The Plan

Today, I feel that I need to express my gratitude for the great plan of Salvation.  Yesterday, was a tough and emotional day for our family.  We were informed that Ted's Aunt had passed away.  Aunt Viv will be missed.  She was close to us and our children.  I loved her dearly.  Thinking about her today, brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.  I have cried A LOT the last 24 hours.  I am sad.  BUT, I want to share what this has done for me personally.  Viv and I had several religious discussions.  I loved her honesty and she loved me...even though I was one of those Mormons!!  We did not see eye to eye where our beliefs were concerned.  She came to church with Ted and I a couple months back.  She was so funny.  She said that she loved it, loved being at church.  She also said that Her Mom was probably rolling over in her grave.  (I thought...yep, for joy!!)  but didn't share that with Viv.  Viv didn't make it to church with us again, but I know where she is.  I know who she is spending her time with today.  I know that I will see her again.  I know that her family, left here on earth has work to do.  I am excited for the day when I get to see her again.  I know, that when we have the work done for Viv, she will accept it whole heartedly.....and when I do see her again, I will try not to rub it in that I WAS RIGHT!!!

Trying to be Crafty

I have been looking at blank walls in my office for the better part of a year.  I don't want to spend money on my office, but I want it to look nice as well.  So I am trying to be crafty.  Our office was getting a face lift and somethings were going in a junk pile.  I searched through them and found some things I thought would be cute.  My co-workers looked at me like I was crazy!  BUT.....I think things turned out amazing!

The shutters came from work, as did the frame.  All I had to provide with the pictures, the small frames, some paint, ribbon and the flower arrangement.  The picture that was in the huge frame was something dreadful.  When I came into my office with it, I could see the looks on people's faces.  They were trying to be kind, but you could tell they were thinking "I would NEVER hang that in my office."  The looks got even better when I ripped the painting out and threw it away!  All I wanted was the frame.  I got the same looks when I asked the painters not to throw the shutters away, when they were taking them down.  I brought some pictures from home, painted the frames red and hung them on the shutters with ribbon.  Here is a close up of the shutters:

I think they turned out awesome.  I love looking at my wall now!!

There were some branch looking things in our office as well.  No one wanted them and I got more strange looks when I salvaged them.  I added some frames and ribbon, hung them on my wall and....

My wall still has a big blank space, but maybe after some bargain hunting I will find something cute to fill up the space.  I am loving the way they all turned out!  AND.....It was super cheap.  :)

Watch Them Grow....

Where does the time go?  It seems like I blink and weeks have passed.  I can barely keep up with everything, so I thougt I would do an update on the family.

CaRsOn - -

Carson just finished the 5th grade.  He LOVES: Legos, Star Wars, riding bikes, drawing, shooting guns, football, reading and hanging out with his dad.  He is a GREAT big brother.  Yes, he is bossy.  Yes, he loses his temper.  Yes, he can drive me nuts.  But he is soooo helpful.  He takes his role as big brother very seriously and I love him for it.  He gets sippy cups, snacks, reads books, fixes broken feelings and toys.  He is AWESOME!  Carson just turned 11 on June 4th and I can't believe what a remarkable young man he is.  He has a great testimony and keeps us on the straight and narrow.  I LOVE HIM!

NiCk - -

Nick just finished the 3rd grade.  He likes to watch tv, ride his bike, eat, draw, play out side and be his dad's right hand.  If you can tinker with it, Nick is there.  He loves to "fix up" old broken stuff.  Nick is funny, oh that kid makes me laugh!  He turns 10 in November. He still struggles with things that I take for granted.  I don't know what it is like to have eye's that play tricks on my brain.  He struggles, but doesn't give up.  He is a very hard worker and I love that about him.  When he is trying to do his homework and you can see him struggling to read those words that won't hold still, it breaks my heart.  But the look that comes across his face and wheels that start turning in his head when he figures something out, it is a HUGE proud moment for me.  I try to make sure he knows how smart he is, it takes a pretty smart boy to work around a disability like that!  I love Nick's sweet and tender moments, they are few and far between.  But I love them.  He is starting to realize you can be rough and tough and hug your mom :)  So that makes me  happy.  I LOVE HIM!

