At the Top!!

Friday morning the 4 of us headed out to hike.

Can you guess where?

Look how cute and color coordinated we are.

Erin was amazing scaling the rocks up the mountain!

Almost there....

What a view

We made it to the top of...

Camelback Mountain!

What a fabulous hike

and I can't wait to do it again.

Thanks Julie, Erin and Karen!

You guys are the best!

finally!

Enough said!!

tender mercies....

as i sat reflecting the other evening i was truly in awe at the numerous tender mercies that we have been blessed by. my family and i are so blessed. i am trying this year to be more aware of all that is around me. this should help me in showing gratitude, serving others and counting my blessings. here are just a few of the tender mercies that we have been blessed by....

~an amazing education advisor at BYU has taken an interest in Kenzie and opened all sorts of doors and made it possible for Kenzie to attend in April.

~a good friend was able to adopt her 2nd child due to an incredible woman. both these women inspire me. their strength, faith and patience is incredible.

~doors are being opened for jensen to pursue her love of dance at BYU.

~after much prayer, temple attendance and fasting, Scott was able to obtain an awesome job.

my little family is continually being watched over, protected and blessed. although there are times we may not understand life, there is always a reason life takes the path it does.

there are times when it is hard to understand, but with faith we can carry on.

January 5th

On a snowy, blistery January day in Boise, Idaho.

A young man and woman were married

in the Boise, Idaho Temple.

January 5, 1990

We sure were some young'uns!

And 21 years later....

Happy Anniversary Scott!

It has been a fabulous 21 years!

I can not believe how fast time has gone.

Scott, thank you for being my

best friend, an amazing husband and

an incredible father.

I LOVE you more today than I did 21 years ago!

Thank you for a great 21 years and here is to many more!

All My Love,

~Brandee~

Happy New Year

2010 had a lot of twists and turns for me.

My motto of "I Can Do Hard Things" was

certainly put to the test.

With the recent changes in our life...I was searching

and pondering what I should focus on for 2011.

This simple theme kept coming to my mind....

Keep

Calm

and

Carry

On

2011 brings an array of changes in the Smith household.

I will be a single parent for half of each week,

Kenzie will move away in April,

Jensen will turn 16 and work to accelerate graduation,

Alec will need extra attention with his dad gone so much

and each month we will get closer to relocating to Utah.

I will need to remain CALM, positive and strong.

Because, "I Can Do Hard Things!"

I greet this new year with a little apprehension.

Change is hard for me and I am unsure

what else lies ahead.

It is a little like driving a winding, mountain road with

a lot of twists and turns.

You are never quite certain what will be around

the next bend.

Happy New Year family and friends!