{I AM...}

 

thank you pinterest:)

 

I am:  me.

 

 I am tired. I am happy. I am frustrated. I am sad sometimes. I am impatient sometimes. I am crazy sometimes too :) I am a  ......wife mother sister  aunt friend daughter. I am a soccer mom. I  am a doer.....but

I am overwhelmed sometimes with getting everything done.

Most of all I am so thankful for my family....the fact that I have one the fact that they make me laugh, cry and feel such joy and then such madness I can hardly stand it. But I am thankful for every little "mom" moment , every smile, every hug and all the tears I get to soothe and  wipe away.

I am thankful: I am thankful for my faith. for prayers..... for my home..... my hard working husband, my life.

 I have so much to be thankful for.

I have:so many doubts sometimes and second guess myself to much. I have a full calender that is just insane for the next month.

I know: that my children won't be young forever and I need to enjoy the moment more. I know K is growing up way to fast and learning so many life lessons this year as well as L.M.K2 I know that my Heavenly Father loves. I know that I love my family more than anything.

 

I think:people don't realize how good they got it sometimes. I think I think to much. I think I worry to much sometimes.. I think I'm frustrated with getting things organized for primary sometimes I just don't understand why some people say yes and do nothing it feels like an epidemic lately. I think there is a big shift in attitude about commitment levels these days.

I don't think:we realize how much affect we have on people especially the things we say and do.

I want:  understanding. I want to be caught up on cleaning, laundry and knowing what to make for dinner every night. I want to understand what people are thinking sometimes. I want to not care what some people think. I want to build my dream house.

 

I like: days spent on the lake and I can't wait. I like warm summer night the smell of fresh cut hay. I like when my kids play all day long and come in tired hot and dirty. I like time to myself sometimes hard to come by some days somebody always needs something don't they:) part of a mom life...

I dislike: that the town doesn't have swim lessons the first two weeks after school sad:( I dislike when kids are disrespectful and act like they were born in a barn sometimes. I dislike televised stake conferences. I dislike being late. I dislike disorganization.I dislike cleaning bathrooms and fridges both of which need done. 

I hate:  being so impatient about certain things sometimes, I hate that its hard to be in charge, sometimes its just hard to please everyone and get it right the first time... live and learn I guess right.

I dream: of a big farm house in the country that I've already built in my head:) I dream  of having a baby someday {just not when I'm 45-50 } I dream of a beautiful new deck and being done landscaping .

I fear:  accidents,  death of one of my family, and something happening to my kids beyond my control......I fear my kids being kidnapped or worse. I fear for all of us in a world we live in its only going to get worse.

I am annoyed:  That sometimes those negative voices we all let in sometimes or comparative voices that say "I'm uglier than I thought" or chubbier than I thought or I can't do that or I don't make things like that my house isn't good enough whatever it may be..I hate when those thoughts creep in....somebody wants us thinking that way and it ANNOYS me!!

I crave: getting away. I crave peace. in a lot of things.

I usually: have a hard time thinking about things to blog about lately I hit a wall and time is scarce these days and nobody reads blogs anymore do they??

I search:   for answers on my knees daily.... for my life..for our future..... our life...our kids...our families..... primary....I wish it was easier to find the answers but at least I know where to look to get started..

I wonder: what people think sometimes? seriously?  or don't? 

i wonder about people 's perception of me is sometimes....I think we all do at some points in life.

I know:  this is the way it was meant to be. I know that sometimes thinking of all the tears that went into this "making"  this family to get to this point is overwhelming to think about. But I do know miracles exist because I have five of them.

I just can't help: fixing my kids hair clothes and dirty faces. I can't help checking the dishwasher every night before bed.

I regret: not much. everything happens for a reason.

Life is like a camera: focus on what’s important, capture the good times, & develop from the negatives.
~Unknown~

I can't live without: the gospel. my family. scriptures. LOVE. water.

I try to:be the best I can be..... work hard pray hard and to feel like I accomplished something by the time I go to bed.

I enjoy: watching my kids laugh and play nice together, I enjoy date nights, and hot baths and alone time...new clothes....the temple....blogging, reading, being at home when my kids get home from school with a snack ready.... hearing about there day ups downs and  the good and bad....

