wake up Bryan !

Bryan rides UTA to get to work. A couple of days ago he asked me to pick him up at the AF park and ride. So...... I get there and I wait..... and wait...... and wait........ finally I get a phone call from Bryan. He had fallen asleep on the bus and ended up at uvsc in Orem. I thought it was so funny that this happened to him I wasn't even mad about the time I had to wait to pick him up. However he didn't think it was funny. Better luck staying awake in the future. In his defense this is only the 2nd time in quite awhile he has done this.

finding blessings in adversity, what ?

It seems to be a contradiction in terms....... being blessed through adversity. Yet today as I was sitting in relief society listening to the lesson I realized that it has happened to me, but I never fully recognized it until now. I've spent so many years just surviving and making it day to day I didn't take the time to fully appreciate the nature of my circumcstances and how blessed I've been in so many ways. One of the biggest blessings has been our son , Ben. He has also been our biggest challenge. I can't even hardly think about Ben as a challenge without feeling guilty for even thinking it.
I love him more than anything in the world and have often wondered how we got to be the ones lucky enough to raise such an amazing spirit. However there are days I wonder if I or Ben will live to see the end of the day, if you know what I mean. I've learned so many things and had experiences I never dreamed possible because Ben has been a part of my life. experiences and blessings I wouldn't change or give up for anything. Yet, the hum, drum of everyday life can be wearisome, long and frustrating.
In D&C when Joseph was in his darkest hour and thought the lord had abandoned him, he cried out wondering where he was. When all along the lord was there for him. Just not in the way that he had hoped. And the experience was for his own good. This simple act of the love the lord showed Joseph, even though it seemed harsh, has happened to me in my life. I, too, have wondered why I have been given the trials I have and why an innocent child must bear the cross he does. Then I realized even though it may seem a trial, it is really a blessing. It's what makes us grow and be strong. And hopefully one day when this is all over I will be able able to see the full picture of this life and why it was all for my good.
In the meantime I just count my blessings that I have an amzing husband to help me get through all this and amazing girls who love and teach and help their brother the best they can. and we all have the Lord when nothing else works !
I love you all and hope you a great week !

one more thing...............

We took our kids to the Draper temple open house. I would strongly recommend any one who is able to do the same. It was such an amazing experience to be be able to show our children what the inside of the temple looks like and explain the importance of it. Pretty cool ! And our kids thought so to !

updated blog, what do you think?

So lindsay helped me redo my blog. I love bright and cheerful it looks. It's a good thing i have her around. I'm so retarded when it comes figuring anything out on the computer that is to complicated. I think she did an awesome job for me. what do you think ?

family pics !

Here are some of my other favorite family pics we just had done in honor of rachel turning eight. My awesome friend did them for us and I think she did a great job. I have to say my family were all good sports because we had these done at the temple and it was freezing despite the sunny weather. Of course a little bribery never hurts either. haha !

celebrating our life together !

So......... Bryan and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe it's been that long. Time has really flown by. I really feel blessed to have found such a great guy. He works hard and takes good care of his family, especially me. I have to say overall i can't complain even though I sometimes do. Hopefully the next 16 years don't go by as fast, but they probably will.

reality check !

There is nothing like the honesty of a child to help you keep it real. While I was getting dressed today my 7 year old walks in and this conversation happens.
Child - Mom, do you think your pants are to small ?
mom - No, I think they fit fine, why ?
Child - Well, they look a little small to me.
mom - Thanks, now please get out.

Good thing I went to the gym today. Otherwise I may have no self confidence. You gotta love your kids !

lving without it !

Do you ever have one of those moments when a light comes on and you see things in a whole new light ? Oddly enough i had one of those moments when my T.V. broke and we were faced with the question, do we replace it or live without it. After weighing all the pros and cons we decided not to replace it for the sake of our family and for budgeting purposes. The T.V. that broke was in our living room. WE had a small one in my bedroom, so that got moved to Living room.
This is a big step for me, giving up my t.v. But it should be o.k. We told the kids we, as a family, watch to much t.v. anyway. They were resistance at first, but last night for the first time in a long time we sat around the table and played uno instead and everyone was getting along. It was really great. Tonight we break out Beatles monopoly. So hopefully learning to live without will be a good thing. So far it is.

posting...

Me and my sister

Don't we look just like each other ?

What a great looking pair !

love ya, sis !

Christmas morning with Grandpa

Way to get in the christmas spirit Grandpa !

the grandkids in their new pj's

Don't they look great !

My family on Christmas Eve

Celeste,David,Bryan,Marian,Lindsay

Ben,Colton,dad,rachel,mom

Well......... What an amazing christmas we had this year. My sister Celeste and her son came up for 10 days from Az. The frigid weather was quite a shock to their system. My poor sister froze the whole time while my nephew practically lived outside. Being only 7 he thought it was the greatest thing ever. My sister didn't think it was very fun when she needed to get in her car and the doors were frozen shut.

My whole family came to my house on Christmas eve and we had a great evening together. Celeste made German Stollen and Empinadas ( from Argentina). And of course Hot Chocolate. My sister is quite the international cook. Thankfully for the rest of us. It was all so yummy!!!!

Christmas morning dad was at our house bright and early, 6:30 A.M. to be exact, to watch all the grandkids open presents. It was such an amazing experience and well worth the effort. We all had such a great time together the whole time Cleste was here. I'm so glad she was able to come up.

Unfortunatley not all the news is so wonderful. The 24 hr, I wish I was dead the whole time flu visited our house. And everyone got it. It started with Rachel and ended with Celeste. Thankfully nobody was sick on Christmas day. and now everyone is healthy and hapyy ( knock on wood)

Now Christmas is over and my sister has gone back to az to thaw out. I have amazing memories to keep me warm and look forward to a little peace and quiet next week when the kids are back in school. I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas this year.

Hey Celeste, thanks again for coming. I had a blast ! Next stop, San Diego YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!