Elf on the Shelf and Santa's Love for Jesus

So it really has been fun having a 6 year old in our home this holiday season.  It has been my goal to help create a magical Christmas for him.
We have had so much fun decorating, watching Christmas movies and we have loved the fun we have had with our Elf on the Shelf. His name is Leo. 
But I knew that early on I wanted to address the fact that even though this is so much fun having our little friend Leo here it isn't the reason for the season. 

In no way shape or form did I want our Elf or Santa to take away for the real reason we celebrate Christmas. So Santa is going to leave a very special letter tonight. 
Of course he has to address it to ALL the boys in our home . . . 

I just want you to know that you are some of my favorite boys in the whole wide world. Leo has loved being in your home and watching your family these last 4 days. He is excited that you are following the rules so he won’t lose his magic and he can stay until Christmas.

Christmas is almost here and I know that you are all as excited as I am! Every year you all have such a wonderful time with your family on Christmas and I cannot wait to see all the fun that comes this year.

I want you to know what a wonderful family you have. I know that you are filled with love for each other and I also know that you love Jesus. Did you know that I love Jesus too? He is the reason that I do what I do.

And did you know, Leo loves Jesus too and gets so excited every year to celebrate His birthday. Did you remember that Jesus’ birthday is Christmas day? Just like we love to give presents every year a very very long time ago Jesus was born and was the very first gift given to us on Christmas.

Celebrating Christmas with gifts, parties, and lots of Christmas goodies is fun but I want you to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate Jesus and the love God has for us in sending His Son for us. How amazing is that?

Have you made a Christmas list with a few things you would like for Christmas?  It’s ok to want a few things, but I’ve seen people – grownups and kiddos – get very selfish with all the stuff they want.  They want so many things that they forget the whole reason we even have Christmas….

I don’t want you kiddos to forget about Jesus as you prepare for Christmas.  I want you to enjoy all the fun – hot chocolate, singing Christmas songs, candy and presents – but I don’t want you to forget the most important present: God’s love for us and His son, Jesus. 

I don’t want you to forget that it’s still important to love others … to be nice to other people … to help other people (especially the people in your family) … to show other people how wonderful Jesus is.

So this Christmas season I have sent Leo as a reminder for you. A reminder of Jesus and a reminder to share love with others through our gifts, kind words and loving actions (the things we do for one another).

Remember  . . .

Love each other

Speak nicely to one another

Help each other

Help your friends and neighbors too

Give to people who don’t have all the stuff you have

Remember that Heavenly Father loves you soooo much

Take care of my little friend Leo – he and I talk every night about you kiddos and how you are doing this Christmas Season.

Looking forward to seeing great things and wonderful love from each of you,

Santa Claus


It is my hope that we live our lives so that we show through our actions that Christ is the center of our family, not only during the Christmas season, but all the time.  

I know that fun activities such as Santa, the elf, decorating and Christmas movies help us to create special family memories and that by giving gifts to those we love is one way we can share Christs love and allow him to be our focus everyday of our lives.

Time Out for Women 2013 - Think Higher, Believe Higher, Live Higher

I am so ready for tonight - want to join me ? 

TIME OUT FOR WOMEN PHOENIX

We can do this . . . .

Just when we think things might get easier, we are faced with one of the greatest challenges in life.

We can do this together. Because together is a great place to be

Every Family has a Story . . .

I absolutely LOVE all the word art that Kollete is creating . . . .

Thinking these might look awesome on large tiles for Christmas gifts

Dad : A daughters first love

I miss him everyday - but when I count my blessings, how blessed I am to have had such an amazing father for 36 years. I know I will be with him again. Families are Forever. That I am sure of !!!

www.kristanpaolacci.blogspot.com/2008/10/just-thinkin-about-my-dad.html

General Conference Weekend . . . My favorite

Post by The Celestial Kingdom.

What Matters Most . . . .

Simply Amazing

Simply Amazing !!! Can you believe that Emily ran 108.8 miles in 22.5 hours - straight with only bathroom breaks every few hours. She has been blessed with an incredible talent and a HUGE heart. Love this girl !!! She is such an inspiration to so many. Those who meet her can't help but love her.
One thing that I have gained from this entire experience of watching Emily this weekend is that we have all been blessed with different talents. Emily has taken her talent that she has been blessed with and developed it to perfection and she is now using this talent to bless the lives of so many. She raised over $21,000 this weekend to help build schools for children in India.
This weekend has motivated me to look at the talents that I have been blessed with and think more about how I can develop them and share them. No I will probably never be a runner (I can almost see into the future and promise you this) but I know the Lord has blessed me with other abilities that I can share. Probably never to this extent, but if you can use a talent or skill that you have been given to bless the life of even one person, then it will have been worth it.
Thank you my friend for being such an amazing example to all of us.
Because of you I have been changed.

Read more about the building schools for children in India at
http://www.effect.org/

and  if you have not had the chance to donate you can still do so here
https://rally.org/runemz

Say Love . . .

I love this song so much. Such an amazing reminder how important the words are that we choose to use. How just one small kind gesture can make such a difference in someone's life.

