School

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Isn't it funny that you can teaching your kids and they don't even know they are learning. Lately we play school, my way of doing homework without the complaining and whinning. Tanner and Brylee had friends, whom are sisters, over this weekend to play. Ashley is in Tanners primary and school class, and her sister Kaylee is Brylee's age, they will be in the same grade when they start school. Funny they are in school all week and when they play together they want to play school. Tanner and Ashley were very good little teachers. I volunteer in their class the first Friday of the month and it was cute to see the things they were talking about is things they do in their class at school. They played so good together I had to capture the moment.
I am so glad to live in such a great neighborhood and ward where my kids have so many kids their age to be friends with. We loved our area we used to live in and can't believe it has been three years we have lived where we do now. I think of the many people I love and miss in that area. Time flies!! The kids had friends in the ward, but not any close enough they could just walk down the street or to the next street over and have oodles of kids to choose to play with. I know we are where we are suppose to be and it just all worked out the way it was suppose to work out. I love our home, I love our neighbors, and I love our ward.

Charity

This month was Jason's second month to conduct and he has to think for a couple of days who he is going to ask to speak, so we talk about it for a few days then he finally calls someone. A couple of weeks ago I was watching a show and he came in with that look on his face and said "So you want to speak next week?" I had told him when he got this calling he can ask me to speak, but he better not ask me to come up on the spur of the moment to speak, because I AM NOT good at speaking on a whim. Well so I guess I asked for it. I guess I was feeling a little charitable, since he asked me to speak on charity. I was kind of worried, because he had asked me a week and half before and so the week before I was looking at the lesson for the following week in Relief Society and it was on Charity. I know I can use all the help I can when it comes to a lot of the aspects of charity, so it was a good Sunday and I am glad I am done! After I sat down Jason said "That was so good, we may have to ask you to speak again!" I gave him a look and said "Funny!" It went well and it feels good when people are so nice and tell you that you did good. I took most of my talk from an article I found back in Oct 2000 it was actually an article on marriage, but broke down the scripture on charity into simpler terms. I loved the table they had that said good attributes for charity and two different columns of not so much charitable attributes, so used it in my own way. Moroni 7:45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Suffereth Long: Patient and tolerant, does not criticize. Recognizes we are all progressing and is patient with imperfections. (Do we complain or give the silent treatment? Are we critical, cranky, or ill- tempered?)
Is Kind: To be nice, thoughtful, interested in others. Is a Good Samaritan, comforts, is merciful. Can we fall out of kindness? (Are we mean, miserable, or cruel? Are we uninterested, unresponsive, or unconcerned? Do we have a scowling countenance?)
Envieth Not: Is content, grateful for blessings. Rejoices in others peoples gifts, talents, success. Is generous and offers help to those in need. Lives frugally. Knows the difference between needs and wants, avoids unnecessary debt. (Are we resentful, jealous, greedy, covetous. Do we fail to pay a full tithe? Are we selfish? Do we have excessive debt? Are we ungrateful? Do we live beyond our income? Do we let our credit cards accumulate interest? Do we save food or money for future needs?)
Is not puffed up: Is humble, meek, teachable. Does not speak vainly or seek attention. Happily serves. Lifts, praises, builds others up. Seeks the will of God. (Are we proud, eager for attention, self-centered or boastful? Do we murmur against our leaders or our callings? Are we holier then thou? Are we offended when we get advise? Are we a know-it-all? Are we unteachable?) Martin Luther King says about service: "Everybody can be great ...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve...You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
Doth not behave itself unseemly: Is courteous, well mannered, tactful, tasteful, reverent, respectful, mindful of others, Is clean, neat, orderly. (Are we crude, disrespectful, improper, or irreverent? Do we say please and thank you? Are we disorderly or unkempt?)
Seeketh not her own: Is tender-hearted, sensitive, compassionate, merciful, generous. Seeks unity, kneels in prayer, listens with empathy, avoids contention. Is approachable, Seeks to please God. (Are we demanding, controlling, manipulative, or blaming? Do we listen? Do we say sorry? Are we uncaring? Do we seek the praise of Man or worldly things?)
Is not easily provoked: Is forgiving, patient, calm, gentle, respectful. Understands that anger is a decision and can be controlled. Is a peacemaker. (Are we irritable, spiteful, or vengeful? Are we hostile or abusive? Are we defensive. Do we swear and have a bad temper? Do we argue over silly things and are not open-minded?)
Thinketh no Evil: Is being nonjudgmental, respectful, helpful, pure, obedient. Has no more disposition to do evil. Is modest in dress, thought, speech. Virtue garnishes thoughts unceasingly. (Are we deceitful, Cruel, or dishonest? Do we dress immodestly? Do we listen or watch inappropriate music/movies/internet use? Are we judgmental, prejudiced, or faultfinding? Do we gossip or hold grudges?)
Rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth: Stays close to the Spirit through regular scripture study, prayer, obedience. Has discovered that truth leads to joy and happiness. (Are we disobedient or unfaithful? Do we justify or make excuses? Are we light-minded? Are we casual in our prayers and are we diligent about gospel teaching and scripture study?)
Beareth all things: Has moral courage, is bold in truth. Turns the other cheek, is calm. (Are we insulting, defensive, irritable, grouchy, or moody. Are we a coward or ashamed of righteousness? Are we ungrateful? Do we yield to peer pressure)
Believith all things: Clearly sees the eternal potential of spouse and forever families. Sees others as children of God. Holds fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Are we critical and cynical? Have we let go of the iron rod and are we actively engaged in the Church? Are we a hypocrite and do we lie? Do we come to church but wish we were elsewhere?)
Endureth all things: Doesn’t complain or murmur. Is responsible and gladly accepts callings. Sees growth in adversity. Has a desire to learn and progress. Is steadfast, knows life is a test. (Do we complain or murmur about having to serve in the church? Are we full of self pity? Do we give Half Hearted effort? Are we lazy and spend too much time on the computer, watching TV, or doing a favorite hobby?)
Charity Never Faileth: Loving others and yourself as Christ loves us. David O. McKay says "True happiness comes only by making others happy."
I had more to my talk including the Quote on my blog about choose faith and I added lets choose charity too. After I put everyone into a depression reminding everyone of their weaknesses and what we all need to work on I shared a few other things, but I just realized by giving this talk how many things I would like to work on and it was a good reminder to me of what I need to do in my life to be a little better and as long as I am trying a little better each day I am ok. Like one of my favorite quotes: "Good, Better, Best, never let it rest, till Good is Better, and Better is Best!! I really need to work on being more patient.
I am not very patient when I help Tanner with his homework, so we have been working on that and I am getting better with that. The kids like to play school, so we try to make it as fun and not doing homework. I feel like I do complain and am negative a lot. I don't want to completely blame it on one thing, but I can say the majority of it is I have a negative job and it is hard to be in that negative job and then be the happy wife and mother I need to be when I get off work. I can't wait for the time when I can quit.
Irritable, moody, grouchy ok now I know I am a lady and I don't want to blame it on that time of the month, but it is true I need to try much harder that time of the month to not be as grouchy. When I was a little girl and started school my mom was worried about me being grumpy at school. She asked the teacher at my first parent teacher conference how I was at school and the teacher was shocked that my mom even worried about that because I she said I was such a happy kid. Well I guess the people you love the most is who you are the grumpiest too and I am NOT a morning person. I try not to be like that as a Mom, but we do have our moody days too.
I know it will take some time and maybe my lifetime, but I hope to have Pure Charity one day. One of my hero's My Grandma Shurtleff, she was the perfect example of Charity. She would send or call my ex cousins on their birthdays, even though they were no longer a part of the family, she always wanted everyone to feel special. I never heard her raise her voice or ever say anything bad about anyone. She always looked for the good and everyone thought they were the favorite when they were with her. I will always remember her perfect example she was to me in my life. I am also thankful for the most perfect example whom is Our Savior, I know if I but follow his example I will sure to be with my family forever and meet him when my life here is done and I will hear those amazing words. "Well done thou good and faithful servant!"

