I just came across this quote from David A. Bednar, and I love it: "The tender mercies of the Lord are real and they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ."

I have been thinking lately how incredibly well our Heavenly Father knows us. I mean, yeah of course He knows us --> He created us! But, just the things that we go through in our lives, there just doesn't seem possible to get out of certain situations sometimes, either by our own doing or by someone else's doing. I know without a doubt that by being obedient and following His laws and commandments there is just no way for us to fail. I have such a testimony about tithing. I don't see it as my money or as something that I have to do - it really is a privilege to be able to give that back to Him. After all we are NOTHING, absolutely, positively, nothing without Him. The tender mercies of the Lord are also something I am extremely grateful for. He knows us, wants what is best for us, He rejoices with us, cries and mourns with us. I can't even start to understand what He goes through as He watches us humans do the foolish things we do each day, and all the justification we do as we do some stupid thing(s). I don't think that there is a day that goes by without me wondering how in the world people are so dumb as to think that they can get through this life without Him. It was never meant to be that way, we are totally dependent upon Him, and that is how it should be. Life is not easy, but boy is it worth it! I am so grateful for the joy that I get from my family. I get annoyed with them at times, but there is no one either that has my back as I know that they do. I am also extremely grateful to live on the earth in this day and age - I doubt that I could have made it as a pioneer woman, talk about amazing people! Changes are in the air I believe, and for good or evil, it is an exciting time to be alive! Oh yeah, how could I forget to mention this? DUH!!! My nephew Nik, has been called to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he is going to the South Carolina, Columbia Mission, and he leaves 6 days after his birthday, on December 12th! I am so excited for him, I know he will be a great missionary! So proud of him and I love him sooooo much!

Jake has been on my mind a lot lately. I so miss that boy and his kisses and hugs. I think it's because I have heard about 3 different kids close to his age that have passed away too. There was a girl in California in August that drowned in a swimming pool, her grandparents live in Heber. It broke my heart to hear about that. Then there was a girl that had a heart transplant as a baby, she was 4 this year, and the Make A Wish Foundation sent her to Florida to go to Disney World. Well, on her way there she got sick, her body rejected her heart and she passed away. And then just a couple of weeks ago, there was a 4 year old boy that drowned in the swimming pool at Derick's work. I guess they were there for a family reunion and there were a bunch of people in the water, so he got lost in the crowd and drowned. My heart goes out to all these people, especially to the parents and siblings. It really and truly is something that you never plan for, or even want to think about that might happen to you. But, I do know without a doubt that EVERYTHING happens for a reason, and that there is no use in blaming anyone. Little children are perfect in God, and if they were meant to live, they would have. They were just too pure and innocent to live here any longer. It's hard to think that as a parent, but if they can't be here with us, at least we know where they are and that they are safe, surrounded by people that love them and are watching over them until we can be with them again. And they are also watching over us and encouraging us from the other side to be a better person. 

Who knows when I'll get around to writing here again... so I just wanted to mention that on Friday, it has been 9 years since my little sister died. I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen her or talked with her! I miss her a lot too, and I love her so much! Marita, you are my sweet angel too:)

About our trip to Silver Lake September 9, 2012

We love going to Silver Lake. We try to get up there once a year, and every time we go we see a moose, or sometimes a moose and it's baby. This year though we saw 4! It was pretty cool. There were 3 bulls and one cow. I was so glad that they stayed away from us, you just never know what kind of a mood any animal is in, so it is always good when they go about their business and let us go about ours. It was incredibly busy there this time - people were every where. I guess I am selfish, cause I really wished that it was just us and a few other people there, but I guess such a beautiful place does attract people... We took pictures of each other, and the one that I took of the boys, Derick decided that they all should cross one leg over the other, it made for a funny pose, especially cause it looks like Derick is sticking his chest out:) In one picture, I was trying to wiggle my sun glasses down a little so I am making a funny face - oh well, those are pictures that makes it fun:) We had a great day and I am already looking forward to the next time we go there.

Silver Lake September 9, 2012

Ummmmm, I am so confused - again... This setting on my blog, I want to change it, and since the last time I changed it, it is has become completely foreign to me, so I guess I have to leave it this way because I have no clue whatsoever in how to make it different, extremely aggravating!

