Peace

As I sit to write a little note to friends and family this season, I'm contemplating the things that should be included. With blogs, texting, facebook and so many other wonderful technologies it kinda seems that I didn't really even need to write a letter this year. So instead I'll just write a blog of what has been on my mind today.

While I sat in church today reflecting on this season, several times I was reminded of the true holiday spirit. So many wonderful testimonies were born of our Savior and of giving and of slowing down and taking a moment this season to feel peace through all the bustle. And just like a light bulb was turned on, I GOT IT! It sunk in.

And the minute I stepped foot out of the final meeting of the day, the next few hours before I would tuck my little ones into bed, every minute of our time was already spent! Dinner, clean up, Christmas devotional, a little celebration for a lost tooth, dessert, kids to bed then helping Scott prepare for his day tomorrow by assembling 40 little items he could hand out as he goes marketing, writing a couple of notes to friends and then typing my own feelings. And when I look down the calendar towards the end of the week every day goes just that way! No free time! Every day, from morning till night is just packed with things to do or watch or celebrate! It is crazy! With a schedule like that how is anyone to find time to ponder our Savior or his birth or the Spirit that comes with celebrating the miracles of our loving God?

But I got it! I felt the Spirit today! So... during dinner my heart was peaceful, and through out the rest of the evening my heart was light. Like I knew how and like I had done it a million times, I let the spirit of the season in! And it wasn't difficult and it felt natural, like my days are always this peaceful.

So, tomorrow the week begins. Tomorrow I start at the top of several lists and try to just complete something I can cross off. But while I am crossing off list items, I hope I can keep that peace that I felt tonight. The peace of the season of love. The peace that comes from knowing that my Savior was born to save me from my sin. He came to this earth to be an example of the right way. The majority of the things I have to accomplish this week are there because I choose to celebrate His birth. And this year as hectic as it may get I am going to choose to feel His peace.

Merry Christmas

November... Really?

Brain check... I can't believe we are already significantly into November! Time passage is like a mystery. I wish I could slow it down.

It never fails, every year, that as soon as October hits it's all like a blurrrrrr! Week after week the days are filled, the weekends are gone, no time to do anything other than what must be done! This year is not different.

October brought the annual beach trip, and with it, food planning, packing, cleaning the trailer, more packing and then being gone for a week! This doesn't seem like it could be a chore and well... it's not! It is always worth every moment of preperation! The only draw back to the beach trip is that the week comes and is gone before I know it.

And then woulnd't you know it, the moment we get home it is massive costume creation time! My kids are silly, they think the costume has to be home made and they think I can just whip anything up in a split second... well, I wish I were that good... But I relied on the thrift store this year and my rudementary sewing skills were put to the test once again. It all came together just in time for Halloween. Ahhh, the preperation has paid off... I think I'll get a rest.

NOT! Halloween backs right into November, and a birthday! And this year it was a biggie! I didn't even get a chance to take a breath before November slaped me in the face. Then it was big preperations for a big party. Kendahl's Sweet 16 birthday. I felt like I had it all planned and taken care of, and actually I kinda did! (notice my arm twisted, attempting the pat on the back... OUCH!) It was a GREAT party and Kendahl was all smiles! There was some concern about the 90 invitations that went out, but in the end the perfect amount of guests were there... about half showed up! I figured that was a great number!! Everyone played, ate, talked, danced, played some more and seemed to really enjoy themselves! Not a single mishap that I can think of. What more can I ask for? My baby (who happens to be all grown up) was happy!

Now as we are just feeling the release of pressure from the party being over, this weekend we have the big Shenanigans production that the girls have been working on for months! So many hours will be put in for that this week as the final touches are done. Thankfully the hours aren't put in by me so much. All I really have to do is be the taxi driver to get them where they need to be. Cake... But the girls will be working hard! They get off the bus and rush off to practice. Bless their little hearts!

If you thought it was going to end there, think again. The next weekend we have Vally of Fire Marathon (in Nevada) where we are all going to be volunteers (and we're even going to attempt to walk the 10k...), the week after that we are going to be in Williams and Mesa for Thanksgiving. And then... BAM... it's December! I won't bore you with the to do's of December yet, but when have you ever heard of a December that wasn't just filled to the brim??? I know!

Sometimes sleep is like gold! Gratefully I am excitd for all the events! I may be running on empty, but I will have a smile on my face while I am doing it! I hope evereyone else is enjoying the rushings around and the things to get done! Don't forget to be grateful and smile!!!

Kendahl is sweet and 16

16 years ago today, we were blessed with a sweet baby girl! I was so excited and at the same time so scared! I wasn't sure I was even fit to be a mother, I really didn't even know what I was doing.

Today on her 16th birthday I am so proud to be her mother. She is a sweet, beautiful young woman. She is smart and has a good heart. She was blessed with quite a determined spirit, and while she seems to know where she's headed, sometimes I'm not quite sure where that might be, but I am grateful none the less.

I am truely blessed to be Kendahl's mother.

sleep is a wonderful thing

sleep IS a wonderful thing, but when you can't sleep it's fun to read blogs from friends and cousins and strangers and enjoy the funny quirky things they write. i love Laurene's blog because she likes to eat strange things. i like to get out of my own head and get into someone else's.

the things that are swimming through my head are simple... will i ever get packed in time to go camping? have i paid all the bills? how will i accomplish all the things on our crazy schedule tomorrow?

what i do know is that i am looking forward to a few hours of LDS programing on the tele. conference weekend is the best! so for at least a few hours i will have peace and rest while i watch and drink it all in.

Carter's talk.

My son was asked to speak in church this past Sunday. I wanted to share his talk because I thought it was so sweet. This boy has such a good heart. I am amazed by the things that go through his brain. He sometimes has me puzzled, because I can't get a read on him when he is so quiet... but then I just tickle him or squeeze him tight and get a smile out of him and I know all is well in his heart.

Enjoy his short but sweet talk. (He decided he would keep it short because two boys from our ward were giving a missionary farwell talk and he wanted to give plenty of time to them! Smart kid)

Talk given by Carter Noh 09-27-09

Service

Today I have been asked to speak on Service to Others. When the Savior was on the earth, he spent his time serving others.

Serving someone does not have to be a large act. Sometimes making someone’s day can be as small an act as smiling and being friendly. You might be serving others without even knowing it.

Service is only service if we do it with a glad heart. If we are helping someone, but we do so unhappily and murmuring, it is not real service. But if service is done with a happy heart and a good attitude, it will help us grow spiritually.

President Spencer W. Kimball once said, “The more we serve our fellow men in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls.”

One of the greatest acts of service is love. The Savior has told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we show love to others, we are serving them very much.

Sometimes Heavenly Father will use us to help others. When we serve them we are acting as tools in his hands. When you serve others you are also serving the Lord.

There are many ways to serve those around us. When we magnify our church callings, we are serving others. By being a good son or daughter and mother or father, we are serving our families. At school, we can serve others by setting a good example and being a good student. By being a good citizen in our town and country, we are serving others. We should always try to seek out opportunities to serve others in our homes, at church an everywhere we go. When we do missionary work and invite others into the gospel, we are also serving them and the Lord.

Some of the people who have served me are my parents, my teachers, and the church. My parents have given me the greatest kind of service; they have loved me, cared for me and taught me what is right. My teachers in both school and church have also done me a great service. By educating me and helping me grow, they have helped prepare me for a full and successful life. The church has shown me service by showing me what is right and pointed me in the right direction.

When the Savior was on the earth, He spent his time serving others. If you follow His example, you will be blessed and will come closer to Him.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I wanna know!

I wanna know why I like that song so much? Yes, that song, the one that comes up on this blog every time you log on. The one you are probably sick of hearing. Ordinary Miracle ~ ya, that one. It is so beautiful. Clara and I went to our neighbor's dance recital yesterday and little girls in flowing white dresses danced a ballet to that song. I nearly cried!

Well that wasn't why I started this blog, but when I logged on it camp up and I realized again that I love it. I was originally thinking that I wanna learn Photo Shop! How do I do it? Does anyone out there have a good class I can attend or log on to or something?

And while I'm on the subject, I wanna learn the guitar. I know where I can find classes for that... I just have to go get it done! hmmmmm

Well, it seems that we have all the answers here, so I'll keep asking! Why does my house get so messy so fast? I really don't get it. I can spend all day cleaning and seriously by the end of the day it's like those hours of cleaning never happened.

Why do my kids fight? Why does sleep feel so good and why is the good stuff always bad for you? Why are there weeds? Why do the black widow spiders like to hang out around my front door? Why doesn't our pool vacuum want to work? Why is there seemingly unlimited resources for energy in the US, but my house doesn't have enough electricity to not pop breakers? Why am I too tired to paint my walls and why don't I have trim where trim should be?

Shall I go on? I guess I'll spare you this time... Now tomorrow I better do a grateful blog!

I really want to know... should I do a grateful blog?

Blog-able

There are so many mundane blog-able events have happened today. Or should I say that DIDN'T happen today? Yep, that’s more like it.

The things I didn’t do today…

I didn’t get out of bed till 1 PM (except to take the kids to school)! It felt so good in my slippery, soft sheets… I didn’t want to get up and face the world.

I didn’t put away the boxes after I worked for a while emptying them. (I still have boxes of stuff from the old kitchen that I didn’t ever put away in the new kitchen…) But hey, I got more boxes emptied. That’s something, right?



I didn’t fold the laundry that I have been washing the past couple days. I could of, I should of, but I didn’t.

I didn’t cook the meat I took out of the freezer this afternoon. Really, I don’t know why I took it out. Did I really think I could get it thawed in time to put it in the slow cooker or even in time to grill it? Um… I didn’t even get it out till 2:30. That was just silly thinking.



I didn’t get out of the house to get a much needed soda till I had to go get the kids at 5 PM! That’s just insane!

Tomorrow I am going to do something worth blogging about! I might get out of bed and stay out of bed! Ya, that'd be great!

Dear Brother Summers...

Dear Brother Summers,

I love that you enjoy reading my blog...
I love that you married such a fun lady!
I love that I don't know you very well but yesterday your smile made me smile and warmed my heart!

The other day my mom asked me why anyone would want to keep a "journal" that anyone and everyone could read. I just told her that I enjoy it, and I do! I've heard it said that people write as a way to experience the wonderful things in life another time, (or something like that). I am writing to ingrain in myself the parts of my life that are worth shareing! If I have a week full of Heavenly Father's love I better share it, in hopes of continuing whatever it was that led me to feel that Spirit in the first place... So in the spirit of those thoughts I wanted to share a portion of an email I sent to a friend last night about what a wonderful day Sunday it was and what a wonderful week this has been...


email...
Wow, what a Sunday! It was so wonderful to see you (my friend) at church today!!! I mean it, when you walked in my heart was just happy and then when (your daughter and her husband) walked in with that beautiful grand baby it was even more full of joy! I had the perfect spot to be able to watch(your beautiful grand baby)smile and coo and suck her daddy's finger... It was great and just added that much more joy to my day! (And the smile (your daughter)had every time she would look at that baby is just priceless!)

I love our new Bishopric! I think it is a perfect mix of 3 humble men who will do a great job at serving our ward and I am so excited to see how that plays forward! I know everyone will miss the Fox's and it is true that they will leave a hole in the ward! But with change always comes good and bad. I hope the good out of it is that they love their new ward and are able to bring that strength and joy that we have felt from them!

Scott and I were able to go to the Temple with (young man prepairing to serve a mission)when he went in for his endowments this past week! It was great. Not so much because (YM) was there for the first time, (although that is always wonderful and refreshing) but because we hadn't been in waaaay too long and while we were there I was just so aware of Heavenly Father and the love he has for me and how aware he is of me. It brought me to a place I have needed to get to for a while now, and it felt wonderful! I guess that is a testimony of where I need to be more often!!!

And then today being Fast Sunday I took the opportunity to fast for a whole list of people who need prayers right now, but as I was fasting for them I was so blessed to feel an overwhelming feeling of peace and joy from the Spirit. The Sacrament meeting being what it was, was full of the Spirit anyway, but it just penetrated my sole! I was smiling the whole time and I felt those sore cheeks that you have been experiencing this weekend! What a wonderful feeling to know of the love from Heavenly Father!

I truly have been blessed this week. Because of the feelings of the day I made some commitments to make small changes in my life that will also bless me in that way.

Thank you for your friendships. I am blessed to have good friends like you in my life!

So you see Brother Summers, why I blog? Do you see how blessed we are to be in the same ward together, a ward that is part of a church that is led by a Prophet who is led by God! God is Good! That's what I know. Oh, and I also know that you and your wife will forever bring a smile to my face too!

Now make a comment on my blog so everyone won't think I made you up! And if anyone else reads this, leave me a comment so I will know that someone cares enough to read! Don't just read and run, it makes me wonder who is stalking me and my mom is worried about it... So if you take time to leave a comment we can assure my dear mother (and me) that no one is stalking me!

Have a blessed week...

Tough Times

Worry and concern fill my mind when I consider all the friends and loved ones in tough times right now. I wish I had the words to say that would make it all better for them. Hospital stays, mistery illness, marriages crumbleing, loss of jobs and homes, old age and life gone by. I have so much worry and concern for people that I love...

To you all in need of prayers, they are being said! I have been so wonderfully surprised by the amount of prayer given on the behalf of those in need. I don't know why it surprises me, people really come through. My husband has been such a good example to me of the opportunities to serve through fasting and praying. He has taken opportunities to fast for family as well as friends and he does it with such a sweet heart.

Prayers are being answered. Blessing are being given. Even in the darkness, light comes through. We have to keep hopeing and having incredible faith sometimes, and it may seem like forever, but it will come. The light is there.

I love you all who struggle through your days. You are examples to me of great stregnth!

Riverside Prep!!!

You know how cool it is to have all your kids attending the same school? Pretty cool! This happened once when I had two in middle school and one in elementary. Never thought it'd happen again! But Holy Canoly... it has! And I am glad! "Clara" (as she is refered to at school) and Brodric started at Riverside Prep today, Carter started there three weeks ago at the beginning of this School year and Kendahl attended there last year, so there you go, we're all in!

I feel a bit guilty though. I thought the trouble would come with Carter because he knew all summer that he would be attending this significantly smaller school. He was not too pleased. But from day one he has shown enthusiasum toward the school and everything else. *sigh*

Today seemed to go well getting the younger two in. One in fifth and one in first. The first grade teacher is a girl that I've watched grow up in our current ward, so I knew her and was super excited about her being Brodric's teacher. She's young but she's sweet. It's her fourth year teaching and I am hoping all goes well.

My first pangs of hesitation came tonight while I was putting Clara Baillie to bed... the tears started to flow and she was having a rough time. She was never totally on board with this whole "changing schools" idea because she has lots of friends at her other school and she has really come into her own in showing her cool personality and being able to be her fun, goofy self. Tonight she began sharing her sadness of leaving her friends and the lonliness she felt today not knowing a soul at the school (except her cousin who already has a group of good friends there.) I felt so bad for her. She said, "mom, there was one girl that looked like my other friend and I got excited, but then when she turned around I remembered it wasn't her and I was sad." and then, "I know EVERYONE at Rio Vista, all the teachers and everyone." I found myself questioning the decision... I hope I did the right thing and that I didn't pull her out at a critical time... Don't we always second guess as mothers? Next year she would of been at this school anyway, so she will have to adjust some time, but I just worry for her. After spending a while listening to her and letting her know how confident I am in her ability to make new friends and be able to show who she "really is", I suggested to her that if by tomorrow she isn't feeling better maybe she can ask for a blessing from dad. That seemed to help her feel better and she went to sleep more calm and I hope ready for tomorrow.

Since the kids are getting out of school later than usual and our time together is going to be cut short each evening, I tried really hard tonight to spend time with them from the time I picked them up until they were asleep. We played "ha" (remember that?) and told silly jokes for FHE... Everyone but Brodric got into it. This is us on the floor having a good time!

Here's hopeing that all goes well tomorrow...



(Brodric was being a stinker and didn't want to be in the picture... but after a good camera chase I got him anyway!!!)

Back to it... Our time in Nauvoo

I've had a few people remind me that I never finished blogging the trip... I knew it would happen. I knew that if I didn't do it while we were there it wouldn't get done, but dang it, I was just too tired! Now weeks later Im sure I will use less words to desciribe the experience, but hopefully the pictures and spirit will speak for it's self...

Nauvoo is just WONDERFUL. I can't believe I didn't know it before. President Hinckley said it and I will repeat something that sounds like what he said (because I can't remember the exact quote), "Everyone sould go to Nauvoo!!!" It is a special place with a spirit about it that I have never before felt. I feel like I know the people who experienced the hard ships so well. I feel like I understand a tiny bit of their trials. I feel like we are more like kin that ever before. It gave me a connection I didn't know I would find or enjoy!

There are so many things to do and see there that even if you couldn't make it to see the pagent you wouldn't even know there was anything you missed! They keep you busy with all kinds of wonderful entertainment and things to do and see! It was a great experience to be there with our kids and to see them enjoy it so much. Kendahl did love the pagent and went two nights in a row and then begged to go the third night.

We enjoyed a three mile trek like the pioneers took with the hand cart. We were blessed because I guess we had it easy. It hadn't rained in days, so there was no mud to speak of, which I take it is not always the case. There were dried up ruts and I could tell that if there had been rain it would of been a much different experience. But we did the whole three miles and enjoyed while we traveled along! Along the path you read stories and events that the saints had to endure while on their journey to the the Salt Lake Valley. It was tender and brought their struggles more to light. And then there were SO many more experiences just as amazing.

Oh I think I could go on and on, but the main thing that I want to portray is that there are others before us who were devoted saints and lived and died for a church and a prophet that they believed in so fully that they were willing to give of their lives to continue in the work of our Heavenly Father. I felt their testimonies in Nauvoo and I felt of the faith they had! I feel blessed to be able to have had the opportunity to get that glimpse of their lives and know and feel even a small part of their testimonies!

I don't think I have been able to put in words the things that are in my heart, but those who have studied Church History and know the stories better than I do would understand. I am NO historian and not even a good story teller, so I am not really a good one to get any good information from. Sorry about that, I guess you'll just have to find a way to go and experience Nauvoo for yourself!

Here's some of the fun stuff. Before one of the shows they had a little parade the kids could participate in. Carter joined in even though he was techinally to old. He is an awesome kid!

The National Anthem

More games.



Scott won the stick pull but Brodric got the kiss!!!




This was the trek we took. It wasn't all fun and games, some parts were tough. But we all loved it.




The Nauvoo Temple, it's beautiful!

Us at the Temple.

This is the end of Parley Street or what they call the Trail of Tears. This is the point where the pioneers either crossed the river by ferry or some crossed on frozen ice when the river miraculusly froze overnight. It was a miracle. This was a beautiful trail to walk and read exerpts from journals of the pioneer explaining their hardships. It was a really special time for us as a family as we read thier writings and walked down to the river.


Finally I wanted to add a bit about Carthage Jail. This is where the Prophet Joseph Smith was martered. He was shot through the window and fell to his death. The holes in the door were as the mobsters were shooting into the room where the Prophet and several other men were being held. It was another place where the Spirit was felt so strongly as we sat and experienced the place that the Prophet Joseph died. These are the actual bullet holes in the door.

The window looks so peaceful now. Not so much then...

Us standing outside the window where the Prophet Joseph Smith died.

missing you, enjoying God's creative beauty

I haven't been able to blog NAUVOO yet!!! I just could no longer do the late late nights to get it all in!

After traveling from one end of this country to the other I have to say that Heavenly Father has made such an amazing earth for us to borrow! What incredible beauty we have witnessed as we have traveled. Today we drove through Utah and I just LOVE the mountains from top to bottom!! Ending in St. George tonight, as we watched the sun set on the red rock mountains of southern Utah and I just couldn't get enough of them! I was driving so it was not to safe, but they are stunning!

Tomorrow we will be home and after I make sure all the kids are in school and happy I will get back into taking care of this little blog and posting the last pictures of our journey!!

