A couple of funny photos

Dudes, check out the pictures of Granny J and Gramps. Both photos capture them so perfectly.

Really Great Quote

Guys, read this quote.  I freakin' love it!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson

Annie loves to act sad so people will console her. Case in point:

Weird Kids

Clayson & Will: The Dynamic Duo (The Destructive Duo is more accurate...)

Really Great Information

Hey Guys,

I wanted to share a book on tape recommendation with you all. It's actually a series of talks entitled "For All Eternity" by John L. Lund.

You can get it from the Library or buy on Amazon or Deseret Book. It's only 5 disks, but is full of really great stuff. I highly recommend you take the time to listen to it, road trips are perfect...

He talks about ways we can improve our communication with our spouses (and everyone for that matter), negociation, confliction resolution and finally forgivness. The last disk on forgiveness is the best talk I've ever heard on how to forgive and why we need to. I feel like Megan and I have a really great relationship, but this gave us some great tips to make it even better. Oh Yeah!!

Please take a listen! You won't be disappointed!

Nate

Pictures!

Thanks to Nate & Megan for these photos...

We're awesome!

Yes! We did it...We finished...and we did well!

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom! We are so lucky to have you as our very own. You make us so proud, and we admire you so much. You are so graceful and so beautiful. Mom, you have been a wonderful mother - you have had faith in all of us, and you have made each and every one of us feel so special, and you are a friend to each of us. What more could we ask for? You are the best! We hope you have a wonderful birthday. We love you Mom!

Happy Birthday to Ann Elizabeth!

Annie is 1! We can hardly believe it...For the first year of her life she has been overwhelmed with starwars, trains and dinosaurs. She finally got a baby doll for her birthday. Right away she put it up to her shoulder and patted it's back. She loves to put her baby in her crib, cover her, then uncover her and take her out and do the whole process over and over. Lot's of love to our little one year old.

A really great book

Dudes,

I just finished a really wonderful book last night called "Peace Like a River", by Leif Enger. It's the story of this little family whose father has so much faith that he can perform miracles, which he does so very quitely.

Shat!

Nate

Hi all--

I wanted to mention to you all what an amazing experience it has been for Dad & I to get involved with the Utah Refugee Center.  We've been able to help them through the family foundation by providing money to hire additional employees to reduce the case-load that each employee has.  Additionally, I've been "assigned" a family to help that is from Somalia with 9 children, two of which have special needs.  Their mother is tied to the home with caring for them, and the husband works and at the D.I.  They speak very little English.  Recently the mother asked for a few bikes for her kids, and  we've been able to secure 4 bikes through Debbie Reid's "Bikes for Kids Foundation".   It's so amazing to see the good that we can do for others in such desperate need.  Thanks, Dad for setting up the foundation, and for letting me be a part of this experience!

Em

Good Times!

Thanks Mom & Dad for such a fun weekend. We have such a fun family - I love you all!

Here is the awesome picture of Jake and Nate...and a funny video of the sack race. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw William.

The Book Thief

I finished "The Book Thief" last week. It was such a great book. I can't wait for our book club (woodward women book club) to discuss it!

Fathers......

I want to pay tribute to all of men in my life who are fathers!

First off, I have been born to and raised by and influenced by such a unique and (mostly) adorable man - My Daddy. Even though I am almost 59 years old, I still call him Daddy. I love him and I am so blessed that he is still such an important part of my life. I wish that I had inherited some of his amazing talents. Alas; not one! He still asks "what do you want ?" when I get him on the phone. He is a cute Gramps and Gr. Gramps to all of my family.

My mantra since I was about 12 years old: "choose wisely and carefully the father of your children". I followed my own advice. I chose well. Jim is the perfect parent to all of you for various reasons. You are lucky that I was so wise in that decision so many years ago. He has been a wonderful partner in parenting , and is the most loved and popular Papa on the face of the earth. "Oh, hi Nana - where's Papa?" is what I hear several times a week. I am happy for him and for the grandkids that they have such a sweet and happy relationship. Even though I do all the work.