TALENTS

(Here are our Amazing Sisters in the West Haven Ward)

Last Thursday we had our RS Birthday Party
"The Gift of Talents"
It was amazing, I was so happy with the turnout. We planned for 60-70 and had to bring two more tables out because we had about 80 show up. We ran out of the chicken salad sandwiches I think only two of us didn't get one, but we had plenty of spinach salad, and goodies people brought to share. I was so excited people shared their talent. We had photography of people, temples and scenery, art work, crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilts, history books, picture books, scrapbooks, cross-stich, photo videos, woodwork, crafts, drawings, jewlery, cake decorating, diaper changing, stain glass work, and decorating. We had an amazing program that consisted of piano duet, flute/piano duet, piano/violin/chello duet, harmonica, piano/singing, piano, guitar/singing, skit, hool-a-hoopin', poetry readings, tumbling, and a funny skit. Some of the food people brought to share was chocolate covered strawberries, toffee, chocolate chip cookies, cake, yummy lemon berry tarts, almond butter cookies, fresh bread and jam, carmels, and brownies.
I was in charge and at first had to really think of what is the talent that I was going to share, I was in charge I needed to participate. I took some jewlery I had made for fun, I made a birthday cake and brought pictures of cakes I have made for my kids birthdays. I also took a framed quote my cousin gave me for my birthday that said "Motherhood is not for wimps." You definitely have to be creative and have lots of attributes of charity to be a Mom. So many times I feel like I am not the best mom, but I do my best and that is all I can do. A lady in the ward was so sweet, she came up to me after and put her arm around me and said "Betsy and I would like to say that one of your talents is putting this amazing night together, Thank You!" I thought that was so sweet. I guess it is a talent to be able to delegate and tell people what to do, I am good at being bossy that is for sure. No really I do think that I am good at organizing things, and I like doing things that make others happy. I was very happy at the smiles on the ladies faces and how much everyone enjoyed spending time together and sharing each others talents and getting to know each other a little better. We have a great ward and I am excited to do many more wonderful things with the Relief Society ladies the rest of the year.
A couple of quotes on talents are:
"You need never feel inferior. You need never feel that you were born without talents or without opportunities to give them expression. Cultivate whatever talents you have, and they will grow and refine and become an expression of your true self appreciated by others." Pres Hinkley
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" Exodus 35:1

