Here we are...

Here we are...Christmas is over and the house is put back in order and we are all looking forward to another year. A year that will no doubt be full of changes and challenges. I am going to try and be better about updating our blog and also updating my facebook, but no guarantees. Michael and I are going to be grandparents in July, we are getting Justin ready to leave on a mission in May and we must fit time in for boating. It was a great Christmas but I really missed Mom this year. It is just not the same without her. There are still days that I go to pick up the phone to talk to her about my day and then realize that she is gone. We are all moving on though. There will be lots of exciting changes this year and we are looking forward to them.

Best of Times

It has been a very busy couple of weeks. First we had Memorial Day weekend and our traditional camping trip to Wasatch State Park in Midway. We had a great time and the weather cooperated. It was different this year without Mom but we all had fun. Then came Justin's graduation from Cyprus...another son, the last one, graduated! Yeah!! Certainly a bittersweet feeling for me. We had a pool party on Saturday for Justin and his best friend, Nathan. It was a huge success. Good food and great friends. We are so blessed. Justin had his board of review for his Eagle on Sunday and so now that is behind us. It was been a crazy couple of weeks and we are now just getting into the summer. Finally, it is warm and sunny and we are looking forward to the boating season.

Happy 18th Biirthday! Justin

It seems like only yesterday that we were living in Grandville, Michigan, Michael was out of work and life was busy and chaotic and then we were blessed with this little bundle of joy we named Justin Wayne. I am so blessed to have him in my life. His sense of humor and the quiet acceptance that he has for the way things are bring joy into my life. I am proud of him and the man that he is becoming. I hope that life and his decisions bring him as much joy as he has brought into my life. I love you, Justin. Happy 18th birthday!!

Happy Mother's Day...

In the words of Washington Irving," A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."

"She's my teacher, my advisor, my greatest inspiration." Whitney Houston

My mom was my best friend, the person I went to when life got overwhelming and an amazing example to me. She was such an important part of my life so on this Mother's day I would like to honor her...she taught me about compassion, acceptance, unconditional love, patience, trust, to listen with all my heart, to love with my whole heart, to be the best that I could be and that nothing worthwhile is this life is easy but it is worth it. Without her I would not be the woman, wife or mother that I am today. Thanks for all the great memories. I love and miss you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day.

Yippee!!

The boat is officially ours...well almost. Michael and I got the boat registered and titled today but could not do the trailer because we do not have a clear title on it. Who even knew that a boat trailer has a title? Go figure. We have had to contact the old owners and hopefully be able to work this small wrinkle out. We do have a temporary permit for the trailer. So if the weather was better here, it is cold and rainy again, the boys and Michael could take the boat out for it's first shakedown cruise of the season but that will have to wait a few days.

A month of changes.....

In the words of Tim McGraw,"It's the family that grieves for a lost loved one, and we carry on when our lives come undone. We carry on because there's is promise in the morning sun. We carry on as the dark surrenders to the dawn, we were born to overcome. We carry on."

There have been lots of changes over the last couple of months for the Phillips family and more to come I am sure in the months ahead. Mom passed away in February, I have been released as Relief Society president and that has been a difficult transition. Michael was released as the Executive secretary in the bishopric and we have been called to serve over the Young Single Adults in our ward. Talk about a quiet house now....no ringing phones. Justin will be graduating in June and he is now busy trying to start and finish his Eagle project and play tennis in his spare time. Tyler is finishing another quarter of school. Despite all the changes we are looking forward to the summer and all the fun outings with friends and family. We are carrying on. I am sure that Mom would be proud of us.

Life goes on...

It has been a tough couple of weeks as we struggle to find a new normal without Mom. There are days that I miss her so much. I have been trying to help Dad as much as possible. But as they say...life goes on and it has gone on here at the Phillips home though. Justin attended the Sweetheart Dance with Taylor Corbett. He had a great time. Tyler will be turning 21 years old on Friday and I can't help but ask,"where did the time go?" As I visited with Grandma Syme last night she said it only seems like yesterday that they were back in Michigan blessing him. Michael is anxious to get the boat out and has talked with someone about pin-striping it this spring. We are just waiting for warmer weather and hopefully that will come soon. It has been a very cold winter.

Tough Week...

It has been a tough week for our family. Our mom and grandma passed away on the 3rd of February. It was so unexpected. It has a huge hole in our lives and we are all just trying to get back to some sense of normal this week. I am feeling very lost this week without her. We have had amazing family support and support from some amazing friends. I can't tell you how much your love and support means to me.

The Big Reveal

It was a beautiful sunny and not too cold weekend so we decided to pull the boat out of the garage. The top strip has been newly painted black and new pin-striping has been added. We are waiting for it to get a little warmer and then I found a guy who is a graphic artist and he is going to come and pin-stripe the bottom of the boat and put the lettering on the back. Michael and the boys are very excited for the summer. We have started to plan our big week long trip to Flaming Gorge in July.

Happy New Year! Is it spring yet?

There is still snow on the mountains and it is cold but we are hoping and counting the days until spring. As far as I am concerned as soon as Christmas is over it can be spring. We can't wait to take the boat out. The boys and Michael have worked hard on it this fall and winter. Their plan is to take it out as soon as the ice melts on any lake in the area. I think I will wait until it is a little warmer....maybe June.