A Little About MY Other Half...

HIS NAME - Daniel Scott - his bro Dave chose his name. His name was going to be Michael Paul

HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER - 11 years in March.

HOW LONG WE DATED - 6 weeks before we were engaged. Engaged 4 months.

HOW OLD IS HE? 35

WHO EATS MORE? he does! All I have to say is don't mess with his food!

WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST? He did. We were outside his apartment, standing by his car and he said "I think I love you". he he :) I said "Well, I think I love you too" We haven't missed a day of saying it to each other since!

WHO'S TALLER? That's a tough one LOL! He is but only slightly. He's 5'10" and I'm 5'8".

WHO'S SMARTER? He is! All I have to say is don't play trivia games with Dan...he'll beat you every time, hands down! He's like a filing cabinet with random facts constantly on the tip of his tongue!

WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY? ME!!!

WHO DOES THE DISHES? 50/50 He helps with dishes all the time when he's home! I love it!

WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED? Me

WHO PAYS THE BILLS? Me....but we sit down and go through our budget weekly together. Dan is amazingly good with money! I just basically write the checks.

WHO MOWS THE LAWN? He does...I do all the weeding!

WHO COOKS DINNER? We both do. I plan the meals. He's a great cook! He makes me meals all the time...omelets in the morning and his fav thing to make me is a great steak dinner w/ crab salad, potato and fresh greens. Dan also makes the best chocolate chip cookies!

WHO DRIVES WHEN YOUR TOGETHER? Why this question? Dan ALWAYS drives! He goes insane in the passenger seat...no control whatsoever and when I really want to make him crazy, I insist on drivng just to get a rise out of him.

WHO IS MORE STUBBORN? Hmmmm....that's a tough one...we're both really stubborn!

WHO KISSED WHO FIRST? He kissed me! We were sitting on my porch at the end of our 3rd date and he leaned in and said "Aren't first kisses awkward?" And it was the best kiss!

WHO ASKED OUT WHO FIRST? Well after he stared at me for about 6 months and after I grabbed him to dance with me at a single adult dance to get away from a very persistent boy...he asked me out...and I said "it's about time!"

WHO PROPOSED? He did! He wants you to know nothing he planned worked out, which is what makes this story so great! We had picked out a ring a couple of weeks before and he didn't tell me he'd picked it up and he came to my house after work. We were sitting around visiting with my fam and he said he had to drop off a cd player and cd's to his buddy and that he needed to get going and I really wanted to go, so he said okay...We drove downtown to the church we first danced at before school began for the year and said he was meeting the kid there but all the doors were locked. So he said he'd check to see if he was at the college. So it's like 9:00 p.m. and they were starting to close things up at the school and so we're walking through the school and we go up the stairs to where our Old Testament class was held (where he stared at me for 6 months!). He checked that door and it was locked so we went up to the ballroom (I had no idea what was going on...none!). He plugs in the CD player and plays Bryan Adams "I'll Always Be There" and asks me to dance with him and I'm thinking we need to get out of there, they're locking up! He just dances with me and during the song and tells me he heard this song earlier that day and called the radio station to get the name of it because it was exactly how he felt about me and asked me to spend eternity with him. He pulls the ring out of his sock (he he) and put it on my finger. I flipped out! I was so excited that he managed to make what was going to be so expected such a sweet surprise!

WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS? I do, by one! He has 2 brothers and I have 3.

WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THE FAMILY? He does, in some ways and I do in others...we won't go into that too deeply! We work together well until we don't ha ha!

(disclaimer....this is all him...nothing in here is by my hand!)

5 THINGS HE WOULD DO WITH 6 WEEKS OFF WORK
1. Learn to snowboard.
2. Learn to fly fish
3. Go to some remote island and sit by blue water.
4. Shoot guns.....a lot!
5. Eat...a lot! LOL!

5 THINGS HE WANTS TO DO WELL BEFORE HE DIES
1. Control my profanity....damnit!
2. Run 5K with no donuts at the end!
3. Get snoring under control.
4. Learn to play the guitar...better.
5. Learn the right thing to say when my wife asks me "does this make me look fat?" (whatever!)

(Disclaimer: Jenny Wrote this, All of this, and It's all Crap!!!) Truth hurts, baby!

