My Mix of Six

Dad thinks of you like I think of the TOILET

2017-03-16T07:08:00.001-07:00

We have this giant chalkboard in our master bathroom. I’m talking like two feet by three feet. It has been fun leaving notes to each other. Stephen’s notes usually always bring a smile to me face.

One day he left the following note…

As I was doing Jerrica’s hair in my bathroom she looked up and read the note. Then without hesitation she told me “Dad thinks about you, like I think about the toilet”. I couldn’t help but burst out in laughter. That girl kills me with her funny comments!

February Happenings

2017-03-16T06:50:00.001-07:00

February flew by and I need to document all that happened before it is forgotten. I tried downloading pics from my phone to keep with my pics on my computer, and hopefully this year will be more organized!

Ashley had a lot of fun with friends. She is always going to some party and SO badly wants to have a phone of her own to text all of her friends.

She brought Gabby to one of Jerrica’s basketball games and they were “chosen” to keep the clock, maybe a new job for the future.

We kept the kids’ mailboxes stuffed with goodies and notes from the first until Valentine’s Day. One day after school the little girls helped me do origami hearts out of five dollar bills for the mailboxes. I was a little bothered when the kids quickly unfolded them to stick the money in their wallets, but I guess you can’t hand a cashier a fancy origami heart.

We had our annual fancy chocolate fondue party with the kids’ photo books for Valentines. Those books are always a labor of love, but I sure enjoy those sweet faces as they carefully look at each page. I printed a paperback book to send to Jacob in Mexico. Stephen surprised me with an InstaPot and favorite treats.

Lots of trips to Great Wolf Lodge with the kids and their friends. Nathan works there and is always quick to hook us up with passes. He even took his friends one day. Stephen had a member of his team die during February. Stephen had called me from work emotional that this young man had died the night before. We both talked about how quick life can pass by. When I got off the phone I drove to the school with swimsuits and pulled all of my high schoolers out. I told them we were going to go play at Great Wolf. We ended our afternoon with a special treat at a restaurant, but the real treat was spending the day with them!

We saw quite a few movies. I really enjoyed Hidden Figures!

Nathan got an amazing patriarchle blessing. Everyone was crying. The Stake Patriarch said "I have given over 200 blessings and I can say this man is one of the most special that I have been given the privilege to bless.” Oh how we LOVE Nathan! I too think that he is pretty incredible!

We have had a very mild winter, like not much snow at all. However, one day was very frosty and crisp. Everything was white!

Lots of basketball games for the month of February. I will have to highlight a few of my favorite pics in another post. Jerrica’s teacher from last year LOVES Jerrica, like in the way that she still gives her sweet notes and gifts. They are Harry Potter nerds together. Anyway, she usually takes tickets at the door for the basketball games and Jerrica curls right up beside her to help. I almost enjoyed watching them giggle and talk more than I enjoyed watching the games. I would always text Ms. Kane to send Jerrica over to me so that she wouldn’t be bugging her, but she would always beg to let Jerrica stay and keep her company.

The girls had New Beginnings at church with a Wizard of Oz theme. It blows my mind that Ashley will turn 12 this year and be part of Young Women! The big girls also had a fun youth conference at the Broadmoor building during the month of February. I am always grateful for the little uplift that the talks and activities are for my children spiritually.

This month was also filled with ward conferences that kept me busy. It was weird how I longed to be sitting with my own family in the chapel. There is just something about being together as a family, and with mine growing so fast I know my time is ticking.

Also this month, everything broke and stretched our budget a little further than it’s used to. However, there were blessings mixed in with all of it and our outlook changed on certain things. Our old neighbor came to fix our oven. He has an appliance repair business. I took one look at him when he came to fix it and knew that he would die in my house. He has leukemia and his color was so ashen and his weight loss was so unbelievable. He couldn’t walk on his own. We cried together as he talked about probably not making it through the summer. I thought of my problems and it put them right back into perspective.

Afterschool Snacks

2017-03-10T08:53:00.001-08:00

I love when I’m able to have a treat when the kids get home from school. There is just something about those sweet faces that light up when they see a goodie I made that TOTALLY lights up my heart. I bake cookies and bars, but have been trying a few other treats lately and thought that I would share.

