The Lotts travel to Nauvoo

 

 

 

In July we went on a trip to Nauvoo to visit the church history sites.  In total we drove around 3,200 miles.  We were gone 11 days.  Amazingly enough, it was a wonderful trip and we made a lot of great memories.  Mike's mom Jeri came with us and we met his brother Chris and his family in Nauvoo.  The kids behaved very well and all the driving really wasn't that bad.  Here are some of my favorite pictures, in no particular order. 

 

 

 

 

The kids had a blast swimming in the hotel pools. 

 

 

 

We bribed the little boys a dollar to get them to finally take a nap while on the road.  Hey, you don't have to pay me.  I would do it for free anytime.

Gotta love the contraption I figured out to keep his head from falling forward.  It really worked but did need adjusting from time to time.

July 12, 2013  Remembering Ryan in Nauvoo 

 

 

A carnival was held before the Nauvoo pageant.  The kids and adults had fun trying different activities that were done back in the 1800's.  Mike actually did really good on the stilts.

Alex pulling the kiddies via handcart.

 

 

We went on a covered wagon ride pulled by oxen.  Oxen, by the way, are just big cows that have been trained.  It was bumpy, but fun.  We were told that the naughty children had the job of cleaning bugs out of the oxen's noses.   I wonder which one of my kids would get that job.  It would vary ever day I am sure.

 

At Winter Quarters in Nebraska the kids dressed as pioneers and pulled a handcart.  "Howdy Ladies."

 

 

 

Carthage with the Lotts.   It was humbling to be in the same room that our dear prophet Joseph Smith lost his life.  We were able to see the gunshot holes that were in the original door.

 

 

 

 

Ethan trying out the stilts with the help of a big brother.

Adamondiahman

 

I think this quote was at Liberty jail.  It is a good reminder to us all and gives me so much to look forward to.  It is worth it!!!!

 

This was at a park in Kansas City.  When we got up close it wasn't so pretty.  There was duck poop everywhere.  Gross.

 

 

 

Adam and Mike sawing a log.  I am on the other side helping Ethan saw the log with his uncle Chris.

 

 

Adam on a little wooden sheep.  We learned how to make yarn from wool.

 

 

 

 The beautiful Nauvoo Temple.  Jaime and Alex were able to do baptisms for the dead while we were there.  It was Jaime's first time.  It was a very special experience to witness.  I don't doubt Ryan was there proudly watching from above.

 

What Ethan bought from the gift shop.  It didn't surprise me one bit.

Winter Quarters-    Aren't they cute!!!

 

 

 

It was a great trip.  We learned a lot.  My respect and love grew so much for those that came before us and dedicated their lives to building up the Kingdom of God on the earth.  They sacrificed so much and had so much faith. 

A summer of Lotts of fun

Happy days.  Alex finally got his license in June.  With a big smile on his face he drove to a friends house the first night remaking how fun this was.  I had to add, "I told you so.  You could have been doing this for the past year and a half had you decided to listen to your parents and just get your eagle done."  But what do parents know, right???    Alex has had a fun summer thus far.  He enjoyed a week long scout camp and stayed with some cousins in Salt Lake last week and attended EFY.  He had a blast and wished it would have been longer.  I recently learned he likes to dance and heard he can get down to the Harlem Shake.  I can't believe that at this time next year he will be on a mission.  We are very proud of his decision to serve and know he won't be alone out there. 



 

Jaime turned 12 on June 9th.  A few days before her b-day I let her go on the yw/ ym hike to Waterfall Canyon in Ogden.  She had fun until the return trip.  She ended up getting separated from our group and was lost.  After about a half hour we finally found her.  She was very upset and had been very scared.  I was relieved and glad my prayers were answered and that we found her before dark.  Poor girl.  Then to top things off she had the flu on her birthday and ended up in bed the entire day.  She was able to go to girl's camp a few days later and had fun at the Heber Valley Girl's Camp.  I was able to spend one night up there with her.  It was special to be up there with my sweet daughter.  Wow, I can't believe she has grown up so quickly.  She was very sad today because I was released from being in the young womens.  I am glad for the short time I was in with her.

