The Christensen Chronicle

emotion overload

2012-01-23T20:33:00.003-07:00

Remember when I said I wanted to stop time? Now I want to speed it up!! I know, I can't make up my mind. It's my woman's prerogative right? Last Wednesday, Ryan left on his mission. To say it's been a marathon week of emotions would be an understatement. I think I have consumed more chocolate than is made by Hershey's at Valentine's.

I will write more of my feelings and experiences over the past month, when my emotions have stabalized a bit.

For now, I have started a mission blog for Ryan. If you would like to follow it you can visit
www.ryanmissionblog.blogspot.com and on the left column sign up by email. Then you will be notified whenever there is a new post.

I am not sure I have any readers anymore since my posts have nearly become extinct, but those of you still reading, thanks for your support and friendship.

more the merrier...

2011-12-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

Whoever said that never ordered from Amazon. This year for Christmas I did most of my Christmas shopping online. I was so proud of myself, all organized and on the ball. I had my list, I checked it twice and on Black Friday instead of fighting the crowds, I slept in. Later that day while sipping hot chocolate, lounging in my sweats, and singing to Christmas music playing in the background, I did my shopping! I completed most of it in one huge order of twenty something items. Score one for Val! or so I thought.

The next week the first part of my large shipment arrived. I had ordered two large suitcases for Ry for his mission. I came home from work and fed ex had dropped off four huge boxes on my porch. As I lugged them in the house, I noticed each one was a suitcase. The fact that two had somehow turned into four had me a bit confused. Pretty soon the doorbell rang with UPS with more packages, another part of my order. I didn't take time to open them as I walked to my mailbox, unlocked it and retrieved two more small packages that came through the postal service. I began opening box after box and realized that each item I had ordered was coming in duplicate. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I went online and opened my account. For some strange reason on November 25 my order was entered in the Amazon system twice. No I didn't accidentally put double of everything in my shopping cart, somehow there was a glitch in the system and my order was entered in again under a different order number. So now instead of twenty some odd items I was getting forty in various small shipments and groupings, only which a part had arrived. I spent over two hours with Amazon on chat on the computer and on the phone and they couldn't figure out what had happened. They told me as they were comparing order numbers and items back and forth that it was all very confusing! (well that was an understatement)

The only thing left to do was to print out return labels and send each item back that was duplicated. What a huge pain. So I have had to study order numbers, print out the appropriate return label, and not it's twin, and then make trips to Fed Ex, UPS and the post office. Things are still arriving and my headache is growing. At one time the living room was piled with nearly six feet of boxes. I remember going to bed one night, waking up and thinking it was all a bad dream. Then I walked downstairs and saw the mountain the the living room!

Every time we pass a parcel delivery truck on the road one of the kids pipes up with, "they are probably heading to our house ?" Needless to say when I now hear someone say, the more the merrier, I cringe and think next year it might be simpler to fight the crowds and do my shopping in person! Good Grief!

thanksgiving abc's...

2011-11-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was great having Ryan home from college for the week and having all of us together again. We had Thanksgiving at my parent's house. They came down from Salt Lake and it was fun to gather and be together again. Since they started their mission in September, even though they aren't that far away, our family gatherings haven't come as often and I find I miss them. I miss my siblings that aren't in the state, especially at the holidays, Cora and Jeff, Seth and Anna, Lucy and Taylor and all of your kids, you were definitely missed!! I stole these pictures from my sister Shelly. She is so great at taking pictures at family events, and even though I hate being photographed, I am grateful for the fun pictures she manages to get which make great memories.

The past few years I have always taken a minute and listed what I am grateful for. Even though I am a few days late, I wanted to take some time and make my list. A friend of mine took each letter of the alphabet and found something she was grateful for that started with that letter. As I am now a preschool teacher, I felt that was appropriate. :)

A...autumn
B...bubble baths, books, blogging
C...Cassidy, chocolate, Christmas
D... daffodils, Disneyland
E...every day
F...family, faith, freedom
G...giggles, games
H...holidays, health
I...ice cream
J...Josh
K..Kelly, kids, kisses
L...laughter
M...Mark, music, missionaries
N...nature, naps
O...ocean
P...prayer, parents, preschool
Q...quiet moments
R...Ryan, rain
S...Savior, seasons, sisters
T...time
U...umbrella's
V...vacations, vacuums
W...washing machines,weekends
X... eXaltation
Y...yarn
Z...zoo (which is my family when we are all together)

where did november go?

2011-11-21T02:24:00.000-07:00

I just realized it's been several weeks since I posted. I have no idea where this month has gone. Adjusting to working 20 + hours a week has thrown me for some loops, I must admit. I am still trying to figure out how to merge teaching, mommying and church responsibilities all while staying sane. Ok, it's been a long while since I've been sane but that is beside the point.

I find I am really good at compartmentalizing. The first couple weeks were rough. I couldn't seem to figure out how to be a mom and a preschool teacher at the same time. I forgot to pick up Mark one day at school, and nearly missed Cassie's dance class. One day I actually had to wrestle with the laundry room door to gain access and realized it was feeling neglected. Sometimes dinners have been done on the run, but I'm getting better. One day last week, I came home on time with a smile on my face, made dinner, cleaned the house, remembered all my carpools and even did a couple loads of laundry. Kelly asked how my day went and I announced that it was great! I wore all my hats that day and juggled all the balls I had up in the air, and didn't drop a one!

One thing that has surprised me is how much better I am at managing my time. Some days the busier I get, the more that gets done. I do enjoy having Tuesdays and Thursdays off to have some quiet time while the kids are gone and catch up on things around the house. I do love teaching these 45 little munchkins that rotate into my classroom every day though. They make me feel young as I sit on the floor with them and read stories, sing songs and try to teach them something. Of course getting my body off of the floor is a little more time consuming that it was 15 years ago. :)

Life is good and I feel blessed. Ryan is home this week for the holiday so it's fun to have everyone around the dinner table again. Cassie finished her volleyball season (pictures coming) and did a fantastic job. Josh and Cass managed to get incredible grades their first term and Mark and I had a few less battles over homework. All in all November has been good.

I am looking forward to the Christmas season, it's my favorite time of the year and always passes much too quickly. It seems especially important this year as it will be the last holiday our family will be all together for the foreseeable future.

I think I have rambled on enough for one post. It is nearly 2:30 in the morning but this cough and cold I have acquired recently doesn't cooperate very well with sleep. We will have to work on that. Thanks for making it through this long post and hopefully I can be better at writing this next month.

who woulda thought...

2011-11-01T10:21:00.000-06:00

If you would have asked me 12 years ago, if I ever thought I’d be teaching preschool again, I would have laughed at you. Life has a funny way of making you change your mind about things doesn’t it? When Ryan, Josh and Cassidy were little, I enjoyed teaching preschool in my home. After five years of doing it, I thought I had moved on in a different direction with my kids and my life. Now things have come full circle and yesterday I completed my first day of teaching preschool yet again.

I am teaching at a preschool just over a mile from my house on MWF while the kids are at school. It came about so quickly and out of the blue that I still have to shake my head about it. I have spent the last week and a half in a whirlwind trying to get organized and ready. My sister Lucy in Indiana, shipped all my old preschool stuff that I gave her when I was through teaching, and my other sister Rachael had quite a bit of things she has collected over the years. Organizing all of that, plus getting new things together has kept me running.

This preschool is in a beautiful old building that has been recently remodeled. Most of the classrooms were painted a generic tan, and when I saw the classroom that was to be mine I knew that had to change. I didn’t want to wait on their time table to paint it for me so I volunteered my family to help. Saturday, Kelly, Josh, Cassidy and I spent over ten hours, painting, organizing and decorating this room. It is so cute, I need to take pictures.

I had to laugh that my first day was Halloween, the kids were crazy as to be expected, which means it can only get better right? I am amazed how things have fallen in to place and even more so, of how excited this endeavor has made me and how much fun I had yesterday. Who indeed would have thought?

mommy moments....

2011-10-22T21:26:00.001-06:00

So many times it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and stress of everyday life that I forget to take time to record the small moments that make me so happy to be a mom. The past couple weeks have been full of them as I have spent some time reflecting. These are a few things that I want to remember.

Hugging Ryan in the temple as he went through for the first time.

Witnessing the huge smile on Cassie's face when she told me how Josh took the medal she received in an Irish Dance competition and held it up to his friend and told him that she was Olympic materiel and she made forty girls cry when she received it. (It's always a shock to a parent when a child tattles about good things a sibling did!!)

Mark getting 100 percent on his spelling test! If you knew how much blood, sweat and chocolate went into getting him through his homework each week, you'd know what a huge thing this is!! (One week he refused to learn his words because they had the silent letters in them, like knife, comb and so on...he said if you can't hear the letter than he didn't have to spell it! I really want to have the authors of the English Language spend time helping this kid with his spelling!)

Setting six places at the dinner table for a few days when Ryan was home for Fall Break.

Watching Josh and Kelly give Josh's old car a tune up together and the triumph on both their faces when the car started after their efforts.

Seeing all four of my kids laughing and chasing each other around and actually appreciating the noise and chaos of the moment.

Being a mother is the hardest, most challenging thing I have ever done. It has brought the most worry, stress and anxiety, but most importantly, it has brought me tremendous joy and fulfillment. When I was knee deep in diapers, temper tantrums and toddlers for so many years, I couldn’t foresee ever wanting time to stand still. But as life is changing at such a rapid pace, I wish I took more time to write down the mommy moments that happen quietly in the midst of the hustle and bustle and appreciated them a bit more.

losing my mind, the sequel...

2011-10-06T08:37:00.002-06:00

Typically, there is a bit of time between sequel’s in books and movies; unfortunately, that doesn’t hold true in my life as anyone who knows me, can attest. Many of you who read this blog regularly (thank goodness it’s not many) might think one person cannot possibly have so many brain lapses; unfortunately, my life continues to prove otherwise.

The following experience happened the day after I posted the “losing my mind” entry a couple weeks ago; however, I felt I needed a little time to elapse before I confessed it. A sense of humor is very necessary in this sometimes gloomy world we live in, so I have learned to find it wherever I can. I am just fortunate that my own life affords me so many opportunities to smile.

I was so excited about coming out of the grocery store one morning and spotting the van right away. Usually, some hunting is required. I must be having a good day, I think. I promptly loaded my groceries in the back of the van, put the cart away, and walked around and sat down in the driver’s seat, only to notice some feather thing dangling from the rearview mirror. Assuming a car decorator hadn’t visited while I was shopping, I looked around the van and upon careful inspection, I realized that yet again, I had lost my mind. I was in the wrong van!

I have to clarify that this van was identical to my van-- apparently half of Utah County shares my taste in vehicles-- but sadly, my van was three parking spaces to the north. What are the chances of two identical vans parked in close proximity to one another, and both drivers not locking their doors? The odds are pretty darn good, if one of the drivers is me.

Frantically I grabbed a cart, reloaded the groceries, all the while looking for witnesses to my debacle and praying that the real owners of the van wouldn’t at any minute appear with the police in tow. Thankfully, I successfully made the transfer with no one the wiser unless someone took video evidence they are planning on putting on YouTube. Just think I could be the next viral phenomenon. Good grief! What am I going to do next? Stay tuned because as certain as the sun rises each day, sooner than later, I will post yet another sequel in this series.

(Laurel, I have another entry for the dumbest thing you ever did contest, should you ever decided to hold it again on your blog!)

parable of the jalapeno plant...

2011-10-01T14:14:00.001-06:00

There was once a young boy who brought home a plant from a primary lesson at church. Although his family was known throughout the land, for their absence of green thumbs, he decided he would be different and with no doubt of his abilities, set off to plant this puny seedling. He went out and found a spot of land that was easily accessible and planted his little treasure. He immediately watered it and watched it for a time.

A week or so later, to his great sorrow, he saw that his petite plant had been cruelly abused and trodden upon, leaving it's fragile stem broken. Shedding a tear or two, he examined the damage, found a large plastic cup, cut a hole in the top and placed it delicately over his injured plant. He then gathered small rocks and formed a protective circle around the cup. His parents, certain of the demise of this little seedling, instructed their son that they would purchase a new plant for him and he could start again. Having more faith in his endeavors than his parents, he said no, and increased his watchful eye on his plant. Day after day, week after week, he never gave up hope that he would be successful and one day harvest little jalapeno’s .

To the great awe of his family, this once little broken sprout, had grown up through the cup and was flourishing. Having a slow start, it was already late in the growing season and the boy was told not to expect much of anything before the first frost, but was praised for his efforts and determination. As time went on, the family forgot about this little plant, but not the boy. He weeded around it, he pulled bugs off it and one day announced that there were little peppers on his plant. The family all went out and sure enough, this once small puny green leafed thing had grown and had several peppers hanging from its stems.

This past week, the family picked and enjoyed the first jalapenos of the season.

I am so proud of Mark, who has shown me this past summer that perseverance and dedication can reap rewards, even under the most difficult of circumstances. He has taught me that despite my age and wisdom, I can always learn great things from the faith of a child.

losing my mind....

2011-09-25T19:26:00.002-06:00

Once again this week, I find my mind repeatedly being hijacked by age, lack of sleep, chocolate deprivation (I went for two days without it) or some other horrific thing.

I was proud of myself that I remembered the Room Mother meeting at 4:00 p.m, just not so proud that I arrived at said meeting, a day late.

I sent Josh to pick up a carpool for me on Friday, trouble is, Friday isn't even my day for carpool. Josh felt silly pulling up right behind another mom in our carpool and having the kids look back and forth, trying to guess which vehicle to get into.

And today, I wore two different earrings to church. I don't know what's worse, realizing that I went around all day mismatched, or losing one of them and now have two pairs of earrings missing a partner. Although this wasn't quite as bad as when I wore two different shoes to church and didn't realize it until I sat down and glanced at my feet. (I was eight plus months pregnant at the time and had long since lost sight of my feet, so I guess that situation can't be blamed on my brain.)

just gotta smile...

2011-09-22T15:03:00.001-06:00

As my kids get older they don't say nearly as many funny things as they did when they were young. But the past couple weeks these are a few things I've heard.

Ryan has to do volunteer service for one of his classes and there weren't many options left that fit his schedule. This is the text I got from him.. "Here's one...I could teach Zumba to senior citizens." (Let's just say Ry got his grace from me, so after hysterically laughing at the thought of him teaching Zumba, we were both relieved when he found another option.) :)

Josh when asked about his golf game, "I knew it was going to be bad when I had lost ten balls by the fourth hole..."

