Not Sleeping, Must Blog

Since I am feeling awake I thought I would share some of the pictures I got to do Monday afternoon. These are a friends two little boys and they were such fun to shoot, and how can you look at their faces and not want to take their pictures!

Flashing Scripture!

"May we each dedicate ourselves anew to the service of the Lord.

"Say the word temple. Say it quietly and reverently. Say it over and over again. Temple. Temple. Temple. Add the word holy. Holy Temple. Say it as though it were capitalized, no matter where it appears in the sentence.

"Temple. One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. Home. Put the words holy temple and home together, and you have described the house of the Lord!

"May God grant that we may be worthy to enter there and receive the fullness of the blessings of His priesthood."

Boyd K. Packer





I missed Flashback Friday so I thought I would combine it with Sunday Scripture.

These are pictures from August 1981 when our family was Sealed in the Jordan River, Utah Temple. Even though I was little I remember certain things about the day! I loved my dress and I loved having our family and friends there to share in the special day!

I am so grateful for the knowledge of forever families. It has helped ease the pain of death of loved ones, knowing I will see them again brings comfort. I still miss them and think of how nice it would be to have them here but it would be way worse if I believed that death was the end. I am also grateful for the peace that I feel when I am in the Temple, it is a great escape from the business of life.

Something I have on my "To do list" for life is to visit as many temples as I can, I love that no matter what the facade on the outside, the feeling is the same on the inside! I have been fortunate enough to visit several temples so far, but there are quite a few more out there!


Temples Visited So Far
Las Vegas, NV
Washington D.C.
Laie, Hawaii (2 times)
St. George, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Jordan River, Utah
Manti, Utah
Mesa, Arizona
San Diego, CA
Bountiful, Utah
Denver, CO
Kirtland, Ohio

For more information on LDS Temples around the world go here or for more information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints go here

Happy Sunday

Grace Is 5 and Still Alive........For That Matter So Am I

Today you are 5 my baby Grace! Time has flown by, you are such a great addition to our family, you make us laugh until our sides hurt. You test the limits on a regular basis just to see if we are paying attention. The boundaries of my parenting skills have been stretched beyond what I ever thought possible. I have learned so much from being your Mom, and there is not a single other family that would have been better for you than we are. We love you Grace and feel so fortunate to call you Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter, Cousin and Friend! Thanks for being my "Funny girl" for letting your spirit shine. All my love, Mom

Grace's Favorite things
School/Mrs. Brough
Pink
Dora
Polly Pocket
Babies
Your Sister
Lip gloss/chapstick
Stickers
Celery
Cucumbers
Chocolate Milk
Shoes off
Singing
Baths with Bubbles
Cold Stuff
Laughing
Being Grace

Out of Melatonin = Date Night!

Tonight after dinner we remembered for the second night in a row that we were all out of Melatonin and if you have been reading my blog for a minute then you will know what a Hot commodity it is around our house. Jimmy made a quick trip down to GNC but they were all out and the next closest store that had them was at the mall, so of course I volunteered to make the trip out there.


Grace wanted to come along so it turned out to be a little date night for just the two of us, and she is one fabulous date!! We got the melatonin and then she needed a slice of pizza and a little time in the play area and since there wasn't any rush I thought, "what the hay". After a little while she reminded me that she was also in need of goldfish for tomorrow, so off we were to Target, but as we were walking out the doors she stopped me and pointed very sweetly at a photo booth and asked if we could get our pictures taken, I couldn't resist and in we slid to the booth. We smiled and made silly faces and Grace giggled, we retrieved our pictures and as we walked to the car she looked up at me and said "Mom, this is just the perfect day!!" I couldn't have agreed more!

Once in Target we located the goldfish and began to take a stroll around "just to look", she selected a book called I Love My Family, and how could I say no to that?! A pair of pink socks from the dollar section and a Polly Pocket and the girl was in heaven, Target heaven, and having been there a few times myself I knew just how she felt. Grace requested her own small bag from the cashier and off we were. The trip to our car was a quick one due to Miss Grace's fun imagination when she told me "it feels like rain, we must hurry!" we ran the distance to the car smiling all the way! Our way home we listened to music and she sat quietly in the back just holding her treasures, I told her how much fun I had with her and that she was the perfect date and she said "Mommy, you only date Daddy, K." , I agreed to only date daddy and that seemed to satisfy her.