Anyway - it has been a little while since I wrote here last. School started up again, and the kids were excited.     I think they both have gotten wonderful teacher's again this year, which makes a world of difference in how they view school. The Saturday after school started (they had only been going two days) we decided to go to Lagoon. This is something that Derick and Zane were supposed to do just the two of them sometime during the summer, because McCall went with his friends right as school was out for the summer, and Zane wanted to go, but I didn't cause I really don't like those rides, so Derick was nice enough and said that he would take him. Well, we all ended up going, and I am SO glad - we had a blast! We went on ride after ride after ride after ride, went swimming, went on more rides and so on. I have to say there were a couple of rides I would not go on, but Derick and the kids went, except for one ride that Zane wasn't tall enough for, that time he kept me company:) It was a perfect way to celebrate the end of summer/back to school, and I'm thinking this should be a yearly thing for the Davis family;-) 

We had Swiss Days here last weekend, and as always I did one shift in the scone booth during the day on Friday, and Derick did an evening shift with McCall. McCall loves doing that and so do a ton of other kids. I went perusing with my sister, niece Amanda and Zane. The only thing we bought were a calendar each to give my mom and little brother. It is a Greg Oleson calendar with beautiful pictures of Christ - he is one talented artist. We also bought some cute earrings, and other than toasted or roasted or smoked almonds(I can't remember which...) and caramel apples we didn't buy anything else. 

Tuesday was Derick's birthday, and we celebrated a little with just our family. Today though is when 'everyone' is coming over to help celebrate this wonderful man, and instead of sitting here writing about it, I really need to get going and do things here at home and also go shopping, so see ya later!

Last week was our yearly Bear Lake trip. We wanted to leave last Wednesday when Derick got off work, cause he was planning on leaving early. That didn't work out the way we had planned though... He ended up not coming home until 8 that night, which he wasn't thrilled over. He had a major headache cause he didn't eat lunch thinking he would be out of there soon. I had talked to the kids about waiting to leave really early the next day, since it was late before Derick would come home, and the drive is about 2 1/2 hours. They agreed, which I have to say was definitely fine by me since that meant I got to sleep another night in my own bed:) We all got up early the next day and we were on our way by 7:30. It was so much fun to be at the beach, all relaxed and nothing to worry about except when to lather on some more sunscreen. Our first night there was awesome. Seeing everyone again and talking around the fire, there is just something about that. The next day was also spent at the beach, more fun, sun, sand, swimming, snacking, talking, laughing, enjoying. That night was not that great - it rained! Camping is no fun with rain. Everyone huddling up in their own tents, trailers or cars. Luckily it was only the one night, so our last night there we roasted hot dogs and had smores around the camp fire, along with roasting apples. I had never heard of or seen such a thing before, but Derick's cousin Sandy, had heard about it from a co worker, so she brought all the ingredients. You just buy small green apples, put them on a roasting stick and roast them until the skin gets lose, peel off the skin and roll them in a cinnamon/sugar mix, roast them some more and then eat. It tasted really good, but I think the kids preferred roasting marshmallows;) Camping sure is a lot of work, but the memories are so worth it!

My mom wanted me to buy flowers for Jake's grave from her, so we went in on it with her, and here they are. Love you Jake!

Jake

Tomorrow it's been 2 years since Jake passed away. It has been 2 long years without his loving smile, cute little lisp and bubbly personality. We will always and forever love you, and we miss you tons! I posted some pictures of him and his brothers.