Mark talking to Cassidy about college football (this was before the BYU UTAH fiasco) "BYU is the best because they are dependant and Utah is the worst because they are in the Bottom 12 conference"

Cassie when I cut open a seeded watermelon, "Wow, so that's what they look like with seeds!" (I must be a lazy fruit buyer)

Mark, when asked if his room was clean so he could go play, "yeah, it's all done, except the bed and the floor" (the walls must have looked good I guess)

What would we do without our kids to make us smile.

mission call....

2011-09-11T22:27:00.002-06:00

The wait was over and on Friday night the Christensen house was full of family, friends one large map, a middle aged mother who had aged ten years in the last two days, and finally one very anxious college student. All predictions were noted on a large map and then the envelope was opened...

The Alpine-German Speaking mission. We all took a minute to figure out just where that was. It is a recently reorganized mission that comprises Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. A little background on Ryan is he is a German fanatic. He has had German in school the past four years, and is constantly mumbling German phrases around the house that always sound like someone is sneezing or clearing their throat. He answers questions in German and then gets frustrated when I don't respond. I tell him that if he wants my attention, he needs to speak in our native tongue. So to say he was overwhelmed and thrilled is an understatement. Out of five countries in the world that speak German, he is going to four of them. If you didn't notice in the video, he mentioned he has been reading the Book of Mormon in German this past year and the night he received his call he was finishing the last chapter. I got teary when he said that, and to see him a bit choked up didn't help my waterworks one bit!

We were all so grateful to have had so many people over here and also supporting us from a distance. We had cell phones on speaker, video chat and facebook all going simultaneously. Ry leaves on January 18th, and I'm glad to have him home after this semester for the holidays. It's a bit daunting to think of all the things we need to accomplish in the next few months and with him not here at home some things will be a bit of a challenge. I am excited for this opportunity he will have to travel to a place he already loves, and get to share something he loves even more.

patience is a virtue???

2011-09-07T15:47:00.002-06:00

Really? I'm in trouble. By this definition, I am truly not a virtuous person. I am the one who:

eats the cookie dough because baking the cookies takes too long;

learned how to wrap presents as a child by sneaking under the Christmas tree and unwrapping my gifts early each year.

consistently runs yellow (ok, orange) lights because waiting at the intersection might add two minutes to my day

changes lines multiple times in the grocery store, then watches to see if I actually picked the quicker line (usually I don't)

in a traffic jam, changes lanes multiple times in a futile attempt to find the quicker lane, (do you see a pattern here?)

bites my nails, because waiting for them to grow takes too long

nearly held a hospital hostage when pregnant with Josh because they had cancelled all inductions for the day, ("We'll try to fit you in tomorrow," they said. As in I have to wait 24 hours? Do you see this pregnant belly with a nearly ten pound child? I don't think so!)

So after 41 and a half years of being impatient, the universe decided to have a good laugh at my expense today. An hour ago, Ryan's mission call came in the mail, and since he is three hours south at college, I have to wait until Friday night to find out where he will be spending the next two years of his life!! Is this fair? After totally looking the large envelope over I think the church has made a mom proof envelope. Can't see through the thing or maneuver anything through the plastic window in the center. Rude!! The kids are obviously worried about me opening it, because they keep trying to get it and hide it somewhere. Maybe they are running some secret agent mission for Ryan, who knows! All I know is it's staring at me from across the room and just daring me to open it. Please pray for it's safety and protection until Ryan comes home in exactly fifty hours! Not that I'm counting or anything.

get out your hard hats....

2011-08-31T15:06:00.000-06:00

Today I realized it was probably a good idea to organize some closets around here. We had a pest control service (a.k.a. the bug guy, as Mark says) come for a routine spraying. He did a more thorough job inside than usual. When he came today, I don't think he thought his life would be in danger. He opened the pantry and got beaned by a broom and a cereal box. Oops. He opened the game closet and had a quick save as a board game or two tried to escape. Great reflexes on this this guy. Then there was the large costco size package of toilet paper that was compressed and held hostage in the upstairs closet. Upon it's release, it erupted into the hall and wouldn't allow the door to be shut again. I think he was worried he'd break the door, I from experience, knew this wouldn't be the case so I just gave it a gentle nudge ( ok a huge shove) and it closed quite nicely. I caught him before he opened the linen closet; I had seen the tower of towels the kids had precariously placed in there yesterday and couldn't see that going well. He did learn something by the time he opened the coat closet and stepped back first. Amazingly, nothing came flying out of that one.

Did I mention I did vacuum, dust, scour and clean all the rooms today? I didn't think the closets would be investigated and truth be told around here we just take protective measures every time we open a door so we don't think too much about it. :) Next time I will have hard hats available at the door with a sign that says, "open doors at your own risk."

ryan's ordination

2011-08-31T13:54:00.000-06:00

I just realized I didn't post about Ryan's ordination to Elder, which happened about a week before he left for school. It was a great day, we had a lot of family there to support him. Unfortunately, the camera didn't make it's way around to everyone. Mark was off playing with cousins so we couldn't find him for our family picture. Kelly's dad is in the pictures with us, and it was fun to get some photo's of him, as we don't take the chance nearly often enough.

happy birthday mark!!!

2011-08-24T17:10:00.000-06:00

My baby turned double digits today! Having him turn a decade old the same week Ry goes to college makes me feel my age and then some!! We missed having Ry at the party. We celebrated yesterday because today schedules were crazy and Mark was happy to open presents a day early! We went out to Brick Oven, Mark's favorite restaurant, and had fun watching him eat all you eat pasta and a chocolate mousse pie for desert. We then came home and he opened his presents, his favorite being a DS game from his sister and his motor scooter.

Today I took his class in treats and kidnapped him for lunch and we went to subway. Lots of fun memories. Today on the way to lunch we were talking about his negative attitude toward reading and how we needed to read this afternoon. He said, "If I had a Kindle I would love to read!" I do not have a Kindle and have no idea how he knew about them. I asked why a Kindle is better than a book and he said, "cause you can't get paper cuts.." There must be some story there that perhaps caused some psychological damage resulting in all our reading grief?

Happy Birthday Mark!! I love you so much! Thanks for always being so generous with your hugs and still letting me tuck you into bed every night.

emotional forcast....

2011-08-18T18:43:00.000-06:00

Cloudy with scattered showers throughout the day. That describes my tear ducts and mood currently.

Today Ryan left for college. As I watched him load the truck and drive away I had flashbacks of him walking into the kindergarten classroom with his backpack and a big smile waving goodbye as the door closed. I thought that was difficult, but it was just preparation for today. Maybe today is preparation for a few months from now when he will leave for two years. Time is such a precious thing and I haven't fully grasped how true that is until today. I think growing up is harder on parents than anyone else. As things got tough today, I kept reminding myself that clouds and rain don't last forever and eventually the sun comes out.

signs of summer coming to an end.....

2011-08-15T10:56:00.000-06:00

paying school fees

seeing Christmas stuff up in the stores

buying school supplies

craving structure

getting my kitchen back

not hearing, "I'm bored" every five minutes

retiring from being cruise director of summer activities

earlier bedtimes....yeah right

Kelly's insane work schedule...got to love budget season at Intermountain Healthcare

soccer season

planning the first BYU football party of the year

watching my oldest fill out mission papers and pack for college

realizing that life is changing and there isn't a darn thing I can do about it

my sister, the author...

2011-08-03T07:14:00.000-06:00

I get the privilege to be related to the most incredible women. One such woman, is my sister Rachael. She has talents galore, but the one I want to brag about today, is her writing skills. Her third book, Minor Adjustments, comes out this month and I encourage all who love a good wholesome book, with great dialogue, story and humor to check it out. She created a fun book trailer to to tell more about it. I tell you, this girl has skills and I'm her sister!! :)

You can purchase an advance copy of Minor Adjustments through Amazon now or look for it in book stores later this month.

Here is her blog if you are interested.

http://rachaelreneeanderson.blogspot.com/

crochet hats...

2011-07-20T22:40:00.000-06:00

When I had use of both hands I made these little hats for my nephew Max. He is so adorable and a great model for my hats. Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks! :)

opposable thumbs...

2011-07-20T11:12:00.000-06:00

It supposedly separates man from apes and this morning I am discovering why. I feel very clumsy and apelike today. Yesterday I was hit by a sweet teenage driver who thought she was at a four way stop instead of a two way. She pulled out right in front of me and our cars collided.

My hand hurt at the scene, where it gripped the steering wheel, but it wasn't any big thing. Throughout the day and evening it got worse and I couldn't grip things or use it much. I went into instacare last night and after xrays they determined it was a sprain. Because of the location of the pain and the chance the bone could have a hairline fracture they immobilized with a hard half cast. Thus my thumb and wrist aren"t working independent of each other and have taken on primate characteristics.

I have conked my forehead several times in the last few minutes while trying to brush hair out of my face. I will probably have a cute bruise on my head by the end of the day. The kids enjoy just hanging around to witness that one. Don't even get me started on fasteners like hooks,buttons,zippers or snaps. I didn't make any speed records at getting dressed this morning. I am typing with one hand and developing a strong dislike for capitalization and anything involving the shift and control keys. Cass put my hair in a ponytail for me today after feeling pity watching my unsuccessful attempts. I can't crochet or hold a book so hobbies are on hold. Thank goodness chocolate consumption only requires one hand or else I would be in total despair! :)

Seriously, I am grateful no one was hurt in the accident and by the end of this experience I will have developed a profound appreciation for thumbs and wrists. Just don't be surprised if the next time you see me I am making unintelligible sounds, climbing trees, and eating a banana, albeit a chocolate covered one.

cassidy is a teenager...

2011-07-17T16:56:00.000-06:00

Cassie's new room

This past week was Cassidy's 13th birthday. We decided to redo her room for her. Every member of the family was involved. We had her spend a couple days babysitting and hanging out with her cousins in Springville and the rest of us began the makeover here at home. It has become a tradition for Kelly to make something for her each year. This year he made a beautiful bookcase. Ryan has great talents in the shop also and helped him from the design to completion.

The day before her birthday Josh and I went to work. Josh was a HUGE help as he emptied her room, patched the walls, masked and help paint. He also helped hang things on the walls and set everything up later. It was fun to see Ryan, Josh and Mark, painting in pink's and purples as they helped get decorations done for their sister's rooms. Big thanks to Beth and Catherine who came over to help and made the cute fuzzy pillows for the bed.

Cassie with her friend Aubrey and her cousins Sydney and Ashlyn

Finally the night of Cass's birthday came and she opened a couple presents and then went to see her room. She loved it and her smile made all the effort worth it. I love you Cassidy. Happy Happy Birthday sweet girl.

The beautiful bookcase made by Kelly and Ry

Beth and Catherine's pillows!

crochet backpacks...

2011-07-17T16:40:00.000-06:00

I found a new pattern and adopted it to some drawstring backpacks. I made one for Cass and two for my little nieces Kennedy and Tacey. They were a lot of fun to do.

fun on the water...

2011-07-17T16:39:00.000-06:00

June 30-July 2 our family went to Park City. We went with my sister and her family and had a blast. We stayed in a hotel and although we had planned a horseback riding trip the first afternoon, weather caused us to postpone till a later time. We saw Cars 2, had fun on the water and enjoyed shopping at the outlet stores. I think our kid's favorite time was hanging out at the hotel swimming and playing pool, ping pong and hanging out with their cousins.

For some strange reason the only pictures we took, was the day spent at Jordanelle Reservoir. We borrowed a boat from another sister and spend a day on the water. It was cold, but as you can tell, the temperature didn't keep the kids out of the water. We have always loved taking vacations with the Grants. My sister Letha, and I, had our kids about the same time and our families have always been close. It is hard to see Kailey and Ryan, the oldest, going off to college this fall. I remember our vacations at Yellowstone and Bryce Canyon over the years and to think how fast time has gone once again astounds me.

Josh showing off his moves on the knee board

Ry and Cass braving the cold

Mark has got some skills!

Kevin's new dew!

Letha and James

Big thanks to Rach and Jeff for the generous use of their boat and to Josh's friend Kyle who dog sitted for us while we were gone. Even though it was a quick trip and not far from home the memories will last long into the future. Thanks Leth and James for helping plan a great trip.

pinewood derby....

2011-07-17T16:38:00.000-06:00

I am playing catch up with my postings!! I have fallen behind, good grief what's the world coming to! Last month was Mark's first pinewood derby. After watching Josh and Ryan race over the years, Mark has been counting the days until it was his turn. Although he has been in cubs for nearly two years, this was his troops first pinewood derby.

From the moment he got his car he was making plans. He wanted to start that first day (he gets his patience gene from his mom) and everyday reminded Kelly and I that it was time to begin this long sought after project. I remember one day after dinner Mark announced that they were going to start his car right then. He went out into the shop area of the garage and cleaned it (which loosely translated meant moving things from one side of the garage to the other). Next thing we noticed is that he was carting fans out into the garage. We went to inspect and found he had prepped the area and even thought of ventilation. Kelly went out and they began work on the car.

The night of the derby it was fun to see how excited Mark was. He ended up coming up first in his den and second overall. I don't know whose smile was bigger that night Mark or his dad's!

marks family reunion 2011 and the amazing race...

2011-07-08T14:04:00.000-06:00

The whole Marks crew

This past week we had all of my siblings (there are eight of us) and our families (32 grandchildren) gathered together for the first time in over six years. We have had fun visiting, swimming, playing, eating, amusement parking, boating and just being together. Because I live in Utah, I get the chance to see most of my brothers and sisters throughout the year as they come here to vacation, but there is something about all being together at the same time. We have a boisterous, crazy group but we made some fun memories.

The couples

Mom and Dad and their children

my incredible sisters

I have a fantastic sister, Shelly, who goes out of her way to create fun moments and memories, both in her own family and extending on to the rest of us. She forces us out of our comfort zones, and gets us to try things we haven't done before. Sometimes, we are a little hesitant to try her brainstorms, but in the end they become some of the best memories of all our time together. This trip was no different. She decided that the adults would do and "Amazing Race" around Orem. She and her husband Warren thought up all the clues, and drove around texting us the next clues and taking pictures of all our crazy antics. These are some of the pictures of the fun.

We divided up on two teams of four couples each. Our first challenge was to use enormous sling shots and shoot various items of different weights and sizes into buckets. Letha, my sister on the opposing team decided that Kelly was a threat so she pulled out some crazy moves to block us. Who knew she was that competitive, good thing Kelly took her in height!