We pulled into the driveway and began walking to the door when she once again stopped me and said "Mom, help me find a star that we can wish on", we glanced up and I pointed to the brightest one I could find and then we both made a wish. Now I know that you aren't supposed to divulge these things but I just have to have it recorded, so pretend you don't know what they were. Grace said "I wish, I wish, for a baby sister" with a little grin and chuckle, then I began to say mine when she heard me hesitate as I thought about what to wish for, she didn't skip a beat and said "You wish for Grace to have her birthday FOREVER!", I repeated after her and again a chuckle escaped her mouth.

Tonight was one of those times in parenting that reminds me of all the reasons why it had always been my dream to be a Mom. Grace can be a pill, but gosh darn I love that little girl and all the amazingly funny things she says. They get big too fast and I wish I could slow it all down a bit so I can get as many of these kinds of moments as possible!

Don't Call P.E.T.A, But This Ain't My First Rodeo!

I haven't been able to post about all we have been up to at great length but I wanted to post about the Clark County Fair and Rodeo that we went to a few weeks ago! It has become a bit of a tradition for our family, I think we enjoy it as much as the kids if not more so because we get to enjoy watching their faces! This year Lexi brought along her friend Ali and Grandma came along as well, we headed out Thursday afternoon and the weather was absolutely perfect!!

Our first stop was the livestock barns to see the baby pigs, bunnies, chickens, cows and this year there were people carving butter. That kinda grossed me out so we stuck to the animals, everyone LOVED the pigs that were just 5 days old, especially James, I think it was because they were smaller than him. I felt for the Sow, poor Mama, she just gave birth and now all these strangers are watching as her little ones are sucking the life out of her, I totally get it!!




Next was food! We decided we would get everybody fed before the crowds came in for dinner and we stopped at our favorite Pulled Pork Sandwiches booth!! My mouth is watering just thinking of them, they also have amazing cinnamon rolls, good thing the fair is only once a year or I would weigh 7 million pounds!! After we stuffed ourselves sufficiently we headed off to the rides, this was what Grace had been waiting for! The big girls stayed with Grandma and went on the older rides, while Jimmy and I took the two little kids and let them ride all the slower rides. It was James' first time and man oh man did he love them!! Grace got to be the big sister and keep him safe but the smile on his face was priceless!!



Once we had our fill or rides it was time for my favorite, the Rodeo!! I heart the rodeo more than words can adequately express, I loved them as a little girl when we lived in Colorado and went most Friday nights, and I love them now!! I could sit and watch it all for hours, the lights, the clowns, the announcer, oh and some boys in tight Wrangler jeans aren't too bad to watch either! As a young thing I thought I would grow up and be a barrel racer but when we moved to Vegas the dream changed a bit, instead I wanted to be a Blackjack Dealer, or the ultimate, A "Pole Professional"!! OK, just kidding!!




As the Bull Riding came to an end I knew it was time to return to being 30 and pack the kids in the car and head home! It was sad to think that we might not be coming back to the Clark County Fair next year, but I rather think that I will want to drive all the way from Colorado with three kids to get some more of that pulled pork and the Wrangler jeans! YEE HAWWW!!

Sunday Scripture, Light of the World

In 3 Nephi 9:18 it reads

" I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."



I have been reading in 3 Nephi lately and it seems to have hit me differently this time around, I suppose it could be because of the turmoil that the world seems to be in at this time, or maybe I have humbled my self enough to see it in a new way. Chapter 9 is right after Jesus was crucified on the cross and the earth has suffered from great destruction, many many people have died and it has been left dark. Now this darkness is not like the dark we know, but a darkness without the Moon or stars, no fire will light, no light of any kind, it is pitch black and just when the people are in the midst of despair they hear the voice of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gives them warnings and instructions, and then reminds them that He is the Light of the world. He took the light from them so they would know what it would feel like to live in the darkness, or in other words to live without Him! I pray that I can live my life in such a way that can have Him with me at all times, that I will be humble enough to hear His voice and feel His love. Happy Sunday and Love to you all!

Dream Come True

I am sure that most of you have heard about Susan Boyle by now. For those unaware, she is a 47 year old British Women who appeared on Britain's Got Talent and won the hearts of EVERYONE watching! It is all over YouTube and while this is not the entire performance due to legal reasons, but I found this one of Glenn Beck speaking about her and I decided to post about it.



