Joseph's 7th Birthday...

Joseph had a great birthday. He got a new bike, a Wii (lego Batman game), and a new Doodleboard, and money. His friend got him a ball, a pair of pinchers, and candy. He was very happy.

Sarah's Birthday

Here are some pictures (finally) from Sarah's 11th Birthday. She was so excited this year to get a new kitten.

My baby is 3.....

Matthew is now officially 3. Isn't he adorable. He starts school tomorrow. Where did the time go?

A New Year....

Wow! It seems like just yesterday that 2009 started and now it is 2010. Time is sure going quickly now. Christmas was an interesting experience this year. Mary has been in the hospital since November 22nd. She just got to come home yesterday (Dec 31). We were a little crazy this year and joined the ranks of Wii owners. It has been fun to use, but I am surprised how incredibly sore it makes you. Last night we let the kids stay up late. We lasted until 11:30 p.m. but I was ready for them to be in bed. Today my husband and I went on a triple date with the Sidwells and the Wells. We went to Sherlock Holmes. My baby is going to turn 3 in a little over a week and Casey is turning 35 on Monday. Life is still full of drama and pitfalls but I'm still standing. I am hopeful that this year is better. I have made a resolution to be happier and more positive. I have found myself to be a lot more negative this past year (for obvious reasons), but it is time for me to accept the reality that is life and learn to grow from the experiences.

Thanksgiving....

I am getting to where I just don't think "normal" is ever going to exist in my life anymore. I had my hysterectomy on the 27th of October. I am now feeling a lot better. My mother-in-law is now currently in the hospital due to an infection in her spine and I am trying to gain some understanding in the things that I am obviously not learning from all of my trials this past year. Between my mother's death and 3 surgeries, my father's injury and accident and now Mary's hospital stay I am at a loss as to what I need to be doing. It scares me sometimes how just little moments can alter the course of our lives forever. I have been praying hard for my mother in law and hope that she can recover and walk again soon and that the paralysis goes away so that she can function. I hope that I can become a better person and be more willing to help those around me more then feeling sorry for myself. I was just released last Sunday from my primary calling. I am pretty happy about that but am waiting for another one to come along. I am hopeful that it is going to help me grow and learn more about myself. Thanksgiving was very different this year. We had planned on Mary and Richard coming but with Mary in the hospital we took a nice dinner to them there. There were missing seats this year. It was the first year that my dad wasn't here either. It was very sad to me this year. I need to start being happy for the things that I have and stop worrying about the negative. We don't know what the Lord has in store for us, He just knows what were are capable of. I guess He knows I am stronger then I do. I am forever thankful that I have the Gospel in my life and the belief that I will be together with my mom and family forever.

Fall is here......

Well we have been busy the past months. My kids have already been home sick from school. We took a drive up to Palisades to see the wonderful Fall colors and have been battling several different illnesses in our home. The coming week is the year mark of my mother's collapse at Sam's Club. We are all still grieving and trying to make sense of our lives and understand why all this happened. I am getting surgery again this year. Tuesday October 27th, I am getting a hysterectomy. I have been struggling with this because we were trying to have another baby but it just hasn't happened so I am guessing that this is the Lord's hand intervening and helping along the way in my decision. I am hopeful of a better year to come and a better outlook on my emotional and physical side of things. I am still and forever hopeful of things to be better. We will see how things play out the next couple of weeks.

So Beautiful

Beautiful temple.

So green and glorious.

So quiet and peaceful. I could stay here forever.

Unique and amazing.

Dividing the waters from the land.