{Christmas ~ birthdays~ parties~ memories 2015}

 

Its been an incredibly long month so much going on and now that Christmas has come and gone..... parties and dinners and birthdays too.. We all survived! I may have slept for 2 days straight afterwards ha ha  but we made new memories and enjoyed being with family and friends. It really was a different year without our parents and without leaving town. But it was so nice and relaxed. Christmas eve 2 of my sisters came with there families and we had a fun night together doing dinner the nativity and games. On Friday we had D's family here Christmas day it snowed it was a perfect skating, sledding day. I cooked a big turkey... D's siblings all brought food and munchies & dessert & it turned out to be a perfect day. We played games late into the night and the kids played so good together watched movies, played with toys and enjoyed it all.... we fit over 30 people in the dining room it was awesome...

 Christmas lights and  pj's and crazies....love em! This is pretty much how it goes! Real life here!

 Christmas morn dreams came true beats and American girl and a pellet gun, and you win either way with paw patrol anything;) happy kids!

... Had Christmas breakfast for the first time at our house with just our family Norwegian style without all the stinky stuff;) but it was great we had the most amazing white Christmas scenes out our windows the perfect Christmas morning.

Birthdays.... and his favorite meal roast beef potatoes and gravy and ice cream cake! Then before church in our Sunday duds and for K's 14th birthday he wanted a basketball so bad so we got him one of his dreams;) Those things are expensive! But he's more than worth it:) 14 years old!! Crazy!!

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Hard to believe its over and that a new year is about to begin thats insane how fast this year went by! We've grown so much, moved and started new phases and new memories along the way. I'm so thankful for each of my kids for their dad who provides, watches over us and makes us laugh everyday.... we are pretty blessed:)

I'm Learning that the most important things in life aren’t things..... that life is made up of so many important memories and moments, and that TIME is one of the most important things too! 

To make everyday and every moment count!

And most of all to find JOY in the journey.

You are the person who has to decide.

Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside;

You are the person who makes up your mind.

Whether you’ll lead or will linger behind.

Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar.

Or just be contented to stay where you are.

-anon

SO HERE'S TO A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2016! 

WHAT are you looking forward to in 2016??

{ Thankful. }

 So thankful. So blessed we are in this corner of the world. 

I look at this past post and and seriously I can't believe a month has gone by again......

I'm thankful....... for the long sub hours I've been getting in the past two weeks {though I feel so far behind with Christmas coming} but thankful for the opportunity to get out and work a bit....

I'm thankful....... SO SO thankful for the best Christmas gift we ever received in 2001 thats 14!!

 

years ago and my long awaited for baby came five days before Christmas and now he is turning 14!!! I can hardly, hardly stand that ........that means pretty much 4 years..... 4 summers till he's out on his own mission bound college bound grown up:((( and that kinda fills me with anxiety.  Have I taught him enough, been an example, helped him develop a strong testimony, a strong work ethic. Have we made him a spoiled entitled brat;) no, we haven't ......though he can be brat sometimes;) ha ha ! But this boy is a joy he is kind, helpful & sees what needs to be and sees the needs of others, he is a good talker and we have a strong relationship that I really, really cherish and am so thankful for! With 14 comes more responsibility more fun.......  stake dances ....boy/girl parties ahhh!..... a learners license and a few other things. I hope he always knows how proud we are of him!  That he knows how much we love watching him grow through football and basketball and honor roll. I love seeing him find his strengths and work on his weaknesses. I love seeing him read his scriptures or the new era and becoming a leader. I love the times he helps his little brothers and sister. The times he teaches them things and takes time for them! Love my tall, dark haired, handsome boy   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY K!

I'm thankful for a warm home when I come in from the cold to my cozy warm house I can't help but feel gratitude for all that I have when there is so much suffering all around us everyday! Sometimes if I think about it to much I can hardly stand it!

I'm thankful for  a good husband who loves me, for me. Who loves our children and is not only a stellar example of serving others, but a great father who takes the few extra minutes he has sometimes and spends it with the kids. I'm thankful for the importance he puts on our marriage and family. Seems all around that too is crumbling far faster than ever before people giving up so easy, people being so selfish despite the affect on their children and people falling away and a people unforgiving.

