Kelsey was a very creative child!
She was playing in the yard one day with her siblings, and having fun. When I came out to check on the kids, she had these
cute little yellow flowers
poked into her buttons.
What a cute little girl!! She has always been so creative!
She really was a “flower child!”
We had to leave our measuring wall in our old home, but I couldn’t help but share the picture we took before we left.
I’m sure every family has one of these.
Our family is quite short, so it has been fun to see others pass us by as opportunities to measure have come and gone. The kids have one cousin who is 6’6″…of course he’s at the top.
One of my favorite marks on the wall is a mark that says “Taz”. He is our sweet, beloved family pet who passed away about 5 years ago. One of our kids must have put Taz up next to the wall and made the mark. How sweet.
We took several pictures of the marks before we left for the last time.
Home, and memories of home are the best!
We will make new memories at our new home, in fact we already have.
So beautiful!
My famous “picking up our missionaries” sign!
When we go to the airport to pick up our missionaries, I always have a sign like this…
“Hug Me, First! Oh & Welcome Home!”
You would be amazed if I told you how many hugs I have gotten from complete strangers holding this sign. It might be fun to just go to the airport and get hugs for fun!!! People landing at the airport seem to always want someone there to welcome them home or here for a visit.
I am so glad I had a sign that said, “Hug Me, First!” and to receive all those hugs!
Don’t you just love some of the ecards out there?
I saw one on Facebook the other day that sounds like me:
I’m trying to be awesome today
but I’m exhausted from being so freakin’
awesome yesterday!
Sometimes I “go like a house afire” as my mom would say, getting the house cleaned up and ready for a get together.
We had a Memorial Day barbecue on Monday.
We had friends and family come. I cleaned and put the house together (of course the family helped). We got the patio all ready and my darlin cooked the hamburgers and hotdogs. I cooked, sliced, and put together some salads. I felt like everything went well. It was a nice party.
I had a fun time! I think we all had a fun time!
After the party, I relaxed. I may have relaxed for a couple of days after. :]
I really am trying to be awesome!
I have reached a milestone!!! Today I’m posting my
1000th post!
Here are 13 things I’ve learned from posting 1000 posts!!!!!
1-It’s ok to be yourself.
I have learned that even though I’m not perfect, I am lovable.
2-It’s a great way to tell your story.
I love to read over my stories and relive my experiences.
3-I love to talk about my family, and their history.
I have wonderful children! My grand baby is adorable! My ancestors are the bomb! We are all basically pretty great people!!!
4-It’s actually very fun to have a blog.
It’s a happy, fun, exciting place to share my life!
5-I have lots of heroes, friends, and memories.
My heroes are the good examples in my life. I try to emulate their lives. My friends are golden and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Well, my memory may go, but I’ll still have my blog.
6-Funny things happen in life.
Laughter really is the best medicine. I wrote a post once about laughing at inappropriate times, and yes I have been known to do that. I just innocently try to live my life and funny stuff just happens. I start to giggle and it’s all over. Next thing you know I have a stomach cramp, and tears are streaming down my face. I am thankful that I laugh easily. Life is too short to not laugh hysterically when the opportunity presents it’s self.
7-There are some wonderful movies and TV shows out there.
Dory: “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming….what do we do we swim, swim!”
I need that reminder a lot.
8-Sometimes I don’t Have anything to say, believe it or not. And that’s ok.
I have been amazed at the lack of things to say, or when I can’t think of anything to post. I never thought I’d see the day. I am very social, I can talk to anyone, but I do like to be by myself and just sit still and read or relax sometimes.
9-Life is busy!
Life is busier than ever before. We’re all busy. It makes living adventurous! Sometimes finding time to do a blog post is very difficult, but I’m always glad when I do.
10-I really love Sunday’s the Best!
Peaceful, inspirational, and spiritual! Spending the day thinking about God and His precious gifts, and looking for ways to bless others lives!
11-The world is full of Beautiful Places!
Always focus on the beauty in this world. We are so blessed by Father above to live in such a beautiful place. Look for the beauty!
12-I have learned lot’s of lesson’s.
I’m so glad I’ve written them down. I love to learn and I’m glad that challenges are not wasted by having to repeat difficult times. I so appreciate the lessons!
13-It takes a long time to write 1000 posts.
Who knew it would take almost 5 years of blogging to reach 1000 posts, but I did it!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!
