Keep on Running...

I ran 12.5 miles this morning!  Yea!  I ran with Kim Richards.  We have such a good time figuring out life and coming up with some new healthy food to try.  It is one of my favorite times.  We ran past waterfalls, cows, cute houses.  We ran in our neighborhood, Valley Hills, the North Fields, out on the Legacy trail to the covered bridge and back home.  Perfect running weather. 

Kim picked up a penny and said that she picked it up because I always did :)  Then she told me a story that she had heard during a church meeting.  A man picked up a penny from the ground, rubbed it, smiled and put it in his pocket.  He was a wealthy man and the young woman watching him, later questioned him about it. 
She asked him why he bothered, he had so much money, and most people don't bother with pennies.  He replied with a question.  "What does it say on a penny?"  In God we trust.  He credited God with everything he had ever been blessed with would trust God to lead and direct his life. 

Sometime after the meeting, Kim was doing some laundry and three pennies dropped out of the pants.  She felt like it was one of Heavenly Father's tender mercies.  Never look at a penny the same again.  She is so inspirational to me.  Thanks, Kim for sharing and for being such a great part of my life.

The penny story reminds me of when I was in the MTC. They told us to have a continual prayer in our hearts. How do you do that? They suggested putting a penny in the bottom of our shoe, so that with every step, you feel the penny and remember, to "trust God" and continually "pray".

Shaylee's Answer for New Era

Question:   

“How should I respond when my friends say that no man can see God?”

Answer:   

 I heard a talk by Brother John Bytheway that addressed this question.  He related a story about a returned missionary that was asked this question by one of his professors. The professor said, “Since we learn with our five senses, and you have never seen, smelled, tasted, touched, or heard God, He does not exist.” The returned missionary said, “Professor, have you ever seen, smelled, tasted, touched, or heard your own brain? Then it must not exist.”  It seems a silly way to answer this question, but it’s true! We know God is real because of the Holy Ghost and the witness that He gives to us, not because we can prove that He exists. If you first believe that God exists, then He will give you that witness and you will know it in your heart.

She also wrote a poem for the New Era:

Life…

Sometimes it seems

That life is like butterflies’ wings

When there is no wind

No trials or storms

The wings can soar

Happy and free.

But a strong breeze,

A hurricane-like storm,

Can rip the wings of the butterfly

And everything seems hopeless.

The Savior came for us

He can heal the wings

And calm the stormy seas.

He can help us through our trials,

Through those winds and storms,

If only we will ask of Him.

Coming Soon!

Pear Leather, Molasses wheat bread and 12.5 miles!

What's the "Bustle" About?!

Somebody really should have moved me out of the way at Travis's graduation.... take a look at that behind!

Football Medal

This is Parker's newest wound from football!  I think he got plastered by someone's cleat.  Sorry, Mom.  The rest of the team didn't get your message not to hurt Parker:)

Huckleberries

You should see the huckleberries in our garden. They are so beautiful. They don't taste good now, but, I read on the internet that when they are cooked, a culinary miracle occurs. Yippee!   Ihope it's true and even if it's not, I still love looking at the stunningly beautiful berries.