A Thought on Motherhood

Motherhood

I'd rather be a Mother than anyone on earth

Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth....

I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed

Than twine a chain of diamonds about my [carefree] head.

I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes

Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise.

-Meredith Gray

I came across this quote recently and it made my day!  I feel that society is so hard on mothers and women in general.  I hope that we as mothers really know that what we are doing the greatest job there is on earth.  We may not get much recognition for what we do, the days can be some of the most challenging, but we are doing a great work!  We are making a difference!  Motherhood is "the highest, holiest service... assumed by mankind" (Improvement Era, November 1942 761).

Belt Family Reunion

I loved how Uncle John pushed all the kids on the swings.  The kids loved it.

Playing baseball with the mountains in the background.  Oh, how I miss the mountains!

Everyone got so muddy after playing baseball!

John and I loved seeing everyone.  We really miss seeing family!  Josh had a blast playing with John's cousins kids.  Grandma Shawna organized the event and it was so fun!  We played baseball, the kids made crafts, ate yummy food, played games, and the kids just had a great time playing on the playground together.

6 Years!

The last 6 years has flown by and so much has happened!  

We both graduated from BYU

John graduated from medical school and became a doctor

John finished his internship/1st year of residency

I've had 3 different jobs

We've lived in 3 different states (Utah, Iowa, & Indiana)

We've had two beautiful boys!

Our life together has been wonderful and I cannot imagine my life without him and our boys!  We've been through so much together!  Life has not been without great challenges and obstacles, but we have been greatly blessed in more ways than we deserve. 

Since we were in Utah for our anniversary and had family to watch the boys.  We decided to go to one of the most beautiful places on earth to celebrate for an overnight getaway, Sundance!  We took off up the canyon the day after Bear Lake.  It was so relaxing and the scenery was breathtaking with the mountains, views, & wildflowers.  It was so green and you couldn't ask for better weather!  We stayed in a rustic little cabin, ate at the Foundry grill (the food was to die for), hiked around a bit, rode the chairlift, talked for hours (which felt like only minutes) and just enjoyed being together.  I wish we could do this kind of stuff more often.

Bear Lake

The pictures never do it justice.  This place is beautiful!  Our trip was short and sweet, but we managed to do as much as we could in one afternoon and evening.

Josh tubing on the deflated banana tube.  He loved it.

Nate stayed in Orem with Grandma Shawna, so Josh got all the attention!  He loved every minute!

Josh & Dad

Uncle Ben, Dad, & Josh

Ben and John were hilarious to watch as they jumped back and forth onto the other persons tube.  Josh barely noticeable in the sunken deflated tube just chilled while being thoroughly entertained.

The BEST Part aside from being with my family was WATERSKIING!  It is probably my most favorite thing to do!  We were blessed to have the perfect conditions of glassy water all afternoon!  I cannot even remember the last time I was able to go (either over a year ago right after I had Nate (which is a blur) or before I was pregnant with Nate (3 years ago).  I was just thrilled that I got up on my first try every time and I stayed up as long as I could hold on!

This is a look of complete bliss after my ski run!  Love this sport!

John's turn!  I'm so glad that John loves to ski too!

My brother Jacob.  He is such a clown!

Nothing can beat the skies out west.  I had forgotten how amazing they are!  Once again my camera doesn't give it justice and to top it off once I put the same picture on the blog the quality goes way down, but you get the idea.  A bit of Heaven on Earth.

Josh & Uncle Daniel

Josh & Grandma Susan

It was so nice to be able to spend time with John, since it is a rare treat now that we are in residency!  I just can't get enough of him!

Every year that my family and I went to Bear Lake there always were amazing sunsets!  Did I mention sunset is my favorite time of day?!

We ended the evening with roasting hot dogs and smores while watching the sunset!

John, my Dad, and Aunt Jeannie

We left to head back to Orem at 10:30 that night and it took forever because it rained/flash flooded like it does in the midwest (seriously it hardly ever rains like that in Utah or Idaho).  We didn't get home till about 2 am, but it was totally worth it!

Trip to Utah - Part 1

As soon as we got to grandmas house the boys immediately started a race track with cars on Grandma's table.  This continued the remainder of the trip whenever they got a chance.  Grandma Shawna even joined in on the races.

Josh and Uncle Daniel

Josh had the coolest little room under the stairs.  Grandma Shawna read books to Josh every night before bed in that tiny little crawl space.  He loved it and couldn't get enough reading time with Grandma.  He also loved his little room.

Gary, Landon, Becca, Johnny, Marie, Nate

We had the 1st Edwards Family Reunion.  We started it off with the opening ceremonies and the lighting of the torch.  John's brother's Nate and Gary assembled the torch and thought it fitting to use Scotty's underwear for the kindling.  It burned really well.  = O

John's parents

Nate with all the fireworks for the opening ceremonies.  We decided to just have one grand finale and light all of them at once.

Great Grandma Belt.

She had the family over for dinner one night and she made this amazing guacamole.  Josh wouldn't even touch the guacamole, but he still talks about it every day.  He's such a silly kid.

The Newlyweds.  

They are so cute together and Landon fits in perfectly with the family!

Gary the pro golfer.  He just started medical school in Chicago and we are so happy he is so close to us.

While all the guys went golfing one night, Becca and I went to Cafe Rio (my most fav place to eat, my mouth is watering just thinking about it) and to a movie.  It was so fun!  Did I mention she is my only sister (well actually sister-in-law).  We are both only girls and we both have 4 brothers.

Lots more to come.  Next post Bear Lake....