho Falls. Its just not like when I was a kid when the floats were real floats with hours of paper stuffed into chicken wire and unique and complex ideas were created into interesting formations to stimulate service and effort and hard work. And times change~and things as they were wont ever be thee in some ways. So here are a few photos randomly shot, kind of as an after thought to send to my son Taylor in Missouri, who is in basic training for the Army Reserve. Today patriotism means even more knowing our son could soon join other military oversea to be a part ofthering the freedom of this Great country, the United States o

Ashley and I painted rocks last year and here are a couple that remained after the wint

What I need to alot of!!

Pretty cool to find a heart shaped rock..

This was just a shot of the crowd on the street we were on. Dont know any of them just folks.

Oops!! Same folks. Havent figured out how to delete pictures.

This vehicle was confiscated from a drug dealer. Now the cops drive it. CRAZY!

This is a picture of the cottoncandy Ashley WISHED she could have but she left her money in the car so I took a photo of it for her. Later we bought some in Target.

Always a few horses.

And I love the military. I lived on a military base for 3 years in Colorado and the guys wore green. So now its desert gear.

This was an interesting float. Some thought went into it. Good job guys!

Got to have an OLD RED fire truck. That always is fun and interesting.

This is baby Brocks Spanish relatives, his grandma is in the purple shirt looking away. And his great aunt is in the pink~nice people.

Perserverance

2009-07-02T16:19:00.001-07:00

This is from editor@ezinemagazine.com really an awesome site to get uplifting information.

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other."~ Walter Elliot (1842-1928)
"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."~ Marie Curie (1867-1934)
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."~ John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)
"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak."~ Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

TRUE STATEMENT

2009-06-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

To get what you have never had, you have to do what you have never done.

We All Have STUFF!

2009-06-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

SURRENDER

Surrender now, pretend no more,

God is here just open the door.

Ego lay down, take a rest,

We've always thought you were the best.

Edging God Out isn't the way,

You seem big and strong,

but you can't stay.

Surrender is strength,

placing all in God's hands,

admitting to him you don't understand.

I'm willing to put myself in his care,

because something tells me, he will always be there.

Surrender, let go, release all the ties.

Step outside the box and you'll see blue skies.

God is just waiting for you to let go, to realize you're

really not running the show.

This is baby Brock. He is 3 months old now and an amazing delight. So using him as an example of the innocence of all of us it becomes hard to believe we could ever have stuff. So what is stuff? Stuff in my opinion, is the illusions we have created over the span of our earthly existance. Not to be minimized because for most of us we have come to know these illusions better than the real innocense of who we REALLY are. We hold them near and dear and to some it becomes such a secret we must not ever reveal. So look deep into the eyes of this sweet little baby. Except see if you can see you. Yes, you. Our natural man becomes our enemy. An enemy to our goodness and true self. Ego is another word we could use to describe the natural man. A great acronym for ego is Edging God Out ! Cool huh? We do often only reveal the good stuff, and then others begin to think less of themselves, or feel like everyone else is better, richer,more talented. We are so good for each other. WE are all teachers, and we didnt even know what a great job we were doing. We are the FAMILY separate and collective. We need each other with our innocence, our pain, our STUFF.

LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE IT~ALWAYS HAS BEEN ALWAYS WILL BE...

2009-06-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We weredriving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of aparking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on hisbrakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver ofthe other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxidriver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was reallyfriendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruinedyour car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi drivertaught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run aroundfull of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full ofdisappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump itand sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbageand spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks takeover their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,so....Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

HOPE

2009-06-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

"Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive.... If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired."~ Erik Erikson (1902-1994)
"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our overconfidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."~ Bruce Barton (1886-1967)
"A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love."~ Marie-Henri Beyle (1783-1842)
"The pure, the bright, the beautiful that stirred our hearts in youth,The impulses to wordless prayer,The streams of love and truth,The longing after something lost,The spirit's longing cry,The striving after better hopes-These things can never die."~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our overconfidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."~ Bruce Barton (1886-1967)
"A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love."~ Marie-Henri Beyle (1783-1842)
"The pure, the bright, the beautifulthat stirred our hearts in youth,The impulses to wordless prayer,The streams of love and truth,The longing after something lost,The spirit's longing cry,The striving after better hopes-These things can never die."~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Beautiful flowers

2009-06-16T19:07:00.001-07:00

Well, I tried to capture a little of the out of doors at the Balmforth quarters without exposing ALL of the other stuff. This is out by a pond Joel created. He carved this owl with a chainsaw many years ago.