5 THINGS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIM
1. He loves musicals!
2. He cries during most sappy love movies! He doesn't think I notice:)
3. He makes really cool, very colorful, crafty invitations! (Scout court of honor coming up and he made the invites...they were out of color cardstock. They were pocket knifes where the knives had the info about the court of honor and he used brads and everything! Our neighbor told him not to quit his day job!) LOL (We are laughing so hard right now!)
4. He knows every band that ever existed! (my bro shawn listens to celtic punk stuff and Dan's actually heard of these bands...go figure!)
5. He taught me to cook. No joke...all I could make was spaghetti and taco's. He introduced me to the "good" stuff!

5 OF HIS BEST TRAITS
1. He doesn't let things that need to be said go unsaid, if that makes sense. He's a great communicator!
2. He is very considerate of my needs, wants, etc. Anything I need, he will find a way to get it for me.
3. He is the best gift giver. He will keep track of things I've mentioned I've wanted for a long time and surprise me with it.
4. He is soooooooooooooooooo funny! He tells jokes and is goofy all the time.
5. He is the best kisser....sorry I have to put that in there!

5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HIM
1. His laugh!
2. He loves our kids and takes time to teach them. He never bawks at taking the kids if I need to go somewhere. He loves spending time with them.
3. He is good to my family.
4. He's really warm...I'm talking werewolf warm! Nuclear warm! It's great for snowy nights...he he!
5. He loves me! I don't ever wonder or doubt that, not ever!

I'm always posting about me...my thought, feelings, ideas. This was a fun chance to shed a little light on my hubby...so tell me about yours?!

To Become Like Him

You look around you

And wonder if you'll ever measure up

In this world it seems

You may never be enough.

Don't let anyone convince you that it's true,

So much beauty lives inside of you.

And you are enough, Just look up.

Remember you are greatest

When you walk with God

When His light is in your eyes

You are truly strong

You don't have to prove your beauty

In the eyes of men

You are divine within

You were sent here to become like Him.

When you're uncertain

Of the place you hold and who you are inside

He will share with you your part in His design

Seek for His meekness, seek to emulate His life

And you will feel Him, always by your side

You have His love, Just look up.

Remember you are greatest

When you walk with God

When His light is in your eyes

You are truly strong

You don't have to prove your beauty

In the eyes of men

You are divine within

You were sent here to become like Him.

Holiness, Love, Good Works, Mercy

To be like Him

Charity, Hope, Truth and Wisdom

To be like Him

Remember you are greatest

When you walk with God

When His light is in your eyes

You are truly strong

You don't have to prove your beauty

In the eyes of men

You are divine within

You were sent here to become.....Like Him.

Words & Music by:

Jenny Phillips & Tyler Casleton

This is a song we're learning in Young Women's. I'm playing the song and as I sat practicing today I was overwhelmed with the words of this song. I couldn't help but cry! I love the chorus. I wish I knew how to post songs on here and I would post this for you to hear, but I haven't figured that out. This is such a beautiful song and wonderful reminder to women of all ages how truly DIVINE we are!

My Prophet!

Wow, I can't believe the news! My BIL called and told me the news tonight and I got really upset with him, not like he would joke about that, but I just couldn't believe it! I immediately got online to find out the news. What an amazing, influential, rock of a man! I don't know one person whom he didn't touch in some personal way. As a woman, he made me feel important, special and valued, not that the other prophets didn't but he truly had that twinkle in his eye that comforted you and helped you feel acknowledged and loved no matter who you were or what you'd done! I just had to get on here and voice my love for this man who spoke to me so many words my Savior wanted me to hear. He truly was a man who walked and talked with God! How I'll miss him!