MiCa - -

Mica just finished Kindergarten.  She loves school.  She is so cute about it.  She also loves to color and draw, dress up, play outside, dance and be with her friends.  She loves to play and laugh.  She loves being a big sister and she is very good with Chrislyn.  That makes me happy.  She is also prone to whining....I still love her!!  I love that she isn't afraid to break into dance or song in the middle of a crowded area.  I love that anytime it is just the two of us in a room she says "we're having a girl day, huh mom?"  OH, I LOVE HER!

ChRiSlYn - -

Chrislyn will be two in July.  She loves to carry her belongings with her around the house.  She is a fan on blankets and babies.  She loves animals and will scream (with joy) when ever she sees one.  I love her smile.  I love that she knows that I love her smile and will freely smile at me when I ask to see it.  I love her little voice, even when that voice annoys me.... :)  She is demanding and silly, strong and snuggley, easy going and confusing.  I have my work cut out for me with her.  She loves her brothers and sister and she is definately a daddy's girl.  Oh my, I LOVE HER.

Spring Break 2012

This spring break found our family off on an adventure.  We decided to DRIVE to Texas!  We loved it...now with that being said, we would do it again in a heart beat, but we would FLY!  We knew that we would be spending 4 days driving there and back and we wanted to have enough time to fit everything in.  We left Kemmerer on Friday March 30th at about 4 pm.  We drove to Denver and called it a night.  The next day we knew would be about an 18 hour day.  It should take us 16 hours, but we counted stops and thought we would give ourselves about 2 extra hours onto our travel time.  Well, I thought that the GPS and I were on the same page, I looked at a route online and thought it looked like a good way to go.  We would go from Denver to Colorado Springs, down into Oklahoma and then straight down to San Antonio.   tom tom had a different route planned.  I was driving along thinking any minute now, tom tom will tell me to turn south...NOPE.  Into Kansas we went.  I didn't want to turn back and lose time so Ted and I decided to keep going.  We had planned to come home this way just to see more of the country, but I hadn't planned on going there this way.  It didn't look faster on the map!  So we went halfway across Kansas, turned south and went on through Oklahoma.  When we got to Oklahoma City, I thought of my brother Bryan.  I tried to picture a skinny missionary walking those streets.  It made me smile.  We drove on into Texas, hit Fort Worth, Waco, Austin and finally at the wee hours of the morning we hit San Antonio.  I had called our hotel and let them know we wouldn't be there until 2 or 3 in the morning.  (GPS', way made it a 20 hour trip from Denver to San Antonio!)  I got out and went to the hotel to check us in and the desk clerk unlocked the door and got us checked in.  He also got me scared to death.  He told me to unload everything and leave nothing of value in the car.  He looked around, said "San Antonio is 'busy', unload and I will lock the door behind you"  ummm....not the warmest welcome!!  Ted and the kids got everything in the hotel, I went and parked the car and then RAN as fast as I could back to the hotel.  (Chicken, yes I know).  After 4 hours of sleep, my eyes popped open!  I couldn't go back to sleep so I got everyone else up and we started our day at the Zoo.  It turned out to be a bust, none of the animals were really in their exhibits...except the fish.  So we saw lots of fish.  And the cutest little baby turtle!  I would show you pictures, but for reasons unknown, my memory card won't let me upload the pictures I took....BUMMER.  After the zoo we headed to the Alamo.  IT WAS AWESOME!  I didn't think I would really like it, I was going mostly for Ted.  But it was so cool!  The only thing I didn't like, was how loud the Alamo is inside.  I was expecting more reverence, I guess.  But I highly recommend going to see the Alamo.  It was worth the drive.  We then went across the street and took in the River Walk.  GORGEOUS!  It was so fun, we went on the river walk cruise, walked the streets and took in some food.  We went back to the hotel, exhausted.  Well, Ted and I did...the kids wanted to go swimming.  