Flowers he planted that have come up voluntarily this year!

This is part of his corn in his square foot garden. However it incapsulates much more than one square foot. Ha

Here is a more frightening view with a bunch of this's and that's including the ol farmer tractor.

And more of the same. Joel uses whatever is handy for the purpose at hand.

See what I mean? Old pallets,wood, and pvc pipe, oh yeah and tires.

Raspberries!!

More Corn.

More raspberries...

Rubarb. YUMMY!!!

Guess what this is? The compost pile. While I was cleaning the yard off the other day so I could mow. I found a waist high contain of old wet coffee grounds that he has collected for something???

More Rubard. Anyone want strawberry rubarb pie?

This is an upside down tomato grower. I think the tomatoes are confused~they arent doing so well. Oh wait~maybe because there is more rain than sun..

Tools of the trade!

An arbor he built out of this and that!

His mothers favorite flowers.

The quakies are really getting tall..

Oops! Got the same picture twice and I didnt know how to remove it. So you aren't really seeing double.

These flowers we planted about 4 years ago in two or three clumps. They have seeded themselves and are just beautiful this year probably because of the rain. Notice I have been weeding. Also I tried to keep it a tight shot so as not to distract from the flowers. The outer perimeter is very interesting. I would have to show you the cow that is grazing in the front yard due to no interested parties in mowing it. Oh well! Got to love it. At least I have grass. For so many years I didnt. So there you have it. Right as I am complaining I am into gratitude. God bless America~~

Love of America

2009-06-07T18:19:00.002-07:00

I love America, I love the chill that runs down my spine when I see the flag and say the pledge of alligence. I love that Moroni was a captain in the Lords army and stands at the pinacle of our temples. I have an even more vested interest in that our son Taylor is training in Missouri now for the troops. I can't even imagine him going to war. My prayer is that he will never have too. And I am so grateful for the great patriots of our country who stand in harms way daily to defend the freedom of this great land!! May we all in the coming weeks have a special prayer in our hearts on behalf of all the troops, and for those who have been killed while defending this great land of America. In God we trust. May Old Glory FOREVER Wave!!

Spring! Whats that?

2009-03-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

March 29 and its been a blizzard all day long. Wind a howling and gusting about. Someone on facebook suggested we should get a jump on the holidays and put our lights back up. Maybe not a bad idea!!
Blogging just much not be my thing. I havent written since Thanksgiving and surely alot has happened. Id like to be better at this~I do good to write in my journal....
Brock Michael Balmforth was born on March 21,2009. Joel and I and Amber along with a bunch of other folks got to witness his coming into the world. Jessica and Taylor spent a very long day on the 20th working on getting him here and to no avail. I was so proud of them, they worked well together and it was a sweet experience. Finally 2 am on the 21st Jessica got an epidural which then got her to dialating and so by 8:21 Brock was born. What a little darling he is. He has lots of brown hair and cute little dimples in his cheeks. I held him yesterday and told him he was a week from heaven and if he could talk what he could tell us. I said you probably saw Grandma and pa Balmforth and Grandma Miller and he smiled so big. Im telling you It wasnt gas.
Cody has 4 months and some change before he will be headed home. Its been along time. He sounds so good and I feel like he is ready to start a fresh life with his kids.
My dad and his wife Linda will be home from St George area or rather Warm Springs Nev. They hope to serve a mission there next winter. Linda isnt looking forward to coming home to the weather though. Everyone is anxious to get garden stuff going and then you look outside. Oh well this is Idaho and this snow wont last long. Spring has got to hurry to go out like a lamb.
Conference Sunday. Im looking forward to hear from the brethern. I love the gospel and Im so grateful for the atonement.

SO GRATEFUL...

