Now that Black Friday is over, it's time for a splash of color in the Holidays!!
I hope you enjoy these original cards that I made.
Please spread the word... we are now OPEN.
-Loves his family (and is loved by his family), God, Jesus and is happily a Mormon.
-Experience in coaching football, soccer, baseball (anything his kids want to try).
-Is our "Resident Rocket Scientist"
-Rides a bike for many a mile always with a smile.
-Ski Utah native and So Cal transplant, but loves it because he get's to ride year long.
-Has a "new" car that is older than his kids.
-Make homemade bread and cooks turkey in a smoker like nobody's business.
-Smart enough to know he has a wonderful wife!
-Enjoys anything Camping, Hiking, Biking, Skiing and hanging out with the family! (Basically anything that does not involve home improvement painting projects).
-Eagle Scout (co-earned by his mother).
Education: daily lessons learned in fun, patience, creativity, and finding joy in mathematical world.
Scott, we love you!!!
Happy Birthday
After listening to the baseball story (see previous NPR post) and then watching the clip shown below... I've been moved to speak. Todays topic: Thankful for.
There are so many things that I am thankful for. A few of them I wish to share:
I am thankful for a Father in Heaven that continues to assure me that He is over all, this peace fills my soul.
Also, for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the Christmas Season because of His birth and His death, and that He lives again. I love the promise that we can be as a family after this life.
I am thankful for a father who continues to be an influence in my life; even though he passed many years ago.
I am thankful for a mother who taught me how to be "different" with a touch of crazy.
For a mother-in-law with a laugh that motivates me to be funny.
For siblings who are fun and dis-fun-ctional. I wouldn't have it any other way.
A big scoop of Thankfulness is to my husband. He is generous and genuine (and will be very embarrassed if I say more...).
My children are a happy-crazy-bunch of love. I'm thankful for each little one in our family and how I feel complete with their love.
My thanks is also full for a lifetime of friends. People that have lifted and carried me across times of joy and trouble.
I am grateful for the weakness and strength in my health. It helps me to become humble and recognize that God supports each of us daily.
In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, I wish you huge helpings of thankful hearts!
Here's a video clip I love: Think about what you are grateful for...
Here's a Christmas gift idea worth passing along:
Beautiful Crocheted Tree Top Angels and Snowflake Ornaments, handmade.
Check out the website for her http://treetopangels.blogspot.com/
You can e-mail treetopangel@gmail.com to see samples or place an order.
Please consider helping someone who is truly in need with your purchase.
These angels are hand crocheted by a talented woman in Simi Valley California, trying to earn money to return to her homeland Romania.
If you have anyone learning how to play and instrument; you will understand the level of "ummmph" it takes to learn those notes! Well, once again someone has come up with a fun way on the internet to learn notes through a game. Note name game: www.classicsforkids.com/games/ (Of course I made it easy, just click to launch
Hopefully, when my kids are grown and playing the piano at all of our family Christmas Parties...they wont ask me, "Mom, why didn't you quiz us with flash cards?"
My friend Kristi got me a very cute watch for my birthday! It is soooo cute, I wanted to share the site with all you holiday shoppers out there. It's called, "Chunky Bling" click HERE to check it out. They make watch bands and bracelets that are lightweight, stylish, and affordable. There's a contest going on to name their latest creation. Good luck in the contest and with the rest of your holiday shopping.
I give you permission to shop early while listening to holiday music... I also give you permission to relax and enjoy the Holidays instead of being in a frenzied "holi-daze". (Sorry, I made that up myself).
Disneyland is running a promotion to give away a free full day pass for those who give a day of service.
Starting January 2010, anyone age 6 yrs and older can qualify for a free full day pass (with very limited blackout dates). Get registered and get serving. What a wonderful way to introduce service and smile your way to d-land. Click HERE to be linked to the Disneyland/Disneyworld site outlining the details.
Our fun, smart, creative, kind, full of laughs, agile, fast footed, great friend, dashing good looks, sports minded, Webelos Scout, pianist, artistic kid!
You help to make our house an adventure! We love you mucho.
Here's a sample of Jacob's clever wit:
Scott got an old style shaving brush for Father's Day. Jacob picked it up and asked, "Is this old man hair. It feels like old man hair that they made into a shaving brush."
The Tour of California/Amgen is coming next year. Armstrong and Levi are confirmed. It will be very exciting to see the tour again. We are hoping to catch the time trials!! If you enjoy watching cycling fly past with the speed of sound, you will enjoy catching a glimpse of these crazy riders.
Maybe one day they will ride past our house and I can sell tickets on our front lawn and the kids can have a lemonade stand. Hopefully this will inspire me to take a few turns on the bike (at a much slower pace mind you).
My 40th Birthday party was sooo much fun! It was an 80's flashback complete with cake, friends & dancing. It was totally tubular and I had a great time. One of the funniest things was I got to wear Jacob's shoes which were similar to a pair I had (of course mine were in Christmas plaid) and are my size. Thank you Scott for helping this bash be awesome, fer sure. Still gotta love the Thompson Twins, Depeche Mode and all the neon! Scott wore the breakfast club/rebel look and I got to wear strands of long pearls, broach and the long black jacket complete with the lace ribbon in my hair. Everyone looked great, we even had Tom Cruise & Debbie Gibson come over with a few mullet rockers. Thanks everyone, I loved it!
