December Baby!

Ahhh in more ways than one its December BABY! As in almost Christmas................. as in how can it be Christmas again already! ......as in my baby is 16 today! I know a lot of you have already been through it, some long ago, but us first timers its a hard one to swallow..... it means our first born ......that little piece of heaven that filled the ache in my heart so many years ago is getting older. It means I'm getting older. It means he thinks he's a big kid now;) okay he is, but getting a drivers that's a whole new level of whatttt! AHH its December......... 4 months of the school year has gone by already too! And my blog has been severely neglected due to the children busy never stops were always on the run. I'm beginning to realize it doesn't matter what stage of life it is there will always be things to keep us going being involved in good things is good. 

So we finished up football with M he loved it by the end and finally got the game and was sad it was done. He's just got scouts each week and all the grade 6 fun.

 Now were in basketball mode K made the high school JV basketball team good thing cause when your 6'3 and half;) everyone's first question is how tall are you? and the next is do you play basketball? So he's been working hard and practicing hard and getting out there. 

He enjoys being busy.

The other kids slowed down a bit too and L is loving band and the flute we got to go to her band concert last week it was great! She is seriously loving grade 8 and it makes my mama heart happy to hear her talk about her day everyday and the good things happening she is doing great! She may or may not be A little or lot boy crazy...... I can never keep it straight ha ha! But we sure love her! 

Did I mention she is taller than me too not hard I know and just barely so we'll see:)

K2 is loving cubs and hating piano but he does both and he is so good with music we just keep pushing through we will survive;) 

Seriously just love these 4 kids I give all I got they are what keeps me busy and going going and I don't want them to grow up and leave me in the big empty house........ but I suppose we raise them give them memories traditions and a great childhood........... they'll all come back right♥

soooo

We had new family pics winter style this year our fall was so busy so that's what they ended up being it helps to have great friends who are photographers too. I have a few who are amazing with our family my friend Kinsey Holt did them again this year and as always we loved them! K2 and I had the flu up to the day of pictures so I see flu fever eyes but nobody would notice but me:) Were just glad we were getting better enough to do them but they turned out amazing of the kids they just look so big! 

..... and we just look old  and tired in all our almost 21 years married....but I think I'll keep him for another 21 plus.... he's kinda handy and I kinda love him a lot too. He's a keeper.

 We even got in some Santa action this year with the only child who will still hang out with mom and dad and that thinks were still kinda cool;)

How he really feels about turning 16;)

 

16 random things about K

1. He was born with two swollen huge looked like mickey mouse ears on either side top of his head from vacuum and forceps. ouch for both. Healed up great;)

2. He is 6.3 and wears size 14 shoes and grew 4 inches this past year.

3. He has had glasses/contacts since grade 3

4. He's broken his arm once falling off a soccer goal post.

5. He's never been on antibotics and only taken ibprofin a couple times.... he's hardly ever been sick.

6.  He loves to golf, hunt and play basketball.

7. He had perfect attendance in grade 7;)

8. He has always wanted to be an engineer and build and design things.

9. but He hates math.

10.  He sees things that need done and does them like if I need windshield wiper fluid he'll do it...

11. He gets his braces off on his next apt.:)

12. He likes to organize things and people {just not his room}

13. He loves tradition like swedish pancakes and berry sauce for birthday breakfast and roast and mashed potatoes and berry salad every birthday and I love that he loves it same every year!

14. He had night terrors for years that were really scary glad they ended

15. He loves music all kinds even country from working at the ranch:)

16.  He loves honey nut cheerios and frozen berries and milk every night!

Love this boy Happy Birthday K!

Proud of him and he can do anything he puts his heart and soul into

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Favorite things

We have been loving The Christmas Light the World campaign I've been doing it with the kids each day and watching the little clips and reading the scripture and suggestions for each day its been awesome and I think it makes us all think a little more about others  https://www.mormon.org/

These cookies are a new favorite around here Almond Joy Cookies {except since I'm allergic to nuts we don't use almonds just more coconut} found here

Quote:

"I think as you grow older your Christmas list gets shorter, 

because the things you want can´t be bought.."

-so true

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

-Agnes M Pharo

 

it isn't about the presents it isn't about waiting in line, listening to cranky people, or who can spend the most and give the best gifts...

"Blessed are those that give without remembering and receive without forgetting."

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one CRY

awakened the world

one BIRTH

changed history

one LIFE

made all the difference....

 

 

Have a great Christmas week.

slow down. don't worry about what doesn't matter. 

in the end it won't matter

"The true Christmas spirit is never found in the surfeit of things. 

It is less obvious in arrival and more lasting in impact."

Thomas S Monson.

What! November already!

Thoughts

I can actually hardly believe its time to get ready and thinking about Christmas again the years are flying by. That I know though every time I look at my kids and three are almost taller than me now its hard to not miss the days when they were little as much as I love watching them grow up. But then I'm overcome with the what if questions over and over.... what if I'm not doing enough to build them up for the real world... what if they grow up and never look back... what if they fall away ...make big mistakes ... despite what they've been taught we all make mistakes that's why were here..I know I just don't want them to hurt this world is cruel. What if everything I do doesn't matter in the end?? What if they can't see the happiness right before them in being obedient and choosing the right paths? What if they choose something other then I envision for them, which of course they will..  Then I remember also that each on is here own there own journey too. Their own paths and choices will lead them where they choose and sometimes like a lot of you it may not be what we would choose for them and though it makes our hearts ache we would and will still love them with all our hearts....
Nothing has happened, I just start thinking about how my kids are actually going to grow up and be adults themselves and I dream about all the things they could be and do because each is so so capable of amazing things. I just want the very best for them.

