You've heard it said that:

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” ~John M Richardson, Jr.

I hope none of us will remain content to just sit idly by and let the future happen to us.

That being said, I'd like to make a few comments about the future I see around the corner.

About a year and a half ago, Larry and I started a new tradition for Friday's called "Family Movie Night." Together we have enjoyed introducing many of the classic films we grew up with to our kids... such as Annie, The Sound of Music, Narnia, ET, Star Wars, Karate Kid, and It's a Wonderful Life etc, among others. As all good movies (or stories for that matter) hinge on a contrast between good and evil, war and peace, joy and sorrow; there have arose moments of intensity during a movie when my kids cry out in distress, "What's going to happen?, What's going to happen??" After pausing the movie (or just turning down that scary music), I have always taught them a singular principle: "Don't worry, They'll be okay, The good guys always win- they just have to go through the worst of it before they do." My children have since learned to deal with all those villians and power-seizing "bad guys", and on occasion I've heard them comfort each other with the words, "Don't worry Bailey, the good guys always win".

And so it is, while I have a perfect brightness of hope for our future, I recognize that before the "good guys win" we'll have to go through the pits before we get there.
And with that in mind, I'd like to share a noteworthy article with all my friends, from a source I trust for setting the record straight and making no excuses for either corrupted political party. This link offers many practical suggestions for preparing ourselves to get through what's ahead. And remember, if we are prepared, we'll have no need to fear. So check out Glenn Beck's: What Can I Do to Prepare article, and when the going gets tough, just remember, The Good Guys Always Win!

Franklin Science Institute!

Picture a sunken pirate ship loaded down with real treasure -"pieces of eight," the Jolly Roger, canons, pistols, rope tying, masonic dishes, a 300 year old fibula of John King, the 9 year old runaway turned pirate, and stories of true love, war, mutiny, robbery, slavery, and nor'eastern storms, and you will have the images of our family having a fascinating time at the REAL PIRATES attraction at the Franklin Science Institute. Thanks to "Communinty Day" we got to go for free! Lovin' it Philly!

CALVIN TURNS 6!!!

Happy Birthday you crazy, zaney, disctractable, incourageable, goofy, scavaging, brilliant, thoughtful, helpful, stubborn, proud child of mine! I love you, with all my heart, since the moment I delivered your 9 pound 14 ounce little fat body into this world,I have loved you and adored you! You are a treasure and a prize. You are a nucleus of endless potential. You are my special, tender, thoughtful, reflective little man, and I love you.
Happy Birthday Buddy! You rule the house today!




Breakfast in Bed... as requested!

A "happy birthday" call from daddy, who had to leave for work before breakfast!

Cupcakes in Kindergarten...


SIX dollars in a birthday card from Gramma Jane
Big Smiles, for the little banker!


Snuggly warm robe and PJ's from Grandma Burk


TOTALLY awesome new MICROSCOPE for our budding scientist, compliments of Grammy Peggy and Grandpa Larry


A LITE BRITE from Bailey, and a Rocket from Mom and Dad


Six Candles! Make a wish!


huffed and puffed and BLEW those candles out!


Happy Birthday my Brilliant Boy!

Still no camera battery charger...grrrr

BUT CONFERENCE ROCKS! WHAT BALM FOR MY PARCHED SOUL. LOVED IT!!! Can't wait for more tomorrow.

After spending all the grocery money this weekend, stocking the fringe full of delicious fruits and vegetables, and the cupboards full of nutritious whole grains, at this very moment I am lamenting my failure to buy any TREATS! I guess that's a good thing, because if we had any ice cream right now, I would eat the WHOLE BOX!

The Daugherty's Take Manhattan

My mom came to visit which afforded us all a great opportunity to take a holiday to visit New York City! We all drove drove to Staten Island (minus Azalea...thanks to my visiting teacher Lynnete for babysitting!) and took the Ferry (FREE can you believe it!) across the water and past beautiful Lady Liberty! We walked through the financial district (may it rest in peace...and may God have mercy on America) and scored AWESOME tickets at the TKTS booth there. (This is an insiders secret: There is a TKTS booth in the financial district with lines way shorter than the one at the booth in Times Square!) We had a lovely dinner over the water at the Southside Seaport before taking a subway up to the theater district. MARY POPPINS was the show of the night and it was SENSATIONAL!!!! I love that movie already and supremely enjoyed the broadway. When Mary actually rose up off the stage and up and above the audience at the end of the show, it truly brought tears of joy to my eyes!
I am a pure theater enthusiast
!

Thank you so much mom! What a great memory you made with all of us!

Ode to My Mother

Happy Birthday MOM!

You have been very present in my thoughts and I wanted to take a moment to honor you.
I am so lucky to have you for my mother. The older I get, (yes here it comes) the more I appreciate the values you always tried to teach me. Yes, you truly have always been wise. And I am more grateful to you and feel thankful to have been taught and learned so many things from you that I have previously taken for granted. I want to know what you know, I want to learn what you have learned, and I want to be able to do what you have done and pass it on to my children.