Who is afraid of homework... Well, I found a website that is helping me and is a lot of fun. Yes, for me it's 5th grade geography time. I found a FUN website that helps kids to learn all sorts of things about: our Country. States, State Capitals, Lakes, Landmarks, US Presidents, farm animals, jungle animals, map puzzles... and a link for Preschool games and kindergarten games like : create an animal forest. Cool stuff!! Now I can look like a genius without having to be one. Here's the link Sheppard Software site. Jacob, here's the one we are working on for State Capitals. Now it's been blogged, I don't have to keep looking it up. Jacob, CLICK HERE. Pencils down, test is over!
Seriously, I LOOOOOOVE this site. Please check it out and end the quarrels about homework.
If you haven't clicked to check it out yet... here's your last chance, what are you waiting for? (another meltdown?) CLICK HERE FOR Sheppard software.com
It's been brewing for years... and here we go.
Scott and the kids have wanted a dog for a few years now. First, we answered, "When Jacob is 8". Then when he was 8 we answered, "Maybe within the next year". You get the picture; I wasn't ready to take care of another plant let alone another someone to feed etc. After a big delay I am announcing our latest arrival, Fawna.
She is a Corgi, so if the Queen of England ever comes for a visit, her dogs will feel right at home with Fawna the same breed. Basically, Fawna is around 4 years old and was a rescued dog who is just happy to be with a family who loves her. She is a good little doggie with a sweet personality who loves her tummy rubbed. Thanks to my sister Dre' who is a major good dog trainer. We've gotten advice with how to help this sweet girl transition to our house. She's not into the puppy stage of chewing, wetting barking, whew! She already knows commands of stay, stop etc. I can't believe that I'm going to say this because I'm not a pet person. But, I do really like her. I even took her on a walk today by myself. Big girl stuff, I know. (Don't tell Scott, he would be shocked). And, for those of you like my cuz Keri, who think a new dog is filling the need for a new baby...well this was just a need for a dog.
13 October 2009 An apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said religious freedom is being threatened by societal forces intimidating those with religious points of view from having a voice in the public square.
“We must insist on our constitutional right and duty to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice.”
Here's an excerpt of Elder Oak's Address: click HERE to link to full article
Noting that the students he was addressing were among the generation that would face continuing challenges to religious freedom, Elder Oaks offered five points of counsel:
Speak with love and show patience, understanding and compassion to those with differing viewpoints.
Do not be deterred or coerced into silence by intimidation from opponents, insisting that churches and their members be able to speak out on issues without retaliation.
Insist on the freedom to preach the doctrines of their faith.
Be wise in political participation, remaining respectful of those who do not share their religious beliefs and contributing to reasonable discussion.
Be careful to never support or act on the idea that a person must subscribe to a specific set of religious beliefs in order to qualify for public office.
“Religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of Christianity in the public square without seriously jeopardizing our freedoms,” Elder Oaks concluded. “I maintain that this is a political fact, well qualified for argument in the public square by religious people whose freedom to believe and act must always be protected by what is properly called our ‘First Freedom,’ the free exercise of religion.”
Hooray, I figured out how to do custom backgrounds and Headers. Here's the new look... it took a few hours and I am in no way a pro; but I finally figured it out. Sheez, I remember now why I hate working with computer code. It is very unforgiving and wants everything perfect. I'm still trying to learn new things besides all the mom stuff (can you relate?) From what I post you can pretty much tell what I am interested in: Family History, digital scrapbooking and graphics, emergency preparedness, being a Christian, home stuff, and of course my sweet family!
Hope you enjoy the new look. I'd better get going on Christmas now, because you all know I'm a Christmas groupie!
Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness. ~Elder Richard G. Scott click to see full talk
“If you will obey the Gospel with honest hearts, I promise you in the name of the Lord, that the gifts as promised by our Saviour will follow you.” ~Prophet Joseph Smith Click HERE for link
July: Inspire
"May we resolve from this day forward to fill our hearts with love." President Monson
June: Inspire
"Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized." President Henry B. Eyring
May: Inspire
"My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity." and "I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by." ~President Monson, April 2009
April: Inspire
Your Future is as bright as your Faith. President Thomas S. Monson April 2009
March: Inspire
"We cannot know what faith is if we have never had it, and we cannot obtain it as long as we deny it. Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other." ~President Monson, March 2009
February: Inspire
"our faith in God includes faith in God’s timing." "We do not control what I call “the great transfer board in the sky.” The inconveniences that are sometimes associated with release from our labors here are necessary in order to accelerate the work there. Heavenly Father can’t do His work there, with 10 times more people than we have on this planet, without on occasion taking some of the very best sisters and brothers from among us. The conditions of termination here, painful though they are, are a part of the conditions of acceleration there. Thus we are back to faith in the timing of God, and to our need to be able to say “Thy timing be done,” even when we do not fully understand it. " Elder Neal A. Maxwell Click HERE to see full talk from 2002
January: Inspire
Elder Jeffery R. Holland, 2008 "I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.” And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing. Then all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants."
December: Inspire
"Commune daily with your Heavenly Father who knows you best of all. He knows your talents, your strengths, and your weaknesses. You are here on the earth at this time to develop and refine these characteristics. I promise you He will help you. He is aware of your needs. He is aware of your unanswered prayers. ~Elder Marvin J. Ashton, May 1984
October: Inspire
“To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife” ~President Spencer W. Kimball
September: Inspire
I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith.When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did. ~President Eyring, April 2008