We started receiving our clues after we conquered the first challenge. We received these by texts. When we would get to the correct location we had to text a picture to Shel and if it was correct she would give us the challenge we had to complete there. So the night involved lots of crazy driving, wrong locations and crazy people running all over town.

One of the challenges took us to a grocery store where we had to purchase and someone had to eat the grossest thing we could find. The winning team got minutes subtracted from their over all time. Pickled pigs feet and sardines were the choices. I think I will stick with chocolate.

After visiting a cemetery, department store, Trafalga, Winco, a bowling alley, and a whole bunch of other wrong locations, our last clue took us to Mimi's cafe where we all had dessert together and compared stories of the night. My team came in second, (notice I said second and not last) but it was close! Again, thanks to Shelly and Warren for putting this all together and then insisting we do it. It will be something we won't forget for a long time.

Shel even put a cute short video together of some of our adventures, just click on the amazing race link below!

amazing race....

By the way, I stole most of these pictures and video from my sister's blog, so thanks again Shel. For those of you who want to see the clues they came up with you can visit her blog which is listed on the right hand side of mine. It's called hill happenings.

family pictures...

2011-07-05T21:52:00.000-06:00

We had family pictures taken this weekend. We always get them in the fall so we thought we would try some in the summer. :) Cassie and Mark love to pose, but Ry and Josh weren't as accommodating.

too many buttons....

2011-06-15T13:03:00.000-06:00

Have you noticed how many buttons it takes to run our lives? I never realized I was dependant on so many, until last night, when I went to put in a dvd of a movie a friend loaned me. Let me say, usually, Kelly runs all remotes and electrical equipment in our house (something about a man thing) and he happens to be out of town this week. But as I am a college graduate and an intelligent and intuitive woman, I was not worried in the least about accomplishing my task. I ought to be able to figure out how to change the input from cable to dvd and play my movie!

I thought our cable remote worked all devices (isn't that what a smart remote is supposed to do?) Apparently our remote needs to return to school because aside from turning on the tv, volume control and cable control, it was absolutely useless! I dug into the remote control drawer, yes we do have an entire drawer dedicated to remotes, and was able to finally find the remote that matched up to my tv. Success!

Upon pushing several buttons and gaining no response, I flipped the remote over only to discover that the children had raided the batteries in the remotes to replenish their wii controllers. Good grief, here I am at ten at night searching through odd places to find batteries as the battery drawer was empty. I finally broke into the wii, stole back what was mine and proudly returned to my room. I was a woman on a mission now and I wasn't giving up.

After successfully getting the tv remote to work I studied all the various buttons and started pushing different ones to find the correct input. I then had to find the dvd remote to actually power and control the thing. Once again the batteries were a victim of the world of video games and I again went in search of new ones. By now I was totally exasperated but would not be deterred. After mumbling under my breath about children and our reliance on batteries, I finally was successful and returned once again to my room.

Finally, forty-five minutes later I had navigated the many remotes, pushed an excess of buttons and started my movie. Although I was proud of my accomplishments, I was too tired to return to the kitchen to make popcorn and decided a bubble bath and a book were in order.

That is what's wrong with the world today, or at least the Christensen household. There are too many complicating, time consuming, battery depleting, button pushing devices and not enough page turning, imagination building, intellect developing, quiet reflecting activities. So everyone needs to put down the buttons and open a book. It might not be the solution for world peace, but it sure would make a more well rounded society, and in my case family.

new projects

2011-06-12T21:20:00.001-06:00

This past month I have been in a crochet mood again. I have had a couple friends have babies and so I made some little hats. I even had the fun opportunity to help throw a baby shower. It's been awhile for me on that one. Cassie helped me make the little diaper cake. We had a blast. I crocheted the little hat on top of the bear for the new little one. I have made more girl hats lately too, but have given away some before I took pictures. These two are just some of the ones I still have here.

I am a craft spurter. I find something that I like and go gangbusters with it, only to burn out and have to take a break. So until the next crochet mood strikes, I thought I'd post these pictures.

i ate my willpower....

2011-06-08T20:48:00.000-06:00

That is the sign that hangs above my kitchen sink, "I ate my willpower". It causes a few chuckles and smiles when people come over, but it really is true! I am always trying to drop a few pounds (ok, I need to drop a lot more than a few, but baby steps people) but it is constantly an ongoing battle to have the self discipline to make any real dent in my waistline.

Yesterday when I was eating a couple cookies after dinner and Mark said, " mom, how come your always on on a diet for breakfast, but after dinner you're not?" I had to smile and think to myself, after all these years, my nine year old just figured out my problem!

I need some siren hooked to my pantry that goes off when I pick up the chocolate, "step away from the pantry and put down that chocolate bar nice and easy..."

One time years ago I made lemon bars, and discovered that I was the only one in my young family who liked them. I joked with Josh who was five at the time, "go hide these somewhere where I won't find them." He took me seriously and for the next few weeks I kept trying to get him to tell me where he hid them, but his lips were sealed. Finally I found what I think was originally lemon bars decomposing under my bed. To tell you the truth, I don't eat them much anymore. Maybe I need to enlist him to make chocolate and cookies unappetizing.

Josh is going on a major backpacking trip next week with his scout troop. I have been buying lightweight freeze dried food for him to take and it isn't amounting to much. I was talking with a friend tonight whose son is also going and we said that our boys will come back ten pounds lighter. Then both of us remarked that we should go too. (She totally does not need the backpacking diet, but I do!) I can just see me half way through the week in severe sweet withdrawals, seeing mirages every where I looked, not of pools of cool water, but of melted chocolate instead.

So if anyone has any great ideas how to make it through my summer without gaining my weight in sweets, I'd welcome the advice and my scale. who is constantly under verbal attack, would thank you.

class of 2011....

2011-06-02T19:05:00.000-06:00

Well he went ahead and did it, he graduated. He didn't ask for permission, or kindly agree to do another year in high school for me, he decided it was time to go on to the next phase in his life and so he did. Since he was very stubborn about the whole thing, I decided I should probably go and support him. However, let me go on the record and say, this went against my whole plan to stop time or at least delay it for a bit.

It is still a bit surreal for me. I know I was there to witness it, I know it's been coming for quite awhile now, I know he is registered for college this fall and yet it is still hard to believe this day has arrived and my oldest, great big teddy bear of a son has graduated. I got a bit teary at times but was proud of myself for holding it together. The uncomfortable seats in the Marriot Center helped distract me, so I guess I can be grateful for that.

I am a proud mom today, I have been blessed with great children, and Ryan is the leader of that pack. It's not easy being the oldest child, I am an oldest child so I know. :) He has put up with my trial and error type of parenting and still managed to do well despite my great learning curve. Every new phase of his life I would tell him, "this is the first time I've been the parent of an eight year old, a teenager, a child who can date, an adult...and so we"ll just need to figure it out together." I have appreciated his humor, obedience, patience and even his scientific mind over the years. I am glad I get this one last summer with him before he goes off to college and then onto his mission. Maybe by then I will have created a time machine that will work. Thanks for the last eighteen years of learning and memories Ryan; and here's hoping the next eighteen move at a slower pace. I'm thinking a snail is a good family mascot.

ryan's senior pictures....

2011-05-26T21:12:00.000-06:00

Ryan graduates next week!! I really am not this old. I promise. He is such a good looking guy, not that I'm prejudiced or anything. I can't think too far in the future or else I just get emotional. He has acted like an adult since he was six, but the fact that he is very soon going out on his own is always at the back of my mind. I just want to rewind the last few years and make them go slower and enjoy them more. Time passing is so different at this stage of my life. I just want to hit the pause button and catch my breath, but it isn't to be. I am so proud of Ry and the incredible person he is. The next pictures I post of him will be in a cap and gown.

mark advances in cubs....

2011-05-26T19:20:00.000-06:00

Last night at Pack Meeting Mark received his Bear award. I can't believe this is my last time going through cubs! He had his serious face on and was all business last night. He is such a cutie. I am proud of his hard work. When he sets his mind to something there is no stooping him. Congratulations Mark!

the long way home.....

2011-05-24T14:26:00.000-06:00

I should start this post saying be careful what you pray for, or perhaps, be very specific what you pray for. Our flights to and from Cancun were very early morning flights. I chose them because 1) they were cheap and 2)they had short layovers and were cheap. Our flight a week ago left Salt Lake City at 6:00 am, and the one coming back left at 7:00 am . Which meant both travel days we were up at the wee hours of the morning heading to the airport. Kelly kept giving me a bad time about the fact that on vacation we had to get up so much earlier than on days we were working. Did I mention the flights were cheap? :)

Getting back to praying. I was very worried on the way back we that would miss our connecting flight in Dallas because we had the shortest layover and had to get our bags and go through customs. I had heard stories of people recently needing more than the ninety minutes we had to clear customs. I remember saying a little prayer about it and praying we would land in Dallas on time and make our next flight. I did fail however to mention to Heavenly Father, that we didn't need nine hours in between flights to make it through customs. He sent hail and rain which cancelled and delayed flights. I don't recall asking for anything quite so drastic, but at two in the morning, I can't actually be sure what I requested.

Seriously, we had a long day yesterday. We finally walked through the door to our home at 11:00 pm last night. Most of our time was spend in gate C33 of the Dallas Airport. They had about a 30 minute freak storm that managed to shut down all flights in and out for a short time and then the rest of the day was spent playing catch up. There were times we didn't know if we would make it out of there yesterday, but eventually we did. When we finally landed in Salt Lake it was to find that our bags didn't want to come home from our vacation and were still hiding in Dallas or somewhere in between. We are still waiting to see if they will find there way home.

I told Kelly that yesterday didn't ruin our wonderful vacation, we will always have incredible memories of Cancun, just not great ones of gate C33 and American Airlines. :) Right before we finally boarded our flight, I was so tired and frustrated and then I saw this little three year old Asian girl. She had long pig tails and a bright pink tu tu playing leap frog with herself in and out and between the line at the gate. It made me smile. She had been waiting just as long as we had all day, and yet had managed to turn it into an adventure. Her little smile and joyful antics brightened up the long line of tired travelers. It was a little sunshine in a long day of storm clouds.

So if I have any advice at the conclusion of our long day yesterday it is to be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it. :) I just hope if you have a long hard day sometime, you get a little girl in a pink tu tu to make you smile. Oh and by the way, if you see any lost luggage by the side of the road, let me know.

day 6...tulum and xel ha

2011-05-21T21:46:00.001-06:00

Today we went on a tour of Tulum. It wasn't even close to the quality we had with Helaman. We should have scheduled with him again. Tulum is right on the coast. The water is so clear and beautiful you almost get drawn to the ocean views and disreguard the ruins. We saw lots of iguana's there, I think they have taken the place over. I never thought I'd say lizards were cute, but I'm kind of partial to iguana's. Who would have thought?

We spent the afternoon snorkeling at Xel Ha. A ecological park here. We saw all sorts of fish, and I was proud I didn't scream when than swam close. Of course I was worried about inhaling salt water at the time, so that could explain it. Kelly would probably like it if I snorkeled more often. I am actually still and quiet for a few moments. After listening to me non stop this week, I think he enjoyed the break. :)

I can't believe our week is coming to a close here. It has truly been so relaxing and remarkable. For my first international trip, I have loved every minute. It has been great to spend so much time with Kelly. Life gets so busy sometimes, that we don't always get time for just the two of us. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to take another trip before the next twenty years go by.

day 5...at the beach

2011-05-20T19:36:00.000-06:00

We enjoyed another relaxing day at the beach. We sat under our palapa, drinking non alcholic banana momma's, reading, playing in the ocean, walking on the beach. The breeze feels amazing at the beach, and the water is so warm. We go to the far end of the resort and it is so quiet and secluded. Our poor waitress always says, "why do you take the last, last, last palapa?"

In the evenings it's nice to spend it at the resort eating dinner and watching one of the shows. Sometimes there are vendors in the plaza here and I have gotten pretty good at bartering. The first day I bought something a little higher than I should have, and then got smart. Now they are fun to talk to and see what deals I can come up with.

I love this man I have been married to for the past twenty years. He is always making me laugh and see things through a humorous perspective. He has this great hat and it makes him act all Indiana Jones like. I grabbed the camera and had some fun.

day 4...horseback riding

2011-05-19T14:56:00.000-06:00

Today we were taken to a nearby beach club to go horseback riding. We had a little bit of a wait before they were ready for us so we relaxed on the beach. I can't get over how beautiful the beaches are here. There is always a great breeze down by the water which makes me not notice the heat.

As I mentioned earlier I have not had a lot of experiences on horses. I told our guide I wanted a gentle obedient horse, basically one that worked on auto pilot. He had a good time teasing me, telling me all his horses have names like Jack the Riper, Lucifer, WidowMaker and so on. We had to wear a little wristband to show we had priveleges at the club for the day and our guide joked that it had a GPS in it so when my horse came back alone, they could come find me. What a comedian!!

I was given a horse called Poker. His nickname is apparently pokey poker which made me feel a lot better than widowmaker. He did really well except for the last half of our ride. Then his cruise control started malfunctioning, he would slow way down and amble along, then all of the sudden start trotting to catch up. My balance and grace is non exisitant so I'm sure everyone got a laugh at me trying to stop the running horse and convince it to speed up a few minutes later all while trying to stay upright in the saddle. Kelly's horse was named Simba, and it liked to stop and eat. I identified with it quite well actually, especially if they would chocolate coat all the foilage around here.

We had a great time on our ride, part of it was on the beach and part went through some jungle areas. There was only one other couple with us and three guides. They must have been forwarned I was coming and made sure I had sufficient supervision. Now we are back at our room relaxing and getting ready to go out to one of the restaurants here for dinner. So far we have tried a seafood one and an indonesian one. It's strange to come to mexico and have different types of food. We have italian, mexican, french, japanese and a steakhouse left to try.

Thanks for your comments, I feel bad for our friends back home who have had nothing but rain. I wish all of you could be here with us. Friends would make this vacation all the more enjoyable. By the way, ignore typo's and mispellings. I didn't realize how much I depend on spellcheck until I come to another country and it doesn't recognize English words. Everything comes back highlighted. :)

day 3...at the beach

2011-05-18T21:16:00.000-06:00

Today we planned a relaxing day at the beach. It's a short walk from our room and we are right on the water. I love all the walkways around here, they are all beautiful maintained.

We love to sit under a palapa, and just read and relax. The breeze was cooling and the water was incredibly warm. Again, it was quiet and open at the beach and for most of the day we felt like we were on our own private beach. We had a great waitress who kept bringing us tropical virgin drinks. The banana momma is our current favorite. They are getting used to seeing us and say..."sin alcohol" and we just nod and smile.

The weather has been so beautiful, although the humidity is having fun with my hair. Kelly is always laughing at what crazy curls I have each day. Tomorrow we are horseback riding in the jungle. Wish me luck. My experiences on the back of that four legged animal have not always been positive. My first experience was on my grandparents horse named speedy. He had trouble living up to his name, but I loved him. I could sit on his back and he would just stand for quite awhile and then I would get down. In College I had a life biology class and we went on an overnight horsebacking trip. I was the only girl on a horse named blondie, the five guys that came had to keep rescuing me as my horse had a mind of it's own and I wasn't sure how to "steer" it. Quite a few laughs on my behalf. Hopefully tomorrow I won't take off full speed in the jungle like some indiana Jones want to be. Maybe I'll discover another ancient myan site?

day 2...mayan ruins

2011-05-18T15:38:00.000-06:00

We were picked up at our resort just before 8:00 a.m. to begin our day looking at some Myan ruins. We had previously booked with an LDS tour guide named Helaman (yes, that is really his name and he has a son named Nephi) and went with two other couples from nearby hotels. We had heard so many good things about Helaman tours from friends and were so happy we got Helaman himself as our guide. He was so knowlegeable and fun. He kept us on our toes with questions from the Old Testament and Book of Mormon. So much about the history that I never knew.

We traveled for about an hour and a half into the jungle and stopped first at Ek Balem. It was a great place, and not crowded with tourists as some of the other sites. It was hot and dusty but this was my favorite stop of the two we made that day. You could walk and climb on the buildings and temples and the views were amazing.

Throughout the day I was constantly amazed at the intricate carvings made by this people so long ago. I loved learning how intelligent they were in astronomy with their calendars, their numbers and symbolism. It was great to see how the scriptures made so many of these things make sense. I was facinated all day long.

This was our tour group for the day. One couple was from Salt Lake and one was from Calgary. They were a lot of fun to talk with through our travels. It was great to be with some other LDS couples.

This building was known as the palace. It is where the king and his priests lived. We were able to climb it (these Mayan's loved stairs!)

The next building was the temple. I thought the first set of stairs was tough. Good grief. My legs are still wondering what on earth I was thinking yet as I try to convince them it's ok to move today. It was quite steep and as I am afraid of heights I wondered if I could do it. Going up was easier than coming down. I found I did better when I only concentrated on the step below me. Less vertigo that way.

A view from the top

coming down

After leaving Ek Balem, we traveled about forty minutes to Chichen Itza. This site was very commericial and busy. We had a great lunch and began our tour. The thing that amazed me most about this site was how much the Mayan's became interested in idolotry. They were just a blood thirsty people and the human sacrifices that went on were very unsettling.

Years ago you used to be able to climb these ruins, but no so today. To tell you the truth I was very relieved about that by this point.

This is the observatory. Their ability to use calendars was amazing and this building still shows the change of every season.

At Chichen Itza there were lots of vendors selling things, and at times it was difficult to focus on the ruins. The hardest part were how the children came up to you to sing and sell things. They were hard to resist. At one point we stopped to hear these two sing a song in the Mayan language. We tipped them, but then they followed us around for awhile trying to sell us things. They were so sweet, and should have probably been in school, I just wanted to take them home with us.

There were carvings of the face of Caac, the rain god everywhere. When you walk through this hot, dry area with little foilage and no nope of water in sight, I would see how rain would have been a major concern for them.

Despite the twelve hour day, the heat and THE STAIRS, it was an amazing day. I learned so much and loved seeing places I had never seen before. Thanks Helaman, I would recommend anyone who wants to have an incredible day seeing the ruins in this area to look him up. You won't be disappointed.

Shortly before we returned to our resort Helaman said we had to try mexican ice cream. He pulled off the side of the road and got some. Perfect ending to a hot fun day.

viva mexico....

2011-05-18T10:25:00.000-06:00

Kelly and I are currently on a vacation in Cancun. It's our first trip in a long time and our very first one out of the country. I not only have a passport (my first) but now I have a stamp in one! :) We are celebrating our anniversary a bit belatedly, but it's worth it. My sisters had traveled to this area in the past year and after doing a lot of research and planning, it is fun to be somewhere tropical. Sometimes you hear scary things about Mexico but this area we are in is very safe for tourists, and our resort make us feel very secure.

We are staying in a gorgeous tropical resort that is amazing. I feel completly spoiled and pampered and at times feel guilty for it. We are staying at the Valentin Imperial Maya resort just south of Cancun. As I am taking a few minutes to type this I hear birds chirping on the terrace and tropical flowers everywhere. Our kids wanted to see pictures, so when I get some time I will post about our adventures.

Our first day we arrived in Cancun about 3:00p.m. Our transportation met us at the airport and we were at our resort in thirty minutes. We were met with cool towels, and champagne. They always look at you strange when you don't drink at these all inclusive resorts. Our room is beautiful and air conditioned. With mid 80's and humidity, the air conditioner is great. I love our resort, it's part jungle and part beach. It's beautiful villas with pools and restaurants all spread out. Most of the time when we are walking around the resort we feel as if we are the only ones there. It's very peaceful.

mother's day...

2011-05-08T21:42:00.000-06:00

Once again, it’s that time of year
when Mother’s Day arrives;
I sit in Sacrament meeting,
listening to the talks and wonder if I’ll survive.
You see, it’s always been difficult
to hear all the stories;
of the many super mom’s
and their amazing glories.
Tales of their service, faith
and leaping buildings in a single bound;
all while speaking in quiet tones and smiling all around.

During those moments,
in quiet reflection I sit;
and feel nothing but
totally and completely inadequate.
So today, when I was starting to slip,
into that comparison pit;
I thought of you and suddenly,
my perspective changed lickety split.
It’s easy to see the good in others,
when we stop thinking of where we fail;
so I’d like to talk about the good you do
and all that it entails.

You were my greatest teacher,
so many lessons I can recall.
I learned how to cook, sew,
and even shop deals at the mall.
You taught me to clean a room
and scour the bath,
change a diaper
and weed a garden path.
All the while,
putting up with my complaining way
and the many times I chose
to simply not obey.

Then were the lessons
that were the most important of all;
Of who I am and
where to turn when I fall.
The value of faith, service
and developing a strong testimony;
of prayer, scripture study
and fulfilling every responsibility.

I never fully understood
how grateful I would be,
of the things you took the time
and effort to teach me.
Until I was off on my own,
ready to take charge of my life;
And then times got challenging
and occasionally filled with strife.
Then I had to rely on truths I’d been taught,
examples of what I’d seen.

In those moments I knew to fall to my knees,
and wait for the spirit to intervene.
It was then I fully realized the blessing
your teaching did impart,
as I’d wait for the peace and comfort
that would always come to my heart.
So on this Mother’s day,
thank you for the memories that made me reflect;
That the importance of being a mother
isn’t found in being perfect.
(or leaping tall buildings in a single bound..I am afraid of heights anyway.)

women's conference

2011-05-07T14:32:00.001-06:00

This post is a bit late, but a week ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend women's conference at BYU with some of my sisters and my mom. We had a great time. I will remember great speakers, hustling across campus to classes, mint brownies, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, shopping, being silly at all hours of the night, and fun memories with some of the best women I know. Whenever I get together with my sisters I am always acutely aware of my sisters who weren't there and it makes me miss them even more. We want to make this a tradition, so we need to see if we can fly Lucy, Cora and Anna out next year, so we can all be together.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the two days I was there. First the funny ones.

"The Church is not “a well-provisioned rest home for
the already perfected” Barbara Thompson quoting
Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

"I didn't say it was your fault, I only said I want to blame you." Barbara Thompson

"Ideals are stars to steer us by; they are not a stick to beat us with." (Title of a class)

When speaking about our trials there was a quote about gratitude, "Be grateful there is no light at the end of the tunnel, because it could be an oncoming train." Nora Nyland

Some serious quotes:
"Keep it small, keep it simple, give it time." Virgina Pierce talking about prayer

"If our troubles lead us to God, then we can be grateful." Virgina Pierce

"Prayer doesn't miraculously change events or circumstances but instead teaches us how to converse with the Lord" Virgina Pierce

"When we compare ourselves with others, we don't become better, we become bitter...The only person I have to be better than is what I was yesterday." Barbara Thompson

Someone quoting President Hinckley, "Our lives are the only meaningful expression of what we believe and who we believe."

"We need to change the expression I can do hard things, with I do hard things." Julie Beck

"Gratitude is not a grateful gene but a grateful home, we can all learn to be grateful." Nora Nyland

"Articulating gratitude brings the divine into our lives and our relationships." Nora Nyland

"If we only concentrate on the stones in our path we will miss the flowers and streams." Janet Peer

Jewish saying, "To degrade and diminish ourselves, degrades and diminishes God."

"When we make right choices, even when they are hard, we become a portal to inspiration." Shauna Thompson

"Without a test there is no testimony." Shauna Thompson

"The pattern of doing small and simple things, even the mundane things, will bring about extraordinary things." Elder Bednar

Elder Bednar drew a comparison with irrigation. There are the powerful sprinklers that spurt lots of water quickly but then have long periods of time without doing anything. The drip systems bring sustained water to the root of the plant over extended period of times. Sometimes we are "spiritual spurters" we have high concentrated effort we can't sustain and then long periods of time where we don't do anything. We need to make small and simple efforts but make them continuous. "Measured steadiness is better than spurts and slacking."

I loved women's conference. It was a good motivation without making me feel overwhelmed and unworthy. I loved feeling the spirit and having a renewed determination to make today better than yesterday and when that doesn't always happen,to forgive myself and try again.

This picture is just to illustrate some of the silly things we did between the spiritual. We went out to dinner one night and passed by a bar, we thought we'd be funny and take a picture in front of it. Quite the contrast to our spiritual meetings. Notice we posed outside it, and didn't go in. We weren't completely corrupt. :)

prom 2011

2011-05-05T13:15:00.000-06:00

Ryan and Josh both attended Pleasant Grove's Prom last Saturday. They both had a great time in their separate groups and it was really fun to see them dressed up. Kelly took the pictures of both groups and did a fantastic job. I got to be his assistant so I could see all the girls and their gorgeous dresses. I am grateful that Ry and Josh have such wonderful friends, beautiful dates (inside and out) and the opportunity to have a great evening.

twenty years....

2011-05-02T13:23:00.000-06:00

Saturday April 30th, 2011 was the twenty year wedding anniversary of Kelly and I. I thought I would take a minute and reflect on twenty random things I remember from the last two decades!

1. Kelly surprising me by placing a candy ring in a vending machine, and then proposing with a real one.

2. Two part time minimum wage jobs, two full time students, finishing school with no debt; feeling miraculous and blessed.

3. $.53 cent root beer floats for date night!

4. Needing a tetanus shot before entering, driving or being near our rusted (but free) first car.

5. Watching and not holding a jaundiced baby Ryan under lights for the first ten days of his life.

6. Bright pink carpet in our first house.

7. Nearly taking the hospital hostage to get Josh here. (Warning: don't try to tell a very pregnant mom of a ten pound baby that you've cancelled inductions for the day!)

8. The church nursery banning Ryan until fully supervised by a parent (something about the appropriateness of karate chopping water cups and clotheslining kids).

9. Ryan and Josh's first unsupervised cooking experiment: a gallon of vegetable oil, one bag of potato chips, one clean floor and stocking feet (which move quite quickly when mom screams.I am not sure we ever got all the vegetable oil out of the pink carpet)

10. Pink baby clothes and a future shopping companion!

11. Driving our first "new" car! (it only had 90,000 miles on it and we were thrilled!)

12. Teaching preschool out of our home for five years to help pay for the above mentioned "new" car and loving every minute of it as Ryan and Josh matriculated through.

13. Traveling to San Francisco and Alaska with Kelly on business trips.

14. Appreciating Kelly's carpentry skills in building garages, playhouses, fireplace mantles and whatever "honey do" project his wife has had over the years.

15. Mark arriving as the caboose of our family.

16. Sitting alone in church for many years with young noisy children while a sympathetic husband looked on from the stand. I remember one particular instance when Cassie yelled "daddy help me! to a quiet crowd as I took her mischievous little self out to the foyer)

17. Moving back to Utah County and building a home.

18. Teenagers, driving and dating, oh my!!

19. Shoes, chocolate and discount shopping therapy (especially fun with a girlie girl daughter!)

20. A loving husband who without complaint or criticism stood by to support and help me through all the ups and downs of the last twenty years.

Happy Anniversary Kelly! Looking forward to the next 20 years and beyond.

multi-tasking, or lack thereof..

2011-04-26T09:50:00.000-06:00

I remember years ago I had a talent. Many people have been blessed with musical, artistic, intellectual and many other noteworthy talents. I was blessed with none of those. However, I did have one thing I was good at; my talent was multi-tasking. I remember when I had a young family. I could bounce a baby on my hip, while stirring something on the stove, have a phone to my ear, and help a kindergartner with homework. It was a miraculous skill, not that I'm bragging or anything. :)

However, fast forward fifteen years and what on earth has happened to my one talent? I must have done what the parable talks about in the bible, I must have buried it. Then, due to my advancing years and dying brain cells, forgot where I buried it.

Now if I am holding a baby on my hip, my back starts to ache, I burn dinner if the phone rings and my kids have to repeatedly ask the same questions as my mind often takes long vacations and I come back to the same phrase, "Earth to mom".

In the past couple weeks, these are some of the things I have done.

I was talking to Ryan about church while preparing dinner. I grabbed the Hersey's chocolate syrup out of the fridge, thinking it was BBQ sauce, and started pouring it on the chicken. (Ok, so this tells you how often my subconscious thinks of chocolate, is it any wonder that the bathroom scale and I are not on speaking terms?)

I was chatting on my cell phone as I parked in a walmart parking lot and didn't take the the usual time to draw a map so I could successfully return. An hour later I am wandering up and down the isles in the rain, searching for my van, only to finally realize I had Kelly's car that day and had walked past it three times.

I was writing a check for school lunch while talking to one of my kids. After voiding three checks due to mistakes, Mark said, "No one talk to her right now, or I'm going to be hungry and late for school!"

I was filling up my iron the other day, typically I use distilled water as the manufacturer recommends, but as I was also watching my favorite tv show at the time, I nearly poured in milk that was left on the dinner table. They are in the same type of container, whose bright idea was that?

Hopefully one day as I am weeding in my untamed flower beds, I will come across the elusive hiding place of my long buried talent. But if you see a chocolate covered chicken, a wet middle aged woman wandering around with a shopping cart or a milk starched shirt, just assume I am still looking.

The Living Christ...

2011-04-24T15:20:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of the year the Stake Young Women Leaders, challenged the girls to memorize "The Living Christ" (moms were also invited). Cassidy and I took on this challenge and although in the beginning it seemed too daunting of a task, we completed it. What an incredible opportunity it was for me to work with Cassidy on this goal. Every Sunday we would sit down and learn the next part. There are a lot of passages that we would sit and talk about their meaning and often we would end up a little teary.

On Saturday,the day before Easter, we as a stake went up to Temple Square. We watched the movie "The Testaments" and then walked up to see the Christus. We all gathered around for pictures, then turned and while looking at this beautiful statue, recited "The Living Christ". To say it was amazing experience wouldn't do it justice. To have all these voices united in reciting these beautiful words gave me chills. I was so happy to be standing with Cassidy , it will be an experience we will always remember.

(The Stake)

Our Ward group

Afterward, we walked around Temple Square and had fun looking at the flowers and taking pictures. It was a great way to start my Easter and remember my Savior and the real purpose of this celebration.

(Thanks to RaeAnn who I borrowed, ok flat out stole, some of these pictures!!)

fun in the sun...

2011-04-18T08:30:00.000-06:00

We had a great spring break last week in Anaheim. We love going to Disneyland and since it will be the last one we will get to share together since Ryan is going off to college, we thought we would go back to a vacation spot we love. The weather was beautiful, it was so uplifting to get out of the cold blustery days here and have some sunshine. Amazingly, it wasn't too busy and had minimal wait times so that made it all the more enjoyable. We were excited this year when Mark finally went on all the roller coasters, and even wanted to keep going back! We loved hanging out in Downtown Disney and visiting the Lego store. Josh and Ry had fun hanging out one afternoon with two sisters from their school who were also visiting. I discovered a love of Disney churros and had one almost daily. We had a large hotel room with adjoining rooms and four queen sized beds, which was great when you have two king sized boys. It was right across the street from the entrance to Disneyland, so it was great to come back and take a break for a bit in the afternoons. We ordered our huge 28" pizza that we discovered last time. With 44 pieces, ziplock bags and a fridge and microwave, it fed us for several meals throughout the week. Best value in Anaheim! We spent a fun afternoon on Huntington Beach. It was a bit windy, so we didn't venture much into the water, but had a great time building sandcastles, finding hermit crabs and flying kites. I had fun with the camera that day, so a majority of our pictures are beach pictures. Kelly, Ry and Mark took in an Angel's baseball game while we were there. Mark love baseball and it was fun for them to see a major league game. They had a great time even though the Angel's lost. All in all it was a great week. We did have car problems and the repairs cost us nearly as much as our Disney tickets, but we were grateful they happened once we got to town and not in the middle of the California desert.

blind as a bat....

2011-04-02T16:48:00.000-06:00

I am blind as a bat, trouble is my other senses don't compensate, so technically, comparing my vision to bats isn't quite correct. I am blinder than a bat. How about that.

I got glasses in the forth grade and my vision has continued to deteriorate. You know you are in trouble when you go to the Opthamologist and they look twice at your prescription. "We don't stock this prescription in your contacts, we will have to order it" and then some fax goes off to somewhere where they keep blinder than a bat contacts. In case you all are wondering, I am not a candidate for Lasik. When I asked if there were any procedures that would restore my sight my doctor said, "science can produce miracles, but it's not that good yet!" Oh isn't he funny!

In college I had a bad eye infection and could only wear glasses for a year. My roomates got a chuckle out of my predicament and when I was sleeping, they would sneak in and take my glasses then set my alarm to go off and stand in the back of the room while I frantically felt all over the nightstand and the floor to find them.

Later that semester we went to do baptisms in the Idaho falls temple. I had to leave my glasses in the locker room and couldn't see the steps on the font. When it was my turn I didn't think I was quite there, took a step into midair and tumbled ungracefully in and made a big splash! I was near the front of the line so about twenty guys and girls from the ward witnessed my demise. The muffled trying to be reverent, giggles echoed through the big room. From that time on, no one bothered to learn my name they would just say, "I know you...you're the girl who fell into the font!"

So this past week as I was getting ready for a church meeting in Salt Lake, I once again was wearing my glasses. I took them off to put on my makeup and misplaced them. I had to have my kids come search for me while I was applying mascara. After poking myself in the eye with the wand, I had a bright red eye to go with my pink shirt and a large waterproof black mark on my face. Perfect. Just perfect.

Tonight as I was out in the rainstorm, I wished for windshield wipers on my glasses and was once again reminded how wonderful perfect eyesight might be. Since that isn't happening anytime soon, I will just have to wait until medical miracles catch up with my eyesight. In the meantime, the bats and I will have to settle for being sightedly challenged.

mission call....

2011-04-01T09:45:00.000-06:00

And the winner is.....my mom!

Backing up a little bit, a few weeks ago my parents put in their papers to go on their first mission. We have been very impatiently waiting for the arrival of their call and this week it finally came. We all gathered together Wednesday night and my sister brought a big world map. All of us made our guesses as to the location they would head to this fall.

We were missing three of my siblings and their families so we got them on cell phones and all waited expectantly. Images of exotic locations all in our heads. There were guesses from Australia to Canada and everywhere in between. My niece said Tahiti, and a nephew said South Africa. My parents even made their guesses. We had a great time in anticipation of their undisclosed location.

Finally the moment arrived and my mom opened it and started to read. When we heard the location we were all in shock momentarily, than burst out in laughter. My mom got her guess (which was made in jest), they were called to the Salt Lake City Mission in the Family History Center! They start September 2 and will finish in March 2013.

We are so happy to have them stay close. We were wondering how we would not have parents there for the important things the next year and a half, and are happy we get to share them for a bit longer. I think Heavenly Father knew our family needed to take baby steps in accepting parents serving missions. Maybe the next call will be to Boise Idaho and then maybe eventually somewhere even further! :)

Congratulations mom and dad! You both are such examples to me, and I appreciate your willingness to serve the Lord far and abroad, or right next door. We love you!

you know you are lazy when.....

2011-03-23T15:57:00.000-06:00

You are vacuuming up the family room and instead of picking up the large tortilla chip, you smash it with the vacuum, and then suck up the crumbs.

The only exercise you get in an average day is searching for the cordless phone.

You are cooking and need something from the basement so you call one of your children who is upstairs to run all the way down to get it.

You drive to the mailbox at the end of the street

You decide to "just watch" your kids play the wii, when they invite you to join them.

You hide the cookies on the top shelf of the pantry because it's too much effort to reach them.

As the weather is getting nicer outside I am realizing how lazy I have become during the winter. Its the perfect season to get out and talk a walk, to work in the yard or even venture up the stairs once in awhile without a purpose (gasp!). It is a beautiful day today and I am appreciating all the sunshine.

under construction....

2011-03-21T20:30:00.000-06:00

For the few sweet souls that read this blog you may have noticed it has been somewhat crazy lately. With columns, backgrounds and colors meandering all over the place it has become the definition of chaos. I tried to learn to speak HTML, but it definitely isn't the language for me.

Hopefully I have returned it to a somewhat normal state and I will leave well enough alone and be happy. :)

signs of spring...

2011-03-20T08:58:00.000-06:00

It's a quiet Sunday morning here. Kelly is off at a meeting and all the kids are still sleeping. I am looking out my living room window and enjoying the peace. Suddenly a bird flies into the window and rebounds off to fly another day. This is a regular occurrence at this time of year and one of the first signs of spring. And before you go thinking my windows are that clean, let me be honest and say, the only birds that mistake my windows for empty air space are the nearsighted ones!

So birds are on the brain this morning and I thought I'd share some humorous stories I have had with them over the years. In our house in West Jordan, we had a mailbox that didn't shut all the way. (I probably backed my van into it or something) For a couple weeks, we would go to get the mail and find it on the ground and the mailbox full of twigs, grass and who knows what else. We thought we were being pranked by a neighborhood child, and were a bit frustrated because of the safety of our mail.

I was a bit curious and stumped one day, when a ward member a couple blocks away called me with the news that he had a utility bill of ours on his front lawn. I had just put the bills in the mailbox to go out a day or so before and couldn't figure out how in the world it got over there. I went out to find our mailbox once again full of twigs.

I told Kelly it was time to get serious and we started surveillance on the mailbox. One morning a few days later Kelly called me to the front window with a tone of disbelief in his voice. I watched in amazement as two big birds took turns landing on the door of the mailbox and hopping until it opened. Then in a coordinated effort, they flew twigs and weeds into it. In less than ten minutes the box was full and we had caught our culprits red footed!

We quickly purchased a new mailbox that shut firmly and I had to call the power company when our bill didn't arrive on time, explaining that the late payment had been hijacked by fowls.

I do have other stories of these same birds but I will reserve them for later! Stay tuned for the next installment of Birds on the Brain, or maybe I should just shorten it and call it Birdbrained! :)

Sweet 16!!

2011-03-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about basketball!!

Josh turned 16 this week. He is knee deep in a research paper and finishing the range for his Driver's Ed class. Because of those things we had to fit a birthday celebration in between. He will have a bigger party with his friends this weekend, but some of his great friends stopped by to surprise him and have cake with us.

I can't believe how tall this little boy of mine has gotten. His size 15 feet are a source of humor here and if you look in the collage you will see his golf shoe next to some of his friends feet. When you think of Josh you can't help but smile because his wacky sense of humor is so prevelant around here. The ability to lighten moods is a great gift he has. He works so hard at school, basketball and sports. He loves to be social and if I could get him home a little more, life would be great!

Happy Birthday Josh! We love you and all you bring to our family.

happy birthday to me....

2011-03-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted a picture of the temple to hang in the family room. Kelly got me a beautiful one for my birthday. I love positive and modivational sayings and you can find them everywhere around here. I like something to have a purpose if it's on the wall. I hung the picture and wanted something more to go with it. I brainstormed for a bit about what saying I could come up with and went to a website and designed it in vinyl letters. I got it up this week and I'm happy with the results. I think the boys might think it's too warm and fuzzy, but tough! :)

I also like silly things that make me smile. I have a sign that says "I ate my willpower" in the kitchen and one that says, "my house was clean yesterday, sorry you missed it."

The Classy Kitchen

2011-03-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hey All,
My sister just created a cooking blog. She has some fabulous recipes on there. If you need fun ideas for menu's check her out and become a follower.
http://theclassykitchen.blogspot.com/

Basketball Season

2011-02-27T16:07:00.001-07:00

This year's basketball season just ended. Josh and Mark played on city leagues and we had a blast watching both of them. I thought it was great they ended up with the same number. Mark just idolizes Josh and was excited to wear the same number. He would wear his jersey to each of Josh's games and was his number one fan!

Kelly did a great job getting some action shots. Click on the collages and see them close up. Josh spent more time in the air than on the ground. Boy that kid can jump. He had a great season and was able to be on a team with some good friends. They played well and only lost a couple games. This was Mark's first year of basketball. He was getting the hang of it by the end. In one of his last games he made three baskets and got some good rebounds. I see more of this sport in his future.

Good Grief!

2011-02-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything on my blog. What's the world coming to when I have nothing to say? The planets must be aligned strangely or something, because me and quiet have never coexisted together! There have been no sparks of creativity, no embarrassing moments, and I am behind on my postings and pictures about my kids! I want something to blame for this. It must be the winter blahs! Something is magical about snow at Christmas time but come January its lost all it's sparkle. I am ready for sunshine, but not ready enough to think about yard work yet.
Everyone is doing well here. Ryan has decided to go to Southern Utah University next fall and study Chemistry. He didn't get science brains from me. He earned a full scholarship and has worked so hard, so I am going to brag about him a bit. He is taking a bunch of AP science classes and loving them and still hating English. I love to sit and talk with him and still freak out at the thought of him leaving me in not so many months!

Josh has moved on to his second favorite sport which is basketball. He loves to play and he is so fun to watch. Man that kid can jump! I will post pictures soon. He has surpassed Ry in height but only by a smidgen. He is doing great in school also and getting ready to turn 16 in six weeks! He is looking forward to spring when he can get back on the golf course again.

Cassidy is doing well in 7th grade and loving YW. She is still fun to shop with and her and I are half way through memorizing "The Living Christ" for her Personal Progress. She is going to start and Irish Dance class at the end of the month so I will have to report on that soon. She got a cell phone for Christmas and has turned into a texting machine!

Mark is loving 3rd grade, and I have fun helping in his class. It's so great to still have a child that runs up to you and gives you hugs when you visit at school! He is playing basketball for his first season and having fun learning a new skill. He still gives me grief about doing his homework, but is so kind and giving to everyone in our home.

That is a quick update about life at our house. Hopefully soon I will get out of this winter rut and do more than I have been lately.

tuesdays with elna....

2011-01-11T19:05:00.001-07:00

Every Tuesday I get the privilege of being a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. I absolutely love it and look forward to it every week. I know I get more out of it than I put in. The first stop is to a couple named Elna and Nephi. They have been married over 65 years. I know I am not supposed to have favorites, but this couple is the top of the list.

Elna spent her life volunteering in the local Senior Center. She always tells me everyone has a story and if people would just take long enough to hear the stories of others there would be more kindness int he world. This past spring she fell and shattered her leg. She has been home bound ever since. She is a character. I have written about her before. She always smiles and is so happy to see me. I wish I could sit and talk with her for longer than I do. She has a twinkle in her eye, and a loud laugh that is so fun.

Since she has been hurt, she has been crocheting little lap size afghans. She has a spare bedroom in her house that currently has fifty or more. About every three or more months she has Nephi take them down to a homeless shelter, VA hospital or state hospital. She wants everyone to have something that was handmade so they know someone cares. About once a month she gives me one. I tell her I am fine, but she always wants me to have one. I have a sizeable stack now, and every time I see it, I think of a sweet woman who reaches out in simple ways to help others. She doesn't know how to live her life any other way.

I can't wait for next Tuesday with Elna.

van vs garbage can

2011-01-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

garbage can 1....van 0

Today was garbage day. Kelly took out the cans to the curb. There was a pile of ice and snow near the curb so he placed them partially in the driveway assuming I would see them and back around. What was he thinking? Hasn't he been married to me for nearly 20 years?