I miss:spontaneous trips. time. I miss the baby stage. i miss normality. i miss my grandparents. i miss my sisters and mom they just all got away together and I really missed being with them and laughing having fun. i miss somethings about the simplicity of life long ago. i miss pre cell phone days for everyone. i miss those that have gone from here. 

i miss you who don't comment anymore:) sorry I'm so boring:)

I don't care: what anyone tells me I have the right to teach my children right from wrong and I will. I don't care if I look like the mean mom sometimes we NEED MORE MEAN MOMS these days!

I always: have the same hair and nails and boring:) I really want to grow my hair out not sure if that is going to happen though!

I always have to hurry hurry my kids out the door in the morning as I'm yelling "I love you have a good day as they run down the street to the bus...shut the door and think well that went good....crazy mornings!

I rely on:  my instincts, my gut feeling a lot if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't! and I rely on D he is a rock.. my rock...I look up to him, love him and can't imagine life without him in it.

I believe:  we get back what we give ....... if we spend our lives being offended at every little thing we  won't find much joy...if we hate judge and count people out before they even have a chance that says something about our selves,

I dance:when we play loud music in the kitchen and the kids dance around {between getting the dishes done} we don't dance enough

I argue:with people when it comes to our rights and freedom of speech {ha what freedom of speech can't say anything these days!} without being in trouble .....

I want to: play more games with my kids, listen better, travel,  I want to be better at serving, I want to be better for my kids more patient understanding and more on there level. I want a lot of things but I want what matters most deep down more than anything for all my kids D and my family, and every person connected with my family and thats covering a lot of people. I want what is best for all of us to be happy to understand that obedience is happiness and there is no other way, it hurts to see some make choices you so desperately wish they didn't, but we don't always get what we want.
We can still wish hope and pray though.

I wish:everybody could get along and see that we all are struggling one way or another...nobody gets a free pass card even if they are trying hard to pass it off...its there.

I listen:to music all the time cause I love it.

music stirs something in us all calms us, inspires us, relaxes us, pumps us up and brings the spirit into our homes we love music!

I don't understand: exactly. i don't.

I forgot: That not everything in life is fair sometimes there are a lot of rude awakenings  and disappointments along the way. Try teaching the kids that. I guess its all a trial and error live and learn kind of teaching isn't it.

 

I am happy: when my house is content, my children are happy, my husband is happy, we have food to eat, money in the bank, the gospel and my testimony... life is good…just look around we  are so, so blessed....

once again ♥ the imperfect bunch of us....

10 for Tuesday.

1. I went to a community garage sale sat morn with a couple friends and scored some cool stuff :)

2. my kids were wired this weekend.

3. My talk to the YW in the stake went good I think glad to have it done

4. I cried all the way through it. personal topic:)

5.This month found out 7 of my sil's are pregnant. wow.

6. M has 4 days of school left crazy!! then what? oh me crazy;)

7. my SLC trip with D in July is kid covered by my awesome sil! such a relief. thanks Kate.

8. Excited to have new people called for primary and get things rolling a huge weight of my shoulders!

9. i can't keep up these days..... such long days and feel like I can't do anything right some days!

10. My friend is having a thrive foods home party at my house next Wednesday night ..... come find out what it is .......great samples ....company.... and a way to boost your food storage....fun  times:)

Have a great week:) Make it count:)

{10 for Today}

Since I'm so far behind on so much this is what it is......

1. Read this amazing post on Motherhood my friend wrote...... 
amen to all of it

2. Ever feel really lonely? Even when your surrounded by people?

3. Had a nice long Sunday drive together to the ranch.....one of the most beautiful places around...peaceful calm and wide open space....

 I think my favorite part of the drive was listening to my kids talk about the world they would create and who was aloud to come and what kind of things they were going to do...it was quite entertaining........ I  ♥ when they get along so well....and for fun we shot some instagram randomness......{k2 was in his pj's already before we left he was so tired }
Pretty Special kids eh in this top pic lol:)

4. If I could spend money without thinking I would buy a blendtec or vitamix blender so I could make whole food smoothies they sound so so good....

or I'd buy a teal or mustard  JO TOTES bag since I never win the giveaways...but I'm really to cheap and I like a good bargain or sale...

5. We went shopping with our littles on holiday Monday afternoon for bushes and such and bought a lilac bush..... I love lilacs............ the last week my kids have brought me a lilic flower everyday after school....just because they know I love them.....

6. DO you want to hear a crazy fact ....in the last 15 years since I got married there have been 41 babies born into our two families. Holy.

7. I really want to travel to Europe and stay at places for like a month and live and feel the culture....my daydreams are full of interesting things like that....just a few of them..I LOVE history.....I loved going to Germany....not its all the other places I want to go that I can't stop thinking about......I don't want to grow old picking dandelions out of my front yard waiting to die or something..... 