I am positive that I am not the only person touched by her voice, she is an honest inspiration to me. When she sings it connects with my spirit and I am so happy for her, for this opportunity to have people listen to her. If you have not yet heard the entire performance I encourage you to do so! She really is amazing!!

Flashback Friday! Memories

So this is gonna be short and sweet because I have been working on the school carnival ALL day and I am EXHAUSTED!!! This is a picture from my brother's baptism in 1992!!
(back row Jamie, Me, Alyssa, in front of us is Janna, Annie, Tyler holding Emily, Matt on the end, then my brothers friends Russell, Trevor & Molly, Jack is in the front next to Erin, Maria is holding her brother Nick sitting on the table!)

He's Leavin On A Jet Plane!!

OK well more like a Suzuki Forenza, but still he is leaving! Jimmy got the call yesterday and he starts his new job May 4th!!! They actually wanted him April 27th but he asked for an extra week so we could get everything in order here. While we are ecstatic for him to start working, it will be very tough to be apart! We have grown use to being together all the time and we are quite fond of one another and the separation will not be easy!! Hopefully the time will go quickly and the kids and I will be able to join him soon! If it all goes the way we think it will, the plan is for us to join him the end of June, beginning of July. I had still been in a bit of denial about the move but now that he is leaving it is feeling very real!!

This was the day after we were engaged! Who would have thought I could like him more than I did that day!! :)

This little man could have the toughest time when Daddy goes!!

Mostly Pictures!

We have done some fun things lately and I haven't had the time to blog about each of them yet but I have to get some pictures up! So enjoy a few less words from me!!

Marissa and I with our sweet little ones!!

I randomly ran into a friend whom I haven't seen in about 9 years and we had to make sure we had evidence! Love you Mari!!

Morning picnic with family that came into town!

Flying kites with Daddy

Extreme Home Makeover.....Sort of!!!

Now that my little sister has decided to move out, my mom decided she wanted to makeover her old domain, her bedroom and bathroom. It was your typical melancholy teen bedroom, dark, messy, and stuff plastered all over the walls. My mother enlisted my help since she knows of my love for design and decorating, after looking online and a little discussion I decided on a French Country theme for both bedroom and bath.

It all began Tuesday morning with a trip to Lowes for paint and supplies, it didn't take us long to decide on colors since we had actually made a trip the previous day to Ross for a shower curtain and other accessories, so we had an idea of what we wanted.

We got everything home and started right away, taping off the baseboards and windows, then it was time for a little color! Using the "divide and concur" mantra I began in the bathroom and my mom took on the bedroom.

It was all going along swimmingly until we took a break for lunch, I stupidly left my pan of paint and brushes on the top of my ladder, I even said to myself "don't forget they are up there", well after getting food for the kids and myself I returned to the bathroom and lifted the ladder to move it when the entire pan came crashing down on my head!! There was blue paint EVERYWHERE, all over my head and shoulder, the floor, the wall (that wasn't gonna be blue), the baseboards, the door, you name it and it was at the very least freckled with blue! I calmly called for my husband down stairs to "immediately bring me some cleaning rags", hearing my plea my Mom and Jimmy came swiftly and we managed to clean it up before anything dried, well except for what was in my hair and all over my clothes. I figured why clean it off when I wasn't done painting, other than that one small incident the rest of it went well. It was a late night, but we managed to get both rooms painted and I actually finished the bathroom completely!

The next day (Wednesday) I made a trip to Desseret Industries in hopes of some good finds, and that, I did, I found the perfect mirror for $6, some artwork for $2, frames for $1 and the best was an old sewing machine built into a desk for $40! I called my mom, told her the good news and they came with my dad's truck and picked everything up that day!

Thursday our mission was to find a bed and mattress, we had company coming Friday so it was important for them to have something to sleep on. Sears carried the perfect bed, and the best part was that we could pick it up the next morning so we headed home and it was off to the County Fair! Thursday was our break from the work and we had a blast at the fair!!

Friday morning we borrowed a truck and picked up the bed and a mattress from Desseret Industries, they sell new ones. The rest of the day was spent putting our masterpiece together, assembly of bed, placement of art and furniture and taking odds and ends from other parts of the house to give it some character! So here is the before and after shots of the two rooms!!