I look around at people who's children have all grown up are on missions or married with kids or away at university or college and I can't believe that I'm that old to start thinking in that way. My handsome little baby from long ago will be 16!! next month he was my greatest blessing my long prayed for miracle and the years are flying. They don't stay young long enough:(  I can't help thinking all these what if's because for some reason when teenagers get older they start having a mind of their own, but it makes me super thankful too that I have a kind and thoughtful, helpful son who loves me and is a great kid! Just hoping he stays that way that we make it through the bumps in the road and blips along lives paths together. Because nothing means more to me really and truly than having children who are happy and kind and considerate and respectful to all. Who are prepared for the real world who are strong and grounded and faithful and trustworthy and I'm trying really hard to raise the kind of kids who turn out to be productive, honest, happy hard working strong testimonies of faith and  prepared adults for the real world. But what if ? Stop the what if 's and live life each day right and be strong I know I'm trying I really am. Its hard being a parent nobody tells you how hard the part where we raise them and they leave the nest and go on their way okay not not yet here ....but soon. I can't help it, so despite this post I try to be better everyday to be a good example to be kinder, calmer and more patient and loving. I'm trying but aren't we all, everyday. 

 Thoughts?

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Life: This and That

We are fully two months into school so far things are great keeping busy running kids here and there and subbing  more this year. I'm also on our elementary and high school parent councils and that's been fun to continue to be involved. I also new to me canvased for school trustee runners in our election her this past month and enjoyed learning new things and keeping informed and helping others understand the importance of whats at stake and to see the blessings of that.  So I'm keeping busy on the  home front and out there too:) D has been beyond busy in all he has to do, so I've been single parenting it for a long time you get kinda used to it. Part of the journey. But things are good..

M the big gr.6er is loving his class and teacher and doing awesome! He did football and just finished  he has loved it and has learned a ton and worked hard to understand the game and step up so proud of him! This boy since he was little has always been so independent that for sure hasn't changed a bit, he's always on the go still! I have gotta find him something to do over winter! He loves scouts too though and all the fun learning things they do each week. He's a great kid, he's funny loving and happy ...helpful and loves kids and keeping them happy. He just makes me laugh a lot!

K2 has been busy with flag football and basketball camp as well as piano and cubs he's been a busy boy, but has enjoyed all of them flag is done and bball is done today. So we have got to find some other activities to keep him moving and busy.  He is such a creative, smart boy he just needs something to do that keeps him going. I love his desire to learn and understand things deeper than most of us feel.  He's always asking questions and loves to learn new and exciting things along the way. He is full of passion. He also joined choir too at school and he loves it. 

He's quite the well rounded boy that's for sure just love this sweet boy!

L has been loving grade 8 she has some great friends is becoming more organized and on top  of things at school too and, she seems to be enjoying this year much more than last already! And that makes me happy! She tried out for volleyball again, but sadly didn't make she's good... but politics rule in little towns;) But she's tough and moved on to help out with coaching tennis the past two months and has learned a lot and loved it too! Its been fun to see her  learning growing and realizing that mom isn't all wrong;) We have our days, but she's a great girl strong feisty and sassy some days.... but then again so am I;) love our miss L.

K has spent the last two months working on goals and figuring out high school and learning to study. He's been causal working for people and practicing for basketball season, he chose not to do football this year and I think he was okay with that, but he lacked a few things to keep him super busy besides studying but we are working on that!  I for reals can't believe he will be 16 and can drive! What! no not ready for that at all! Though trips to drop kids off and pickup or run to the grocery store will come in very handy, its just that my mama heart can't handle the what if's of that too! Ahh how do we make it;) But he is growing like a weed still! 6'3 and still going and size 14!! shoes. I can't even keep up to him! Love these kids to the moon and back! What I wouldn't do for them!

So we've had an eventful busy two months with sports school and the extras along the way! We decided at the end of September that we were going to surprise the kids and go down to conference and it was so worth the fast trip, we all loved it and the time together. We loved being with family and seeing our favorite missionaries who had served her and conference was amazing to be there all together was something else! Do it if you never have its beautiful well worth it!  We all loved it! 

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RANDOM

Favorite new thing

 This letter board is so fun! Got mine here

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"Live beyond the "what if." Find joy in what is."

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Have a great day! Make it count:)

{Slipping into Fall...}

 

Fires Heat and a long hot hot summer... 

SOO ready for fall and

Oh my heck here it is another month is slipping by but I made it a few weeks after school has started thats something;)  Things are back into routine and schedule and life is good & busy. But that's how we like it, if we can all work it out  together it flows but  kids going here and there its remembering the most important things in our home that makes it all go smoother.  Now if we could get past the pesky picking on each other and fighting we'd be sailing. Funny how many different stages and ages and things we all go through at different times but despite that its fascinating to watch personalities emerge and kids grow and learn which they are already do so well proud of each one. We all know life isn't easy but hoping they have the foundation to withstand what life has to through them.

So we did back to school shoots {the day before school I get much more cooperation that way;) it works for us:)

 

Happenings   

-football flag football tennis coach piano cubs yw ym basketball camp lots going on 

- subbing again this year excited for a few days here and there to get out of the house

-I need a get rich quick scheme to get back to England ha ha decided which direction to take with my jewelry making  

-Did I mention I'm in the nursery and still the enrichment leader ahh shot me now j/k nothing lasts forever and there are always lessons to learn for all callings

-hottest summer of my life! 3 months straight of heat so glad it finally cooled off!  Ready for pumpkin everything and boots cardis and sweaters! heck jeans and no sweating! Being able to function again!