This was a churro Chex mix from the other day. A friend of mine makes goodies for the girls when they have away games. She gave me some and I was sold on the texture and taste. Here is that recipe…

This next one is one that I haven’t personally tried because I really don’t care for peanut butter. However, I have tried finding recipes with peanut butter to help give my kids a little more protein. Kaylee LOVES this treat!

DoNut forget to Pray

2017-03-06T07:57:00.001-08:00

Our last week of FHE on prayer was centered around a treat the Stephen picked up in Denver on his way home. HOT Krispy Kreme’s…. well maybe not too hot.

They were in these cool Power Ranger boxes, which made it even more exciting. I printed off a cut printable to add to our fridge collection on prayer.

We discussed Enos and the verbs that are used in that chapter. We talked about how he prayed and how we should. We shared thoughts and ideas on prayer. I think I have sufficiently inundated them about prayer this month, and you know what…. you can tell that we have talked about prayer just by listening to them in our family prayer.

“Prayer unlocks the powers of heaven in our behalf” – Gordon B Hinckley

Speedracing Prayer FHE

2017-03-06T07:46:00.001-08:00

The month of February we have been focusing on prayer. One night we pulled out the quote by Corrie Ten Boom to analyze.

We talked with all of the drivers asking them how often they touch and use the steering wheel as they are trying to get to their destination. Then we moved on to the spare tire and asked once again how often that was used. Is it really important to have a spare tire? Of course in an emergency it’s essential however for everyday we MUST have a steering wheel. The steering wheel is what directs and guides us. Yet so often prayer isn’t used like that, but instead in those emergencies of life we pull out a prayer for a plea of help.

After our discussion we headed to the Overdrive Speedway that just opened by the kids’ school. SO much fun!

As we drove home we finished with another discussion of how often they used their spare tire versus the steering while during their race. I challenged them to make their prayers a daily steering wheel guiding them through their days.

Play Eat Play Eat Play Eat

2017-02-28T07:44:00.001-08:00

Stephen had to work and Nathan was busy, SO the girls and I decided to have a day to ourselves. My first instinct was let’s get some spring cleaning done. However, the more I thought about that the more I didn’t want to do that. PLUS, the weather was going to be in the low 70’s. We had to get out and enjoy it! Plans were made and off we went.

We started at the movie theater for the first showing of “Lion”. I bawled like a baby at the end of the movie and was embarrassed to look at people as we left the theater. The movie is about a young boy in India that gets lost from his brother. He ends up in Australia and the story is about trying to find his way home. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the mother bond that he had with both mothers. Anyway, it was a really good movie!

We then headed over to a fun pizza place to grab some lunch. We needed a little energy to hike.

My kids know how much I enjoy hiking and are sure good sports to put up with me. Kaylee practiced with her camera for her photography class. Rebecca told us all of her drama at school and the little girls rolled their eyes at all of it.

We hiked a little trail near Garden of the Gods. Such an absolutely gorgeous day!

Oh how I love these sweet girls and their different personalities! Oh how grateful I am that one of them didn’t end up in Australia like in the movie!

Selfies always make me smile!

We hike Pancake Rocks a lot. The girls thought the different layers in the rock looked like bacon and deemed this the Bacon Rock Hike.

As soon as we were good and tired, we headed back to the van. I knew that we had burned quite a few calories so we needed something else to eat….

Mixed with Costco’s smoothie we were able to replenish our sugar levels. I have decided that days like this are what I enjoy most. They always involve, play, eat, play, eat, play, eat….

We ended the day going over to a friend’s house for dinner and then a really fun Family Home Evening that I will have to post. It was a beautiful day with my four beautiful daughters! SO grateful for the time that I have with them.

Baby Projects

2017-02-23T11:02:00.001-08:00

My baby still loves showing off her projects and tests. My high schoolers tend to hide their tests and papers in their backpacks, but not Jerrica.

She still posts her spelling tests on the fridge, has a grin with her school projects, and gets so excited for special days at school that you would think the day was her birthday.

She came home last night with a “Cursive License” and you would have thought that she was 16 showing me her drivers license. We immediately put it on the fridge for all to see! This included the appliance repair man that stopped by last night. He saw it, and oohed and ahhed all over that cursive license. The smile that shined through her braces as he was praising her made me gush!