 

 

Adam is loving being outside and on the constant go.  Last week he got a handle bar to the gut but was up again five minutes later running around.  I am so relieved and was glad no hospital visit was needed.  He loves to swim, fish, and do about anything that makes messes.  He loves to watch movies and I love to hear him laugh.  He has become a big help around the house and helping take care of the pets. 

 

 

Ethan still keeps me laughing.   A few weeks ago at lunch I heard him tell Adam that goat poop was yummy and tastes like M&M's and has chocolate inside.  It made me laugh so much and he should know as he tried it a few summers ago.  Gross!!!   He is so excited to turn five and can't wait to go to Chuck E Cheese. 

 

 

We enjoyed watching the Ogden Raptors.

Our garden is doing awesome.  The tomato plants are now as big as Ethan.  We have already started enjoying some yummy veggies.

 

 

 

The kids love this tire swing at their Great Grandpa Moon's up in Malad, Idaho.

Mike enjoying the shade in our newly planted tree.

 

 Happy 4th Ryan.  We miss you.

 

 

Up in Malad at Grandpa Moon's.   Check out the orange bandanna.  Thanks for remembering Ryan.

 

 

 

Alex and Jaime had their heart check ups the first week of July and no concerns were found.  What a blessing.  They will both be seen again next year.   The rest of us don't need to be seen for four more years.

 

a hard month

into the arms of His love

 

Well, I made it through a very hard month.  Thank you for all the love and support we received.  I received many calls, texts, visits, gifts, flowers and prayers.  I am glad to have the first year behind me and yet sad knowing my sweet Ryan has been gone so long.  I shed many tears last month reliving what we had gone through the year before.  It was hard, but necessary for me to heal.  Our families came and spent the day with us on Mother's Day, the year mark.  It was special to have them all join us for sacrament meeting.  I really felt that even though it would be hard, we needed to attend church that day.  Alex was asked to speak in sacrament and it was special to be able to hear his testimony.  The night before we had went out to dinner with the kids and then went ice blocking.  We also ate shakes at the cemetery and wrote on balloons and let them off.  It still blows my mind that a year has gone by.  I really think all of our family's injuries last year were in a way a blessing to keep our minds focused on something else and not our sadness. 

 

Ryan's school held a small tribute in his memory on May 10th.  Kids wore orange in his honor and 12 balloons were let off.  Then the kids wrote messages in chalk on the sidewalk followed by drinking orange punch.  It touched my heart that he would be remembered.

 

Speaking of remembering, thank you to all those who continue to wear orange in Ry's memory.  On Mother's Day I noticed more orange than usual and that made me smile.  I also want to thank those who visit his grave.  It touches my heart to see things left there by others. 

Memorial Day was beautiful at the cemetery with flowers everywhere.  It's too bad it can't look that way all year. 

 

Primary Children's Hospital held a memorial service for all the kids that passed away in 2012 on May 19th.  It was a short and beautiful program consisting of a talk, poem and a few songs.  Then a video was played with a picture and a few words about the children that had passed away.  The tears flowed.  It was also sad seeing others hurting as well because I totally knew what they were going through.  Later doves were released outside.  We were told that the doves knew their way home just as our sweet children did as well.  I was surprised that almost half the kids that had passed away were teenagers.  It made me think something wonderful must be going on up in heaven to need so many of our special children.  I can't wait to someday know exactly what.

 

 

 

 

The kids are out of school.  Yeah.  I think I am just excited as them.  I am so ready to be able to sleep in and not have to worry about homework anymore. 

 

   Ethan graduated from preschool and will go another year before he starts kindergarten.

 

 

The sixth graders did the dunk tank on field day.  I got her dunked with my second shot.  Awesome!!

Last week Mike worked in California.  The three little ones and I drove out with him to spend the week.  I figured, what the heck it's practically a free trip.  Alex stayed up in Hyde Park and had fun hanging out with family, fishing, riding motorcycles and vegging.  Poor Mike had to work a normal week while the kids and I soaked up the sun at the pool.  We swam for about 5 hours a day.  I even read an entire book.  I can actually say this was one of the best vacations ever.  It was truly a relaxing vacation and I think I actually caught up on some lost sleep as well.  Thank goodness for sunscreen and dark skinned kids so no one burned too much which was nice.  The kids did sleep very well each night considering they were totally wiped from all their swimming.  My sister lived an hour away and it was so great to see her and her kids.  The cousins all had so much fun together.

