Halloween 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! My kids look forward to this holiday for months prior. Carefully planning what they will dress up as. This year Carson really wanted to make his costume. He finally decided on sherlock holmes. We found the hat and then went to the salvation army and found the jacket and trimmed it down to fit better and then made a vest to go with it. He was pretty excited about it.

Ethan is our indecisive one. He changed his mind so many times before finally deciding on being a SWAT member.Payton was the cutest little dorothy. She has been wearing her costume any chance she gets and throws a tantrum every time I try to take it off.

I finally got Milan to dress up so I had to document the event with a picture. This may never happen again, especially now that I've posted a picture of him.

Time Out for Women

I had the opportunity to attend Time Out for Women this past weekend with these amazing women. It was so great to be reminded that we are doing a good job and we are of worth. I feel like I left this weekend feeling rejuvinated and refreshed. I even feel motivated to do better and to be better. We need these reminders every once in a while because its so easy to feel frustrated with the things in our lives. We heard music from the talented Hilary Weeks. She shared stories, sang beautiful songs, and threw in a few jokes as well. She's a great performer. She is the other blond in the picture.

Chieko Okazaki was supposed to be one of the speakers, but due to health reasons she was unable to attend. In her place was Mariama Kallon. Chieko is a wonderful speaker, but I thourghly enjoyed listening to Mariama share her stories of survival and hope. She has a CD out with her story and if you really want to appreciate your own life more, you should get it and listen to it. You will find your life is so much better than you thought. Despite the horrible circumstances in her life, she is such a loving person. We walked up to meet her and she greeted each of us with a loving embrace. I am inspired by her, who wouldn't be.

We also had the opportunity to hear from DeAnne Flynn. Mother of 7 and she is fantanstic. She reminded me that life doesn't have to be perfect and I am doing amazingly well even though I don't feel like I am doing amazingly well. Life is about being happy with where you are and with what you've got. I wrote down one of her quotes that I loved...

"Where there is life, there is hope. Where there is hope, there is life. Where there is hope, there is Christ, Where there is Christ, there is hope."

DeAnne is the tall blond in the middle on the back row.

If you've never had the opportunity to go to a time out for women, I suggest that you go. It's a great way to feel the spirit and to learn more about yourself. And speakers have a way of making you feel like their message is just for you. I feel ready to take on my life again with a new perspective.

One last thought from Sister Emily Feeman, learn to see good days, not just have good days.

Each life that touches ours for good

I believe that everything happens for a reason and people are placed in our lives just when we need them. 23 years ago, one of those people come into my life and changed me. Her name was Wendy. She fought hard for almost 6 years to beat cancer, but unfortunately 15 years ago today the cancer won. She was 20 years old. Sometimes in the midst of darkness, there is light and she always seemed to find it. She was able to use her cancer for good and to help others.

In her journal she wrote, "why me, why anyone else. Cancer isn't something you put on your list of things to do today."She never placed blame on anyone for having cancer, instead she wanted to use her cancer as a way to help others. She would spend her time visiting the other sick patients in the hospital giving them hope, she served in the community, and she served her friends. How can you not be inspired by someone like her. She showed me there was so much more to this life and instilled some of the greatest gifts. One of those being service.

In such a busy world it's hard to find the time or remember simple things like showing kindness or little acts of service. Today I was reminded of this. Each year on the anniversary of her passing, I try to find some way to honor her. This year, I asked the Young Women in our church to help me make puppets to donate to a children's hospital. I was touched by their excitement and willingness to help. Wendy would have been proud of them.

Payton on the phone

Payton loves to talk on the phone, but especially to Lucy the dog (aka Grandpa). This is one of her usual Sunday conversations with Lucy.

Fall

I love this time of year when the leaves are changing and the weather starts to cool off. The only problem is, the weather is still hot and I haven't seen any changing leaves yet. Even though we have been in TEXAS for 2 years now, I still haven't gotten used to a warmer fall. It seems strange to be able to trick or treat without a coat on. I have to admit, I like the warmer fall weather.

First day of School and a flat tire

I haven't had a chance to post about the boys first day of school yet. They are starting their third week and both boys are loving school so far. The boys are now in different schools, we thought we would have a few more years with them together, but they seem to be fine with it. Carson finally gets to ride the bus. He has been waiting for this moment since he started school. Grandma used to drive buses and would give the boys rides on them so when we lived too close to the elementary school in Utah, he was very disappointed. Then again here in Texas, we were too close to the elementary school, big disappointment. I walked him to the bus stop the first morning, but then he was too cool for Mom to walk him again. I guess I gotta let him grow up some time. Last week, Milan was out with the missionaries and was just dropping them off when he realized he had a flat/low tire. He drove on it home and we looked at the tire to see what the cause was, on the inside of the back tire, the tread was about gone and there was a long hole in it. As we changed the tire I noticed there was also a nail in the tire. So I guess we are lucky there was a nail in the tire or he most likely would have had a blow out on the freeway. I feel like we were blessed.

Payton turns 2

This is my beautiful birthday girl.

and here is a little birthday movie for your enjoyment...(you gotta watch it til the end)

She really loved her cake and she did really good not getting too messy.











She is so much fun, but at the same time she is so hard. It has been fun dressing her up especially since she loves it too. She is definitely a girly girl, with a tough side. She loves to have her hair done, dress in dresses, play with her babies, dance to music, take bathes, and have her nails painted. She also loves to rough house with her brothers, play in the dirt, play basketball with her daddy, and play outside. She can definitely hold her own. She is very smart and has figured out how to get her way, most of the time. This is a picture of one of her tantrums because she didn't get her way... who said terrible 2's start at 2, we were there at 1.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!!!