- My front DECK and stairs are almost done its taken awhile but its going to be awesome and so much more welcoming so excited

-Everything costs so much more money these days ...taxes go up and bills go up but paychecks go down not sure how our government expects us all to live ...sucky world these days

-So much devastation worldwide in the past few weeks its been close to home with fires in Waterton threatening everything thankfully the rains snows and prayers of many were heard and it missed town thanks to our amazing fire fighters who are the heroes.... BUT it reminded me that we need to be more prepared and get things together. WHAT would you take if you only had an hour to get out?

-General Conf is coming up so excited our favorite times of the year!

 THOUGHTS

Oh my I love this crew! I just can't handle how big they are getting it goes by so so fast!

So here's to another year its crazy to look back through my blog and see the growth and fun and lessons we've learned along the way.. it may be sporadic posting these days but I love seeing the kids through the years and how far we've come. 

These kids are just so fun and they really all have such strong personalities dislikes, likes and talents, skills and mindsets. 

I love to watch them overcome and learn from their mistakes. I also love to see them watch others and the consequences of there actions and what there is to learn from it. They observe and see what is going on with clarity and sometimes call it like it is and I love that they notice the little things and big things and the impacts they have on lives. I love the great examples they have to learn from all around them and that they see what happiness and obedience can bring. Above all they all have goals and desires and are learning it takes effort.

and that....

"Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally,
it comes from what you do consistently."

"You have the potential to become anything to which you set your mind. You have a mind and a body and a spirit. With these three working together, you can walk the high road that leads to achievement and happiness. But this will require effort and sacrifice and faith."  President Gordon B. Hinckley.

 

and we are all learning and working on it together:) No matter how old we get we are still responsible for our choices, thoughts and actions and it takes work to stand alone and stand up and to stay on the path that will get them where we all want to be.  Thank goodness they are all stronger than me in the this day and age not sure I would have handled all that is thrown at them on the daily. I can hardly handle it as an adult. Poor Children but they are strong and they are loved and they KNOW and FEEL deeper than we ever did I believe that with all my heart!

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M e T h i n k s

Been thinking a lot about our place in life and where we fit in sometimes in this big race of life. I couldn't put it out of my mind how much we think we have to be perfect to live up to some standard we set for ourselves or compare with others lives .....that isn't entirely attainable for us, how we are all different but yet we all compare ourselves to this person or that and can't find the peace that we are ENOUGH that we can find peace if we realize what potential we have what we can do and be.

 Here's part of a talk 

by Patrica T. Holland you can read the rest here that puts it perfectly...

its so relevant for each and every one of us in this world we live in...

..."Surely there has not been another time in history when women have questioned their self-worth as harshly and critically as in the second half of the twentieth century. Many women are searching, almost frantically, as never before, for a sense of personal purpose and meaning; and many LDS women are searching, too, for eternal insight and meaning.

If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which we have always been known for.

Satan has effectively done that, catching us in the crunch of trying to be superhuman instead of striving to reach our unique, God-given potential within such diversity.

He tauntingly teases us that if we don’t have it all—fame, fortune, families, and fun, and have it all the time—we have been short-changed and are second-class citizens in the race of life.

As a sex we are struggling, our families are struggling, and our society is struggling. Drugs, divorce, family violence, and suicide are some of the ever-increasing side effects of our collective life in the express lane.

Too many of us are struggling and suffering, too many are running faster than they have strength, expecting too much of themselves.

 We must have the courage to be imperfect while striving for perfection.

We must not allow our own guilt, the feminist books, the talk-show hosts, or the whole media culture to sell us a bill of goods—or rather a bill of no goods. We can become so sidetracked in our compulsive search for identity and self-esteem that we really believe it can be found in having perfect figures or academic degrees or professional status or even absolute motherly success.
Yet, in so searching externally, we can be torn from our true internal, eternal selves. We often worry so much about pleasing and performing for others that we lose our uniqueness—that full and relaxed acceptance of one’s self as a person of worth and individuality. We become so frightened and insecure that we cannot be generous toward the diversity and individuality, and yes, problems, of our neighbors.
Too many women with these anxieties watch helplessly as their lives unravel from the very core that centers and sustains them.
Too many are like a ship at sea without sail or rudder, “tossed to and fro,” as the Apostle Paul said (see Eph. 4:14), until more and more of us are genuinely, rail- grabbingly seasick.

I believe we can find our steady footing and stilling of the soul by turning away from physical preoccupations, superwoman accomplishments, and endless popularity contests, and returning instead to the wholeness of our soul, that unity in our very being that balances the demanding and inevitable diversity of life.".....

 I hope we all know how awesome we all are because we aren't all the same 
we need to find our own individuality, our own strength, our own self worth and ultimately we can and will find peace in that, that it is ENOUGH..

 

{ Time Well Spent }

 

August. The point where I'm done. Done. I need schedule, school and routine. So does my 11 year old ahhh! I'm so done with the heat too and ready for pumpkin everything and boots cardis and whatever else fall. READY. 

D has been gone most of the summer long long hours so its been a lonely me summer with the kids. Though we got him for two reunions and a week at the lake so we count that as pretty lucky:) We've had a crazy summer full of reunions and trips and its been fun and the kids have had a blast but comes a time where we all thrive better being a little busier. I'm sure I'll regret that in a month and I'm sure every teacher is cursing me ha. But I love my kids and I do love having them home and enjoy all that we've done so don't get me wrong. But I love teachers they should be paid top dollar and be getting way more love then they do:) Anyway life is crazy as usual two teenagers in the house now! 