I should backtrack and explain that due to my driving skills, sprinkler heads in the flower beds banking the driveway are nearly extinct. Once Kelly bought a four foot reflector on a pole and put it in the corner of the flowerbed and driveway, thinking that would help my backing skills. One day I backed right over it and it popped right back up, much to his chagrin and the entertainment it brought to my neighbors who were all visiting nearby. Kelly has hung a tennis ball from a long rope in the garage ceiling in hopes of my van staying on it's side of the garage. At least twice a week he has to repark my car so he can get in. Since I am confessing my sins, I should probably mention the time (it was ten years ago) that I backed out and clipped his truck which was new at the time. It put a small dent and a deep scratch along the side.

I need to clarify that I always look for children and moving objects behind me, but I am not so great with boundaries, or objects that stay in one place. I could blame it on genetics. My mom once backed over a light post three feet into the yard. And my younger sister has single handedly taken out multiple garage doors and her in laws car. All in all, Kelly lucked out with me, don't you think?

Note: I did order a new taillight and it will take a dent out of my shoe and chocolate budget. :( I am sure next week Kelly will put the cans across the street. I haven't wandered that far yet.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

We did not get Christmas cards out this year! It has been a crazy season and something had to slide, so I chose Christmas cards. We had a wonderful Christmas. Although we were blessed to have many presents under the tree, that isn't what I will remember and I hope it isn't what the kids will remember. I hope they will remember the times we spent together as a family . I hope they will remember the Savior.

So in place of my traditional Christmas letter, I wanted to take a minute and write of my feelings of Christ today. For of all my blessings, and great moments of the past year, what is most important to me, is my family, faith and beliefs. I take so much time on this blog recounting the silly, humorous day to day happenings. While humor and lightheartedness has a big part in my life, it isn't my entire life. At the end of the day, I want to leave no doubt in the minds of my children and friends that I have deep feelings about many things, especially Jesus Christ.

My thoughts often turn toward my Savior during December, but a lesson in church today made me realize how much I need to think of Christ during the rest of the year. I haven't written down my testimony about my Savior in a long time, and as this is my journal of sorts I wanted to take the opportunity to do so today.

I know He lives. Although I have not seen him with my earthly eyes, I have no doubt of His existence and presence in my life. I know He came to earth and walked the dusty roads teaching and blessing the lives of all who crossed his path. I know He freely chose to sacrifice his perfect life for my imperfect one. I know because of this great sacrifice, I can not only live forever but have the opportunity to live with my Savior and my Heavenly Father again-- More importantly, I can do so with my family.

I have no doubt of Christ's compassion. I know His suffering in Gethsemane wasn't only for my sins, but for all the hardships, trials, doubts, struggles and pain I would go through. I know His atonement makes it possible for him to have true empathy for me in whatever situation I find myself. There have been many times I have found peace in difficult circumstances. I know that peace has come from Him who has gone through all. There is no earthly reason during the darkest times, I have found comfort. That reason comes from above.

I know my Savior is profoundly aware of me personally, not just generally. I know I can increase my relationship with Him through study of His words and thoughtful prayer. I know I take for granted so many things in my life, many times, the most important things. I fall short so much of the time. But because of my Savior, even when I fall short, all is not lost. He brings hope.

So as this Christmas season draws to a close, I wanted to take a minute and declare my testimony of Jesus Christ. That perhaps in the months ahead, as life gets hectic and problems arise, I can reflect back on these words and refocus on what truly is important. I think the greatest gift of the Christmas season isn't something beautifully wrapped under a tree; but it's in each positive step we make in our life, that brings us closer to Him whose birth we celebrate. I hope I take advantage of this great gift throughout each month of the coming year.

Christmas Traditions!

2010-12-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we made Christmas sugar cookies. This is one of our favorite traditions as a family. Cassie and Josh were having fun making each one of theirs unique. My favorite part during the experience was when Cassie said, "Look, we are all getting along!" Everyone paused around the table and then we started laughing. I am not sure what it says about our family when the "getting along" part is so rare that it is actually noticed.

We also had a memorable week playing games, watching old home movies, attending the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU, eating at our favorite restaurant Brick Oven, seeing the lights at Thanksgiving point, attending an extended family Christmas party and a BYU basketball game! It's been fun to have our family together so much this week. Some of the kids had a hard time leaving their friends for family time, but hopefully everyone felt it was worthwhile in the end.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

2010-12-18T17:31:00.001-07:00

Ryan turned 18 a few days ago. Good grief, I'm not that old! He enjoyed getting an ipod touch and I thought that would be the highlight of his night until four of his friends showed up to surprise him. Ryan has always been blessed with such great friends. As a parent, good friends for your teenagers is so important, and I am grateful of the caliber of friends he associates with. He has always had more friends that are girls than guys. Who can blame him with all these beautiful young women. It was fun to hear the giggles and laughs as they visited. Thanks to Keslee, Michelle, Heather and Beth who made his birthday so memorable.

I wrote a poem for him, and it made me cry writing it, but the best reward was seeing him get a bit choked up and being the recipient of one of his big bear hugs. Once again I get a gift on someone else's birthday. Hugs from teenagers are far too rare, especially for sappy mom's.

Happy 18th Birthday Ryan

I can't believe the day has finally arrived;
My oldest child turned 18 and I survived!
As I think back through the past many years,
many memories bring smiles and happy tears.

I remember the early days of jaundice and lights;
It seemed to last forever till I could hold my baby tight.
Then there was his early love of water and sprints to the bath;
Little did I know years of being a swimmer, lay in his path.

Who knew that the terrible twos could be so dramatic,
vomiting on demand became very problematic.
(Although it did get me out of a ticket once)
He wanted his first artistic talents to last awhile;
so using permanent markers became his style.

Then an interest in science began when he was four or five--
surprising experiments appeared frequently, which he contrived.
He loved Bill Nye, the science guy, whom he idolized,
and soon started wearing lab coats and red bow ties as his disguise.

His stature increased so quickly and it seemed it would not stop.
At 12 he passed his mom up despite how she would hop.
His brain grew with his body and he loved absorbing facts;
He kept us on our toes, every truth to be exact.

During the teenage years, some people feared his size;
But little did they know, a gentle giant would arise.
His heart has always been as large as his mind and frame;
A fact anyone who knows him, would readily acclaim.

His faith and knowledge of the scriptures is so profound;
We have learned from his example and knowledge all around.
Many times, walking into his room, you might pause for a bit,
And notice he is on his knees praying instead of in a sit.

His hard work and studious efforts for years on end,
paid off in a full tuition scholarship, for which we all commend.
His has been frugal in his spending, saving half of what he earns;
With eyes on an LDS mission, always been a chief concern.

So happy wonderful birthday, to this great big son of mine;
He has and always will, make this mom proud and sublime.
Dreading the time he will leave this house he has called home;
To go and make his way, and a life all his own.

Although the tears fall quickly, contemplating that day,
I will treasure these months ahead as memories to replay.
I love you Ryan, for who you are and who you will be;
and for the fact you'll always have a big bear hug, just for me.

Preference 2010

2010-12-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

At the early part of December, Ryan attended the Preference Dance at Pleasant Grove High School. His sweet friend Beth asked him. Don't they look great? Beth's mom made her beautiful dress and she looks gorgeous. They had a great time.

count my many blessings...

2010-11-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

I do not express my gratitude nearly enough. I have a lot of wrapped presents in my closet that need to be given, so I thought I would take a minute tonight, and give a few away.

I am so grateful for:

An incredible family who has a front row seat to all my mistakes and weaknesses and yet loves me anyway.

A home, although covered in scratches and dents, keeps us warm and safe.

A full pantry and fridge that contains chocolate as well as vegetables.

A scar on my neck that shows the miracles of modern medicine and serves as a daily reminder of the blessing of health and strength.

This old body of mine, that has more creaks than an old floor, but still gets me where I want to go.

A mind that occasionally misplaces things, but can compute sales in a flash.

Sunshine, after a day of storms.

A hug from my little guy and a high five from my teenager.

My children, my greatest teachers.

A good book and a bathfull of bubbles.

A vacuum cleaner, washing machine, dishwasher all in working order.

The many hands who continually reach out in small and large ways and make such a profound difference in my life.

The seasons, which change right before you get tired of each one.

A new pair of shoes (that were on sale!)

My faith and beliefs which strengthen me through hard times, and gives me hope in a world where it is hard to find.

A Savior who bestows true empathy and compassion.

My Heavenly Father who loves me even when I forget to be grateful.

You know it's going to be a long day

2010-11-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

when you:

Put the clean clothes that just came out of the dryer, in the washer; put dirty clothes in the dryer; turn them both on and walk away.

Put leftover lasagna in the microwave for ten minutes instead of one and not realize it until after there is an explosion.

Clean out the microwave after a lasagna explosion.

Collect your mail on a very windy day, then not hold on to it tightly.

Run after bills as they zip across the cul de sac.

Remove all shelving and storage containers from the fridge to clean it, then struggle with reassembly. (Ok, so it's been awhile since I did this particular task!)

Lose patience with the kids as they leave socks and backpacks on the floor, destroy the kitchen, refuse to clean their rooms and do homework and then say, "Jeez mom, why are you angry today?"

Out of chocolate and bubble bath.

Yesterday was a looong day and as you can see I didn't fare very well. Today is going better, although the house is still peaceful and quiet for three more minutes, then I will be invaded with more dirty socks, back packs and dishes. On the bright side, the lasagna is gone so the microwave is still clean!

Happy Birthday Kelly!!

2010-11-03T16:00:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Reasons why I'm Glad Kelly is a year older....

10. He always gets to get older first, and if I like how he does it, I'll follow.

9. As you age, your eyes start to go...that means the older he gets, the better I look!

8. As we age our memory weakens, so he won't remember all the stuff I do wrong!

(are we sensing a pattern here?)

7. Banana Cream Pie is easier than decorating barbie and race car birthday cakes!

6. I get an excuse to buy him a power tool to use later in a honey do project.

5. We get to go out to eat so I don't have to cook!

4. I have someone to fix the garbage disposal after I get through breaking it, or kill creepy crawly, scurrying things.

3. I have a shoulder to cry on when I'm having a mom pity party!

2. I get to hold a hand during scary parts in a movie, or just any darn time I want!

1. I get another year of unlimited hugs, kisses, smiles, laughter and winks from an incredible man.

As you can see, I am very selfish about Kelly having birthdays. I know I get more presents than he does! Kelly I love you so much and I'm grateful for every year we get to celebrate wrinkles, gray hair and uncooperative joints together (as long as you always have them first)!!

wisdom comes with age....really?

2010-10-23T21:28:00.000-06:00

There is a saying that goes something like this:
with age comes wisdom, but that is completely amiss.
For the older I get in this aging body of mine;
the more my mind seems to go into a decline!

Can you be wise and not remember? I wonder some days;
for at times I wander around in a bit of a haze.
Why did I come in this room after all?
Is there a reason a child’s name I can’t recall?

The calendar once was my helper and salvation,
important reminders all at one location!
But lately even things written in black and white,
can vacate my memory without even a fight.

This past week proved one good example after another;
forgotten carpools, church meetings and who knows what other.
In the past, my brain would take small vacations at times;
but it’s now taking long leave of absences , am I past my prime?

So, here I am back at my original question-
Can you be wise while your brain is in a recession?
I can only hope that if some small insight I express;

stays in the mind of a child, then I might be a success.

the self check out line....

2010-10-13T14:34:00.000-06:00

Now that is the most ironic name known to man. All the self check out line means, is when you get stuck on something while checking out, you are on your own, all by your "self" to solve it. Last night I had to run to Walmart for a couple quick things to help with a school project for one of my kids. I hurried and grabbed the items and made it to the checkout lines in record time. All two regular lines were backed up (I think all the cashiers take their breaks at the same time) and so I decided to brave the "are you smarter than a talking computer" line. I am totally not a risk taker, but decided to chance it. You can probably foresee that this story does not have a happy ending, all I can say is, where were you to tell me the self check out gamble is never worth it. (I am going to write a book entitled "self check out lines for dummies!" I could make a bundle and buy my own check out line in the future.)

Needless to say, as soon as it was my turn to try my luck with the ever unpredictable machine, I took a deep breath and went for it. I pressed the start button and nothing happened; it wasn't allowing me to scan my items. I tried pressing the button again and I must have hit something else by mistake because the darn machine started speaking to me in Spanish. I had no idea how to get it back to my native language and so eyeing the long line of mom's in the same rushed situation behind me, I decided to take the gamble (stupid stupid stupid...shoot we aren't supposed to say that "s" word at our house). I should have cut my losses right there.

While scanning my three items, the computer obviously didn't like what I was doing so it started to speak to me again. Not having a translator handy, I had no idea what it was saying. Do I rescan? Take the item out of the bag? It's hard enough to figure out what you did wrong when it actually speaks something you recognize. Great! Now I had to wait for the teenage kid to get me out of my mess. Trouble is, when he finally got there, he didn't speak Spanish either so he had to go recruit someone. I didn't dare look at the line behind me to see the faces of the exasperated moms. I finally got someone to figure out my problem, trouble is, they didn't stay by my side long enough to help with other translation issues. Fifteen minutes and two more rescue sessions later, I was out of the store.

I am determined to either take Spanish classes or never EVER try my luck at the "speedy" line again. (To any mom who might have been behind me last night and is reading this, I AM SO SORRY!)

fuzzy pink socks....

2010-10-10T17:47:00.000-06:00

It's always surprising what triggers memories. Today it was a pair of bright pink fuzzy socks. My toes were cold and I went digging in my sock drawer and came upon these bright fuzzy socks. A year ago today I was recovering from my thyroid surgery. A gift bag was dropped off from some of Kelly's work associates and it had these hot pink soft socks in them. I am typically not a sock person, but I remember as I was secluded during my radiation treatment how cold my feet got and how I wore these socks often. They have been tucked at the back of my drawer for the better part of a year, but today I saw them and so many memories of a year ago returned.

I glanced at my dining room table and saw the orchid that was given to me last October and is miraculously still alive (Plants are an endangered species at my house). It was somehow important that this plant didn't meet the typical demise of most and although there have been touch and go moments, it is still there delicate, fragile yet strong. A plush bathrobe hangs in my closet, a book on my bedside table, a note tucked away in a desk. All reminders of my blessings and the thoughtfulness of others.

Some things trigger unhappy memories, but these few reminders I have don't bring back the fear and anxiety of last year; but feelings of love and appreciation of the many hands that served and offered support during a challenging time. One of the greatest blessings my Heavenly Father has given me is a loving family and friends who, without fireworks and fanfare, reach out and give service in simple, quiet ways. I am so grateful that the peace and comfort I felt a year ago was brought to my remembrance today through a simple pair of fuzzy pink socks.

