(Thankful Thursday and a giveaway:) )

I just finished reading this book......it might possibly be one of the most  straight to the heart books I've ever read.... probably the most I've cried too....maybe because like so many of you we share the same values, same faith, same dreams for our lives & families.... for our children and husbands...and when I was finished I was reminded of all the very most important things in life...that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and watches over us, that our children and families are the very most important parts of life....that the smallest things are the biggest things....
some of my favorite quotes by Stephanie Nielson in this book are at the end:

"Because I have faith in something larger than myself-faith that God has a plan for me.That belief is a source of inner strength that leads me to peace, comfort, and the courage to cope, even when I don't really feel like coping."

".....The true source of happiness, self worth and authentic beauty doesn't come from the outside. Women are constantly being persuaded to want something unachievable, to look younger or thinner and above all to fit in because looking different is to painful and embarrassing. I have accepted myself in a world that does not accept me, because I have learned and more than any of the lessons of my accidents, this is the one I wish I could teach everybody-that our hearts matter most. Your heart matters most, so be gentler and more patient with yourself, and their hearts matter most,too, so be kinder and more compassionate to others. Its a beautiful heart, not a perfect body, that leads to a beautiful life."

"Happiness was my choice, and though it is hard won, I am the only person who can stand in the way of it."

"The more we make the choice to see and feel JOY, the more joy there is to see and to feel."

...I have cried, laughed, and cried some more reading her book and have felt so so grateful for the blessings and ever more thankful for what I am and what I have....especially the

little things I take for granted..little things like being home with my kids everyday or  moving my body or having our health....which becomes a big thing when you can`t or don't have any control over that....big things like my children.... their innocence..... their life before us and those that made things happen....

I learned that

 I may not be the most beautiful, skinniest, most talented person out there by a long shot....... but I have what matters most......despite any of things that don`t matter............and only matter in a `worldly way`

I have 

 a family that loves me and knows me..

I have 

a husband and children that love me and are mine for eternity..

I have 

a body that works and moves and is healthy

I have

faith, a testimony and a plan for my life here and hereafter laid in place for me if I make right choices..... how beautiful is that....

I have 

so much to be thankful for. I have laundry to fold, a full table and dinner to make, I have fingerprints on my walls and toys in my tub....and all of  it means I have children to watch grow and before I know it they will be gone.....
 I am so THANKFUL for the menial tasks of everyday that bring the greatest JOY to me and I may not fully recognize it or realize it some days.... because its hard..... but looking back 
I will cherish every load of laundry I've done 
and every pile of clothes I folded
and every favorite snack I've made that brought a big smile
and every soccer/football/basketball game I attended, 
and every ache I hug away, 
and every wet kiss for every hurt they run to me for....
because it is all of these things that matter most not the big huge exciting moments but every little day to day simple thing.....that matter most...

While I was reading this book I couldn`t help but feel like it was everything I`ve ever wanted in life too ...

the kind of life that dreams are made of 

as a child playing house or
a teenager daydreaming and fantasizing about....

the kind of life where I only wanted

to get married ..find the perfect man for me....have 8 perfect little kids 

...live the white picket fence life.... 

I dreamed about it, wanted it and craved it....just like in the book Stephanie wanted the same things that so many of us do....and I think that is what makes her book so relate able

I didn`t care to have a big degree or work...

I just wanted a good, solid, strong faithful husband and a houseful of kids and to have a life full of love and happiness together.... 

{preferably trial free in my naive mind of youth.}

I always thought I was born to early..... I too love the laid back kind of life of olden days....I love the apron wearing mother who`s kids play outside all day long and things are more hands on....kind of life....

of course we don`t really live in that kind of ERA but we do the best we can to bring that into our lives....especially the values of old.... which shouldn`t be old because thats what made them the good "old" days...

