Christmas Time: One Of The Best Times Of The Year....

Well, it's Christmas time.  And I'm excited and in the mood for Christmas.  Good part of living where it doesn't snow much: you don't have to have snow to feel the Christmas spirit.  I've been ready since August.:)  I love this time of year.:)

So, a few things on this subject:

When I attended Time Out For Women this year, this man (Chris Williams) spoke.  His experience is incredible.  Very touching.  Read this man's story.  Incredible.  Can you imagine?  This story touches me every time I hear it, read it, etc.  It's really neat.  Totally worth the share.

http://ldsliving.com/story/71058-let-it-go-a-story-of-tragedy-and-the-power-of-forgiveness

I also am posting our Christmas letter.  Since this is a public blog, a few changes have been made to it.  But, here it is:

Christmas Letter

December 2012

Hello To All Our Wonderful Family and Friends,

Yet, another year has gone by. Here's a month by month (kind of) synopsis of what's gone on in our family.

January, February, March, flew by. I really need to take notes on those months. The things that stick out the most are my dear sweet Grandmother passing away on February 29^th.  I was so happy to see her pass on to be with Grandpa, who died in 2006. My husband couldn't make the funeral, so I did what I feel was either brave, or completely in sane (depending on who you ask and where they live). I drove alone with five kids (it's quite the drive). Everyone here said “you bet, you can make this trip no problem”. And everyone there looked at me in shock and told me “you're brave”. My hubby gave me a priesthood blessing before I left, and I borrowed a more reliable car, and it worked out. The next few big happenings happened in May.  "Book Worm" won a kindle from her school for reading over 4 million words, and being the top reader in the whole school. She read even more than the 8^th graders at her school did. The other happening was on Mothers Day. I was called to be the RS President. Two things about that: I have finally realized that my mother in law really didn't put anything extra in my father in law's food when he asked me to do this. (He's also my bishop.) And the second thing: try worrying about how you're doing as a mom when you've got something like that going on. It was, and has been, truly humbling. I love what the new General RS President, “Linda K. Burton” said in October conference. “Though I don't feel equal to the responsibility placed upon me, I know that the call has come from the Lord through His chosen prophet, and for now, that is enough.” I can't imagine how she must feel because her responsibilities are so much greater than mine. But I sure appreciated hearing her words because she put it so perfectly. So, I'm striving to do all I can in my calling. I went to girls camp again in July of this year. This was my last year going, and I had a ball. I was the only leader this year from our ward, which was a little scary for me. But, I had a blast. Soon after returning home, we found out we were pregnant with number six. SHE will join our family on, or around, April 6^th, 2013. We're totally excited. My hubby keeps joking around that we're going to have nine kids like my parents did because we are following the exact order of gender that they did so far. I keep telling him it's dangerous to bring up that point in the middle of my sixth pregnancy. :) Kids went back to school in the beginning of August. "Buff N Strong" started Kindergarten, so now it's just "Future Bus Driver" and me home. The fall was busy as "Book Worm" entered Young Women in August, "Animal Lover" turned 10 in September and we had a birthday party for her, and "Fry Sauce Queen" got baptized in November. For Halloween, since this is the last year we will be a group of seven, we dressed up as the seven days of the week. I didn't take a picture, but should have. I painted t-shirts and we wore them to the trunk or treat. It was $7 total for costumes because I already had paint. :) My kind of cheap.:) November has gone well. Our Thanksgiving went wonderfully. We look forward to this Christmas season.

"Book Worm" is great. She's in sixth grade, and still reading like mad. She tells me she can't find any books in the library at the school that she hasn't read. If anyone has any great titles they love, please share. She's fresh out of ideas and just re-reads the books she's read previously and also goes to the public library to find new titles. Young Women is going well for her. She “eats up” every activity, and every Sunday meeting. It's so neat to see her make good choices, and how grateful she is for the good in the world.  She is very responsible in nature and will go far. (December 9th Update: she just got called today to be the 2nd counselor in her Beehive class presidency.  She's pretty excited about it.)

"Animal Lover" is ten years old. She's in fourth grade and doing great. She reads all the time but forgets to test a lot of times. With improvement in the testing area, she just may be some pretty stiff competition to "Book Worm's" reputation in the school. I have noticed that "Animal Lover" has become much more responsible. She'll clean because she wants to. I won't even have to ask her often times. And to a mom, that's a great gift from a child!:) She's very independent and relies on her “alone time” to get her through some days.

