Happy Birthday Taylor!

I can not believe you are 14 years old. Where has the time gone? I will never forget the feelings I had when we brought you home from the hospital that first day. You were so small. Now look at you.... Amazing! What a handsome young man you are. You teach me new things every day. May life just get better and better for you. I love you my "Taylor Bug".

Merry Christmas

So I didnt throw in the towel on it all. I am so glad I didnt. I got everything done that I needed to and it was all wonderful. I will try harder next year to make it easier on myself the week before Christmas. It will be a new year and a new day to start over. I love that we celebrate Christmas in winter. I love that we woke up this morning to a blanket of 6 inches of snow. It kind of forces me to stop and listen and the world becomes quiet. When it snows like this you cant hear the traffic on the streets and everything seems to be more reverent. I love to relish in the glow of Christmas after everything is done. I am so thankful for traditions that are kept alive and people in my life to help keep those traditions with.

BAH HUMBUG!

Right now all I can think of is BAH HUMBUG. I am so sick of the stress of the deadline of Christmas that I am totally stressing out. I tell myself every year that I am going to start in July but when July comes around I dont even want to think about Christmas because its so fun to be in summer mode. So here I am same thing same time every year... down to the wire....only 3 days left and I am ready to throw the towel in on it all.
What ever happened to the old fashioned Christmas where you just made things with the stuff you had. And put fruit and nuts in the stockings and called it good. I want that back. I totally understand now why my dad used to bah humbug around this time of year. Dont get me wrong...I love Christmas and everything it stands for and all that....I just do this to myself every year... dont know why I do it but I do. I love breaking out the Christmas music in November and dreaming of the majic of Christmas ... thats when I should be stressing about getting gifts done ....not 3 days before. UGH! Anyway thanks for reading. Letting me wig out a little or writing my thoughts always helps me figure stuff out in my head.

Happy Christmas!

Stormy Seas

"I have heard it said that sometimes the Lord calms the storm, and sometims he lets the storm rage and calms His child."

"So often in life we think that because we have done things in a certain way, certain results should follow. But life is like the ocean. Sometimes we get caught in squalls and storms and things dont go the way we think they should, even when we think we have done right. But God can find us in the eye of the storm and give us courage to swim in rough water. We learn lessons from storms that we cannot learn from calm seas."

"When we find ourselves in these squalls or storms, we should remember we don't have enough energy to complain and still keep our head above water. Our duty is to swim, not wonder or complain. We need to get to shore and must leave the reasons for the storm with the Lord. If all the effort we put into asking 'why' were used in swimming, a lot more of us, with help would reach the shore."

John H. Groberg, In the Eye of the Storm


I am learning to be thankful for my rough seas because I know that I am learning lessons from them that I would not otherwise learn in calm seas. I love how Elder Groberg describes this. Oh to be that wise.

Happy Brithday Alyssa

Wow I can not believe that Alyssa is twelve years old. And going into young womens at church. It just seems like not that long ago I was bringing her home from the hospital and having her sweet spirit lighten our home. She is still lighting our home. Recently I was asked what three words would describe Alyssa....Loving, caring and compassionate is what I thought of immidiately. I will add to that beautiful. And quite the young lady lately.

My dear Alyssa thank you for a wonderful 12 years of being your mommy. I hope the next 12 bring many more adventures, giggles and smiles. You are a beautiful daughter of God. I love you.

Good Morning America!

Yeah! Good Morning America came to our small town of Coeur d' Alene Idaho this morning. A lot of us crazy people got up at 2:30 am and headed downtown to ring in the lights for their program. They are highlighting towns that have the biggest light show and we were there. Yeah. I thought at first when I woke up at 2:15am that I would change my mind and then I talked myself into it and I am so glad I did. My friend Judy and I went and had a great time. Its fun to see the behind the scenes stuff before air time. We got to mingle with all the crazy people. Loads of fun. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Good times! Good times!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for. Blessings are so abundant if we just focus on them. Life is beautiful. My family is beautiful. Thanksgiving is beautiful. I heard on the radio yesturday that the day before thanksgiving is the most traveled day of the year. Is that not wonderful! I am so thankful today for everything. I woke up today in a great mood and because of that my children are in a great mood. It is so interesting how just my mood can have such a big effect on my whole family.

The sun is shining in my soul today! Happy Thanksgiving.

Saying Goodbye

This is Maggie. My dear angel friend. This picture was from my visit with her in September. This is how I will remember her. I just got back from seeing her again and this time she looks a little different. She was in the hospital. Her body is shutting down and within days she will leave this world. And this is how saying goodbye to her went:

Calie: "Maggie I love you so much"

Maggie: "Thank you Calie I love you too"
"Thank you for coming to see me. Calie you have a heart of gold".