Number One K who just keeps growing and is almost  6'3 and ready to get his drivers in a few months ahhh!! Not ready for a high school kid! 

But so dang proud of that boy he has gotten up at 4:30-5:00 all summer to head to work at the ranch and works all day long and hard and comes home a dirty man such great life lessons. 

Earning money and working hard for it! 

L turned 13! this past week and I can hardly believe she is that old already where does the time go:( I'm honestly in denial that my kids are this old. {partly cause that makes me old ha ha!} She is looking forward to school and a good year so hoping for all good things for her too! She is really growing up into a beautiful young women with a strong testimony and knowledge of all things good.

M has loved his roaming running selling pawning collected entertaining days of summer and could probably huck finn his way through everyday of the year and not go to school ha ha but he is exhausting keeping track of him he needs schedule and routine more than any of the kids! 

K2 was baptized in July and don't think I've seen a kid more excited to be baptized then him he is the smartest boy and feels so deeply and just "knows" things that take the rest of us awhile he's quick happy and so 

 thoughtful of others. He's developing quite the little personality he's pretty funny and thinks he's a big boy now #butforevermybabyhellbe 

He's just so dang cute!

 and D and I have had a crazy hit and miss summer in one door out the other just so much going on in his life between all his demanding positions in life..... me well I'm just here being all supportive and stuff;) 

just doing my thing and hoping I'm doing something right in raising these babies right! Hard times all around us.... we have lots of good talks and study together and you just hope it all sinks in deep and takes root for life. I want so many good things for all of them. I want them to see the healthy relationships around them and the right choices that create happiness. That obedience really is happiness. That life is short and that holding onto what is good will take them so far in life. As well as learning to work for the things they want in life, to have the drive to achieve them and fight for what they want. 

We live in such an instant give me I can do anything I want world that gets stupider and needier and out of control by the day. I just hope they see and feel the spirit within our home and that traditions, rules, goals and creating these memories will and are so so worth it, the greatest gifts in life are right here. 

There is so much more than here and now.

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Loving this quote maybe part of our back to school theme:

"The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. Do not be deceived; behind that facade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. The character of transgression remains the same. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone.  

Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. " 

Thomas S. Monson 

 Love that 

...."STAND FOR THE RIGHT EVEN IF YOU STAND ALONE."

"Be a light for others to follow"

So here's some some summer lovin fun:)

I feel like there were a lot of family reunions for a lot of people a lot of people this summer...

our tally lake vacation was semi fun;) the boat broke down but we still had fun beach days cliff jumping cousins and the last day we took them all to the waterslides they loved that!

I Forgot the part where we went to Utah at the end of June for D's work seminar once again so nice to see everyone and be apart of something much bigger than people realize. 
Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ has blessed our lives in every way.... we work for the church, serve in the church and all our children were adopted through LDS family services & all the greatest events and spiritual moments in my life have been associated with each of these these events and there is no way I could ever deny the feelings, experiences and deeply spiritual parts of my life that I have gained through each one. 
 I KNOW and I have felt so much that despite the trend we see around us those separating themselves from the church or falling away finding offenses and what ever else people find to leave a church its usually something within them that needs adjusting first.
 I know beyond anything that my family, my testimony, and this gospel is much more than this life here and now. I have a Savior who loves me... who love each of us .....who died for us and has a plan for each of us. Yes, there is heartache pain and trials but its usually these times when we need him most when we need to kneel not run away. Don't doubt your faith ....doubt your fears and find the root. Get on your knees and find the answers there because I am quite sure happiness can be and is found in there when we look around and serve others and actively seek for answers they will come. 

ANYWAY one of my favorite things of this trip was literally running into ELDER DALLIN H OAKS on temple square on my run one morning early at about 5:30am around temple square. I came around the corner on the north side and literally almost face to face ran into a man with a cap who said "oh excuse me" and immediately that VOICE! It took everything in me not to act like a 12 year old girl and get a selfie with him.... he was just on an early morning walk with three others too;) haha {{ another fun thing when we were in rexburg a few weeks later kirby heybourne  opened the door for me at the snow building at BYU-I I was all fan girl there too ha ha } but I just said thanks and kept walking:) because I'm like 41 not 12 ha ha!
THE other favorite thing and most amazing choir I've ever heard that three of my nieces and nephews from Arizona are apart of it is the millennial choir & orchestra {read about it on the link} it was amazing like tears streaming down your checks amazing so glad we were in town for their performances! So amazing!! 
And got to go to the temple and lunch with one of our favorite missionaries that served here. It was a nice week. Nice to have great friends who watch over my children like there own couldn't do it without them.

&

Now were ready to jump into fall:)

 

 

Have a great week...

{Look its JUNE}

 This beautiful view from my parents house a couple of weeks ago on a stormy night got me thinking all kinds of symbolism ......because our greatest source of peace is right in the middle of the swirling winds and rain, thunder & lighting and it stands alone and strong. 

Just as we have to do, and must do.

How is it even June already!! Feels like the new school  year just started a few days ago and now they are into their last 3 weeks! Crazy and I still have no grass, no porch, no mud room, no basement, no husband {*not literally} .....BUT I have a house and kids and a great husband who works super hard for us and looks out for another 300 people in our ward!  That's kinda busy!

 Patience never has been my strong point either ha ha;) 

All in time I know:) SO we have been super busy running here and there and I've been subbing a fair bit and with kids in various sports and such its been a busy spring! Summer can't come soon enough and then that's super busy too! FIGURING out that's just life it just starts fast forwarding and all along it we grow the kids grow, and we create memories and learning lessons all along the paths we take. 