I received a note this week in the mail from a friend at church who took the time to share some kind words. What a difference it made in my entire week. We never know how something we do or say might impact some one or have the ability to turn their entire day around. So if you get an impression to send someone a note or share a kind word - DO IT. 

Go Emz . . . . . . .

This is my friend Emily and let me just tell you - she is AMAZING. 

No I am not a runner. But if anyone might one day inspire me to run it might be Emily.      For now how about I just start walking on a treadmill. That will be a good start. 

Emily LOVES her treadmill and so let me begin working on a relationship with mine.

Let me just tell you one thing, you will never meet a kinder, more gentle soul than this girl. She is AMAZING. Talk about going out and doing good in the world. 

She is heading to San Fransico today

Tonight at 8:00 pm she will begin her 24-hour treadmill run  to raise money and awareness for Effect.com

 a non-profit organization that is building schools for children in India. 

She is going to run OVER 100 MILES - yes you read that right - OVER 100 MILES !!!!

Check out her donation page https://rally.org/ru­nemz and if you are able please donate to this amazing cause. If you are unable to donate just take a moment and help raise awareness and share with others. 

Since we cannot travel to San Fransico to watch her and cheer her on. We will be streaming it live video stream via  http://www.ustream.t­v/channel/run-emz

Go Em Go !!! You. Freaking. Got. This.

The Light Will Come . . .

I love this thought from Elder Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference in April of 2013, 

The Hope of God's Light

What a wonderful reminder

Look at this darling coupon box cover . . .

 

Take a look at this fabulous box cover my friend Susan made for me. 

I was stuck with the dilema that my lid would not fit on my coupon box, and I could only imagine the nightmare of it tipping over and everything falling out. My original idea was just an elastic cover (you know kind of like a shower cap) because I don't sew, I thought this would be the easiest. I enlisted my friend Susan's help a a few hours later this was the result.

FABULOUS !!!

It is a quilted box cover made out of the cutest fabric !!!

It has a little elastic button loop so it stays secure. and it acts like a basket when it sits in the cart or when I am sorting coupons. 

I just love it so !!!

if you want one to just email Susan at susiesews4@q.com

Coupon Sense

I began using COUPON SENSE about 8 years ago when introduced to it by my sister in law. I had couponed since the time my kids were little, but Coupon Sense made it so much easier. 
Coupon Sense offers “a one stop shop” for coupons.
I immeidately began saving 50 to 70 percent on the average.
And as far as toiletries,I basically always got those for FREE.
Coupon Sense made it so easy, they provided me with a match-up list every week of the best deals and a weekly shopping list that sorts coupons from the newspapers.
I have a live COUPON COACH so if I ever  have any questions I can CALL, EMAIL or TEXT her and she get's back to me pretty quick.
Bascially coupon sense takes all the hard work out of shopping each week by telling me which coupon to use when and where.
About a year ago I began to think I was so smart that I did not need to pay $15 a month for this service. Let's just say my grocery budget was gone as I knew it. If I wanted to save money I would spend hours finding deals. And I bascially stopped couponing becuase it became too difficult.
Why try and re-invent the wheel. Coupon Sense is a one stop shop.
Don't take my word for it. Try it yourself. Guess what ?
You can even try it FREE for a month without any commitment.

 

The most sacred and most challenging. . . .

“We must not pull away from our children. We must keep trying, keep reaching, keep praying, keep listening. We must keep them within the clasp of our arms.” –Jeffrey R. Holland

Parenthood is one of the most sacred responsibilities God has given, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Keep your children close, and make sure they always know their hearts are safe within the walls of your home.

I love my children with all my heart and will do everything I can to make sure they know it. 

 

You don't have to admit anything . . .

 

But you and I all know it is true (except I really don't watch TV) But I can text, eat and Pinterest . . . . Ba Ha Ha 

Liquid Gold . . .

So I have been having pain in my Achilles for some time (almost 2 years) and no matter what I do I have pain. I had a friend tell me about this Liquid CoQ10 awhile back. She swore that it helped to help her planter fasciitis. So I bought it (and believe me it was not a tiny splurge - it was a pretty penny and I got it at Costco) But I will tell you now I would consider it to be liquid gold. I am do not think it is any coincidence that the pain in my Achilles is beginning to subside. I have been taking it faithfully for about a week and the last couple of days I have not had any pain. So I would say it is worth any price.

Couponing Craziness . . . .

 

I have been trying to increase my couponing knowledge and let me be the first to tell you there is so much info out there we should all be saving a ton of money. Check out all the new links on my left side bar under Saving Money. 

Hermana Inga meets her Trainer

 

Got this picture from the Mission Presidents Blog. Milagros, I guess we need to call her Hermana Inga now that she is a missionary, met her trainer.I am so excited for her. I can't wait to hear about all her adventures. What an amazing young lady she is. Now to wait and find out who this wonderful trainer is. I must be honest I am surely hoping she is from the US and she has a blog. 

That would be so great.

What a good Papa he is . . .