Calie: "Thank you Maggie I will miss you and I love you".

Maggie: "Ok I will see you soon".


Even on her death bed she was complimenting. Always a giver my angel friend Maggie. Even the doctors she has been seeing in the hospital said she gives cancer dignity. As I watched her in her bed on oxygen and IV's in her and her body being tormented with the effects of her organs shutting down... she still looks like an angel my beautiful friend Maggie. She would go in and out of reality so getting her to have that last little conversation with me was so amazing and tender. For her to know who I was, was so beautiful. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the blessing of knowing Maggie and having our paths cross and for what she has brought into my life. Seeing her so close to passing has helped me again understand what the purpose of life is and what my priorities should be. Thank you Maggie for blessing my life so much.

God be with you till we meet again.

Temptation

Ok I did it.....I started playing Christmas music today! I could not help myself. The Christmas cds were just calling to me. I know Thanksgiving is just around the corner and thats what makes it so fun. I have a friend who never plays Christmas music untill December because she thinks that Thanksgiving gets overlooked....sorry Kay. It was too much of a temptation. Love you all. Have a good day! Joy to the world!

Fifteen

Wow how I adore this man. I have been lucky enough to be married to him for 15 years. Novemeber 7th our sealing for time and all eternity....I will never forget. Treasured and stored in my heart forever. He makes me love life no matter the trouble. We have had times of ups and times of down and through it all I can honestly say I am more in love with him now than I ever have been. This week has been our celebration week. Taking time to make the anneversary last. We have pampered and loved and treasured each other. Yesturday we went to lunch together and I brought a surprise treasure box for Keith. Inside was all our letters we had written to each other during our courtship and first year of marriage. It was so fun and exciting to read these together to see our relationship grow and progress through our notes to each other. Keith did not know I had saved all our love notes. It was a pleasant surprise and brought back all those wonderful giddy feelings of having that young new love.

The month of gratitude is upon us and I am so thankful for my patient, kind, adorable, amazing, smart, beautiful, tender, fabulous, gorgeous, strong husband. Who makes me feel special even on days when I dont get out of my jammies. Who makes me feel like the world is a better place even when the storms of life come upon us. Who draws me closer to the Savior because I want to be a better person when he sees me. Who sees in me all the good things that I can not see in myself. Who loves me for just being me... to this man I vow my everything to... I say "thank you for the amazing gift of Fifteen years together".

Honey I love you more!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Hey all! Happy Halloween! I can not beleive that I have had my blog for a year. I started this wonderful journaling last November and I love it! In the back of my mind I am always thinking to myself "oh I would love to write about that on my blog". Sometimes when I write things out it helps me think better. It is also nice to be able to see what my archives say. To go back and see what I was doing ... it makes me want to write all the time. Too bad I dont do it enough. Anyway Happy Halloween. Happy Harvest. Happy Pumpkin Day.

BOO!

To find purpose

Why is that I know that life has meaning and purpose and we have a plan and yet I still feel like the daily doldrums can wear and tear your spirit down. I often have days where I am filled with a homesickness feeling like I am missing something in life. I do all I can to try to be the best mom the best wife the best faithful member the best me that I can and I still feel like I am falling short. I know that is satans tactic to get me to feel depressed and not of worth and everything... I know that and I am not depressed by any means, I just feel like I am just treading water and can't get my feet on solid ground. So I try and try some more right? Because thats what we are supossed to do and some days are good and some days the water reaches my forehead. I guess I need to let the days where the water is at my ankles carry me through the days where the water is too deep. I just needed to write this all out so that I could get it straight in my head. I am ok and life is good. And I feel better already just from writing it out. In fact I almost want to delete this entry now because I don't want to worry anyone. I just needed to find purpose to my day...and I just did. I will let the water rise and fall and I will let the daily things in life shape who I am and shape me into the best person I can be. I will be all that my Savior wants me to be. One day at a time! This is my purpose!

Carver Farms

Isaac and I tagged along with some friends of ours and their kindergarten feild trip to Carver Farms. There is something so magical about the change of seasons for me. I love where we live because of the seasons. It seams I am always ready for the change when it comes. Fall is so fun. I absolutely love harvest time. Isaac loved tromping around in the corn feild looking for his "popcorn". He found a really small pumpkin in the pumpkin patch and if you look really close in the picture of him and I you can see it in his hand. He loved the hay ride out to the field too. What a great day. The only thing that would have made this better is if my whole family could have come along.