2008-11-24T19:02:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last few minutes viewing a couple of blogs I love. I am so inspired by these beautiful women in my life. It sometimes seems so easy to complain and forget to be grateful in all things. I start to feel ashamed of myself which only leads to more not feeling happy with me. (A destructive thing) I subbed for primary on Sunday and in the opening exercise the counselor told the kids that they needed to always be nice to others and that meant to be nice to themselves too!! I was so happy to hear the children being taught that. I dont really remember that being taught to me. Maybe it was and I dont remember (and maybe these children wont remember either) but I was grateful for me to hear it once again as a child of God. I have so much to be thankful for~and I so love this time of year. Fall as well as the holidays. I love family, mine and my extended. It feels like life is so busy that we dont get to spend much time really sharing with each other and I want my family, all of them to know how deeply I feel for all of them. My parents, my children and their spouses and grandchildren as well as my siblings and there spouses and my nieces and nephews. I love you all so much. I think Heavenly Father must love us all alot. We really do have an awesome family. Not perfect by far, and our share of growth opportunities and perfect in all our inperfections!! I am grateful for the gospel~for the amazing atonement which covers all of those imperfections as we allow ourselves to use it and be grateful for it. I am grateful for FREEDOM, for a land God proclaimed was a good land. For men and women who are willing to go to war to protect her. I am grateful for fabulous friends who prod me along the way. I am grateful to have had a voice that could sing praises in my life. (its kind of sad to see it weaken) When I look around at all the challenges others have I really am grateful for my own. We come from good people who have paved the way. Im challenging myself and anyone who wants to renew themselves to look for things to be grateful for and repent quickly. Be willing to see things a new way so that we can always be winners and everyone else can be too. Enjoy Thanksgiving and the upcoming Holidays. Remember Christ in all of it.

HALLOWEEN GANG AT WORK

2008-11-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

These are the gals I work with at the Ribbon Retreat in Shelley Idaho. They all dressed up except me. I had been sick, so at the end of the day I dawned pigtails and crazy ribbon.

Soccer and Utah

2008-10-20T17:56:00.001-07:00

These are the watermelons that my sister in law Betty grew this summer. She has a new home in South Jordan, Ut. I am so impressed. We havent really tried hard to grow them in Idaho and now Ill think we'll try. We got to taste some and it was really good.
These are the vines that those melons came from. Right over the fence.

This is the garderess Betty Root. She is Joel's only sister. We love her and miss her. She has always lived in Shelley and moved to be close to her daughter and grandchildren.

This is Joel's daughter Kami Perez. She is the wonderful mother to the darling girls Makia and McKell below. I was along ways from her and used my zoom. She probably wont be very happy with me. I love you Kami!!

This is Kami's fabulous husband, Marciano. He is a great guy and the soccer coach to these adorable grandkids...

This is McKell, the youngest of 3 girls in the Perez family. She loves to be a princess, and she is a good soccer player.

This is Makia, she is the oldest of the Perez girls. She is taller than grandma now. Not fair. She just turned 12 and went into young womens. She is a beehive and is so happy to be in mutual. She also got voted into student council. Congratulations!!!!

This is Bailee Waters, another granddaughter of Joels oldest daughter Laura. Bailee is such a cute kid. All of them gave us new school pics and WOW what beautiful kids. My camera went out of battery so I missed pictures of Tanner, Bailees brother, and Kailey the other Perez granddaughter. Sorry kids, Ill carry more batteries next time. We loved seeing you this weekend.

What's Inside!!

2008-09-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to Carol Tuttle on K-talk. Its interesting to hear someone talk about things that are fairly congruent with me. The outside events could be a reflection of what is going on inside. It seems that everything rolls back to our thoughts. Im just rambling now and I hope this might make some sense. We live a good portion of our lives being ruled by our mind or EGO. We believe we are a dual person (even if we aren't conscious of it). So whatever is going on on the outside that brings up fear is just a reflection or a mirror of what could be going on inside. So when we are able to get in our heart or spirit for snatches of time we are able to re-think or re-mind ourselves who we really are. (Sons and daughters of the King). It is a stretch at times to get in touch with those kinds of things and at the same time It is just so Fabulous...In the relief society talk by Pres. Uckdorf (ms)he told us a scripture What you Believe you will See!! This is the same things we are being told by alot of other teachers in the world today. We have to own our thoughts and change them if we don't like them. Im so grateful to the awesome people in my life who are part of my own remembering. Its so great to be a mother, wife, daughter, aunt, friend and all the other things I get to experience at this time in my life.

