Summer projects

I love this color of lime green the black and grays calm it  

While The kids were home I couldn't pass up the opportunity to work on a few projects.  I'm not sure how the children feel about my painting  projects but I feel they are a way to update and beautify our home.  I have this mind set that projects are like puzzles lots of little pieces but when it's all completed its amazing.  One problem with this mindset is that I have a hard time thinking of anything else until its completed.
 The two big projects I worked on mainly with Jessica's help were painting and decorating the master bedroom and the kids bathroom.  Neither of which have been changed since we have moved here. There are tons of details and cleaning when it comes to a bathroom especially.
The bedroom still needs new flooring and some night stands.   I love the colors.  My favorite thing in my bedroom is the new headboard I made!  I also love the wainscoting on two walls it adds some nice texture!    I had a lot of fun adding vinyl messages to the walls.  They add a lot of character and interest to the rooms.

I love this Dr Seuss quote "We are all a little weird and life is a little weird and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."

Love the new headboard and quilt!

Willy and I cleaned and organized the garage.  It's so nice to be able to park the car in the garage!

Summer happenings

Boy the summer slipped away.  However there were some memorable moments that I would like to highlight.

  Emily shared her experience at youth conference.  It was one of those moments that help to build our youth and give back to the Northern Virginia area by performing for full crowds.  Willy and Emily will never forget dancing the swing dance together.  You can see the joy in their eyes.

Lydia and Emily loved doing chalk drawing all over the drive way.  The kids loved playing four square and basketball.   But the biggest hit of the summer was the swing Willy made in the big tree in the back yard.  I even took my chances and went on it.   When I could find Lydia in the house I knew she was out on the swing.

 We hiked Bull Run mountain several times this summer.  It's a great hike up the mountain to a wonderful view of hill and valleys.

We floated the Shenandoah river.  It's a nice slow moving river, with a few rapids which weren't all that rapid we just ended up bottoming out in the rafts.  We had some great water fights.  Bill pulled the kids in and kids pulled Bill in. Lydia said that was the best time ever!  It was a soaking good time for all of us!  

Eating our packed lunches at the zoo

Riding the metro!

We enjoyed a ride on the Metro to the zoo.   Lydia could n't remember ever being there before so we took a day and enjoyed seeing flamingos, Pandas, cheetahs, elephants, snakes monkeys and so much more.  We did have some problems with the metro on the way back home but all in all it was a great adventure.  We did so much more.  I always feel sad when it's time to head back to school.

day???? Youth dance celebration MORE!

Hey everybody, its EM.

The Sunday after the three day youth conference each Stake gathered for their own testimony meeting.  The testimony meeting was very nice, with words from out Stake President, Brother Toma: another major organizer, and our youth conference representatives for our stake.  We were also privileged to hear a bunch of wonderful testimonies of the youth.     It was a wonderful evening.

Since we did not take any pictures of the testimony meeting, I am going to take this opportunity to share pictures of the performance. :)

The pictures are all out of order, maybe one day I will arrange them accordingly

Theme of the week!

Brother Gerard of the 70 and sister Cook of the General young women presidency, with our stake president who organized the entire event (Left).

One of the opening numbers honoring the Military.

Teacher's hip-hop dance!

Teachers dance, there is Willy front and center!

Swing Dance!

Laurels

Laurels and Priest  dance, I'm not in this photograph, but imagine me in one of the blue dresses.

One gentleman was left partner-less, so the main choreographer stepped in. 

FLASH MOB!!!!!

Opposition dance, thats me in the middle.  I Die in the end, because we represented the Lamanites. Same dance as the dance with Captain Moroni.

Captain Moroni!

Captain Moroni and a (Future) Missionary

Final number all 1300 youth singing True to the Faith, with the missionaries, and a standing ovation.

Hello world, its is me again!

 At church today I received my Young Women medallion.  I have really enjoyed the young women program and have grown so much through out it.  I have had so many great leaders and have been surrounded by so many beautiful and inspiring young women. I did not realize until recently how much influence that I can have on these girls and the amount of influence they have had on me.  I will miss them dearly, and am so excited to see where they go in this world.  There is no other group of young women that I know of that can make as much of a difference in the world as these girls will.

This church is so unbelievably amazing.  I cannot in words describe the joy that it makes me feel.  I know that the only way to truly be happy in this life is to stick to the teachings of the Gospel.

My friend also received her medallion today as well.  It is her last Sunday in our ward before she heads off to BYU.  I will miss her dearly. She has one of the strongest testimonies that I have ever seen, and will definitely do amazing things with her life.  I am sad to see her leave this week, but I know she will do amazingly.

-Emily Ward