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What's Up:

Been to waterton a couple times already M wanted to hike for his birthday so I took some of his friends up and we did a hike and went to wieners of waterton easy party and everyone had a blast!

  Took the kids to the hoodoos not far from here at writing on stone provincial park it was super fun!

 M loved his new bike for his birthday and I love that surprised face he was so happy!

 Mothers Day was in there too look at my babies getting so big! ahhh! not ready for that!!

 And this boy has been seriously growing up finally decided he was going to learn to ride his bike at  7!! Never would or wanted to but took off now he's such a joy!!

 This boy! M Man! I love this kid too! He is so independent, hard working and loving and fun! I got to spend the day with just him last week we had a great day!

 Lots of sports days and track and field days too the past few weeks! Proud of these kids for giving it there all!

 In all that my early mornings keep me going its harder to get up lately but its always worth it! They  are beautiful and life saving for me time to think and appreciate the many blessings I do have and forget the little things that don't matter!

 .....And little ms. cut her finger and got stitches last week making dinner lesson learned knives are sharp! She is growing up beautiful strong feisty but  really becoming a young women ups and downs and strong opinions teenagers in the house:) Love them!

 These kids just bring me complete joy! They make me laugh, cry and shake my head but I am so so blessed to have each one forever great kids!

 Got to see four of my five siblings just missing my other brother..... last Saturday as my sister and brother in law were able to adopt and seal this cute boy to their family forever! Such miracles these babies are!!

BECAUSE I haven't done a 

ME THINKS

in ages here goes...

I've been thinking a lot about choices our youth, our children and us as adults make that effect so many people around us and generations to come and sometimes to be honest it is so scary to see what some are choosing.

If they and we only knew and understood that this life is just a test and in the eternal realm of things its short and determines our future beyond the here and now.

someone once said "the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never crossing the goal line."

We have to prepare for the future, we have to teach our children now,

we have to be better examples! we have to limit our time wasted and get on our knees at our children's level to understand them and so they know we care understand and love them. Childhood only happens once. 

Many years ago now I wrote this entry after watching K walk into kindergarten for the first time with a backpack on that was about as big as he was I cried and hoped I'd done enough so far to help him make it...

{and it goes for each of my children} but its how I feel...

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.”

I Love this quote 

"We all want what is best for our kids and we teach them best we know how to. I know the first five years are the very most important and we've tried hard to teach him all that is important and to have respect and to show him how much we love, appreciate, support and value him, and want him to be happy. Before we sent him out into the world, now I guess its his turn to learn. Hopefully we've taught him well to make wise choices and to be an example.

...but today the moment I watched him walk ahead of me to school where he will spend the next twelve years of his life, I was overcome with the love I have for this boy that I hope and pray he makes wise choices, is happy and healthy and loves life and lives it to the fullest. That he won't get hurt to often and that he won't have to many hardships in life. That he will have success and love and live the gospel. 

I love my kids so so much! 

What a job we have to raise the next generation are we doing the best we can? 

We have been given some of the greatest gifts on this earth 

what are we doing with them?

That's the question - I think about that a lot.

 president monson:

"There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most." Now.

one day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important. Live in the present.

Your treasure map is now in place:

Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present.

no matter what stage of life you are in....

Have an awesome week!!

{ Just like that....}

"History and Culture are everywhere, and when you have eyes to see and absorb it, it changes everything."

Seriously is it really over and done! IT w.a.s AMAZING in every way perfect almost!!  where we went what we saw and most of all who I saw it all with!  My planning booking and hotels, trains planes and automobiles turned out for the most part just perfect and according to my itinerary. I was proud of myself ........I'm a big girl now;) ha ha 

But for real the most amazing 13 days! 

ps {{ fair warning....This is going to be a long post..... very long.....}}

We did this trip for around $7000 

money I made from my trade shows and jewelry sales

SO I'll lay out the planning, booking and trip tips and what we did if your goal is to see as much as possible in a week and half 

 we flew from Calgary to Houston to London 

and on the way back straight from London to Calgary

We did London-PARIS-England-Scotland-Ireland

  So if you want an in depth .....here's your post because we saw SO much and drove probably 2000 plus miles! Good thing I had a good left side driver who had already spent years doing it!

I booked our flight in February through Fare Boom.com I got our tickets for $2027 and got the app for my phone .....that did a countdown and as our trip went on it updated with gate and check ins along the way it was an awesome way to go I was impressed....

Next I mapped out what we wanted to see when and how to get there. I did distances through rome 2 rio which had taxi driving times its pretty awesome too... 

I booked entirely through EXPEDIA and got the app again awesome all the details were right there the receipts updates and links for things to do under each city with discounted trips and deals for each!

I didn't change any money to pounds or euros the bank basically told me it was cheaper to just use the ATM when in the countries we did it a few times but mostly used a visa card

-I photocopied my passport and took pictures of my visa and other cards and kept a digital copy and a photocopy in different places too

-I printed all my expedia receipts so I had a paper copy and bought a plastic file folder to hold it all  

-I kept a small journal with times things were open and address ready so if we needed them they were right there

-Make sure you have a good cell phone roaming package and good maps and GPS serious life savors - 

Make sure your rental cars have GPS too not sure how you would make it on the crazy crazy roads there!
-Invest in a good rain and windproof jacket I found the perfect one with lots of pockets enclousures and a hood big enough to cover helmet hair:)

- We bought these water bottles from amazon and they were awesome filled them up each morning, emptied and rolled through security and don't take up a lot of space and weight! or you'll be spending money on bottled water your whole trip!