My two sons Nate and Jake have delighted and awed me with their ability to care for their children. They are great Dads and loved by their kids. They comfort, they change diapers, they teach, they play and they provide a great environment for their families. And, they married well.

My three sons- in -law are incredible men too. I love them more than I ever knew I could - I didn't know them as children, but I love them like I have always known them. I trust them, I appreciate how they care for their families, and how they make my daughters so happy and content.
I am a grateful and blessed daughter, wife, mother, and mother-in-law.

Happy Fathers Day!

Eventful week few weeks...

There have been emotional highs and lows these past weeks. First off, the birth of a healthy, perfect and beautiful baby girl - Lily - to parents Anton and Lizzy was another highlight of my life. It is an amazing thing to witness the birth of these precious babies. I am blessed to be a part of it all.... It is so fun to see Liz and Anton with their baby. Just ask Anton about Lily, and watch for the change in his face. He melts. Liz must realize that Anton has another girl he is in love with; she has him wrapped around her finger. But I am betting that is fine with her. Liz is adjusting to motherhood like I thought she would - with confidence and calm. Lucky baby.
We had to say goodbye to a good friend - Dick Dorius- last Saturday. He put up a gracious and good fight. He will be missed by us and many others. Poor Shauna; she is just my age and I can't imagine a life without my husband. Life is too short for some! Also, it has been such a sad, sad week for Anna with the death of her friend's daughter Lucy. Our lives can change in a heartbeat - literally - as it did for all who know Molly and Vic. I have been touched and proud of the tender and poignant concern and love for Molly shown by Anna. All of the prayers, the fasting, the tears and the pleading did not change the course for Lucy, but I am sure it lightened the weight of the sorrow for the Jacksons. Lucy left many - myself included - looking inward a bit more to my beliefs and my priorities, and making me want to be kinder and more aware of the suffering that others experience. I have been spared such grief, and I pray that all of my children will as well. The first thing we always think of when we learn of a death is "we will see them again" and we know this only because we know the Savior has made it possible.

I think summer is really here - time for summer reading! I must recommend "march" by Geraldine Brooks, author of Year of Wonders. Pulitzer prize, good. Not to be confused with "The March" by Doctorow which is good, but a little rough. Both deal with the Civil War.

Girls, we need to plan on a review night for The Book Thief! Let's talk when everyone has had a chance to read it....Mom/Carolyn

BEAUTIFUL BABY BROG

CONGRATULATIONS, LIZ & ANTON!!! She is SO beautiful! I am so happy for you, and glad everything went well.

Good Book

I just wanted to second Carolyn's recommendation for "The Book Thief"...I just finished it and loved every page. That's all. Good-Bye. -Megan

The Family and Wieners

We had the whole Woodward clan Family Home Evening last night. And I just wanted to state how proud I am to be related to such neat people.

Every member of our family is so unique and so much fun.

I have to tell you all a funny thing that happened last night afterward. Clayson and Cece came over to our house to go to sleep while Jake and Kate were at the hospital with Penny. I took Clayson's crocs off and his feet were really dirty and STINKY (exactly like his dad's!). So I decided to give him a bath with Will. When Will got naked, Clayson yelled "Hey you have a Wiener too! I have a wiener! Your wiener is small, why is your wiener small?" Keep in mind both wieners are the same size.

Will was like "why do you call it a wiener? We call it 'boy parts'."



Weiners are awesome.

Why we'll never leave Iraq

I needed a good laugh today, so I rewatched the video of Iraqi soldiers Jake posted a while back. I got the laugh I needed! So pathetic and disturbing...

Great Book - I reccomend it....

I just finished The Book Thief and loved it from the first page. It was reccommended to me by my LON friends. Nazi Germany, about a 9 year old girl, as told by the narrator who is 'death'. Has won many book awards, anyone who wants to borrow it, let me know! Mom/Carolyn