"Fry Sauce Queen" is eight. She just turned eight in November. She's in the second grade. Similar in nature to her sisters, she is becoming quite the reader. I absolutely love her freckles and her beautiful smile. Her baptism this year was right on her birthday, and that was pretty neat for her. Both sets of grandparents attended, and it was a VERY neat experience for all of us! She is now old enough to go to Achievement Day activities with "Animal Lover", and she's looking very forward to those.

"Buff N Strong" is five years old, and in Kindergarten this year. Her reading skills have made major improvements just within the few short months she has been in school. We practice with her every night when we read scriptures as a family. "Buff N Strong" is pretty easy going on some things, and not so much in others. She loves school and church and is right along with her sisters in the social department. She loves hanging out with her cousins her age. She and "Future Bus Driver" also play very well together.

"Future Bus Driver" will be three years old on December 22. He is super tiny for his age. He's wearing SOME 2 T sizes of pants as long as they have the stretchy waist bands. Otherwise, he runs around holding his pants up. And the fact that his pants fall down doesn't slow him down one bit. He is pure boy. I absolutely LOVES “choo choo trains” and air planes. And cars, and trucks, and buses, and motorcycles. The only thing he does that I didn't ever picture other boys doing is absolutely despising being dirty. He will get that way, and then beg and beg me to put him in the bath tub. Maybe that's why he gets dirty. He is such a joy. I have loved having him home while the other kids are in school.

My hubby is doing magnificent. He is still working at the same job, which is pretty much a record for him, and I don't see a change coming any time soon. He's more content with this job than I've ever seen him before with any other job. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he's working for his parents. He's good at what he does and has been a HUGE asset to the business. Mom regularly says she's not sure what they'd do without him here. In the ward, he's been switched around a few times but is currently the blazer scout leader (11 year old boys). He also recently qualified to get his HAM radio license. He's having a great time with that. He has set up an antenna at our house and is just loving getting to know the HAM radio world.

I am doing great. I am also very content with life. I'm busy, but I'm grateful for the time I get to spend in AND out of the house. It's a nice contrast so I don't go nuts from being out too much, or being in too much. This pregnancy was tough at first as always with nausea and exhaustion, but is going very very well now that I'm in the 2^nd trimester. Our little girl is growing on schedule to the day according to the ultrasounds. I can't wait to welcome another girl into our family. I'm so excited to have another newborn. It'd be really cool if she was born on April 6, which is her due date, but I'm holding no bets on it. Our ward sisters are incredible and I can't even begin to even speak of the credit they deserve for the good they do. My love for them has grown so much. I'm grateful to live here, to be a part of this ward, and part of the work of the gospel.

It has been neat to see the miracles that have come into our lives as we have tried to serve the best we can and choose the right. We are so grateful for the gospel, and for our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and His love for all of us. We hope all of you are well and happy! And we hope you have a great 2013.

With love, from our house to yours!

The Northern Nickle Nuts

Politics

I'm posting for the first time in 3 1/2 months.  Try not to fall over and faint from shock.:)

Life has been busy.  I was called as the RS President on Mothers Day.  This job is very tough.  It's not for wimps!  It's also very busy.  And that would explain why my posts have decreased.  I am also pregnant and due next April.  After a small scare, I'm grateful we only have ONE baby in there instead of TWO.:)  Nothing against twins.  We have a very small house.  Enough said.  :-P  The kids are excited as are my husband and I.  We can't wait to welcome in baby number six!

For the first time in my life, I am very concerned about our economy and have actually been watching presidential debates and have tried to better understand the issues of our beautiful nation and country.  I have been trying to be self-informed about all the different problems and, more importantly, have tried to gain my own opinions about each issue.  This has not been an easy thing to do.  I find myself more and more frustrated with politics, with people who I feel just "don't get it", and with the back-stabbing and witty-ness (sp?) that I see every time I watch a debate.  I jokingly say that no tomatoes have been thrown at my in-law's television as I have watched the debates in full.

I am also almost 4 months pregnant and anyone who has been through a pregnancy can probably understand where I'm coming from when I say I'm tired, hormonal, and on the edge of the second trimester, which I'm looking forward to.:)  Mostly having more energy.  My life is good.  But, these few little things are just enough to keep me a little on edge and more easily frustrated.

So, I love that the church doesn't take a stance on politics and doesn't tell us who is the right man for the job.  I don't vote for which guy has the right religion (in my mind).  Likewise, I also don't vote for whichever party looks better, or I agree with more.  Anyhow, I digress.

I have studied and listened to each candidate.  I have listened to the debates.  I have read news articles.  I have talked to people around me.  For just starting out, I feel I have done pretty good homework.  I am not here to tell everyone who I'm voting for and to talk you into voting the same person.  As I have seen different issues and especially as I have watched the debates, my frustration has grown.  The church tells us to be involved in politics.  Yet, I have been so frustrated with politics.  I have wondered how on earth a person can be so involved and not be frustrated at the same time. 