 I want to go...go...go....someday....

images via pinterest

8. I got a package from the Ukraine yesterday it was super cool....so were the earrings that came with it..... so cute...

thank you etsy....and girl in the Ukraine....

interesting enough a package from there gets here way faster than something sent from the USA :)  go figure eh..

9. Love this print. faith is so hard to have sometimes...but its true when you do have it and work hard for results..... it is a whole lot brighter...

from here

10. Some thoughts....... Rhonda got me thinking with her post.... I've written this before but some days its a nice reminder to know that we are all working towards something and some days it takes a lot to get through one day......
Me Thinks

Its hard as women to feel like we matter in a sea of so many distractions and so many things out there that try to make us feel bad about ourselves, about how we look, or how we see things, or in comparing to this and that and we all have our individual trials to deal with. 

Sometimes the things like these get in the way of who we are and want we want to be we let the things that don't matter get in the way and cloud our judgment and our actions {sometimes.} Sometimes we let them get in the way of our full potentional to reach out. To give a smile. To give a hug. To really stretch and get to know someone. 

Sometimes just being good moms and feeling like good moms is a struggle. 

 I go to bed at night and think  

did I do ANY good today??  

What could I have done better??

Did I make my children feel important? did I make a difference in there lives today for the good? did I nag too much?? lose my patience to many times?? Did I make them feel loved and know that they are loved?? 

did I take time with each one of them.

Its hard, sometimes when I kneel to pray at night I think tomorrows a new day I'll do this and this different then I pray for help I pray for peace and I pray that my children will grow up strong healthy and know how much they are so so loved.

That they will KNOW and live the gospel and make right choices. I find that I'm hard on myself and that I need to be doing this and should do that. I think as women and mothers we are too hard on ourselves we all need some me time, we all need a friendly smile or someone to sit by, or a friend who understands we all NEED that.

As women we tend to be hard on ourselves we lessen what we do and think its not important what we do sometimes. 

I love this next quote cause how often are our prayers for the tasks instead of using our abilities to fully accomplish our tasks no matter what they are.

President Thomas S. Monson says -
" ... do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle."
Thats all. I'm done..

{Friday Favorites}

One of my favorite blogs 1825 does an our favorite five so here's my version of it.....

My Favorite Five

01 | Instagram  faves of the week

01| swingin 02| baking with mom 03|track and field ball throw 04| excited to be shopping with mom :) Love my kids they make me happy:) the greatest joy of my life are these kids..... watching them learn, grow, laugh, play, smile, excel, and learn life lessons makes me so so grateful for every single day I have the privileged of being there MOM:)

02| Pick your Plum 

my favorite deal of the day site  a little addicting so don't do it but seriously at like 60% off how can I not :)

03| Favorite new song 

which is playing on my blog right now turn it up thanks to my sister for sharing

04| Favorite laugh of the week:)

05| Favorite Recipe of the week

my kids loved these I did my own version of them and they turned out super good....

" Life is going to have its potholes and rainy days, but there will be sunny days too. Our potholes in life are only as big as we make them, and if life keeps giving you buckets of rain, well, then buy a rain barrel and wait for the sun, because it will shine again...." 

....and in the meantime finding the "happy's" in life ....make it  easier to handle.....and gets us through those "moments" of rain..

Have a great long weekend:)

{ Another Edition of 10 :) }

1825 graphic

 1. Mothers Day is a day I always think of M's birth mother because M was born on Mothers Day 6 years ago and I can't imagine the feelings of the day for her, and of course old feelings surface and I think a lot of the gratitude I have for my children's birth families for making me a mother.  It was an alright day, but everyday just the fact that I am a mother is so much to be grateful for....and how could I not be with these beautiful kids to spend eternity with:)....sunday instagram  

{K2 doesn't have food on his face he fell down the stairs and scratched up his face boy boy:(

2. What made mothers day besides my children and the cute gifts from all it was kind of a hard day.....but at the end of the day winning a mothers day giveaway from shabby lane boutique so that was exciting:)Check out there cute headbands:)

3. An awesome article, having just got a phone for Christmas a lot of this rang true even though I try hard to keep it put away, it is one of my biggest pet peeves as an adult looking around.....what are we telling our children by our actions?