So I must post all of her stuff least we forget. There was Viking Day at the first of February.

Complete with making shields, stories, drumsticks and rice pudding. Jerrica believes that this would have been a fun time period to live in, yet I beg to differ. Why did they have to wear such heavy furs and coats? Ugh, because it was awfully cold where they lived.

Here is her animal puppet that she had to make to go with her animal report. She also dissected an owl pellet that was filled with little bones. They had to put the bones together to prove that the owl had eaten a mouse. Then of course a colored and labeled 3-D globe that can be hung up in her room.

School is AWESOME, according to Jerrica!

Expensive Cheap Art

2017-02-22T07:38:00.001-08:00

I absolutely LOVE art! There is something about it that moves me, makes me think and feel. I love the messages that are sent through art.

My problem though, is that it is very expensive. I sometimes dread telling Stephen how much I spent on some home decor item. He never sees it as a need such as food. However, I enjoy nice things to look at in our home, and I believe that art brings a spirit into a home.

ANYWAY, I have loved this piece since I first saw it. The painting is by Brian Kershisnik and is called “She Will Find What is Lost”. Here is what Brian said about his artwork….

“If I may ask it of you, I ask that you respect that my intention for this piece was to speak to the most intensely private and intimate kind of supernatural interference, influence, and assistance, whatever your particular experience. I don’t have to agree with you to believe that whatever your gender, circumstance, or issue, many unseen forces are interested in you, love you, and work to influence matters for your profound benefit. Most of what we all do is resist it, misinterpret it, or mess it up, but my experience indicates that these unseen efforts persist impossibly. I thank God for that.”

I love it and can relate to it! There are SO many special people in my life guiding and helping me, some I don’t even see. Not a day goes by without someone influencing and helping me. I am not alone! Each person reaching out to me keeps me smiling, keeps me learning, keeps loving me, and keeps me going.

Art is definitely not cheap. It shouldn’t be either considering all of the time and creativity that goes into a piece. So to have this expensive art, I cut up my magazines for it. Yes, there are parts of the picture that don’t make it into the frame because it had text on it, but the parts that DO make it into the frame remind me of why I enjoy it so much. Anyway, my Ensign from this month is now cut up and framed AND we are enjoying it!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

2017-02-16T08:56:00.001-08:00

I have found that is EXACTLY why bad things happen because they are good people!

I see time and time again sweet, kind friends being hammered with one thing after another. I think to myself why do they have to endure so many trials and problems. I remember Nathan’s junior year during soccer when he got hurt and a few others were out with ACL’s and other injuries. I started wondering, why is it all of these good kids that are getting hurt, why not some of these punks?!? As I was voicing my frustration to my sister Alesha, she told me “maybe that’s why they ARE good kids because of the trials they have had to go through”. That hit me hard because it rang true to my heart!

These last few days have been hard for me. On Saturday Stephen was hit from behind at a stop light. The other driver tried to create her “own” lane and pull up to a stop between the two lanes WITH two cars that were already there. She didn’t have any insurance. As I talked with Stephen I thought that everything would be fine since we have comprehensive insurance, yet he reminded me that we would still have to pay the $500 deductible. What? She doesn’t pay insurance AND gets to walk away without fixing our vehicles?!?!?

Then Tuesday morning Stephen walks out to the garage to clean off the back window of our new to us car, that we had just bought that weekend. Somehow the window shatters, not just a crack but SHATTERED! Once again that’s $250 to replace and so now within a few days we are up to $750 to just fix what we already owned! I immediately start thinking what are we doing wrong, but after studying this for a while now, I should immediately ALSO think what are we doing right in our lives to make Heavenly Father think that we are ready to grow more.

I thought of this quote when I was thinking about my original question, “Learning often becomes more acute and precise and has greater depth when brought about by adversity.” Good people want to learn and progress. They don’t want to remain stagnant. Adversity brings on that learning needed to really grow.

I have been reading and studying this book lately and loved this quote in it, “Heavenly Father would not deny enriching but stretching divine tutorials to ‘any’ who follow Him, especially those who have already done much to prove their love for Him and are thus ready for further lessons.” He gives trials to those that he LOVES!

