4th of July

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

4th of July

We spent the morning of the 4th of July catching up on some much needed yard work.

The boys felt like they were being tortured.

The parents felt like the children weren't working hard enough.

We thought we were going to have to cancel anything fun.

But we eventually got the work finished and headed out to join some cousins.

We had wanted to go to Riverton's "diving for dollars" that they do each year.

We have never made it and with Andrew being home from work and us living so close, I thought this would be the year.

But then Ammon got stitches and couldn't swim.

Guess we'll try again next year.

As it turns out, my sister and her family, who go EVERY year, slept in and missed it as well.

(That made me feel a little less bad about not being able to do it this year.)

But what we DID do was have a great time at the haystack dive!

It is kind of like a 4th of July Easter egg hunt.

Candy and toys are distributed throughout the hay and the kids get to run through it and grab what they can.

It is divided into age groups.

Peter and Isaiah went first and had a great time.

A little while later it was Ammon and Kylie's turn.

The kids were all really cute about sharing their prizes.

Different kids had different treasures that they wanted.

The older kids were sure to deliberately pick up some things for the younger kids.

And the younger kids ended up with some items that the older kids wanted.

I love how well these kids get along.

We spent the evening with my parents and grandparents.

We had a nice BBQ and enjoyed visiting with them for several hours.

We even joined my dad in his traditional 4th of July viewing of A More Perfect Union.

Then we went home just in time to climb up onto the roof and watch fireworks.

(Well, everyone else did - I was too scared.)

My sister and her family joined us.

Fireworks were shooting off in every direction.

It was a beautiful view.

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.