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 . . . .

Long time no bloggin . . . .

Sorry to have not updated in quite awhile. We have been super busy. You can check out Dylan's mission here . . . .

http://www.elderpaolacci.blogspot.com/

In just 4 short weeks . . .

Okay so I start to cry just typing. Not that I am sad. But because my heart is filled with joy. In just 4 short weeks I will be in Provo, Utah preparing to take my boy to the MTC. Of course, I am going to miss him. I am going to miss him like crazy. How I wish I could be a mouse and hide in his pocket and go along for the journey. But this is HIS journey. He has prepared his entire life for this journey and it is almost here. On Wednesday, August 11th I will drop an amazing young man off at the

Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah

and in a matter of two years he will return home a grown man. He will have not only changed the lives of those whom he comes to love in Peru. But his life will be changed by them.

Sunday afternoon Don and I were able to sit and listen as Dylan was given his Patriarchal Blessing.

“A patriarchal blessing from an ordained patriarch can give us a star to follow, which is a personal revelation from God to each individual. If we follow this star, we are less likely to stumble and be misled. Our patriarchal blessing will be an anchor to our souls, and if we are worthy, neither death nor the devil can deprive us of the blessings pronounced.

They are blessings we can enjoy now and forever.”
—President James E. Faust

As Patriarch Crockett gave Dylan the blessing there were many promises made. Dylan has been placed here upon this earth to bless many lives. It is not by chance that he is going to Peru. The Lord has a specific mission in mind for him. There are many lives that he will touch while he is there. I know that he will truly fall in love with the people he serves. He will build friendships that will last a lifetime.

 It is so easy to feel of Dylan's testimony and his love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will bless many lives.

It is an amazing thing to think about the 3 little boys who grew up together have all gone their separate ways for 2 years to help share the gospel and bless the lives of others.

Dylan, Matt and Coy will all be in different parts of the world.

Coy in New Hampshire, Matt in Rochester New York and Dylan in Peru.

Even though they will all be in different parts of the world.

They will all be sharing the same message of the restored gospel in Spanish. 

It will be amazing to see them together when they all return home. 

We better watch out because they will all be able to talk to each other and we won't understand.

As for now we have been learning as much as we can about Peru and we have been so blessed to have found many blogs of other missionary's in the same area so we can see what it is like and read about their experiences. Here is one missionary couple that was over there serving - they have amazing pictures that can help you to really see the amazing place it is.

 Couple Missionary In Peru

and also take a look at this - Elder Riggs from Gilbert is over in Peru right now. We have enjoyed his pictures and letters. My kids were so amazed at the animals

Elder Colton Riggs

if you scroll down a little you can see the baby jaguar and the mokeys.

Dylan is totally excited and hopes that it won't be long before he gets to go to the jungle and serve in one of the villages.

The packing is almost done. He has a few shots left to get. And then we have to figure the contacts situation. We are not anxious to spend $700 on contacts - but we will figure it out. We always do.

For now a couple of my very favorite missionary quotes

"Forget yourself . . . and go to work"

"You want to be happy ? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause, and bend your efforts to helping people" ~ President Hinckley

"Come and experience the very thing that the Lord has said is of "most worth" (D&C 15:6) to you at this time in your life. Come and be part of the greatest generation of missionaries the world has ever known"

So when I miss her . . . . .

I can kinda get a Marissa fix by scrapbooking pages of her and when I see her picture it brings a smile to my face. Of course then I miss her even more. What is a mom to do ???

I have a Memory Mixer class tonight and the digital content is called "My Country Porch". It automatically brought to mind this cute blue house Marissa lived in for awhile with friends right by BYU and the Brick Oven. Funny - it doesn't even have a porch, but it reminds me of something special. Something special these girls had when they lived there. That is where Marissa met Adrienne. I can remember when she met her and she told me "Mom, she is like my soul sister. She get's me. We get each other" The formed a bond like no other. I remember how happy Marissa was in the Blue House and I think that is what makes me love it so much. It is a good place that was filled with love, Laughter and friendship.

Then there are these three - best friends forever.