Jake

Today I am feeling a little sentimental, old, prudish - I really don't know what to call it. Actually, I am in awe of this amazingly wonderful world we live in. I keep reading these little historical romance novels, and how people used to make everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING. There was no microwave, stores to buy instant clothes, food, even entertainment - you had to do it all yourself. Along with that is the way people viewed relationships between the sexes, the way people dressed and behaved, also how it was just sailors and pirates that had tattoos. It makes me sad to see how much the world has changed in this way. Oh don't get me wrong; I am thrilled that women can vote and own land and businesses etc, and that we don't have to wear long skirts and such, but I am sad that people have gotten desensitized to evil. Whether you believe it or not, I am certain that this world has gotten worse over the last few years because we 'have to accept' everyone. If someone wants to just live together instead of getting married, the world says yeah, go ahead. If someone wants to get a tattoo, the world says yeah, why not, it's art and it's beautiful. Having a baby without being married, or being a single parent because you can't 'find' someone to have a baby with? Go ahead. You are attracted to the same sex? Have at it. No mentioning God anywhere because it might offend someone? Let's drop God then. ALL of this is making us desensitized, and quite frankly it scares the living daylights out of me. I don't want my kids growing up thinking that this is the norm, and that what is being taught at home is unusual, old fashioned or whatever you might call it. Marriage really IS ordained of God between a man and a woman, your body IS a temple so don't spoil it with tattoos and piercings, drugs and alcohol ARE harmful to your body, and just because people don't believe in God, doesn't mean that that is true. There really and truly is a real God, He lives and loves us and want us to return to Him again someday. People might say this world would not have cancer, wars, terrible people in them that harm others if there truly was a God, and so on. Well, they don't understand the word AGENCY then. How could a loving, unchanging God have sent us here to earth to live and be tried if He had to interfere with everything? He couldn't. Yes, there most certainly are a whole bunch of bad and horrible people in this world, making bad and horrible choices. I know first hand what it is like to have a dad that made terrible choices that affected his family. BUT! That doesn't mean that I have to make bad and horrible choices too. YOU have to figure out a way to get a close relationship with your Father in Heaven. Turning away from Him because things aren't going right doesn't hurt anyone except for yourself. He is ALWAYS there waiting for you to come to Him. I have decided that the older I get the less I care about what people think of me. I know what I believe and in whom I trust. If my kids can learn that too, then I will consider myself extremely blessed. I know that bad things happen all the time. Losing Jake could have been far worse than it was. We miss him and wish he was here still with us every single day. But we also know with certainty that there was a reason he was taken from us so soon. That does not mean that we blame God or become bitter. It means that there is more that goes on between heaven and earth than what we know, and we trust in our God. Like I said in the beginning, I truly am in awe of this amazingly world we live in. We have indoor plumbing, air conditioned houses, furnaces, fridges, freezers, gas or electric stoves and ovens, washers, dryers, dishwashers, cars, cell phones, computers, exceptional intelligence, and on and on and on. What we desperately need more of is trust in the Lord. Turning towards God again and acknowledge Him in everything we do. Nothing on this earth happened by chance. God knew exactly what He was doing and He still does. Teaching our kids to build their own personal relationship with our Heavenly Father has got to be the thing we strive for in this world, and then if they can do that, I have no doubt that they will come to know of all the good and beauty this world has to offer. Am I old fashioned in my way of thinking? Maybe. But I do believe that this is for the best for my kids and essentially for the world - to return our thanks to the God that created us and this wonderful planet we are so fortunate to live on.

I am sitting here by myself. The kids are in McCall's room with a couple of friends playing a board game called The Game of Life. Derick went for a run. For a few seconds I contemplated going with him, but decided that I haven't gone completely crazy yet, so I stayed home. I wish he had left 15-20 minutes earlier, cause it isn't light anymore after 9pm. Hopefully he'll be OK. On Tuesday I went to the outlet mall in Park City with my sister, niece and Zane. While we were in Old Navy I saw a woman walking in to the store with her kids. I realized that even though I haven't seen her in 7 years, I knew her! It was a friend from our time in Holladay. Her name is Erin and she and her husband have 4 kids now. I didn't want to say goodbye when we did. I know it was boring for my sister, but we just kept on talking and talking. There is obviously A LOT that happens in peoples lives over 7 years, and seeing her and her kids was so much fun! Like I have said before, I wish I could just take everyone that I know and have known over the course of my life, and bring them to an island and catch up and have fun, fun, fun... Erin is such a fun, smart and awesome woman. She is someone that you are so happy to be friends with because she has a way of bringing out the good in people. Not everyone can do that, but she can. It might seem weird of me to say this since we haven't been around each other for years, but if you knew her, you would know exactly what I was talking about. Miss you Erin! Different people have come up to me to tell me that they are thinking of me and my family because of the month. Yes, I will admit that the month of July sucks! I had such a hard time sleeping one night because I kept thinking things like: 2 years ago Jake was still here and we went to the park a lot, he had nice long naps, I would have to chase him outside when he would sneak out, he gave me hugs and kisses, when I would say come here Jake he would reply just a second!, and different things like that. And then I would think about that last day with him and how it felt like all hell broke lose when I found him in the water. It was so unreal that this had happened to us, something that happened to other people, not us. But I know that everything happens for a reason, and even though the pain of losing someone is devastating and something you think you will never be able to get over, you kinda do. I am not saying that I am 'over' losing Jake, cause I am not, and doubt I ever will. But it does get easier. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan in store for all of His children, I can't see and know what He does, but I do trust in Him, and I put my WHOLE trust in Him. On the 4th of July, Derick the kids and I were sitting outside on our porch watching the fireworks going up from Memorial Hill. McCall sat close to me, Zane was on my lap, and there was a little space between myself and Derick, where I imagined Jake sitting watching with us. It wasn't something we did on purpose, it just happened that way, and it really comforted me to think that he was there enjoying with us. I think about him everyday, and wonder what he would look like and things he would enjoy doing. I know that someday all my questions will be answered and we will be with Jake again, it is just so dang hard being human and wait until then... In the meantime we will enjoy spending time with each other as a family. I am so grateful for my husband and each of my kids.