80th Annual Shelley Spud Day Parade

2008-09-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a beautiful weather week, until this morning. Rain and lots of it. Thanks to my daughter Amber who loves to experience EVERYTHING~I made my way to Shelley (3miles from home) and watched the parade. It seemed to be a bigger deal this year, at least the parade was longer. And we experienced yes you guessed rain. The float with the new Miss Russet was soggy and she was sitting down holding an umberella. I took some pictures of Shelley highlights (which mostly of my family attending the parade). Jennifer and Shane with Hailey and Paige were there, as well as Amber, Garrett and baby Hesston. Ashley and me. After the parade we walked over to the park where they had lots of good food, exibits and lots of things to buy. We werent there long. They always give out free baked potatoes with the works and chocolate milk so we ate and then wandered awhile. Garrett was having a blast, and we were having one watching him. This is our friend Deb's vinyl store called the 4 Sisters. She is such a great friend and talented gal. She a loft at the top of her store where she and her two boys live. On the second floor she has a slide that goes down to the bottom floor where they have a playroom, and a great meditating,exercise area for her.

This is the back of her store and her backyard. She is so clever, she put the sod and walkway in last Tuesday. Rather Zen!!

Im not sure who this gentleman is, but he was sure having a good time.
Shelley grade school kids got to be in the parade. They were sure saved from the rain.

This is some of the "fam" Hailey,Paige,Amber,Garrett,Ashley Jennifer, and Shane in the back.Here comes the rain!!J.J. and her kids did an early morning 5K race, Hailey is wearing her shirt. She beat her mom by one second.

This is Ashley and Garrett in the back alley before the parade started.

This is Dustin on the Haslem float. His bestfriend Brandon was killed in August on a motorcycle. Brandon also raced cars and they had his number 3 car in the parade in memory of Brandon. We all love and miss him.

1st Annual Rolling Hills Classic

2008-09-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a great day. This is Jennifer Saunders by oldest daughter. She had an idea some months ago to develop an event to support Autism. She has an amazing heart and desire to be of service. I think none of realized until today how much work she had gone to singlehandedly over the past year. Calling, talking, and meeting with people to pull this event off. She created a fun run and a 5 and 10 k run in Rexburg, Idaho. She got sponsors to donate money and materials and prizes for this event. I have to say there were times that it appears she had had a phone implant done because she was always talking to someone about something none of us understood. I would have to say that it was a grand success for her 1st year. Her next year should be even greater. She loves athletic things and has certified as a personal trainer. She has some clients and has started her own line of clothing called Buttingear. (get it Butt in gear) These pictures will hopefully show some of what went on. Congratulations Jennifer, You did it!
The day started off by preregistration folks picking up there shirts and bags for the race, and new registrants signing up for whichever race they were interested in. That part was a little crazy and will be tweeked abit in the coming years. This is a breed of people who go about the country doing races and marathons. There were singles, married and families joining in the races. As young as 5 or 6 and as old as 60 plus. This is serious business to these folks. Some are really out to win and others love to run for a cause.
Miss Rexburg Miss Merrill singing the national anthem. Then they were instructed where each race course would go and then off to the starting line. In the meantime, the booth folks were fininshing up including the national guard who brought a great blow up play area for the kids to play on. There was a petting zoo where a minuture horse was as well as a little goat and a bunny. There was icecream, milk,watermelon and bananas. Great Harvest came to provide delicious bread for all the patrons of the day. There were health booths, a dentist office, mobile library, crisis intervention group and much more.

There are Jennifers husband parents, Bob and Joyce Saunders. Shane is definitely a fan!

This is Amber my second daughter, Jennifers younger sister who came has support and to take pictures for her.

This is the finish line where JJ and her mentor are standing as well as those recorders of time and numbers are sitting on the curb. Ashley my youngest daughter and her roomate Kara and our friend Tanisha who also ran the 5K.

This is a cute Jamba Juice banana guy who came to advertise for Jamba. He was in good humor for the day.

