My Eternal Family

My home teachers asked me the other day what I am most thankful for in the gospel.
Without thinking I said that I can be with my family for eternity.
As these words left my mouth I had some words come to mind that overwhelmed me with happiness and joy:
"You will never go another day in all of eternity without your family."
Oh it is such a comfort to be sealed to them and to know that I can be with these amazing people that I love like nothing else forever and ever and ever.

The gospel is true, folks. I can't say it loud enough or with enough feeling.

We love each other.

We support each other.

We cheer each other on.

We talk to each other.

We are best friends.

What I did to deserve to be in such am amazing family, I don't know.

But I am forever and eternally grateful for whatever it was.

*Oh man, here come the water works.*

Is it ridiculous that I make myself cry just thinking about how much I love my family?

Gratitude #23

Yeesh, I've got some serious catching up to do!

I am so grateful for the time I get to spend with my family.

It's crazy, I had never even met little Hyrum, but I had all this love for him saved up inside. When I finally got to hold him for the first time it all bubbled over and I was so happy this special little red-head was going to be in my family for eternity.

I just can't get enough of this little guy!

Or this one...

Or little Grey...

And then there's sweet little Phoebe...

And Gwen!

*Yikes, what was I talking about again? Oh yeah...*

It was especially nice that Logan and Rachelle and the little girls were there to help us decorate for Christmas this year (sorry, didn't have my camera with me). Most of our ornaments ended up at the bottom of the tree, but I was just happy that I didn't have to do it all myself.
*I spend way too much time trying to make the placement of the ornaments random, which, if you took McMurray's stats class, you know is impossible...it makes for a very tiring activity*

I also love just playing games with them :)
I even beat Logan a few times at Blokus until he figured out a good strategy which totally trumped mine.
*sigh* Such is life.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

The 'It' mentioned in the title of this post refers my life for the last week :)

Don't you just love when you actually get stuff in the mail???

I had to take a picture so I would remember the awesome-ness I felt at this moment.

On Sunday afternoon Mom, Dad, Maci, and I made the trip to IF to see the family.

This little guy is growing up SO fast!

Can you believe he's already three months old?

He looks more and more like Ronnie every day.

We also had a new experience!

Nate and Rebecca were able to come up and visit for the weekend

and they introduced us to Wild Asparagus Hunting. 

This is Maci and I before we left.

Here I am afterwards.

I look awful because it was raining and windy :P

Asparagus hunting is so dang hard!

It grows along ditch banks in the Idaho Falls area.

You would think that it would be pretty easy to spot, but it's NOT!

I was pretty awful at it until Rebecca's brother came and helped me.

It was actually a lot of fun even if it was cold and wet and miserable the whole time.

The three sisters sharing their spoils!

I was so happy to get to see these guys!

Rebecca is due October 5 and is having a little baby boy!

I can't wait to see the Three Amigos running around and playing together.

Sleepy little Isaac!

He definitely doesn't like to wake up!

He's adorable and looks just like an Owen.

Maci and Greysen.

Maci got her braces off recently and this was the first time I saw her without them for almost two years!

Doesn't she look so gorgeous?

She's seriously growing up :(

Oh, and thanks to Lindsay for lots of the pictures on this blog!

Double post

Yesterday I got a little caught up in something:

So I kinda forgot to post...

I guess I'll just have to double up to keep on track!

Photo Challenge: A picture of the people you spend most of your time with.

Kenna and Mystie (I kinda don't have a picture with Lyndsey and Megan)

Kyle= Awesome

Derek= ...Derek

Photo Challenge: A picture of the best part of your day.

Getting to come to IF to spend time with Greysen, Lindsay, and Ronnie.

...And Brendan and Witney and Mom and Dad and Maci.

Can you believe this little guy is already almost 3 months old???

Blessing number 9

Lindsay, Ronnie, and Baby Boy Thinnes

I am super grateful for my older sister Lindsay. She has done so much for me over the years! One thing that sticks out in my mind about her is how talented she is. She taught herself to do some pretty crazy things with her hair, and all of it looked good! She has done my hair for countless picture days and dances and I'm grateful for that because...well...I NEVER do my hair.

She is uber gorgeous and I take it as a huge compliment when people say that I look like her. She is beautiful not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. She genuinely cares about everyone and she has an awesome sense of humor that keeps me laughing!

She is a really hard worker! She often overbooks herself from work to making cakes and other responsibilities. She is always looking for a new hobby and she excels at all of them. I love her :)

She married one of the most awesome people on the planet. Ronnie is like the fourth older brother that I never had ;) He is really protective of me and I love him for it. I remember lots of times when I was having a bad day I would randomly get a message in my inbox from him that totally brightened my day.

There was one day during Christmas break when I had just gotten home from a date and he caught me before I could see the rest of my family and asked me if I had been good. I told him of course I had and that he had nothing to worry about. I looked him in the eye and he said, "I just never had a little sister and you mean a lot to me. I couldn't have picked a better little sister if I tried." Then his voice started to crack and then we were both hugging and crying in the kitchen. I'm so grateful for him. He's one of the few boys that I talk about boys with. I love him :)

Recently, I got a call from Linz telling me that she was in Soda Springs because she had some news to share with mom and dad. I had an idea of what that news would be, but I let her keep talking. She told me that she was pregnant...and not just a little. FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS! I still can't believe that she kept such a big secret for such a long time! But I'm grateful that she is giving me my first little nephew right around my birthday. I'm sure I will love him just as much as I love his mom and dad.

Doesn't she look so cute?

I love you Linz, Ronnie, and Baby Boy Thinnes!