Ahhhh General Conference

Oh how I love general conference. I love Fall. I love snuggly days after warm summer. I do miss the light of day changes but sometimes the wonder of fall outways that for me. Along with fall comes General Conference. The chance to here a living Prophet of God speak to us. Didnt Pres. Hinckley look so good. I dont know that I could pick a favorite speaker because they all are so important and dear to my heart to listen to but I do have some favorite highlights. Watching Joseph B. Worthlin not give up. Watching Henry B. Eyring smile at the press conference. Listening to him get emotional as he spoke about Pres. Faust. Agreeing with Octaviano Tenorio about how thankful we should be for the sealing powers that we recieve at the temple so that we can be with our loved one forever. Watching the humilty of Elder Quintin L. Cook a newly called apostle of the Lord and hearing his testimony of the Savior an the prophets. Hearing and seeing Elder Bednar share his testimony of having clean hands and a pure heart and hearing him share his testimony of the Savior just gives me the goose bumps. I love to hear President Hinckley laugh and share his humor with us. It is so endearing to me. My favorite counsel this time though I think comes from Claudio R. M. Costa as he spoke of living every day like it was the last time you would see your loved ones. To always tell them that you loved them. I think what endeared it to me the most was his accent and how he said so passionately "I love you". It just made me smile to hear him say in his Spanish accent "just lean over to your loved ones ear and say I love you".

So to all my loved ones and friends out there who read my blog..."I love you".

My Angel Friends

These women are my angel friends. I have a hard time even writing about them without emotions running over. These friends of mine are the epitomy of beauty, grace, love and charity. Each one has the pure love of Christ. They teach me so much. I feel so lucky to have each one of them in my life. What a bitter sweet reunion. It was so nice to be with them. To count our blessings together and to serve our dear sweet Maggie who, upon serious reflection will probably not be with us much longer as she battles cancer. Thankfully we can pray for miracles everyday with her. Miracles that I know come from righteousness which Maggie exemplifies every day. Miracles that Heavenly Father can give her. Oh how I pray for that. I also know that It is human nature or the natural man to want to hold on to those we love forever and not ever want change. Change provides growth and character that we cannot recieve from any other source other than change. Change itself is not the issue... it is how we respond to that change. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be reminded of our eternal plan of happiness. For it truely is a plan of happiness.

Abraham Lincoln once said "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." Gentle reminders that can bring me glimpses of Diety everyday are my angel friends. They put life in my years.

Count your blessings and name them one by one.

The power of song

I love the power of song and music. I often wonder why is music so influential in our lives. I was just asking Keith about it and saying why is it so powerful...its only sounds being put together. And then I thought no it is much more than that. I think its a wonderful gift given to us by a loving Father in Heaven. So many times I have felt His love through a song or words to a song.
I love to here my children singing. When I was a child I was always singing. I would often find myself daydreaming about the world we live in and all its pretty things like flowers and smells and fruits just from singing songs about them.
I was out on a morning walk and thinking about music and I had a song stuck in my head and I really wanted it to go away because it wasnt a real reverent song and I love for my walks in the morning to be reverent and quiet, so I started singing one of my favorite primary songs and it went away. I instantly thought about my children and how I wanted that for them and how I thought I needed to make music more a part of our lives and then I realized I already do. They already have that. I hear it every day. I hear them sing everyday. Oh how beautiful the sound is when I here my 4 year old son say "mom I think we should sing I am a child of God". I love the power of song. I love it when my husband sings to me. I love it when my girls walk around just singing songs during their everyday activities. I love to hear my teenage son sing songs in the car to the radio. I drove him to his football game today and one of his favorite songs came on and he was just belting it out. Nothing better. Love it Love it Love it! I am thankful for the power of song when used in the right way. To bless lives. What a wonderful avenue we have to feel the spirit.

Cramming

Why do I do this to myself? I try to cram as much stuff into one day as I can. Somtimes it just works out that every thing falls on one day but it seems to me that this week (still only wednesday) I have so much to do and not enough time. And that it is not just a day here or a day there anymore I now have weeks where my calendar does not have a blank day. UGH welcome to fall. Maybe I do this to myself because I dont have time to think about too much and eat too much when I am constantly going from one thing to the next. Maybe I can use this as an advantage to loose weight...hahaha.
So to all those people who have lots of time on there hands I bid you a happy day filled with wonderful pondering and delight. May we all get to enjoy that feeling again ... yes we will...soon. I hope.
Anyway gotta go!