Today, I was reading the October Ensign online.  I came across this article that made me feel a WHOLE lot better.  If you are feeling frustrated with voting, with the election, with everything in the political world, here's a great article for you to read.  I love the gospel and I have a firm and strong testimony of it!

November 6th is the day, folks.  Hope you do your homework so you can give a good, educated vote.  Our nation depends on it.  Oh, and by the way, my ultrasound happens to be the same day.

Shopper Of The Year

Well, hello!  Happy 4th of July to everyone!  And a big thank you to those who have fought for our good country.  I hope life is treating you all well and that you have a most wonderful day celebrating today in whatever way you see fit.  The story I'm about to tell is in no way intended to take away from the spirit of this awesome holiday.  I truly have TONS of respect for those who have fought for our country and for my freedoms.  And that of my family!  So, thank you to each of you!

So, it's a new month.  We do our budget every month and have monthly allowances separated into categories for what we spend money on each month.  For example: gas, groceries, household items, and utilities are all separate categories in our budget.  I am the one who shops for the groceries.  And the grocery budget usually goes pretty fast during the month.  I get a little sick of having no money left at the end of the month.  So, this month, I decided to try to extend the life of the grocery budget by checking out coupons and shopping the weekly ads at the local grocery store.  I've been wanting to shop since the first day of the month, but haven't made it for some reason or another.  I figured everyone else was out having their barbecue's, watching parades, and just hanging with their families and friends for the 4th.  My husband doesn't get today off work.  It's a normal day for us.  And I figured crowds at the grocery store would be smaller today.  So, today was my day to shop.

I began the day by getting breakfast ready for the kids and helping them clean up and do their chores early so we would have plenty of time to shop.  Then I hopped on the internet and checked out the local ads online.  After doing that, I changed my son's diaper, got everyone dressed and ready to go and packed up my kids in the car.  We finally left around lunch time and headed to town, which is about twelve miles from my house.  In order to save on gas money, I don't go to town very often.  I realize twelve miles isn't very far, but I've never been a fan of spending money and I REALLY HATE going over the budget.  Because of this, when I actually decide to go to town to do anything, it's usually a big trip because I have multiple errands that need done.

I have heard that the dollar stores sometimes have groceries for cheap too, so I decided to check out the dollar store first.  I needed to pick up some stuff for Girls Camp, which is in a few weeks, and I figured this was the place to look first.  So, my kids came in the store and we patiently walked around looking for good deals on groceries and household items and just stuff that we could use that had a small price tag attached.  I found some good stuff.  I was pretty excited and felt like this would really help out with my ultimate goal, which, again, was to have money left over at the end of the month.  My husband would be so impressed because I'm an awesome shopper.:)

So, we FINALLY got to the front cashier desk and began the check-out process.  The clerk came up with the total, and I took out my purse to pay.  Then the problem hit.  Yah, remember when I was looking online for the weekly ads on the computer?  I took my wallet from my purse to get a club card number so I could start an account to receive weekly emails of their 'good deals'.  Well, problem.  My wallet was still at home on the desk.  And I just drove ten miles into town without a license.  Some of you may not panic about that.  But, that's not something I regularly practice.  Aw dang!  Ya know how people often talk about how they've won the mother of the year award?  I hear that quote all the time.  I see people blog about something they have done where they feel a little less than effective as a mother.  They call themselves 'mother of the year'.  It's some of those experiences where you just want to hit yourself over the head and tell yourself to wake up.  And then it'd all be a dream.  Yep, that's where "shopper of the year" came from.  I think I won.

I had the wonderful opportunity of telling the cashier that I am silly and left my wallet at home.  She very nicely finished ringing up my groceries, left them in bags, set them to the side, and now I get to go back into town before they close to pick them up, which takes more gas money.  And so much for doing all the other things I was going to do today in town in an effort to save gas money.  To make matters even more interesting, I was waiting to put gas in the car until I got to town because it was cheaper there.  The gas tank was pretty much on empty.  I MAY have made it home.  But, sitting on the side of the road waiting for someone to come rescue me didn't sound like a very fun way to celebrate the 4th of July either.  Thank heavens to Book Worm, who had brought in her cash to purchase some stuff.  I owe her now for gas.  And boy, I saved a bundle on shopping today.  I spent $000.00.  Ya can't beat that!:)  My husband is not only impressed, but had a pretty good laugh about it when I called to tell him about it.:)  I'm awesome!:)

Happy 4th, everyone!  Don't forget your I.D.'s and your wallets.  And hope you find those awesome weekly sales that I just researched.:)  I'm going shopping tomorrow.  With a wallet.:)  And money.  And hopefully will come back with some pretty awesome deals.  And money still left in my budget AND GROCERIES, which is still my goal.:)

Our Growing Family

Wow!  Can you believe it!  Two posts within a month of each other!  Awesome!  This is new for me!:)

So, my kids will see me pull up my blog, look at their internet names, and tell me that they don't like them any more.  They're just "too old" for the previous names.  So, I have updated their names.