Today on this amazing day, my daddy turned 80 years old! Would you look at this man? He is the picture of health! He doesn’t look like a day older 69. We had a fun time surprising him with a party at the Family Search Library. Then we went to dinner tonight. I have spent the last few weeks putting together a “Warm Fuzzy” book for my dad. What is a “Warm Fuzzy” book you ask? Well, I contacted all the fam and asked them to write a nice birthday wish and thought to tell dad, grandpa how much they love him. Then I put them all together so he could read how we all love and admire him. I will be adding the pictures from today. Isn’t he a handsome gentleman?
Here is my “Warm Fuzzy” for my dad:
Dear Daddy,
How can I express the feelings of my heart? I will do my best.
I am amazed when I think of what a blessing a father like you is in a little girls life. I have always wanted to marry someone like you. In fact I remember asking you when I was little if I could marry you. Of course you said that Mom needed you, and I would find someone special just for me. And I did.
You have been the perfect example of a Christlike person. When I say Christlike, I don’t mean perfect, I mean that you are as close to being the very best person you can become, and you are always striving to emulate what Christ would do in life. As I have watched you go through difficult situations and handle them calmly. I know that you are making a conscious effort to think before you act. Your obedience to the commandments was my first lesson in doing what’s right, because it’s the right thing to do. Your love of the gospel and the scriptures has been so inspirational to me. I have a love of the scriptures and the gospel because of you and mama. Both you and Mom have taught all of us kids to work hard. For my whole life you have set a high standard for what a worthy priesthood holder looks and acts like. I knew that my husband would need to honor his priesthood just like you.
I want to do family history constantly! I have had to be patient and let the rest of my life take most of my time now, but you and Mom make it look so fun!!! Your creativity is inspiring. I love to show you the things I’ve created knowing it will make you proud. It means everything to me to know you are proud of me.
One thing that means more to me than you’ll ever know is our monthly date. I look forward to having you all to myself and talking about what is going on in our lives. You are always interested in what I am doing and how my family is doing, asking for specifics about the kids and Brett. It is fun to see you joke with the waitress and cashier.
I am so glad you have taken such good care of yourself and Mom. When I have seen a little pile of pills on the counter for Mom that make me happy knowing that you are making sure she gets what she needs. I tell all my friends that the reason why the two of you are so healthy is because 1-You both take a million vitamins and 2-Heavenly Father is blessing you both with wonderful health, because you bless others so much at the Family Search Library and the rest home.
One of your special gifts is loving others. Father in Heaven has blessed you with the ability to love, love, love! You emit love. It just drips off of you! I want to be a more loving person, because of the examples I see in you, and Mom. When I think of home I think of you and Mom, after all, you taught me what home looks like. “To be at home is to find yourself with those who put your heart at ease.” I am always striving to make the home I am the mama of like that.
Thank you for naming me Joy. I haven’t always appreciated it, but I know you were inspired to do it. I know that you were inspired to name me Joy, because I needed it. It has been a blessing to me.
I can’t imagine my life without you, and I know that I am truly blessed to have you as my daddy. I love you! Joy
Yes, he is that amazing!!! I love him so and want to wish him a very Happy 80th Birthday!!!
Sister Emily is my Bonus Baby. She has been gone on her mission for 7 months. I haven’t spoken to her for 7 months. We email every week, and you can read her email on Mondays if you’d like. The posts are called “Out on a WIM”. I write a letter to her once a week, but I don’t call her or visit her. She is focusing on serving the Lord. She is spending all of her days and weeks and months sharing her love and testimony of God. We only talk to her two times a year, Christmas and Mother’s Day. I won’t talk to Emily again till May. She’ll be home around the beginning of December of 2014.
Why am I able to let my baby leave home for 18 months and not talk to her everyday? Because I love the Lord. Because I know that there is not one other thing that Emily could be doing with her time right now that would be more beneficial to her, to our family, and to those whom she will meet and serve than what she is doing now.
After a wonderful Christmas morning, after presents and a yummy breakfast, after relaxing and movie watching, we had the highlight of the day! We were able to Skype with our Em. We had a blast talking to her. We laughed and cried, and it was the best Christmas Bonus we could have asked for!
What a wonderful time of year!!
I hope you were all able to spend the holidays with family and friends.
Most of all I hope that
the Savior was at the center of your celebration!
We were able to Skype with our missionary, Sister Emily!
It was definitely a highlight for me!!!
(I’ll add a post about that tomorrow.)
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