Overwhelmed with Gratitude

I know that to some this may seem like another cry fest, but I just wanted to express some feelings that have been in my heart this last week. I am thankful for my family. Most of all my children. Even though I complain alot, I have never forgotten the joy that they do bring to my life. I am grateful for their testimonies of the gospel and the strength of the Holy Ghost that is in there cute little bodies. I am thankful for their responses when they are in class or when I am at home teaching them. I am thankful for their obedience when in other adults presence, and for the smiles that they give to others. I am thankful for my boys and their hugs that I get everyday!

I am grateful for Logan and his love for prayers. Never a day goes by that Logan has not reminded me to say a prayer at dinner time or at breakfast and lunch. I am grateful for the pictures that he draws for me when we are at church or even when he is at school. I am grateful for his ability to make new friends and be happy! I am grateful for Logan's stories that he tells to our family. I know that the Lord has blessed him in so many ways and I can't wait to experience them with him along the way.

I am grateful for Allyson and her testimony of Jesus and the scriptures and the reminders that she gives me to read my scriptures. I am grateful for her happiness and love that she shares with me and her friends. I am grateful for her love that she shows to her teachers at school and in primary. I am grateful for her teachers that have taught her gospel principles and the importance of going to the temple, past, present and in the future. Most importantly, I am grateful for her love of modesty and when she shares it with her friends at school and at church.

I am thankful for Dylan and his kisses that he gives to me each day. I am grateful that Heavenly Father allowed him to stay on this earth with us. I am grateful for his strength to fight through his illnesses and complications at birth. I am grateful for his smiles that he shares with all. I am grateful for the opportunity to be his mother on this earth. I am so grateful for his touch and his breath and his love. I know that he will be a very strong missionary someday in the future.

I am thankful for Cameron and his ability to make all of my children smile. I am thankful for his happiness. I am grateful for his ability to share a room with his brothers and sleep through the night. I am grateful to her his first words, mamma, dadda, etc. I am thankful for that cute little pout that he does right before he cries. I am grateful that he smiles and is happy most of the day.

I am grateful for my husband and for the love that he has for me. I am grateful for the opportunity that the Lord gave me to meet him. I am grateful for his love of the priesthood. I am grateful for his love of the Temple. I am grateful for his ability to do a little bit of everything. I am grateful that he has been given the opportunity to go to school and he is. I am thankful that he wants to better himself for us and for himself.

I am most grateful for my Heavenly Father and for the love that he has for me. I am grateful that he knows who I am and knows the tribulations that I will face. I am grateful that he is there for me to call upon when I am need of comfort. I am grateful that he is there when I need to talk. I am grateful that he has blessed me with the ability to feel the spirit through tears and through testimonies. I am grateful that he has blessed me with this wonderful family and I am truly indebted to him. I am grateful that He is merciful and kind. I am grateful for the friends that he has blessed me with in my life who have come and gone or are even still a part of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Allyson's First Book....

Many of you may think that I am crazy for feeling this way, but this is my first time having a child in school. It has been many years since I have waited for this moment. Yep, that moment of your anxiety of parent/ teacher conferences. I attended my first one last week with Allyson's teacher Mrs. Duncan. Now, many of you would probably think that kindergarten is a breeze, well if you had a cool teacher. Well, here is the issue, I am really game for old school teaching. There is a lot of good that could come out of that, but I was skeptical just because of the way that Ally learns. Well, I was pleasently surprised when I got nothing but great reports back from Mrs. Duncan. Allyson is a great student, listens well, follows directions, and is a great reader. WHAT???? She is reading already? I asked. Allyson read her first book to the entire class this week at school! I couldn't have been any more proud of her. She is a leader in the group reading and she is definitely an "A" student. I am so proud of her. She works very hard in class and even brought home a solo certificate that states she sang a solo in music class. I am really amazed with her studious endevours. She has been nominated as a student of the week and a star student in her class. GO ALLYSON~! We are so proud of you!

In Our Spare Time....

Can you imagine????? I am busy cleaning my house, thinking that my Dylan is sitting quietly watching Baby Einstein. I think that all is well. A little too well, I enter into the kitchen only to find my son, sitting on a chair that was pushed over to the counter covered in Peanut Butter! Yep, that is right, peanut butter that was safely snug in the cupboard~ So even though you have your house baby proofed, it isn't always!

Today, I was cleaning the kitchen and I found Dylan in my Den with diaper cream. How do you ask did he get that? The same way he got the peanut butter. HE CLIMBED~! I have a hoodlum on my hands....I have managed to keep them away from this stage for a while, but I guess that it was too good to be true.

AAH!!!! I love you Dylan~

IF YE ARE PREPARED, YE SHALL NOT FEAR

We Thank thee oh God for a prophet to lead us and guide us in these latter days!

