Who are you drafting off?

Today was a day of reflection..... a time to really reflect on the path that I am on and the directions that I am taking. Am I on the best path at this time in my life?

As with all reflections comes comparison, I love stories that have a comparison and that is exactly what my dear friend relayed in her blog.

Thank you for bringing the perfect devotion to a meaning full day.

So please click on the link below and enjoy!


Who are you drafting off?

Sleepless Nights

Have you ever had one of those sleepless nights? Not so much that you don't sleep at all but for some reason, at an unforeseen hour your body decides it's had enough and no matter what you do there really is no more hope for sleep. So you find yourself with additional hours on your hands. What to do? Do you start cleaning and try to catch up, read, watch T.V., take a bath.

This morning I find myself turning on music. What really is more powerful than music, it can effect us in so many ways. It can stir so many emotions: happy, sad, angry, joyful and spiritual.

Last week I went with Madison to The Music and the Spoken Word and although the program is just 30 minuets I found myself being spiritually fed. So this morning I turned on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Pandora and once again found myself being spiritually fed.

Along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir they played additional artist that stirred just as strong of feelings. This bring a story to mind of when Miss Millie and I drive in the car to and from work. I love to listen to the Christen Station, once again being spiritually fed through music. When I play this music Miss Millie sits quietly and tries her best to sing along. Then when I switch the music thinking she wants to have a little more fun, she will ask for me to turn back to the soft music. "I like the other music Mommy!"

So as I sat and listened this morning to the Music of Peace my heart is so very full of gratitude for all the things I have been blessed with. And although my journey has not always been an easy one, I am so very blessed. I am reminded this morning that my needs are not unnoticed by a loving Savior. This journey on the path of life is indeed a blessing to be enjoyed even through the most difficult time we are really never alone.

So thank you sleepless night....for starting my day off with gratitude!

Happy Halloween

Took Miss Millie, Maddie and Kathryn out Trick or Treating tonight. Maddie walked with Miss Millie while I followed in the nice warm car....Every once in awhile they would come in to warm up.... Upon one of the visits Miss Millie stated with a very high and excited voice "This is fun Mommie.... lets go to the next appointment."

Where does she come up with these things?

Pledge

Miss Millie was so excited all night reciting the pledge over and over. GOSH.....we just love this little girl!

Lots of Changes!!

Well after many years we finally got a family picture done. The last time we got one was in 2005 time goes by so fast. I hope we do not wait that long for the next family picture.



Ali is going on her diet to prepare for her treatment. I have been doing a lot of reading up on her cancer and treatment. I have to say I was pretty naive about what she is going through and will go through. Although the doctors warned me this was going to be the hardest stretch for her I had no clue.... To support Ali I will be doing the diet right along side her. It's amazing how supportive everyone is being towards Ali, more so it's incredible how many people are effected by cancer. Thru this experience we have had so many strangers reach out to us who now we call friends.



Miss Millie turned 3 and had a wonderful birthday party with family and friends in Texas. She got to go fishing for the first time and I must say she talks about going fishing all the time.... She loved catching the fish but at the time she was fishing she did not seem too interested. Her dad did most of the fishing Miss Millie just had the opportunity of pulling the fish in and holding it for the picture.



Craig has been busy this week fly fishing with his Uncle Colby and hunting with his brother-in-law Kasey.... I think this young man is hooked on the outdoors. He has also been working very hard. He and his friend have created the opportunity to make some good side money mowning lawns... Then while Craig was out with his friends family picking berries he asked the man that owned the farm if he needed someone to help him pick berries. The man said yes and gave Craig his business card... Way to go Mr. C you're AWESOME!

Thyroid Cancer Awarness Month

Please visit my daughters blog....Ali is posting her experience with her Cancer which she has rightfully named "Walter". She is amazing, strong and beautiful...tested by this challenge both emotionally and physically. Please follow along on her journey.

www.aliriding.com

Sunday Joys

Today was just an ordinary day.....get up, get ready and find interesting art work on the toilet by a wonderful and up coming 2 year old artist.....

SURPRISE

Last night after dinner we all pitched in to help with the clean up of the kitchen. Miss Millie loves to do the dishes, she loves to wash the dishes, mostly for the water factor and the bubble effect..... After the dishes were done and loaded everyone left to do their own thing while I finished washing off the counters. I turn around and this is what I saw.....I guess Miss Millie enjoyed doing the dishes so much that she thought it was a great idea to wash herself too.....And why not...it seems like a perfect fit.

Thanks Miss Millie for the ongoing laughter!

Sunday Joys

Some Sundays you wonder if all the effort is worth it especially when your little one is tired and fussy and just being down right a stinker.....But when you pick her up from class and she is beaming and loving the time she spent with her friends....you think "It is so worth it!"

Good Times

This weekend was very very relaxing and very very enjoyable. I was able to spend some much needed time with my two oldest daughters. I have forgotten how funny the two can be together. We headed up to Park City to celebrate Ali's birthday before she starts her treatment on Monday. We had dinner at the Blue Iguana, this wasn't the best food nor the best service. We were excited to eat there because of the ambiance, needless to say both Ali and Deb had me in stitches with their story telling and jokes that we really didn't mind the food and service not being that good. We then shopped and walked main street. Can I just say I love Park City at night. We must have walked up and down 3 or 4 times. I think we had more fun people watching and sitting on the benches listening to others drama and realize that our drama wasn't that bad. We have decided that this will became a yearly tradition!! We will start planning for next year the only difference we will make it a whole weekend adventure.

