Every September

I have been going to the Lions Dixie Round up Rodeo every September since I can remember. We sit in the same seating with the same people watching the same events and the same Randy the rodeo clown.
It's the best.

and in the words of Garth Brooks...
"Well it's bulls and blood
It's dust and mud
It's the roar of a Sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo"

I don't know of another time that I feel more American than sitting in the sun bowl with a hot dog in one hand and binoculars in the other.
When we left Broc even said "I want to be a cowboy"

Ten Years.

I remember it like it was just yesterday. I was on my way to the bus stop for what I thought was just going to be another normal day in the seventh grade. As I waited at the dirt lot with some friends, one of them said "Did you hear about the Twin Towers?".

I didn't even know what the Twin Towers were...

No one had much information, especially as 12 year olds but when we got on to the bus everyone was talking about it. When we got to school, all of the televisions in the classrooms were turned onto the news. Teachers forgot about their lesson plans and read us updates on the attacks. There was just a somber mood that overcame the halls of Desert Hills Intermediate School.
Mrs. Jensen came in to our history class and said, "Students, I want you to remember today-today is when all of our lives are going to change."

I remember thinking the world was going to end. I was so scared for what these attacks would mean for the future. I just wanted to go home and have my Dad tell me everything was going to be alright.

There is no doubt that America lost so much that day.
But out of the ruin and the rubble, America truly became
ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
9/11/2001

Cheers to married friends!

This summer has been FULL of weddings.
And they just happen to be the weddings of some of our very best friends.
We are so happy to have married friends now!
So here is a special congrats to
Brady & Jessica
Clayton & Melanie
Chris & Jessica
Mitch & Kim
And now PRAX & ASHLEIGH!
Yesterday was their wedding and it was so great. Prax couldn't stop smiling and Ashley was just a gorgeous bride.

Will you still be married to me?

It's the one year anniversary of this sweet night,
the night Broc asked me to be his forever.
There is just something so special about asking someone to spend FOREVER with you and I will always remember when he did.
You can read all about it here.


I love you even more now than I did that night Mr. Hafen.
I didn't think it was possible.
But it so happens.
Every day.