Happy Valentines!

I know it's late but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. It's my favorite holiday because of the decorations and candy. I don't really care what happens on that day - you know, dinner, movie, whatever, I just like the pink and red hearts leading up to the day. So really it's my favorite holiday but I don't care if we celebrate it in the traditional way.

My b-day was on the 10th and my family went to the Draper Temple Openhouse. It was such an awesome experience!!!! I loved being able to share the temple with my kids. They were so impressed by the plastic covering the floor! I can't say anything, I remember the booties from the Jordan River Temple openhouse! They were so quiet and respectful and when we went into the celestial room they were so impressed by the revrence and beauty. I am so glad the church opens the temple before it is dedicated for all to see. I loved feeling the spirit with my children.

I have been reading alot about the divine role of women and how important our jobs are. Nuturing children, giving them both wings to fly and roots to grow.

I love my little family and I am very blessed to have each of my children. They each have their own set of abilities and talents. I hope I can do a good job raising them. I had a girls camp meeting and I am so excited to go but I have to leave my children for a week! I've never done that before, so in that respect I am nervous. Maybe it will be needed by the middle of summer. I don't know because I've never had the summer off before.

Well, that's pretty much all that's been going on. I just wanted to post before it got to be too long.

Saturday, January 24

I cannot believe it is already January 24th! My little baby will be 1 next week and time has just flown by.

We had an awesome Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent at my in-laws and Christmas Day we spent at home and then at my Mom's for a Christmas dinner. Lots of fun for the kids, lots of food, ect.. It went by too quickly and January blahs set in, but not too bad this year. I set up the Biggest Loser at my work. Not many are participating but I am and that's what counts for me. I started drinking 96 oz of water a day (min) and started recording everything I eat. I'm trying to cut down on calories. I'm also walking 10,000 steps a day. While I've only lost 3 pounds in 3 weeks I feel better than I ever have before. My anxiety is a lot less and the only things I can attribute it to is my lifestyle change.

The kids are doing great at their job of causing trouble and general chaos. I love my three kids! We have gone swimming together a few times and it's been really fun.

Hubby is recovering from back pain and he still has a job. Hopefully, they can just
keep going until the work picks up. Otherwise I might have to go full time. 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. I don't want to do that because of my one year old. Besides it wouldn't take effect until the end of September. Oh well, hopefully I can be part time for another year.

Have FAITH

As I was working on my Personal Progress goals (as a leader) I realized that opposite of fear and anxiety is faith!

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto them their weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them."

Ether 12:37 ". . .And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father."

I have the potential to have faith become my strength. That makes me feel awesome. Someday these anxious feelings will be a thing of the past. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father and his plan for me.

Thanks for letting me share that.

By the way, people who say faith is for the weak have never tried to have it. It will be hard won for me.

T

Merry Christmas!

I haven't been on the computer for awhile but I at least ought to get up here once a month. Christmas is gonna be great at our house, we're all set. I used to love CHristmas but with my constant companion of anxiety it kind of takes the thrill out of it. I just hope I am being cheerful enough for my kids.

We went to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square which was fun, cold, but fun. I love standing outside on a December night after it snows and just be. It feels so peaceful and quiet. I wish I could bottle that feeling and give it to my children for Christmas.

A women at work taught me two very helpful words which I am using frequently. They are, "Oh Well." When ever I start feeling stressed I just say these two magic words to help me remember that I cannot and should not feel responsible for the safety, happiness, etc. of everyone! I have to give it to God and move on in my season of life which is to raise my children. I have beeing trying to play more with them and that is fun. I cannot believe how hard it is to sit down and play. My kids love it when I can manage it.

Anyway, that's all that's going on. See why I don't post more often? LOL Love you all.
T

Santa needs a helper

Okay, so my 4 year old is really getting into barbies. She has several dolls but I cannot find clothes anywhere to dress them. In my girlhood days you could buy jut the outfits but I'm not finding any.

So I am asking for help. If any of you know where I can get some Barbie clothes I would really appreciate it. Santa is out of ideas. I thought that if any of you have girls that have outgrown the Barbie phase that I can buy them from them. Anyway, I don't know where else to look. Apparently Barbie has spent all her money on her cell phone and pink car and didn't save any for her wardrobe.

Some more pictures

Grandpa thought it would be fun to take a ride in this "school bus." We had a fun time. I think the kids will remember it for awhile. They sure talked about it. Thanks Grandpa!

Pictures

Here are some pictures of Halloween. The one of me and the kids is at teh Young Lavender Farm in Mona. THey had a fun halloween party a few Saturdays before. We also went to THanksgiving Point to the Scarecrow Festival - it was "eh". But the Mona trip was a blast. My neighbor works for them. We did alot this fall to celebrate the season. Hopefully we will keep it up for the Christmas Season as well. Only we don't want to focus so much on Santa as we do Christ.