FHE, Making Monday Nights Worth it!

FHE= Family Home Evening.

It is something we do nearly every Monday night. We sit as a family and read scriptures, sing hymns and study the words of God. A valuable tool for us is this website:
http://ldslivingmagazine.com/categories/show/3
There I find wonderful ideas, talks and recipes for us to savor on Monday nights.

Last night we discussed choices. Especially how faith effects our choices. From what we read, to the friends we have, to what we watch on TV. We read an amazing talk by President Henry B Erying. "Walk in the Light" W. O. W. My heart was pierced. To the center of my soul. My kids were crowded around me trying to read WITH me. What an amazing testimony to the Light of Christ. The light we are all born with. To feel what is right and what is wrong. And the journey we experience to keep that light growing, or dimming by our choices and actions.

I highly recommend it.

Choices are part of our daily life. Moment to moment the choices we make effect not only ourselves, but the people around us. I hope that I may be a living tribute to the Savior. That I may bring light and joy to those I come in contact with. Especially my family. I hope that light, that bright beautiful light of Christ is illuminated in my eyes, my countenance for all to see. That others may be encouraged to reach, search and find the peace that only He can give.

This weekend is General Conference. I can't wait! I 'll post more about that tomorrow...

What's a girl to do???

It snowed yesterday. I couldn't believe it. Well, okay...I could. This is Spring in Utah at it's best!!!
We took the girls skiing on Friday. They both had all A's on their report cards. Hooray!!!

The day was absolutely perfect! The sun was shining. The sky was blue...the snow was really good for spring skiing. We all got sunburned and happy. Shared sandwiches and cookies at the cafe. Then we skied until we could no longer walk.

Katie is Miss careful. Making perfect S's down the slope. Ellie with her mix of Sam and I..is the little daredevil. Racing, jumping...flying. *Yikes* Whatever will we do with her??? Sam spent some time on black diamond runs. We gals stuck to blue runs. They have enough umph for us!

Most of all, we all held hands. Laughed on the lift, and threw snow at each other.
What a good day.

Florida dreams will have to wait just a little longer...

After much thought and consideration, we have decided to head to Florida after the kids are out of school. There are many, many reasons why. Here are a few...

• It will save us alot of money.
• We can stay longer.
• Perhaps we will actually be able to spend time with my Dad.
• He is always busy, so we will just have to wait and see...
• It will be fun to drive the coastline with the kids and teach them some history.
• We can visit the Everglades.
• Maybe even the Keys!

Florida is a beautiful place that should be savored. Not rushed. It would be a great journey to spend a month down there. It would cost the same to spend a month there in June, as it would to stay a week in April. ( After tourist season. )

We WILL make it on vacation. Really, we will!!!

So on to the next adventure...

I am back at my healthy living again. Now that my bronchitis is better...(gone), I can run again! Hip-hip HOORAY! Now it is time to eat healthy and exercise. Swimsuits are around the corner.
GAH!

Florida dreams...

My Dad lives in Florida.

We don't see him very often.

Our relationship isn't exactly typical...

What can I say.

Nothing in my life has been normal.

Would you expect anything less?

So, we are going to Florida.


With no expectations.

Just an open heart.

If only he knew how much I love him.

Really.

More random kid facts

Yesterday, I sat down to watch Faust. The opera. Yup. I said opera. *yikes* It was okay...I had forgotten how sappy opera can be!!! The girls were transfixed, simply mesmerized. It was actually kind of funny.

So, Ellie is trying her hardest to read subtitles and figure out what language they were singing in. After many assurances that it was NOT Spanish, the common 2nd language here...she looked at me and said. "Hmph. Are they speaking Opera?!?" By this point she was really confused. It took some time to explain to her that many different kinds of people live in this world. And many of them have their very own way of speaking. Just like us. Well, just like her!

Faust is sung in Italian. And really is a beautiful sappy love story. Of love redeemed. Love relived and the joy of love. The final scene is full of angels, choirs of angels...and of Margeruite ascending to heaven. It was fun to watch the girls' eyes as they watched...and asked LOTS of questions about heaven and if you really have to climb a ladder! LOL!!!