This is the Dare car, to promote being drug free to the kids and adults alike. He would turn his sirens and lights on, the children loved it of course.

Off to college

2008-09-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday Joel and I took Ashley to college at BYUI. She has a nice apartment which she will share with 5 other girls. Her roomate is from Shelley as well so she does know somebody. she has a roomate from Washington, 2 from Missouri, and one from Kansas. She says they are really nice. She has a date from a guy from Colorado. She says no big deal he is in her ward. She is taking a couple of online classes and taking on a clogging class. She says she is carring 16 credits. She was going to try out for softball but is going to wait to see how school goes and how she handles the homework. By the picture you can see that her dad was in on the action~telling her where she should put everything. It was cute and entertaining.

OFF TO COLLEGE !

2008-09-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

My first granddaughter

2008-09-06T19:26:00.001-07:00

Grandma & Dakota

Ashley & Dakota

This is picture of Dakota J. Storer. She is 13 going on 20... She is a great girl. She came for a couple of days at the beginning of the summer. She and Ashley had a blast together. She lives in American Fork, Utah.

A new day!!

2008-07-26T11:13:00.001-07:00

I decided I would go outside and take some pictures. I felt like a kid on some sort of a safari. The dogs thought they needed in on the act so I took their pictures. Aren't they cute? I only say that so they can't hear. And these two characters think they are people. Diesel is the one in the front and Spot in the back. Spot is a bluetick hound and a drooly dude that thinks he is the boss. Diesel is just a sweet dog that loves attention. He has appointed himself the llama watcher. He spends most of his time in the pasture down the street with our llamas. If one of them gets out he follows it wherever until it is returned to its pasture.

Here are a few young fowl not yet laying eggs.

Here is an ancient piece of equipment in the field. It was used on this farm way long years ago.

A close up of the sunflowers grown by Joel.

I just liked this~an old piece of wood and a shovel...

This is a unique tree only grown at the Balmforths' in Woodville. Its scientific name is Palmpine. Actually eaten by the resident goats a few years ago. Its hangin on by the skin of its teeth.

More fish...

See the fish. There is a great big koi but he was camera shy!!

Here is the backyard pond. You would have had a laugh watching me take these pictures. I was on my belly trying to get a picture of the fish.

Here is a close up of the apples on the tree.

This is one of the apple trees in our yard. It looks like we may even get some apples this year.

Joel's Yard Projects!

2008-07-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

These flowers have been in the yard for a few years, and due to no or low water they have never really been beautiful. Wow having water makes these amazing!

This is a shot through a wire angel my sister in law Betty gave me along time ago. Silly, but I love it.

New breed of Dog (rather llamas) we have many and Joel extends a mobile fence so they sometimes feed on the side lawn. Now hold yourselves down~I feel a little envy goin on. Not everyone is this lucky. (I hope God gets my bad humor)

This use to be a huge mound of just dirt. Oh my no it was dirt with 3 foot weeds. My clever prince took odds and ends and throw aways and made this rather clever pond setting that is very peaceful to stand by. He is a lover of nature. If he had access to unlimited funds look out!!

Joel started studying square foot gardening months ago when it was winter. He read and read and then made the boxes. He had things planted the end of April and covered them and babied them along. The premise is to eliminate weeds and to keep track better. I think it has worked for him. He has approx 10 boxes. Probably not the ideal for a huge family who wants tons of produce. Each square has a 3 part dirt mix.

Can you guess what is in this one??

Cute huh? Flowers right along with the cabbage. It makes me smile. He really loves watching them grow.

Another view of the pond area. He has used an old metal wagon wheel (in the forefront) and planted flowers in it. I was helping weed one day and he says I pulled flowers.

This is just a little old bird house. I love simple things!!

We have lived in Woodville since 1995. For most of that time we have looked close to the biggest disaster on the street. All sand, no water and lots of weeds and junk. Joel has been working hard to create a fun country atmosphere on a low budget. Thanks honey~it looks great! You're a genius. Here are some pictures of the yard and Joel's square foot gardens. I put a couple of Amber's square foot garden as well. (Lost the pictures somewhere, I will post them later.) Yikes! Ill be glad when I get this figured out.