I'm thankful for the temple a place of peace and a true refuge from the world its quite incredible really to feel the love  there, the peace and the strong feeling of clean and of hope. Like I can breath again.

I'm thankful for my children they truly are my happy, my sad, my tears my joy my worries...... my life.

I'm thankful for the good things that still exist.


 I'm thankful for great friends and their husbands especially who build beautiful things like this for my kitchen!! SO happy to have an island again!! Love it slowly getting the kitchen close to finished:) slow and steady:)

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 Marie Osmond wrote the following and I love it:

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Obedience is something we all must learn. Whether it's teaching our children not to run into the streets, abiding by the rules and laws of the land, to become good, productive citizens or to choose whether we will be the kind of person who has integrity and can be counted on.

A lot of thought, knowledge and consideration go into these guidelines and laws. Why? They're aimed at creating peace and order to prevent harm, save us from stress, heartaches and spare us from bad experiences!

The Lord has also given us His ‪#‎TenCommandments‬ that we may know how to make good choices that will safeguard us throughout life's journey.

Whether we obey them or deviate from these rules—it's solely at our discretion. He has given us our agency or the freedom to choose, positively or negatively, for ourselves. The beauty in choosing obedience, is that it comes back to us 100 fold in the form of blessings! This does not mean our challenges will go away, but by striving to be obedient, we don't create more unnecessary challenges from our disobedience. The ones we do experience, are somehow made easier to bear because of our trust in God's love! 

Thomas S. Monson said about God's laws:
"When we accept or reject them, our decisions will determine our destiny."

I know throughout my life the words of Harold B Lee have rung true in my heart. He told me in life, I would find that there are only two choices, either you do it or you don't! Choose the one that will take you back to the presence of God! I know that's where I'd like to be..... in a few more years! 

We go through lessons in order to grow and their outcomes will be determined by our desire to choose to be obedient. The greatest example was Jesus Christ who taught us to obey in the most simple terms, "If you love me, keep my commandments," and "Come follow me."

May we follow Him as we wind up the year and start a new one. Take comfort in the fact that obedience can bring an abundance of blessings and great wisdom! Remember our promise, that IF we keep God's commandments, we will receive "truth and light" to help us continue to feel his direction so that we can make right choices for our lives and ultimately gain eternal happiness!

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Onto Christmas getting there guess we have to since Christmas is next week ha ha:)

Merry Christmas :)

{ Me thinks }

 

For my little life.

Its another Monday and other week and almost another month seriously where does the time go... today I felt like I was going to blow if I didn't sit down and blog it out so finally here I am taking a few minutes to sit. Feels like the world is crazy and crazier everyday and here we say were all going to slow down and do what matters most ........but we still find time to fill our time with less important things don't we.....

Well in this home here are some of the important fillers:)......

Happening around here...

I got away on a girls trip to SLC utah with my sisters in law and my niece joined us too:) for some of it. 

{D held down the fort with the help of K and a good friend:)

We enjoyed the SLC Temple and city creek....swig.... Shopping and eating out a favorite things party and hours in hobby lobby ......down time & laughing at old home movies...we sure missed the four that couldn't come....but it was a great week with these beautiful people...

while I was gone D did our closet and got it organized feels amazing compared to how it was! ps he does have a lot more clothes then that they weren't all hung up yet!

Got home and felt all christmasy so I started with my porch:)

......and last night we started on the tree but it was more frustrating then anything haha so we all went to bed happy;) some things just don't go as perfectly planned as they are in our heads..... such is life

so it will be a work in progress:)

....and then K's football season enders they made it to semi-provincials and sadly lost that game but they made it so far! and that is an accomplishment! He had a great learning year proud of him!! And now he made the basketball team and is looking forward to that!

Great kid can't believe he will be 14!!! Thats when I feel like I've been blogging for a long time seeing them all grow up through these posts is crazy!! Time please slow down!!