OUR flight was for 6:30 am on April 13th so we stayed up that night I went for a run at 11 pm then had a coldish shower to help stay awake and we left at 1:30 for the airport and did awesome at staying awake .....till our flights where we slept for a bit but made the jet lag almost non existent when we got there, can't say the same for right now ha ha

We landed at 7:30am in London with high speed train passes on the Heathrow Express which gets you to London city center in 15 minutes verses 2 hours on a train and we paid $66 Canadian for tickets well worth it through expedia! and I made sure our hotels did luggage storage nothing worse then having to take your luggage sightseeing with you!  We took a taxi to our hotel ..........we stayed in the park plaza london riverwalk pretty modern and fancy and within walking distance to all the sites across the river from the West minister Abbey it was perfect! {hotels are expensive in london and paris so it was hard to find anything cheap but this one was great} convenient & close

We saw so much we did the BIG Bus tours open topped hop on hop off tour buses that run all day and have coupons and guided tour along the way we thought it was a great way to see everything we got off when we wanted and hop back on when your done

{*tip**you can buy tickets at any stop along the way and we found it was cheaper on the spot then online}}

we got off at

 Buckingham palace and the changing of the guard so so many people as it was Easter weekend! Like SOO many people! 

{{GO EARLY}}

we saw 

Westminster abbey and government building 

{which were closed our luck ha ha but still amazing to see and walk around}

{the abbey is where will and kate got married}

we saw big ben 

Trafalgar square,

 st pauls cathredral where Lady Di and Prince Charles got married 

Tower of London tour 

{{ ***tip- BUY FAST TRACK TICKETS ANY TIME YOU CAN or you will be waiting hours and hours in line its a waste spend the extra}}

The river Thames and later that night the London eye for some great views of the whole city

the only thing we didn't have time for that we hoped to get to was the 

British Museum 

but in the end of the trip we went to so many I'm okay ...next time;) 

We were dead tired when we got in but we filled the entire day with touring and running to the next thing. 

We had to get up at 4 to be to the st pancras train station by 5 to catch our CHUNNEL TRAIN to PARIS at 6:30 am in the morning

{{ I booked tickets online and paid $600}} 

so worth it once again in two hours your in Paris!

we had trouble the next morning at 5 am to flag a taxi it was a HOLIDAY Easter didn't think of that..... but we made it running caught our train and enjoyed the fast flying scenery to FRANCE:)

BEWARE of SCAMMERS looking for that tourist stamp across your forehead aka easy targets I guess ha ha

{{NOW as soon as we got off the train and into the station a man in a suit asked if we needed a taxi we said yes he immediately took our bags and went to an elevator and almost immediately it didn't feel right ....he takes us to the basement car park to a black unmarked Mercedes...... opens the door says madame and I get in look around there is no taxi anything in the car ......no meter thing .......no papers...... nothing it feels wrong so I get out and the Darren is arguing with the man who is saying its going to be $75 in cash to our hotel... I'm shaking my head D is feeling like we are being ...we tell him no no we aren't going to do this he the scammer tries hard to dicker with us we take our bags and run pretty much! So we go up in the station and wonder around trying to decide how to go get a proper taxi when the dude is hanging around watching us! Now here there are army men with huge guns walking around too, so we felt a little unsettled and decided to go out and get our taxi. Well the man follows us a bit says I do it for $50 and tries to take my bags to the elevator and I felt like Darren was saying well maybe we will to the elevator and were both like NO we aren't doing this we walk right out straight to a real taxi on the street through our bags in and get our $15 eruos ride to our hotel! ahhh *****so beware of swindlers looking for foreigners all I could think of was the movie TAKEN ha ha thank goodness we both felt it wasn't a good thing! saved!

{{ps french people are NOT friendly at all}} our London cab drivers were so talkative and helpful but France nobody makes eye contact ......no offense to nice friendly french people;)}}

SO moving on we stored our luggage at our hotel which was in the 5th district a beautiful section and close to the Eiffel tower ...a very tiny hotel little rooms but cute and fancy again hard to find something decently priced and close but we stayed here  the very best pictures are on the website obviously with a wide angle lens ha ha....  in reality the room was tiny could have fit in my front entrance but clean and all you actually needed.

 We then headed out to explore Paris

bought another big bus hop on hop off tour pass

we walked to the Eiffle Tower from our hotel and caught the bus from there along the way is everything so we saw 
des Champs-Élysées which ends with the

Arc D' Trimph
then onto the 

Louvre &

Notre Dame 

and so much along the way just seeing the shops and cafes definitely a different country history and culture was AMAZING!!! and so BEAUTIFUL!!Clean and well taken care of..

{we didn't have time for Versailles or the Paris temple they both are out of paris so time wise didn't fit in this time}}

PARIS is a beautiful city and the sights are much closer than we thought if you had time you could walk to all the major ones pretty much, seriously all of it was amazing! 

BUY YOUR LOUVRE tickets ahead of time and pay for the fast tract

the lines are unbelievable as is the Louvre like freaking amazing!!! 

SO worth it!

we waited in a long line thought this is ridiculous and bought the tickets on the phone and ran and got the paper tickets and saved three hours in line! 

Just couldn't figure out why nobody else thought of that ha ha!

FOOD 

LETS talk about crepes {{for those that know me I'm pretty much a clean eater ....gluten free...... mostly because I have issues and my body is much better without it}} 

BUT those crepes {{***tip-best food booth right under the tower itself }}we went twice!! banana & nutella and D ham and cheese to die for !! I came home and bought a crepe pan! 

and that's when my addiction for pain au chocolate from real patisseries began....... as did my stomach cramping ha but so so worth it! 

so so good and I pretty much had three in 2 days and then in every city all the way to Ireland ha ha there I admitted it;) SO good! 