I took the older kids and left Ted with Chrislyn :)  Monday morning we decided this would be the day we went to Sea World.  We wanted to miss the weekend crowds.  We drove to Sea World and the GATES WERE CLOSED!  I started to cry, I was so upset.  They were open on Sunday, but were closed on Monday and wouldn't open again until Thursday.  (I didn't see this on their website, by the way!)  So we decided to go back to the River Walk and Alamo and just see what else we could do there.  We filled the whole day, lots of stuff to do!  Tuesday we headed for Bonham Texas, it is about 6 hours north of San Antonio.  We started out and thought we should be there by 2...NOPE.  Mother Nature had other ideas!  We didn't know it, but we were driving into some storms.  I was about 45 minutes outside Dallas, when the radio was interrupted with a Weather Advisory.  It started listing counties, I didn't know what county I was in so we just kept going.  I did think, well, if we are hearing this, we must be near those counties.  I saw several people pulled over at the Safety Rest Area (they have tornado shelters).  After I passed that, I thought, well maybe I should take a hint.  I had talked to my friend and she said I should worry when they put out a warning, but not necessarily an advisory. So I wasn't too worried, then she called me back.  She asked where I was and then told me I need to pull over and find shelter.  It was about noon and we would be to here house by 2 if we kept driving.  We got to a town called Waxahachie and pulled into a parking lot.  The RAIN came from no where!  It had a river running down the street in a matter of minutes.  We couldn't see anything and I was getting nervous.  We said a prayer for guidance and safety and decided that when the rain let up we would continue on our path.  I while later, the rain lessened and we started to drive.  As soon as I hit the free way, it was again pouring so hard, I couldn't see.  So, we pulled into the next exit.  We sat there for quite a while.  Ted had fallen asleep so I said another prayer asking what I should do.  We were near a hotel and I thought about going in and staying there, but got the feeling once again, that we need to move.  So when the rain had let up a bit and I could see, I started driving again.  I had studied a map while we were pulled over and I was listening to all the radio alerts.  I now knew where I was and what counties I would be driving through.  Once we left Waxahachie, in ELLIS county (see how much I learned) I heard on the radio that a tornado had touched down in Waxahachie.  The rain was pouring, but I could still see to drive. The Hail started soon after.  I was worried about the golf ball sized hail I was hearing about on the radio, I didn't see any of that, thank heaven.  They were also talking about a black wall of clouds.  I didn't see that either.  BUT I saw a VERY GREEN sky...weird right!?  We kept going and made it into downtown Dallas.  It was slow with all the traffic stopped on the roads, the wind, the rain and the hail.  Very slowly we made it out of Dallas and headed north to Bonham. I was very nervous at this point, but very grateful that we had been safe.  Listening to the Radio, it seems the storm and I both had the same travel plans!  At about 6 pm, we made it to Beth and Jason's house, without incident!!    I was so good to see Beth and her kids, and meet her husband.  I had missed them. We were able to spend the rest of the week with them.  We went to Chuck E Cheese, swam in their pool, went to the movies and out to eat and just had a fun time visiting with them.  Friday came and it was time to get back on the road.  We headed west, across the top of Texas.  We stopped in Amarillo (I had George Strait's song Amarillo By Morning in my head ALL day!)  for something to eat.  Ted wanted to go the the Big Texan and check out their 72 ounce streak...but he was out voted.  So we didn't get to watch that rodeo :)  We kept on heading west to New Mexico and then north to Colorado.  We stopped in Pueblo for the night.  It was so nice to get some rest!  Saturday morning we continued on and got home early in the afternoon.  It was a lot of driving, it was a lot of heat and humidity, and it was a lot of fun!  We are defiantly going back!  ~if I can figure out what is going on with my memory card, I will post pictures.