So, now, Princess is "Book Worm".  And she IS a book worm.  See my last post.:)  Just to give you an idea of just HOW MUCH she reads, she had the whole Harry Potter series read in one week.  Yes, folks!  NOT one book in a week.  It was THE WHOLE series!

My little Animal Lover is just that.  When she was a kid, she had the little squeaky fish that are supposed to be tub toys in her hands the vast majority of the day.  We found fish scattered all over the house.  And every time we went to the dollar store, those little squeaky tub toys were at the top of her want list.  Now, we have two tanks of fish in our house.  They are both hers.  And she loves them.

Fry Sauce Queen.  Yep, that's right.  You may laugh.  Go ahead.  But, just know that every time we have pizza (yes, pizza), I have one child that makes sure there is fry sauce in the house.  And for those who don't know, fry sauce is a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise with a touch of mustard in it.  I think my little "Fry Sauce Queen" would put it on her ice cream if given the opportunity.  Her fry sauce desires have outweighed my ranch dressing desires.  Is that do-able?  I didn't think so before.

Buff N Strong.  She's solid.  This is in no way meant as an insult or any way should compromise her self confidence about her build.  And in fact, I think it should be a boost.  She's one buff kid.  No questions asked.  Next time you run into a wall on accident (because I know everyone does that once in awhile), it just might be my "Buff N Strong" kid you ran into instead.  She's a big helper and she is sweet as sugar!

And I kind of explained our "Future Bus Driver" in the last post.  He is so darned cute.  And he absolutely loves, not just buses, but just about anything big that can drive down the road.  He's also big on planes and trains too.  But, he goes nuts over any kind of bus.  I'm excited to buy for him for Christmas.  Any guesses on what he might get???  :)

So, there's the explanation on the names.:)  Oh, and I forgot one!  I have no pictures.  But, that's okay.  Some day we will.  Maybe soon.  In a few months maybe.......  :)

We have a cat!:)  His name is Shadow.  He's black and he's very playful.  My animal lover and him absolutely love playing together.

I'm so very grateful for each and every member of my family!  I love them more than anything!  They are awesome to have in my home and I absolutely love sharing my life with them!  I'm so blessed!

Short Update

Yes, we're alive.  I promise.  I just never know what to post on my blog.

So, short update on each person;

Princess is doing wonderfully.  She reads and reads and reads and reads and, well, you get the idea.  She read over 4 million words this past school year.  She got top notch reader at school this year and the school bought her an ipod.  Maybe I shouldn't get so frustrated with her for reading all the time at home.  It was incredible!  I wish I could have gotten a picture of her when they announced her.  The look of shock was awesome!  She's very responsible and is excited to move on to bigger and better things (young women).

Einstein is also doing great.  Her favorite house chore is dishes.  We have no dishwasher.  We must be doing something right in our parenting.:)  She's also a book worm.  Ah, heck.  All my kids are.  They must have gotten the reading genes I should have gotten.  I'm glad.  Reading is good.  Einstein still comes up with some pretty hilarious things.  It's fun to watch her grow.  I notice almost daily how far she has come in so many areas.  It's fun to watch her grow.

Cutie is still her smiley and cute self.  She has a lot of fun with her sisters at home, and loved school.  They are out for the summer, but this school has been fun for all of my kids.  Cutie is coming right along with her reading skills.  I think family scripture study contributes a great deal to improved reading skills.  At least here it does.  Cutie is so helpful.  She wants to serve others and works hard to do so.  She's pretty ambitious too.  When she puts her mind to something, look out.  She's coming through.  It's pretty awesome.

Cuddle Bug is a lot of fun.  She and Little Man have a lot of fun together.  She is NOT a happy waker-up'er like my other kids.  I try to let her sleep.:)  She loves to help out with her brother and they have had a lot of fun together.  She will go to school in the fall.  I will have one kid at home.  That's going to be different.  Cuddle Bug loves dolls, barbies, books, all kinds of toys, coloring.  You name it.  She loves to play with it.  She's a great kid.