4. M had his 6 th birthday yesterday I can't even believe he is six {truthfully feels more like he is 16 haha} but it was busy busy day!! He was so excited for it to finally be here and to be 6! I went to his kindergarten class and spent a little time with him t here and brought treats for his class then right after school he had a "summer" party thank goodness it was hot!..... painters plastic slip n slide....freezies, trampoline sprinkler lots of boy fun:)!! They played wore me out but he had fun and that is what matters most:)

 We sure love this boy he may be a crazy, busy independent boy with many gaurdian angels watching over him.....but he is a nice boy, a loving boy, and has a smile that never quits......... he loves life and everything to do with it!! AND WE LOVE HIM!!!

5. Did you know you can buy the best ever tortilla land uncooked tortillas at Costco here now:) for us deprived Canadians of USA products I am so excited they are found in the middle seafood area so AWESOME:)

6. I think I want to grow my hair out my perfect hairdresser moved far away and though I have some nice girls to cut it ....it just hasn't been the same...plus some days I dream of flowing perfect hair that moves...but who am I kidding it would go right up and look the same everyday ha ha:)

7. I kind of love pinterest I love the ideas I find I love the outfit ideas and most of all the simple recipes and things to do with the kids...I use it to search for things a lot and I don't waste hours on it but I sure love it! A late at night addiction?? maybe? We tried the baking soda vinegar dropper fun the boys loved it.....and spent forever doing it!!

8. We also have a new cafe Verde like unto cafe rio!! and it is SO good I kind of crave it!! YEAH!!

9. Why is it that all my favorite tv shows are pretty much canceled half way through or after this season..... seriously people don't like clean? they like the dirty smutty stuff seriously sad!! The more years that go by I realize how weird I must be cause so many things I like get discontinued or canceled:(

10. Sometimes we just need to cry.its okay. i Love this song.  

{pause the music at the bottom before you start it though:)

...I was running this morning and a song that has the lyrics "sucks to be you" came on and I thought yeah sometimes it does if I were to think like that ..... then I shuffled the song and this song "just let me cry" came on and I thought exactly sometimes there are parts of life that are so unfair, so hurtful, so deep and sometimes they come to the surface from deep within just when you thought you could hide it longer..or not think about it to much.....but its okay to cry....no matter what our circumstances we all have something  that makes us sob our hearts out sometimes...and then to brush off and move on...till the next time.

Just let Me cry.

I believe that everything happens for a reason.
We’re not just tossed by the wind,
or left in the hands of fate.
But sometimes life sends a storm that’s unexpected.
And we’re forced to face our deepest pain.
When I feel the heartache begin to pull me under...
I dig my heels in deep,
and I fight to keep my ground.
Still, at times the hurt inside grows stronger.
And there’s nothing I can do but let out...
Just let me cry.
I know it’s hard to see.
But the pain I feel isn’t going away today.
Just let me cry.
Till every tear has fallen.
Don’t ask when...
and don’t ask why.
Just let me cry.
When I agreed that God could put this heart inside me.
I understood that there would be a chance that it would break.
But I know He knows exactly how I’m feeling...
And I know in time He’ll take the pain away.
But for now...
Just let me cry. 

I know it’s hard to see.
But the pain I feel isn’t going away today.
Just let me cry.
Till every tear has fallen.
Don’t ask when... and don’t ask why.
Just let me cry.
I have felt joy,
the kind that makes my heart want to sing.
And so my tears are not a surrender,
I’ll feel that way again.
But for now...
For this moment... Just let me cry.
I know it’s hard to see.
But the pain I feel.
Isn’t going away today.
Just let me cry.
Till every tear has fallen.
Don’t ask when...
and don’t ask why.
Just let me cry

Have a great week:)

The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.

Happy Birthmothers Day--Adoption

The Tears just run down my face when I watch this...

because without Adoption 

without our families four beautiful birth mothers {and each of their mothers} in our lives we wouldn't be a family.....

made up of four strong little personalities from all over....

and I wouldn't be a Mom...

BUT Because

 each one followed her heart, her feelings, her soul.... followed a miracle, cried herself to sleep more times then she can count, 

searched, prayed and found us ....

I am a mother only because of these amazing girls

Happy Birth mothers Day!! 

There isn't a day we don't pray for them 

love them and see them in the eyes of our children...

beautiful every part of it.
For our birth mothers:

Thank you for 
choosing us
changing us
Making US.. us..
Without you there is no us. 

 our lives are forever changed and blessed 

because of Adoption 

because of birth mothers.

its about LOVE♥pure and simple.

