Shawni

It’s that time of year when all over the world, Mission Leaders (formerly called Mission Presidents) for our church make a giant switch. The new Mission Leaders are trained and make their way to wherever they are assigned to take the places of those who have served for three years.…

My brother Jonah and I dubbed ourselves the “#2’s” years and years ago. I was the second girl, and he was the second boy in a family of nine kids. It was our own special “club” in a sea of siblings. And we are so excited around here because this…

GRACE TURNS 21 TODAY!! This post is to offer other moms of spitfire daughters hope. Because phew! Kids can be a handful sometimes, and this girl was one of those handfuls. But as I spent the morning looking through pictures of her growing up I was overwhelmed first of all…

Twenty-seven years ago I was right here: Just look at that guy. Not sure why I was so serious about getting him for my very own:) I never could have guessed how much more a girl could love when I was already head-over-heels. Through thick and thin, ups and downs,…

We happened to be moving Claire in for college on Father’s Day (more on that big move later this week) which meant some great things: 1) We got to be out of the blasted heat in the desert. 2) We got to be with five of our seven kids for…

I love this day to celebrate the fathers who make the world go around. The ones who are handed a baby and wonder what in Heaven’s name just happened…a baby?? What do I do now? Then they they courageously delve in. They work hard. And they find the unique way…

Lake Powell just might be Dave and my favorite spot. I mean, I don’t know that there’s much better than being cradled in those expansive red cliffs, a big sky full of stars in the evenings, surrounded by people you love. It is so much work to get food and…

This is easy to forget so I thought I’d share. xoxo

This summer, instead of girls camp, the youth in our church congregation had the opportunity to go to something called FSY the next day (For the Strength of Youth). Kind of a glorified “summer camp” with counselors and classes and dances and so many opportunities to learn and grow. Lucy…

Let’s go back to April. It started out with General Conference for our church…a weekend I adore, mixed in with a brunch with neighbors, a mission report from Grace for other neighbors: …and a mission report to extended family as well: I wrote all about that weekend (and my favorite…