Thanks girls.....for making me laugh!

Steady as she goes!

I am finding new ways to keep myself busy, as if working full time and being a mother of seven isn't enough. I have taken up running mostly to help get in shape and because I can't afford to take up anything else that would cost money. Such as biking, rock climbing, going to the gym etc. On my runs I am finding that I am getting much more out of it then physical exercise.

As I am running I find myself alone with my thoughts, unless Madison goes with me then she will do all the talking and keep me very entertained and informed. As I run I am left alone to my thought I have realized that I can get a lot of peace from them as I turn my thoughts into prays. Many times I have had questions, concerns, frustrations, doubts and goals pressing on my mind. As I focus on these and turn my thoughts into more meditative and reflective thoughts I can find strength and peace. I don't always solve my concerns or get answers, I do however find that as I am strengthen my physical body I am also strengthening my spirit as well.

At one point on my route there is a path that is lined with trees that canopy over the trail. On one side of the trail is a stream that is steady and flowing. On the other side are homes that are neatly manicured. This is my favorite part of my run. On this stretch of the route I find a sense of comfort enjoying the beauties that we have been blessed with, the cool breeze, the sound of rushing water and the shade. My favorite part is the stream, steady, flowing and the sound of comfort, this is much like our lives, we need to be constantly flowing and moving in a direction. At one point the stream seems to be still and not moving at all. Although this is still beautiful it does not capture my attention nor draw a sense of peace as does the rest of the stream that is flowing. When we become still and stagnant we stop the progression of both our spiritual and physical body. As with my steps I realize that it's the small and steady movements that keep us progressing. Although at times I want to give up, it's too painful, I don't think I can do it. I keep going and push through it all knowing that the outcome is well worth it.

I have been loving my new outlet and look forward to progressing and moving forward, small and steady!

Swings

Miss Millie loves nothing more then to go to the park every evening and swing on the swings...It seems that is what she lives for. And I love going with her mainly because I love to see her so happy and it gives me something to do in the evenings.

Well today the request to go swinging at the park was the same as every day. So after church was ate dinner and waited for it to cool off enough to go to the swings. Once we were there Miss Millie be-lined it straight for the swings and of course her first request was the famous Under Doggie.....after a couple of Under Doggies I just started to push her. Many times she will just close her eyes and enjoy the motion of the swing going back and forth. She had her eyes closed and seemed to be really relaxing. As time went by I noticed she was really relaxed, I mean really, really relaxed. So much so her head was starting to "BOB" around. I laughed and thought, "Mission accomplished"! I slowly let the swing come to a stop and went to lift her out. She realized what was going on and asked if she could still swing. I didn't think it would hurt to keep going so I began to push her some more....Again her head started to "BOB". Once again I let the swing come slowly to a stop. I slowly lifted her out and gently placed her in the car. We drove home and laid her in bed.

I don't think this will happen again but it was fun to watch her relax and just enjoy her swing to the point of putting herself to sleep!

Quote

QUOTE OF THE CENTURY....MAYBE EVEN THE MILLENNIUM!



Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out. We have a lot of work to do.



"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

Saturday, let me begin by saying we had a mission.....to find princess boots....Miss Millie had it set in her mind that she wanted princess boots to wear with her princess dress.

We came across these boots at Target and Miss Millie was sold...These were the "PERFECT" princess boots to wear with her pink princess dress.

We came home to take a nap before we went to Kasey and JoEll's wedding reception. Well at least I thought we were taking a nap....Miss Millie was way to excited to go to sleep.

So we played and tried to do things around the house to stay busy. By 7 it was time to head out the door...Miss Millie was in heaven, so so so excited to go to the wedding and see the beautiful bride and the fancy cake. We arrived at the reception and it was beautiful...Miss Millie ran to Deborah to show her the new princess boots. Deborah took Miss Millie to see Kasey, Kasey told Miss Millie he loved her pink cowgirl boot...."NO PRINCESS BOOTS" cried Miss Millie. They argued back and forth all the time Kasey had a cute smile knowing he was just playfully bantering with Miss Millie....Miss Millie soon caught on and she to had a smile. The rest of the night Miss Millie played with all her friends on the swing. Especially loving Carson, Miss Millie's new bestest friend and I think the feeling was mutual. Deborah and I sat and visited with wonderful friends and family and had a wonderful evening sitting outside in the cool breeze.

As Kasey and JoEll were getting ready to leave we all lined up and lit sparklers. Miss Millie thought this was the best. She said "Mom, I LOVE IT".

What a wonderful evening and it all started with Miss Millie and her pink princess boots.

Summer has begun

I have not been on my blog for quite sometime and this feels really strange to be writing something about us....I feel like I don't have anything to say but yet so much has happened during the last six months.

My kids are all doing well and moving forward in life. We have moved into a new home and so far we love it. But not really sure what or where life will be taking us.... Deb announced that she is expecting in December...Ali is still undergoing Cancer Treatments, James is actively looking for a job and getting into UVU. Makenna graduated and will start Beauty School on Tuesday. Madison finished up at Alpine school on Friday and all of her dance competitions are over with....she is spending the weekend with all her friends there then she will be moving in with us. Craig is busy with baseball and playing with friends. And Miss Millie is growing up like a weed, so so fast....she is counting, singing her ABC and talking up a storm....

As for me I'm just working and trying to improve on a daily basis......