School days

Yeah we made it through the first week of school without too many bumps and bruises along the way. I love getting back on a schedual. There is always security for me in knowing what and where we need to be. I feel like I get more things done when things are planned out. House of order.....love it love it love it. I do however love the days of summer just as much. I am always ready for a day of relaxation and lounging by the pool. I do however slack in my duties as a housekeeper and such. So I guess when I know that my days are filled with things I tend to schedual my loads of laundry better and dinners better. Hmmmm food for thought I just had an ah ha moment. I love that!
Anyway back to the school thing...I do have 2 middle schoolers now. Only one in grade school and one preschooler. As I dropped my two older children off I felt the stressful energy in the air and felt their nervousness for things that were new and that teenage way of wanting to fit in with your peers. I drove home and just prayed for Taylor and Alyssa and then focussed on Ashlee who is my only gradeschooler right now and I just felt this overwhelming comfort for her knowing that she was still in grade school and she only has one teacher, not as many kids to see during the day and the feeling that your teachers love you. She is comfortable with grade school. I am comfortable with grade school. I know the teachers well. I know everything about grade school. And then I instantly thought "I want that comfort back for my older 2 children....and then another ah ha moment...."I can give them that comfort at home. That is where it will be for them this year...at home because it is so different for them right now at school that I need to keep one thing the same for them...their feeling of being loved at home with a loving atmosphere and the security in knowing that their parents love them no matter what. I am so thankful for my children. I know Heavenly Father feels the same for me and knowing that makes me feel happy and secure. I hope I can pass that on to my children.

AAAAHHHH Summer

We went to the rock slides by Lionhead campground in Preist Lake. One of natures most amazing places. I was awed by everything around me. And then I caught this beautiful face. I was left in more awe than ever. What a good day.

Tagged at Church

What a day. Got up really early and finished preparing my lesson for Relief Society...had to go to welfare meeting, make sure my kids were getting themselves ready for church...all was going smoothly. Thought I had it all together. Had on a great new blouse...felt ready and prepared for anything.

Get to church and realize that there is something scratchy on my back......hahaha left the tag on from my new shirt. Nothing like trying your best and then bam!!! I laughed pretty hard. It was pretty humbling. I learned that even if curve balls are thrown at you....you can still make the hit. I used it in my lesson as an ice breaker. I love the sisters in my ward...they just laughed right along with me. I knew that somehow they would....thats why I was ok to tell them my folly.

Anyway...Happy day. I am still smiling.

Change

I am sitting here watching the clock and trying to fill this hole in my heart. You see I have been released from my calling with the young women in our ward. Tonight is activity night and they started about 15 minutes ago and I wish I could be there so bad. I am not sure why but just in the last little while I have become so attatched to those beautiful young women in our ward. I really do believe you grow to love those you serve. I know it was time its been 31/2 years. I will miss serving in a presidency with my dear friend Judy. When you live breath sleep your callings it's kind of hard to let go of them. I know change is good and its nessesary...the only thing that helps me is time. I have recieved a new calling I am terrified to do but I know its right. Way back in May I attended a womens conference and felt a strong impression that I would be put in Relief Society. I am now the new education councelor. I wonder what I will be able to bring to Relief Society. I have learned a few lessons recently about compassion. I know that they were preparing me for this new calling.

Oh change....all will be well. I just need time. I think I better take down the fun girls camp pictures I have on my fridge because everytime I open the fridge I look at those pictures and the ache starts all over again. Why does this always happen when your going strong having a good time and loving your calling and then .... done. I think or I hope when the time comes to be released from this new calling that I will feel the exact same way about leaving it as I did about my service in young womens.

What a beautiful plan from our Heavenly Father. Life is good. No more worries.

Wisdom?

I have been fretting over this all month. Just two days before my 37th Birthday....I was driving in the car and just happened to catch my face in the mirror and I looked to my hair for just a minute and caught something at a glance. I thought to myself "no this can't be .... is that a grey hair?". I instantly pulled it out (while driving) and sure enough it was stark white. I almost crashed the car. I do not recommend finding grey hairs while driving. My first reaction was to start to cry and think I am getting so old. And this type of reaction usually leads into more self doubt and critisism only it didn't this time. I was trying to be brave and not crash the car. And then this thought popped into my head. "I have officailly joined the ranks of the wise!" And then that grey hair turned into something positive and it changed my whole thought process. It was wonderful. I still dont like the fact that I have found 3 more since then but I dont look at myself with the same frightening thought of going grey. I think of myself as aging gracefully and one grey hair at a time ...that I can pull out!

Can wisdom be found in just one grey hair? No. It's been there all the time. I just needed to be reminded that I had some.

Question

So I thought I would post a question and see what you all thought....

Does adversity develop character or does it reveal character?

I have this question taped up to my cupboard and every time I read it I always think to myself "What does adversity do to me?" I think it effects me differently on any given day. I try to learn from it and sometimes it will shape my attitude for the day. Not letting it effect me negatively is the real test I beleive.