Darn Wind

~~~~~~~~Me & My "T-Man"~~~~~~~~

Bry & her Best Friend/Cousin Bodie

Disappointed, but still enjoying lunch together

~Connor~

~Payton~

The Gang
Tyler-Payton-Connor-Tanner-Me-Curt-Dewain

Checkin' Out the View

We head up to the slopes on Sat for our only ski trip for the year, but when we got up to Powder Mountain, the winds were high and they were holding off opening up. They said we could wait till 11:00 and then they would then determine if they were going to open or not. We decided to try for another day instead, but I still had to take some pictures anyway. We went back to Darla & Curt's and still ate our lunch in the warm, non windy house instead. We will plan another day cause we gotta make it up at least once. Jason may not make it up this year, he is pretty bummed about that, hopefully we can work it out to go a day he is off.

90 Years!!

GRANDMAS 90 YEARS
My Dad's Mom, Grandma Miner just had her 90th Birthday. What do you get someone who has a hard time hearing, a hard time seeing, and doesn't really need anything. We decided to pitch in and get her a couple of massages, Mom made a BIG card, and she was trilled. Here are a few pictures of the Open House we went to to celebrate. We met at our favorite pizza place Fredrico's Pizza, had lunch then headed to Grandma's. Good thing Laura had Max bring a football and it was a beautiful day the kids got to run off some of their energy outside. Laura is always so good to try to keep the kids entertained, Thanks! Grandma has been so healthy until she had a fall because she passed out a few months back. I have been so blessed to have her as MY GRANDMA!! So many things that I have enjoyed and memories of her and with her. She had a copy of her testimony for each of us. What a great example of pure, simple, faith she is to us.

A few memories I have are:

Grandma and Grandpa Miner would come down and watching us when Mom and Dad would go on trips. One time we had moved to the Sunset house and at the Bowens it was always an open door, it didn’t matter who you were, and all of our friends would come in, open the fridge and check out what there was to eat. Well, here came one of the neighbor kids, Alan Martin, he walked into the house and started helping himself to making a sandwich. Grandma stopped him and said “Who are you?” he said “I am Alan” she said where do you live, he said “across the street.” Grandma replied “then go home and eat your own food.” It went something like that anyway.
The only time I remember as a child eating spaghetti o’s for the longest time was at Grandma Miners. She always kept some in her food storage room. The only other time was when we were camping and I guess it was a special treat, Mom would get some and we would make grilled spaghetti o sandwiches over the fire with the sandwich makers. That does not sound a bit appealing to me now, but as a kid it was awesome. Grandma had snacks and pop on the shelf in the garage, and popsicles in the freezer. I remember walks around the block and stopping at the park to play. For a longer walk we would walk to the Island Market. They had penny candy; I don’t think you can buy anything for a penny now a days. Grandpa’s workshop was always fun as well, I made many pencil holders in that workshop in the garage.
One visit Grandma was staying at our house, well I don’t remember this, but I have been told I was sound asleep on the couch in the living room and Dad said, “anyone want some ice-cream?” (I am not sure on the food item), I was suddenly wide a wake and I said “I do!” I am sure I was faking sleep, but probably not I still don’t have a hard time falling asleep anywhere, anyplace, anytime.
As a kid I liked Grandma to show me the stuff she was making or made for the girl cousins that would get married. I could hardly wait to get a cedar chest of my own and put the things Grandma made for me for when I got married. I was so excited the day she gave me each item to put in my hope chest and then the day I got married so I could use the things from Grandma & always remember Grandmas love when I use them. When cooking or doing dishes I still use her dish towels & hot pads. Cuddling up with my red, pink, and white afghan. Sleeping with the pillow cases I didn’t even use for the longest time because I didn’t want to ruin them. The gingham quilted blanket, and the levi quilt too that has become our favorite picnic blanket because it is so heavy duty.
My first car I bought myself was a Red Ford Escort. I was only 17 I think and I didn't have all the money, but Grandma did. She was the first one to ever give me a loan and I think it took me two years to pay her $100 a month, but I paid her back. We wrote up and signed a contract and I was never late on a payment.
