Days of Summer

The days of summer have come and gone it seems. Not so long ago we were facing the ridicoulus rain in June, the hot days of July, and now as August rolls to a close we look back and reflect on what we have accomplished.

This summer has been action packed for us. Between my problems at work to not working all the way to Melissa's medical condition, we have survived. The lastest news in our family was that of an uncle of Melissa's who was just diagnosed with Rectal Cancer. Both he and his wife are in our thoughts and prayers.

What have we learned from this summer? To live life and enjoy every moment we have. I have decided to start to document and format videos of our life. Over the years as my memory weakens, I have concluded that when a picture or video is captured of the moment at hand, it easier to recall the events. With this in mind, we are going to strive to document our lives and formalling record them in journals. I challenge those of you close to us to do the same.

Here are couple pictures from this past summer. You can also check out our videos at my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/willdog26forlife

A June thunderstorm above our house, thought it might turn into a tornado:)

Wish we could have done this more this summer!!!

Anyone for a game...

This is the photo post card for "the dog days of summer"

Kitzmiller Campout 2009

Every year the Kitzmillers get together on an annual family campout. This tradition started in Heise, then we traveled for a week long adventure to the Oregon Coast, and this year we found ourselves in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Each year one of the children and their family is responsible for the planning of the trip. This year Russ and Mindy did an awesome job as the camp ground was right next to the river, the swimming pool was close by, and there was plenty of room for all of us and our toys. This year, Grandma and Grandpa brought their 4-wheelers, we had two tents, 2 Trailors, and 1 Motorhome. Here are a couple pictures from the adventure. Everyone enjoyed riding the slides at the pool and just hanging out around Grandma and Grandpa's RV. This year we were graced with the first ever Dance off...Congrats to the winners...EVERYONE!!!

You can check out a 10 minute video highlighting some of the fun...you will see Willy getting flipped off 3 times, Melissa getting nervous about Chubbs swimming in the river, how to make homemade ice-cream, and of course the highlights of the Dance Off!!! Follow the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roAdqAwNxuY

Can you believe this almost 7 years ago!!!

I love Baseball!!!

Baseball Fever!!!

The video was taken yesterday while we were playing in Providence, Utah against the Utah State Aggies in the Northern Utah League. I was going as fast as I could and still almost didn't make it. Listen to Melissa as I round first...and then the other guys started chanting Manny, becuase of my Manny Pants!!!

Enjoy

General Conference is upon us again. What an amazing blessing this has been to us in our household. As we watched conference sessions yesterday and as we sit and watch this morning, we are a blessed people to have such strong leadership on the Earth. "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" rings more profound in my heart today. In these difficult times of economic strife and hardship how blessed are we that we have been taught for years to be prepared for this day and days to come. I want to reflect with all of you a talk I just gave in our home ward. It was based off a talk given by John Bytheway years ago. The talk is entitled, "5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get Through Anything."

First, all of us need to first look for the answers we need in books where the answers do not change. So many of us have been involved in a resale of a text book at the end of the semester, once or twice. What usually happens to us? We get stiffed on the value of the text book, right!? We pay $75 and get back $3! Why does this happen? The information found in the text is now outdated and not relevant to future courses, namely because the answers will change in the next year, rendering the information held within useless. Where can we find answers that will not change? Your right, in the Scriptures and in the words of our Latter-day Prophets.

Here are the scriptures in order: Study these one by one:

1. 1 Nephi 11:16-17 "We do not know all things but we do KNOW that God loves us"
2. Moses 7:26-33 "God weeps on our behalf"
3. Alma 14:9-13 "Your work is not finished, no matter how difficult it may be"
4. Alma 7:11-12 "The Atonement does not just cover sins but pains and afflictions"
5. D&C 101:32-36 "Build a foundation and Endure to the End, Blessings await"

Elder Scott added in the Nov 1995 Ensign: “When you face adversity, you can be led to ask many questions. Some serve a useful purpose; others do not. To ask, Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this, now? What have I done to cause this? will lead you into blind alleys. It really does no good to ask questions that reflect opposition to the will of God. Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial? Willing sacrifice of deeply held personal desires in favor of the will of God is very hard to do. Yet, when you pray with real conviction, “Please let me know Thy will” and “May Thy will be done,” you are in the strongest position to receive the maximum help from your loving Father.

This life is an experience in profound trust—trust in Jesus Christ, trust in His teachings, trust in your capacity as led by the Holy Spirit to obey those teachings for happiness now and for a purposeful, supremely happy eternal existence. 

In the spirit of conference I wanted to share this everyone on our blog. It has helped me to refocus I hope it does the same with each of you. 

Where has the time gone?!?

I think I figured out how to do pictures for all our fans.

Melissa and I-2008

2003 @ Bear World

2002 @ Eastern Idaho State Fair

2002-we had been married for almost 2 months at this point.

I thought I would contribute to the blog with a couple of my favorite pics. Don't worry there will be many more to come as we both continue to learn just how this thing works. But, for now enjoy the new post. 

How time flies!!

Okay so I am not a very good blogger because it has been over a month since I last updated this, time just flies so fast. I can not complain we are happy, healthy, and enjoying life, and are going to get some money back from taxes which is always good because we usually have to pay in.  We are enjoying our calling for the most part still trying to learn the ropes (literally) of scouts, the scouts are fun, crazy but fun.  The best part is spring is coming and I am excited to get out and work on our backyard and enjoying the sun.