 

Jaime and Adam snorkeling- they were naturals

 

 

 

tired after a fun week in California

 

 

 

Alex having fun dirt biking

 

So a busy and sad month is behind us.  I hope we have a very fun and eventless summer and are able to relax and just enjoy life together as a family and make many more wonderful memories together.

I am so thankful for all my blessings and especially try to count them when I am feeling sad and that life is unfair.  Regardless of all that has happened, we have so much to thank our Father in Heaven for.  We have had so many answers to prayers and so many miracles, for even a tiny miracle is still a miracle.  And some day we will be blessed beyond measure.  I just want to end with a scripture that helped me through a hard month.  I came across it one night while reading with the kids.  It struck me hard in a good way and provided me the comfort I needed at the time.  It can apply to anyone and so I'd like to share it.

D&C 98:1-3    "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;  Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament--the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.  Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled;  and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord."

I am so thankful for the scriptures and the many times they have provided me with comfort and answer to my prayers without me ever even looking directly for the answers--  small miracles.

 

 

 

 

 

 Ethan wore these to preschool.  He told me they were to protect his head. 

 

 

 Adam loves cantaloupe.  He ate practically the entire melon in few minutes top.

 

 

 

 Alex helped clip the chickens and ducks wings.  They keep getting out and Ethan has already rescued a duck and a chicken from the dogs.  Aren't they lucky he moved fast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need to frame this.  Our poor cat had a ton of matted fur.  He kept pulling it our so we decided to have my sister-in-law shave him.  He looked totally hilarious.  We kept his head and tail fluffy.  He looks like a strange little lion.

 

Thinking of you and your family Becky

My mother-in-law shared this special poem with me.  I want to dedicate it to Mike's cousin Becky and her family.  Tomorrow, May 10th, marks the one year anniversary of her newborn son returning back to be with his Heavenly Father.  Baby Kevin was so perfect he only needed his earthly body for a few precious hours. 

 

 

 

Welcome home, my son, I've needed you.

There is a great work here that must be done,

And no one else can do this work but you,

Welcome home, my son, I've needed you.

 

Your time on earth was short, I know,

But all the needed time was given you

To fill your mission there, and now it's through,

A greater, heavenly mission waits for you.

 

I know your earthly family grieves,

But they would have you do this work,

And I will comfort them, and solace bring

Into their hearts, replacing sorrowing.

 

You are bound by ties that last forever,

A choice son, born of goodly parents.

Death cannot separate, nor can time sever

The ties that bind your lives and love together.

 

 

 

And so tomorrow I will wear both blue and orange in honor of

our boys who are looking down on us from up above.  We love you Beck family.  You are in our thoughts and prayers on a difficult day. 

Count your blessings

I just felt I needed to express my love to my Heavenly Father for all the blessings that I have.  I am so thankful for all the tender mercies that continue to come our way.  I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the courage and strength it gives to go on with happiness even though my full happiness won't be fulfilled in this life time.  It gives me a great goal to strive for.  I know prayers are answered.  I know I am not alone.  I know that even though I don't fully understand right now someday I will see that Heavenly Father gave us what we needed -not what we thought we needed.

Thank you for all those who continue to remember us.  It is crazy thinking a year has gone by.  I am reliving the special memories I had of Ryan just days before our lives changed forever.  I know Heavenly Father was preparing me and I am so thankful that the morning of May 1, 2012 was a happy morning and that the last words Ryan and I ever shared were happy. 

I am so thankful for all the doctors and nurses and teachers and friends and family that helped us last year.  We couldn't have made it without you.

I recently was told about an Ensign article that has offered me much comfort.  It's titled "Trust in the Lord".  It's by Richard G. Scott from the Nov 1995 Ensign.  I encourage all to read it who are going through hard trials.  It can be found on lds.org.

I am thankful for my dear sweet husband.  He has been my rock.  I am thankful for our temple marriage and that he will be mine forever.  I am also so blessed to still have four happy healthy children on earth with me daily.  They make me smile, laugh and yes they still make me want to pull my hair out sometimes.