**Thankfully I have a friend who bakes them here at home I'll just have to pay her;)

For dinner a real baguette sandwich under the tower in the dark across the river so amazing! maybe cause I hadn't eaten a sandwich for 3 years or they were just that amazing!

{{They make their sandwhiches in the morning and they sit out all day in their patisseries and they have very interesting combos like chicken stuffing and cheese......ummm baguette sandwiches}}

Anyway later that night I realized I HAD LOST MY VISA!! My visa that I prepaid money on to cover trip cost my hard earned money! Thankfully and miraculously and many prayers later Darren took me back to our hotel and then went out and retraced our steps to where we had been and FOUND IT!!!!  Seriously can't believe he found it still!

The next morning Easter morn we went to 

MASS at NOTRE DAME !!

its was pretty cool.

** ALL my high school french came in handy I could read menus and signs and the mass bulletin and helped translate for Darren it made me feel kinda useful;) ha I can't talk it or even understand what they are saying but I can read the papers in front of me.....

So after mass we took a taxi back to our hotel to get our luggage and taxied back to the Paris nord station to catch our train back to London for our next part of the journey... 

{{**I probably would have added another day in Paris and one less in Scotland if I were to do it over again....}}

BACK in London we walked to get to our our rental car place in a shady London neighborhood but got an audi and set off on our new adventures! 

D picked up left side driving right where he left it 21 years ago and felt like a race car driver. I on the other hand thought I was going to DIE! the curb is right there the roads are skinny the cars are right there!! 

They drive expertly in tight corners & YOU never see a single person on a cell phone while driving you have to be constantly aware of what you are doing!!  ITS INSANE but D loved it! There were some ahhhh!! moments and a lotta anxiety on my part didn't know I was but I was there for that!!

Anyway

Headed out to Highclere Castle I was SO excited to fulfill my dream of seeing downton abbey Highclere in real life!!! 

WELL it isn't on a main road where you can snap a picture and leave we were 10 minutes late!! 10 minutes!!!! I saw the spires of it but its well hidden in the forest and down so there is no way but to be there when they are open and it is gated and guarded we tried but were nicely escorted out:(( waaaa!! SO there went that:((

SO we traveled onto Salisbury Cathedral one of our taxi drivers had told us not to miss it and it was pretty amazing!! Seriously the work and feel of the history and effort to build these magnificent structures is beyond comprehension for real! This one was built in medieval times and over 750 years old! We can't even build something that lasts 20 years here! Its kinda of despicable that we can't keep history going here! Yet there it oozes from the ground in all there beautiful magnificent buildings, houses castles, cathedrals is truly amazing! Like in awe amazing!

While we were there we met an American family who told us not to pay to go to stonehedge that you could go straight through amesbury turn on your first left onto a dirt road to a sheep field and its right there over the fence ----so thats what we did! .....and perfect onto Bath where we had a reservation that night..... 

We got there after dark and it was kinda creepy! not gonna lie our hotel was nothing like the internet pictures that is for sure felt kinda haunted!! But it was beautiful in the morning the outside anyway and it was claustrophobically placed on a windy, skinny narrow road up a hill! So by far the worst reservation of the trip yet it does look beautiful online but its super old like old bathroom not very clean and my back window looked out to a shanty creepy shack not a nice picture!!  

Thankfully it was only one night and one hotel out of all we stayed in not bad. So this day we spent in BATH 

we went to the 

Roman Baths

The oldest house in Bath Sally Lunn's built in the 1425 insane and its still standing!

Did some shopping SHOP at primark! 

Its amazing cheap and crazy amount of stuff I can't even really explain it!

after that and driving around looking at the lovely oldest and structures

I wanted to go to the COTSWOLD district but somehow we missed all the roads and its a maze of highways there so we kept on driving 

  on towards the

LAKES DISTRICT kendal and windermere

my sisters' inlaws are from this area and we were staying the night at their house though they were over here in Canada while we were there what are the chances after all these years eh! But here brother in law was around and was a great host and we had our by far best sleep at there house. A true taste of England.

YOU CANNOT MISS THIS AREA OF ENGLAND 

it is probably the most beautiful place I have every seen in real!! Its quaint town, harbor, shades of green never seen before and sheep, rolling hills waterfalls 

cutest cafes streets and JUST GO!! So Beautiful

DO THE HIKE a small 30 minute ORREST HEAD hike it over looks the town water and is breathtaking at sunset!

walk by the water and drink it all in its unlike anything here!

The next morning we headed to Scotland.... stopped in PRESTON at the temple grounds probably easiest the prettiest manicured grounds of any temple I've been too. The MTC and stake building and family history site and distribution center and apartments are all on the same property its pretty amazing.

Then we decided to head to Edinburgh and the castle there and ended up driving onto the royal mile by fluke which was truly a cool site and the 

Edinburgh Castle was awesome 

the cafe there was great too.

Not many places to just pull over and eat but lots of cafes and street markets with fresh food along the way sometimes you really have to search....

After Edinburgh we traveled to Stirling Castle and the place of our Thomson relatives are from very cool 

We missed the time for the stirling castle but took pictures and moved onto 

FORT WILLIAM through to the highlands

the accents got thicker and the hotel was good clean and fine we stayed two nights and spent the next day 

at ISLE OF SKYE and the

Eilean Donan Castle {the sky fall one and the m5} beautiful castle too!