I need to step back and realize that sometimes it takes a life lesson to help me grow. I also need to think that it’s not just what He is trying to teach me, but what he is trying to help me BECOME!

I love the quote by Neal A Maxwell, “Life lessons and trials, whether slow and stressful or sudden and harsh call for us to ponder, again and again, the implications of His divine perspective “the Son of Man hath descended below them all, Art thou greater than he?”

So as I’m studying and putting all of this together I start thinking of dear friends and family, I start analyzing different events from my life and how they have affected me and made me who I am. I couldn’t help but agreeing with my sister about that’s why they are good people, they have endured challenges and are stronger for it. “We have to develop our spiritual muscles, build up our spiritual wind, strengthen our spiritual endurance if we are going to win this race and claim the prize. You don’t run marathons by taking a taxicab across the route several times. You don’t gain patience by getting instant gratification or relief every time you call on the Lord.”

Then comes in the well known analogy by CS Lewis of the house ….

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace.

Yes, he can build a mansion out of me. I don’t want to be some little shack that shakes in the wind and cold. It will be a pain as I’m thrown challenges during my remodeling, but each stage I will grow stronger. Therefore, I need to take each challenge as an offer for growth and see it that way.

“If you focus on the hurt, you will continue to suffer. If you focus on the lesson, you will continue to grow.”

AND then to remember in the back of my head… Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” There is an end, there is a deliverance.

Of course with all of this thought and study, I had to delve into Job. Here is a man that even the scriptures said was “perfect”, in Job 1:1 it states that there was a man named Job who was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil”. Job literally had it ALL going on with family, work, life! Then of course as we all know he lost his animals, servants, children, health.. he suffered enourmously “yet I trust in Him” (Job 13:15) was Job’s response. I can’t even imagine all that Job gained in the eternal scheme but in the end the Lord even gave him “twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10)

Everything will work out, it ALWAYS does. I just need to remind myself that there are things to be learned and growth to be made that couldn’t occur otherwise. I just had to get my thoughts out because I’m sure just like I go back to this blog for recipes and photos, I will need to go back for some comfort when my future challenges are at the door.

Prayer FHE

2017-02-15T06:40:00.001-08:00

This month for FHE we are focusing on prayer. One night after our dinner prayer and then later the family prayer, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I felt like we were going through the motions, saying the same lines, rotating through turns of who is supposed to prayer, and basically just doing it because it was routine. I knew that we definitely needed to study prayer as a family a bit more.

We started out with this video montage of movie prayers and talked about how awkward some of the prayers were because there was no relationship or experience praying, yet how heartfelt and sincere other prayers were.

I had printed up the talk from Elder Richard G Scott, “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer”, and handed out a copy to everyone on Sunday. I told them to highlight and bring it to FHE the next night. I smiled at Jerrica’s copy because it was all a solid highlighted pink. We had an amazing discussion about this incredible talk that is filled with thoughts and ideas on prayer.

Then the pressure was on Rebecca to end our FHE after having just analyzed prayer, but of course she was all over giving the most beautiful prayer ever! We then had to end with a trip to Auntie Anne's because they have a buy one get one free deal. Pretzels are actually associated with prayer because of the monk that designed them YEARS ago so that the children would remember to fold their arms and pray.

I stuck this on our fridge to help us remember our lesson during the week.

I'm really excited about next week's lesson!

One Second Every Day

2017-02-06T07:19:00.001-08:00

I LOVE the One Second Everyday App! It is so incredibly easy to use and does all the mashing for you. Then by having so many busy girls asking and taking videos it makes doing it even easier!

I enjoy the little glimpse it gives into our lives and the memories that come alive when I see these seconds. It doesn't take very long to do, only one second! ;)

Random

2017-01-30T09:03:00.001-08:00

I like mixing a lot of different things all into one post so that I can remember them all and not have to make a bunch of entries. I finally finished all of the kids picture books from 2016 just in time to get Jacob’s out to him for Valentine’s Day. I am so grateful to Claudia for always taking packages to Mexico for me! I smiled as I got everything together to send. Only missionaries would be getting candy along with meal packets to make dinners. I actually think that Jacob gets more excited for these seasoning packets than the treats so that he has something to make dinner with. I also found super cheesy, but funny Book of Mormon Valentine's cards that we stuck in a felt heart. Hoping that this will put a big smile on his face!