Sunday trip to Boise

2008-07-21T18:24:00.001-07:00

We decided late Saturday evening to go to Boise to see baby Tyler blessed. We left home at 6:30 am and arrived at the Murray home at 11:00. Heather had a nice lunch with Beau's mom and siblings and of course us. The pictures are of the front of their new home. Grandma Cathy and Tyler, uncle Jason and Tyler, sleeping Lydia and her aunt, Terry and Valerie. Heather, Cathy and Tyler. We had a lovely day. Beau and Heather spoke as well as blessed the baby so sacrament was a good experience. They seem to have a nice young ward. We left after the meeting was over and went to visit some old friends. Wally and Donna Hendrickson of Boise. Joel and they go way back to McCall when he worked and lived there. Wally was in a hospital bed in the living room and the vigil of waiting for him to cross over was in process. He quietly talked to us as much as he could. They are sweet people and we were really glad that we stopped in to say our goodbyes.

Sleeping Lydia and her aunt, Beau's sister.

Heather, Cathy and Tyler
Terry and his favorite big sister (ONLY)

Uncle Jason and Tyler

Grandma Cathy and Tyler

Tyler Murray 2 months old!! Big Boy...

New House in Star, Idaho

Our Family

2008-07-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here is the Balmforth Bunch!! We can hardly believe they are all grown up. We had these taken right before the twins graduated from high school. I hope to have all nine of them together for a picture when Cody gets home. Here we are in an old alley behind some stores. Arent they awesome!!

This is my darling Dustin, He looks like he should go to hollywood.

This is my fabulous Taylor. Since graduation Taylor has really changed his looks. He has gone from ducky blonde hair to his more dark blone. He is an a great kid!!

Here is miss Ashley, looking rather demure. I put this one on because I couldnt figure the whole thing out yet.

Here we are in Shelley at the Snake River. It is such a beautiful spot. I go there to read, and ponder or whatever.

I loved this picture of them walking away. The photographer didn't really like that the car was there~but oh well.

We had these pictures taken before the kids graduated. The boys were headed out of state to work and I wanted to get some pictures before it was hard to gather everyone in. I am hoping to have all 9 kids together when Cody gets home. Won't that be great!!!

pictures!!

2008-07-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

watch out for this bunch in the future...

A load full of grandkids

Amber and Baby Hesston

Part of the family at graduation

Taylor and Ashley before graduation

Boy time flies!!

2008-07-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Its now July 12, 2008. Now to test my memory of all past events. First of all May 22 Taylor and Ashley graduated from high school. A week before that Ashley graduated from 4 years of seminary. Both events were delightful and sad because those were our babies. We have been doing these for a long time. Wayne Dyer once said you need to approach life with the attitude of delight as if it were your first experience and delight as if it were your last. He having 8 children and us with 9, do alot of the same things over and over. Ball games, wrestling, dance,plays, programs etc. So with that approach you never get bored and you can always be having a good time. Next Dustin and Taylor left for their summer jobs in Oregon building huge cellars and insulating them. They came home for the 4th of July. The kids are all experiencing their independance from mom and dad so we didnt do anything together, and it was still a great day. I went into Idaho Falls to the parade and sat with Amber, Travs, and Garrett. They had put up an awning the night before and so we had a great spot and Garrett was so fun to watch. Afterwards I came home and got a picnic lunch ready and my dad and his wife Linda came over and we had a picnic in the front yard. Joel put up the awning and the picnic table under it and we had a delightful afternoon, Ronda, my daughter in law and my grandkids Clayson and Emma came too. In the evening we met Amber, Travis,Garrett, Ashley, and my sister in law Betty Root came with us to the Fireworks put on by Melaleuca. It is always a great event,touting the best in the west. There are upwards of 50,000 people who watch so it can be a trick to get home. We have mapped out a great spot and we are always home within 20 minutes. Fun times. I am trying to get Ashley to post graduation pictures along with some family pictures we had taken prior to graduation. So on the the next party!! Amber finally decided she didnt need to do an elephant pregnancy (we were all beginning to wonder) and had a beautiful baby boy July 7. So Hesston Richard arrived after Amber being only 40 minutes in the hospital. All elnatural and happy and healthy. Momma and baby are doing great. He looks so much like Amber did when she was born. So we will also see what we can do to post some pics of that cute tike. So with a birthday of 07/07 he will be nicknamed double o7. (just kidding) Joels square foot gardens are doing great! Pictures to come as well. ASHLEY where are you? Ashley has been working at Jamba Juice this summer. She is really excited to go up to Rexburg to school. She has worked hard to earn her money. Now to get a laptop..... Its hard to believe we are half way through July already. Tomorrow is Jennifers 36th birthday. Happy Birthday JJ!! I am still working at the Ribbon Retreat with some really great gals. We have a good time together.

