Simply Craig

Get up. Get the kids ready for school. Get the menu planned. Get the laundry done. Get that workout in. Get the house. Get a reliable car. Get good grades. Get an enjoyable career. Get the lawn mowed. Get the latest TV...iPod...camera...computer. Get that lesson prepared. Get that appointment scheduled. Get some smiles on those kids’ faces. Are you exhausted yet? No? Okay, a few more... Get that dream vacation on the calendar. Get the bills paid. Get that book read. Get a savings account. Get a new pair of shoes. Get those extra pounds off. Get more money. Okay, I’m guessing you  get  the point.  We spend so much of our precious time  getting. Some of it is necessary. Some of it is good. Some of it is simply part of taking care of a family and a home. But while reading Proverbs the other day, I came across this: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” —Proverbs 4:7 That last phrase stopped me. With all thy ge...

Every summer vacation seems to come with its own story, and this one included just about everything we love about California. Sunshine. The ocean. Long bike rides along the beach. A little surfing for the boys and plenty of swimming for the girls. Our stay at the Pacific Terrace Hotel in San Diego was  F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!  We could walk just about everywhere...restaurants, shopping, ice cream shops, bike rentals, the beach and even carnival rides. With a view of the ocean right outside our balcony, we were perfectly happy to settle in and stay awhile. The kids spent hours playing in the sand, combing the beach for little treasures and running in and out of the water. The boys grabbed surfboards, while Dad took the girls out to catch a few waves of their own. And then there were these two... Bare feet. Fluffy skirts. Dancing along the shoreline as the sun went down. Some of my favorite photographs from the entire trip came from simply standing back and watching them play togethe...

DTTPP This little acronym caused quite a stir in our home. Mr. B.T.C. wrote these five letters on the chalkboard before leaving the kitchen one Saturday evening. One by one, we began trying to “break the code.” We were given three clues: We would be discussing the meaning of DTTPP for Family Home Evening. Whoever figured it out would receive a $10 cash reward. We each had to write down our answer and be prepared to hand it over to Dad Monday evening. For the next couple of days, everyone was trying to figure this one out. Even visitors joined in. Monday night finally arrived, and we anxiously gathered around with our little white papers in hand. One by one, we turned them over. Mr. B.T.C. carefully read through each answer (a few causing a smile to cross his lips) and then declared... Mom was the winner! Britley:  Don’t Talk Till Papa Prays Bree:  David Taught the People Prayer Wesley:  Do Things to Practice Peace Dawson:  Do Things to Practice Peace (Yes, the little...

Poor little Brit learned something today. No running on shiny travertine floors. One quick slip + the edge of a table = an answer to the very important question... “Mommy, what is a goose egg?” Well, sweetheart, now we know. OUCH! Thankfully, nothing a little ice and some extra love from Mom couldn't help. And judging by that poor little face, I think this is one lesson she won't need to learn twice.

For all of our family and friends who have been asking to see pictures of our new home...here they are! We're officially moved in and slowly beginning to make this place feel like ours.  After saying goodbye to a home that held seven years of memories, it feels good to begin making new ones here. Home sweet new home.

Today I've reached one of those time-dictated moments in life. My oldest child is starting his freshman year of high school. My youngest is starting first grade. All-day school. Which means, for the first time in a very long time, I will be home during the day without any of my little ones about me. Wow. This feels a bit foreign. I'm not sure I like it. All I can think about is how there is no turning back. No second chance to live those little years again. I've spent so much of my life preparing them for this very thing, and now suddenly...here we are. I've had the marvelous privilege of teaching them, learning alongside them, and watching each of them become their own little person. And now it's time to send them out into the world a little more. I pray that through their experiences at home, they've come to understand the importance of preparing themselves spiritually and personally...that they'll have the strength to face the temptations, disappointments...

Wow! Time flies. Life has been busy around here, and as you can see, blogging has slipped a little farther down my priority list. I've got lots of catching up to do. I've also been dealing with some health issues that have made the last little while especially challenging. I kept getting recurring UTIs, sometimes only weeks apart, and despite seeing doctors and having test after test, we still couldn't seem to figure out why. The good news was that everything kept coming back "looking good." The frustrating part was... I didn't  feel  good. So we kept searching for answers. And by  we , I really do mean we. My sweet husband took this on almost as personally as I did. He researched. He asked questions. He searched for specialists. At one point he looked at me and said, "I'll fly you to the other side of the world if I have to, to find a doctor who can help you." He loves me. There were moments when we thought perhaps we'd finally figured thing...

There are certain birthdays that feel like more than simply turning another year older. Twelve is one of them. Dawson, I remember shortly after you were born, that special Sunday when your father took you from my arms, held you in his, and gave you a name and a father's blessing. Then came your eighth birthday. I remember watching you come up out of the waters of baptism and feeling so grateful that your dad, a worthy priesthood holder, was able to confirm you a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and give you the gift of the Holy Ghost. And now, here we are again. Another birthday. Another sacred moment. Another time when your father placed his hands upon your head. Only this time, he conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon you and ordained you to the office of a deacon. Dawson, I hope you always remember this day and understand the importance of what you've been given. I pray that throughout your life you'll follow the example of your father and remain...