Monday !

Hooray for Summer !!!

Happy for the kids - happy for the mom !!!

Just Do It !!!

I have been beating myself up over this silly math class for 2 semesters now and I am afraid I am going to forget everything I have learned so far and so I finally just took the dive and enrolled. It is the last math class I have for prerequisites for Nursing School. Now mind you - I still have 3 science classes and now they have added abnormal physch to the list of prerequisites. But at least I got back on the path. I am not in any hurry. The Scrapbook Industry seems to be doing okay as I write this and I love what I do. But I have had so many strong impressions that I need to have a college degree that it would be no one's fault but my own if something happened and the only way I could get a job that could support my family is with a degree. So one class at a time it will be for now. So when I spend the entire day listening to the little voice in my head saying "It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark" I make sure I start building my ark piece by piece just in case. So while my kids are sleeping in this month I will be spending from 7-9am every morning trying to make sense of Algebra Equations !!! Let's just hope this professor is as good as his ratings are on Rate My Professor !

It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark !!!

You can learn A LOT from 

Noah's Ark

One- Don't miss the boat.

Two- Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three- Plan ahead. 

It wasn't raining 

when Noah built the Ark.

Four- Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five- Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six- Build your future on high ground.

Seven- For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

Eight- Speed isn't always an advantage. 

The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine- When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten- Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; 

the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven- No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

So figure out what any of this means to you. 

I know what it means to me !!!

Well, Well HELLO DOLLY

I thought we were going to be so excited once the play was over and now we really are kinda sad. Even though we were there 4 nights a week and it has seemed to consume our lives for the last 4 months. It was awesome. I couldnt ask for a better experience for my son. The opportunity to be trained by one of the greats in Disney History and to spend all of his time with an amazing group of kids and parents.

It was a good run - I will be singing Hello Dolly songs forever.

General Conference Weekend !!!

Twice a year we are able to enjoy General Conference (April & October) Since I am in Primary currently serving as the sunbeam teacher I found myself more eager for conference this year so that I could be spiritually fed. 

Here were some of my favorite quotes - 

Desires dictate our priorities; priorities shape our choices; and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on...determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming."

--Dallin H. Oaks

"Preach the gospel at all times; and when necessary, use words."

--Saint Francis of Assisi

"Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges...the only way to see the view is to make the climb."

--Paul V. Johnson

"Niether our professions, nor our possessions determine who we are."

--Elder Lynn G. Robbins

"Apparently the message of the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

--Harold B. Lee

"The Church is not a fast food outlet, we can't always 'have it our way'.... Salvation only comes in His way."

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Packages to Peru

For other Peru missionary moms . . . .

The white envelopes are the flat rate envelopes from the post office. I pack them full and then tape them up real good. I print mailing labels off my computer and include pictures of the Savior. He has received every package we have sent within about 2 weeks. If I can't fit it in a flat rate envelope or padded envelope and keep it under four pounds - I send it to Vanessa in Salt Lake to ship. Hope this helps.

Closed for Restoration

I am so behind on blogging . . .

But no regrets . . . moving into 2011 with a clean blogging slate. I did finish my Attitude of Gratitude but over on face book and I need to copy my posts and put them over here.
But anyways - i am excited for the new year and the new possibilities it brings.
While I was reading on of Dylan's missionary friends letters home this I was touched by a story he shared and it made me think and I hope that everyone who reads this will think about it . . .


This is a little note from Elder Matt Rider (one of Dylan's Best Friends)
I want to share a quick story I heard yesterday in sacrament meeting. The sister giving the talk was speaking on the effects of gossip and murmuring:

About a year ago, in a middle school up here in Cerro., there was a student named Violet, who hadn't been to classes for a few weeks. All the teachers began to ask the students if they knew why or if

something was wrong. One of Violet classmates, Maria, one day got up and informed that Violet was pregnant.

It wasn't long before all the students and teachers began to talk and talk until other stories began to be formed. About a day or two later, one teacher called Maria into her office to talk. She first told Maria to get a glass of water then dump it all out onto the floor. She then told her to pick all the water back up from off the floor and put in back into the cup—clean. Maria, puzzled, went onto explain to the teacher how there was no way she could pick up the water from the dirty floor and, more importantly, keep it clean. The teacher then explained to Maria that just as she had dirtied the purity of the water, so had she dirtied the dignity of her classmate, Violet. Because in reality, Violet wasn't pregnant…She had cancer.

