Loved this quote as I am begining to plan holiday projects . . . .

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion

to share our blessings,

all the snow in Alaska won't

make it 'white'."

 -Bing Crosby, American singer and film actor.

3 Things I Want to Remember About Today . . . .

I find it funny that I am writing to Dylan reminding him to make sure he is writing in his journal. These two years are going to go by so fast and most likely years from now the only things he will be able to recall with a surety are the things that he wrote in his journal and the things that he has pictures of. The thing that I find funny is "I need to practice what I preach" and take time everyday to write down three things I want to remember . . . . Because I always remind myself . . . When I am gone I want to be the one to tell my story and not have someone elses interpretation of my life . . . .

I will find you my friend . . . .

I was just reading missionary stories last night and I came across this one. Of course it brought me to tears. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Dylan is in Peru to bring the Gospel of Christ to the people he will serve. To share of Christs love for them. Before Dylan left I had a few expereinces that testified to me that the Lord wanted him in Peru and the people of Peru would be waiting for him.

***click on the story to make the image larger

My mama always taught me . . .

"If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all"

Just imagine how nice this world would be if people would stop focusing on finding fault and focus on finding the good!!! I just can't imagine one can have peace in their life if they are so focused in finding fault in others. There is so much good in this life to enjoy and so many blessings that are ours to receive. But negativity only cultivates bad feelings. I realize that many times fault finding is a direct result of one's lack of self esteem or false justification for ones actions. But I cannot help to think about how much happier people would be and how much more joy you can bring to another's life by letting go of finding fault and focusing on finding the good. Have you ever been around those people who are always positive and always have good things to say about others. Let us all try and be like them in our actions and words and maybe it just might be contagious !!!

It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out how the strong person stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself or herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his or her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.  -Theodore Roosevelt

Peace is a wonderful quality of life that can only be experienced when we do not hold to the negatives such as anger, worry,

fear and fault finding.

So don't worry - just be happy !!!

No worries . . . . it's all good !

Just been super busy lately and not much time to blog. But life is good. I promise . . . . . .  Not a lot of money, but a whole lot of lovin' - just doing the best to raise our family the best we can. I have ton's of orders I am putting in while the kids are at school - so hoping to get a little time to do an update sometime this week !!!!

and I LOVE this picture . . .

Everyone warned me I would be head over heals in love like I have never loved before . . . and guess what ?

It's true !!!

Love this picture . . . .