Discovery Day

I had the fun opportunity of going to Hailey's class yesterday to do a craft with the kids. It was something Hailey and I planned. She wanted to play the piano, so we decided to make Music Makers....two paper plates decorated and stapled together with beans inside and streamers on the edges. It was so much fun! I wish I could have taken more pictures but didn't have a chance. Hailey is getting so good at the piano and I had so much fun practicing and performing our duets! The kids used they're music makers and shook them to the beat. I included a cute picture of most of Hailey's class. As I think of all the things I could've been when I grew up, being a teacher would've fit me nicely. I so enjoyed being with the kids and making these things with them. I also volunteer at Haileys class once a week and go over multiplication with them and I love it! Abby's class is also fun. Her teacher has been teaching for 25 years and appreciates the parent support but doesn't seem to need as much help as Hailey's teacher. I go into Abby's class once a month and do reading groups with them. I've loved teaching my children to read. I feel it is the most important thing in getting your children excited about learning and school. I've taught Hailey and Abby to read before kindergarten and am working with Rachel now and I feel it's made such a huge impact on Hailey and Abby loving school and doing well. I love watching children learn and love they're excitement as then learn to write and understand what they read! So, in my effort to help my children learn...tell me some fun things you do with your kids that inspire them to love learning? I love new ideas!

Cake for Breakfast

Anyone have cake for breakfast? I did...it was good! It was called Better-Than-Almost-Anything cake. We made it with our Mia Maids last night...but I'll be posting more about that later! What was the yummiest thing you've had for breakfast...please share?!

I Love Church!

Sundays, lately have been such a drag....with two of our four children not wanting to go to class. We've tried everything from sitting with them, giving them a week or two with us, bringing toys or blankets, bribing with treats after if they go and nothing has been working! So, last Sunday, I laid down the law! I told them that primary is where they need to be and they would go and we would not be able to stay with them or them stay with us no matter what! How's that for being mean! Dan and I decided that the older girls would take them to primary instead of us. Also, this week I went to the gym during the day a few times and compared it to taking them to primary. I would always come back and they needed to stay and enjoy themselves. The gym is great, they keep the kids while they are crying and weepy instead of taking them to the mom the second they start crying. During primary, the second the kids get sad, they bring them to us and that is frustrating! To make a long story short, they stayed in primary yesterday! I was so excited! Joe came to my room after church was over and exclaimed "I LOVED CLASS AND I DIDN'T EVEN CRY!" I was so excited that I gave them cookies I had brought for my class and just flipped out all afternoon about how proud of them I was for going to church! Last night as I was telling them again for the fiftieth time how great it was they went to primary...Joe said "I love primary, I love singing and I just love church, I love it, mom!" We all started laughing. He's so cute!

My class yesterday was awesome! I love teaching these 14 and 15 year old girls! I had my team teacher in the class with me as well as the YW counselor and then I had the bishopric member come in and normally these things intimidate me a little but it didn't yesterday. My lesson was on "Living the Gospel Daily". I read my lesson earlier in the week and then thought about it all week. I don't know about you but every once in a while do you just find yourself having internal struggles? I did this week, about many things. I won't go into details because it's just too personal, but I had a terrible week! Nothing to do with anyone else but myself....so needless to say living the gospel daily was sort of a struggle for me. Anyway, I was slightly worried about my lesson but as always, I enjoy getting a discussion going and it takes the focus off of me and puts it back on the wonderful girls! We talked about 6 ways we can stay close to the Lord.
1-Love - Two greatest commandments, love the Lord and love your neighbor
2-Prayer - Sincere prayer is the heart of a happy productive life. Prayer strengthens faith.
3-Service - To serve others willingly and unselfishly should be one of our greatest virtues. It is not even a matter of choice. It is an obligation, a sacred command...(I love that!)
4-Obedience - There is only ONE way to achieve true joy and lasting happiness...and that is through obedience to the commandments of God.

*This one sparked great discussion. The bishopric counselor and leaders had some great questions...some of which were "do you find it hard to obey the commandments, if so, why?" "Why should we obey?" "Do you find the commandments to be restrictive, if so why?" The girls really gave some great answers! They talked about the pressure to listen to bad music, speak unkindly, word of wisdom, boys, being kind to those who are not kind to us, etc. I told these girls that the commandments are a PROTECTION to us and keep us SAFE! I told the girls of my experience teaching the 13 year olds when I was only18 and that the manual mentioned the fact that at this age, the youth don't understand eternal perspective. I asked the girls if they knew what that meant. They didn't . I told them that it meant what choices they made now, affected them eternally! Sometimes we think that what we do will only affect us and no one else, but it affects everyone else! Looking at pornography will plague them for life! Not only will it put images in there minds that will never go away but even when they find forgiveness it will always be a temptation, it will affect they're marriage first and foremost and will also bring a great deal of worry to those close to them who know of they're problems and see they're struggles. All things they do will be some sort of and influence to others and will affect all those around them.

