Veterans Day

Today my thoughts have been turned to all the veterans in my life. How grateful I am for their service in the armed forces. My Dad retired from the Navy in 1975 when I was 5 years old. He taught us by his example how much this country meant to him. I'm grateful for that example. He served during the Vietnam War. He was actually off of the coast of Vietnam shortly before my birth and his ship had been recalled back to the States in time for my birth. He never liked to talk about what he saw and experienced during the war, but I did hear a few stories and I'm so glad he lived to return back to us. He chose to become a recruiter after I was born so that he didn't have to be away from his family as much. Thank you Dad for your example and for all you taught us about respecting and honoring the wonderful country which we live in.

I also need to write how grateful I am for my husband and for his service in the Air Force. He served in the Air Force for the first 6 years of our marriage. It was during Desert Storm and it was a scary time for us. His group was put on a 99.9% chance of being sent over seas. His bag always had to be packed and by our door. I remember sitting on the floor in our apartment, pregnant with Elizabeth, and crying as the bombs were falling on Baghdad. It was a hard life, but I learned so much. I had grown up with a military Dad, but being a wife I think I learned more about my Mom and the sacrifices the military spouses have to endure. They truly deserve the honor and praise just as those veterans do. I will never forget the pride I felt being on base and having to come to a complete stop every time the flag was raised or lowered and listening to the National Anthem. It still moves me to this day. We live in such a wonderful country and are so blessed with blessings beyond our comprehension. How grateful I feel. How blessed I feel for living in a land that is free. A land where thousands have fought so that each one of us can enjoy all of these blessings. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all the Veterans and to their families. You each are heroes in my book.

11 year old Scout and Father Campout

Last night Darin and Trent went camping. Trent said he froze, but had a great time. (I actually have a child that feels like anything cooler than 70 degrees is freezing! He loves HOT weather but loves wicked weather! Crazy boy!!)

They went down to Brazos Bend Park for the camp out. They spent this morning hiking around and saw alligators and deer. It was nice because it was cool enough to have a fire and enjoy it! It's the perfect time of year to camp out here!

Chris Quiriante, Darin, and York Richards (probably waiting for their breakfast to be done!)

The 11 year old scouts working on their requirements. We have such a great group of boys!!

Working on breakfast

Playing in the fire. Boys and fire- not a good combination!

In this picture if you look closely you can see the deer in the distance.

Trent and a few of his friends

Junior Achievement

Earlier this year Darin went to a Chevron meeting where they talked about the JA program (Junior Achievement). Chevron is very active in the JA program and actually are sponsors to many schools. Darin quickly became interested in this but wanted to do it in our elementary school. He decided to start from the bottom with kindergarten. Katy Independent School District is actually the only school district in the world which is completely parent ran and in everyone of its school and grades. It's a wonderful program and Darin has had a great time being involved in it. He was able to teach it to the class next door to Amberly's class first and then found out the JA leader for her class had backed out and he did her class too! Since Chevron is a sponsor he gets to leave work and do it. He usually works from home for the rest of the afternoon after he teaches the class. All I know is that ALL the kindergartners have gotten to know Mr. McShane and absolutely LOVE him! I've gone up to the school with him on the last day of it to help him pass out all the goodies they get. Chevron gives each child a pencil bag with some crayons in it and Darin takes them cupcakes to celebrate. It is a wonderful program and I know he looks forward to doing it for years to come!
Darin with Amberly's class on the last day of JA.

I think we have learned over the years how important parent involvement in the schools are. The amount of involvement here is absolutely incredible and we feel very blessed to be in such a wonderful area where so many parents are involved in the lives of their children.

Happy 18th Anniversary!

(I know this is late, but I could not not write about this special day in my life.)

