Who'd a Thunk It?

20 years ago...these girls were the most IMPORTANT people in my life...

Twenty years ago I sat in a Biology class thinking, "I can't wait, in TWENTY years I will be married and won't have to worry about Biology or going to school EVER AGAIN!"

Twenty years ago I was sure that I would be married to a blond haired, blue eye returned missionary!

Twenty years ago I was sure that I would have 4 children...2 girls, and 2 boys!

Twenty years ago I was into shoes...now they were more like Keds and Vans but they were shoes and I had them in every color and every style!

Twenty years ago I had a Diet Coke and 2 Hostess cup cakes for breakfast!

Twenty years ago I drove a cute red convertible and would let my hair blow in the wind!

Twenty years ago I dreamed of a home back east, with four seasons and trips to see the Cherry Blossoms with my family!

Twenty years ago was a LONG,LONG time ago...yet it seems like just yesterday...

Today I am STILL in Biology class...I did marry "A" returned missionary with blond hair and blue eyes...those kids, had all 4, just came out all BOYS instead! I am still LOVING my shoes, I've just moved on from tennies to 4inch stiletto's. I guess a little Diet Coke and Chocolate never killed anyone, we'll not yet at least...Isn't it the breakfast of Champions? I went from the 2 seater to a MORMON-MOM mini van that seats 8! (Oh Yah, now were talkin'!)...And those long locks...chopped off to a manageable bob!! Who needs Cherry Blossoms when you have Jumping Cactus and Scorpions to keep your interest!!

Things may not have worked out just how I planned 2o years ago...but then 20 years ago I had NO idea life could be THIS SWEET!
Now these 5 men are the MOST important people in my life and really,...I wouldn't have it any other way...

One Day I'll Learn...Maybe

Each night when I tuck in the boys, one of my very favorite thing is Owens "Fish Kisses"...My family was a BIG fish kissing family...don't ask why I don't know...I do remember getting many a kisses from my grandfather that way and that has ALWAYS stuck with me. Ya know, fish kissing is a talent, not everyone can do it and if you do it, not everyone can do it well!! O is a mighty fine "FK" if I do say so my self!! Anyway, it is one of my highs of the day, he NEVER forgets and he only gives them to ME!! I treasure them and I only get them from him.

Over the last several months LIFE has happened at our home. As many families have ups and downs in their homes, we too experience that same roller coaster ride and desire to get off many times along the way. Like on a real ride, getting off is not an option and you must hang on for dear life and keep going. I have found that riding in the same roller coaster car with my husband and boys makes thing easier...when I attempt to go it alone it is much more scary and the ride never seems to end. Similarly, I have also found that when I let the Savior ride along side me, though I truly think I may be able to handle thing on my own, He makes the ride bearable, not any more fun or easy, but bearable. The sad part is is that I have learned this lesson before and yet I try and try to do it on my own over and over...Many times over the last several months I have struggled with choices that were mine to make...choices that are more about defining who I am...not necessarly good or bad choices, just choices that only I could make. What I came up with was surprising to me...it wasn't what I THOUGHT and yet it was exactly what I knew to be true. I have found over the years that no matter how well I think I know myself, the Lord knows me better. He knows my true desires and he knows how very stubborn I am. Unfortunately for me, I tend to learn some lesson's the hard way and this lesson is one I guess I'll keep learning until I get it right!...maybe because it is one that is most PRECIOUS, most DEAR, most COVETED.

"May every spouse, every child, and every parent be blessed to communicate and receive love, to bear and be edified by strong testimony, and to become more consistent in the seemingly small things that matter so much.

"In these important pursuits we will never be left alone. Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son live. They love us and know our circumstances, and They will help us to become more diligent and concerned at home."

David A. Bednar

ummm...where?

UPDATE...Please read!!!!!!,
***NO, WE are NOT the one's MOVING! Please pass it on to all those you told we were***

our world has been shaken up and turned up side down...as news of a move has taken over all conversation...first question, "how will the boys cope?"...next question, "how will I cope?"...3rd question, "why their family?"... follow up question, "why so far?'... all questions no answers...

tears...more tears...quiet thoughts...king size Reese's...

i'm so sorry i'm not happy ...give me time...i just LOVE you all too much...i can't imagine life with you not around the corner...

Perhaps I am a Zerbra?

"I asked the Zebra,
are you black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes?
And the zebra asked me,
Are you good with bad habits?
Or are you bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times?
Or are you quiet with noisy times?
Are you happy with some sad days?
Or are you sad with some happy days?
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?
And on and on and on and on and on and on he went.
I’ll never ask a zebra about stripes...again."
— Shel Silverstein

Livin' It Up!!!

Basketball Stake Champions!!

Way to go boys...who would have though it after watching the first game, maybe the Suns do have a shot after all...

A Priesthood Duty

Last night we had the wonderful opportunity to participate in seeing our nephew be ordained an Elder. He is the first in a long line of young men that will hopefully be receiving this same ordination. This young man holds a special place in my heart. 1. Because his parents are my **Favorite** wink, wink, 2. Because he is named after my true Love, and 3. Because there is just a little something that has always been in his eyes that that has drawn me in, not sure exactly what it is but I love it and I hope it never goes away.

As we sat there, I could not help but remember a young 3 year old hiding in a T.V. cabinet at the beach house. How he has grown up!! Or watching him slide down the stairs into the closet door, well, not much has changed there...

Over the years one thing as always impressed me, his constant love and respect for his parents and his family. I treasure that...though I am not part of his immediate family I see him often enough to see what once was a boy, is now a man prepared to serve the Lord. A constant example to my boys and his other cousins, a gift that I will forever be grateful for...

Michael thank you, thank you for leading the way...for taking this role that was given to you with out being asked, dealing with all these little eyes watching your every move...you are a leader, and true example, and we love you!!

Wish You Were Here

To know me is to know one of my BIGGEST pet peeves is "texting" and the entire cell phone thing in general!! I have gone periods of time where I have taken a "leave of absence" from the whole electronics part of my life and actually lived to tell about it. Nothing is MORE irritating than trying to have a conversation with someone and all you hear is a "BEEP BEEP" or a "VISS VISS" or even worse yet, NO eye contact due to the fact that their thumbs are too busy typing away something SUPER important like, "Ya, totally, her shirt was like way UGLY", ya, thanks for the heads up on that tid bit! Nothing says your not worth my time like a "text message". I'm just gonna put this out there...if you text ME and I don't respond this is what I'm saying to you...YOUR NOT WORTH MY TIME...call me, come over...MAKE AN EFFORT...have we really entered a time in our lives were talking is THAT bad? I can remember when all I did as a kid was stay up all night and TALK to my friends. Do people even KNOW how to do that know with out using symbols and texting sings? I for one will not allow my boys to text their friends. If they want to talk then they are more than welcome to CALL or GO OVER and TALK to them like a HUMAN. I will not raise savages.

Don't get me wrong, texting is great for quick last minute things like "where are you?", "what time is the game", "can you pick up some milk?" "the movie is at 7"...Not for things like, "my wedding is on March 12th, @ 9am Please RSVP" ummm NO!