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Me thinks.

Then there are so many crisis' all around the world right now and fear and hate and offense for every living thing!! It can be so overwhelming knowing what to do sometimes or what to say and how to help in some cases, with so much swirling around everywhere everyday.  I fear for what is to come but I am also calm in knowing that I'm trying to do everything I can in our home within our walls to make it truly a heaven on earth {minus the putting up the tree kinda days;) but we are given a new day everyday! 

To start again right!

A cute little missionary serving in Finland right now wrote this:

" As the world gets more evil, the righteous are becoming more righteous! Seriously, I think the black, gray, and white lines are fading. It’s becoming either so black or so white!"............

I completely agree looking around even within our own families its so hard to see people waver and drop off or find themselves doubting things they have known and believed their whole lives. And deeply struggling with it. It hurts to watch it happen. I guess I was born a strong believer  deep to my core the deep, spiritual things that have happened in my life are a part of who and what I believe with all my heart. 

Nobody is perfect the past is in the past. I heard this the other day and I feel the same .........that if the Lord wanted the past to be perfect he would have made it so.... 

but I believe it is for our day the dividing of the wheat and tares and there is no longer a middle there is no gray. You, for yourself have to decide what you will let falter you, what will make you stumble and fall and whether it will hold you down and shake you. 

All things happen for a reason and in the end the puzzle will fit perfectly and divinely all together and we will see that and the why's. If we gather our faith and doubt our doubts and not our faith. 

Hold on because it will only get worse before it gets better, we all know that. 

Be the wheat--not the tares.

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Okay how about some favorite things right now around here:)

Getting some decor up and finding some good finds fitting for this house BUT SO excited for my kitchen island which is being built and almost ready to install can't wait! 

Loving this lotion from B n B and the jingle all the way but my tops are still twisted peppermint and vanilla noel:)

 

Loving these free printables loving the plaid tread this year :)

found here

 

Loving plaid as I said;) and trees:)

 this recipe is awesome and quick and all my kids love them just throw in chocolate chips or raisins whatever you have a little bit of energy and not fuss to make:) found here

 and thats it for now:))

Have the best week ever!!  

Happy Thanksgiving .....Count your Blessings we are a blessed bunch:)

Question:)??

 What is your Favorite Christmas music? or Favorite things right now?

{ Life. Matters. }

Wow seriously this is becoming like my actual journal where I sit down to write and go oh another month has passed but here we are its been crazy & busy and crazy. But we are still plugging along and its November that is insane how has the year flown by SO fast!  I think the older the kids get the faster the time flies always running and always trying to find the things in life that matter  most and make time for it and memories that last forever because it goes. by. sooo. fast....

So read this next paragraph from the dish diva on FB this morning and loved it mostly because of halloween this weekend but because we had our YWIE last night on "sweet is the work"..... loved this post because it is so true......

"Today at church our Bishop talked about how last night as we trick or treated and went door to door seeking the 'sweet stuff', that this relates to life sometimes. We want the good stuff, the best times, and it's hard when things aren't 'sweet', and don't seem easy or perfect. It's easy to look through Instagram and see the 'highlight reels' of the lives of others, and not see the big picture. It's hard to see happy families, perfect clothes, beautiful food, and huge homes. And then wonder how or why, and start to feel insignificant. But we have so many 'sweet things' in life. So much to be grateful for. Finding the 'sweets' in our lives RIGHT NOW is more important than looking for it in all the wrong places. Love that crazy family, be grateful for that ugly messy house, represent Walmart clothes like a boss, and find joy in today. Life is sweet my friends, I promise!" 

 ......of course its not all sweet but thats what life is sometimes we are disappointed, frustrated,hurt...... our kids fight, we cry, we hold grudges, we don't work hard enough for what is most important and we suffer the consequences , we blame others for our faults and hurt people...... we don't try hard enough.... we compare to much to what others are doing or have, but when we do what matters most in life LIFE can be sweet one day at a time...

because we can do hard things...

Life. Matters around here...