On September 21st, 1990 Darin and I Were married in the Dallas Texas LDS Temple. What a wonderful day it was! It was so wonderful to have family and friends with us there to share this special day. But that was only the beginning! 18 years have gone by since that beautiful day and words cannot express the feelings I have for this wonderful man in my life. My life has been greatly blessed by having him in my life. He is more than a husband. He is my best friend. He is my strength. He is everything to me. I look at my life and the love we have for each other and especially the love that I feel from him daily and it is sometimes hard to believe that I could be so blessed. We have had our rough spots over the years, but together we have been strengthened and made stronger for those times. My favorite time of day is when he comes home from work and just holds me in his arms. I love those moments!
Our story:
My first memory of Darin is seeing him in Sunday School class at church. I had come home from BYU for Christmas and saw him sitting by his mom. He had just recently moved to Midland. We had a young single adult activity during the break and played volleyball. (Darin hates this memory!) Well, we were all playing volleyball and my brother Tom went up and spiked the ball, right in Darin's face! Needless to say, I laughed. :)
My next memories of Darin is the next summer after a semester at school. Darin was the young single adult rep. for our ward. I talked to him occasionally, thought he was weird. I started dating a guy I worked with, but I really didn't tell anyone about this guy. Well, Darin started calling me and reminding me of different activities happening. I was never at home so he and my mom started talking quite a bit. He found out I sang and wanted to sing a duet with me. I said, "Sure", but I never did anything more about it. He kept coming around and I just wanted him to leave me alone. But, I didn't say it. He asked me out and I actually stood up the guy I had been dating to go out with Darin. (Ouch!) We had fun, but I still didn't want anything to do with him. He kept coming around and even showed up where I worked one day. Yes, the other guy was there too! Talk about uncomfortable! I recorded in my journal at that time that I didn't know why, but I just couldn't tell him I was dating this other guy. Well, during this time I was serving as the temporary Primary secretary in our ward for the summer and Darin was a primary teacher. One Sunday as I was sitting in the back of the primary room I had one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life. I sat there crying during the experience and knew that I had to break up with this other guy. I knew that my future children depended on that. It was a moment I will never forget. A few weeks later I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting about what I was doing now to prepare for my future family. I hadn't shared this experience with anyone and decided to share it. After the meeting Darin came up to me and asked if he could talk to me for a minute. I was like, OH great. Now what. We walked over to be alone and he asked me if the experience I had shared really happened. YES. Did it happen at this specific time on this date. YES. "Well, that's interesting. Because at that specific time I had the same experience myself." I just looked at him and said. "That's nice. Talk to you later." and left. I went out to my car where Delisa (my best buddy) was waiting. I got in the car and just started screaming! I told Delisa what had happened and she just started laughing! I wasn't happy. Well, the next Sunday was the last Sunday of the summer before heading back to BYU and after church as Delisa and I were in my car ready to leave she rolled down the window and called Darin over. I was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING!! She then asked him for his address so that we could write to him. UGH!! Well, a month later I finally did decide to write to him. I wrote to him and apologized for the way I had acted and told him that I had been dating another guy all summer and just didn't know how to tell him. From that point on we began to write each other and occasionally talk on the phone. I went home for Thanksgiving and Christmas and spent time with him during each trip. I was confused and scared of this whole relationship. I had been hurt by a few guys and honestly didn't trust my own feelings. It was funny because my roommates would always tell me if you don't like the guy just tell him to get lost. I couldn't. On April 1st he called and I decided to play an April fools joke on him. Let's just say that over the years I have played too many of these jokes on him and they always backfire on me!! Well, I told him I was dating this guy and that it was really serious and I felt like he was the one. He was really quiet on the phone. He then told me "That's interesting. Because theres this girl here that has been really interested in me and we just spent some time at the beach together. (He was in Mississippi at the time) I was shocked! I then told him April Fools. Silence on the phone. Of course his wasn't a joke. I can't really explain what happened at that moment, but everything changed within me. I was still scared, but it was different. Yes, I was jealous, but I finally realized just how much he meant to me. Over the next few weeks our conversations changed and we started talking about our future together. I went to the temple during that time and was praying and truly felt in my heart that Yes, he was the one for me. On the night before my first final (not a good idea!) Darin got down on one knee in a telephone booth in Mississippi and proposed to me. I wouldn't answer him over the phone, but we both knew what my answer was! (Let's just say I didn't do too well on that final the next day!) A month later I drove to see Darin in Mississippi and we became officially engaged. Our engagement was a long distance relationship. The amazing thing about our relationship is that we truly became friends first.
Each day I thank my Heavenly Father for bringing this man into my life. I love him with all my heart and I truly do look forward to spending Time and all Eternity with him by my side.

This picture was one of our engagement pictures.

While we were engaged Darin was going through technical training in the Air Force. We were fortunate that a few weeks after we were engaged he went to Wichita Falls Texas for further training. I was able to go and visit him on some weekends and he even was able to come to Midland some too. This picture was taking on a weekend that Delisa and I went there to go to an Air Force banquet. (I have the funniest story about Delisa from that weekend!)
We were married in the Dallas Texas Temple. While we were in the Temple it had begun to drizzle rain but right before we came out the clouds cleared and it was a beautiful breezy day!
We were able to go to Colorado for our Honeymoon. We spent 5 glorious days together there!
I'm looking forward to many more memories with this wonderful man!

Happy Father's Day!

Today was Father's Day and I just wanted to take a moment and honor the Father's in my life.

First, I want to honor my amazing husband Darin. I am so grateful that I not only have a wonderful husband but that my children have a wonderful father. We are greatly blessed to have him in our lives. I'm also grateful for Darin's Dad and the relationship that Darin has with him. I'm grateful that He lives closer to us now so that Granpa Bruce and Grandma Sharon can be more a part of our lives. And Finally I want to honor my Dad. I feel that Mother's Day and Father's Day is kind of bitter sweet without my parents alive anymore. I'm so grateful this day for my Dad and for all he did for me. I don't think we always had the greatest of relationships, but I always knew he was there for me and I always knew that if I ever needed anything he was there to help me. My children loved his visits. Especially Eyn considering they would always go exploring somewhere and stop by the store for a soda pop and a candy bar. I loved to watch him with my children. I know that he is still cheering us all on. I know that he is applauding loudly as Elizabeth competes in a competition. I know he is running right along with Eyn down the basketball court encouraging him on. I know that he is watching my children grow and helping them in ways that he never could while he was on this earth. I also know and am so grateful for the knowledge I have that someday we will all be reunited together as a family and what a wonderful reunion that will be.
How grateful I am for these wonderful men in my life!!

This is one of my favorite pictures! I love the smile on my Dad's face!