I am so fortunate to have been taught by you a deep and abiding love for our country, our constitution, and our Fore Fathers. Despite the tearing down of our country and a defamation of heroes that has indoctrinated others around me, I feel so blessed to have been taught the truth of something nobler and greater.

I love you for raising me on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. As the world goes on, my roots reach back to when I was a child and the values you instilled in me on health and diet. I so appreciate the anchor for truth and right that you have always been in my life. I appreciate the canning, the gardening, the drying and "laying up in store" you have exemplified to me all of my life. What better gift could a mother give her child than one of strong health!

Well, you gave me gospel knowledge. You taught me obedience and strict observance to keep the commandments of God. And I know, as taught in scripture, that this is the path that leads to freedom and life eternal. I know because of the opportunities you provided me as a child, to learn, and study and think, and understand the gospel of our Lord. You taught me with love and genuine sincerity, the precious gospel truths, and how to live so as to prepare myself worthy before God. I am humbled by the time your spend searching and studying the scriptures and how you share those gems that you've polished in your heart.

I love you for all that you are and all that you've sacrificed and all that you have accomplished in your life. I love you for teaching me to love and appreciate all things beautiful and lovely- in home as well as landscape- and how to work my knuckles to the bone to make it so. I love you for representing peace and modesty and decorum to me. I value your example of thrift and frugality. I envy your talent in crafting and creation and I covet your understanding of education and teaching.

You are a vanishing breed, a singular, stellar example of motherhood and womanhood. And you are exceptionally loved and honored by me. On this your blessed birthday, I celebrate you and thank you!

Welcome to Glenside Elementary: 1st day of Kindergarten, 1st day of 3rd Grade...

Bailey and Calvin started school this week. They start in Sept. here instead of August b/c the schools don't have a/c so they wait till it cools off a little... but it's still been 90 degrees here. Calvin says kindergarten is too babyish. And Bailey is happy to be in the same class as Mary Grace, a little girl she met this summer. I must have 10000 school papers to sign and fill out! What a joy!

I am busily taking care of a long back list of projects, like our bathroom plumbing that has been leakin into our ceiling and so redoing the bathroom while the plumbers are here anyway. Yesterday I picked out a new vanity and maybe I'll start painting next week.
We have an ongoing landscaping project in our backyard, leveling and replanting grass. Larry sold his HUGE desk and that has helped me to rearrange our house furniture and get my piano studio set up so I can start teaching next week. Our van has been having brake trouble so it has been in the shop for two days. Good news is the brakes are okay but it's time for the 90, 000 mile tune up so we spent the money on that instead of brakes.

I found a GOODWILL store (finally) and am very stoked about that. The few thrift stores around my town were pretty sad after coming from such a goldmine of a Goodwill that we had in FL. I found a Goodwill here about 20 minutes from my house and we took the kids shopping there and SCORED finding lots of nice looking, brand name clothes! I got Bailey about 25 new items, and at the check out counter the clerk told me the kids items were 50% off that week! So instead of paying $2.50 an item, I got it all for $1.25 a piece! Happy day for us!

Bailey starts gym up again this afternoon after a long break from it. Calvin has begged me to have a class of his own too, so I have relented...although this gym only teaches boys up to age 5, they made an exception for Cal b/c he really needs the coordination practice.

Annual Westward Pilgrimmage: Part 1

After just one month at is new Residency, Larry was fortunate enough to get vacation time in August and so after finding awesome airfare from Philly to Boise, we ventured west on an 8 day adventure to Include Boise, Seattle and the San Juan Islands to visit our families.


Our first time flying with five! Azalea did awesome thanks to the Ipod and the Bose.

My awesome family met us all at the Boise airport at midnight before we departed the next morning for Washington to visit Larry's grandmother in the van my mom so generously loaned us for the week.

Azalea also enjoyed her first Ferry Boat ride as we made our way to Friday Harbor Island to see Grandmother.





And it wouldn't be a complete trip to the island without a trip to American Beach... in grandmothers T-bird




And there's always plenty for Calvin to explore, while daddy gives Bailey a rock skipping lesson





I wish I had more pictures of our time in Seattle with Larry and Peggy. They are perfect hosts and make the most delicious breakfasts! Thanks Again. Next time we'll stay longer!

Western Pilgrimmage Home Part 2

Upon returning to Idaho it was Family Reunion Time!

We kicked it off with a little Summer Olympics, complete with torch ceremony!


The Games... ( Including the high Dive, Discus thow, Javelin, Double Dash, and Shot Put among
others!)



and The Award's Ceremony!


As my sister Jasmine and my brother in law Tony won the most gold medals, they also took home the Sweepstakes Award : )


Here is dad giving us a little demonstration on how to fight the Goliaths in our life (literaly this time) after having a little family devotional.




I was thriled to attend my 10 year class reunion while I was there! From a class of 63 we had 32 classmates attend plus quests. It was a good time catching up and not having to wonder about some people anymore!


A fun day at the lake...




Blankie Girl... and Grandpa playing horseshoes with Calvin and Spencer


Mom treated the girls to a fun French luncheon... We missed you Brookie and Michelle!




Mom mom giving her famous " Pony Rides"


It was so good to visit my 95 year old Legendary Cowboy Grandpa too!




What a memorable trip!