Our old white van officially rolled over 300,000 miles. We may have had a little celebration over this and all the kids are now praying that it will make 400,000 miles. I can’t even begin to tell you what a great van this has been. Toyota knows how to make them! We haven’t ever really had to take it in to a mechanic to fix anything either.

I did frown that since Thursday we have already added another 400 miles to it.

I started reading this book….

and proceeded to FINISH reading this book because I couldn’t put it down. My girls all downed it and then Stephen listened to it as he commuted and everyone loved it. Really a good one!

We have been pushing goals this month in FHE and any chance that we get to talk with the kids. I have tried showing different methods to set goals and our fridge has been plastered with quotes on achieving.

Basketball is still in full swing. Last week we had eight basketball games and four indoor soccer. I’m going to be sad when this season of life is over. Jerrica played with the top soccer team for an indoor game. She scored four points and they won 5-1. The coach asked me after the game, “now why don’t we have her on our team”. Jerrica has a really cute basketball coach that will take up an entire post in and of itself.

She is SO competitive that I get a kick out of seeing her eyes get so big and intense.

I was going to add some favorite recipes that we have been eating a lot of lately, but need to organize and fancify them first. Kaylee also has this sweet mom from her team that makes the most amazing treats for the girls. She just shared recipes on Saturday so I will mix those in to.

One last quick thought that I totally believe…

Great Thompson Bake Off

2017-01-23T07:18:00.001-08:00

Last Monday we all had off and so plans were made. Stephen and Nathan headed to the slopes to do a little snowboarding together. The girls and I opted to stay warm for the day, however we did need a little treat as well, SO a bake off evolved. Friends were called and ingredients were bought.

We started by watching the Studio C version of the show and all of us pretty much grossed out at her eating the egg shell and all. Then all seriousness began. I literally laughed as I watched the girls take this competition as a very no non-sense bake off.

All teams had to provide the judges with three cupcakes and then bake the rest of the cake batter however they chose to. Everyone could chose a cake mix and a frosting (or they could make their own frosting). I then had all of the extras in the above picture out for their secret ingredients. They could each choose two of those.

The creativity was in full swing. Rebecca had the Andes mints and mixed them in her cake mix and then topped her homemade butter cream frosting with more mints. Ashley took a store bought frosting but chopped in the food processor blackberries and added them to the frosting. The frosting was such a beautiful purple color! Blackberries aren’t that sweet, so mixed with the overly sweet store frosting it was delicious! I think they mixed coconut in their cake mix for their other ingredient, or maybe it was oreos. I can’t remember.

Kaylee’s team made a delicious cream cheese frosting from scratch and then a strawberry glaze to go over the cream cheese frosting. Perfect combination of flavors!

Jerrica’s team was a chocolate chip and nut secret ingredient, so she had them mixed in her cake as well as topping her cupcakes. Out of everyone, Jerrica was by far the most complementary of the bakers. She was so quick with a sweet bit of praise for everyone’s creations.

These are the masterpieces that the judges had to judge. I gave each judge a sheet where they had to rate the presentation, taste, and creativity from 1 to 5. I then tallied up the scores to come up with the winner. We only had one winner and no second, third or fourth. I was grateful that I didn’t have to judge, instead we had friend parents, Stephen and Nathan.

The winners of our Thompson Bake Off were……

It was such a fun day of baking and learning. I’m proud that my big girls can make frostings from scratch without a recipe. I’m proud of the creativity and the sweet complements. I’m NOT proud of the few pounds I put on in this bake off challenge.

Basketball

2017-01-20T08:48:00.001-08:00

Basketball is consuming right now, but I’m loving every minute. Everyday as I pick up the little girls and head to the big girls games, they ask me “When is basketball over, they have already played 100 games”. I reassure them with a grin that there are a few more games until the end of the season. I then dig through my purse to make sure there is enough change for the little girls to get treats at the concession stand to entertain them. Anything with food is better!

Oh how I enjoy watching basketball! There is a sweet dad with a REALLY SWEET camera lens that has been taking a lot of pictures of the girls. Here are some pics to remember these busy basketball days.