5-Study - When we follow the counsel of our leaders to read and study the scriptures, benefits and blessings of many kinds come to us...

We have a 100 day challenge to read the Book of Mormon. I presented the question "if we read the scriptures daily, are we obeying the commandment or if we read the scriptures and DO what the scriptures teach, are we obeying the commandment, then? Reading our scriptures alone will not "SAVE" us but making it an action will.

6- Work - "Energetic, purposeful work leads to health, achievement, clear conscience, and refreshing sleep." I asked the girls if it's difficult to "work"...they all agreed it's a drag. I asked them what they feel when they see a section of the yard weeded and groomed, or they're room super clean and organized or the effects of exercise and eating right. It makes our heart and soul feel refreshed and helps us feel energized. I told them my favorite thing to do is clean my room and then lay on my bed an take a nice long nap!

The last question I posed was "Will living close to the Lord eliminate all of our problems?" NO! but it will bring added peace, comfort, strenth and answers in time of need. We talked about serious problems that plague some youth around us and how doing these things will bring them closer to the Lord and help them as they endure these struggles in life.

I really was astounded that I had the spirit with me during this lesson as my week was so depressing, but it was an answer to my prayers. The Lord knows our struggles, He helps us and when we feel as though we're in the "depths of despair" (Anne Shirley), He clearly blesses us with his tender mercies and I felt that yesterday when I so desperately needed to!

So, how was your Sunday?

Being Silly!

I turned the timer on my camera and let Rachel and Joe take funny pictures with me. I finally downloaded them on my computer....so here they are....kinda silly:) We had fun!

Love the squished cheeks and below, Joe's riding the horsie!


the kids thought the kissing thing was so funny, they just kept on doing it!

Store Adventures...

I think I mentioned in an earlier blog how much I hated going to the grocery store. It's my least favorite place! Well, not to be super negative here, but I do have to vent a little about my trip yesterday and again today! Abby was home yesterday with a yucky cough so I had Rachel, Joe and Abby as I went grocery shopping. It was at Walmart and it wasn't a lengthy list. I'm thinking it will be a quick in and out thing. I told the kids that if they were helpful and didn't whine for things that they could choose a snack at the store. This usually works...but yesterday....it didn't! We were just in the store and I was picking out toothbrushes, needing to replace all of our after all the sickness in our house and Joe started throwing a tantrum about having a spiderman toothbrush and toothpaste and Rachel wanted princess toothpaste and so they started yelling at each other. I, of course told them to shush and we hurried to the next aisle where Rachel saw princess shampoo! I'm big on getting the cheapest thing! I would rather go for the dollar shampoo rather than spending a few dollars on princess shampoo...occasionally I get them fun stuff, but I just can't do it all the time, especially in the last half of the month when my budget is low! So, I remind the kids of they're snack and that's all I can get them today, if they will stop whining about all the stuff they want. Joe and Ray start crying! I tell Joe he's not getting his snack if he doesn't stop and he yells "no!". Well, I ignore them now and hurry as fast as I can through the store! Abby, of course is being wonderful! So, I get her a snack on the way out. The other kids start throwing a fit (dumb for me to do, I should have hid it or something, I don't know!). They are screaming and crying as I fly out of the store to discover the wind is blowing really hard AND it's snowing! The kids start screaming louder because of the cold and everyone in the parking lot is looking at us....I'm mortified! Well, I throw the groceries in the back of the van and I speed away and while I'm doing so, I'm lecturing my youngest children! I told them they couldn't have a treat/snack if they were to be whining and crying in the store...the tantrum goes on! I'm sure your all stressed right now finding something more peaceful to read, I WOULD! Well, today I have to run into the store for some dirt...yes dirt, new plant needs dirt...so we run in to get dirt and I threaten Ray and Joe (Abby now in school, feeling better) to be good in the store, no treats no matter what and if they throw fits they go to time-out as soon as I get home. So they were good. As we are checking out they ask for a treat, I tell them they can have lunch at home. All is well. We get home and Dan is home working and notices Rachel drop a pack of gum! We ask her where she got the gum and after some prodding, find out she STOLE IT FROM THE STORE! I swear, sometimes being a mom is so exhausting! I talk to her about stealing and tell her we are going right back to the store where she will pay for the gum and tell them she stole it and say sorry. She, of course, is afraid she will go to jail! I tell her that if she doesn't stop stealing as she gets older, she will, but not today. Today I tell her she is going to go back and make it right. So we go back to the blasted store and she tells them she's sorry and we pay for it. Well, that basically sums up my life the last two days. There is always something! Well, if your still with me, thanks for lending your reading abilities so I could vent....Anyone want to share your crazy store adventures? I'd love to hear them!

