Camping

After enjoying a few days of rest I decided I wanted to take the family camping. So I went to Cal-Ranch and bought a dutch oven and looked up some delicious recipe's. Mountain Dew Chicken won my choice to I went and got the ingredients. Jon, myself, the kids, and my dad packed up and headed up Deep Creek to enjoy some tent camping. Whitney, Ryan and Maylee joined the group and my mom even hopped off the plane for a little while to spend the night with us. It was so much fun and something that hopefully becomes a family tradition. My dad and I cooked up a storm with the Dutch Ovens while the kids played in the trees. It was Heaven. Then on Sat. Morning we awoke to take the girls to there first Soccer game. Yep, they started soccer and wow is Autumn an athlete she scored 9 goals ???? Crazy Girl. Also one of the other weekends we went down to the cabin with my mom and dad so Jon could enjoy Panguich lake. I talked my dad into starting up my grandpa Lamar Wall's old fishing boat and we took the kids around the lake for rides. No, we didn't catch many fish, but it was sure fun. Then I took Jon to Yankee Meadows on one of the most beautiful 4-wheeler rides I have ever been on. It was wonderful. I loved the 4-wheel date I had with him. I feel so blessed to have these experiences.

Lily's Blessing

Debbie took off to Amber Mitchell's because she was about to have a baby; so now that we were alone as a family. We spent the next week getting to know each other again and the joy of being together as immediate family. It quickly became a party again tho as Jon's Dad, brother Steven and Steven's wife Marlene came to visit with there baby Mia. Jon had planned a backpacking trip to Yellowstone where he and his dad and bro. were going to hike to the scout pools at Union Falls. Richard Cottle had been exercising to prepare himself for the 20 mile hike. So Marlene and I stayed back and got to know each other better as the boys went off on the outdoor adventure. It was fun letting the kids play together and we even let Mia and Lily bathe together. They were cute and will be darling cousins. One of the highlights was going to the Church History Museum where the kids played with all the fun toys on the 2nd floor. This is where Debbie met up with us because Amber had given birth 2 days prior and everything went great so she brought the kids down on Friday night so she could attend Lily's Blessing. On Saturday evening the men came back and boy did they reak. I couldn't wait for them to shower. They had a blast and couldn't wait to watch the BYU-Utah game which sadly Utah won. The next Sunday morning was stake conference, but we had planned to bless Lily in the Home. I woke up really sick with a cold, so Jon and his family took charge and cleaned the house and prepared for the blessing which I was really grateful for. Jon conducted and Brother Lane Turner from our Bishopric presided. We started with the song, "I am a Child of God", I offered the opening prayer because I was so sick I couldn't do much else. Following that my dear mother bore a beautiful testimony and then Aunt Whitney shared her's, which she cried completely through. After which Steven and then my father Brent and Jon's dad Richard bore their testimonies. The Spirit filled the room and I was very touched. Jon then offered the blessing. Naming her Lily Kate Cottle and giving her a beautiful blessing. Afterwards Richard came up and said did you hear him say you will a be a wonderful sibling to your BROTHERS and sisters, great I guess we are going to have more kids:) After the blessing Jon bore one of the most beautiful testimonies I have ever heard him give. It was on families and he was so sweet. I even saw a tear come from his beautiful eyes. We ended with Grandma Debbie saying the closing prayer. The people in attendance where Grandma Joyce Wall McClerg and her husband Jon, Grandma Carrie Archibald, Ryan Mead, and Jon's Uncle Kent Egelund and his Family. The Spirit permeated our home and I kept thinking, "It feels like Christmas" wondering why I finally concluded it was the Spirit in our HOME.
After the blessing we had a birthday party for Dean celebrating him turning 2. I gave him underwear and a potty, but he has shown no interest. :(
After the long day I fell asleep and woke up the next morning feeling so much better. Everyone flew out or drove home and we were again left to figure out our family and enjoy the slower pace.

Returning Home and Starting School

After a few weeks of being home alone I realized I couldn't do it all. I admit I had some break down moments and one Sunday while on the phone with Jon I told him it was too hard. He quickly called his Mom and Debbie came out to stay with us again so that I could get the kids ready for school. We shopped until we dropped after she arrived picking up school clothes for the kids stocking my cupboards and just plain having a good time. I truly was blessed again by her service. Makenna was the first to start school and her first grade teacher is Mrs. Fry. Makenna loves her and school. She is learning to read and doing a great job at math. She has a few new friends Ellie Demonde being one of them. Autumn was having a very difficult time with Makenna being gone all day and I was having a hard time waiting the 2 weeks until her preschool started. When she finally went to Discovery Time with Nancy Pierce we both were elated.
Right before it was time for Jon to come home he called and said I should fly out and go to Six Flags for the end of the year adventure with the office. I quickly booked a flight and Lily and I flew back to CA to go to Six Flags with our wonderful Husband and Father. I got to ride one of the biggest and fastest Roller Coasters I have ever been on and then watched Jon ride some cool rides. We ate Crab for Dinner YUM!!! and then Jon had a surprise he had picked up a Dog from an old lady he had tried to sell. He was a Chihuahua Mini Pin mix and was adorable. We got back to the apartments and the Dog was in love with Jon. We went and got him a few things from pets mart and then started our drive back home to greet the kids with our new family member. It was a wonderfully simple drive back home. The dog even did great. When we arrived the kids were so excited it was darling. We named him Rocky and he has been a new found joy in our home.