.....but along the way I`ve learned that we all have trials...THAT LIFE FOR SURE DOESN'T work out the way we dream it will and that trials come in many different shapes and forms for each one of us....they are never what we DREAMED of, they are never what we wish for  and they are never easy.... 

some looking in may think they are easier than others or their own trials...... 

but we have no idea what people go through..

our white picket lives become a bit more rough & weathered and a little less bright white 

a little more real life than the perfect picture in our heads.....

through our trials and as each year goes by....we learn that

the human spirit is an amazing, amazing blessing a strength we didn't know we could have but on the other so is attitude and deciding to take what is given us and do something about it...in the process we learn everything we can from it....because if we don`t it weathers us, wears us down and makes us unhappy.... 

we can find strength and find joy in everyday things if we make that choice....I learned that even more as I read this book....

I am thankful for what I have learned and am learning through each trial in my own life and through watching others in their lives...I  am thankful that through others lives I  can learn to be more thankful for the simple things in life that we all take for granted.

This book is a beautiful reminder of all that is good....all that is worth fighting for....... that our Heaven is HERE if we decide we are going to make it that way because one way or the other the choice is always ours...

Chose to be thankful.

{"Insofar as Heaven is a joyful place filled with people you love, and where you feel peaceful and genuinely happy, then it's true.
Heaven is right here."} -S.N
---------------------------------
Read the book.

SO because I loved this book so much and maybe you won`t as much but I personally loved it and I like to share the things I love.......SO ENTER for YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE I`LL DRAW ON MAY 2ND  

{because thats mine and D`s anniversary and this whole book is  about TRUE LOVE, trials, strength & triumph real life.....:)

SO ....enter away....

ps....now is your chance to come out of the lurker closet too ha ha:)

Tell me one thing that matters most...

that has changed your life for the better:)

or an everyday joy.....

and have an awesome weekend...

♥♥♥♥♥♥

{10 on Tuesday}

Another addition of TEN on TUESDAY I love reading others and I love doing it cause I can get a lot out cause life just keeps gets busier and busier..... as the kids get older......and really lately you wouldn't want to hear my ME THINKS anyway so here's the top ten:)

1. I'm loving this summer weather we have we were warmer than florida and mexico yesterday ....but don't worry its raining right now cause thats how we roll here:) and it'll probably snow before to long again ha ha.

Beautiful morning run for the first time of the year finally light enough and looved every minute of it!! It was so calm until my last five minutes then the wind wiped up and brought the rain...but loved the start to the day! 

what is your favorite running app?? .....any suggestions??

2. Twice this week I've had scares with my kids missing first one was K he never showed up after school for 35 minutes I was pretty frantic {ended up that the bus took a long route home}AHHH! and yesterday the school called to say my kindergärtner wasn't at school WHAT he took the bus! Come to find out they marked the wrong kid absent 

seriously two heart attacks in one week!!! You can't do that to a mom!

3.yesterdays elections.disappointing. people have no idea what we are in for. oh well no government law or otherwise is going to tell me what I can and cannot teach my children or pull them out of...all I know is that really there is so much corruption everywhere its only going to get worse. my two bits and thats all I'll say:)

 "A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have!"

4. Football camp started for K. Dance is almost to the finale for L. and Soccer started for KLM. M is really good he played awesome and got a goal in the first few minutes much better then the grass picking days of last season:)

5. Reading this. cried in the first 2 pages.

6. Loving these. from this pretty shop here......aren't they so pretty

 I love this color...

7. Went to my sil's baby shower a few weeks ago she came up from Utah and since then found out 2 more of my sil's are pregnant.....so a total of four right now.... {looks like I wear that shirt all the time I've wore it twice ha ha}

it makes me sad to be so far behind..and feel so old after all these years and all these babies in our families.. 

kind of feels like your left out of this elite group your dying to be apart of?

you pretend it doesn't ache you pretend it doesn't matter when people say oh they {there children} look just like you did or do this just like you......  

Does that make sense 

but that aside I am super happy for all of them! 

Sometimes I feel like I have more in common with the men talking farm and politics in another room... then with the lovely ladies in my fam....and I don't really have anything to contribute to that conversation :( for obvious reasons.  but its okay.

it just hurts sometimes more than others. but it could be worse just glad we worked and prayed so hard and that our path for our family was adoption and the four beautiful kiddo's we call ours. Thats a pretty big blessing I don't take for granted ever! I know I am blessed I thank my Heavenly Father everyday.

