{ December Thinking }

{My sister in law had this made of our family I love love it!! its by 

little September calligraphy nailed it.... don't you think:))} 

Wow I sit here on December 26th, 2016 and think about the crazy year we've had. The fact that another month, another Christmas and another year have passed is crazy. Time flies so fast! and using it wisely for what is important becomes more important every day no matter what stage of life we are in. I'm finding my stage the denial really stage ha ha;) Really I'm this old ....really my kids keep getting older.... really another year went by...... really I'm here. really now. Enjoy every stage that's what were trying to do right and there is good in every stage and making the most of every stage is where its at.

I wonder sometimes if we actually sat and evaluated where were at and truly accounted for the way we act would we still do the things we do? Maybe I'm in a reflection mood seeing as its the end of the year but do we really think about how we come off or what we do? For real.

December has been a long month a lot of things happened that brought me closer to my savior in many ways, but also taught me in the feeling of mourning with those that mourn, in lifting others burdens and wanting to take them away. 

This year has been a year of service for me and learning to have greater compassion and maybe those are the things I needed to learn more about myself. To extend myself and to give more, I don't know but I did learn so much and I truly believe my children have learned life lessons this year that they also will carry with them throughout life. 

There are special people that come into our lives that leave lasting impressions and we have had that this year and have grown to love the examples and blessings they brought into our home and lives.

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Christmas was great fun to have D's parents home from their mission this year and have such a huge gathering of family for Christmas day and make new memories together. 

I love the feeling of peace in all the noise & chaos the feeling that this is heaven being with those you love.... no dysfunction and smoothly getting things done even when there are about 45 of your immediate family in one room, and your still feeling the void of the missing 20 people its truly a blessing to be apart of. No fights, no drama just love and laughter, peace, understanding and more laughter. 

We can't all say that on both sides of our families but its nice when it can happen and truthfully I wish we all that on all sides.

To watch those open the gifts you worked hard on and thought hard about and have meaning and show the love is pure joy. Truly not caring what you receive but truly seeing the joy in others in seeing something that you've all worked on and pulled off secretly .....is what the true Christmas spirit is about to me. 

Seeing the Saviors example in what we do, seeing the joy come to those that are suffering and the joy of family and coming together. 

That's what its about. 

Being wrapped up in each other, 

not ourselves. 

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* DECEMBER HAPPENINGS*

My baby turned 15!! Crazy crazy!! 

 but he is such a joy such a good kid love this boy!

I felt slightly crazy this month but decided to focas on the things that matter and not the frivolous things and in the end it all works out just fine.. Our families and our children know they matter more than anything know they are loved more than life! My friends know I love them and care about them even if they didn't get Christmas cards in time;) or at all...but the moments that matter is the time spent together building memories that last far longer than life here and now....

This awesome all boy ...dislocated his shoulder this month and had to wear a sling for two weeks...while wrestling..... his favorite thing to do:)  he loves to smile...laugh and play jokes and do all gross boy things he also loves kids and helping others and we love him:)

our last santa sitter:(

 Piano recitals for K2 he did awesome! Love this boy!

 What teenagers do on Christmas day;)

 My crew and a photo bomber and some surprised faces:)

 The PJ crew Ray style easy haha

 The cutest little kiddos nativity

 Just a few family on the B side of things:)

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...and that's a wrap I'm going to try to do a post for the new year.... end of year thing.  Blogging is almost so nonexistent these days, but I really love it for journal purposes and looking back and seeing how far we've come. 

{ December Another Year almost Gone}

Seriously where does the time go I can not believe how fast it is flying by speaking of which can you even believe K is going to be 15!! 

Cant. Even. Handle. It. 

How do they grow up so fast? I don't want to stop blogging because I've been doing it forever and its a great place to vent, journal and see my children's progress over the years and I suppose mine and D's too. Its crazy as you get older and realize that this life is actually so short and full of ups and downs and really how we handle them is the real test of life. I'd have to say that my 40th year has been a slightly different one than I pictured.... but a good one and one I won't forget I had opportunities to learn, serve and love that I never would have otherwise had and known I could do. I've watched myself do things that stretched me and tempered me into becoming who I am more and more each day. I've watched my children learn and grow the world lean and grow {increasingly more wicked and disturbing} But I've seen it also help me to strengthen my home and family. I've seen my kids learn to serve others and work on hard things and learn from their mistakes and move on. As we all do.