Oh the dredded test ... I am thankful I passed the first test. For I know I did...I am here on earth today. Living, loving and going through my second test....mortality. I am thankful I have mutiple choices for my test...and yet sometimes... I just want the answer book. But that will not bring the growth that we need to learn and build character. To draw strength from one another and to treasure this life and find meaningful relationships. Yes I am thankful for multiple choices. For that is our Saviors plan. Free agency. So yet again I ask you this question "Does adversity develop character or does it reveal character?"

I love reading other bloggs from my family. I miss it when they dont write very often...and then I thought to myself "wait a minute thats me too". I don't write very often on my blog ... maybe I should just start writing random things.... oh ya kind of like the random thing that happened to us about 3 days ago. A snake came in the front door of our house.... can't get more random than that. I was totally freaked out... a snake in our living room hiding under our sofa and then behind a cabinet...for about 3 hours I panicked trying to coax this snake out and my son helping to catch it ( I was not about to touch it). Anyway it finally slithered out and Taylor grabbed it and carried it outside and threw it accross the street. So this summer will go down in history as the summer the snake got in our house.

Or maybe it should be the summer that Isaac learned how to ride a regular bike in ten minutes. Taylor and his friend Joel taught him how to ride...he came riding down our street and it was the sweetest and cutest and scarriest feeling. I didnt quite know what to think at first I was so stunned to see my four year old riding a bike .... with no training wheels. So guess what I did? Yep I ran and grabbed my camara. I will blog a picture of it soon. He is now the terror of the neighborhood. Anyway so exciting times around our home. And I thought that summer was for relaxing???? I guess it depends on what you call relaxing.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

I am so thankful for the sweet prayer time with my children before they go to sleep each night. It takes the whole day and puts it into perspective. I could be having the most frustrating day as a mom and wondering "are my children getting anything" or "will they ever stop whining" you know the usual questions moms usually have about being a good mom and am I raising them right and just when I think I am failing miserably bed time comes and we kneel in prayer one by one with each child and the whole world stops for just a moment and I get a glimpse of who they really are spiritually. These are the best times. Satan tries to sway me a lot. Bed time before that can sometimes be chaos but as each one takes the time to kneel and pray it is a healing balm to my "mothers heart".
As any mom of a 13 year old boy can testify to... a little attitude is becoming the norm yet as my beautiful son kneels to pray I feel his sincerity and the spirit just overwhelms me. I get a glimpse into his soul and I feel so blessed to have that. I need that more than anything at this teenage time.
Then I move on to my tender hearted girls. Who at bed time can be so distracting and chit chatty and wound up like crazy that until we get to the exact moment of kneeling for prayer can be chaos and yet the minute one of them starts I know Heavenly Father is there listening to their sincere petitions. Alyssa who prays for everyone and everything has such a caring way about her that she wants Heavenly Father to heal even those she doesn't know. Ashlee who wants nothing more than to be loved by her family...prays for them. Hopes for them to "be nice" so that we can all get along.
And then comes the icing on my cake when I get to hear my 4 year old pray. This little boy has unbelievable amounts of energy to his day and when he slows down and is just still for those beautiful tender moments when he is talking to Heavenly Father It just brings tears to my eyes and melts my heart like nothing else. His sweet and tender prayers often have funny blessings in them and I will catch Keith out of the corner of my half closed eye and we exchange that knowing look of "I want to laugh so hard right now but can't" ... and then instantly changes to something so tender that my thoughts turn to "did that just come out of Isaacs mouth?" .... just priceless. And the reason my eyes are half closed when Isaac prays is because I love to watch him as he closes his eyes tight and transforms his countenance into something magical that I can't bear to miss it.
I am so thankful I can slow down at the end of the day and that my children can slow down and we can take those sweet moments before sleep to kneel and pray to a Heavenly Father that they know is there listening to them...they have no doubts about that...I know this because He has answered their prayers and it has been witnessed to them. I feel it in their souls. Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me a glimpse into heaven with my children and giving me that "Sweet Hour of Prayer".

Eternal reminders

This last week has been a crazy whirlwind of emotions and high energy and stress levels. I am grateful for gentle reminders of whats really important in life. I had the wonderful opportunity to see my dear friends daughter go to the temple for the first time this week. Then I was able to attend her sealing yesterday. What a beautiful reminder to slow down and listen to the gentle whisperings of the spirit. No matter how busy we get He will always be there for us. Just waiting for us to slow down and remember Him. I believe we are given these wonderful opportunities as glimpses of what heaven is like. Believing in this helps me get through the tough times. Just knowing that three is something out there that is bigger than I am....an eternal plan of salvation gives me hope and strength to keep moving forward.

Thank you Jessica and Will for reminding me of how it was when Keith and I were first married almost 15 years ago. For the eternal reminder that we are sealed together for eternity.