This week consisted of youth activity and a ward party I was in charge of with some awesome helpers! and I learned a good committee is important and helpful we can't do it all..... then there was Halloween.... young women in excellence ....parties...football.....everybody was tired exhausted and spent and the extra hour didn't help any now my kids get up even earlier ahhh!! 

 traditions where is at;) the kids love it...

I saw this, this morning and it kinda made me think the older kid trick or treating thing interesting anyway....

"I overheard a conversation of some people being annoyed with teens trick or treating at their door and being annoyed because the holiday is for children. I saw this shared today and it is a good way to look at it and really puts things in perspective 🎃

"Not to get too personal here...but I was just thinking about a Halloween memory. I was in 6th or 7th grade and had plans to dress up as a baby and go trick or treating with my friends. Plans changed when we were told we were "too old" to go trick or treating. Bummed out we went to a party instead. There was no candy and giggling, there was making out in closets and alcohol.
If you get teenagers at your door tonight don't make them feel stupid for holding onto their innocence for one more year. Give them candy- not the smallest bar you can find either. (I save my best candy for teenagers) It's really not up to us to decide who's too old for fun and who's an appropriate age. Get over yourself, and enjoy the holiday- awkward teenagers and all!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!"

made me think anyway:) What do you think?

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I have the worst luck sometimes.

2 more cavities and a chipped tooth and receding gum lines  how awesome eh so need to get filled and fixed then hopefully after the two root canals I've had this year I can keep em good! 

My new treadmill came in last week LOVE IT! and so happy to get back into routine was feeling a little lost since running in the dark isn't my greatest thing to do I'd do it after the kids left but I love having it all done and being ready before they  wake up in the morning... 

Hate the time change business my kids woke up before 5!! Well two of them who shall remained unnamed though its not hard to guess who;)

I subbed half a day last week and loved it it was right back in preschool where I left off 14 years ago weird feeling but it was nice to get out and feel useful:)

Getting away on a sister in law 4 day getaway soon can't wait! Just us shopping not having to cook or clean heavenly ahhh can't wait

November is ADOPTION awareness month and..... well I don't know where we'd be without it and our 4 kids. Couldn't love my four anymore 4 beautiful babies... 4 different personalities..... 4 bonds...... 4 eternity.

 I count my blessings every single day. I feel so so blessed to be their mother and so so thankful everyday for every single person who made it possible that we could 4 times.

Because of them I am a Mother.

Life matters.

Have a beautiful week:)

{Monday Thoughts}

The Oak Tree by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day It stole the oak tree's leaves away Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark Until the oak was tired and stark But still the oak tree held its ground While other trees fell all around The weary wind gave up and spoke. How can you still be standing Oak? The oak tree said, I know that you Can break each branch of mine in two Carry every leaf away Shake my limbs, and make me sway But I have roots stretched in the earth Growing stronger since my birth You'll never touch them, for you see They are the deepest part of me Until today, I wasn't sure Of just how much I could endure But now I've found, with thanks to you I'm stronger than I ever knew ----------------------------  HOW DEEP ARE YOUR ROOTS. With so much going on in each of our lives this poem has so much meaning to all of us because all of us go through our own trials...and as the years go by the the world gets crazier and crazier more evil and backwards.......we have to have our roots planted deep or we will not survive. ---------------------------------------------------------

Home Front Happenings: - ordered a new treadmill can't wait:) till it gets here! -Next month I'm getting away for a sisters/ in law week in Utah with D's sisters can't wait I really need a break I think we all do once in awhile - Football is coming to an end already M's flag football ended early :( didn't even get a picture of M playing:( thought I had a couple more weeks but sadly no. He was super disappointed that it wasn't tackle football that he's been waiting years to play and watched his brother play for years ..but he had fun with flag football it just wasn't long enough:(  - K's team is undefeated so now we move onto playoffs then onto basketball love watching my boy learn grow and play... Fall. Football. Flannel. Fun Times. -Weirdest fall ever its been warm and even hot the grass is still growing and green and the bugs are in full annoyance... - Kids are loving school. K2 is learning to read and loving it. AND I'm missing my babies they are just growing up faster than I wish and everyday I want to do better for them and teach them more and then I worry if its enough ahhhh maybe will never know till they grow up..... - D went to Florida last week and for his birthday I got him a ski school lesson in florida so my cowboy checked his ski and flew to Florida {for meetings and a day of play} He loved it:)  - Today is the Elections for prime minister of Canada. I really have no faith in peoples common sense anymore or the value of traditions and family so really not much will surprise me. But I voted gave my two bits and my right to vote but we live in such a messed up world...... a self centered world....... and an evil over good world those rooted firmly are far and few between. My favorite quote I shared on FB this week but I love it.    Have a great week:)

