1st Full Week of July

 Here are some highlights of the 1st week of July.

Hudson multitasking, enjoying the pool and blowing bubbles.  Then playing w/ toys.

The boys playing in the sandbox.

Hudson giving Carter a hug.  

Carter and Nyles enjoying the pool.

More pool time and bubbles.

More playing in the sandbox.  Hudson loves to vacuum.  

He put Piper's leash around his toy puppy and tried to "walk the dog."

Nyles and Carter finished their swimming lessons and level.  Nyles level 5 and Carter level 2.

Steve took the boys to Thanksgiving Point, Curiosity Museum.

The boys in the wind tunnel.  Then getting ice cream afterwards.

One evening Steve, Nyles, Rob and Jacob went cat fishing.  They caught some big ones!

Steve gave Piper a bath, then she ran around crazy.  Silly dog!

On Saturday, July 9th, we went down the Provo River again in our kayaks.  

Rob came w/ us as well in his new kayak.

It was a lot of fun!  Carter ended up jumping over to Rob's boat and took a ride.

Hudson REALLY wanted to help paddle, so we gave him half of Carter's paddle.  Cute Hudson.

Carter and I put together the big floor puzzle.  Pretty sunset.

On Sunday, July 10th, I was asked to teach the Relief Society Lesson.  It was from Elder Holland's talk, Fear Not: Believe Only!  There are a lot of great messages in the talk.  I decided to focus most on Happiness.  I also referenced a talk from the December 2019 Ensign called "The Hunt for Happiness." There were 9 strategies to help improve your happiness:

1. Live the Gospel
2. Spend your days "engaged in a good cause."
3. Choose Gratitude
4. Spend Time Outside
5. Limit Screen Time
6. Be Present
7. Connect with Others
8. Take care of your Temple
9. Look outward

The lesson went well and we had a great discussion thankfully.  It's been a while since I was in Relief Society, let alone had to teach it, since I've been in Primary since Nyles was about 1 years old (so 9 years).  God cares about every single one of his children.  We need to open our own eyes and see the miracles in our own life.  The Lord loves us and wants us to be happy.  He has provided his son, our Savior Jesus Christ, so we can have happiness both in this life and the one to come.  Quoting Elder Holland, “We have so much to be glad about. We have each other, and we have Him.”

Great quotes.