Kaylee is underestimated because she is so small, however that girl is pure muscle and strong! These next two pictures show that strength of her pushing through.

Here was Kaylee’s first three pointer of the year. She told me that night, as soon as I got the ball I could just feel that I was going to make the shot. I love that she was mentally into the game and feeling it!

I can see the determination in Kaylee’s face on this one and yes she took off from the free throw line and DUNKED it!

Rebecca showing her hops….

Rebecca is playing on the C team and Kaylee JV. I feel like basketball season flies by and soccer drags on. The girls have already started playing soccer with the high school girls on an indoor team and with outside open practices. I can’t believe when they stay after school for two hours of soccer scrimmaging and then walk over to the gym and practice for two more hours basketball. Maybe if I worked out that long I would have the muscles that they do.

I’m still trying to persuade them to believe that basketball really is the best sport…….

Sesame Street FHE

2017-01-17T11:03:00.003-08:00

Have you heard about the Power of YET?

I found it so fitting to go with our goal theme for January and for this new year. I delved into the book, TED talk AND the Seasame Street song and believe what they are saying is SO true…

"Yet" refers to an implied time, still, even or nevertheless.

Carol Dweck wrote an entire book (Mindset) on the concept of yet. She says that "yet expresses our required patience and belief in one’s self or another person’s abilities to realize that some things are worth waiting for and those things take work, time and don’t always come in the form of anything that could be remotely easy. It’s a “You can do it!” attitude. It’s a type of “hope” that we have, and it’s not easy, but if you really think about it, it is exactly the process that allows for success; the power of YET."

Dweck’s concept is based on the premise that we are all on a learning journey, and that just because you haven’t accomplished a task yet, does not mean that you cannot or should not try and certainly that you should not give up. Your “yet” is coming, your “yet” is not yet here. It’s a type of hope that is instilled in us to not give up. Keep growing, keep moving forward, goals take time to achieve and don't happen over night. We can't stop when things don't go our way, but instead need to add the word YET and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

"Yet" gives us that possibility for success, and assures us that this is not the end of what we are trying to do. AND just because Sesame Street is awesome we had to end with this....

I should have ended FHE with a testimony that Sesame Street is true becaue I sure loved that show when my kids were little, but instead I ended with a "Don't Give Up because we have the Power of YET!" Now to add this little three letter word reminder when my kids say they don't know or can't do something.

Young Women’s Medallion

2017-01-15T21:34:00.001-08:00

In our church the teenage girls have a program called Personal Progress. They have a series of goals and experiences that they complete. Each value has a 10 hour project that is part of the program. As each goal is achieved the smile grows a little bigger about being a littler closer to the medallion. My cute Rebecca finished the program and received her award in church.

Rebecca has been working hard since she turned 12 to achieve this. Some of her big projects were making a jean quilt, writing letters every Sunday to people for two months, planting her own garden, planning and making meals for our family….. It is great to see all of the skills that she has gained in doing personal progress. What a huge sense of accomplishment and relief to be done! So proud of her!

Traveling Spa

2017-01-11T05:29:00.001-08:00

I have a little lady that is making good money right now. She keeps it in her kitty coin purse and is quick to make change. Appointments must be made in her mini bling notebook and then her watch on her wrist keeps her conscientious of the time to stay on track of her appointments.

She does feet, neck and backs. The microwave is quick to heat up a rice pack for those necks before she starts rubbing with her little fingers. Since she has a suitcase she can provide her services anywhere. If you have homework and need a massage in your bedroom, she can be there. I have even heard of her giving discount massages to those having a hard day or in special need. There is always a smile and a “thank you for your business”! Loving Jerrica’s business right now!

Goals FHE

2017-01-08T21:29:00.001-08:00

I love a good FHE to kick off the New Year. I think that a FHE filled with stories and object lessons about goals help get everyone going. Now let me clarify that this is MY thinking and obviously not my family’s. This year as I taught the kids I felt like everything was backfiring. I asked the kids what the point of a soccer game would be, if there where no goals. Nathan immediately said that it would then be a fun possession game of soccer. I tried telling them that you couldn’t have a game without the goals and they kept fighting me that possession games were just as fun. (I don’t like soccer. I should have used a basketball analogy)

I then had Nathan keep his eyes on a $20 bill as he walked to get my scriptures from the kitchen counter. I was trying to show how hard it was to get something if your eyes weren’t focused on the object. Of course Nathan took it as a challenge and made it look WAY too easy looking at the $20 and quickly grabbing my scriptures. There went my “keeping your eyes on your goal”!

