25 Random Things About Me

I love reading these these notes about other people so I'll do one just for the heck of it!

1. My hair has gotten progressively curlier with each child I have had. I don't know what to do with it!
2. I prefer watching a familiar movie over a new movie unless it comes highly recommended.
3. When I was little I wanted to wear a dress everyday.
4. I like pie better than cake.
5. I don't have TV at my house, by choice.
6. Given the opportunity, I would read all day.
7. I read my favorite books over and over.
8. I've always been disorganized.
9. Clutter drives me crazy.
10. Somethings gotta give! haha!
11. I have two goats and a guinea pig.
12. Does anyone want a goat or a guinea pig?
13. I married the man that I needed to marry. He suits me!
14. I love how Mathan tells me how beautiful I am when I'm a complete mess.
15. I've never been one of those girls who spends hours on her appearance. I'm ready in 20 min.
16. I wish I had a better taste in clothes. I'm perpetually behind the trends.
17. I love the peaceful early morning in summer.
18. I love sleep. I'm so glad I'm able to get away from all the stress of life when I sleep!
19. Sometimes I really miss being able to just grab my purse and leave the house. Kids come with so much stuff!
20. July is my favorite month of the year.
21. It took me way too long to do this, because I can only do it when the kids give me a break.
22. I like to shop alone without any time constraints.
23. If you think I'm quiet, you don't know me very well.
24. Okay, so I am quiet, but believe me, I can be loud.
25. It might just be a mommy thing, but I really think that my kids are exceptionally cute.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Looking Back and Moving Forward

So many related thoughts are swimming around in my head, and I want to make sense out of them. It being a new year, everyone is talking about goals and resolutions. Some say, "If I make 'em I'll break 'em," and they don't want to set themselves up for failure. I love the little montage in the movie Up where, before they know it, Carl and Ellie are old and they look back and realize that they haven't met their goal of living at Paradise Falls and filling their adventure book with stuff they're going to do.

I thought about this while I was sitting in the chapel listening to The Mother of the Year speak. On my left were two or three young mothers who are still in the trenches of raising kids. On my right were two or three old mothers, whose kids have long been on their own. I couldn't help but think that it must be torture for these older women to look back and think about what they should have done! They were good mothers that had done their best, but it seemed too late for them to use any of the practical advice the speaker was giving.

Anyway, what I took away from the movie and from the speech was this: It's never too late, and My best is good enough. It there anyone who doesn't look back with some regret? Is there anyone who's life went exactly as they planned? I don't think so. I believe that setting goals does not set me up for failure, but for success. I know that even though I make mistakes, that my best is good enough when I allow the Savior to step in, and pick up the slack.

So here's to a new year full of dreams, goals, progress, and hope!

So...Christmas was fun..

I know, shame on me for not posting about Christmas. We had a great time and no one was seriously harmed in the making of this picture.

Looks like the makings of a wild party huh?

It was so great to have the whole family together. There was lots of laughter, noise, and good food. We had so much fun that there is a shortage of good pictures, but we had a wonderful Christmas time.
Some highlights were:

Having Mathan home for a week

Watching May and Ellen have a ball with their new toys.

Playing risk with my brothers

Having Mathan home for a week

Playing Christmas music with Ben

Playing in the snow at Great Grandad's

Breaking a pinata for Hyrum's birthday (all the hard candy was beat to a powder before it actually broke open!)

Meeting up with some old friends

Hearing from Elder Tenney in Madagascar

Having Mathan home for a week

Having a tea party with Aunt Maria

Compiling pictures for mom's digital picture frame

Putting together the calendar for Mathan's family and

Having Mathan home for a week...

Can you guess what my favorite part was?

Giving Thanks

I feel so blessed. I know the holiday is over, but here are a few things I'm grateful for...

My husband. He's always patient, and never critical. He works hard all day and then comes home and helps with my work (the kids). He always notices my efforts and thanks me for them. I'm so grateful for our marriage. It has become more apparent over the years that we made the right choice. I needed someone like him.

My babies. They have taught me more about God's love than anything else in my life. They love everyone and recognize the divinity in everyone. They make me laugh. Ellen just said "happy birthday punkin baby!" Tell me that didn't make you smile!

My extended family. They give and give and love and help without fail.

The Gospel. This should be at the top of my list, because all of my greatest blessings are people that are striving to live a righteous life. Keeping the commandments is a recipe for a happy family and a happy life, trials and pain included. I could write a book about it, but it's already been written by wiser people than me.

Health. I'm so grateful to have healthy kids, and that so far we have escaped serious health problems. Heavenly Father is watching over us and blessing us tremendously.

My home. We have a comfortable home with everything we need. It isn't fancy or expensive, but it is more than adequate for our family.

Employment. Mathan works so hard for us and so far we have never felt serious want, despite work being slow. Again Heavenly Father has blessed us every step of the way.

The list goes on and on. Suffice it to say life is good, and God is gracious.

Peace!

I love fast Sunday. Today I got up to give my testimony. I had so much to say and my heart was just overflowing. I'm afraid I don't make a lot of sense sometimes. I do know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true, and I guess if I was able to get that out of my mouth than it wasn't a waste of time. I haven't posted this yet, but I was released from primary a few weeks ago. Since then I have felt how much Heavenly Father was helping me to do my calling. You can't really tell until the mantle of the calling is gone and then you realize that you were just a simple tool in the Lord's hand. A hammer can't build anything by itself, it has to be used by a builder. I love primary so much and I'm going to miss it. I already miss being able to stand up and move around. Just sitting for three hours hurts! I love going to sunday school with Mathan, and I love having an adult discussion. I was called to be a Relief Society teacher today and I'm excited to develop a different set of spiritual muscles. Its been a long time since I taught R.S. in college. I really want to do a good job and I want the sisters to feel the spirit.

Thomas is getting so big! He's almost 7 weeks old. I actually saw a baby that is older than him who is smaller than him. You don't know what that's like for me. May and Ellen were both so small. May is still small for her age. I'm used to hearing about how tiny my babies are. I love being here for every milestone they reach and watching them grow. It is monotonous some days, but when I look back I'm so glad I've been there to see them progress.