Little Man is 150 percent boy.  Since this is my first boy, it's easy for me to see the difference between him and his sisters.  While they loved tea parties, dolls, and dress ups at his age, Little man enjoys cars, trucks, and running around the house pushing his larger fire truck.  We'll be driving and pass a bus or a truck and he'll yell at the time of his lungs 'Mom, Mom, a truck' or 'Mom, Mom, a cool (school) bus'.  On school mornings here when there are several different schools and busses running at the same time, that gets interesting.  And cute.  He rarely misses one.  I love my Little Man and his uniqueness.:-)  Grateful he is with 

us.

My awesome husband is great!  He is amazingly content with work.  He is usually getting sick of the same old by now, but not this time.  It's nice to see him content.  He has worked really hard keeping his schedule lately and he enjoys feeling content with it.  He just got released as Elders Quorum President and is now a Gospel Doctrine teacher.  He does great at it too!:)

I'm good.  I'm going to Girls Camp this summer again, which will be fun.  I make duck tape wallets and envelopes and enjoy that.  And, shocker, I got called to be the RS President of our ward on Mothers Day.  My husband has been the Elders Quorum President for a good portion of our marriage.  It's 'different' going to ward counsel while he takes care of the kids.  Very opposite of what I've been previously used to.  I have a new appreciation for people who are called to callings like this.  I've mentioned a few times before that it kind of feels like putting a pb & j and turkey sandwich together.  But, somehow Heavenly Father makes it taste good in the end, for which I'm deeply grateful.  Prayers and advice are welcomed and muchly appreciated.

Anyway, better jet for now, but there's the update for now.  Later, everyone, and take care of yourselves!:)

Yep, My Kids!:)

This video is my children singing 'We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel.  They have updated lyrics and sang it as part of a talent show at their school.  Enjoy!:)

Memories Of How My Hunny Became Mine

I read a few blogs by some of my friends.  Both of them wrote because their husbands are out of town on business, or work, and they are missing their spouse.  Lisa and Ginny, thanks for your posts.  I enjoyed reading them.  Best wishes to both of you in the absence of your "other half".  I bet it's hard!

Because of these friends' posts, I got thinking about when J and I were dating.  I remember the night we met.  It was after midnight on Halloween night, so we always say we met on November 1.  I had just gotten home at 10 PM on Halloween from a date that felt more like a service project.  I say that because I had been set up on this date by a friend who just felt I'd be great for her nephew.  I went.  It was fun.  He treated me great.  I really had no complaints about it except the fact that I was set up and was being sent on what really felt to me like a service project.  Which is fine.  But on a date?  We didn't know each other at all.  We'd never met.  And it was just "awkward".  I remember walking in the door about 10:00 and my roommate telling me my awesome cousin had been by my house twice and had called three times looking for me.  She was desperate to find me and I was to call her immediately.  Wondering what was up, I called her hoping I wouldn't hear about an accident or some family death or emergency.  My cousin informed me she had a missionary friend that had come up for her baby's blessing the next day, which I had planned to go to anyway, and "that I just HAD to meet him tonight".  I was really tired, so she came and picked me up.  I remember her telling me exactly what kind of woman this missionary friend wanted for a wife (told to her by him) while we drove to her apartment.  I remember telling her to calm down.  I thought she was a couple of hamburgers short of a happy meal and to chill because I was just going to meet someone.  I didn't expect it to go any farther than that.  I'd met a lot of guys in my few years at college and hadn't had any sort of expectations of marriage thus far.  And I wasn't looking.  I have never been up to impressing people.  I have often been referred to as "a real person".  What you see is what you get.  And to me, impressing someone, or trying to, wasn't too smart.  If I did that, they wouldn't see who I really was.  They'd see me trying to be something else.  And I felt it wasn't good for relationships.

I remember arriving at my cousin's apartment and walking in and seeing J holding my cousin's sleeping baby.  He now says he scored on that one.  I mean, who could resist a man who was good with babies and could actually put them to sleep.  Really!:)  J was standing there with my cousin's husband.  He was nice.  We shook hands.  And then I went to bed in the back of the house, and him in the front.  I really liked that about him.  He was nervous to sleep in the same place as me.

I remember the next morning, going to church with him in his Dodge Daytona because my cousin had "conveniently" not had enough room for me in her car.  (I'm absolutely positive that this was a plan between J and her, and not me, and I had to laugh at how "slick" they had this whole itinerary planned out for us.  I was positive they were wasting their time and that it was all pretty ridiculous.)  So, I rode in J's sweet little sports car and we talked as we drove to the church.  We talked about our family, about our testimonies, and about our plans for the future.  I remember instant comfort.  I remember feeling that I was completely safe with this man whom I had just barely met and didn't even know.  Of course, we sat by each other in church.  He complimented me on my singing voice.  And he stood in the circle to bless my awesome cousin's daughter.  Church went quickly.

