THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, wordly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, prom0tions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on HIS presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go til He comes, give til I drop, preach til all know, and work til He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear.

This is Phil and the dog is not for Sale!!!!. I know, I know, everyone wants a Bo but you can't have him. I don't like sweets and he ends up eating some of them for me. SHHHH, don't tell Cami.

Quote and You Tube of the WEEK!

“You can’t be a life saver if you look like all the other swimmers on the beach.”

This came from Dallin H. Oaks TALK in the Conference Ensign-- May 2009

I suggest you read it if you'd like to learn more about why he quoted his friend saying that! It's SO GOOD!

Then I happened upon this VIDEO and had to share because it touched me.

Dog anyone?

I really DO like my dog... I just got really mad it him today when he decided that he wanted to help me eat the cake before I even decorated it! This really makes me mad because I don't have anymore cake mixes! And I was making this cake for a little Birthday shin-dig we going to do for Stetson at my sister's tomorrow!

He must be turning human because the other day I sliced up some failed bread that I made to dry out to make bread crumbs. Bo must have thought that I sliced it up for him! He went right over to the counter, with me just around the corner mind you, and grabbed a slice! Like it was a free for ALL! Then, I vaguely remembered just the day before that I had piece of toast with some jam on it. I took a few bites, then set it down to go do something else. I came back and it was gone! The scoundrel!

So, if anyone wants a really great Dog named Bo. You just let me know! He is acting up for some reason but it is really out of the ordinary for him. I don't know if it has anything to do with a rash that he has on one side of his face or not, but really I thought he knew better. Oh yeah, if you do want him, just make sure you have a trash can with a lid in EVERY room! We recently invested in a plastic one from Wal-mart for $10

He is a very lazy dog as you can see

Also...

KID Friendly!

We probably won't really get rid of him, permanently anyway. My Grandma said that she would take him. Then if we decided we missed him too much, we could have him back. Now that's a deal!

WE had a big weekend up in SURPRISE! First we got to meet for the second time our 3 week old cousin Drew.

WHAT A CUTIE!!!!

What a proud
Grandma and Aunt

Then we celebrated Stetson's Birthday! (he will be 1 on Tuesday August 18th!)

We cut him off a piece of cake and (sadly) forgot to take a picture of the cake. It doesn't seem to bother him though.

Is he turning into a SMURF?? NO, Dad just decided to rub the frosting all over his bald head.

Talk about a good advertisement!!! You tell me who likes cake.


In the end this was his reward. A sweet and nifty helicopter. But he was more interested in the 4 balls that came with it.

After the birthday bash (next day), we went to Lake Pleasant.



Fun with Dad in the lake. That water was DEEP!!

OH... and YES we did swim in our clothes... Stetson was the only prepared one!

The NEXT day (Saturday) we went AGAIN to actually FISH this time and swim (in actual swimming suits!)

CATFISH!!


When we were just about to give up... one decided to BITE!!
Of course, that gave us hope to get more. So we hung out for another hour... but nothing!

We went home and Phil skinned and gutted it. Then we battered it up and fried it!!... YUM!

Moving Forward!

Today we got out of the house!.. Finally! Since Phil had the injury we have been lazy bums sittin' around the house! Well, I have been anyway, being as nothing is wrong with me! WE went to IKEA!! For fun!?!?! We got the whole kid plastic ware collection: Plates, bowls, cups, and utensils! Plus I got a variety of sizes of bowls with LIDS!! Happy Day! Now I can make salsa and store it in a bowl with a LID instead of wasting valuable tin foil! Plus did you know IKEA has Bed Risers?! We are going to put them under our unstable cheap bed frame! Hooray! Then we went to Arizona Mills Mall and found a slamming deal on a GRACO Convertible car seat for our recently upcoming 1-year old! (August 18th btw) It was MUCH needed! Although, it will be alot harder to get him to fall asleep at church now because we would just bring him in with the car seat... now that's not possible! (sorry I use a lot of exclamation points!!)

Now that we have a projector, it has to be SUPER dark to see the screen really well. So when I took this picture I turned on the big light on the ceiling fan. He couldn't open his eyes for the picture.. it was hilarious!!

Phil's usual spot on the couch, if you come over, you will most likely find him here. Possibly watching season episodes of SCRUBS

I am going to update you on some random things that happened a while ago... sorry if you get bored!


My most prized accomplishment! I can't take all the credit though, a little decor store in St. George namely Iron Station was going out of business and had a HUGE sale! They had a frame display like this on the wall, so I snatched a picture with my phone and copied it! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

This was Stetson's first time in a REAL pool at David and Stacy's (my cousins)

He LOVED it! We even put his head under water!... Not one little cry or scream came out of him. That was the weekend before Phil's accident

The Following pictures are from when we went up to Flagstaff to go camping and 4-wheeling. Mind you this was before the 4th of July and Phil's fabulous incident

Who is that?!?!?!?

I love those TWO faces!

Don't Worry! He didn't take him on a ride... just a sit.

Uncle Russ with Stetson

Shopping before the camping trip(which we didn't really camp, but we did have tin foil dinners and peed in the bushes!)... It was Stetson's first time in one of those Car Cart things. Which of course he loved it! I believe he was 10 months here.

Our fantastic neighbors get A LOT of FREE things from people that they know. They were given this cute little train set and never took the time to set it up... so they gave it to us! We like FREE things! And I think Stetson liked it, he wasn't really sure what to think of it, but now he's the WORLDS GREATEST ENGINEER!

Grandma Jan came to visit us May 2009

Stetson 9 months

I was just browsing around on LDS.org today and saw THIS you tube video and thought that I should share it! I loved hearing from President Hinckley. His sweet voice and his love for the church and wife is a comfort to me in this day. He brings joy to those that need it and hope to those that have none. I was feeling so inadequate for my church calling(YWs President) a couple of days ago, because I am not organized, crafty, or very well at speaking in front of others. I am often very Layed-back. (aka: LAZY) But also layed-back in that I don't care if the Young Women go and leave on there own after mutual with out telling me they have a ride... or at least I thought so. Today, I stood up in YWs and told the girls what had happened on Wednesday. They left a mess in the room we were working in, they left without having a closing prayer and then they just scattered! When I was telling them this, and asking them to be my strength where I am weak, my voice started to get shaky. So I have come to realize that I must care! Then seeing THIS video, where Pres, Hinkley talks of the value of a Women. I felt a little better, and I have also realized that if I actually study my scriptures and pray asking for help and guidance, this I will indeed get help! I love the gospel and how valuable it is in my life!