Rancho Cucamonga California Summer #8

After spending a couple of weeks soaking up the sun and enjoying my little family. As we went to the park and swam nearly every day; Debbie came into town again to help me so I could sleep and try to catch up on some r&r after our move. She was very kind to pick up needed grocery's and take the kids on outings. After a wonderful couple of weeks. Lily and I flew back to Utah to visit her 6 week checkup and I got to spend a day with my Mom and Whitney. I decided I wanted to go Jet Skiing. After being pregnant for 10 months I wanted to take my body back and do something FUN!!! We had a blast on Willard Bay and then to top off the already great day we got a Red Robin Burger and went to the movies. Gotta Love my family, they sure know how to have fun. I went back to CA to enjoy 4th of July and going to Newport Beach and Balboa Island with my summer friends. The girls continued to swim and Autumn even taught herself which was awesome she is a little fish and Makenna is a little Mermaid. Nearing the end of the summer my mom called and said she was flying into L.A. if I wanted to come stay with her in the hotel she was stopping at for the night. She is a flight attendant for Skywest. I went of course and then the next day we wanted to do something fun before she had to catch her next flight. I decided a stroll down Hollywood Blvd. would be fun. We drove over to the street and I quickly found a parking spot because all the characters were out; Elmo, Shrek, Indiana Jones, Etc. My mom wanted to stay in the car because she wasn't sure we parked in the right spot, but I quickly encouraged her to have some fun with me and the 4 kids. We walked down visited the characters and enjoied some lunch at the Disney Cafe. We decided it was time to go back to the car so that my mom could catch her flight on time, but I walked up and down the street twice thinking I know I parked my car here. Then I looked up and saw a tour bus sign. That's right we had parked where the tour buses loaded and unloaded and in the 45 min we were gone they had towed my car. Both my mom and I were in shock and I started to cry. She had to get to work or she would be fired so she hailed a cab and left me with Lily in my arms, Dean in the back pack and a girl at each of my side. While she was driving away crying she saw a police officer and said, "Please Help My Daughter" This officer didn't know hardly anything, but he got me to another female officer that was so kind. She got me the number to the tow yard which was a mile away thankgoodness. So holding back as much emotion as I could I walked the mile with my 4 kids to the tow lot. On the way there I was walking through some rough streets and two hispanic women started to feel sorry for me. They complimented me on having such a beautiful family and then offered me to come into there homes, I declined. I thanked them and continued on my way. Once I reached the lot I was so full of emotion the lady gave me my ticket of $200 and they pulled my car forward. The relief to see my car was all consuming. I quickly loaded the kids and drove straight home to our apt. where I didn't want to leave for quite sometime after that.
Another fun adventure we had was doing the VIVINT KIDS RACE! It was so cute to have all the kids Swim, Bike, and Run. They were darling and did a great job. Heidi Fransen is big into races and we made them shirts, and numbers, and even fed them a carb meal the night before. So darling!!!!
We sadly got ready to say goodbye to Jon and our fun friends hoping never to have to do summer sales again, but happy for the memories. The day before we left Jon took the day and we went down to Newport Beach and Balboa Island where we enjoyed a most wonderful day shopping on the main drag. Soaking up the sun at the beach. We went on a Boat Tour of the Bay and seen Dolphins, some cute Sea Lions, and someone even saw a whale. We ended the day with Cars 2 the movie and I will forever love this day with my family. It was perfect and wonderful and one of those complete blissful days. The next day my dad flew in and we drove to Panguitch Lake our cabin where we spent the 24th of July. It was fabulous all the traditional festivities and even so much more. Wendy and all her kids were down there and we had a blast hanging out with the cousins. The Highlights were are annual family play this year being Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. Of course Lexie was Snow White and my Mom was the wicked Queen the rest of the adults were the 7 dwarfs and the kids got to enjoy the play. HE HE HE! The other Highlight was taking the girls to the Tuacahn Theatre to see the Little Mermaid play. WOW it was awesome and we even took them to a Tepanyaki restaurant before and that was way fun. After having so much fun and 4-wheeling to our hearts content is was time to come back home to Morgan and get ready for school. WOW Life is way FUN!

Lily's Birth and a very busy Spring

Since my last post. Oooodles and oooodles of stuff has happened.