But the pain is still real, still there and it harbors way back there most days but its always accompanied with the why's and when's and if's.

But its okay...... its my path, my life, my course and its the way its supposed to be, and we wouldn't have our sweet children we do if it had worked out the way I/WE thought it should.

okay so much for short and sweet.....

8. Loved this recipe. make them they are super good and easy I didn't ice mine and they were just fine....

9.I want to watch Downtown Abbey I've heard only good things about it.

10. I printed these out and got them laminated and took them around the neighborhood so every kids knows if they see the sign they don't come knocking:) perfect for summer and saturday mornings:) I've already used it and it works great! I can't find the link but when I do I'll post it...

Favorite Quote of the week:

Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing. Nor does demeaning someone else improve your self image. So be kind. And be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live." -Jeffrey R. Holland

 Have an awesome week make it count...
ps. Go enter my friends contests 
pretty awesome to have such talented friends and neighbors eh:)
HERE
and
HERE

{Thankful Thursday...}

 {free printable from here}

Lately I've been noticing all the really simple things I'm so so thankful for!

THANKFUL FOR

fun frivolous things that don't make any difference

but are fun none the less 

like going to a Coldplay concert last night it was AMAZING! 

Best of all THANKFUL for D for taking me with him we had fun:)
and thanks to my angel mother for watching our kids:)

THANKFUL FOR

Laughing having moments that are so silly yet you want to remember them forever....

During our trip one of the bags I passed out had ugly glasses and nasty  billy bob teeth provided a lot of laughs

THANKFUL FOR

kindness

From neighbor to neighbor, stranger to stranger......sister to brother

Nothing makes me happier then to see my kids do kind things for each other I love it L gave this to K she made it in school for him and it made my heart happy:)

well except the last line but we are always working on things:)

THANKFUL FOR

memories of times past..... its amazing how fast it flies and looking back I want to see the good in all of it even through the pain there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm always always Thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows that we are all trying and that sometimes we make mistakes....

THANKFUL for

knowledge,, my testimony & my faith.

{I ♥this picture I found on pinterest today}

 knowing that obedience brings happiness and there is no other way is comforting but only if it were that easy for everyone of us.

There is only ONE way.

THANKFUL FOR

Amazing councilors and a secretary to work with in my calling in my ward...we all work so well together and where I lack another excels and it works!

THANKFUL FOR

My children who teach me everyday..who let me know what I'm doing wrong and help me to rethink the things I could do better, who enjoy the simple things in life everyday..... who make me laugh, cry, and shake my head but then make me count my blessings over and over again.

THANKFUL FOR

K2's personality, his hugs & his kisses, his kindness, his ability to calm us all and his answer to everything is sleep/nap if someone is sad or whiny he says nap... be happy, 

the dog behind us whines a lot and K2 thinks he needs a nap to be happy too:) 

He calls M out ....at dinner last night M said a bad word {he didn't really but K2 thought he did.....so he repeats the word all the while shaking his finger at M and yelling BAD WORD M...... it was so funny!!!

HE is such a joy and SO SO sweet....

THANKFUL FOR 

a hard working fun husband its seriously a blessing I never take for granted. 

THANKFUL FOR

Those that aren't afraid to stand for what is right....we live in a very very confused world and I'm learning more each day there are very few left who care .....who see farther then today....and who fight for what is right. 

We are losing a battle where nobody is on the same page anymore..... so many liberal views that wrong is right and right is wrong everywhere we turn and its disgusting...even those close to us in our own circles are so confused or think that doctrine will change or conform to today's society. The beautiful thing is it won't...... it is the same yesterday as it stands today..... and it will be there after this life pure and complete. Wickedness never was happiness. And it never will be.

THANKFUL FOR

Answers to prayers.

My husband.

My children.

My families.

Spring weather.

Long walks.

A child's hand in mine.

A content sigh.

A home.

Health.

Land.

My country.

my life.

The simple things that make my life. 

Have a great weekend..

{Spring Break 2012 TEN on Tuesday}

....Did ya miss me :) Ha Ha..... its been awhile we decided for Spring Break this year we'd take a family vacation so for 9 days we headed to St George and a couple days in Vegas.... for the most part it was so fun..

