Today

I am not very good at expressing in words what is in my heart, but I will try.

This morning we have been watching videos and clips that the church has published. I am again at awe and overwhelmed with gratitude for what the early saints went through. Their faith is inspiring! They worked hard, they had great faith and they sacrificed much. I am so grateful for them, and grateful for the gospel that I have been blessed to have my whole life. Watching these makes me realize the great responsibility I have to share what I know with others and to teach my girls the truth, and how to recognize the truth through the spirit so that they can also know! I know that this gospel is the truth, I know that there is a prophet on the earth, in Thomas S Monson, who talks to God, and who leads us in faith to become closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the atonement of the Savior, that allows us to repent and become better. And by which we will be able to be resurrected and return to our Heavenly Father! I am so very grateful today and wanted to share.

Halloween

Halloween seemed to go on forever this year! We had a few things that we went to and dressed up for, so it was fun. Ward 'Fall Festival', Dunham's Halloween party, and Trick or Treating with Carabello's. Yesterday was rushed and raining so no pictures of then, and Miriam wouldn't dress up or trick-or-treat anyway, so there you go! LOL We had fun all weekend! Here are pictures of all our costumes! Oh and Laurie had two costumes!

costume for ward party

All the girls were lady bugs their first halloween...and sometimes their second as well, this is from when Miriam was 1!

Bumblebee, and Southern Bell

And the costumes that I spent the most time on!!!!!

UFO (old swim floaty, with shiny fabric sewn on)!!!!!!!!

shooting star and saturn!

picture updates are always the best!

Ok so here are some pictures of our latest happenings. I have another blog post about our vacation to Smith Mountain Lake but that will have to come later! LOL Anyway, enjoy.

camping! :)

Still sleeping

circus!!

corsage!

Mother's Day dessert! YUM

Emma's staph infection...ewww

Class Ballet

we have the very same picture of Miriam and Elaine ;)

My first black eye-softball. This was almost healed, I forgot to get it when it was the best! lol

Memorial Day!

stinkin mosquitoes!

It was a pig-tail kind of day! :)

New Friends

It has been a while since I posted but I really felt I wanted share this.

Ever since we have lived here, on our way to church there is a big frog in the yard of a house, and the family has always decorated it for the holiday's. Bunny ears, coiled heart headband, leprechaun hat etc, and on Christmas the nativity is surrounding it and the frog watches on the infant Savior. We love looking at it and seeing what the frog will be wearing! At the beginning of the year we kept a watch out to see what would be next, and we noticed that they didn't put anything up for Valentine's Day. It was puzzling and I wondered if anything was wrong with the family...I kept looking for changes.

About a month ago, as we passed leaving church, a thought came to me that we should write them a letter telling them how much we enjoy looking at their frog and how it brings joy to us each season! So we did!! We also put that we hope we can continue to enjoy it for years to come. So after the girls reminded me over and over for the next several weeks, we finally wrote it signed the Chacon Family. We were going to mail it but kept forgetting (notice a trend!?) so Carlos suggested dropping it off.

Two weeks ago we went to deliver it but they didn't answer so we left the note at the door.

Easter Sunday came and we were late for church ( I greatly dislike being late to things) and so I was a bit upset, and as we passed the 'frog house' we saw bunny ears on the frog and a sign on the tree that said, Happy Easter CHACON FAMILY! It was so sweet!!! <3 <3 I was so touched, I had to hold back the tears!

On the way home, we stopped by to tell them Thank you and meet them. So we went to the door and they knew who we were right when they answered the door. It was a younger lady, not much older than me ;) who answered. I was expecting an elderly couple. And she told me that she was grateful for the letter. She told us that her mom and been in charge of the frog and that she had passed away from cancer in Jan. That is why we didn't see his decorations. Our letter prompted her to take charge of the task!! She really appreciated it!

Her dad was there as well and they told us that he and his wife had gone to the mountains 20 years ago and they got 'Frank' there. I don't know if she has been decorating him that long, but anyway. It was just really neat to know and to meet them and so sweet for them to thank us that way! They both had tears in their eyes and I did as well as we took pictures, talked a little and wished each other Happy Easter!

I know that the Holy Ghost prompted me to send that letter to them so that they know someone else appreciated what their mother/wife had done. I think it was a nice way of honoring her and keeping a memory of her!

I am thankful for situations like this that remind us how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us individually and remind us when we show love to one another!

Thank you 'Frank the frog' and Mrs. Crump for making us smile!!!

Sorry you can't see Carlos or Jack very well, but there you go ;)

MIriam's baptism

Miriam and Daddy right before the baptism :)

We recently had the opportunity to celebrate with Miriam as she made the decision to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! It was a wonderful day and week as we spent with family. So many were able to come, and my only regret is that I let everyone else take pictures and didn't get many myself! I did however get the classic baptism pictures for her to remember! She was able to share the day with a classmate, and a new convert. It was very special. She is such a wonderful daughter of Heavenly Father and Carlos and I felt that again as he was able to lead her into the water to be baptized and also confirm her and bless her to recieve the Holy Ghost as her constant companion. I am so grateful for the blessings of the gospel and family and that we have a loving Heavenly Father who allows us to experience such joy here on earth and that it can last for eternity through the blessings of the temple! Thank you everyone who was able to be here, we missed those of you who couldn't! She was so happy!!

We even included Flat Livvy! :)

People there but missing from picture is:

Ana and Eli (busy),

Carlos Sr, Catie-Lynn, Rose-Marie, Mason, and RM's friend, Luis (all came a bit later)

To our Lainey Bug!

There are so many pictures of Elaine that I am having a hard time narrowing it down!! She is such a great girl! She is busy, funny, crazy, energetic and our lives wouldn't be the same without her! She just finished her Kindergarten year at school and is getting so good at reading! Such a smartie!!!We all love you so much miss Elaine! Happy Birthday!!! SIX years old!!