Moving on... Christmas again! My favorite time of the year! This year the kids have barely asked for anything.... so I'm thinking doing some things together as a family and having experiences instead of gifts is a greater gift in the end...

Went with an antler, plaid theme going this year its a work in progress:)

So lately we have a cheer girl and a basketball boy who is working hard to earn his spot..... practice practice practice .....so they both keep very busy...

 The bball boys won their first tournament this past weekend so fun to watch these boys play

then there's these two cute boys who just keep busy with cubs piano basketball camps and field trips that my animal loving boy loved ....

 we said goodbye to another amazing missionary who spent a lot of time with us and taught us a lot ...were sad to see her go she was pretty amazing

 oh its been awhile we had Halloween in there too:)

.....also planned a successstressful Relief Society  super Saturday

last month too so much work but it was good

-AND thats pretty much what has been happening besides new sidewalks around the house and leveling and preparing the ground and driveway for spring super exciting to get things done and making progress:)

- I did a november health challenge with a facebook group over 4 weeks that was kinda fun just made me more accountable on pretty much all that I do already except no sweets {so I went 4 weeks without hot lips haha I do love my chewy candies all other sugar really isn't a temptation to me but that is my vice.. 

-This month instead of our wrap a book a day countdown we are participating in the #LIGHTtheworld 25 days of service today we picked some families to surprise for our service day it was so fun and my kids enjoyed it too:)

Head over and watch the video if you haven't already its pretty amazing and will bring each of us closer to the real reason for the season bringing us closer to our Savior link here

"Our opportunities to shine are limitless. They surround us each day, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light, as it were, in the lives of those around us—whether they be our own family members, our coworkers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers." —President Thomas S. Monson
#LIGHTtheWORLD

Have a beautiful week & Happy December:)

SO share your

FAVORITE THINGS your loving right now?? 

Favorite Traditions, music new recipes for Christmas?? etc

{ Grati-Tuesday }

 I am so thankful for the good things and the hard things in my life because even on the hard things..... they don't compare even remotely to what some go through!

Life is full of puddles its how we get through them that matters:) Because between the sunny days and dark clouds there will always puddles....

1. I am so thankful for my family.....to have a family.... my children and husband for the efforts they make to do what is right and a husband who works hard 24-7 for us....

2. I'm thankful for a warm house that I'm not a pioneer in the plains on a snowy night that's a lot to be thankful for. I'm also thankful that said house is getting sidewalks and new wide beautiful front steps built this week and next:)) By my jack of all trades husband:)

3. I am thankful for Monday night connections to my kids and as a family. A time to learn whats important and making time for it, its kind of our family council night where we plan out our week and calender and talk about the past week and what we can do better and I most times now someone wants to play the opening and closing song on the piano and I love that!!

4. Thankful for the things that make our kids happy.... Miss L made the Cheer Squad and she is super happy. I hope she loves it and learns a lot {I on the other hand need a cheer adjustment;) Which will come quickly ha ha} If she's happy I'm happy for her! 

Proud of her too for getting out there and trying!

5. Thankful for the temple because there is where I feel the closest to my Heavenly Father and the peace we all can have within our own walls. I feel clean and renewed when I leave. Thankful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and the plan of salvation that our time here is a test and there is so so much for us if we can make it through:) what is it? clink this paragraph..

print from here I have one and love it!

6. Thankful for little moments that happen that rarely do anymore that I cherish even longer because I know they will be a last before I realize it is....

7. Thankful for good shows that get me up in the morning to run on my treadmill and keep me going currently  addicted to Heartland right now took me long enough ha ha 

8. Thankful for thanksgiving we had it here and just had my parents and brother and his kids and our favorite D & C came and best of all the meal turned out great:) My first full thanksgiving meal {and I forgot to take a picture the whole day:(  .....BUT it was so fun to see everyone even though there were so many missing.  It felt more like Christmas because it snowed a whole lot and I listened to Christmas music so it was a beautiful day:) Speaking of Christmas check out this new album of one of my favorite groups

9. Thankful that we know who is in charge in the end no matter who wins any election here or there..... its scary.... but we know.. and I'm thankful for that knowledge .....not really for how things will play out.... but for the knowledge to know who in the end is in charge! 

Its the surviving in between the end;)

10. Thankful for articles that make me think and make me a better parent:)) Love this post what kind of kids are we raising? My goal is responsible adults? I have a few things I need to change on this list? Check it out:) http://foreverymom.com/family-parenting/stop-doing-these-8-things-for-your-teen-this-school-year-amy-carney/

Love this teen :)

"The JOY we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the FOCUS of our lives." 