So my thought for you guys this weeks is that we should all watch how we talk about others so that we don't dirty their dignity.

Really makes you stop and think about the powerful lesson learned here. Today I also came across this quote

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. 

~Leo Aikman

I guess this gives us something to think about and helps us to be a little more cautious of the words we speak.

Day 11 of an Attitude of Gratitude

Day 11 of an Attitude of Gratitude - I'm grateful to those who serve our country. I'm grateful for the sacrafices they have made in our behalf & their families for their sacraifices. I'm grateful for the freedom, that clearly is not free becuase so many have given their lives so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we h...ave. Thank You Vetrans of the Armed Forces & those currently serving - TODAY IS YOUR DAY and WE HONOR YOU!

{Day 10 of an Attitude of Gratitiude}

Day 10 of an Attitude of Gratitude - I am grateful for an amazing father. He was my rock. Even though my dad has left his mortal existence I can still feel his presence and know that he is watching over me and my my family. I am so grateful for the promise that families are forever and I look forward to the day when I am with him again !!!

{Just Thinkin ABout My Dad}

 

{Day 9 of an Attitude of Gratitiude}

Day 9 of an Attitude of Gratitude - I am grateful for my mom and her example to me. She is always there for me and always my biggest cheerleader !!! Thanks mom - I love you !!!

{Day 8 of an Attitude of Gratiude}

{Day 8 of an Attitude of Gratiude} I am grateful that when I make mistakes I can notice and try to make amends. Everyday I am learning and growing. There are lessons in the life to be learned everyday. I guess the important thing is we just keep trying to do the best we can.

{Day 7 of an Attitude of Gratitude}

{Day 7 of an Attitude of Gratitude} I am thankful for the Sabbath. I am thankful for the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. I am thankful for my ward family and the friendships we share. I LOVE having one day where we are free from outside influences of the world and that we have chosen to keep Sunday as a family day.I LOVE SUNDAY !!!

My Testimony . . .

As I think of my son sharing his testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the wonderful people of Peru I want to take this opportunity to share with you that I have an unwavering testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through experiences in my life I have come to know without a shadow of a doubt that we do have a Heavenly Father that loves us and that he is watching over us. I have found that true happiness and peace come as I live the principles that I have learned by following the teachings of the gospel and the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. I find such peace and happiness in my life when I maintain a close relationship with my Heavenly Father.

I find that I am happiest when I try to pattern my life after the Savior and consistently do the things that will bring me closer to him - Daily prayer, attending church, scripture study, serving others and living the principles of the gospel.

I am grateful to my grandparents that for generation after generation continued to hold strong to the principles of the gospel so that I could have this blessing in my life. Even though I was baptized when I was 8 years old I can remember that in my teenage years I wanted my own conversion experience. I wanted to be able to say that I knew that the things that I believed where true. At the age of 17 I attended Especially For Youth at BYU in Provo Utah, and I can remember just like it was yesterday sitting in a testimony meeting and hearing that still small voice whisper to me "the things that you are hearing are true". I can remember wanting to shout from the roof tops "it's true" "the gospel of Jesus Christ is true". From that day forward I never wavered in my faith.

Once again the truthfulness of the gospel was reconfirmed to me as I sat with my father as he crossed from his mortal existence into his Heavenly estate 6 years ago. At that time I gained a testimony that everything I have learned and had been taught in my 36 years was true. I can testify with every fiber of my being that my Heavenly Father reassured me that if I lived my life in harmony with the gospel principles that I had been taught that I would be with my father again and that there is so much more than just this earthly mortal experience. I felt the warmth and comfort of peace that was so much greater than this world could ever offer me. At that moment I promised myself that I would strive to be the best I could be so that one day I could experience the same joy that I knew my father was having as he crossed through to his Heavenly home.

Let me assure you also that I know that the adversary is working overtime. And his main focus is to stop the work of the Lord and to slowly but surely disrupt families. It is a constant reminder to me to continually nourish the testimony that I have and create a home that can be a haven for my family. Not to allow myself to get B.U.S.Y (being under satans yoke) so that I don't recognize the weeds that begin to grow and infest my home.

