Update! Christmas to now!

People have started to send emails that say "It's been a long time again!" and they're right! Another month has flown by without any updates.

So here I am doing another MASSIVE entry and summary of our month!

There are a couple of main reasons for my slacking this month.

(1) Tax Season is here and the kids don't like it when I sit at the computer. (that's putting it nicely) There's just not a lot of down time and if there is I have to choose how best to use it.

(2) January brought on the beginning of rehearsal of the our Stake Musical that I have been asked to direct. HA! I am NOT qualified for this job, but I know the Lord qualifies whom he calls! That is very comforting to me! It has been time consuming up to this point with planning meetings, auditions, creating the cast and so forth, but now we are FULL SPEED AHEAD! We have a month of rehearsal under our belts and it's going to be AWESOME! I love the people I am working with, we have an amazing cast...we laugh a lot together as we make awesome memories! But let's face it, it's like having another full-time job at times.

As a family we are working well together to find a certain balance through it all! Thanks to my wonderful husband and kids!

Here's the poster for the musical! It is a fun filled production that will make you laugh and cry!

Emily is excited to be one of the villagers! Opening night is her 4th birthday!

We will have 4 show times. March 19, 20 & 21st at 7 p.m. and a matinee March 21st at 2 p.m.!

"Esther and the King!"

It tells the story of the amazing faith of Esther from the Old Testament.

First off and before all of the pictures! I can't do this blog entry without mentioning the wonderful blessing that was ours this weekend. We were so fortunate to have Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come to visit us for a weekend of Stake Conference (a locally done bi-annual church conference). I was also a part of an amazing stake choir that sent chills through my body as we sang some very powerful songs together. Right now I am filled with gratitude as I think of the things I learned and felt this weekend at the feet of very inspired men, called of God!

M. Russell Ballard

In one of his talks Elder Ballard told a story from over 20 years ago when he was a newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and he was asked to help members of the Church in La Paz, Bolivia who had become victims of Lake Titicaca's extreme 12 foot rise over recent years. These humble people were losing their farms, the means by which they eaked out their living, to flooding. Elder Ballard said that as he traveled to a high point and surveyed the destruction he was deeply saddened and filled with a great burden as he looked at the situation. As they were getting ready to leave he had an impression that he should call his small party back from the cars. He did so and informed them that he had the impression that he was to "bless the land." With the authority that he holds as an Apostle of Jesus Christ he blessed that land and commanded that the waters should recede 12 feet. When he closed the blessing he thought to himself, "what have I done, how could this happen?" Two weeks later he was notified of newspaper headlines from that region stating that Lake Titicaca had receded 12 feet in the last 2 weeks. It was a miracle and no scientists could explain how it could have happened. It was impossible. What a great experience for Elder Ballard to have as he began his call as an Apostle. If miracles happened at the hands of Jesus and His Apostles in ancient days, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, feeding 5 thousand with 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish and healing the blind, to name a few...THEN WHY NOT NOW? Nothing was impossible to God then and nothing is impossible to Him now. The Lord was aware of these poor farmers in Bolivia, so much so that He sent one of His Apostles to show that He is still a God of miracles and a God who works through His Apostles.

I know that I have a Heavenly Father who hears my prayers! So many of the things I have been praying about in the past weeks and months were addressed and it felt like the speakers were talking to me alone, even though there were hundreds there! We live in wonderful time when there is a Prophet and Apostles on the earth. After sitting at the feet of an Apostle this weekend my words fail me in expressing what I felt. God IS REAL and He has a plan for us. Not only does he teach us through the ancient scriptures, but through personal prayer, personal revelation, and in the same way as He did in ancient times, through Prophets and Apostles.

Quorum of the 12 Apostles Today

I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I am filled with hope that with each passing day I can repent and become more like Him, through Him.

I am so beyond grateful to be a mom! I can't believe that I have been entrusted with these two beautiful children of God! It's time for me to be a better mom. I am so grateful for the Temple, a place where I believe heaven touches earth! It is time for me to stop flying at half-mast and to rededicate myself to the things which I most cherish but sometimes neglect.

Thank you for indulging me as I shared my feelings.....

ON WITH THE PICTURES!


Christmas Eve brought Christmas Cookies! It was delicious!

The kids hurried to get their pajamas on and climb into bed so Santa could come! They each got a little stuck!

Santa came, at all the cookies, and left a magical scene for the kids to see in the morning!
Emily was the 1st one up!

Santa scored big! We still talk about him daily!

Since this was our first Christmas at home. We never left the house! We took our time opening gifts and playing with the kids! It was a wonderful day to be with our little family and realize, yet again, our many blessings.

I made my 1st ever Christmas Dinner! Plus 2 yummy pies! Seeing as how cooking is not my specialty this was a HUGE accomplishment for me!

We took some time to go outside and try the kid's new boots! Emily loved making snow angels and jumping of the huge snow mounds. Andrew was not too sure about it. He didn't like keeping his gloves on and wanted to be held most of the time. He's starting to enjoy it a little better with each trip outside!

Grandma Karla visited!

My Mom, Grandma Karla, came to visit for several days! She was with us for the New Year, we were so happy to have her. She came bringing her Christmas gifts and we enjoyed a 2nd Christmas with her!

My younger brother Ben and his friend, "Uncle Lee", stopped by for a night on their way from Salt Lake to Spokane. While his visit was short it was great! The kids loved wrestling with Uncle Ben!

My Mom was my basement's salvation! She helped me for 3 long and tiring days on getting the entire basement primed! We were also able to get the paint on the trim & doors! It was crazy messy and there is no way I could have done it without her! Needless to say the kids weren't quite sure what to think when their Mom came out of the basement looking like this! Emily had complete fear on her face and we had to convince her that it was okay to stand this close to her ghostly mother. I took a week or two off and then spent an entire week finishing the painting! WOO HOO! Never would have been able to do it without my mom and we are so pleased with how it's turned out! Now for the carpet! (in a month or five!)

Emily received the "Pretty, Pretty, Princess" game from Grandma Karla for Christmas! Andrew loves it too! He loves "Neckies!" (necklaces!) I love this picture!

Happy 30th Birthday Brian!

February 2, 2009

I planned a surprise party for Brian at Carino's Friday night! Many of his family and friends showed up! It was a great evening! I am so thankful to have such a loving husband! We are thankful to have such wonderful friends and family!

Greg & Megan Bean - Gregg & Karisa Baczuk - Josh & Tiffany Aikele

Tim & Lisa Belnap - Darin & Erin Kearsley - Dave & Marinda Morgan

David & Kenna Kearsley - Todd & Valerie Johnson

Phew....that was a long one! I wonder if anyone will actually get through the whole thing!