Heavens Scent

This morning I woke up and went outside on my back porch swing and just sat and smelled. I love the smell of spring. When the weather starts to turn warmer it is heaven. It reminds me of the smell up the river when I go camping. The blossoms are in full force and the smell just arrests my senses. It brings me drifting to a place that I can only describe as heavens scent.

Last night for family home evening we went to the park by the lake and played. There too was heavens scent all around. The Lake, the blossoms, my children happy and playing, my husband looking very handsome as he tossed the football back and forth with my son, all of these......heaven sent. Counting my blessings today! It is moments like this that I treasure the most. Love it love it love it!

A little R & R

I am looking forward to a little rest and relaxation these next few days. Keith and I are taking a trip to Lake Chelan. I cannot wait. Amidst the busy spring soccer season and end of the year school activities we get to escape for 4 days. What a treat! Dont get me wrong I love the spring season and all it brings ....the beginning of warm weather cleansing rains and happy sunshine. We just really need to have a fun getaway together. I love the anticipation of going on a trip. It makes me look forward to the future with delight. I need to send a million blessings out to my dear friend Judy who will have all my children for 3 days. What an angel she is. I count my blessings daily for her friendship. For she always makes me want to be a better person. Thank you Judy for your example and pure goodness.

Joette I sing your praises also. I love you dear sister and am thankful you have braivly agreed to help with my children too! What a lovely and comforting thing to know that as we are far away our children will be in great hands. Hands that are beautiful and caring.

Thank you Grandma!

This picture is for you Grandma Tomblin! We love you and want you to know how much we love the shirts you sent us for Easter. They are a perfect fit! We are sending you a gigantic thank you. Hugs and kisses to you and Grandpa!

Soaring

Saturday was such a good day. I woke up and heard the wind howling through my window. Now usually I think to myself when I hear that sound...."I want to curl up with a blanket and a good movie" But this morning I heard that sound and thought to myself...."YEAH!!!! lets go fly our kites". I was so excited I could hardly contain it. Isaac was so happy to help me too. He could hardly contain his pleasure in know we were going to the park to fly something. This was all of my childrens first time flying a kite. I could not beleive I had not shared this joy with them. I love to fly kites. I haven't done it in ages and I was instantly brought back to feeling giddy as a school girl.

So we got our kites out of the box and put them together...all with Isaac's "loving help". Got them in the car and went to start the car and nothing happened. Darn it...dead battery. But we did not let that deter us. We were happy to just walk the few blocks to the park. How fun! So we got out of the car and started walking and as we walked a whole pack of bike riders rode by. (they were having a race). It was neat to see. They all yelled out "neat kites" that made our day. So we thought...but nothing compares to the rush of the gust of wind taking your kite right up to the sky and watching it soar over our heads for hours. We got there at 9:30am and spent the better part of the day there (2:30pm was our departure time).

So we were flying for a little while and Isaac decided that the wind was too much. So I left Alyssa and Ashlee there to fly the "Red Baron and Nemo" kites and I walked him home. I walked back with great anticipation for kite flying. To our amazement they were actually holding a kite festival that day in the park right there where we were. I was so excited! We registered our kites and began the looooooong wait for the wind to pick back up. This took about 1 hour. Well worth it. Ashlee came home with a prize from the festival for the biggest kite. Yeah "Flying Nemo" was the biggest kite! This made Ashlee's day. She was so happy she could hardly contain it. I am so thankful I had a change of thought when I woke up this morning. I love unforgettable days like these. I love sharing them with my family.

Watching my kite soar in the wind was so theraputic. It instantly brought me feelings of the coastal haven I crave almost daily. That unforgettable feeling of wind and sea and sand all infusing together. Who knew I could get that soaring feeling right here in almost my own back yard. Love it! Love it! Love it!

Almonds

I love almonds! I love almond butter, roasted, salted, raw, almond flavoring, almond roca, almond anything! Not too long ago I had my doctor tell me that eating a handful of almonds a day will help lower my cholesteral. WOW! One of my favorite things endorsed by my doctor. How cool is that. Don't hear that every day!!!!!
I love almonds!

St Patricks Day

I love this holiday. It makes me think of my geneology and my family roots. I grew up to stories of a young boy who traveled accross the sea from Ireland with the family crest on his clothes from the Murphy family. He was taken in under the captains wings and sailed to America. That is how our roots on my Grandfather Murphy's side began. I hold fond memories of these stories in my heart. I love to get out my geneology charts around this time of year and just ponder on those that came before me. And in turn it helps me know who I am. Where those in the Murphy line began. I am proud to have Irish blood running through my veins. I love the strong characteristics that Irish blood brings. It makes me smile. I also have strong pioneer roots. From my Grandmothers side of the family. I have Indian and Dutch from my mothers side. I love that America was made up of all these strong people who came to America to make a new life for themselves. Land of the free and home of the brave. God bless America my home sweet home. Happy St. Patricks day to my friends and family.

Spring is here....I hope

Here we are at another change of seasons. I love it. It seems like I am always ready for it when it happens. I think thats why I love the area we live in so much. Whenever the weather changes I am always excited for the change. I am thankful for the rain we have been having. I am so glad it is not snow. The sun is trying to peek out behind the clouds more now. I am so glad. I have missed the happy juice the sun provids. I love to just stand at my window and soak it up when it shines on days in early spring.

Last week during my exercise class we decided to go outside and walk because the sun was shining and everyone had spring fever. I was wearing shorts. The path we chose to walk on still had some shady spots with snow and ice . I think I jumped the gun because I was cold and had to end my walk early so I could go home and warm up. I think I was trying to force Spring. Ha ha anyone from North Idaho knows that the weather up here during these months is so funny and you have to be prepaired for anything. You can not force anything.

The rain this week has washed away all the dirt and sand on the roads from winter. I love it. It feels so fresh. Fresh start and fresh clean air. Anyway happy Spring everyone.

achings of my heart

I wish I could write a flowing blog entry. One that would just make everyone who reads it go ah now thats a writer...someone with something worth reading. I am afraid whoever reads this is just going to get me. So with gratitude in my heart for the life I have and for those beautiful people in it this is for you.

My heart is hurting today more than normal. I know we all have days where things are just easier to deal with than other days. It just seems like things are going well and then bam! I think Heavenly Father just wants us to remember Him and so these curve balls are thrown at us as a wake up call.

My heart is so weary right now. I am so tired for the big C word. And how it effects the people I love. I have a very dear freind of mine who has been fighting cancer for a few years now and she just met with her doctor yesturday and was told that she needed to put her affairs in order and that she had 6 months to live. She has been such a dear dear person to me. I have a mother in law who not only is my mother in law but a dear dear friend to me too. She is also fighting the battle of cancer. My 8 year old daughter said to me a few months back that all the good people get cancer. These two women in my life have been nothing but good. And good examples to me. And darn it I am just aching. I know Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us and that we learn and grow from trials and that I will see them again if I live worthy. But darn it why does it have to be them. They bring such good in this world. Don't you think we need more people like them in the world.

Maybe Heavenly Father just needs them more on the other side teaching others the gospel. Thats it...They are so good that He needs them on His side of the veil. And they are good. So very good. They have taught me more than even they know. I love each one of them dearly.

Thank you for listening (reading) just writing this has helped me feel better. There are some days that the ach just takes a little longer to sooth. And I know that if I was talking to either one of these beautiful women that they would be trying to ease my pain instead of theirs and thats just how they are....and just what I want to be like.

Valentines Day

I was thinking to myself today how Valentines day has changed over the years. It used to be more of a personal holiday. You know those days at school when you hoped to get a Valentine from your best friend or from the boy you had a crush on. And now in school Valentines are passed out like nothing special...they are all just generic and given to everyone in the classroom. I can remember reading those special ones that said be mine and feeling so special because someone had given me a valentine (a real one) and in todays package of valentines it's fax me your number or instant message me or be cool valentine. I know that the teachers want to make sure everyone gets a valentine and thats why they changed it to everyone but doesnt that somehow take out the special meaning of the day of celebration for those we hold most dear? I dont know. Is this even worth blogging about? Maybe. Maybe not. Anyway Happy Valentines day EVERYONE. HA!

A good laugh

For those that know me know I love to laugh. I love how it makes me feel when I am laughing so hard that I can't stop. I checked my email this morning and found the funniest email. I laughed so hard. I loved it. Thank you mom for sending it to me and giving me a good laugh. Sometimes we come accross things that just hit your funny bone just right and this is one of them. Happy Day!

**Ring **** Ring **** Ring *
Hello, is this the Sheriff's Office?" "I'm calling to report 'bout my neighbor Virgil Smith....He's hidin' marijuana inside his firewood! Don't quite know how he gets it inside them logs, but he's hidin' it there. "Thank you very much for the call, sir." The next day, the Sheriff's Deputies descend on Virgil's house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana.They sneer at Virgil and leave the premises. Shortly, the phone rings at Virgil's house. "Hey, Virgil! This here's Floyd.... did the Sheriff come?" "Yeah!" "Did they chop your firewood?" "Yep!" "Happy Birthday, buddy!" (Rednecks know how to Git- er -Done )

The wonder of change

Sometimes in life the only thing we can count on is change. Change helps you grow and learn. Change can be hard for me sometimes. I get comfortable with something and then it changes.