Homecoming 2010

2010-10-09T20:46:00.000-06:00

Look at this good looking couple! Looks like they had a fun group. Kelly did a good job taking pictures of the group before the dance. I love seeing modest, beautiful young women with these great guys.

search and rescue...

2010-10-06T20:32:00.000-06:00

We tackled the basement last Saturday. This is a big feat considering it has become the family black hole. Things that go down there rarely are seen again. Our basement isn't finished, so it's used mostly for storage. But we do have some remnant carpet thrown down with a couch, tv and some toys so it does get some use from the kids when it's not too cold.

Saturday we decided a major purge session was in order, so off we went. One big pile for Deseret Industries, and one for garbage. Three hours later, we were finally seeing progress. Ryan took the DI stuff out to the back of the truck. Cassie, who was playing with a cousin, came down to discover operation declutter. Since she has a strong emotional attachment to everything, she began secret search and rescue missions to and from the truck. We finally apprehended her red handed and put a stop to it. However, how many things she was able to save and hide is still a mystery. I think we made a mistake in taking her to Toy Story 3 this summer!

and the answer is....

2010-09-24T17:05:00.001-06:00

I love how the teenagers ask each other to dances. That is one thing that hasn't changed over time. I remember always wracking my brain trying to come up with some creative way to ask a guy to the dance, then waiting for an equally creative answer.

This past week Ryan asked a girl to Homecoming. He bought a package of butter, opened one cube carefully and hid a note inside the cube, then rewrapped it, put it back and resealed the package. He put her name on the outside and dropped it off on her door. After going through the package and disecting four cubes of butter, the note inside said, "look on your front porch". On the front porch was a package of microwave popcorn and a note that said, "now that I've "buttered" you up will you go to Homecoming with me?"

(I was soooo grateful eggs were not involved at this venture! ) see previous post http://kellyandvaloriechristensen.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-egg-fiasco.html

Several days and a doorbell ring later, we found a ginormous bag of popcorn on our front porch. We spread out a tablecloth on the family room rug and dumped it out. It had some mini butterfingers in it and on one of the candy bars was a note that said, "I'd be a butterfinger not to go with you to Homecoming." Pretty creative answer to go with how he asked her. These teenagers amaze me these days! I will post dance pictures at a future date.

end of summer....

2010-09-24T16:59:00.000-06:00

I am late getting these pictures up, but Labor Day weekend we hit the lake for some fun. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins. Josh gave Mark his first lesson on the wake board, Ryan was the honorary flag holder, Cassie had a blast with her cousins and rode the knee board (although I don't have any pictures of that). Big thanks to my sister Rach and her husband Jeff who brought their boat. They are so generous with their time and their great big toy.

minivan with a sense of humor.....

2010-09-21T12:32:00.000-06:00

I love my minivan. I know many mom's and especially dad's wouldn't be caught dead in one, but I am a minivan lover and sit proudly behind the wheel of this mom-mobile. Mine is a sandy dirt color, which works great for the biannual cleanings it receives. The windows at first seem to have a frosted glass appearance, but upon closer inspection, you'll find it's just hand prints on steroids. If I were ever in an emergency in my van, I'd be fine. The seventy-two hour food supply is already there. Just lift up any seat and you will have dehydrated french fries, chicken nuggets and even a stray m&m for dessert.

I am writing about my van today not because of any of the above reasons, but about a new talent it seems to have. My van has a sense of humor. On random occasions without any reason at all, my van will just honk. My hands can be no where near the horn and we will be driving along peacefully (well, as peacefully as a carpool of six elementary school boys can be) and suddenly it honks. My kids get a kick out of this, but it seems to always happen at inopportune moments.

One time I was sitting alone in a parking lot waiting for yet another carpool and a man walked by. He turned and looked at me upon hearing the horn and I wondered what I should do. Is their proper etiquette for this? What would Dear Abby say, smile and wave and pretend you are some crazy women trying to get attention? Or should you ignore it and pretend you have no idea who honked the horn (did I mention I'm the only car aournd?)

Another time, this happened in the drive through line when I was behind a very large truck with a large burly man at the wheel, placing his order. He stuck his head out the window and glared at me... the smiling and waving thing didn't seem to work so well that time. The worse instance occurred where I was stopped at a crosswalk and an elderly gentleman was walking across slowly with his cane. He looked startled at the rude noise emanating from my car. I felt awful. I rolled down my window and said sorry, but it didn't seem to be enough. Should I have tried to explain that it wasn't my fault, it was my car; I really was a nice person and loved older people or maybe try to see if he liked The Walt Disney movies about Herbie. I need some bumper sticker that explains the situation so I can just point to it and be on my way.

I don't know if any of you are Brian Regan fans, but he has a joke about a car with a similar problem. When I first heard it I thought, "Yes, I'm not alone!" So I just need to be behind him when my horn has a rebellious moment, and I won't have to explain. Someone will understand. (it's just the first couple minutes of this clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrwvNa2M_GU

man of the house....

2010-09-15T08:25:00.000-06:00

Ry, Josh and Kelly have had busy schedules and were gone last night when I headed out to mow the lawn. After a few rows, Mark comes hopping out while tugging on his last shoe and announced, "Mom, I am the man of the house tonight so you go sit down and I'll mow the lawn!"

After watching him wrestle with the heavy mower for a few minutes and seeing the water breaks extending with each pass on the lawn, I took over and finished. What a cutie.

yet another crochet posting.....

2010-09-07T10:35:00.000-06:00

I took a departure from scarfs, hats and bags and decided to try some little stuffed animals. Got to love free patterns you find on the internent.

love a boy in uniform.....

2010-09-06T10:05:00.001-06:00

Mark earned his wolf, four arrow points and some belt loops at our last pack meeting. He worked so hard and I'm proud of him! Congratulation Mark!

fast sunday funny.....

2010-09-05T17:17:00.000-06:00

Mark made us laugh today around the dinner table. As per typical Sunday, conversation around the table revolved around the lessons taught at church. Mark has been making vast improvements over past weeks with understanding and explaining his primary class to us. However, today he struggled and had lots of memory lapses. When asked why he didn't listen as well today he said, "It's fast sunday and when I don't get food, my brain doesn't work!"

anyone have a cow I can buy?

2010-09-01T09:32:00.000-06:00

I have decided maybe I need to live on a farm. A cow would come in handy about now. Mark would be excited and think steak was finally in season! (joke from earlier post http://kellyandvaloriechristensen.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-season.html) But, no, I would use it for daily sustenance.

I went to the grocery store for milk today and bought 8 gallons, that might seem like I am stock piling in case cows decide to picket, but no....in a few days I will be back for eight more! Every time I go through the checkout, they inquire with shock and awe on their faces, ..."how many milk did you say you have?"

If I didn't get so tired of lugging in it one session and I had another fridge, I would buy 16! Think of the looks I would get then! Since I am not an attention getter nor do I have enduring biceps, I will settle for a couple trips a week. I guess on a positive note, in the past nearly eighteen years, only one bone has been broken in our family, despite the fact that I have three energetic, brawn before brains, boys!

signs of the end of summer....

2010-08-27T15:34:00.001-06:00

Tired of fighting the unwinable battle of morning glory, you give up and appreciate it's now blooming state in its natural habitat.

Fresh peach shakes start at Taco Amigo

The rare quiet house doesn't signal mischievous children, simply absent ones.

You are amazed and almost giddy that every time you walk into the kitchen between the hours of 8 and 2, it's still pristine! You walk in often just to make sure it's not your imagination having a heyday.

You long for the opportunity to dust off a jacket and experience a crisp morning or cool evening, signaling the beginning of yet another beautiful season here in Utah.

First Day of School!

2010-08-26T11:13:00.000-06:00

The first day of school and I could only get the youngest two to pose. I wasn't covert enough to get some of the older boys . Another year of school is here again and I can't believe it!

Mark's Birthday!

2010-08-26T10:45:00.000-06:00

My baby is nine! He is getting so tall and growing up so fast. My favorite thing about Mark is that despite his advancing years, he still gives me hugs and reaches up to hold my hand when we go places. I love his smile and silly smirks. He is getting a quick witt and says things that brings laughter to our family. We had a fun birthday with him. Ate at Brick Oven, his favorite place and came home to open presents and have cake. Cassie, made and decorated his cake this year. I thought she did a great job! Mark consulted,it was one of the few occassions where they actually got along! Happy Birthday Mark, I love you and you will always be my baby. (picture him rolling his eyes as I call him that!)

Girls Camp 2010

2010-08-26T08:15:00.000-06:00

I just found the camera Cassie took to Girls Camp and uploaded the photo's. As you can see, they had a great time! It was at Aspen Lakes in Heber. The theme was Survivor. Each tent was a tribe, and througout the week there were competitions and they even had an area for treemail. It was well organized and planned. I had the opportunity to go up one night to bring dinner with the Relief Society presidency. I couldn't believe how much I missed it! I am so grateful she had the opportunity to be around great young women and leaders.

will time stop already!!

2010-08-11T10:16:00.000-06:00

I can't believe this summer is almost over! It seems like just a couple weeks ago I was wondering how I was going to survive. I have not been a great picture taker, but I thought I'd take a moment and journal about what everyone has been up to.

Ryan, I think that is his name, we don't see much. He has been so busy taking a class online this summer, spending all kinds of crazy hours planning the next year with the Seminary Council, working two jobs and trying to find a few minutes here and there to talk to his mom. He is growing up so fast and getting more independent every day. I have started to freak out a little less at the thought that this is his last year in high school. Tomorrow, my sister, her daughter, Ryan and I are heading south to check out a University. Then next week we are going up north for a tour of another one. Eek! Ok, maybe I am still freaking out! I am so proud of this big guy of mine, he works hard, has a great head on his shoulders and helps me here when he can.

Josh, the constant comedian, has been keeping busy too. He and two of his friends decided months ago that they wanted to try out for the high school golf team. They practiced every week and every chance they got and all three made the team. Josh is so excited! I am proud of them for setting a goal and working towards it. He has been trying to earn money to fund this new adventure and is wishing he had a regular job. We are grateful for a great neighbor who has had him work with him on a couple of roofing jobs. Josh's new golf shoes, size 15, yes I did say size 15 arrived yesterday. When you have feet that big you have to special order all footwear. Thank goodness his heart and sense of humor are as big as his feet. Josh is also Mr. Social and doesn't think our house is the cool house. He is constantly at one of his friends and I am grateful that he has such wonderful friends. As a mom of a teenager, good friends for your kids is so important.

Cassidy turned twelve last month and started a whole new social schedule. She will be going to Jr. High this fall and is in Young Women's. She went to camp and youth conference just after her birthday. She paints her nails and toenails every other day, loves to talk on the phone for hours and hang out with her best friend Aubry. She is learning to be a great cookie and brownie baker and Josh and his friends are using that skill whenever they happen to stay at our house long enough. So I am extremely grateful when she bakes.

Mark got to play baseball earlier this summer and had a blast. He loves baseball. He and Kelly went to an Owls game last Sat. night and I am still hearing about their great seats and all the fun plays. He has loved cub scouts and is about to earn his wolf badge. He has had fun hanging out with his friends and cousins this summer. He will have his nine year old birthday just before school stars. My baby is nine! I think I feel another freak out moment around the corner.

This has been a fun summer and I can't believe school is just a couple weeks away. I know I will blink and Christmas will be here and then sneeze and Ry will be graduating and another summer will be starting. I don't know when life started to go in fast forward mode, but I would like it to rewind or at least pause sometime soon. If someone has the secret to slowing things down, I would love to have it.

isn't it ironic...

2010-08-05T18:08:00.000-06:00

You are always wearing a white shirt when you open a can of tomato sauce and it leaps out to greet you.

A gallon of orange juice always falls on the just mopped kitchen floor.

Homemade ice cream, swimsuits and non camouflage clothing fall in the same season!

The pattern socks are always the ones that get lost in the laundry.

You run into someone you haven't seen in decades only when you go to the grocery store in sweats, frizzy hair and no makeup.

Company shows up only when your house is a mess! ( I need an enter at your risk sign instead of a welcome sign on my front door.)

smile, it's contagious.....

2010-07-27T17:50:00.000-06:00

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be around some elderly people recently. They make me smile even though I only spend a few minutes with each one. One couple is especially my favorite. They have been married for 63 years. She is delightful, always so happy and cheery. Although her health isn't that great, she is probably the happiest person I have ever met. She doesn't just radiate, she sparkles!

Today she told me that God's greatest creation was a human being and she would like to meet each one and say hello. She sits on a glider in her carport with her oxygen tank and walker nearby and calls out a greeting to each person that passes by. She says she is surprised that people keep coming back. I have only known her for a few weeks and I feel like an adopted part of her family. She told me today that the first time she met me she knew I had a good heart. "It's all in the eyes, you have kind eyes and so I knew we'd be friends"

I told her today that every time I leave her house I have a smile on my face. She responded, "is it because I told you a joke?" I said, "no, tell me a joke" She smiled all the way to her eyes and replied, "oh sorry, I don't know one!" Then she just slapped her leg and chuckled. She told me her husband is such a wonderful man and don't I think he is so handsome for an old guy? Apparently she is making a list of all her friends who want to marry him if she goes before he does. She laughed and told me, "I always tell them, you better be nice to me or else you are off my list!" I am just smiling while I type this.

So many times today, people don't make contact with other people. We are always in a rush, and sometimes, even rude to those around us. I know I rarely make eye contact with people I meet. I'm always thinking ahead of what I want to buy, or the things I need to do. I might get impatient in a checkout line instead of smiling and saying hello to the person in front of me who is using a hundred coupons. I wonder why we rush. There is a favorite scripture of mine in Psalms. "Be still and know that I am God" I am not still enough. I don't take time to appreciate what is around me or even take a moment for a smile and a hello once in awhile.

Edna has taught me to do that. Today I smiled and said hi to a couple of people I walked by. They looked a bit surprised but returned the greeting. Just doing that small thing made me slow down a bit and appreciate the fact that little gestures can bring big changes. So this sweet woman might not know any jokes but her words of wisdom and sparkling disposition will always make me smile.

scout camp 2010

2010-07-19T12:48:00.000-06:00

Click on the link below to see the great pictures Kelly took of Josh at Yuba Lake this past week!

http://www.kizoa.com/slideshow/d986700kP23906412o4/yuba-lake

another great book....