Morgan and our sweet grandbabies are here visiting for a week. You can just imagine how excited we were to see them. We just can't seem to get enough of these sweet little girls. Sadly I had to work today but Don surprised Morgan and the girls by getting off work early and coming home to take the girls to the splash pad. He is such a good grandpa. He even took photo's with his phone and sent them to me (he has learned well) And with the ease of MEMORY MIXER I can scrapbook photo's and document memories in about 10 minutes. I love it !!! Lot's more memories to be made this week. 

Milagros arrived at the mission home . . .

What a beautiful day this is, Milagros arrived at the mission home in Nuequen, Argentina and is ready to enter the mission field. If you have not followed our story, here is the short version. 

Dylan and Elder David Biliter taught Milagros the gospel while serving in Peru. 

She was baptized on October 8, 2011.

She is an amazing young woman with an incredible love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has just entered the mission field and is serving in the Argentina Neuquen Mission.

 

I love to see the fruits of sharing the gospel and how it has blessed so many lives.

Relief Society Board Retreat

What an awesome time we had. We got to stay at the Baird's home which is one of the historic pioneer homes in Snowflake, AZ. We ate really good food. Spent a wonderful evening at the Snowflake, Temple. Got spoiled with a bag of fabulous beauty products. Planned some wonderful activities for the sisters of the Mountain view Ward. Toured the Stinson Musuem and learned a lot about the history of the pioneers settling Snowflake, AZ. We ate at two quaint and yummy restaurants - Eva's Mexican Food and Celebrations.  We shared, we cried, we laughed and we truly just enjoyed

 our time together. What a wonderful weekend spent with wonderful sisters. 

The Teacher Always Learns the Most . . .

 

I am so excited for this class I am teaching on 

September 10th

I really needed a kick in the rear to get back on track - this was just the kick in the rear I needed.

Want to join me ? Everyone is invited !!!

I Love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace it brings to my life

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful for the peace it brings. I have no idea where I would be today had I not been raised with this knowledge. It is a crazy, crazy world that we live in. I am so grateful that I have somewhere I can turn for peace.

Lucky to have been my dads favorite daughter . . . .

 

Okay so maybe I was his only daughter. But how lucky I was to have such an awesome man in my life. I know he is watching over us and building a wonderful eternal home for our family in Heaven, No doubt in my mind that we will be together again. I love you dad, Happy 70th birthday !!!!

Kudos to Chris "Ashton" Kutcher

Awesome Speech !!!!

Oh my . . . What a big Pork Loin You Have !

 

So I got this amazing deal on a boneless Pork Loin and now I need to make a plan of action. (ask me how awesome it is to save $45 on a food item that I can get multiple meals out of for a family of boys and I always have extra mouths to feed)

Tonight we are having Pulled Pork Sandwiches - 

 

Cooking about 4 lbs on low for 6 hours. After about 4 hours I will pour half a bottle of Sweet Baby Rays barbque sauce over the top and cook for 2 more hours and then shred and add remainder of the sauce. This should feed a house full of hungry boys.

 

then our next favorite recipe is . . . . . 

 

 

 

Sweet Pork Burritos and Sweet Pork Salad

Oh Yumm !!!

 

Cafe Rio’s Sweet Pork

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork (we use boneless pork rib meat)
• 3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• dash garlic salt
• 1/4 c. water
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 3/4 (10oz) can red enchilada sauce (I use Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness but any will work)
• 1 c. brown sugar

Instructions

• Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.
• Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry) or on low for 8 hours. Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.
• In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.
• Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!

Then my family always loves good barbque pork chops and I found a recipe for an amazing sauce that is sooooooo yummy

 

1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 c. molasses
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 T. white vinegar
1 T. brown sugar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T. water
1.  Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium high heat.  Bring the sauce to a boil then reduce the heat to low.  Simmer for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
2.  Remove the sauce from the heat and divide into two bowls.  Place one bowl in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.

 3.  Take the other bowl outside along with a basting brush.  Grill the pork chops for 4-5 minutes on one side then flip them over.  Cover the tops of the pork chops with the sauce and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes.  Continue basting with the sauce and flipping the pork chops until they are cooked through.
4.  Serve with the remaining sauce on the side. 

http://www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com/2013/06/best-grilled-pork-chops-with-sweet-and.html?m=1

I tell you, it does not take alot to make me happy . . . .

Just ordered this new planner and I am over the top excited !!!!

Each year I search for the perfect planner and I think I just might have found it !!!

Kristan's Cowboy Cookies

No I did not make up this recipe on my own. It has been passed down from many good women.         
I remember as a young girl always going over to Debi Romney's home and she always had these cookies made. These are the cookies that I make most often and I know my kids love them and will always think of home 
when they eat them !!!

I always double this recipe 
(it is the max my kitchen aid can hold) 

cream together :
2 sticks of butter  or margarine 
(I often use 1/2 butter 1/2 shortening)
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of brown sugar

Add:
2 eggs & 2 tsp vanilla

Add:
2 cups of flour
1 tsp of baking soda
2 cups of quick oats
1-2 cups of cocnut
1 bag of chocolate chips

optional: 
1-2 cups of chopped nuts

Faith . . .

 

My primary lesson tomorrow is about having faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. 

What a beautiful reminder

I cannot believe how fast 24 years has gone . . . .

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl