valentine's day and sunday....what a nice combination. it started with breakfast made by shawn. blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, juice and strawberries. thank you shawn, what a sweetheart you are. oh, and did i mention the sweet card? yeah, that completed the meal. so thoughtful. then calls and texts, a great church service and dinner at my oma's. allen got home from grand junction just in time for all of us to watch amazing race. what a great way to finish off the day. oh and another gift from allen (along with the beautiful flowers i received at school) chips and pop! yeah the way to my heart is definitely food...especially food i don't have to cook! thank you family, you make my life full of goodness and blessings. mmmm....another magic day.
today was a doing day. i cleaned closets, organized bins, ironed, sealed the countertops, scrapbooked my school beach pictures, had chris, rob and kids over for lunch (they brought pizza-thanks guys) did laundry, cleaned bathrooms and vacuumed. i feel a little tired but realized during the day how much i enjoyed working. i agree with Pres. McKay who said "work is a blessing". and what a great feeling it is to accomplish something. there is great joy and a replenishing of spirit in finishing projects. such magic in a day.
well LOST started and it's now week 2 and i'm as lost as ever in that show. i usually work on my computer while i watch a show and i've decided there's no way i can do that. if i miss one little comment i'm even more lost and then dad has to clue me in...which he's getting kind of tired of doing. so if anyone has any insights as to what's going on, bring it on, I'd LOVE to hear them!
One of the wonderful things about family is that you can share happy times, tough times, sad times and in sharing those experiences you not only become closer and stronger, but that those memories take on more meaning because you went through them together. Thank you all for adjusting your schedules to be at grandpa's funeral. I know Val and Tonya would also have been there in a heartbeat and I love you all for the role you took. Whether saying a prayer, sharing a memory, or staying home to take care of children. You all are amazing people and I feel blessed to know that whatever may come our way, we are all in this together. I love you all!
well mary and i are doing a deal that we won't eat any sugar except for one day a week. whoever messes up has to pay up $10. i think chis is joining us too. anyone else want to join? so i'll have to chronicle this journey. the goal is to become healthier, have more energy and look dang good. i'm usually only good for 2 weeks, ok maybe that's an exaggeration....maybe 2 days. but i'm a woman of great faith so i'm expecting great things.
it's sunday and i want you to know how much i love this day. i think sundays are one of the great blessings the Lord gave us. it's a day that nourishes me, gives me time to reflect, sometimes a day to heal but most of all a day to be fed by the spirit. this week grandpa died and it has all the more caused me to reflect on life and what it's all about. why we have to go through the things we do, how do we go through hard things and what we learn from those things. elder scott said this: "as you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions to the challenges of life you would not obtain otherwise. no matter how strong your faith is, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. rather He will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you. your exercise of faith will forge strength of character available to you in times of critical need. such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. that is when it is used."
in section 24 of the d&c the Lord tells joseph to be patient in his afflictions because he would have many. not exactly great news to joseph, but the next lines says "but endure them for I am with thee." that's a little more comforting, but there's no there's no promise of ease. apparently those afflictions are our training ground, our boot camp, the way we get strong. an opportunity to prove ourselves to ourselves. elder scott says: strong moral character results from consistent correct choices in the trials and testing of life. such choices are made with trust in things that are believed and, when acted upon, will be confirmed as true. God uses your faith to mold your character.
so family....carry on, endure well. we are all learning together...and we are all learning from each other.
If you're looking for a fun evening have i got news for you. yes, it's called 'cootie'! bekah and kyle had game night last night with gamma and gamps and talk about having FUN! forget about wii's, forget about disneyland...cootie has it all. action, creativity, and most of all, lots of small plastic pieces. i know you're all thinking, i can't wait to go to gamma and gamps so i can play too. and what i say to you is: it's definitely not for the weak in heart, but if you want the ride of your life, bring your trash talking and we're on!