I couldn’t take it anymore!

I had planned on a little activity with everyone and quickly dispensed with the lesson and moved on with the next part. Why can’t the kids ever cooperate and make the lesson that I plan work out like I intend! Anyway, I copied some invites online that were for personal progress and made them work for our FHE by changing text.

The kids put on their PJ’s and we all piled in the van. I realized that everyone was hungry and that’s what we needed was food. Everything is always better once stomachs are full.

However, once again my plans were all sabotaged when we got to IHOP because all goal talk went out the window and cards came out, with games ensuing.

Still “trying” to pursue my lesson from Monday, I sent out group texts to my fam with meme’s and quotes throughout the week about goals, to which I didn’t get a single response, comment, text, feedback, NOTHING!!!!

I think I give up! If they don’t achieve goals in 2017, they can’t say I didn’t try!!!! Tomorrow I’m putting Stephen in charge. We shall see if they will listen to their dad.

Take a Chance

2017-01-05T09:41:00.001-08:00

I went to the post office to mail a package to Jacob down in Mexico. The post office is also a little country store in Blackforest. The woman ahead of me was busy picking lottery tickets. She bought $50 in tickets! After she walked out the door I started talking to the mail lady about all that money wasted in tickets.

She replied, “Maybe she feels like she has a chance in winning, everyone takes a chance”

I then handed her my package and started filling out the customs sheet. She quickly told me that she needed to make me aware that the majority of packages do not make it to their destinations in Mexico. I let her know that I was aware of the postal situation there and it was fine. I didn’t have anything valuable in the package. After a few minutes she totaled my postage and let me know that it would be $30.

She then added, “Are you sure you want to spend $30, knowing that it won’t make it’s destination?”

I let her know, “I’m going to take the chance because if it does, this package will be a fun surprise for my son”

We then both laughed at how people spend their money and take chances in different ways. As I walked out, I thought of how I had rolled my eyes at that woman for wasting $50 and am sure she would have rolled her eyes at me for paying shipping on a package that won’t even make it. YET, it’s that hope and faith our money was well spent on what we desired. Maybe she will have a million dollars in her bank account next week and maybe I will have a son with a million dollar smile from his treats sent from home.

Don’t Let Them Pass You By

2017-01-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

I LOVE a new year filled with a fresh start! In church we sang the following hymn and it reached out to my heart. The lyrics ring true to me….

Improve the shining moments;
Don't let them pass you by.
Work while the sun is radiant;
Work, for the night draws nigh.
We cannot bid the sunbeams
To lengthen out their stay,
Nor can we ask the shadow
To ever stay away.

2. Time flies on wings of lightning;
We cannot call it back.
It comes, then passes forward
Along its onward track.
And if we are not mindful,
The chance will fade away,
For life is quick in passing.
'Tis as a single day.

3. As wintertime doth follow
The pleasant summer days,
So may our joys all vanish
And pass far from our gaze.
Then should we not endeavor
Each day some point to gain,
That we may here be useful
And ev'ry wrong disdain?

4. Improve each shining moment.
In this you are secure,
For promptness bringeth safety
And blessings rich and pure.
Let prudence guide your actions;
Be honest in your heart;
And God will love and bless you
And help to you impart.

Text and music: Robert B. Baird, 1855-1916

As I work on photo books from 2016, I see so many cherished memories from the year. I look at pictures feeling like the events were just yesterday, yet see that they were months ago. I am SO grateful for photos and how they can bring a memory back to the mind. We are lucky to live in a day and age to be able to record everything around us. Our phones are attached, which means a camera is always on us.

I’m determined to not let the moments pass me by this year. Like the song says, “life is quick in passing, and if we aren’t mindful and aware the moment will fade away”. We “can’t call back time” but instead MUST take advantage of the here and now!