2010-07-17T21:57:00.001-06:00

My amazing sister Rachael is out with her second book! I am even mentioned in the acknowlegements, so I must be almost famous now! :) Seriously, this is a great book and I highly recommend it. It's fun, it's witty, it will make you smile. Check it out. You can find it on amazon now, and soon it will be in bookstores.

http://www.amazon.com/Luck-Draw-Rachael-Renee-Anderson/dp/1599554437/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279425643&sr=8-1

Cassidy's Birthday!

2010-07-15T21:26:00.000-06:00

Cassidy's official birthday was yesterday. She turned 12 and is headed into Young Women's. She gets to go to girls camp next week, and I'm sad I won't be there with her. She had a party with her friends yesterday and today we celebrated as a family tonight when Josh and Kelly got home from scout camp. We went to her favorite restaurant, Brick Oven, and she stood on a chair while the servers sang to her

We came home and she opened her presents and had lemon cake with ice cream. Poor girl has been sick with a big bad cold this week so she didn't want to contaminate her cake. So she just got one candle on her piece to blow out. Just that sent her into a coughing fit. The last present was the beautiful nightstand Kelly made. Josh put a big gift bag on her head while it was brought into the room. She loves it! I am so grateful for Kelly and his talents. Now she has a beautiful piece of furniture custom made from her dad.

I love this little girl of mine. She is so happy and cheerful and makes everyone smile who is around her. She loves to babysit and play with younger kids. She takes such time and attention with them and they love her. She is a big help around the house and likes to learn how to cook, crochet and do crafts. She is a delight and I am so grateful she is part of our family. The girls have to stick together around here. :)

overachiever....

2010-07-14T18:05:00.000-06:00

I have discovered I am an overachiever! At least when it comes to painting. Most people when they paint, are very stingy and exclusive. They ONLY get it on the wall or project they are working on. Not me! I go the extra mile to make sure nothing feels left out. My hair, skin, clothing and anything even remotely near or far gets paint! It's just the way I am, I have a gift. Go ahead, be envious, even hate me a little!

I would post a picture, but the vain part of me just won't allow it! Kelly made a beautiful nightstand for Cassie for her birthday to replace a folding chair she has been using. Her other bedroom furniture is white so I got the job to paint it to match. Who would have ever thought such a small project could be so difficult! Too many nooks and crannies! Hopefully Kelly won't hide the paint brushes with the hedge trimmers, although that might get me out of painting in the future! I will post a picture of his sweet gift as soon as I get my camera back from scout camp!

new crochet projects...

2010-07-13T09:43:00.000-06:00

These are some of the new crochet projects I have recently finished. For the summer I have moved on from hats, scarfs and mittens to baseball caps, flower bags and purses. I am amazed how much I love to crochet! I hope it's not a sign of my increasing years. :) I am always looking for new patterns so if anyone has any, send them over. My little nephew Max is my favorite to make little hats for. Isn't he adorable?

which way do we go....

2010-07-08T22:13:00.000-06:00

It took 45 minutes, lots of U turns, running in and out of buildings, following signs that changed directions and finally we reached our destination! (Which ended up being less than a half mile from our house!)

Tonight we wanted to go to an open house for some incredible neighbors who are currently serving as temple president and matron at a small temple in southern Brazil. We love this couple so much and were looking forward to seeing them. They left seven months ago and are home for a couple weeks while their temple is closed.

In my middle aged mind, I assumed I knew the location of the church. (note to self: after age 40 never trust the mind). The building we arrived at was closed for some maintenence and we didn't see any note telling of a change of location. We decided to try other buildings in the nearby area, sending Ry in at each one to see if we had reached the right place. Three buildings later we weren't any closer to our destination. As we were driving down a road, we spotted a sign with balloons. We meticulously followed the arrow, only to find it didn't lead to the right place. (I am starting to see a really good object lesson coming out of this experience)

Not willing to give up easily, we turned around and found the sign again. This time the arrow was pointed in a different direction. We changed course yet again until we found another sign. We were wise to the tricky signs now and decided to follow our intuition. Tada! Around the next corner we met with success! It was like a treasure hunt and our friends were definitely a wonderful treasure at the end of our long silly trip. We found it interesting that the church building was less than a half mile from our house, it was just in a neighboring stake so we didn't think of it at the beginning.

Seeing them again brought tears to my eyes. They are like second parents to Kelly and I, and it was such a joy to see them and listen to their experiences. I am amazed and humbled at the sacrifices of the people there. All the distance they travel just to attend a temple. I live less than two miles from one, and don't make it there as often as I should. I felt such peace and love for the Knightons, their service and example. If I ever get lost again, I hope it is their faces I see at the end of the journey!

need a haircut?

2010-07-02T10:53:00.000-06:00

I have a sister who is a year younger than I am. When I was a toddler I had lots of curly hair, she happened to be bald. By the time she was two there was just enough hair on the top of her head to make a little pony tail. I decided to play "barber shop" one day and took some scissors and chopped off her little pony tail, bow and all. That should have been some sign that I should never handle a pair of scissors again. It was not to be. I remember as a preteen trying to cut my own bangs. First one side was too short then the other; before I knew it I had bangs that were a quarter inch long. Ask Kelly about the first time I cut his hair. He ran to a professional afterward and responded to the shocked look of the stylist, "just don't ask".

Well today I decided to tackle some overgrown shrubs and trees in my yard. I grabbed the hand held clippers and started one branch at a time. First was an evergreen tree. I love these trees as they remind me of Christmas all year long. However, this one was a little shaggy and overgrown. I honestly tried to keep it's holiday shape. I started on one side, than slowly moved around the tree. As I stepped back to analyze the results, I realized the symmetry was off. I continued again around the tree and began to have flashbacks of my bangs when I was twelve. Some voice inside my head was saying, "put the clippers down, and step away from the tree." Maybe it was the tree police. I should have listened. As gaps started to appear I began to try to manipulate the branches like I do on my artificial Christmas trees. Nature is not so flexible. I was wondering how to reattach the branches. Aren't there tree surgeons? I was reflecting on the allegory of the olive tree in the scriptures and wondering how the grafting process works. Maybe they make pine colored duct tape?

Needless to say, I will have some explaining to do when Kelly gets home this evening. Although as he's been married to me for the past nineteen years, he will probably just shake his head and say, "I won't even ask." Then he will find all the sharp objects in the house and lock them up in his wood shop.

at home spa...

2010-06-28T22:12:00.000-06:00

Who needs to spend all that money to have a relaxing day at the spa when you can get the same benefits at home!

Facial: Ironing a dozen of my husbands shirts with extra steam; cucumbers from the dinner salad are optional.

Mud Bath: Weeding after the sprinklers had their turn, then having balance issues.

Body Wrap: Wrestling with a box of inexpensive plastic wrap and having it win.

Exfoliating: Scrubbing floors on hands and knees

Massage: Feeling the vibrations of a teenager's stereo sub woofer during an especially long musical arrangement.

When doing laundry, don't forget to make use of the hot towels you fold straight out of the dryer. To increase the ambiance of your spa home day, simply carry a candle around with you with an aromatic scent, an i pod with relaxing music and wear a plush white bathrobe and you're set!

cousin fun.........

2010-06-24T14:14:00.000-06:00

My sister and her family invited us out on their boat Monday. They are always so generous with their fun toys. The kids had fun playing in the water. Kelly got some great pictures. Thanks Rach and Jeff!!

happy father's day....

2010-06-20T18:19:00.000-06:00

Kelly, this is my first poem to you,

and it seemed appropriate on father's day -
Surprisingly, it’s difficult
to find the words I want to convey.
Which is really quite amazing,
as I am never at a loss of those;
so please be patient as I search
for something worthy to compose.

How do you describe a father
that is so compassionate and true;
who never let a new baby out of his sight
for even a moment or two.
How about a dad when left in charge
of the toddlers for awhile;
instead of TV, would make a giant fort,
just to see them smile.
A father who worked long hours
at church and work to be precise;
then turn around and find time to play catch
and to give homework advice.
You are the father, who'd protect little Cassie
as she'd crawl up on your lap;
and snuggle in with a smile
just to avoid going upstairs for a nap.
All the times over the years,
when I thought an earthquake had come about;
it was just water fights and wrestling
that would shake throughout the house.
And who would be leading
the noisy boisterous brigade?
Surely not my husband
in his wisdom and and grown up age?
But there you would be around the corner
with a shrug and a silly smirk;
Armed with a water gun,
just waiting to go berserk.
How do you describe a man
that does dishes, housework and laundry,
whenever I was absent, sick
or just in a quandary.
You taught the kids that hard work
is always good to do;
And not just at times
when someone was feeling blue.
You took time to teach them
how to build in your wood shop;
And only cringed a moment
when something happened to drop!
There were times when your patience
was pushed to it’s very limit;
perhaps from your children,
or a stubborn wife could do it.
Your never raised your voice,
usually only an eyebrow;
Then you’d bring peace and quiet to the scene,
no temper did you allow.
You worked hard to help your boys
become strong Eagle Scouts
And could always be the only one
to tease Cassie out of a pout.
I treasure the moments
you gave blessings to one and all;
and were always worthy,
no matter what time of day you’d get a call.
Kelly I hope you know, you mean more to me
than simple words can say.
You are an incredible husband and father
and I love you in every way.
Thank you for standing by my side
through every strife;
And making a family with our children
that will last long past this life.
Happy Father’s Day.

a loss for words....

2010-06-14T13:25:00.000-06:00

I know that the title of this post seems strange for me, perhaps you had to read it twice. Valorie, at a loss for words? Something has to be off with the universe. I love to write, I love the power of language. It is fun, exciting, silly and inspiring to read others words and to express life through them. Sometimes though, I am at quite a loss. This is one of those times.

What do you tell a family when a young husband gets a diagnosis no one was expecting? What can you say after a long, valiant, difficult fight where options are running thin? Where are the words that don't seem trite, redundant or obvious? I haven't found any and it is so frustrating.

We know a family that at one time lived near us. We have long since gone our separate ways, but over the last year have heard about their fight against a determined and territorial cancer. I have followed their story on facebook through tests, surgeries, treatments and complications. I have sent notes of encouragement, prayed and thought about them so much. Now as I hear that they are reaching the end of their options I am at a loss at what to say. No words can fix things, no words can express how sorrowful I feel or describe how much their faith and strength has helped me over this past year. You would think with all the languages out there, all the millions and millions of syllables, something would come to mind to convey all that I'm thinking and feeling.

To the Mason family, we love you. We will continue to pray for your miracle and for all you need to help you through the day to day challenges. Please forgive these simple words that seem so lacking and inadequate. My heart is full even though my voice is weak.

heat wave...

2010-06-08T15:11:00.000-06:00

Sunday was the first day we turned on our AC this season. I looked at the thermostat and one minute it said 78 and a bit later it was up to 82. I was perplexed how it got so hot so fast and I must have asked the question out loud because Josh promptly replied without missing a beat, "duh mom, I just entered the room!" I think he has a healthy self esteem.

admire my carpets, just don't walk on them

2010-06-08T13:58:00.000-06:00

In my never ending quest to save money (or at least attempt to) I rented a carpet cleaner yesterday and decided to tackle my carpets. They have desperately needed cleaning for some time, but I have postponed hiring someone because each month the budget was not carpet friendly.

As it was becoming difficult to remember the actual color of my floor coverings, I decided yesterday it was time to take matters into my own hands. I went to the store and paid the very reasonable rental rate, and then saw the cleaning product prices! They lull you in and wham! "Oh, you wanted something to go in the machine, that costs extra!" I maneuvered the awkward machine into my car and then into the house mumbling something about the possible rewards of the savings. A new pair of shoes maybe........Twelve hours later I finished.

Today the carpets look better, and I am exhausted. I had to return for two more bottles of spot cleaner because I had more spots than 101 Dalmatians and it doesn't come in a giant "kids live here" size. I only had one mishap which was good for me. I went to empty the canister of the grimy water when I stepped from the damp carpet onto the hardwood floor. Next thing I know I'm on my backside with gritty, grimy water splashed all over me. Note to self. Reconsider when putting wet feet on a smooth surface.

I woke up this morning sore in every muscle of my body. I was wondering why my bum was sore till I remembered the moment it very ungracefully met the kitchen floor. Today I have turned into mom, protector of the clean carpets. I am sitting on the couch in the main traffic ways "encouraging" my children to take off their shoes when they come in the house. Of course, since it's summer I can't convince them to wear shoes, so I cringe whenever little feet enter the house. I have started foot inspections! I kid you not. I am determined that all my hard work lasts at least one day! I reminded Mark to stay off the carpets and he said, "am I supposed to fly?" I think I am a bit obsessed. Maybe there are pluses to dirty carpets. But I saved money right? Although my feet are too tired for the shoes I can now afford. :)

lessons in nature...

2010-06-01T21:58:00.000-06:00

I was weeding my flower beds today and thinking that there was a good reason I wasn't Eve. I would have never relented and purposely chose to have weeds in my life! I am not sure there is an example of faith and obedience stronger than that! :)

Who named morning glory? There is nothing glorious about it. Mine is getting wise and hitting the rose bushes particularly hard because who is going to go into the thorns and remove it? What about those prickley things, nothing says welcome to my garden more than those! They look like some living torture device just daring someone to try to get close. I have yet to meet a glove that can withstand it. Don't even get me started on the grass that doesn't respect boundries and gets greedy conquering new territory. How much space does it need?

Ok, so once again I had too much time on my hands as I was wandering about my yard today. I need an ipod or something apparently, when my mind has a moment things get a little crazy. I might have even been mumbling some not very nice things under my breath. At any rate, as I was weeding I realized that I was giving way too much attention to these uninvited guests and in my frustrated haste, I was failing to notice all the new flowers blooming in my garden.

I think that is how life is some days. I get so caught up in the prickley, unwelcome troubles that I forget to admire the beautiful things around me. I also realize that after I toil and struggle in the dirt, I appreciate the flowers all the more. Perhaps if weeds didn't exist I would take the beauty of flowers for granted. The scriptures talk about how there needs to be opposition in all things and I think I understand that a little bit more today. I learned a lesson in the dirt. Despite how much I hate to admit it, even weeds have a purpose. Eve was pretty smart indeed. Although if they stay gone for awhile, I won't object too much!

(This post is for all those wonderful people I know that despite all the terrible weeds that come into their lives, never fail to not only enjoy the beauty around them, but also share it with others. I have much to learn from you.)

memorial day...

2010-06-01T12:11:00.000-06:00

We had fun yesterday joining my siblings and my parents on a hike. It was just a couple miles from my house and yet I had never been there. We had a great time. As I sat and looked over the valley I realized how much I take where I live for granted. What a beautiful place to be.