Have an amazing day:)

{10 on TUESDAY}

My favorite catch up day:)

I love early mornings..I love dewy mornings .....I love feeling the warm spring sun and seeing the sun rise....or the moon still in the sky....That's when I do my most thinking:)

1. I love my little miss ...this past week she had four dance recitals got all  dolled up and danced her little heart out.....I just love that she loves it and is learning and growing and enjoying:) She is growing up way to fast...

You never know what a girl is worth,

You’ll have to wait and see;

But every woman in a noble place,

A girl once used to be.

2. check out my these pics my talented neighbor took of my kids.....she blogged some pics of L before dance last weekend too and who along with W and T.... all who at some point save my crazy life and make it a little easier....like turning off my stove cause I forgot and went to soccer with the chicken cooking on it:) or a fun card night or for a can of tomatoes or sour cream or taking the kids to some event ..or a phone call or text right when I needed or long talks where ever we might be..I have good friends....and am so thankful for them!! 

Everybody needs people they can count on..I feel pretty blessed that way.

3. It blizzarded {is that even a word?} on Saturday and most of the afternoon ....seriously crazy weather...

from mowing the lawn to ducking flakes {ha ha that sounds kind of funny...}

4. I think I'm getting old I fell twice in the last week and almost went head over handlebars on my bike {that was because of my lovely 5 year old though} and I've forgotten a couple of important things I think something is wrong with me:) well we all know that ;) I mean something real:)

5. only 4 weeks of kindergarten left! only 3 months till full time all day long grade1 not going to lie..... I am totally looking forward to it! I love him but he is a lot easier to handle being busy! HE IS FULL OF LIFE♥

6.I can't wait to go boating and camping and swimming and getaway in July!

7. The more I hear of others problems, the less I think mine don't matter.

8. FAVORITE pinterest finds this week 

Coloring Pages for Church or whenever K2 LOVES to color!  

I'm pretty sure he inherited that from his talented birthmother:)

find them here

and this recipe we've had haystacks around here since I met D's Family but this sauce is awesome on it the kids all loved it which 2 of them rarely have the regular chicken soup one so we all loved it! {came in handy too when I went for some chicken soup and there wasn't any:)

9.Favorite pinterest quote of the week

10. ME thinks:)

What you don't see 

 By Tiffany Gee Lewis {mormontimees.com}

"What you don't see, when we all march into church on Sunday morning, is the chaos of the morning that happened just 10 minutes earlier.
What you don't see, when you look at my four little boys in their suits, is that the 7-year-old is wearing Dad's socks because we couldn't find his. And they go all the way up to his knees.
What you don't see, when I pull out the lovely quiet book I made a few years back, is that below it, in my church bag, are five baggies of smashed raisins because I haven't cleaned out the bag for months.
When you enter my house, with its shining entryway, you don't see the three loads of laundry dumped on my bed. Or the dirty pots I stashed in the oven. And you will never see the interior of my minivan, not until I find the time to vacuum it out.
When you admire the hand-sewn pajamas I made for all the kids, we don't talk about the three nights I got no sleep to make those.
If you look on my blog, you will see pictures of homemade chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles. You won't see my confession to popping in a frozen pizza THREE times last week for dinner.
Or the night we ate Cheerios for dinner, dry, because we were out of milk. There is a zoom on my camera for a reason. There is a delete button for a reason.
I don't think we're all playing a part. We naturally want to put our best selves forward, so that is what other people see. They don't see what's going on behind the scenes. I like to think that good parenting is like a duck on the water. What you see is the gentle, almost effortless gliding, not the furious paddling that happens underneath.
I keep a mental list of about ten people I want to stalk by camera, from morning to night, to see how they do it all. Are they up at 4 a.m.? Can they survive on three hours of sleep? Do they have a housekeeper? Because I drop balls just as fast as I can grab them. My intentions are of pure gold, but they come out as tinkling brass, at best.
I started a blog last fall. I dragged my feet into it for many reasons. One of the main reasons I hesitated was I didn't want to be another contributor to the cyberspace guiltosphere out there. Especially where mothers are concerned, 