After church, as per LDS/Mormon tradition, we went to the house of some of my cousin's family to have a pot luck luncheon.  We have pictures of that first day which I absolutely LOVE to look at.  They are on our wall.  I remember just loving spending time with J.  We talked about soooooo many things.  It was so fun to get to know him.  I had found a new friend.  And I remember people commenting about how they thought we had been dating awhile and us telling them "no, actually, we just met last night".  We were so comfortable around each other and acted so natural.  We clicked so naturally.  It was REALLY awesome!  Definitely NOTHING I had EVER experienced before!

After the potluck, I had to go home.  And he was headed back home and had a long drive.  He had something going the next day and had to drive pretty quick to get there in time.  My house was one hour into his 18 hour drive back home.  So, again, conveniently (and I'm sure this was also in his and my cousin's plans) he dropped me off on his way through.  As we were driving back to my place, I remember him saying "I kinda like you.  Could I get some contact information for you?"  I was so comfortable.  It surprises me just how comfortable I was with giving him all my personal contact information.  In every other case, I would have panicked.  I wouldn't have done it.  But, this one was different.  He gave me his.  He dropped me off (again, shaking my hand) and left.  I remember walking into my apartment telling my roommates "I just met the most AWESOME man!"  I didn't call him a guy.  Because he wasn't!  He shook my hand instead of demanding a hug.  He and I clicked so well.  The spirit was totally there the WHOLE time we were together.  And he didn't want to make me uncomfortable in ANY way!  The rest of the night was pretty much a haze.  I was physically there, but definitely not mentally there.

We talked and talked the rest of November by phone and email.  I still have those emails.  They are really fun to look through.  I also went down to meet his family.  I can't remember when exactly it was, but that I drove with him and one of his best friends.  For 12 hours.  Just me, and two men.  Again, I reflect back on that and realize I'm so grateful that the spirit was present.  Under no other circumstance would I have ever done that.  But, it was a must this time.  So neat!

J was on his way up to see me in the beginning of December and rolled his car on the way up.  I remember the weather being pretty rotten and the roads icy that weekend.  I was super nervous about him driving up.  I remember being in a complete panic when I heard about his accident.  I had to have my roommate dial phone numbers for me because I was so shaky I couldn't physically do it myself.  And I remember having no way of calling long distance that weekend and my mom willingly giving me a calling card number of hers so I could call his parents and find out what happened.  He had been driving down a three lane highway with only one of the three lanes going the same direction he was going.  It was late at night and he had gone to pass a car that was in the right most lane.  He went to the left lane to pass the car and realized a car was coming the other direction heading straight for him.  He decided he wouldn't make the pass, so he pulled over to not hit the car head on.  When he pulled over, he was going too fast and was going to hit the car in front of him.  So, he pulled to the side (because he was already braking) and lost control of his car.  It rolled a few times and landed upside down.  He got out and walked away.  His beloved Dodge Daytona went to car heaven, and he was transferred to the nearest hospital, and then was flown to a hospital closer to his parents house.  There, he found out he broke his neck in one vertebrae and otherwise had no injuries.  It was pretty obvious to me that miracles happen and that Heavenly Father watches over all his children.  If I didn't know before this experience, I definitely had it figured out after his accident.  Here are pictures of his poor car that didn't survive, but kept him safe.  Sorry it's so blurry.  It's a picture of a picture.:)

The front of the car isn't visible from this view.  But, the whole passenger side in the front was smashed in.  J is very grateful no one was with him.  They probably wouldn't have come out as fortunate as he did.  And the interesting thing about this too is that J's brother almost came with him.  But at the last minute, J's dad told his brother not to go.  No reason.  Just didn't feel right about it.

J tried again to come up just before Christmas.  It worked this time.  My roommates swore up and down that I would come back from Christmas break engaged.  We laughed at them and took it as a complete joke.  He went to my house just before Christmas to meet my family.  My mom had conveniently purchased a luggage set for me and happily announced to everyone at the house, including J, that it was for my mission.  :)  After J met my family, we met his parents in between his house and mine so he could be with his family over the holidays.  I remember going to a singles sledding activity around this time and a friend of mine commenting that she had heard I was dating a man.  I said yes.  She asked if I was engaged.  I told her that I was just waiting for a ring.  :)  I didn't lie.  :)

I had to be back to school by January 3rd or so.  J called me on December 30th.  He had to be home because he couldn't get time off work.  But, he had a problem.  He missed me.  And of course, I missed him too.  So, I drove to my aunt's house on December 31st, and then drove to the airport the next day.  I flew down to see him and he met me at the gate.  We went to the temple grounds and walked around the visitors center inside.  I remember a lady asking us if we were married, engaged, or just dating.  We said we were dating and not engaged....yet.  Ten minutes later, he proposed to me outside on the temple grounds.  This was on January 1st.  What a New Years Resolution!  I LOVED the timing!  We just about went back into the visitors center to spread our news to that sweet lady, but we decided against it because of the time it took to drive to his parents house.

