A two part question for a needy friend

I know people dont always want to comment on blogs but a friend of mine needs some help so I told her I would post the question here to get some ideas. 

My friend is helping pass some new laws for the state she lives in.  They are trying to unite and strengthen the peoplehood factor (feeling a part of something larger than oneself).  She has asked me to tell her how Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints do that.  She is working with lots of people but specifically wonders how the "Mormon" Community does it both locally and as an international people. 

So here are the two questions...

1. In your view, how does the Church strengthen LDS Peoplehood (ie unite people/communities and want to work together to support a bigger picture) 

and 

2. What makes you feel like you are a part of something larger than yourself?

 

Some examples might be shared family morals, helping people in need with the welfare program, going on missions, etc...  Feel free to expound on ideas. 

If you respond with an answer I can tell you a few more details- but am not allowed to post here on the blog as many of the interesting details as I would like to. 

For my mom!

I spent two days with an old Virginia friend, Justin A.  His wife was taking a class and so we went to the zoo one day, he used my dads chain saw and cut a tree branch up for me, helped me weed, ate good food and went for a hike up Ferguson.  This is his cute son Owen. 

This part is for my mom- so she can know I am trying too. 

Tyler goes to his Grandma Balls house and goes straight to the toy room. Tyler goes to my moms house and goes straight to the pantry. He knows just where the marshmallows, crackers, icecream... etc... are stored. My mom is bent on fattening up my kids. 

Tyler wanted to eat this candy necklace and I have put him off for months. Finally I gave in but Ella wanted it too- Two messy kids!

As you can tell they are still in their jammies, meaning this is  a post breakfast treat.  Between my moms double bowls of ic ecream with chocolate sauce and my pure sugar necklace, Ella has got to get above 18 pounds one day.  She is 13 months already!

We are getting old!

We had family photos last week in Logan with the Balls family. So I took the opportunity to have Corie snap a couple picture of my family. My first thoughts when I looked at these were wow, we all look ok, kids and all!  but Toby was done posing. But then I thought my goodness how do I have two children and how on earth am I almost 30!! Life goes by pretty fast.

So do Darren and Tyler look a like?  Anyone who knows my husband says Tyler looks just like his Dad! 

Allergies

Ella is allergic to Amoxicillin which she has been taking for an ear infection

She has never complained or been bothered by it- It started Sunday and these pictures are of Monday morning. She looks lots less puffy and red this evening (Monday Evening)

Child Labor laws

We worked at the bike shop again yesterday- no surprise! We spend every Saturday there- but next week we have to be in Logan so we get a week off!  This is Tyler and I painting baseboards in the rain.  There is  a nice roof that helped protect us, until the wind started blowing the rain on all the boards.  

Ella is covered in some kind of rash- It just appeared this morning and has spread over her whole body.  She doesn't seem to mind it at all, but we will keep an eye on it.  

Happy Easter everyone!  (we did dye some eggs this morning too)  Oh and to the Jewish girl reading this, Happy Passover!

A Spring weekend Finally!

We had lots of visitors this weekend- Tyler was able to make some money selling animals to them.  He had his shopkeeper apron on, and you had to stand behind the white table and give him money and then you could pick out which tongue depressor stick you wanted.  The sticks have pictures on them of animals thanks to Rob and Rachel's hard work last Christmas.  We love the Christmas gift. 

Thanks to Grandpa Harston finding some great stocking stuffers for Ella for Christmas, we have a styli'n little girl.  She loves to wear her sunglasses and beads around the house.  She just smiles and grins.  But she really does play with Tyler's cars and trains, driving them on the floor, so I am not convinced she is going to be all girl yet.  

Tyler got a few hairs cut- I just couldn't stand looking at that rats nest anymore.  Aunt Nellie said, where did the business in the front and party in the back go.... meaning his mullet is GONE!!!  Darren on the other hand, breathed threatening words to me... something like,  Amy you didn't cut his hair, Amy- no you didn't!  But he still loves me - Darren that is!  (I had a good dinner cooked!)

Ella's Birthday

We had such a fun birthday for Little Miss Ella.  We had lots of family and friends around.  

We had Dutch Baby Pancakes for breakfast.  Tyler helped blow out the candles so Ella wouldn't burn herself.  Uncle Rob and dog Jolene were here. Dan and Kyle friends were here.  Jolene tried to get up on the counter, I guess she knew something exciting was happening up there. 

We had steaks and hotdogs for dinner. Ella climbed into the drawer to help find the tools to BBQ with.  Cake followed.  Aunt Renee and Uncle Ben Bues came over. and Grandma and Grandpa Harston and Uncle Rob made it down from the cabin.  They have been painting none stop.  

It was a nice time.  and fun to see her getting bigger.  She wants to hang out with Tyler and do everything Tyler does.  She even plays cars with him.       

...

Well, I never know what to write in the title, so maybe I will just start leaving it blank. I am not cute and witty like Katie so it would be something plain like... update.. or spring... or baking

I was just looking at my old roommates blog- Thanks Kristine for reminding me of St. Pattys day. I guess we missed it, whenever it was... earlier this week probably.

Tyler cooked biscuits yesterday.  I put the ingredients in the bowl, and I did have to help him mix a little but he rolled out the dough, cut the shapes and put them on the cookie sheet- and they even tasted good!  Now thats my boy- but he still does love to eat salad, and thats not my boy!

So we have been trying to clean up the yard. Ella only has soft baby shoes that fit her very well. They are so soft that the pine needles poke through them and hurt her feet- so we put on some shoes a friend gave us. Thanks Neti, but hopefully Ella wont click her heels together and take off to Oz any time soon.

Tyler has opened his own pharmacy.  (I guess we have been getting him meds, Toby meds and me some meds for a few weeks so medicine is on his mind)  If your insurance company is just charging you too much, try some of Tyler's home remedies.  You can have yellow medicine, orange medicine or green medicine.  Toby didn't like his orange one when Tyler tried to make him eat it but you might!
We have lots of guests staying with us coming up.  This weekend we have friends from the east coast here, and from Boise Id.  Then Uncle Rob is coming to stay with us and bringing their dog Jolene- I am so thrilled to see everyone!! oh and we have kyle with us every day.  He's a party every day.  Tyler just cant wait for him to wake up in the morning.  

As for the bike/triathlon store- We are still enjoying it.  Kyle is selling bikes and that is the important thing.  So ummm go sign up for a triathlon!

Shop days

I am sure I will one day send a post that wont include a Saturday at the shop but for now, there is fun to be had at the shop.  Darren is doing a test. Honestly I am not sure all the details, I believe it tests your oxygen and your output. But Darren spent the whole day with Kyle working at the shop.  I think he quite enjoyed it. Talking to costumers, they left for a bike ride in the middle of the day and had the other employee take care of the shop, and they even sold stuff!

Tyler on the other hand got a terrible ear infection. I am glad he was 3 and could tell me what was wrong.  I spent the day at doctors offices, and the pharmacy.  Then home to give him medicine.  Ella, Tyler and I all got a nap in.  Then we showed up at the shop for a few hours before bed.  So here is Tyler finally being happy with lots of medicine in his little ear and body.  I will post one of Ella walking later.