-Russell M. Nelson

If anybody is still out there :) What are your joys? What are you thankful for?

Have a beautiful week make it count:)

{ September 10 }

{My Monday morning run picture}

 

Oh my where do I even start ......I had such good intentions this year and especially new start of another school year. But its been quite the month and year really so summing it all up in  a perfect little package wouldn't do it justice or be real, since we do real life around here..... its been a hard adjustment for me this September a struggle with myself I guess.  

I spent the summer being useful and serving and helping someone {refer to previous post if you don't know what I'm talking about:)... else having him in the house brought a different dynamic to our home the kids loved having him here and I did too if I'm being honest because it made me a better mom. First of all if someone is living in your house your reactions to things are much more thought out;) ... believe me the kids were lucky and they know that. They tried to get away with things and sometimes I had such a hard time getting them to listen. It made me evaluate how I do things cleaning & cooking teaching, parenting and how much I do for them that they never notice. You can begin to feel obviously like GLUE because if we didn't do everything we do........... everything would fall apart its nice to have help once in awhile .....its nice to be noticed and  appreciated and told it too. Or you start to feel a little resentful, alone and invisible. 

As moms we give, give, give and the blessings are there you just have to look closely at the little things sometimes. Anyway September came and all the kids went to school, and our summer house guest DM went to school and didn't really need us like he did before that kinda left a big hole too for all of us.  

It's been a hard adjustment for me I started feeling old is 40 old?  & washed up kinda invisible and wondered who I am? what are my interests? What do I even like to do. 

Without my kids maybe I don't know ....I kinda feel like a nobody figuring out that its finding where I fit in at this stage. I don't need to work or want to right now either because my kids are only young once and I like to be there when they do need me. 

 I'm beyond the little kid stage all the new first have become lasts now and I'm left hanging out in the middle somewhere. Its hard when your husband works all the time..... is the bishop all the time and carries loads he can't even talk about.  He has so many things going all the time because that's his life. 

My life is my home and children and somewhere in here..... I need to find what I like? where I'm going? and what I can do too? so I don't feel lost. I've done parent council for years and kinda lost my spot this year because of a misunderstanding so it felt like the things I had going didn't pan out either... I sub which I enjoy once in awhile....I don't have a calling that keeps me busy or any Sunday involvement at all but I help where I can there too. I barely have friends because they all work or have little kids and that busy stage of littles. 

Its just weird I guess and its just finding where I belong and what I can do to improve and find fulfillment along the way too. Thankfully I have a great husband who works hard for our family and provides and loves us so that I can be home for the kids and I don't take that for granted, but I don't want to lose me along the way either. 

Whoever me is. 

How about some 10 random things to lighten things up around here:))

1. Truth.

 2. Another School Year I can hardly believe it!! Jr. High for Ms. L and Grade 9 for the big K! Who is almost 6 feet tall!! Seriously so tall!

 Grade 5 for my brown eyed independent boy!

Grade 2! for this handsome boy I really miss him during the day

3. Football Fall and Friends

4. New family pics love these people

 Kinsey Holt Photography was our photographer this year we love her!

 The squinty crew....

 5. We had a work day and planted 26 trees all day long! We had a system and everybody had a job so much work to do...

 6. So sad its to dark in the early morning hours now to run outside depressing that my treadmill is already getting used but on the weekend or no school days outside it is and its so much better:) This was monday morn it was so amazing! The whole sky was involved!

7. We finally got a piano and all my kids who have had piano lessons actually sat down to play it was heavenly! hoping one of them really learns to play;) But so nice to have music in the house!

8. Add in piano lessons, YW/YM, Cubs, Basketball camps,  flag football, Saturday football games....which by the way our jr comets are doing awesome we've won all so far they work hard:) 

L tried out for Volleyball but sadly didn't make it she really really wanted it.. so she took it hard but good life lessons along the way and a big hug:) 

We learn early life isn't fair and we learn to work harder for what we really want.

9. Its this guys 42nd!! Birthday on Friday!! So if you see him give him a shout out {{and any great birthday ideas ?I'm dying here we can't get away {which would be the optimum choice ....needed for both of us }} 

so anybody got something new and exciting....... anyone??

10. Good advice for all of us

"Discovering who we truly are is part of this great adventure called life."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Have a great week make it count...