The next four months were spent apart.  Kind of.  I was going to college in one place, and he was working in another placee.  Different states, not close enough to drive back and forth.  But somehow, we saw each other every three weeks or so.  I'd fly.  He'd drive or fly.  It worked out.  My mom said we should elope because I was spending so much on plane tickets.  While the airport was a wonderful memory of us meeting again, it was also a memory of us parting.  I still struggle at times when passing an airport.  Especially THOSE airports.  The same is true when I see or hear an ambulance on an urgent call.  Maybe because of his accident?  Maybe just because I hate seeing people hurt?  I haven't figured out why yet.

One month before we got married, he got a job and moved up.  He was 20 minutes from me.  We read scriptures together and spent every moment of time we could that wasn't between the hours of midnight to about 8 in the morning.  I remember feeling so frustrated with being engaged.  While it was neat and new, everyone was watching us.  I'm not a spot light person.  And I felt like I was always being watched.  And I felt like people assumed the worst.  The steamy car in the driveway at 11:30 at night with not much for lights was us reading scriptures together with a flashlight because the curfew in my apartment was 10:00.  We started things off on the right foot; a decision neither one of us has ever regretted and, on the contrary, are deeply grateful for.

I graduated from college with my two year Administrative Assistant degree one week before we got married.  Not a lot of people know that about me because obviously a wedding was on my mind a whole lot more than graduation.  But, I did it.  And it was HARD while dating!  We were exhausted!  Both of us!

May 14th was the most beautiful and wonderful day of my life.  I love looking through the pictures of this day.  I married my best friend!  And he is even more so now!  The wedding was beautiful.  I have a picture that I absolutely LOVE that can't be explained.  The pure happiness on our faces was what being married to my best friend in the temple did to me.  This was taken right after we had changed out of our wedding clothes.  I took a picture of a picture so I'm sorry it's sooooo blurry!  But, this picture says it all.  I absolutely LOVED this day!

I also love this one!  It's framed and hanging on our wall now.

We just celebrated our anniversary this month!  I love him even more than I did on our wedding day!  Five kids later, we're still madly in love with each other.  I love sharing my life with my best friend!  He's an excellent husband, father, and friend to not just me, but to our children.  He makes me happier than I could ever imagine myself being.  He is my world!

I love you, Jared!  Thank you to every day you have been here at my side, and here's to many more moons of happiness!:)

Grateful

I am feeling the need to post this experience this morning.

As I was waiting at the bus stop for the bus to come pick up my kids for school this morning, something that doesn't usually happen, happened.  We were waiting.  My kids go to a school that has Kindergarten - 8th grade students.  I don't often see anyone get on the bus in the morning that is older than the 5th grade or so.  As the bus pulled up and stopped and all the kids got on the bus, I noticed a mother walking as quickly as she could up the street towards the bus.  She was wearing black pants sticking out the bottom of a pink and fuzzy bath robe.  It's very warm when the kids come to the bus, and we all had t-shirts on and were comfortable.  So, it was pretty obvious to me that she had gotten out the door in a big rush.  She was holding what looked to me like a water bottle.  As she neared the bus, one student - a girl looking to be around 8 - hopped off the bus and ran up to her, grabbed the water bottle, and ran to the bus and jumped back on.  The bus drove away and the mother turned around and began walking home.  As I drove home, I got a closer look at the mother.  She had no shoes on whatsoever and was completely bare foot.  There are lots of pokey weeds and all kinds of things on the ground that would be very painful to walk on around where I live.  I could tell that it was painful for her to walk on the rocks because of the way she was walking down the road.  She was trying to hurry, but couldn't go faster without it being painful for her feet.

This experience touched me.  I sat down, after observing this scene, and thought about what I have; what I'm grateful for.  My mother would have done the same for any of us, any time.  And I know countless numbers of mothers out there who sacrifice, maybe not just like this, but very similarly, for their children every day.  And not just mothers.  Fathers deserve the very same credit.  They sacrifice similarly in their own ways.