 I love these girls. Even though they are miles apart - Marissa in Washington, Emily in AZ and Kandis on a mission in New York - I hope they never forget the love they felt for each other as they grew up and shared their lives together. 

Okay - sorry for the sappy post. I gotta go get ready for my class and finish some stuff around the house and farm out my boys.

Have a fabulous Day !!!!

Just Sayin' . . . . .

I am head over heals in LOVE with this baby

Just sayin . . . . .

have a great day !!!!!!!!!

Lot's of good thoughts . . . . .

Okay so my friend Heather has been posting some amazing quotes and I just had to put them somewhere so I could go back and refer to them. There just might be something here that might catch your eye or tug at a heart string. Feel free to grab it if you want and use it to empower your life.

"This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy." -Susan Polis Schutz

"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

"Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before." -James Buckham

"You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you." - Mary Tyler Moore

"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost." -Dalai Lama

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." -Groucho Marx

"Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from." -Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

"Appreciation is a powerful tool to shift perspective. Finding something to appreciate during a difficult situation quickly moves the perspective to the big picture from the little picture." -Doc Childre

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son or growing double dahlias in his garden...He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator....He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of liv...ing life twenty-four crowded hours of the day." ~W. Beran Wolfe

Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants y...ou to be different." -Stacey Charter

"There is often those rare friends in the life of each of us who seem not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but expansions, interpretations, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul." ~Edith Wharton

“God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.” -Unknown-

“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.” -Gloria Naylor-

"He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying." -Friedrich Nietzsche

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside." -Wayne Dyer

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." -Mother Teresa

"Intense love does not measure, it just gives." -Mother Teresa

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." -Buddha

"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself." -Unknown

"He who has a WHY to live can bear almost any HOW." -Friedrich Nietzsche

Being Grateful . . . . . .

I feel so blessed to be an American and I am thankful to those who serve our country and have made sacrifices so that we can each enjoy the life we do here in the beautiful USA. I am so grateful for our soldiers that they have chosen to help protect our freedoms and reach out and help people in other countries who are not as fortunate as we are to enjoy these freedoms. I am so grateful for the military families and the continued sacrifice they make on our behalf. I am grateful for and I pray for the leaders and all those who make decisions on behalf of this great country. I am grateful for family and the opportunity to spend time with them. On this day July 4, 2010 I feel blessed . . . . . .

I have a wonderful husband whom I will celebrate 23 years of marriage with tomorrow. We have definitely had our ups and downs, but the must important thing is that we always find our way back up and we are happy  - I am blessed


My mom lives close, I get to see her often and she is always willing to help when needed - I am blessed.

I have a job that allows me the flexibility to work from home and go to school - I am blessed.


I get to work for and travel with one of my best friends and work with amazing store owners (whom some have become some of my best friends) - I am blessed.

I have a husband who works REALLY hard for our family - I am blessed.


I have REALLY good kids - I am blessed.

I have a cell phone and with that cell phone I can call and chat with Marissa - I AM blessed

I am flying Marissa home next month to spend a few days with us - I am totally blessed.

I have the most wonderful grand baby in the whole world who is strong and is facing life's challenges at such an early age with vigor and strength - she is a little firecracker - I am blessed 


I have wonderful sister-in-laws that are just as good as the real thing for me - I am blessed.


We live so close my kids can go play with cousins and grow up with them - We are blessed.


I have the 2 most fabulous brothers in the world who are always there for me - I am blessed.


My in-laws live near by and love my kids with all their heart - I am blessed.


I have some of the most wonderful friends in the whole world who are just like sisters to me - I am blessed.


I know my Heavenly Father loves me is watching over me all the time- I am blessed.

I am going to be a missionary mom next month - I am blessed.

My kids and I just got to spend the weekend with Marge - we are blessed.

I have an amazing ward family - I am blessed.

I know that at anytime, anywhere, no matter where you are, I can pick up a phone and call a bishop in a church and they would be willing to help and serve in any capacity at anytime whatever the need may be - I feel blessed.

I could go on and on because I know I am forgetting many things - but I have realized how important it is to stop and recognize the things we have been blessed with, and recognize that we really do have a Heavenly Father who is watching out for us . . . . and the bottom line is - I am so blessed.