Sunday, May 23, 2010

How Time Flies....

I was just kidding myself when I started this blog - thinking that I could keep it up! It's just ridiculous - I used to be an avid journal writer - weekly on Sunday! Hmmmm....that has definitely become a thing of the past!

It has been a busy year and I can't believe we are now looking forward to our next trip to Utah which is what I had just returned from when I last wrote!

Alyssa is going to be 2 next month (June 29)! She is working on getting potty trained already - by her own motivation! SWEET! Looking forward to not paying for diapers! She is sweet and smart and picks up on everything you do! Has the cutest personality and the highest pitch scream you have ever heard! Hmmmm...maybe she and I will do Soprano and Alto duets some day - she will definitely be the soprano! She is a tough girl, and has to be with her brothers around, but she still loves all the girly stuff. :)

McKay is so tender-hearted and happy! I love his dimples and his high pitched voice when he gets really excited about something. He is very analytical, detail-oriented and does a great, thorough job when he cleans the bathroom sink (he decided he would also clean the icky medicine cabinet while he was at it!) You go McKay! Due to being the middle child, I have realized how often I tend to ignore his needs. Ethan is just more demanding in nature, or more commanding...he will definitely be a leader one day...and Alyssa has just needed me by nature of being so young. So...McKay is there somewhere. I hope that he will soon emerge from his brother's shadow and come to realized and know for himself what McKay really likes isn't always what his older Brother likes...and that its great!

Ethan - wow, what a strong, literally, strong kid...physically, spiritually and mentally. He is bright and has a memory that is amazing. He loves Star Wars (The Clone Wars DVD we got him is on all the time...much to my chagrin, but he is up at the crack of dawn and I don't want to be too! He would love to learn karate, gymnastics, any sport or anything active. Unfortunately, our funds can't cover something like that right now. He loves his brother and sister and is doing a great job of answering the phone and being a great helper to mom. :)

Shawn was just called to be the 1st counselor in our ward bishopbric. Wow - that will be an interesting thing for all of us - mostly a blessing as I see it - I know that many blessings will come and I know that it will require sacrifice and humility and much time...for all of us. But we are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord. He is still working at Capitolbancorp Ltd. as a Risk Analyst...grateful that he is still employed!

I have been a busy mom - busier than busy really. Unfortunately, it is by my own choice! I have to learn to slow down and enjoy my life more. Preparedness has become a hobby for me and Shawn over the last two years. I have learned to use a solar oven, an alcohol stove, built and used my own rocket stove, learned to make our own bread and dinner rolls, can peaches, jam, pressure can meat and chicken and many other things! I love it. It has brought a huge amount of peace to my heart to know that I know how I would handle certain situations not if, but when they arise. :) I am still home schooling my kids and enjoy that....I love seeing the lights come on about anything - but especially when it has something to do with building their core character! For me, the numbers, colors, alphabet, etc. will come. Right now, my focus is teaching them true and false, right and wrong, good and bad, service, honesty, integrity, faith, and the Golden Rule....and most recently and emphatically - respect. I am following Nicholeen Peck's form of parenting - Teaching Self-government (www.teachingselfgovernment.com) and she wrote a book called "A House United". I cannot recommend it enough. I have a lot of mistakes that I made in my parenting to fix - mostly regaining respect from my children through being consistent, CALM and praising them more often.

I am also the ward choir director and love it! I have a great, supporting ward choir and really enjoy it. I also sang in a small vocal ensemble called Resonance Vocal Ensemble for the fall semester of 2009. It was great to perform again and use my voice to entertain and share my testimony of Christ. :)

Well, that is all I have time for. Sunday dinner awaits. It has been a nice day - it all started out by attending the Gila Valley Arizona Temple dedication. What a great blessing - and looking forward to having the Gilbert Arizona temple since that will be "our" new temple!

Monday, August 3, 2009

We're still alive....

Wow - how time flies and eludes me! Can't believe it is already August! I don't know if I'll get this updated soon or not, but we did enjoy a three week vacation to Utah (SLC and Bryce Canyon) in July! I went up with the kids for 11 days and then Shawn joined us for the rest of the time. It was a busy/fun/wonderful time with my family and friends! Wish I could have seen everyone I wanted to, but I just couldn't stretch out the time enough!

I'll try to post some pictures soon or a smilebox.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Glenn Beck plays clip of Ezra Taft Benson re: Communism in America

My friend emailed this to me today. I had heard something about this a few months ago, and this clarified what I understood. It was not a prophecy made by Pres. Benson, but a quote made by Kruschev.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTDmGt1Pafw

Either way...I believe it is coming or has come to pass...but too many of us want to close our eyes to it.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Mormon Temples Video

I am so grateful for the wisdom of the leaders of LDS Church and their response to the concern of HBO airing "Big Love" and attempting to depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies. This video entitled "Mormon Temples" is short, powerful and beautiful. Please feel free to share it with anyone you know that is not of the LDS faith that has questions regarding the sacred nature of Mormon temples.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

And, here is the church's new release in response to the situation:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

Friday, February 27, 2009

Ethan's version of the hymn "How Firm a Foundation"

Are they learning "How Firm a Foundation" in Primary this year? I'm not really sure, but either through Primary or by listening to a CD we have in their bedroom that they listen to at night, he has begun learning the words to this hymn. Well.....almost all the words. Here is Ethan's version of the first line:

"How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent ingredient!" LOL!!!!!!!! I have NO idea where that word came from! But it's a real kick to hear him sing the song.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Photo highlights of Jan - Feb. 2009

I'm trying hard to keep my family and friends posted on our life and especially on Alyssa's milestones. Hope you enjoy this little slide show - nothing specific...just some fun pictures. Oh, one fun thing...I did my first complete wedding as a floral designer! Tamra asked me to do all the flowers for her and Kelly's wedding on January 10th! It was fun to do everything from the bouquet to the cake tops. :) I was pleased with the turnout - and it was a screamin' deal - we got it all done for less than $200! Down side was, I started Friday morning around 11:00 and finished Saturday morning at 4:30. Alyssa was sick and other stuff just took some time, but it was worth it!

I also came down with bronchitis in early February. That wasn't fun. I am determined to learn more and educate myself about natural remedies - homeopathic/herbal, etc.

Anyway...hope you enjoy this!

Click to play Highlights from Jan-Feb
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

My Favorite Things

Hilary Weeks sings it best right here!



I admit, I love my "down time" from my life as a mother. I guess every mom does? I hope so. I'm trying to do my best, but on days like today, I feel that I'm failing miserably.