 SO Before we left I bought stuff at the dollar store and brown paper sacks and snacks for the kids. In each sac was an activity/toy/or game along with a treat and every hour and half or two hours they would get another bag....it worked AWESOME!! The best bag and activity was PIPE CLEANERS they made all sorts of things  from them for more then 2 hours!! and only watched a total of 1 movie the whole way down!!! It worked great and we did the same thing on the way home....

we spent our first two days with D's sister in the SLC area fun to have the cousins all play together and we had easter there....and enjoyed spending time with there family wish we lived closer together!

They also had a bunny that the kids couldn't put down they loved it...

Then Monday morning we headed to St George Utah we got an awesome deal on a hotel for three nights and enjoyed feeling the HOT sun for the first two days but then it got a little cloudy and cool.... 

BUT we visited the St George Temple and visitors center and the Brigham young winter home tour .....

 on tuesday we played at Zion National Park for the day.... hiking exploring and taking in the vastness of it all.....it was so pretty!!

one day we want to go back and do the narrows....

we did some swimming...some outlet shopping.....some eating at cafe rio twice....so fun just to be together making memories....St George is beautiful and so much to do!

 ....played at snow canyon and that was probably our favorite place beautiful, and kid friendly and just fun....

....the next morning we headed to Las Vegas to see hoover dam and briefly drive down the strip..... we stopped at the fountains at the Bellagio amazing water show.... D has an aunt and uncle in Vegas so we stayed with them and then headed to Hoover Dam friday morning....

And Friday we headed back to slc and spent another day there with family all in all it was a really fun trip we did a lot and drove a lot & made lots of memories....

So 

10 Random Spring Break things I learned....

1. I love my kids more than anything but I'm also super glad that there is something called School:) 9 days is a long time :)

2. My M is the most independent, free spirited child I have ever had the privilege of knowing and loving :)  AND

Who almost died twice from running into traffic...or running away in general....I was reminded quite regularly why we don't do this very often ha ha.. love me my M.

3.  What are the CHANCES of running into someone you haven't seen since you were 10 ?? Well I have this weirdness about me that remembers people even ones I haven't seen since I was 10...This nice man serving a mission for our church in the st George visitors center starting talking and I recognized the voice looked at him then looked at his name tag....then asked him if by chance he was so and so from so and so ...and oh my gosh weird eh! It was really cool..and he and his wife remembered me too....  .funny thing though I thought he's a lot shorter than I remember ....oh wait I was only 10 ha ha! Fun times...

{oh and running into someone from your hometown 16 hours away:) at cafe rio.

4. L is funny...She says on the way home then she laughs so hard ...then we all did...... "Dad it was really nice hanging out with you and  getting to know you better on this trip"  so L....pretty funny:)

5. VEGAS strip is not the place for children..... dirty, raunchy and definitely sin city...my kids did not like it ...we went to circus circus {which we shouldn't have it was the dirtiest place I have been to in a long time I felt like I needed a shower after among other things} K whispered to me "I don't like the feeling in here can we get out of here"....my thoughts exactly...disgusting place...

*{now if we were going with friends as adults and had some shows to go and stayed in a nice hotel it would be a different story} But there are far more places I would rather see....:) Each to there own though:)

6. Drove all the way to the Hoover dam only to have them tell us that there were no tours that day due to broken elevators :( WHAT luck we have! But it was still worth it and amazing!

7. What are the chances of driving as far as we did over the week + only to be stopped by a cop 2 minutes from home:( I told him we had been driving for 14 hours and the kids were whiny tired and ready to be home....it worked {it was only the truth}........... he let us off with a warning thank you nice cop:)

8. The secret for Canadians getting gas in the states with a card at the pump..an attendant told us.... when it says enter your postal card... you put in your numbers from your postal code zip ......and add zero's to make up the difference...nice tip eh!

9. That barq's root beer should not be drank by children ....who accidentally thought it was normal root beer and who incidentally were more hyper...... a half an hour later ........then I'd ever seen my two older kids ever be..note to self help them get their drinks ......holy crazy!!!