I am trying to focus more on the blessings I do have and not what I have lost.  For that will be ours again someday, and isn't really lost.  Ryan is on a special mission and I am so proud to be his mom and to have had 14 precious years with him.  

 

 

Newborn Ryan  March 16, 1998  (I recently came across this looking through old pictures.  He was so tiny.  He was three weeks early and weighed 5 lbs 12 oz)

 

 

 

(and daughters.  Someone sent me this sweet quote today.)

Spring has Sprung

Happy Easter Ryan!!!

 

Thank you to all those who remembered us on Easter.  I admit I hadn't even thought of Easter as being a possible hard day and therefore it wasn't.  I guess it's because I know that because of Easter and the resurrection I will be able to see my Ryan again some day.  That makes me so happy and I long for that day.

 

Ethan feeding Harry and Lloyd.  The names still make me smile and I am glad Ryan was the one who came up with the awesome names for our goats.

 

 

Jaime about 3yrs. old

 

I couldn't resist.  I came across this a few days ago looking at pictures.  I have decided it is time to go through the thousands of pictures I have in boxes and saved on my computer and put them in photo albums so we can look at them.  It will be a great way to remember all the fun times we have shared as a family over the years.

 

Way to go Mike!!!  And yes his shoulder wasn't happy afterwards.  A few weeks ago we took the kids to Get Aire for family home evening.  This is the first time that Mike and I have jumped with them.  It was actually a lot of fun.  I was even brave and did a flip into the foam pit.  It had been probably 20 years since I had done one so I was very proud of myself for conquering my fear.   We will definitely go again.

 

Eleven Months (Ethan had an ear infection)

 

It's crazy that the year mark is sneaking up on us.  I am not looking forward to the next month.  What's the hardest is knowing that it's just going to continue to get longer and longer that we have been apart.  I just keep trying to remind myself that the more time that passes actually brings us closer to when we will be together again. I will try and focus on that.  I am thankful my family will be with us on Mother's Day next month to help us through such a hard day.


 

 

We went and stayed in a hotel in Layton to celebrate Adam's 7th birthday.  We also went to Chuck E Cheese.  The kids had a blast playing games and winning tickets.  Last year Ryan had been there with us.  It wasn't the same without him.  It did make me smile remembering he was acting like a teenager last year when we went.  He wanted to hang out at a friends and was mad we made him come.  I have a picture we took from last year and he doesn't look very happy.  Now I treasure this memory.  I am sure he was looking in on us this year with his big happy grin though.

 

April 13, 2013  Swimming at the hotel-  our two little fish

 

 

 

 

 

Alex continues to grow- about time!  He is now just over 5'9  Wow!!  He has grown about 1 1/2 inches in the last month.  (I am 5'6.  I think Alex's hair is sticking up a little.)

Alex covered in cotton candy.   3-28-13

 

 Alex, with some help, made about 1,000 bags of cotton candy for the Hooper City Easter egg hunt.  The Easter egg hunt was a success.  We were told it had the best turn out yet.  I figure there were over a thousand kids there.  It was held on March 30th at the Hooper Park.  It started at 9am and was over in about 5 minutes.  We calculated the hours spent preparing to be about 150.  That included filling 10,000 eggs, bagging 1,000 cookies, making 100 toy baskets, shopping for candy, doing cotton candy, and placing all the candy and toys all over the park.  We are so thankful for all the scouts and friends and family who helped make this possible.  March was a busy month but was worth it.  Now he just needs to submit the paperwork and he will be driving in no time.

 

The Lott family-  Guess who the Easter Bunny was???  

 

  It was funny when little kids would say they wanted to see the Easter Bunny.  If Ethan would hear this he would say, "That's not the Easter Bunny.  That's Alex."

 

Our cute little Longhorns.  They won't take these off.  I don't let them sleep in the helmets though.  Adam chose the number 14 to go on the back of his jersey because Ryan was 14.  Ethan chose the number 4 because he is 4.  (Alex wants me to get him one.  He did try on the helmet and barely got his big head in it.)

It is great to have nice weather finally.  I am enjoying seeing my flowers and trees again.  Our grass in the back yard survived the winter.  Yeah!!  The kids love to play soccer on it.  And it only takes me about 1 1/2 hours to mow it!!!  Well worth it though.