{Thursday Thoughts...}

I think we all struggle sometimes in life finding our place finding happiness..... some days are harder than others. Others are just plain hard. Even seeing the good and being thankful for all we do have is sometimes hard to do...as much as we all tell ourselves otherwise....

Sometimes we struggle with balance

with feeling fulfilled and useful and needed 

or struggling with things others have no idea about

sometimes we struggle knowing the right words to say

sometimes were quick to judge before we know the whole story

Sometimes we face unexpected circumstances and life altering heartache

Sometimes our faith is tested 

Sometimes things just are unfair 

whatever our circumstances 

one important lesson I'm learning in life is that tomorrow is a new day

and Our loving Heavenly Father has a place for each of us if we so choose that path

AND 

that Satan wants us to feel down, inadequate and less than but he does not count and we must not listen to that voice. 

Because

"We are doing better than we think we are."

-Jeffery R Holland

 

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We got new family pictures done by photography by Kels and they are amazing and remind me of what is very most important and what were working towards.  How blessed I feel for my life and opportunities ....and plan B.... not everything works out the way we picture but plan B is often much more amazing then we ever imagined......
This is my Plan B:)

I think a lot of life is holding people up and helping each other get back "home"

They are growing up so dang fast I can hardly stand it.

 a few favorites if you missed FB/IG;) lots there;)...

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Randomness:

1| My treadmill broke down:((( needs a new running belt... 

I wore it out thud thud thud years of it:(

{so if anybody has a treadmill kicking around;) collecting dust lmk:) 

2| I have a wicked head cold

3| One of my children is giving me a run for my sanity lately always a stage of every kids pushing the boundaries we were all there once!

4| Haven't gotten sub call jobs yet:( was really looking forward to it

5| SO Sick of social media spewing racial politically correct crap around

6| Sick of faith\ hate doubters who have nothing nice to write behind the anonymity of a screen ....and the amount of evil that is so so rampant more so everyday scares me but also makes me so happy to live where I do....we aren't immune but its less in our faces...

7| Loved conference this past weekend so uplifting and renewing and faith building so blessed with a strong testimony and ever strong children who took awesome notes {even though candy was involved;)

8| Excited for thanksgiving this weekend and family time 

{super miss D's parents on their mission:( }

9| Love watching my boys play football they are both learning so many life and sports lessons love em!!

10|   

Since its Canadian Thanksgiving weekend what is your favorite recipe or tradition or what are you most thankful at this moment?

Have a beautiful weekend.

{A Whole lotta thinking...}

 My view never gets old:)

Well I guess my great plan of be a good blogger again kinda slipped but that means I'm keeping busy and moving along with this new phase of life. I sometimes have a lot of things on my mind and no place to vent them but thats not really true this is my space and I intend to keep venting because if we all shut up and never stand up than thats how we get to be a minority which actually looking around people with values, tradition and thoughts contrary to the world........ are already in the minority;)....

Thought 1:

Why is it that we constantly compare ourselves to others?? I heard my 11 year old compare herself to the "other" girls in her grade and it made me sad that its already started so we had a good talk about .......someone will always be...... fill in the blank baby...... because thats life we can't all be rich, famous, beautiful, tall, skinny, fat or what have you..... there's all kinds of us here and we need to love ourselves and others for what GOD gave us..... JUST BECAUSE the world is a terrible example of if "you don't like it get surgery" or whatever it may be or whatever you think you might be be it..... there are rules and consequences in life and there will always be someone more talented, skilled, skinner and more powerful, beautiful but we all gotta find our own inherit beauty and divine nature....