10. That there is nothing better than after a long full day of fun...seeing  dirty kids..... freshly bathed and hearing the sound of quietly sleeping children.....ahh silence and happy kids. Family....memories...... fun....

We all learned that going away makes you appreciate what you have the kids missed home cooked meals, clean clothes and their beds and friends...I'd have to say I agree but I love to travel and see the world too, but its always nice to come home.

and there it is....

Have a great week...

What has been your favorite family vacation?

{Happy Easter...}

Take a few minutes to watch this its good and a nice reminder of the reason we celebrate Easter....I love easter and the hope it represents for each of us, I love spring and the newness of it all....and it means one step closer to summer:)

Happy EASTER....

"Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart"

He Is Risen

{Me Thinks...}

probably by far my favorite print in keep calm:)

I love conference weekend! I love that it refreshes on our mind what we need to be doing and what matters most...I love that so many of the talks seem to be just for me as it is with most of us something hits home that we should be doing need to be doing or have gotten the kick we need to get back at it and do what matters most....

Love these quotes

"There is enough heartache & sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness & resentment." 

Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

&

"Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing. Nor does demeaning someone else improve your self image. So be kind. And be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live." 
-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

and with both of these....which can go for so much in our lives right now

"Don't delay, its getting late"

- Jeffrey R. Holland

"This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: stop it!" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

SO Let's STOP IT! and get moving! :)

LOVE IT! 

-------------------------------------

For photo a day challenge here is Aprils sheet from by@fatmumslim

and March's photo a day from my365 its so much fun even my kids are like what is the photo of the day mom love it! 

{oops I missed 23 the moon it wasn't showing for a few days oh well}

 I made a few changes in my living room much brighter, happier and I seriously love it might take D a little longer ha ha:) this doesn't even do it justice as its just a pic from my phone but whatever and I still have to hem the curtains maybe D will like them more at night  when they are he thinks they look like bedsheets at night ha ha....

 my favorite easter print I've found this year is from here

 beautiful.simple.and no bunny involved:)

 and a super awesome easter idea I'm probably going to use for Sharing Time next Sunday so our children understand what EASTER is really about and guess what it has nothing to do with Candy......idea here

--------------------------------------------------------- 

ME THINKS

This made me laugh when I saw it so I had to share...cause it reminded me that all the small things we do that seem boring is what builds our families our Children are always watching us. WE may not think they are listening most of the time but they are WATCHING.....

Whether we are kneeling by our beds saying our prayers, reading or listening to our scriptures, EVERYTHING we do builds our children's souls spirits and attitudes. 

Listening to conference made me realize that even more that especially now the GREATEST thing we can do for our families are the small and simple things, we don't need fanfares and so much crammed into ours and there lives to think that's what matters to them...

they want us, 

they need us 

"OUR HOMES NEED REFORMING" 

{I love Elder Ballards talks I started this post awhile before he was speaking and then he spoke right to me right along the same things I was writing so I think this was the talk for me!!!}

OUR FAMILIES NEED OUR TIME OUR ATTENTION OUR LOVE

they need our EXAMPLES

OUR SERVICE

THEY NEED our teaching  

OUR values and simple tasks of everyday. 

THEY need our smiles, our hugs, our happiness...

OUR PRAYERS

THEY need our unselfish service....

OUR kind words

 THEY need the SAFE landing at every stage in life through

  A WARM, LOVING, HAPPY SPIRIT FILLED HOME...

THEY need our testimonies....

THEY need to see our faith

and 

THEY need above all OUR LOVE... OUR STRENGTH.... OUR COMMITMENT to building a strong family...for a strong future. 

WE need to have closer, stronger, tighter families.

Sometimes all these happen during the laundry, grocery shopping and carpool moments...... how we act, react 

how we listen...... how we build them up. 

As mundane as the task seems sometimes its through the small simple moments of everyday that build the strong spirits of tomorrow....

OUR FAMILIES are the most important work we are involved in....

"Life is better and much happier when hearts are turned to family.....

The most important work you will ever do is within the walls of your own home.

Read scriptures together. Pray together. Love God.

 PRIORITIZE."

 Have a great week.....