1st: Our first trip to California. We made our Apt. Home for Jon and we went to Disneyland. Spectacular fun with the kids. Jon and I even got to go enjoy the Magic Kingdom while Debbie watched our kids one night. We ended up going on the Indiana Jones ride and when I came home I threw up and had contractions through the night. I felt a little bad that I had done that. However, Lily didn't come and I made it home with Debbie just fine. She has been such a help this summer. I have been very blessed to have such a mother-in-law.


2nd: Lily Kate Cottle was born May 19 we were debating on when to have Jon come home from California to be with us and the ward had asked us to speak on the 15th on our marriage covenant and families. SO I made Jon come back to Utah to speak with me seeing how I was 38 weeks pregnant. We spoke and it ended up being kind of fun. We went up to the pulpit together and took turns speaking on our appointed subjects. It was a little different, but I love him and was glad we got to stand together as a couple. Our talk went as follows:

Introduce Jon and I
JON:
The beginning of eternal families starts from when we are a child “Wise parents teach there children to apply the healing, reconciling, and strengthening power of the atonement within there family. Each family member has the responsibility to strive for family unity. Children who learn to strive for unity at home will find it easier to do so outside the home.” Church Handbook of Instruction
“The family is where the foundation of personal, spiritual growth is built and nurtured; the church, then is the scaffolding that helps support and strengthen the family.” M Russell Ballard

came back from mission marie was at institute, dated in Houston. Jon BYU marie BYUI. Drove lots and as we dated we saught the counsel of church leaders parents and the Lord in Marriage.
Marie: I wasn’t as courageous and I made him ask me twice. I had fears. . . It’s your choice” Then I gained the confidence and we were sealed in the Bountiful temple almost not knowing that I was making the covenant to enter into the highest degree of the celestial kingdom
The only two people we have ever covenanted is with the Lord and your spouse. So those are the only two people that should precedents over everything in life.
“God instituted marriage in the beginning. He made man in his own image and likeness, male and female, and in their creation it was designed that they should be united together in sacred bonds of marriage, and one is not perfect (or complete) without the other.” Joseph F Smith
We need each other, in order to reach the highest degree in the celestial kingdom and in this life.
Love is something you have to “decide” to do . . . involving commitment, trust, sharing, and sacrifice. Love is not something out of our control.

JON: 1st summer with APX having to provide for our family and sense then we have been from the east coast to Hawaii.
Fathers preside in love and righteousness :::>>> pg 66

Marie: Life was moving at a fast pace for us after that. I guess it’s because I took so long to say “YES” but we quickly became pregnant with Makenna and she was born just before our one year anniversary.
Full partnership in marriage. Adam and Eve 1st commandment given to them. Bare children, and multiply and replenish the earth. Man and women best setting for rearing children.
Mothers: Nurture pg 70 rejuvenating and filling our empty cup pg 73 Child rearing develops us as individuals. Elder Holland pg 74
JON: Once married we are required to cleave to one another meaning complete devotion we cleave to God and each other by serving and loving each other and keeping covenants and commandments. No other person or interest is to take precedents.
BYU; Juggling school for both of us and raising Makenna


Benefits of marriage: Married people live longer.

“Begin with your own home to preserve the sanctity of your marriage, the eternity of your covenants, and the happiness that comes where there is love and security and trust in the family. Put the comfort and happiness of your companion and your children ahead of your own ...” Gordon B. Hinckley
Help Meet in Hebrew means equal strength to rescue
Family relationships extend beyond the grave. Going to the temple being sealed and living up to the covenants we make there in is how those relationships extend.
The opportunity to be sealed is a privilege and Obligation. It is the foundation of an eternal family




We are to help each other equally.

Genesis 5:2 God no longer regarded them just as two separate beings but as one unit

After speaking in church Jon stayed and worked in Utah and on Thursday morning my Dr. Called saying come into the office. I went in and he sent me to the Hospitol. I was started and 6 hours later I lifted up my darling daughter hugged and kissed her and then they rushed her to the NICU because she wasn't getting enough Oxygen. This made me very anxious and nervous. None of my family got to see her and I was the only one that got to hold her. I got to visit her once in the NICU which was very scary and it made me sad. I waited until 10:30pm when they brought back my healthy happy little girl. I was thrilled and she has been perfect ever since.

We did something kind of unique. After having Lily in the Ogden Regional Hospitol Jon and I decided to go stay at a hotel for one night before returning home to our kids. I will cherish this experience so much it was peaceful. No nurses to come in a bug us and I got to enjoy some sleep. Jon spent the weekend with us and then I packed the entire car only having a baby a few days earlier which I was incredibly sore and exhausted after that. Then we drove with our new baby and entire family back to California where I rested and Jon worked and worked and worked. I think this was truly one of the hardest things I have done in my life and am grateful it is OVER. However, it is amazing what you can do when you have no other choice. You just DO IT! We were now living in California in our little apartment enjoying our summer friends.