"You are free to choose but you are not free from the consequences of your choice."

Thought 2:

So the world didn't end last night with the blood moon ... I was a little disappointed I mean I really thought this was it ...totally kidding but I do realize that a part of me wishes we could get on with things and how long can this wicked world keep rolling..... But then I think of the beautiful things like sunrises and sunsets and blood moons that remind us daily, that there is someone up there who loves us and sends us reminders constantly to be prepared for whenever that time may be and not to worry so much. I mean this world has been wicked many many times over and over patterns and years of peace and wickedness can be seen throughout history and we have a duty to teach our own kids and be the refuge from the world...  

 

Thought 3:

I never really thought how much a bishop gives of his time how much sacrifice he makes..... until I became the bishops wife... You get used to things and the kids do to. But it makes me wish I had appreciated all my past bishops more for the secret times and hours they give to their ward members at the drop of the hat. OR the times they come home with shoulders drooping and say I wish I knew how to help more..... or the times they hold you tighter and appreciate you more for the love that you share because they see so much sadness and ache because of the choices people make..... the small and big....They spend hours on their knees and they are constantly on the phone trying to help, organize and resolve issues that we never know anything about.  So not really any point just a thought:)  ITS also this Husband, bishop, father, friend, son, uncle, boss, employee, cousin, grandson's birthday on Wednesday Sept 30th:)  We all have titles and responsibilities and this guy does a great job of all of them. He is the hardest worker I know works long days and hours is a great father to our children he makes me laugh daily......and  drags out bedtime with the kids when he's home for more than an hour sometimes they love it...he is the husband I always dreamed about growing up and he is that and more. I count my blessings daily.

pic from our san diego trip this year:)

Thought 4:

With Thanksgiving coming it always makes me so aware of the blessing I have and so grateful for the things that sometimes we don't think about the small things and big things....

I'm Grateful for :

-water when you don't have it for a day you realize how much you use it and how much you don't have stored 

-or simple things like toilet paper;) you realize how important it is when you don't have any left in the house haha

-grateful for the small things we teach our children that we don't think come across until someone tells you what you child said or did that you've been trying to teach them....

-grateful for D's job that provides for our family and the steady dependable job it is and most importantly that he loves it and thrives at it as hard and demanding as some days bring...

-grateful I have my health that all my children are healthy and strong you never know and there are some heart wrenching things families go through who didn't ever think about it either...

-grateful that ms. L loves her dad so much that he takes time with her when he can because every daughter needs a father who loves and cares and takes time.....

-grateful for life lessons that our children learn sometimes tough ones by accident or because of choices that they learn to be more obedient or to listen more that mom and dad do know what they are talking about.....

- grateful for the gospel knowledge that leads and guides my life ....of a Savior who loves us and wants us home that died for us so that we can use the Atonement in our lives should we need it ...when we stop and listen and care enough about more than just this life........ thats big.

-grateful for the examples of others who inspire me to be better and do better...

-grateful for the blessings my children are to me how much the thank yous and the hugs and the I'm sorry means to me. If they had any idea how much we love and want the best of life for them!!  They would know that we do know what we are talking about..... that we have been there that obedience really truly is happiness:) but I'm also pretty sure we thought our parents didn't know anything back in the day either;)

- grateful for friends who know just when you need that shoulder or that listening ear grateful for in tune souls out there.....

-grateful for warmth that comes in so many forms 

Grateful for my life I know that we all go through trials thats what we are here for right  I watched womens conference saturday night and loved this beautiful quote :

"I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling, sisters, that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, 'Was that all that was required?' I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of the love that our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything They asked to be back in Their presence again. What will it matter, dear sisters, what we suffered here, if in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with Them." —Linda S. Reeves

Grateful Eternally for these four:

L's dreaming of how grateful she is for brothers too;) I know it;)

What are you grateful for above all?

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.