I’m excited for the new moments and memories of 2017 to fill my photo books!

Christ Countdown

2015-12-09T08:05:00.001-08:00

I have always loved a good countdown, especially at Christmas time. I can remember making the red and green paper chains as a child. We have quite a few countdowns – LINK

This year my sister Alesha called me up and told me about a countdown she had put together. It sounded perfect for the season. She had found youtube video clips (nothing over 2 mins) and scriptures to represent Christ’s life. She also had plenty of ideas for treats and pictures to go along with the countdown.

I immediately was all into doing this! I thought it would be fun to put on the kids’ pillow each night so that they could use it as part of their nightly scripture study. The kids’ LOVE youtube so the videos were a plus!

Some of them contain challenges to do such as “texting five people that you love them”, or “make someone smile today”…

The treats range from a candy cane, to a bag of goldfish for the “Fisher of Men”, to a loaf of bread for the miracles day. Speaking of which is tomorrow, so I need to get baking or head over to Kneaders.

The church has a slew of pictures that can be downloaded and printed for personal use. I had fun finding pictures that would match some of the days.

I feel that if I’m feeding my kids visually, physically, and making them actually DO things that they will learn. They will be fed and find the true meaning of Christmas.

Thanks for the countdown Alesha! Our home has been filled with wonderful conversations of Christ.

Nativity Painting

2015-12-08T08:51:00.001-08:00

A few days ago for a family activity I got out paint and paper. I told the kids that EVERYONE was participating and then they could have a special treat. Here is the LINK to what we were trying to create.

Each of the kids’ paintings were so different even though we were using the same colors and instructions. I absolutely loved hearing their conversations as they painted away. I’m grateful the older ones humored me with the project. I’m grateful that they were there so the younger ones could learn from them. These projects are fun for younger ones, but can be somewhat of an inconvenience for the older ones. However, when they are all together it is a time of learning and loving.

Anyway, just had to share. SO thrilled to add these to our Christmas decorations to pull out each year. Someday Kaylee’s kids will come to our house and see this special painting hanging up.

Ashley’s 10th Birthday

2015-12-08T08:42:00.001-08:00

Ash had another birthday. This year was a family year. This also was the year she could get her ears pierced. She had it done a couple of months before her birthday, which we were informed was not fair because the older girls had to wait until their birthday.

The big girls soon lost their resentment and were quick to help me make a fun cake for her birthday. I started to worry as they were downing the vanilla wafers that we wouldn’t have any left for the table on the cake.

Ashley has always loved fashion. She has notebook after notebook filled with pictures. If we ever see anyone that is stylish, Ashley is quick to go up and let them know with a sweet compliment.

A few weeks ago Ash had a mall party. I told her at breakfast about a dress that I thought would be cute to wear. She informed me that she already had an outfit picked out for the occasion. I smiled as I saw what she had put together. We of course had to take a couple of pictures since her birthday was just around the corner.

Besides being a fashionista, she also enjoys dance, acting, violin, and piano. Ashley has always loved reading and can usually be found with a book in her hand. Harry Potter has been a favorite. I wish that I had the money. I would fly her and I down to Florida for a Harry Potter trip together!

Ash is also an American Girl doll crafter and Lego lover.

I am always surprised at how mature she is socially. She can read people and understand them. Her comments are spot on with others. My favorite is how she is so genuine with her compliments.

We are so lucky to have Ashley in our family! Love you to the moon!

Mummy’s Chocolate

2015-11-03T21:52:00.001-08:00

Tonight I was craving chocolate and asked Ashley if she had any Hershey’s in her Halloween candy. She came bouncing down with a full size Hershey candy bar and handed it over to me.

Kaylee seeing this commented, “Ashley isn’t that your favorite candy bar?”

Ash didn’t skip a beat and replied, “Yes, but I love mom more than I love this candy bar.”

Absolutely love this girl!!!

Made in China

2015-09-16T20:44:00.001-07:00

This morning Jerrica was sitting at the table eating her breakfast. She had just read a label on something and said …

“Mom, everything is made in China. I bet if you turned the Earth to the other side there would be a giant tag that says, Made in China”

I reassured her that the Earth is NOT made in China, but if you did turn the Earth to the other side you would FIND China.