Family Photo Book

Last year I made a 2009 family photo book, and liked it so much decided to do it this year.  Photo books are great, because I'm not a scrapbooker and not good at printing and organizing all of our pictures.  I make my photobooks from a company called Winkflash because they have this deal where you can get a 100pg book for the price of the 20 pg book- oh yeah!  I love good deals.  Of course, it isn't the best site with all the really cute backgrounds... but I'm too impatient and indecisive for that anyway.  Alright- I'm sure you, (all 5 of you who might read this) don't really care about all of that, so I'll get to the point.

The point is... my photo book is a book of blessings.  Through keeping a journal, photo journal or regular, we really can see the blessings we have.  I'm not sure that makes sense.  But as I went through all the pictures and organized it, I kept thinking, "That was so fun, my kids are so cute, I love my family..."  Now, I know that all those times in the pictures (the vacations, events...) weren't totally full of  fun.  I know there were many frustrations, hard work, sleepless nights, and naughty kids in there, but I didn't really think of them, just the good times.  I went through my book and was grateful for our family, the places we get to go, the experiences we get to have,  and just how blessed we are.  It makes me want to make the most of this coming year too.  (I went through my mission pictures for a RS activity we're having, and the same thing happened to me.)

So- If you're having a bad day and having a hard time recognizing your blessings, take a look at your old pictures and journals.  I bet it will help you recognize your blessings :)

R.I.P. Onyx

Once again, rather than cleaning and organizing our disorganized mess while Mac is asleep, I'm writing a blog.  I just had to document one more blessing that happened a few weeks ago.  It was a blessing amid a trial.

We had a little black cat named Onyx.  We got him from a neighbor who moved about 4 years ago.  Onyx was old and slow, but very sweet and gentle.  He put up with kids holding him by the hair (or the tail), throwing him off the porch, laying on him, hugging him (really tight), giving him rides in tonka trucks, spraying him with water... about everything.  So, one very cold morning I thought that I had better check on the cat and give him water that wasn't frozen.  I went outside and he could barely move and had a broken leg.  He was suffering and would barely even open his eyes.  Can I tell you how upsetting this was to me?  I really, really, hate seeing animals (or people) suffer.  I was so upset I even swore... under my breath... to myself...twice.  Then I cried and cried... all day.   I knew it was time to put him to sleep.  This was one of those moments that I had been dreading.  I had always hoped that Tavish would be home when the cat died...  I didn't want to be the one responsible for ending his life, but I also can't let an animal suffer.  (The kids were taking this a lot better than I was, by the way)

 That was the trial, this is the blessing:

My mother-in-law was coming over that day to pick up Sara to play with her cousin.  They were going to play the day before, but we changed it.  It was a really snowy day, and I was contemplating going out with my bad tires and all the kids to go put the cat to sleep.  Doesn't that sound fun?  My mother-in-law came over in her all-wheel-drive car with studded snow tires and told me that she would take the cat in to be put to sleep.  I would never ever ask anyone to do that for me, "By the way, will you go kill our cat for us?"  But I debated for a while in my mind and finally consented.   I didn't know if I could really do it, and I didn't want to get in a wreck on the way.  She took the cat to the animal shelter for me.  I can't tell you how relieved I was.  What a great lady; I know it wasn't something she wanted to do, but she did it anyway because that's how she is.  Thank you Grandma Bobby, you are my blessing for the day... for the month.... always.

PS- Onyx, please forgive us for our cruel ways.  We'll do better with our next pet, if we ever get one.  And... sorry we are such bad owners that we don't even have a picture of you.  That one above will have to do.

A Christmas Carol

Darn, I hate it when I wait so long between blogs.  I sit here and try to think of ways that I've been blessed during the time I haven't written, and there is just too much.  So- here is one of the many things I'm grateful this past month.

The first week in December I gave a lesson in Relief Society (that freaked me out as usual) about how to have the spirit of Christ over the holidays and throughout the year.  That made me think about keeping the true Christmas spirit in our home.  I thought about it, but didn't do too much about it (hypocrite).  I feel like Christmas just snuck up on me.  We were so busy finishing our basement, , going to parties, baking, making peanut brittle, eating peanut brittle ... that I just wasn't feeling much more than exhaustion (and fullness).   I finally felt that true spirit of Christmas when we went to a play with the in laws. (It also helped not having the kids with us, so I could feel the peace :)

We went to The Christmas Carol.  I've seen the play before, watched the movies, heard the story... many times.  But this time I really liked it. (The music was good too)  I realized what a good story it really is- that it truly  illustrates the spirit of Christmas and what it's about, even if it doesn't directly mention Christ.  It's a story of repentance.  Is that not what Christ is all about?  It made me think how lucky we are to have the chance to repent and become better.  So, that's what I've been grateful for this past month- repentance.

  I love starting a new year too; I feel like it's a new start- a time to repent and do better.  I know we really get a new start every week in sacrament meeting, but I like looking back on the year- what we did or didn't accomplish- and make new resolutions for the next year. We accomplished about 1/2 of our family and personal goals this year.  Slackers?  Yes.  But I figure making the goals helps us accomplish more than if we hadn't made the goals at all.  Time to repent and do a little better this year.

Happy new year and may God Bless Us Everyone!
(Getting cheesy, time for bed.  Goodnight)

Here are a couple pics of the new nephew- Russel- so cute!

A Time of Thanksgiving

What I've been grateful for this month (since it takes me a month to write something):

1. Parents and Parents-in-law

The kindergarten had grandparents day this month.  My parents came up from St. George just for the occasion, and Tavish's parents came too.  How many kids get to have both sets of grandparents there for Grandparents Day?  She felt pretty special.  After school my mom was talking all about how great it was to be with Sara... on and on.  Andrew came up to me and said, "Mom, I'm sad... Sara is getting all of the attention."  I asked him who usually got all of the attention and he said, "Me- so I'm sad".  We both decided that it was Sara's turn to get some attention.

Here Sara is showing her grandparents how she can skip rope.

2.  Good Family and Friends

This was the first year of having Thanksgiving at my house.  It was nice to have the whole family there, and a couple of good friends too.  I was worried about getting everything ready and made, but of course, the family helped me a lot.  I couldn't ask for a better family.

3.  A New Nephew
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this one.  I only have one on my phone that I don't know how to get on to the computer.  Anyway- my kids have their very first cousin on my side of the family.  Yay!!  He was born on Nov. 29 and is so dang cute.  I could have stayed at the hospital and held him all night (It's really nice to be the one feeling good visiting a little baby that you don't have to stay up with all night:)  Of course, we couldn't stay too long visiting because we had the kids, and they don't just sit there.  In fact, one of our darling children- we're assuming the 2 yr old since no one else will fess up to it, pushed a blue button.  Just so you know- don't push the blue button.  That means code blue- blue as in not breathing.  We had nurses running into the room panicking and about 10 other nurses outside the door.  They didn't seem too happy with us.  Yep- it was time to go.  It was so good to see the baby though- what a sweet innocent little thing, hard to believe that he will soon be a two year old too :)

That's our month in a nutshell- and as usual, I recognize the hand of the Lord in my life by him blessing me with wonderful family and friends.

Visiting Teaching

About a month ago, the Relief Society president asked us in our meeting to think of and get some inspiration for a visiting teaching conference.  I learned in my mission (where I learned everything) the importance of visiting teaching and what an inspired program it is. I'm not saying I'm the best visiting teacher in the world, but I know that it really is one of the most important callings we have in the church, so I feel super guilty when I don't do it. This is one of the things our ward struggles with.

Anyway, I was thinking and praying for ideas to help inspire the ladies a little more to go out and do their visiting teaching.  You can't make people do things right? So I thought the best way to help someone want to do something was create something where the spirit would maybe touch their hearts and they would think, "I need to do this."  So, I came up with the idea to make a video with interviews from some of the sisters in our ward who are super visiting teachers and some who have super visiting teachers to share some of their experiences- along with pictures of sisters in our ward and clips from the church.  I thought it was a great idea and that I'd gotten inspiration.  Long story shorter- someone in our next meeting didn't like that idea- and of course that hurt my feelings.  Tavish told me that I can't get offended every time someone doesn't agree with me- hmm I try.  Anyway, the president said yes to my idea and we went for it.  After many technical difficulties and lots of time, I got it made.  It turned out very nice and spiritual- I think.

We played it at our Super Saturday; I was so nervous about what the sisters would think of it all.  (I know I'm silly to stress over these things).  After we played it we got many positive comments on it, and a few ladies from some other wards heard about it and got copies of it to do something like it in their wards.  So, after much worry and stress on my part, it turned out.   And believe it or not, our visiting teaching numbers this month were higher than they have ever been since I've been in.  I'm not saying a video made our numbers go up so much, but maybe the spirit did help inspire a few people.  I would love to put the video on here, but I would have to get the permission from too many people, but I'll try to put a link to the church clips we put in it.  Click here to see the videos- we included the Hands one and the one by Julie Beck in our video.

So- that's how I've seen the hand of the Lord in my life- he helps me with my calling and helped me remember to do my own visiting teaching this month. :)

8 Years

So, instead of cleaning the house, I'm blogging. I figure that's ok since I cleaned yesterday and I'm long past due on writing- right? Anyway, this past weekend was our 8th anniversary. A while ago we saw Cirque du Soleil on the TV and I told Tavish that someday I'd like to see that. Tavish said, "Let's do it- for our anniversary." So... we did :)

We drove to St. George, dropped the kids off with my super mom, and went to Vegas. I'm always in awe when I go to Vegas; I feel like I'm in a different world. We went to the Cirque du soleil show "KA". It was amazing. I loved it. A lot of talent went into that production. The performers were so athletic and coordinated. Whoever came up with the ideas and the set was pretty talented too. If you ever get the chance to see Cirque du Soleil you should take it. I'd love to go to another show, but $$$$$$$. We'll probably have to wait another 8 years.

We also stayed at the Trump hotel, just for the experience. I felt like those actors and rich people pulling up to the valet in our blue mini-van. :) It was exciting for us. Although I caught myself thinking that we didn't belong there, I know that rich or poor, black or white, whether you have slicked back hair with aligator-skin boots and a diamond watch, or just a t-shirt and levis, we are all children of God. As a ranger that I worked with years ago would say, "they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like me" SO... we had fun.

Now, what I'm grateful for:

-A sweet, giving sister who was willing to go to downtown Vegas to get us discount tickets

-A good mom, dad, brothers, and sister-in-law who was willing to help watch my kids

-The opportunity to see talented human beings (I see talented human beings all the time, but haven't seen these talents in person before :)

-A wonderful husband I've been with 8 years, who was willing to splurge this once and let me choose anything I wanted all weekend.

Thanks to you all!