Been missing blogging and missing everyone!!

good stuff and surprise!

We had a great day in Kirtland, OH. I loved seeing all the sites here. I think I would of liked living in the 1830's, but couldn't have handeled the persecution the early Latter Day Saints endured!!! It was great to see the lovely little town they built and get to tour the Kirtand Temple. While I'm taking this tour of sites from the history of our church, it really helps me to feel the reality of it all. It's one thing to hear stories and it's another to see the actual places where the events actually took place. To see the Newel K. Whitney Store and realize that that man had every convience of life while he lived in Kirtland, he was a rich man, yet he gave it all up to follow a prophet that he knew was a man of God. It is amazing and wonderful and inspiring.

A picture of the Saints building the Temple

Actual photo of the Temple today. It is now owned by the Community of Christ Church.

Us at the Newel K. Whitney store.

Inside one side of the store. I love the old stuff!!!

The saw mill and ashery. The only restored ashery in the US. This was pretty cool.


So the surprising thing was that while we were at the visitors center we got word that David Archuleta was in town and was going to do a "fireside" (that's a meeting where there is a speaker, just kind of an uplifting thing...) for the youth in this area and that he was going to be the speaker. So of course we found out when and where and WE WENT!

Now, you must know that Kendahl is a typical teen girl who loves David and all things teen-ish! She has posters of him on her wall, etc... So mostly she was super excited and it was fun to watch her!

But the important part was that David was a really neat kid! He fumbled over his words, he wasn't an elequent speaker at all, he wasn't polished and he sounded like every other teenager... BUT... He had a great message for the youth!

The format was that the kids got to write down questions for David and he basically read them and rambled on trying to answer them and going off subject and back on again. It was cute. Some of the questions were, "how do you stick to your standards while you are in this industry?" He said he had these standards before he ever thought about becoming famous, before he ever sang in front of people. These are the standards he has always had for himself so it wasn't different now. He said he gets teased sometimes but he doesn't take it to heart.

He was asked if he would be going on a mission. After a long story about the whole American Idol experience (because he gets off track easily) he said he feels he just started his mission early. He has people come up to him and tell him that when he sings they really feel something special and he said that is what he tries to do in his music. He feels that music is a testimony and that is how he shares it. He also said that in this industry anything can happen and no one is garenteed fame for long, so maybe some day if everyone forgets who he is he will be able to be called to a foreign country or something, but for now he is just on the mission early and takes every chance to tell people that the feelings they feel from him or the music is the Spirit. It was really special.

I mostly enjoyed that he was so down to earth and wanted people to know how much his faith meant to him. He shared his testimony in ways that the youth could really relate to, and that was wonderful. I was excited because I hope that for Kendahl he left the "poster image" on the wall and became an example of stregnth in a troubled world and that even young people can have that stregnth within them!

So what a great treat for us to be able to go experience that with the kids! Just a great bonus on this trip and a testimony builder for our children. I was so grateful for this experience. It is the kind of thing that I feel will really stick with them (Kendahl especially) and help them to be proud of their heritage and the background of the church they come from. That it is something to be proud of and the standards set for them are a wonderful way to live life.

(Sorry People, NO pictures of David! They wouldn't let us take any, but they let all the youth shake his hand afterward! That was nice.)

I'm just grateful tonight for this whole experience with our children and as a family. I'm not so hip on being gone 3 weeks, I don't really like that part at all, but I love the lessons we are learning and nothing can be more precious.

This is the joy in life! Brodric loves to do cartwheels and he does them EVERY WHERE!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

(Mostly because I'm too tired to write anything!)


(ya gotta look at this one close up. double click on it... Bricky's face is awesome! even though I already posted Sunday... it's worth another picture!)


MONDAY





TUESDAY






WEDNESDAY












wednesday afternoon



THURSDAY





Question... is it really that good? Answer... most of the time! the rest of the time we might be a bit tired and cranky, but it has been pretty great! I wish I had more of today, no group picture, no good pictures of Cape Cod because we never really got there, but oh well, some days you just can't get the good ones.

Truth is that I have taken over a thousand pictures and I wish I could share them all!!

I've used way too many words now! Must go to bed!!!