I've Just Been Tagged!

Darn it! I thought that I would be able to slip through the cracks! Thanks Jules!

7 weird things about me you may not know


#1. Um....I am all over weird! This is stinking hard..... Okay, I am fascinated with smells. Anything that smells is always a plus in my book. My husband makes fun of me because I can't stand the smell of a dirty house. Those of you who have been to my house or know me, know that I have to have smelly goods (aka glade plug ins or candles) in my house all the time. However, I am currently out! Sacralidge!

#2. I love Pinesol and bleach! (Again with the smells) Does this count? I have to clean everything with Pinesol and bleach (not together, just one or the other) because it smells so good. In fact that is all that I clean with.

#3. I'm a Pyro. Ever since I could remember how to light a match, I have been fascinated by fire. I have always been able to start big fires and maintain them. I think once, I went camping and I started my sweatshirt on fire. I still have that sweatshirt to this day!!!!! I got lost in this trance of deep thought when I watch fire. I have a wood burning stove in my house that we nearly have to call the fire department on because our fires are too big for the stove. I remember one time, Louis opened the door and smoke came out first and then poof his eyebrows were singed! Thanks Louis for letting me tell that story!

#4. I am a prankster. I love to play pranks on people. For instance, the missionaries came over for dinner one night and well, lets just say that it is a good thing that they didn't have any appointments afterwards, cause they were soaked! I also have vaselined the missionaries car and put confetti in the air ducts so when the heater or ac came on.....well, you get the picture. Just remember, if you get ideas, I get revenge!!!!!!

#5. I can burp REALLY loud. Sorry this may gross you out! I have learned over the years to burp just as loud as a guy! Especially after a soda~ HEHEHE!

#6. I collect cows. I have always loved cows. I have cows in my kitchen! When I lived at home, I had a cow collection. Not so much anymore, but I do still love them. I have a few still. I will one day have my own cow. Or at least think I will.

#7. I hate stuff touching my feet. I can't stand to have crumbs or sticky or anything on my feet when I walk through my house or anyone's house. But here is the weird part, I hate to wear shoes...... I can't stand to wear shoes, so naturally, I will get things on my feet and then I freak out because there is something on the bottom of my feet.

I am sure that many of you can think of more weird things, but that is all that I can think of right now. Sorry guys! I am pretty boring......

Now I am tagging 7 of you (this is hard, I have too many friends): Angela, Becka, Lisa, Jessica B., Codi, Megan, Sarah B.

Let Children Be Children

My little soap box:

I think that maybe I had better write some of my feelings down! So my daughter tells me that her school principal got on the intercom at school and told everyone on Monday Nov. 3 that Barack Obama won the race! Now, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the election on Nov. 4? How in heaven's name did this man know that? Then I find out that in school today, her teacher passed out pictures of President Obama and decides to teach politics to a class of 5 year old children that should know nothing about presidential campaigning at this age.

Now, maybe I am not understanding enough to know, why my 5 year old daughter is having to learn about campaigns and world issues and gay rights. My understanding was that I am sending my child to school to learn how to read and write and spell. Has our world changed that much for me to want to switch schools because of the violence and lack of discipline at her school or pull her out of school period? Maybe I am over reacting, but something as adult as political issues? Seriously, Let children be children. We are already rushing them to know so much in this dispensation!

So today my daughter brings home this picture of Barack Obama colored very well with markers and crayons and this was the conversation:

Mom: "Who is this?"
Her reply:, "Mommy it is Borack Obama, my teacher says that we can't call him that anymore." me: "What are we supposed to call him?"
Her: "President Obama, my teacher says that he is a great man and will do alot to the country to help us. Nobody knows that he is a bad man and that he is going to hurt us."
Mom: "Your right, but he isn't a bad man. He is our President and we have to respect him and we must obey his laws"
Her: "Does he have to follow the commandments?"
Mom: "Well, not everybody knows the commandments, but hopefully he does follow them."
Her: "Why is he a bad man mommy?"
Mom: "He isn't a bad man, he just has different choices that he has made."


I know that this is all part of the Lord's plan, but I am a nervous wreck at how fast this is all happening! But I know that I will be okay! I am so grateful that I have a testimony of this church and that as long as we stand firm in our beliefs and stay strong in our testimonies, we will overcome this and we will be closer to our Father in Heaven. I know that when we call upon the Lord for guidance and council, he will truly be there as long as we do our part! Our children are the future leaders of the church, it is my prayer and my hope that I can teach my children how to be strong leaders in this world and to be able to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places. I will do all that I can to teach them about testimonies and the importance of following the commandments and morals and hope that they will have a love of the scriptures and for the gospel as much as I do. I want them to know that I have made mistakes in this world and I know that we can be forgiven as long as we repent and are humble in our hearts and minds. Really, they are little children!