WE took a hike up the Old Man of Storr on the isle stunning views 

and drive all day on the isle it was amazing too 

The next day we did the Glennfinnan Viaduct {the one from Harry Potter with the steam engine } Truthfully I've never read one harry potter book or watched a movie ha

we went to the iverlocky castle ruins its free and fascinating too 

AND then headed to GLASGOW { glasgow wasn't that nice more modern feel to it} to catch our flight to Belfast that was leaving at 8 pm super cheap it was $100 for both of us on easy jet and a 55 min flight.....

RENTAL CARS ended up being the most money we did get the $150 insurance coverage in case on both rentals and both ended up being in the $600 range and less then $ 200 on gas 

Darren served his mission in the Dublin Ireland Mission over 20 years ago and this was the first time back it was really awesome to tour his areas see some of the places he lived and served and hear stories I'd never heard before and he was happy and excited to be back. WE got to visit a man he knew back then and that was awesome!

We stayed at the MALDRON hotel literally 15 steps from the airport and super nice and great staff would recommend to anyone we stayed to nights there before we headed to Dublin...
  We got the rain wind and misty rain  we did the 
Antrim coastal drive one of the top 5 in the world for coastal drives beautiful!!

and giants causeway in the pouring rain then traveled onto dunluce castle
-Toured some of darrens old mission towns, houses and areas along the way and had a beautiful rainy day together Ireland is BEAUTIFUL!! ROADS ARE TINY AND SCARY like two cars on a bike path literally have to pull over on little pull out pass things crazy!

The next day we did the TITANIC MUSEUM and it really is a well done put together museum worth the money and time

WE visited on our way to Dublin a man from D's mission it was fun to listen to them talk about when he was here.

In Dublin we got there Saturday night did some touring of D's flats and the church and all sorts of places he had lived or been 

WE stayed at the Clayton Hotel at the airport for the two nights we were there very nice on and a chain with the Maldron both very nice!

We toured the TRINITY COLLEGE AND BOOK OF KELLS well worth

 it amazing how old things over in those countries!

We did the city sightseeing tour bus hop on hop off tour very worth it! 

We went to the finglas ward in Dublin where D spent 9 months of his mission but there weren't to many left from when he was there but Elder Patrick Kearon from the Area Authority was there fun to hear a general authority speak:)  

and a missionary serving there from Lethbridge that was fun I randomly remembered seeing an instagram post of a cousin of his here in town and weirdly remembered he was called to this mission what the heck eh! So we got a picture with him and sent it to his family small world! 

We visited the MALAHIDE castle in the early morning before it was open but it was one of the most beautiful ones the grounds were amazing

We visited Glasnevin Cemetery   we just walked through the cemetery didn't do the museum part of it the cemetery itself is enough  

We shopped grafton street ate gelato and more crepes it was heavenly

even ran into sister missionaries on grafton street so fun:) a sister jorganson from bountiful, utah if I'm remembering right:) 

......and that was the perfect day & perfect ending to our dream vacation.

We flew from Dublin to London and London to home Monday Morning making Monday offically the longest day ever... and now all I want to do is sleep and dream like I never left yet, because now it feels like a dream. 

It really was so amazing all of it!

I am thankful to be born where I am, to have what we do and I so appreciate more those that went before us and left these beautiful countries to come over here, poor souls. I feel blessed to have been able to go and to work hard to achieve a goal I've had for a long time and for all the planning and activities to turn out as perfect as they could. 

But best of all to spend the time away together.

A few randoms

 **My hairdryer and straightener DID NOT work over there with the adapter/converter but all our cell phone/ ipad/ fit bits were all fine. I tried my blow dryer and it about blew me across the room! Didn't dare even try the straightener to much money on that one......SO

I bought a cheap one there and it was great.... I just didn't use a straightener the whole time there!

 queue means line

a car park is a garage

a window screen means windshield

you cheeky little monkey with an english accent is about the cutest thing ever that I heard a mother say to her son!! 

there are no stop signs in Scotland that we saw ROUNDABOUTS are everywhere and keep things flowing on the mass of roads going every which way and nobody signals ever!

-speeds and slow downs are painted on the roads

-there are no semis suburbans trucks or hardly SUVs they have flat front -lorries that are there semis 

-the roads are super super narrow 

-they park  where ever they feel like sidewalks highways road 

-the yellow bushes along the roads and fields everywhere over there are called Gorse

-There are hardly any chains but the biggest chain was McDonalds but none like ours they are practically hidden and all you see are the arches 

domino pizza was the other biggest other chain we saw

-toilet paper in France is like a paper towel soft and thick ha ha

-I absolutely loved the black planter boxes and boxwood everywhere in front of shops along the road now I want to do my front porch in that style!

-Men and youth dress so nice over there in all the countries we were in didn't see one ugly shorts and nike socks pulled up they were nice jeans shoes coats shirts very nice and a whole lot of good looking people over there;) 

-women wore to much make up weird makeup in some parts and nose rings and belly shirts were the fashion on a lot of younger girls 

lets please pray it doesn't come this far! again ahh!

 leather coats and skinny jeans and booties were very common on the nicer dressed girls and women:)

Well this is so so long!  Seriously thanks to all who bought my jewelry over the years that help me dream about this trip plan it out and go! 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SO a rough breakdown of our costs:

 $2027 for flights to London

$1200 for rental cars {plus insurance}
$200 gas

$1600 for hotels 
$600 train to Paris
$250 flight from Dublin to London
$80 flight from Glasgow to Belfast
$1000 for taxis, tours, food and tickets castles and museums
$300 souvenirs this and that's

Any questions I didn't answer just a leave a comment:) 

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY