2.22.12

This is my friend Richelle. We have been friends since junior high. I think we can go years without seeing each other (we have) and be able to pick up like it was yesterday. That is what a good friend is. 

We are about 5 hours apart. So All through high school we celebrated our birthdays together. 

Today is her birthday - she is older than me !!!

2.21.12

I LOVE Tuesday's

I don't cook dinner on Tuesday

For as long as I can remember we have gotten pizza on Tuesdays

I can feed my family for $15

Love it !!!

Watch me juggle . . . .

Do you ever feel like this ? Welcome to my life the last couple of months. I know it will get better. But sometimes I feel like I don't have one more minute in my day to balance one more thing. But regardless of how hard it gets to juggle the bills and everything else I know it will be okay in the end. Just gotta keep having faith.

Inspired

As I was reading Wesley Greene's blog today I am so inspired by his faith and his strength and the strength of his family . . . what an amazing example they are 


The words of his dad, Gary, really touched me today.


‎"Does God interfere with the choices we make? Very seldom, but it does happen.
If He interfered every time there was the potential for injury, death, or heartache we would fail to learn there are consequences for our actions. We would not learn wisdom or common sense. We would fail to learn from our mistakes or the mistakes of others. Without death, injury, or heartache, we, as a people, would be less compassionate, less understanding, and less able to serve others.

Wesley's accident has had a profound influence on hundreds and hundreds of people. IT has caused hundreds of people to hold their dear children closer, to thank their Heavenly Father for the safety of their little ones, to count blessings, to be united as a community, school, ward, and stake. It has moved us to be more compassionate, thoughtful, and empathetic. To judge less and love more. It has caused some to re-evaluate their lives and focus on what is most important and to draw closer to God. It reminds us that as we serve others there is a great joy that comes to our hearts and often we forget about our own trials and heartaches. It teaches us the importance of our prayers and God's will. When tragedy strikes we look past ourselves and focus on doing everything in our power to help others. When we have these experiences it compels us to become what God would have us become."

We will continue to pray for Wesley and his family . . . 

http://www.wjgb.blogspot.com/

2.20.12

Say a little prayer . . . . 

This is Don's dad and Delainie. So glad she got here in time for him to snuggle with 

His health is declining and for the last month he has been in the hospital more than out of the hospital. He has multiple health issues that are taking a toll on his body. I guess I am amazed he has hung on as long as he has been able to. 13 years ago he lost his sight to diabetes. His kidneys are shutting down, he has two blockages in his heart and he has a very low platelet count. The doctors have been honest with the family and shared that he would be better off enjoying the life he has left at home vs. being in a a hospital. The hospice nurse came today. We love the hospice nurse who will be caring for John. It was the same nurse that took care of my friend Marge. She is fabulous. She will help to make sure she can help John be as comfortable as he can. He is actually in good spirits since he has been home. He just wants to enjoy what he has left. (here is hoping for 6 months + )  just include him and my family in your prayers. My heart just breaks for my kids. I know how hard it was on them when my dad passed and they had to see him so sick. Now it just brings everything back seeing Grandpa Paolacci sick. I am so grateful that we have an understanding that we will be together again as a family. What comfort that brings.

Being a Mom

My hubby just called and told me he was putting gas in the car and he and the kids (minus Karleigh who is home with me) are on their way home

A warmth swelled over me. Even though I look forward to my day today to get stuff done. I have missed my boys and my babies and my girl and her man. I by chance just read my friend Margie's blog this morning and it was amazing - her words could have been my exact words. She expressed what was in my heart. Most likely what is in the hearts of many mother's. That is any moms who want to be REAL about life. Any moms who have spent 20+ years raising kids. Time goes fast and we cannot get it back. I think many of us are just doing the best we know how and loving our kids and loving being moms. 

as a young girl if you would have asked me what i wanted to do when i grew up the answer was always the same.

i wanted to be a mother.

i had no desire to have a career.

go to school.

get a degree.

all i wanted was to be a mother.

Now

i have a wonderful job(s).

i have gotten to travel and go places

i am blessed with amazing friendships.

but being a mother is greater than seeing elephants on safari in South Africa.

bigger to me than the Eiffel tower in France.

more amazing than all the tea in China.

being a mother has brought me more joy and sorrow than anything else i have done in my life.

being a mother is the best thing i have done.

my greatest accomplishment.

i don't think i am the best mother.

but i do my best and i try my hardest.

i love my children.

today i am grateful that i am a mother.

today i am grateful i chose to be a Mother.

it's not always easy.

but i am grateful to be one.

2.19.12

2.19.12

Well one of my favorite things to do every spring is plant new flowers. I love working outside and planting flowers, always reminds me of my dad. He had an immaculate yard. We gave everything a break over the winter and didn't plant winter lawn or flowers this year. So my yard was looking pretty sad. So I was really looking forward to spring flowers. Today was the day. I got kind of a late start and was at Home Depot and picked up my "six packs" and then headed home to start the planting. Let's just say there is not a picture of the finished project, because it is late and  it is dark and I am tired. But they are all planted and I will wake up bright an early to go see the finished project in the early morning sun. Now if my gardener would just get here and pull these spring "weeds: then I can get the yard in tip top shape.

Off to prepare my sunbeam lesson . . . . it will be morning soon and I have a busy Sunday.

Forget Me Not

As I was planting flowers today, in my mind I was taken back to President Uchdorfs talk from the Relief Society broadcast this last fall. 
How grateful I am for his encouraging words and his kind heart.

‎"You are closer to heaven than you suppose. 
You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. 
Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness. 
Accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. 
Cherish the gift of activity in this great and true Church. 
Treasure the gift of service in the blessed organization of Relief Society. 
Continue to strengthen homes and families.
 Continue to seek out and help others who need your and the Lord’s help." 


‎"We can ask ourselves, 
“Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?”
 There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them.
 Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective." 

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not", November 2011 Ensign

Even though my to do list is still miles long . . .

2.18.12

Morgan and Trent are in San Diego for the weekend and today they took the girls to Sea World. They said Malorie loved it and I cannot wait for her to get home and tell me all about the "whales"

2.17.12

HOME ALONE

Probably the first time in over 20 years I am HOME ALONE on a Friday night. Don, Coleton, Logan, Morgan, Trent and the girls are all in San Diego for Chelsea's wedding (I had to stay home and work and keep and eye on the girl and her boy) Rest assured that I do not share the same expression as Macaulay Culkin when he discovered he was HOME ALONE.

I am actually so excited to just relax tonight but  my to-do list for tomorrow when I am done working just keeps getting longer and longer. But I am so tired from lack of sleep last night that I do no think I will accomplish anymore than just simply making my list. 

So since I need to stay up and wait for the boy to bring the girl home at midnight, I think I will put my feet up and enjoy trying to figure out how to work my TV !!! (pitiful I know)

2.15.12

I love Thursday mornings because I have the opportunity to bless the lives of so many through some volunteer work that I do. On Wednesday evening we go and pick up the left overs from a couple WILD FLOWER BREAD CO. locations and then we come home and sort it for a women and childrens shelter in down town Phoenix and then we create food bags to give to families in need in the community. I love Thursday mornings, this bread makes families so happy !!!

WILD FLOWER BREAD CO. CARES

http://www.wildflowerbread.com/neighborhood/

2.14.12

Due to finances and lack of time I did very little for Valentines day. I did leave them treats on the table before I left for work so they would come home to a "chocolate" fix !!!

2.13.12

Seriously in "LOVE" with my sweet little grandbaby. Take a look at those eyes. I think we are going to have dark hair, olive complexion and blue eyes !!! 

2.1.12

2.4.12

I don't even know how to share the words in my heart right now. As I was trying to decide today of something I wanted to take a picture of I was driving past Alpine Ski and snapped a picture with my phone (as you see there was no traffic so I was being safe) This place reminds me so much of my boy. This is where Dylan worked for 3 ski seasons before his mission. He loves it. They love him and remind me whenever I have gone in there how much they miss him. It is right by our house and I drive by it often in my daily travels and it often reminds me of my crazy ski loving boy !!! My adventurous, crazy boy. See the photos below for just an example of how crazy he is on the slopes.

I must admit I have had two worry free ski seasons with him on his mission. I also must that I was so nervous everytime he hit the slopes, I admit that I would worry sick about him until he would call me and let me know he was off the slopes. 

One of the reasons I worried so much was because I knew what could happen on the slopes when you have a son that is an adrenaline junky.

A few years back one of Marissa's really good friends was in a snowboarding accident and sustained pretty severe head trauma. They were not even sure if he was going to make it or even walk again.

 Derek is the middle guy in the front row. His life was changed forever in an instant. 

I am not sure of his progress now. But I sure do think about his accident every time my boy hits the slopes.

Then yesterday we found out tragic news about a skiing accident of a young 16 year old boy. He is the youngest son of a family that was in my ward growing up. The Greene's. Their youngest son Wesley was in a  skiing accident and broke his neck in two places. He has undergone a long surgery, but right now he still has no feeling or movement below his shoulders. There is alot of swelling and it is definitely too early to tell. He has an amazing family and a Heavenly Father who is watching over him. I never knew Wesley personally. But if he is anything like his older siblings and rest of his family he is an amazing young man with an incredible future ahead of him. It is amazing to see how many people are praying and fasting for this young man. 

I will be honest. Would I like to sell my son's ski's before he comes home and just have his golf clubs waiting. That sounds like such a safer sport. But I know he loves to ski and somehow I am going to have to learn not to be nervous Nellie.

Our prayers are with the Greene family at this time, I know that our Heavenly Father is watching over them and he is so mindful of Wesley.

If you know the Greene Family you can keep updated on Wesley's progress here

http://wjgb.blogspot.com/

Please take a moment and say a prayer for them.

2.3.12

2.2.12

So today Janna and I drove home from California. It is always nice to get one last night when the trade show is over so we are driving home late at night dead tired. We had a nice peaceful drive (I guess I shouldn't be talking - Janna drove the whole way - I think I may have dozed off a few times) She dropped me off at Don's office as we rolled into town and then Don and I headed to the hospital to visit his dad. I was so happy to see him doing to much better. What a relief. I think the Italian in him makes him a little to stubborn to miss Tina's wedding on March 10th. He's a fighter. Then I made it home to feed the family and catch up with my kids and hop on the computer for the Mixin Mania Crop from my friends at Memory Mixer. They are so fun and they help me to get at least one page done every week.

Morgan sent me this picture of Delainie while I was at CHA and I knew I couldn't wait to get home to scrap it. So I made it onto the facebook page with about 8 minutes to spare and joined them for their online class. 

Here is what I created (In about 15 minutes) I will get it printed from Costco to add to Delainie's album.

Now my house is quite and I think I will catch up on a few emails and head to bed in my big comfy bed !!!

Happy Birthday Marissa

24 years ago today I became a mom to the most beautiful baby girl

I began to know a love that only a mothers heart can feel

Marissa, I loved you then, I love you now and I will love you forever and ever

For you are my daughter for eternity

and for that I am so grateful

I love you more than any words can describe !!!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl - how I wish I could jump on a plane and come and spend the day with you !!!