Christmas, at our place...

100 Random things...

100 Random things about me...
The statements in bold I have done...
The ones that aren't bold yet, be paitent...I am getting there!!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a preying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegtables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truely satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger food in a resturaunt
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold girl scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding Motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. flown in a helicopter
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

So, there ya go!
A hundred random things about me...
Your turn!

Thanksgiving...

Thanks. Giving.
Giving Thanks.

Either way you look at it, it is pretty darn awesome!!!

There are so many wonderful things that are a part of our daily lives we simply take for granted. Running water. Food to eat. Beds to sleep in...

When I look at the rest of the world..many go without what we expect to have.
We have SO much. It is hard to take it all in.

So, I challenge you to seek what is simple that surrounds you in luxury and comfort.
Say a prayer in gratitude for all you have been blessed with. We are all different, but not so different that we can't be grateful...

Love you, Amy

Almost...

Almost Thanksgiving... Well.

It is almost Thanksgiving Day.

What a freaking year it has been. Like a roller coaster ride from Hades...to test us. To try us. To tempt us.

I am thankful for...Sam. My love. My light. My life. He is the reason I draw breath. He gives me momentum when otherwise I would stop. He makes me laugh too, that is always good.

I am thankful for...my kids. My joy. My soul. My heart. They are the reason my heart continues to beat when otherwise, I would will it to stop. They give me a hard time, usually...Ha, ha. They teach me how to love. How to live...

I am thankful for Christ. His love. His ability to see beyond what is before us. From beginning to end. He loves us. He loves...me.
I love Him too.

I am thankful for the gospel. The light. The hope. The endless possibilities...literally! Forever is a long time. For me. For Sam.
Together.

I am thankful for Forever.

Forever. To love forever, to live forever.

Thanks unto heaven above!

*Note to self...*

Yup.
Still alive.
Barely...

*facepalm*

DOH

Tackle it Tuesday...accomplished!

Tackle it Tuesday.
Mission: The girls' room.

The place no man has gone before, ( nor should have too! ).
Wowzers. How much candy did they eat up there?!???
It was a pig pen. All over again. So no before pictures.
(Sadly, it is embarrasing beyond belief to me that they can live that way)

However, feel free to enjoy the after pictures.
Until next week...Tah!

Party anyone???

It just couldn't have been any better!!!

Ellie's party was a blast.
There just aren't words for how sweet and fun all of her friends are.
She is such a lucky girl!

Here are a few snapshots for your free entertainment for the day...

Fix it Friday

Our Music Room is rather small for the crowd we have in there.

We are always trying to figure out how to cram us all in for the many things our family does. Such as, ( but not limited to...), Scripture study, FHE, piano, violin, reading...see what I mean?

So for Fix it Friday, I have been wracking my brain for solutions...
Not to mention the desire of my heart to clean up the clutter from sheet music, practice books, books, and all the other stuff that gets packed away in there!

I was able to get the room all cleaned up today. Everything got moved and walls washed, baseboards scrubbed, books piled up and piano dusted. That leaves me with what to do with all the books? Those who know me, know I love to read. That means stacks of books in all the nooks and crannies! ( And I do mean all )

Also, there are two glass doors we really don't use much. So, I blocked them with the loveseat...Voila! Two more seats to sit on!!! Hopefully we will bring the black chair up, and place it beside the two awesome surprises I brought home...(see below)

Today, while trying to find a blasted pinata...I found two beautiful cherry book shelf/
curio cabinet things for a very, very reasonable price. *YAY*
The search has been on for ones that Sam and I could both agree on, and these are simply perfect!!! I was so excited the whole way home!!! The are just fabulous. They match the piano, have gorgeous glass doors, all hardwood construction, and shelves!

Here is to the perfect bookcase....
*cheers*

Mission...POSSIBLE

Whew!

That only took 2 hours start to finish.
Seriously!!!

The biggest surprise lurking under all the piles was:
Stacks and stacks of Sam's hunting stuff!
Flannels, coveralls, hats...ropes, mule saddle bags...
you name it, it was under there!!

The toughest part was vacuuming. All the nooks and crannies are hard to get to.
I kept the basement door open for ventilation, while my dog slept on the doorway...
as I crawled, climbed, and vacuumed for a good 30 minutes. Should I admit that I even vaccumed the pool table? Shhhh, don't tell Sam. It's a good thing the darn thing was free. Now if only I had a table that size in my laundry room! LOL!!!

Under my after pictures are shots of the kids play room. That is next Thursday!

Me and you Kathy. Me and you. We can do it!!!

Guess what I am doing today...

Thwart it Thursday in all it's glory!

How do you like our Tibetan Flag across the room?
Cozy, yes?

Oh, how about the stack of cabinets that are supposed to be in the garage.
Nice. By the way, the girls have moved into them...that is 'their' house.

Ooo. Ooo. I know! How about all the blankets piled on the pool table.
Effective, isn't it.

Totes, suitcases, crap, garbage. Geez. Does a girl ever get a break?
Here is to me. The power of one.

GO AMY!

Hannah Montana Madness

Lime green, neon pink and purple.
Bright lights...big city, right?

We are preparing for a rockin birthday party here this weekend.
Ellie has been begging for a Hannah Montana birthday since last year.
Why? Heck if I know. We don't even have Disney channel.

We will be singing some karaoke on the 'stage' ( the lifted area of the living room ),
playing hot potato with a microphone, and making some sweet little beaded bracelets.
Sound fun? How about a cupcake butterfly cake? Replete with a guitar and montage..How about a goody bag with lipgloss, compacts and other fun stuff?

Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can pull it off outside.
That would be nice. Super nice!