Im really late~better late than never!

2008-05-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hi my friends that I love,
Sounds like a fabulous endeavor! I just found this today, Im a little slow at checking my email. I put on 5 lbs, but for the first time I wasnt so alarmed. I do know what to do to feel better and look better. I would like to come along for the ride. 21 days and funny enough I started today without knowing you were doing this. I lost great on a gluten free, sugar free, anyway free of alot of things I was allergic too. Its been 7 months now and I am good on everything except corn , milk and mixed nuts. So I am going to modify this and eat good, tasty, satisfying foods that my body loves and watch the excess melt away. Back to the treadmill for me. I am also going to incorporate some weights. You know those 2lb dumbbells!!! Love you guys. Keep up the good work.. I dont really want to eat when I am home~but at work I want to eat all day. So prayer it is.

Awesome!

2008-05-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

"There is a purpose in the adversities we encounter everyday. They prepare us, they purge us, they purify us, and thus bless us.
The Refiners Fire
Ensign May 1979

Love is All there is!

2008-04-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

It was our regional Stake Conference today. I wasn't going to go and something keep at me so at the last minute (without makeup) I went. Typically there would be no room at the time I arrived. I found a seat at the back and it was a perfect place to sit. I took a notebook and was prepared for a feast which I'll have to say I did enjoy. Pres. Russell M. Nelson, Pres. Uchdorf, Sister Dalton and Bishop Tingy all spoke. I was filled with love and hope. A love that grows as I ponder and search to know the Savior and God better. I stand all amazed at their love and mercy for all of us. Tending to the conversion of our families is a lifelong process. I loved the quote by Pres. Monson it lends a tenor of strength and hope and love for all of us to step up and no longer be strangers of the word. I had an ah ha as I came into the house about the gospel in general. I feel the members can easily be caught up in pride of their own obedience about how we live. And pass judgement as to how others live. It has come to me so many times that living the gospel around good, obedient people is a breeze and its something we all enjoy and want more of. However~how simple is that. Its easy to love the lovable. Now to learn what the gospel is and then really practice it around those who are less lovable is the challenge and where the joy and growth comes in my opinion. I love you all. I'm so grateful for the good people in my life. And all those who appear less kind and become such good teachers so I can practice the Christ principles. Have an amazing week.

2008-04-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. "We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."--Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, Feb. 2000, 2

Our Weekend

2008-04-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun time this past weekend. We drove down to Utah on Thursday to attend a wedding shower for Stevie Lowe and Becca Stapley. We spent the night at my aunt Cloene and uncle Dennis Warrens home, they are always so gracious to give us a bed for the night. We spent the day with Kathy and the girls and enjoyed her grand kids. We spent Friday night with Ellis and Lorraine Ferrell. Old friends of Joel's from long ago. Saturday we went to see Betty, Joel's sister, and she had just signed papers on a new home close by her daughter in West Jordan. Later that day we went to Centerville to visit some old friends of ours who use to live in Pocatello when we did. It was so good to be with Joel and just relax.

Our Trip To Utah!

2008-04-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Thom Filicia (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)

2008-04-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Kathy's Daughter Kristen has a friend who won a $10,000 Bedroom Makeover from Thom Filicia (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) and Kristen got to be there for the big reveal! It was a makeover for her friend Sherri who has been battling breast cancer for over a year and won the makeover. What a sweet gift Thom gave to her! I'm glad Kristen could be there to support her amazing friend.

Hey Everyone!

2008-04-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

I just started a new blog to keep you all updated on whats going on with the Balmforth's! More coming!.....