We changed bishops today. That was bittersweet for us as a ward. We will miss our old bishop and yet we love the one that was called. So the callings we hold change our children grow up our friendships either grow or fade, the way we love can sometimes change, tastes change, people change, clothes styles change, hair changes.The weather can change in the blink of an eye...and on and on. The one thing that will always stay the same for us is our Heavenly Fathers plan for us and the way he loves us. That is the one constant in our lives like president Hinckley likes to say it is as constant as the north star. That beautiful polar star that calls to me. It makes me feel almost homesick for something that I cant remember. Sometimes the only way we can learn and grow from changes is if we ride them out for a while or be stretched to our limit.Thats when we turn to Him and say I cant do this alone. Then as soon as we acknowlege Him and have enough faith to turn to Him thats when the sweet peace comes. Thats when the change or growth is worth it.
I wonder sometimes if we chose or knew about our challenges before we came to earth or did we just accept it knowing that we would face whatever came our way because we were on our way to gaining a body in this life and then returning to live with Him.

Just some food for thought.

Beauty in Winter

I can't believe how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful place. I took a drive around the lake today with someone who means so much to me. As we drove and watched for that perfect peek at the lake this is what we saw. Nature at its best.

As we drove in companionble silence it was clear to me the most important things in life are not things. They are moments in life like what I experienced that day. Softly talking about the beauty around us. I kept looking in the backseat as my son was sleeping and thinking he is just as beautiful as the scenery I am looking at through my window. I love moments shared like this. I feel so blessed and lucky to have them.

Dissapointment can sometimes just get me down. I hate getting my hopes up for something and then its just ripped right out from underneath me. How do you get over that feeling of sadness?

Opposition

Last night as I knelt in prayer to start my fast I started to pray and tell Heavenly Father what I was fasting for and what I wanted to have happen and the next thing I knew I was waking up. I had fallen asleep. I thought ok I must just be really tired so I went to bed. It was ony 930 and I never usually go to bed that early but I figured I must need to go to bed. I woke up this morning thinking I would try again to pray and make my needs and wants known for my fast this day. Well a funny thing happened again...I fell asleep. I never fall asleep during my prayers. I usually am very attentive and allert as I converse with Heavenly Father. As i found myself waking up an hour later I began to think more about what I was fasting for. I then realized Heavenly Father was trying to tell me something. It wasnt untill I changed my thinking and my thoughts on what I was fasting for...did I realize that I needed to change my will and make it Heavenly Fathers will. Then I was wide awake. My mind became clear and not muddled as it was before when I was falling asleep. I knew that Heavenly Father had a plan for me and a plan for my family. The sweet and tender feelings of the spirit filled me with love and understranding. And then just as quickly as it came it left and the advesary came and I found myself doubting things and contention came and I felt frustrated and upset. I know that when we are allowed to have spiritual experiences we are often faced with the same amount of opposition. I left for church feeling frustrated and angry with my kids because we started at a new time and everyone was late and nobody was listening and yada yada yada. You know the Sunday morning contention that satan tries to throw at you so you wont go to church. We made it and we actually had a very sweet testimony meeting. I found myself bearing my testimony and sharing my experience. And then I realized after it was all done that I had beaten Satan. I had made it to church and even shared my testimony and one of my children bore theirs too. Even now as I write this and work it out in my mind I can feel the advesary trying to pull me away from writing this. I have had to get up 3 times and deal with things that normally would not pull me away but I know as I write this I am making my experience stronger. My faith is increasing and I am becoming better for it. The Lord has a way of making sure everything works out. His side will win. The opposition only lasts so long and then we move on. My hope is that I will be stronger for it so that when the next time it comes (for I know there will be a next time) that I will be ready to face it and win.

Fresh start

Ah the new year! Ah a fresh start on daily life and goals and planning! yeah I love it! I love to get out my new calender for the year and plan and fill the days with things and look forward to special events and special times of the year. I love to put birthdays on my calender. It makes me think of how blessed we are to have so many loved ones to care about and to celebrate with them. I love to put my childrens birthdays on the calender and think about how they have grown in the last year.

So back to routins. My family does so much better when they are on a schedual. I love it. They probably recognize that I love it and feel better when I feel better....you know that old saying "if mamma aint happy then nobody's happy" I think sometimes it is true. I also beleive that Heavenly Father blesses us when we are trying to put our best foot forward and make correct choices. I know some people don't care for planning and scheduals but I have to admit even for my free spirit personality that this is what works best for my family. I think I am too much of a free spirit and when I have too much free time on my hands I seem to accomplish much less.

So happy planning and happy new year!