It would be even better if YOU get invited!
Ha, ha. Just kidding.

So, here is to the rocking weekend ahead...

Work it Wednesday!!!

*Per Britten's request...photos of my bathroom drawers...er, that didn't sound good.

Wash it Wednesday just won't cut what all is happening today!

So, Let's work. Work. Work. Work it girl!!! I was able to clean out and wash the bathroom drawers. You know, the ones that get used day in and day out? They were nasty. Gel, toothpaste, hairspray...you name it. It was encrusted all over the place!
They were disorganized and basically a disaster. Wellllll, not anymore!

They are clean, tidy and everyone has a place for their own stuff. Hair stuff, gel stuff, razor stuff, toothbrush stuff. All in it's own little happy place. Yes. Happy. Because I said so!

Now, I am off to the rest of my day. I have to get to the store and get the rest of the birthday stuff. Wrapping paper, pinata, and what-not. I am also trying to get games and music together for the party. Not to mention running errands to make up for what is lacking in our house after Mom being gone for almost a week.

So here we go again. A new day. A new adventure!!!

Home again, Home again jiggety jig!

What goes up, must come down.
Right?

Well. I am home safe and sound. As sound as it gets around here. Boy, I forgot how busy it stays around here. All I have done to day is run around like a chicken with my head chopped off!

The trip was a mild success. Although it was melancholy...a few things were determined.

1. Big Daddy has to finish this round of chemo and radiation to get the tumor to shrink enough to see what is happeing in is lymph nodes.

2. It will be around January or so before that happens.

3. My Mom's side of the family is verrrrry interesting.

4. I get my brains from my Dad's side...

5. Podnuhs still has the best bbq in the world, and Shipley's has the best dounuts!

6. Dot and Grandad are the best people a girl could ever ask for.

7. I am freakin exausted.

8. Which leads into...Tackle it Tuesday. ( Yup, I remembered!!!)

For Tackle it Tuesday, I got ready for Ellie's Birthday party which is on Saturday.
The cake is ordered, the invitations are filled out, the presents are wrapped...ahhh.
That feels good. Now all I have to do is decorate!!! And, keep up with 8 six year olds.

Wish me luck!
Love you all!!!

Rhonda, you are the bomb. Thanks so much for your love and support.
I couldn't have thought straight without your kind words. Love you.

Hey I am here safe and sound!

Love you all!!!

Amy

Thanks is thanks indeed...

Tomorrow I will fly into the place I probably least like to be.

My hometown. Yes, I have the dreaded...I can't believe I came from there syndrome.
Really. I can't believe it. As wrong as that sounds, it isn't for the reasons you think.

My Grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. Um, guess who realised that he was sick.
Take a really wild one...yeah. Me. Luck of luck...I know the symptoms that are clearly seen when you only see someone, saaaay only every 5 years or so. Lack of energy, loss of appetitte, weight loss, blah, blah, blah.

The day before my brother's wedding, I rushed Big Daddy, ( yes, that is what we call him...refer to above comments...i can't believe i am from there ) to the hospital. A tumor was in his esophagus. Trying to get information from my family is pretty much a joke. Hence the dreaded trip. DREADED.

Although there are a few simply wonderful things about the deep south, like my best friend in the whole wide world...and food to die for...I just couldn't live there. Not anymore. Once in my life was long enough. Is that bad?

My heart is aching. My mind is racing. My soul is reaching.
Now the circle is almost round. Just a bit off center.

Now, this is a heartfelt thanks to all of my dear friends at Twilight Moms...

THANK YOU, YOU ARE ALL SIMPLY THE BEST!!!
WHAT AN INSPIRATION, AND BLESSING YOU ALL ARE IN MY LIFE. WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT YOU???

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
LOVE YOU , LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU

So in the month of November...when Thanks is what you give...

Thank you.

We spent Halloween in Cedar City with Sam's sister Kristee...
Needless to say, the kids came home with over 30 pounds of candy.
Yes. 30. Isn't that sad?

While we were down in Southern Utah, I took a little detour and went
to see my dear friend Kathy. She is an inspiration to so many ladies it
isn't even funny. She gave me the idea for tackle it Tuesday...and we
have been trying to come up with other days and themes.

This is what her family brainstormed and came up with...


Mother it Monday
Tackle it Tuesday
Wash it Wednesday
Twart it Thursday
Fix it Friday
Scour it Saturday
Savor it Sunday

Gotta love it!!!

Mother it Monday, for me will be a day to give myself permission to read a book, take a walk, or whatever nourishes my Mother heart.

Tackle it Tuesday you know about already...when you sneak into a disaster and ATTACK!!! Get it organized and together.

Wash it Wednesday. Wash whatever needs washing. It could be Mt. Washmore in the laundry room, or walls, or the car...whatever needs it...gets it!!!

Thwart it Thursday...putting something forward that has been lurking in the dark. Um, like the basement? Or a closet that desperately needs some attention.

Fix it Friday. You know that shower head that leaks, or the picture you swear to hang.
Well this is the day to do it. Fix it, hang it, repair it...and enjoy it!

Scour it Saturday. While it may sound like something I need to do to the kids...it actually entails scrubbing something in need. Like a tub, or the porch.

Savor it Sunday. Probably will be my favorite day of the week. Savoring is something that will bless my life long after the day is over. It could be music, yoga, scripture study or anything that gives me a chance to savor...and savor completely!

These are things that will vary in timetable. Depending on my energy level, time and what needs to be done. One rule of thumb I try to stick to is not to pull out more than can be done in an hour. I don't want to burn out. It is simply a way to bless my life and my home.

I will try to keep you posted!