Honestly, just when I think I have figured out how to post pictures here in the right order, I get confused and they are not in the order I wanted them in! Well, at least I got to post some:) It's from Zane's birthday, McCall and Zane in their Sunday best and McCall and his friends enjoying the summer with an ice cream cone.

Summer fun and Birthday Party

Derick and I just finished watching a movie called "Man on the ledge". We had never heard of it, but the plot seemed OK, so I rented it. Movies that are suspenseful so that I have to get up and walk around are the ones I love, and this was one of them. So, if you want to watch a good movie then rent this one, I liked it:) I love, love, love taking naps on a lazy Sunday afternoon. What I don't love is being awake late at night because I took that lovely nap, which is why I am on here right now writing... We went to church today, like we do every Sunday;0 and as I was walking past a classroom, my friend and also my boss asked me to come in his class for a minute and say something in Norwegian. I thought that was a little strange, until he told me that one of the kids there was visiting from Norway. Turns out his mom, grandparents and aunts and uncles from Norway were here visiting, and just so happened to come to our ward today! Some of them go to the same ward that my brother Michael and his family go to. Their last name is Svanevik. I guess one of the daughters were getting married so they all came for that. The world is not so big anymore;) On another note ---> it is my birthday tomorrow. In Norway it already is, but here it won't be for another 37 minutes. I have to say that I am loving the place I am at in my life right now. My life is far from perfect, but I don't know if I would like perfection, at least not yet. I kind of like how there is chaos at times and things that frustrate me. Weird I know. Honestly though, looking back at the first few years that we were married, trying to figure out what we were doing with our lives, I sometimes miss that. I miss the friends we made and have been separated from because of 'growing up' and buying a house, or because a job took us in a different direction. I treasure all the people that have been in my life and that still are. I wish I could have that private island of mine and dump all of us on there and we could hang out forever and ever. But that is not likely to ever happen, so I will just have to be OK with pulling you out of my memory from time to time and think of you and how I truly love and miss you all and appreciate what you have brought to my life. I am so blessed to have such a great family and friends that love me and care for me. Thank you!

My mom is moving! She has been thinking about this and looking for another place since my dad died, and last week she made an offer on a condo that was accepted and she is doing it:) It's a little weird to think she won't live where we moved to when I was 9(holy cow I am old!) but it doesn't bother me like you see in the movies where the kids flip out over every little change their parents make, thank goodness! I have my own life and she has hers, and whatever makes her happy I think she should go for. My mom has had to work her whole life, and it makes me happy to see her do things for herself for once, without having to consider other people - YOU GO MAMMA! Glad i deg!:) It will be weird that she is in Halden instead of Oslo. Good thing the public transit system works great there so that when we visit it won't be bad getting around at all:) I am so excited for her and wish I could be there to help her move. I am glad that I have 2 handsome and strong brothers that can give her a hand, so it kind of makes it better;-} Well, that elliptical of mine won't do me any good unless I use it, so I guess I better go work out... I love it when that part of my morning is over, I feel so great!

McCall went to Lagoon today with a bunch of friends from the neighborhood. They wanted to go last Monday since there was no school because of Memorial Day, but they found out that they closed at 7pm, so they decided to wait until today when they would be open until 11pm. Now I wish they had gone on Monday, cause they are not home yet and it is almost 12:30am. One of the mom's was driving them down and picking them up, which was really nice of her I think. They left at 9:30 this morning so it has been a long day for all of them. I hope McCall is able to sleep inn tomorrow. He went to bed pretty late last night too, and he woke up before 7am. What can I say? Our kids have never ever slept later than 8:30am, unfortunately. The bad thing about this is that I can't go to bed when he isn't home yet, and I really want to. It's weird how when I was younger I could stay up forever, and now I can barely make it to 10:30. Zane was sad he couldn't go with him, but I think he had an OK day at home. He played with cars, watched a little TV, jumped on the tramp with his dad with the sprinklers going underneath, played with a couple of friends down the street, got to go to Subway for dinner, yeah I think his day was a good one. And best of all, he went to bed at a normal hour:) I think I better be done for now cause my brain feels like mush and I am afraid I will make less sense than I normally do;0 Sure hope he gets home soon... Good night!

We went over to my sister's house tonight so that Derick could help them with their roof, and hopefully they can finish it up tonight... I borrowed my nieces computer and was able to post some pictures - YAY! Thanks Amanda!:) I hate it though when I think I have put the pictures in the right order and I haven't, so sorry about that;) They had a couple of different videos of Jake so we watched those, I haven't seen them before. He is such a CUTIE! Love you Jakers!!!