It's a Family thing...

Man...have I had cabin fever! Even though the sun is shining, and the spring flowers are beginning to burst forth from the ground... I have the itch. Spring Fever!!! It seems that everyone around us is going on vacations and long weekends. It makes me green with envy. I can barely contain myself. I long to pack the car to the roof, stuff the kids in and drive until nothing looks familiar anymore. Sound familiar?

So instead of resisting the urge, I am hoping to con, er, talk Sam into a long weekend perhaps next weekend. If any of you have ideas...it would be wonderful to hear them! We are looking for somewhere kid friendly, so just keep that in mind!

Maybe Arizona? The Grand Canyon
Perhaps somewhere in Utah?
California???
Maybe Mesquite? ( Sam could golf, we could swim )


Whatever we do it must be very, very budget wise!!!
I look forward to your ideas and insights.
So, tell me all about those family vacations you took on a whim that were a blast!

Sunshiiiiiine City!!!

Wowzers.

The sun has been shining. And no matter how hard I try, I simply can't concentrate on anything unless I am in the yard. Puttering. Yup. Checking things out, pulling weeds and reshaping beds. It is a glorious day indeed!

Today I was able to walk outside. Which was fabulous! I have had bronchitis and haven't been able to run like usual. But today, I decided... I CAN walk!!! And walk I did. 4 wonderful miles. One of which was with the kids on bikes. It was awesome!!!

The sky was so blue today. And the breeze, was just right. I even got a little sunburned. Ah, feel those freckles coming on...and bags of fresh dirt...and pansies, and little herb gardens, and fresh tomatoes. *Yum*

I love spring. Really.

Dreams fulfilled?

Have you ever wondered if trials bring about change? If they shape and define who you are becoming? Ever wondered if they will stop?

As I look around me, I see many families struggling. Multi-layered trials have buried them beneath waves of frustration and grief. It has been no different for us. So much has happened in the last year...I can hardly believe it. I feel like a different person. On the verge of change.

Sam' s work will pay for schooling. Any schooling he would like to do. Sam, however hates school. Always has. I am encouraging him to work less, go on vacation and get back into school. It means less money. After mandatory pay cuts at his job, we already ARE making less money. So what difference does it make. I hope he will do it. He can grow and learn...get paid to do it...and Carrier will pay for it. What does he have to lose? *scratching my head* I would jump.

Speaking of which. I filled out an application for college today. I wonder if it will feel weird to be 35 yo starving college students? There were many things that got in the way of my degree. Life, marriage, kids...you know the story. You are probably living it too! Well. I am ready to take that plunge and finish. It will only take a year...if that. The music part will only take a semester. Then I am hoping to get a substitute teaching certificate and make use of myself. I am sick to death of laying around feeling sorry for myself because I don't have any skills. Seriously. Um, I can sing. Ooooo. Great. What do you sing? Um, Opera. *running* Yeah. So, I can sing. But am I making a difference in someone's life? Am I living to my potential?

I don't know. So, the search begins. I have to try. And I have waited nearly 15 years to finish my education.

Isn't it about time?

Kid Theories...

So, Ellie came home from school the other day with a story line...
The kind they have to put in order. The kind they make up...

It went something like this.

This is a chicken.
A chicken should NEVER lay a bomb.
It could blow up.

It was replete with pictures.
*sigh*
My offspring. Such a joy.

Theory number 2.
Over heard in the car.

Ellie: Cats don't like water.
B: Really? That is funny. They DRINK water.
Ellie: Oh, yeah. They drink water, but they HATE to be in it.
B: Hmmm. Why?
Ellie: ( very matter of fact...) Well, cats don't have a layer of blubber to keep them warm. That's why. They get too cold.

*sigh again*

Pay it Forward

Lucky You!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

My choice.

For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (Though I may ask some questions during the process.)

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It'll be done this year (might take a little while).

4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article. It may be something sewn or crocheted. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same.

The first five people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me!

Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Good luck!