For My Sister

I have been thinking about my sister a lot the last little while...so naturally, I am going to blog about it :)  I started this post on Sunday and I wrote things and then deleted them and wanted to think some more about it.  Then I read her blog and decided, I should really get my thoughts out there in blogger land and hopefully she will get them!  So here we go:

Dear Sister,
I just want you to know that I love you.  I know you worry about our family growing apart since we are all living farther away from each other.  There is a saying that I love and I wanted to share it with you.  It says: 

Family like branches on a tree; we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.

 I know it is hard to be away from your family, but no matter where we go or what we do, it all comes back to family.  We are forever.  We will always be there for each other and no amount of distance can take that away.

And since I am the older sister, I am going to get kind of bossy, opinionated, pushy whatever you want to call it!  Ready?  Here I go, don't let other peoples opinions (including mine) determine your course in life.  I read about Christmas and you being worried that someone would leave a rude comment about what you did or didn't get for your family.  If I may be so blunt, screw them.  Who cares what anyone else thinks.  Now I know this is easier said then done, cause from time to time I struggle with it too.  DON'T LET THEM WIN.  Ready for another quote?  Christopher Robin said this on Winnie the Pooh :)  

Promise me you will always remember:  You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you'd ever imagined.      

Cling to those that truly matter.  You are loved, you are a Daughter of our Heavenly Father.  You have your earthly family that cares and prays for you and a spiritual family that is rooting you on! 

 

Love,

Your Sister            

Change

Times, they are a changin'!  Last week I was released from my calling in the Young Women.  It is the only calling I had that I cried when I was called and I cried when I was released.  When I was called, I thought "The president must not have prayed about this too well, I am NOT the right person for this job"  But oh, how I loved it! I loved (almost) everything about it.  I am going to miss those beautiful little ladies. It will be an interesting transition.  I was wondering what I would do with myself on Wednesday's and Sunday's.  I still don't know yet!  Last Wednesday, I still went to YW and Sunday I subbed in the primary (oh I hope that subbing doesn't become permanent). 
Ted was released from the primary and was called to the YM, he will be teaching the lessons to the Priests.  He is thrilled with this calling, I have never seen him so excited!  When he got to church on Sunday he found out he gets to do more than just teach, which made him even happier.  They are going to have him involved with some of the activities too.  Guess what they have planned....snowmobiling, boating, working on vehicles.  No wonder he is so excited!!

Christmas Break

It is a bitter sweet day for me (can you tell I am feeling dramatic)!  I got off work at Noon on December 22nd for Chrismas Break.  The kids got out of school a at 1:00 on the 23rd.  We have relaxed, lounged, traveled, gorged ourselves and had absolutley NO SCHEDULE!  Well it came to an end today.  I had to return to work and the kids had to go back to school.  I have mixed feelings about it.  I am so glad that we are back to a normal schedule and have some structure again.  But with that schedule and structure comes the end of our "stay in our pj's until noon (or all day...)" way of life.  (poor me!)  So on the 22nd, I ended up running to Logan as soon as I got off work.  I needed to pick up our Prime Rib for Christmas Eve dinner from Lowers Food in Richmond.  I also needed to do some Christmas shopping, because of course I wasn't ready!  Ted was working, so Paige and Dax went with me and Chris.  We had a great visit on our drive.  Friday, the 23rd, I volunteerd at Mica's school helping them learn everything they possibly could about Gingerbread!  When I got home I had to hurry wrap everything I could while the kids were still in school.  After getting the kids, we cleaned up the house a bit and let them relax while I started making stuff for our Christmas Eve dinner!  Christmas Eve found me doing more shopping (in K-town), more cleaning, more cooking and less relaxing!  We had Ted's Mom and Dad, Our Aunt Viv, Ted's brother Dugan, The Phillips' Family including Grandma and Grandpa Phillips' over for Christmas Eve Dinner.  We feasted on Prime Rib, Crab Legs (I didn't eat those....), Rolls, Stuffing, Potatoes, Salad, Pasta, Cake Balls, Gingerbread Cake, Pies and Sparkling Cider!  We opened some presents and just had a good visit.  I had woke the kids up pretty early that morning hoping they would go to bed at a decent hour, so Santa could come.  BUT NO!  They were still running around like mad at 11:30!  I went to bed leaving them up hoping that Santa would make it.  That sly guy, he was able to slip in and out when the kids finally sat still long enough to fall asleep.  Christmas morning brought with it gifts from loved ones and Santa.  We enjoyed our morning and then went off to church.  We were able to go to Christmas Dinner at the Phillips' that evening and had a wonderful time.  The rest of the week I kind of lost track of time, I read 7 books all of which I had read before, but still it was nice just to be able to read.  I went back to Logan (twice), we went sledding down a hill of ICE, I SLEPT IN, We watched some movies, I cooked and baked and loved it.  We went back to the Phillips' for New Year's Eve and enjoyed their company!  The next morning found us at Chuch at 9 am!  We were able to listen to a Missionary just returned home give his report.  It was wonderful.  When we got home I finaly took down our Christmas decor and made a Cheese Stuffed Pork Roast and we had Ted's parents over for dinner.  Monday (yesterday) we got down to business.  We cleaned our rooms, did mountains of laundry, spent some time with Ted's family and got ready for today.  Now we are back to our regular routines and I am hoping that I remember to fit some down time and relaxation into my routine. 

So there it is, a pretty long post, thanks for hanging in there!  I hope you all have a very wonderful New Year!