I'm so very grateful for my children.  I'm so very grateful for my husband, who sacrifices so much to provide for our family.  Our family is so richly blessed because of the sacrifices people make for us.  This mother probably has no idea that anyone was even watching, and probably feeling pretty embarrassed if she knew someone was watching as closely as I was.  But to me, what I saw today was one of the neatest things we could ever have.  What I saw was true integrity.  What I saw today wasn't anything short of one mother's true love for her daughter.  I'm blessed to have grown up with that kind of love in our home, and I hope that I am providing that kind of home for my children.

Two roosters don't make a chicken

Random Catching Up:)

 

So, I'm not too good at adding pictures because I don't do it too often.  But, I just bought a memory card for my cell phone.  So, now I can transfer my pictures from my phone to my computer with ease.  Makes it easier to blog my pictures.  So, I'm catching up on what I've missed before.  These next few posts cover random things we've done in the last few months.  So, check them out.

These top pictures are my duck tape wallets and envelopes I've been making.  They are fun to make and are very thin, light, handle the same amount of stuff that any regular wallet would handle, and they are made in any design requested as long as it is in duck tape.  So, if anybody is interested in these, please comment and I can send you more details.  They are cool!:)

 These next few pictures, including the one above, is what we came home to (see post below this one).  Actually a few days after we got home.  I'm pretty sure we didn't bring it with us and it moved in by itself, despite what it may look like.  It got us out of school for the day.

 

The 'before' picture should have been first, but it wasn't.  This is me with highlights.  And at 11:30 PM, which is why I'm completely exhausted looking.:)

 Here is the 'before' picture.:)

Holy yummy!  And holy calories!:)

The kids' Christmas program at the school.  It was cute.:)

Life is rough for him, isn't it!:)

What cute kids!:)  And they are ALL MINE!:)

Christmas Eve.  The nativity scene, live.:)  VERY cool!

Our future missionary.:)

My awesome husband who is a GREAT aloud reader!:)  Love this book too.:)

Our valentines surprise from the kids.:)

She does really bend that far!  :):):)

Cuddle Bug and Einstein wearing new shoes from a friend.:)  Thanks!  You know who you are!:):):)

Please check out the next few posts below this one.  :)  They are new.:)

Good Times & Memories

We just took a trip to attend my grandmother's funeral.  She passed away at the end of February.  It was a happy death (if you can imagine a death being described that way).  She was ready.  Her health was declining and my parents valiantly took care of her every single day doing things for her that I'm sure she would have much preferred do herself had she been able.  My grandpa passed away in 2006 and even though she never complained, I know she missed him terribly.  My husband couldn't come with me, so I piled the five kids of mine in the car and we drove 850 miles.  It was tons of fun.  Ever heard the saying about how it's a good thing that we have weddings and funerals so family will see each other?  Well, for us, oftentimes, weddings don't even bring in everyone.  Just the funerals.  So, this was a good experience.  I took pictures.:)  And then while I was gone, I bought a memory card for my phone.  So, now I get to post pictures.:)  Cool!!!!!!:)

This was on the way up.  Pretty landscape.:)   Princess took the picture while I drove.

Good friends of ours.  We stayed with them while we were gone.  Thanks, guys!:)  And sorry I didn't get a picture of all of you.:(

I took these pictures for my awesome, hard-working, husband, because he was missing me.  Don't worry.  I wasn't driving at the time.:)

 

Grandma's old "Sorry" game that we used to play ALL the time.:)

Grandma's chest that she kept games and things in.

 
That old durable barn was one my dad used to play with when he was a kid.  It's FINALLY starting to break.  But, I'm sure open to the idea of building one of our own for the kids to play with.  This old thing was the number one toy I remember at Grandma's house. 

 Grandma's sweet walk-in closet.

When our family gets together, the kids decide that the men need help feeding the cows.  They go to feed them on a sleigh that horses pull.  The kids have a ball and the men are very sweet and patient with all those people while they are trying to get their work done.

Snowball fight!:)

 

Yes, this is one of the most beautiful places on earth!:)

 

 
This is another one of Grandma's toys that we always played with.

 

Saying goodbye after the funeral.

 

I wasn't kidding when I said we have TONS of family.  There were between 150 and 160 family members present for the luncheon after the funeral. 

Beautiful casket.  Love you, Grandma!  Miss you already!

These two pictures are what Grandma always kept in her house.  She had a wood-burning stove that she would cook out of.  And she was happy with the simple older things.  I hope I can be like her.  I consider myself so very blessed to be her grand daughter!!!!!!

Our family can't get together without a little sledding.  My phone battery was low when we went, so I only got a few pictures.:(  But, at least I got a few.:)

Trip was fun.  My parents followed me home so I didn't have to drive both directions alone.  And we had a MARVELOUS time!  I'm grateful to be home, safe and sound, and to get back to "normal life".  But, the memories of my family being together are ones that I will treasure for ever.