I am grateful for the gospel and I desperately need what the Church of Jesus Christ has to offer me -- direction and purpose in my everyday life, consolation and comfort in my times of trial and sorrow, and hope for something amazingly wonderful after this life. The knowledge that families truly are FOREVER. The doctrines of the Church help me to understand that God didn't place me here on this earth by accident. He placed me here on this earth so that I might have joy! He created me because He wanted me to be able to have all the blessings He could possibly bestow on me. I am His daughter. And being his mortal daughter means that I will make mistakes, but I know He loves me in spite of my failures.

Being a loving Father, he created a plan and provided us with a Savior so that we may return to live with him again. Think about it, as parents would we ever bring a child into this world and expect them to figure it all out on their own ? We would not, and neither would our Heavenly Father. He has given us a plan and it is up to us if we choose to follow his plan. He has provided a way and I know that when I follow the path I have been given I have ALWAYS found peace and comfort. I have been given the assurance that even through any trails, pain and suffering that he is always there. And that no matter how many mistakes I make, he will always be there to love me and help me so that I may enjoy the blessings in which he has in store for me.

As a Latter-day Saint I hope that I can live my life in a way that people will want to come to know Christ because of the example that I have set. My love for my Heavenly Father is real and I hope that my actions and deeds reflect this. I strive to live Christianity every moment of my life. Not just by going to Church once a week, but making the gospel a way of life, a wonderful, fulfilling, satisfying way of life.

When I think about people who have blessed my life, I think of people who are unselfish. They are giving and caring and truly think of others before themselves. I want to be like that. The Savior lived his life this way and I desire to pattern my life after him. I know I have a long way to go, but I try each day to move in the right direction!

I am continually lifted up rather than brought down by the messages and teachings of the gospel and I can feel of my Saviors love and the love that my Heavenly Father has for me.

I know that Jesus the Christ is our Lord and Savior. And I know that Our Father in Heaven loves us and has given us living prophets on the earth today just like in the days of the Old Testament with Abraham or Moses. I know that this is His Church upon the earth today. How grateful I am to have a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson and his apostles to lead and guide us. I am so grateful for the blessings of the gospel that I have felt in my life. I know that when I live the principles of the gospel and I place all my trust in my Heavenly Father all of my fears and doubts are replaced with faith and hope. I know that our Heavenly Father knows and loves each and everyone of us. His is a perfect love. And all He requires from us is for us each to do our best. We are each given the agency to have these blessings in our lives, all we need to do is ask in faith. The Atonement is real and is there for all of us. I testify that if we will endure to the end and are faithful, we will receive all of the blessings he has in store for us.

 

 

{Day 6 of an "Attitude of Gratitude"}

{Day 6 of an "Attitude of Gratitude"} I am so grateful to be a mom. It is the greatest blessing in my life. I have learned and will continue to learn everything that is important through my experiences as a mother. I know that it is the most important thing I will ever do. I am so grateful that it is an eternal calling a...nd that my family is with me FOREVER !!!! I love my kids more than any words can ever express !!!!

{Day 5 of an "Attitude of Gratitude"}

{Day 5 of an "Attitude of Gratitude"} I am so grateful it is FRIDAY !!!! Lot's to get done and I am happy to get it done !!!

{Day 4 of an "Attitude of Gratitiude"}

{Day 4 of an "Attitude of Gratitiude"} I am grateful that my kids have really good friends. I was reminded of this earlier this morning as I was dropping Coleton off at his friend George's house to ride bikes to school. Coleton has made the transistion to being a teen and he is such a "good" kid and always happy and fun to be around.

{Day 3 of an "Attitude of Gratitiude"}

{Day 3 of an "Attitude of Gratitiude"} I am thankful that Karleigh is feeling better - thanks to some heavy duty anitbiotics to wipe away that aweful strep infection and that ALL my kiddos are in school today !!!!

{Day 2 of an Attitude of Gratitiude}

{Day 2 of an Attitude of Gratitiude} I am thankful that I was blessed to be born into a free country. Where I am free to choose my actions. I am free to vote how I choose. I am free to worship as I wish. We truly are so blessed !!!

Thirty Days of Gratitude . . . Day 1

{Day 1 of an Attitude of Gratitude} I am thankful for Mondays and for the opportunity to get emails from our missionary. I'm grateful for modern technology and the fact that Dylan can be in Manchay Peru and I in Phoenix, Arizona and we can chat over email instantaneously.

Some of photo updates . . . . .

Our Sweet Baby is 4 months old

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 . . . .