Blessings a plenty

I think I am starting to understand why we go through trials in life. It gives everyone a moment to stop...and examine their lives. Friendships become more important, family becomes foremost, and service is given without a second thought. My neighbors, friends and family have been showering me with lunch invitations, phone calls, emails, dinners, and offers of helping in any way they can. My ward has been amazing. I have recieved a blessing, my home teachers are getting my swamp cooler ready for warm weather, and my bishop has given me some great tools to help fortify my family with counseling, advice, and a pep talk. I am being carried through this trial with the love of my fellow man. Thank you everyone for coming to my aid. My cup runneth over.

It's coming together...I hope!

I've been working all weekend on repainting the cupboards. It is looking so good. They were so sad and ugly before. Every brush stroke makes me so happy. I spray painted the hinges silver to match the new handles that I bought. So far I have the front of the boxes painted and a couple of doors done. Mom & Dad are coming over today to help me finish. I am having a party on Saturday so I need to get it done quick. I love it so much I think I am going to do both bathroom cabinets the same chocolate color. But the kids are anxious to get their bedrooms painted too. All the kids were gone with their dads this weekend so I had a quiet house all to myself to get it done. It was a nice time filler. It's painting or homework. Guess what I chose! I will post more pics when it's finished.

Never a dull moment

Yesterday the kids were out of school (so teachers can prepare for Parent Teacher Conferences next week) so I took Justice, Montana, & Maddy (Tana's shadow aka bff) to the Children's Museum downtown. Maddy had never been so it was fun to see the kids showing her where all the cool stuff was. Justice was recruited to make a giant paper airplane with one of the staff. He thought that was cool. We went up & downstairs several times. The thing I love about the museum is that everything makes them use their imagination. There are no video games, movies, or cell phones!! They had a blast. Here is a list of the things we saw or did:
*Construction Site- building blocks with a big crane,*Play house- w/ full kitchen,*Grocery Store w/ cash register, produce dept., deli dept, and shopping aisles,*Farm-w/ a horse to climb on, chicken coop (Find the eggs), and a garden where you can pull veggies out of the ground, *Climbing Wall, *Water Play area, *Communication Area- Flags, Pulley Message system, Tube w/ speakers
*Magnet Experiments, *TV Station complete with green screen for weather reporting & tv cameras, *Real Helicopter to climb in and out of, *Xylophone type music area, And many other fun little things.
They love it there, but I fear they will grow out of it in the next couple of years. Enjoy it while we can I guess!

Her Little Shadows

(Artwork by Robert Coombs- a very talented friend)
I found this sweet poem and thought I would share...



I saw a young mother with eyes full of laughter
And two little shadows came following after.
Wherever she moved, they were always right there -
Holding onto her skirts hanging onto her chair,
Before her, behind her - an adhesive pair.

"Don't you ever get weary as, day after day,
Your two little tag-alongs get in your way?"
She smiled as she shook her pretty young head,
And I'll always remember the words that she said.
It's good to have shadows that run when you run,
That laugh when you're happy and hum when you hum -
For you only have shadows when your life's filled with sun.

I love to see the temple

Yesterday I took the kids to the Draper Temple Open House. It turned into an all day event. I checked them out of school at lunchtime. We had a quick lunch at home, changed into our Sunday clothes and off we went. First we found the church we were designated to park at. We went inside and watched a movie about temples, what goes on and why we have them. Then we boarded a bus that would take us to the temple. Once we were there, they had covered walkways that lead us inside the temple. The tour was a "silent" tour meaning that they didn't have anyone explaining what each room was a what it was for. Since I went through before with Mom and Grama that was a bit disappointing- but oh well. So I was answering questions and explaining things to the kids the whole time. Sierra loved the celestial room. It has the most beautiful chandelier. Montana loved the creation room. The murals on the wall are so lifelike and beautiful. I told her that all the rooms are painted by someone with a paintbrush and palette of paint- just like she does sometimes. She was fascinated with that. Justice loved the baptismal font and the mirrors of eternity. After the temple tour we were led to a nearby chapel for refreshments, live entertainment and beautifully displayed artwork and pictures of temples. It was a great experience for us as a family. I think they were able to feel the love and peace that is in the temple. When we talked about being together forever as a family, I could tell that it stirred up a lot of emotions for all of us. I still know that God has a plan for us, even if our family isn't perfect.

Sierra's Baby

Sierra is a Mom! And she has been a great one I must admit. She got her baby for her Teen Living Class. She named it Emmet Kingston. It is electronic and is quite a learning lesson for her. It cries, coos, needs diaper changes (not an actual mess- just a new diaper), is fed bottles, needs burping, and comforting. It has kept her up for two nights now with its neediness. She has an electronic id bracelet that she has to scan so that it knows it is it's mommy taking care of it. She also has to make sure that his head doesn't drop back- or it screams bloody murder. It has been a good experience for her- and me. We have talked about some important things. My little girl is going to be a great momma someday!

Jesus and Justice

Justice has an intense fascination with cologne. He loves to smell good. Perfume too sometimes. And not just a little. We have had to hide most of it. Today he was looking at our Christus statue very lovingly. He said "Mom, do you think Jesus wants some cologne on? He doesn't smell very good?" Then I said something I never thought I would ever say. "Justice- do not put cologne on Jesus!"

Then later he was pretending to talk on the phone. He was stretching the cord way out (yes- we have an old fashioned job- that is connected to the wall) I told him to put the phone back or it would get ruined. He said "I am talking to Jesus here mom! Can't it wait til I'm done?" I told him you don't need a phone or anything to talk to Jesus- just talk to him- he will listen. He smiled and whispered into the phone "I'll call you later". Too cute!