do we need one more reason to feel guilty?
Because from the looks of things, other families are happier, their houses are cleaner, their marriages are better, their clothes are more stylish and their craftiness is even more crafty. Their lives are perfectly lovely, while my kids are running around screaming in their diapers.
My worst fears were confirmed last week when I got an e-mail from a friend who asked, "How do you do it all? Your column, your blog, all the things you do with your children? You're amazing!"
I looked around at my house, at the six bins of winter clothes waiting to be transported to the garage, at the sewing projects stacked against the wall, at the state of the toothpaste crusted to the sink ... I let things go, a lot of things.
A spanking-clean house is not a high priority for me. I'm a big believer in mud and its importance in a child's life. The time I take to write is time away from scrubbing that bathroom sink. I would rather read with my kids than shop at the mall, so I am certainly not up-to-date on the latest styles. I've been listening to the same music for 20 years because I can't seem to keep up with the latest music scene. And I require a lot of sleep.
We all have priorities. For some, it is keeping a spotless house, and they are good at it. For others, it is writing, or exercising, or serving others. And yes, there are some who seem to do it all, the Benjamin Franklin's of the world. I tell myself I don't have to be them. And also, Benjamin Franklin was not much of a family man. Even he let things go.
What we don't see, when we look at each other on Sunday, or on blogs, or in our shiny kitchens, is that 

we all have different talents and unique situations. 

I tell my kids all the time: 

Life is not a race. The only person you are competing against is yourself."

"What we forget to see, when admiring others, 

is our own personal finish line."

Thoughts & Opinions?

mine.... is......of course who would want to read a blog all about the things we aren't good at or our shortcomings we all enjoy learning from each other ....least i do and seeing all the fun projects and skills that people have. i love it the good and bad..... 

if your the kind who likes to air your dirty laundry all the power to you..... 

but for the majority keep it in the positive otherwise I don't think people would want to read it ....there are enough depressing things in the world! Just my thoughts whatever you choose to blog about is what makes us all unique and real some of my favorite blogs just tell it like it is cause that's real life right....!

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

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind- the- scenes with everyone else's highlight reel."

 -steven furtick

Have a great week!

{Patience}

A sweet lesson on patience.

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across... the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

{Winner and 15 years holy}

Lucky # 7 Kinsey:)

I think its funny when it ends up being somebody close out of everybody who entered but for honest Luck of the draw:) 

So shoot me an email with your address ha ha j/k

Kinsey actually lives around the corner from me and is my councilor in primary:)

AND

Today D and I have been married for 15 years that is insane love him more each year...The years bring new challenges deeper joys and a more understanding and just the much closer to eternity I am a blessed girl:)

{although this 2012 side pic is from a couple of years ago but I like it ha ha}

Have an awesome day:)

{10 on Tuesday..}

You do not find the happy life.

You make it. 

-Camilla Erying Kimball

1.I love MAY..MAYbe because I was married in may.... MAYbe because we got our third baby in MAY and named him MAsen..... for whatever reason... I just love MAY for the spring it brings... the newness and the storms it blows in its feels like a forgotten month to me... MAYbe that's why I love MAY...MAYbe it just means that much closer to summer??

2. MY pinterest find of the week that we tried was these cookies K2 and I made them today and I'm not usually a good cookie maker or even really like cookies but these turned out so good! I dare you to make these and eat only one...they are evil....and super good...

3. I love aprons they make me feel domestic ha ha and if anybody comes to the door they think your busy lol:) j/k but I do love aprons my grandma always wore one for everything pretty much..and now they have such pretty ones...my neighbor told me yesterday I look like i belonged in the '40's kind of made me happy:) I'll take it:)

4. We had my SIL Katelyn's boys this weekend while they got away together. It was so fun and we all loved having them here they are so good and so cute! I even got a run in every morning and thought I could do this{if they were as calm and good as Kate's kids:) of course}..its kind of an assembly effect three under three.... but kept us busy and its so nice to have older kids to help out....it was super fun.

5. Finished MY365 for the month of April its so fun and here is the link for MAY's photo a day..

6. I have to speak at a stake yw night  at the end of the month on my life and where I thought I'd be and the trials along with it kind of nervous already....

and kind of honored that they asked little old me too:)

7. This is the craziest week! Between soccer and Dance recitals we are running from one place to the next:)

8. Saw a poor lady laying on the ground at the post office in town guess she tripped and hit her head on the cement it was really sad and slighty disturbing!

9. I love this article cjane wrote a while back...she says things like they are things that you wish you could write down cause you feel/felt the same ....sometimes it helps to know others feel exactly the same... love her blog

10. Thanks to all who have entered the giveaway so far one more day then I'll draw tomorrow night:) I  love seeing what every bodies joys are..... amazing how simple they are isn't it..how the very most important things are right where we are...

 Have a memorable day:)