Grandma and I went on an overnight trip just the two of us. Amy Bowen Brown had her first baby, I was not married yet, and Amy was my closest cousin. Grandma and I took the trip up to Rexburg/Sugar City Idaho, we went out to dinner that night, stayed in a hotel, went to the blessing/dinner, and headed for home the next day. It was a great trip with Grandma, I had her all to myself, we talked and enjoyed being together.
Now we can’t forget Fredrico’s Pizza, it is still a tradition to get a pizza when we go to get Grandma or take her home or even just driving through Logan. It was always a large ½ chopped ham, ½ Sausage, & mushrooms. If we were eating in we would always get the yummy garlic bread and a salad with extra beets.
As an adult I have a friendship and love with Grandma I will always cherish. I am so glad that my kids have the opportunity to get to know Grandma Great. When Dad goes to get Grandma to stay, we always make an effort to see her as often as we can. Many times I have made the trip with Mom and Dad when they go up to Logan to take Grandma to lunch for her birthday or Mothers Day and I always have fun doing lunch. A couple visits last year when Grandma came down Mom and I took Grandma shopping, and was that fun or what! Grandma had her list of stuff she needed to get, and we wore her right out at Kohl’s our favorite place to shop. Occasionally the kids are surprised with a dollar from Grandma Great and they think that is cool. I am so thankful I married Jason who loves my Grandma just as much as I do. He always has much to talk about with Grandma especially if it is basketball season and the Utah Jazz are on, Grandma loves the Jazz. I have great memories of Grandma and hope for many more to come.

I LOVE YOU GRANDMA!!

Swimming

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The kids LOVE to go swimming. I need to get them into lessons so they can really learn to swim. Swimming is NOT my most favorite thing to do, but you do things you don't want when you have kids. Jason was off and we had promised the kids we would go swimming for Family Night, so after I got off work we headed to go to the Clearfield Pool. We got their and they said we would only have 45 min to swim as they close for lessons then open again from 7-9 for open swim. We ended up going to the Roy Pool and they had a blast. Not much shallow area, but Brylee still had fun and when it was time to go didn't want to leave.
Now if you knew my family growing up you would think I were just like my siblings, but I guess I was the odd one when it came to swimming. My oldest Brother was on the swim team in high school, all of us were on the city swim team but I never made it to any competitions like my older siblings did. I think the short time I was on the team they let me on just because my siblings were on the team. I never even learned to dive that great. Needless to say I was just a wimp!!

"What The"

Brylee's new favorite phrase is "What The!" This is what I woke up to this morning and thought "What The!" when I walked out to see what the kids were up too. I had woke up the kids and they were in my bed watching cartoons, and I had dozed in and out then they went out of my room to play and I was able to fall asleep for a little longer. When I woke up This is what I found.



My hall and living room had been transformed into what they thought was a great play store, kitchen, house, cars and truck play area. I guess my hall way was the spot in the store that the shopping carts go. Just ignore my mess on the couch, yes my laundry that has not yet been folded. Yesterday my hallway consisted of all the trucks, planes, and cars, the rug was the road/runway. Jason finished a room downstairs and the family room down stairs is not finished yet, but finished enough for them play down stairs, but they prefer to bring it all up stairs and make a mess of my area then just keep it in the area they are suppose too. Maybe when the family room down stairs is finished they will be keep it all down stairs. They sure have fun playing together, but when it comes to cleaning up it is a different story. They sure make a mess in a hurry but when I make them clean it up they have to whine and cry for twice as long as it would take to just hall it all back down stairs. But I guess that is the joy of being a parent. I do love that they play so good together and can entertain each other for hours.



This is a picture I had to throw in, Brylee had hauled some of her baby stuff into our room a week or so ago, when I came in to go to bed this is where I found her. I can't imagine that being comfortable at all, but I couldn't resist taking a picture. I remember when she would fall asleep while playing in this and fit so much better. Where has the time gone she is getting so big.

Airforce Museum

We went to the Airforce Museum with last weekend, it happen to be Jason's Day off, so it was good family time too. The kids had a fun time running around and checking out all the planes. I think Jason liked it as much as the kids. he can name so many of the planes and has his favorites he was pointing out to me.