Miss Millie gets her ears pierced

Today Aaron and I took Miss Millie to the mall to ride the carousel. We decided to surprise her and tell her that we would be piercing her ears after lunch. (Yes this was a spur of the moment idea for the day.) We had lunch at Red Robins and heading to Icing where we watch 2 other girls get their ears pierced. I think this worked out well for us because Miss Millie saw how brave they were and they didn't even cry. When it was time for Miss Millie to get hers done she sat in the car very, very still and listened to all the instructions that Bonnie (the lady piercing her ears) had to say. I asked Miss Millie if she wanted to hold my hand and she said "NO". Wait what a shock.. are they not always wanting to hold their mothers hand? Then Bonnie placed the little purple dots on her ears and after a few minor adjustments we were ready to have her ears pierced.

The first ear was pierced and there was just a little flinch made by Miss Millie. WOW... she is such a big girl. Then the second ear was done without even a flinch... She sat there with a face like (Well guys that was really no big deal).

All night she commented on her ears and how big of a girl she was. This morning she woke up and said "I didn't take them out, I'm a big girl!"

My baby is growing up...

Florida

Today in the car we were trying to teach Miss Millie that we live in Utah. This is how the conversation went.

Mom: Millie say Utah
Millie: Utah
Mom: Do you know what Utah is?
Millie: Ahhh
Mom: We live in Utah, you know like daddy use to live in Texas.
Daddy: Millie do you want to live in Texas?
Millie: Ah No... I want to live in Florida!!

How does this kid even know about Florida? Of all places, I guess she is smarter then we thought.

Happy Birthday Wishes

I'm not sure how I am feeling about turning 45. I told myself that I was done having birthday's - seems like there tends to be a certain expectations when it comes to our birthdays. Maybe this stems from our childhood with parties, cakes, presents etc. But I'm not sure at what age it comes, but all of a sudden we no longer expect parties, cakes and presents. Just having the people that mean the most around us is all that we desire. Caren made me a delicious dinner, Kenna made a yummy cake - Millie, Maddie, Craig and James were all there to enjoy the feast. Aaron came by to celebrate and as always stepped in to help out with dinner. It was a relaxing night, well for the most part. Miss Millie has been sick for the last several weeks and like any sickness it gets worse in the evenings. Last night was probably one of the toughest nights for her. Once she was able to stop coughing and crying she slept like a baby.

I have always said that when I turn 45 I wanted to be in the best shape of my life. Well needless to say i started this about 3 weeks ago. Not much time to accomplish my goal, but at least it was a start. I set out three weeks ago and started the INSANITY work out program. This has been such an exhausting but rewarding workout. I love the results that I am seeing in just a short period of time. I am going to see this through for the whole 60 days. Maybe if I'm brave enough I will post the before and after photos (MAYBE!)

What I'm most Grateful for

I am very humbled today for the love I have for my Savior. He has blessed my life so deeply and continues to pour out his love and understanding to me. Through all my trial and tribulations my testimony of the Gospel of Christ has grown deeper and my understanding of the atonement is personal and one of deepest gratitude.

I am blessed with a loving family and amazing children whom I love dearly.

I am blessed with health.

I am blessed with wonderful friends.

I am blessed to be able to live in a free country.

I am blessed with wonderful employment.

I feel I am the person I am today because of everyone who I have been blessed to have in my life. I'm grateful for all the associations that I have. I am so grateful for those who have stood by my during my most trying times, I hope one day to be able to bless the lives of those that are struggling and not stand to judge them but to love them as the Savior did.

Last October our Church Leaders addressed us in conference. One of the talks that stood out to me was given Elder Holland. The talk was addressed Because of your Faith. I remember listening to him express his love and gratitude and being compelled to tears and overcoming emotions. Too often we fail to express our gratitude to those that mean the most and for the things that are truly of value to us. I am overcome with gratitude for all that the Lord has blessed me with. I often struggle to express the way that I feel and to my fault I struggle to express how exactly how I think. It seem my tongue does not cooperate with my thoughts.

Because of my faith I am blessed Because of my family I am blessed. Because of my trials I am blessed.

Owie...

Just when you thought things were going great... then your little one takes a nose dive off the swings and plants her forehead into the dirt. She will not let me put any medicine on her owie... so therefore it is up to her to put the medicine on. And she does it quit well. I asked her to pose for the camera and these are the two pictures that I got. After she saw the first one that looked quite dreary she then did the second pose that turned out cute. She is really a trooper about the whole experience.

Thoughts for Tuesday

(Scotty Graham)


"We simply cannot maintain wholeness if we talk and walk differently than we see"

This morning I was woken by a dream. In this dream I was at a family BBQ, everyone was running around getting everything prepared. I was sitting in a lawn chair talking to a man we were observing the activities of everything going on. He leans over to me and looks at his wife and said "She was my world, my everything. She just didn't know it. There came a day whey I had to choose, I could either start showing her or lose her forever. I choose to show her, I'm sad it took me so long and I wasted so much time."

This week I have realized there are others that need me more than I realized, I am a mother everyday but this week I realized that I must be a mom more and push everything else aside. I am sad that I have wasted so much time not really being there for my children. I was there but more as a friend instead of a mom. I choose to walk and talk differently than my divine roll as a mom. I'm not perfect and my children will be the first to agree.

I have to wonder the significance of that dream for the man is now in heaven. Why would I have been so moved by his comment? My heart was racing when I woke from this dream. How many people in our lives have we not shown up for and we are just wasting precious time that we will never get back?

The Pout-Pout Fish Song

This is Miss Millie's new favorite book... now song. It's a cute story. ENJOY!

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

This is one of my favorite pictures by Greg Olsen. I love the tenderness between the Young Woman and the Savior. How many times have we been in this position as the Young Woman. Kneeling at the Saviors feet asking for forgiveness and for the tender mercies of his love.

Are not the words of Abraham Lincoln beautiful which he spoke out of the tragedy of a terrible civil war: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, … let us … bind up the … wounds.” (In John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1968, p. 640.)

"Sincere forgiveness isn't colored with expectations that the other person apologize or change. Don't worry whether or not they finally understand you. Love them and release them. Life feeds back truth to people in its own way and time."
Sara Paddison

Songs for Saturdays

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!