Merry Christmas

As many of you know James works in the medical field and will be working Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  So we had our Christmas festivities on Sunday and Monday.  Here are a few pictures of our fun time together.

Old Mc Donald

A little known fact about me is that ever since I was a little girl I have felt a strong draw to the country.  I have always felt that the suburbs was just not the place for me.  I have been feeding this urge of mine lately.  Evan, Emma and I make frequent trips to the horse stables near by.  I have also found a woman who keeps chickens in a neighboring town who is gracious enough to let us come out and run around with her chickens for awhile.  Oh my goodness... I can't even tell you how giddy I get.  How ridiculous is that.  I know nothing of that lifestyle.  I even wonder if my lazy self would even be up for the work and hours involved.  But I would certainly like to give it a try. 

Emma follows in her mommy's footsteps.  She LOVES all animals and is not at all afraid of them.  Evan is a little more timid, especially of larger animals like horses.  However Evan adores chickens and cats. 

So in my little dream world where I am never tiered, know all things farm, keep my life clean, organized, prioritized and balanced it would be in my dream farm house on some land with animals and a huge garden.

Now you know.

 

Have I ever told you...

HOW MUCH I ADORE MY CHILDREN!!

Whew...major accomplishment

James and I will be celebrating our fifth anniversary next July.  This information is significant because for these four and a half years the walls in our house have been in desperate need of new paint.

Several months ago I got a sudden burst of energy and bpainted spots of color all over our living room so I could pick paint colors.  Well shortly after I did that something happened (the kids got sick, I got sick, I don't remember) and the walls remained spotted for several months.

This is not a great picture, but you get the idea.  Well, nothing like having a little motivation to get a project done.  James and I invited some of his coworkers over for an early Thanksgiving on Monday night.  As all parents of young kids know getting a major project done is a major project in and of itself.  Needless to say I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last week and we were still working on it up to a couple of hours before our guests arrived.  But Oh it feels so great to have it done.

A message from Elder Holland

I want to thank a friend of mine for posting her notes and thoughts on the talk we heard from Elder Holland a little over a week ago.  I hope she won't mind that I am posting her thoughts here as a good reminder to me of what we were taught by an apostle of the Lord.  Thank you Liz for getting done what I was not able to. 

                                     

"A couple of weeks ago Elder Holland came to our stake to visit with the members here.  I thought that I would write down (and share) some of the things that he shared with us.

His emphasis in talking was, for the most part, aimed towards the youth that were there.  But I believe, like all gospel principles we can apply this to ourselves as well.  I will paraphrase his words, but this is not a direct quote.

He first spoke of President Hinckley and his lifelong dedication to service in the church.  Three days before he passed away he was conducting meetings with the first presidency and the twelve.  He was almost 98 years old.  He worked up until the very day that he died.  Why did he do this?  Why not just retire to Florida, and take some time off.  Surely he deserved it after working for so long.  He did it not for his own salvation.  Surely Pres. Hinckley's salvation is sure, if not, then we are all in serious trouble.  He did it for each and every one of us. 

I ask of you today, a tithing.  Not of your money, you give that to your bishop.  What I want from you today is a tithe on your lives.  If we all live to be 100, then 10% of your lives is 10 years.  The years that I ask of you are the years from 12-22.  This is a time in your lives that you will make nearly every important decision in your life.  Whether or not to go to church, who your friends are, whom you will date, whether you will go to college, if you will go on a mission, whom you will marry.  These years are the time that we lose many members.  YOU MUST NOT LEAVE THE CHURCH.

I know that this was directed at the youth, but I think that it is such a lovely idea.  To tithe your life to the church.  Of course, I doubt after ten years that you would have the desire to stop. :)

In his closing remarks he gave a quote of some kind.  He did not say where it was from, but this is what he said.  Many of us are looking toward the second coming and wondering when it will be...the actual moment when Christ descends from heaven.  I am not here to announce that today.  If you are faithful and look to Christ in all things.  If you will be obedient and valiant in your life.  You can bind Satan in your own life.  We can live in our homes as if the millennium has already come.  We can have millennial homes and millennial families.  Satan will be bound in our very homes.

I know that many were as touched by this as I was.  There were not very many dry eyes in the church.  What a beautiful idea.  To make our homes a true safe haven from the world.  I know that this is what I am now striving for in my home.  I am trying to constantly have the spirit with me so that I can deal with my children in a Christlike manner.  Instead of TV or random music, I have been playing conference talks on my computer.  With the tumultuous times that this world is going through, I want my family to be safe and to have a place of peace and love to go to.

If anyone has any ideas that you use in your home to make your home more peaceful, I would love to hear them."

My Rock

 

I would just like to express how grateful I am for my wonderful husband.  James works SO hard, often he does not get to go to sleep for over 30 hours.  I rarely hear him complain or get grumpy.  He is committed to furthering his education so he can provide well for his family.  He is also committed to living without debt, something I am so grateful for.

James encourages my dreams even when he knows that it is going to take a lot of work on his part to see them fulfilled.  James is a saint, mostly because he puts up with me and my quirks.  Before we were married I really thought I could be superwoman (not that I was, but I thought it was important that I was superwoman).  Two babies later I am definitely sure that I am NOT superwoman.  I am sorry for the misrepresentation James but I am so grateful for your love and tenderness as I have been humbled.

James is a wonderful father.  Evan and Emma just adore him.  I love seeing them play together.  They laugh and giggle, run and scream and have a grand time.

In short, I am so blessed to have James in my life.  I love you Handsome!!!

Views of vacation

Evan, Emma and I have been enjoying an extended trip visiting family.  We first visited my sister Heather and her family in Las Vegas.  Wow what transition from trees every where to not a tree in sight.  It was fun to see the sky again.  Evan and Emma enjoyed getting to know their cousins Haley, Hannah and Emily.  Emily who is four I think was hoping Emma was more baby doll like.  Emma did not especially appreciate her extra special attention.  But I do have to say Emily is a great little mommy.

 

 

Hannah                            Haley                                                    Emily

 

Pictures at the Las Vegas Temple

 

Fun in the leaves at Nana & Papa's

We made it to Nana's and were immediately struck by the cold weather.  It was fun for me to see Colorado during fall again.  It is so beautiful with the blue, blue skies, green, green grass and every color in between.  We have had fun visiting the Littleton Historical Museum, the play ground and the Zoo.  nana was a saint and let me have a whole day by myself.  It was WONDERFUL.  The only bad thing is that James is not here to enjoy it with us.  We are all very excited to have him join us here in a week.  We love you daddy!

 

 

Littleton Historical Museum

 

Our Pumpkin and fun with Papa