Another sweet hike with LaDawn

The last couple of days, I've been teaching Brooke how to throw and catch a softball in preparation for her first season this Spring. When I throw the ball to her, she tends to hold her hand and glove pointing down, even if the ball is coming in higher, towards her shoulders or face. I've been telling her that she needs to catch it with her glove and hand pointing up, as if she's waving "hello" to someone, and that this is is for her safety and protection. Of course, she's afraid and doesn't trust me so the ball keeps rolling up after it hits her glove and hitting her in the chest or the arm. She ended up in tears today. I tried to explain to her,

"I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to teach you something important."

Then I had an "aha" moment-- that must be what the Lord feels like when we are going through something hard. We resist Him, maybe out of fear. We don't want to trust that He knows what's best. I am hoping to become better at trusting God. I'm sure that Brooke will come around in softball, too. I mean just look a this little cutie! She can do anything!

My 3 loves going to the mailbox

Alan's Company Party

We went to Alan's company party last weekend. Wonderful food and nice people, as usual. 

Photo Bomb!

The food was amazing and I had to take a pic of the desserts!

Brooke took all these cute pics of Ryan

We are all so in love!

More hiking

We hiked a trail by the Phoenix Temple. Loved it!

A week later we hiked a trail off of Sonoran Parkway and it started to RAIN! And we got LOST! And Ryan CRIED! And her husband had to come pick us up on some random street he found with his GPS! But it was still so FUN!

Softball!

Emma is really enjoying softball so far! There has been A LOT to learn since all of the girls on her team have played before but she's hanging in there and doing well!

Eye of the Tiger

We played the song "Eye of the Tiger" while I did these dishes. Alan massaged my shoulders and the girls helped put them away and brought me water so I stayed hydrated. 

New Year's!

Grandpa Jeff came out for a little visit for New Year's. He helped Emma with softball while he was here, too!