Best of's

I just read the book "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer...Holy Cow! All I can say is that it's been a long time I read a book that size in 1 day! Isn't that pathetic! Like I don't have anything better to do with my time. It was so fascinating. I love fiction, but rarely find it to be free of smut. This, however was captivating! Rarely, I find other books outside of LDS Fiction and my scriptures interesting but lately that's been changing. I must say one of the best books I've ever read was "Not My Will, But Thine" by Neal Maxwell. All of his works and talks given fascinate me. He is hard for some to follow but his words give me something to "chew" on. I read his stuff slowly so I don't miss a thing and just dwell on what he writes or the things he's spoken of for some time before going on to the next. I also love Sheri Dew and her candid way of speaking. Her latest book "God Wants a Powerful People" is an amazing book. We don't realize how much "power" we've been given and by tapping it to it righteously, what we can accomplish, for good. When it comes to self-help books I stumble, very few interest me because many of them are so much opinion and I rarely find the whole book worthwhile, only a few chapters or points made. I would have to say that my favorite self-help book is "5 Love Languages". This was an interesting read for me, trying to understand those close to me and how to communicate love to them in the way that they would best absorb it. Now, as for non-fiction. The last book I read was the autobiography of Doris Day. I've loved Doris Day since I was a child. I used to go over to my fav cousins house for sleep-overs and when she was fast asleep at 9:00 p.m., by aunt Tina would come in and find movies for me to watch and they were always Doris Day. She'd stay up with me awhile and watch them. Ever since, she has been by favorite actress. After reading her book, however, I have a much less beautiful view of her. She was human, go figure, where in most of her movies she is so pure, so fun, so sure of herself. She had a rough life! It was an intersting book to read. Well, I could go on and on...what I really need to do is join a bookclub:)

So, in thinking about the year 2007. I would have to say there are many "best of's". My favorite movie was "Amazing Grace". This movie, to me is a classic. It is so filled with so many good messages. It was heart wrenching! I'm a sucker for silly, teenage music and my favorite song this year was "No One" by Alicia Keys. I love listening to music that makes me want to get up and dance (not many people will witness this though, only done in the confines of my kitchen when only my kids or no one at all is watching, am I really admitting this?!LOL). My favorite food this year was Sushi. Dan andI have been indulging ourselves in this yummy tradition for awhile now, but this year, we really have missed all the cheap, yummy sushi bars so easily found in Portland.

Now, to get to the personal "Best of's". This year watching my kids learn to swim was so awesome! I've wanted them to learn but never had the opportunity without paying hundreds of dollars for it. Moving into a neighborhood where we have a HOA pool right down the street is sooooooooo cooooool! We went swimming a ton and I have to admit I loved getting a tan, but this year, I'm going to be more health conscious about my skin, it was fun to indulge this last year, though. Brent and Cortnie going through the temple this year was also an amazing, beautiful experience! It has been so nice living near my family! I've loved getting to know my amazing Sister-in-laws. I love having sisters (even though, lately I don't know where they have been hiding:)) I've loved going to all the extended family events and seeing all the aunts and uncles and cousins I've missed! My new calling late last year was also a wonderful experience. I am so enjoying working with the Mia Maids. What great girls! I enjoy teaching them and attending the activities and getting to know there sweet spirits! It's going to keep me young! Well, I wish I could go on, but I have to get lunch for the kiddo's. For those of you reading, who haven't shared your "best of's", please share!

What it's like with 5!

As I've mentioned I have an additional child this week. Emmie, is 3. She's such a sweet little girl! I've loved having her here! It has been crazy though and it all seems to hit at once. My sweet little Rachel started in with a runny nose on Sunday and the poor thing has had this horrible cold that won't die! She's suffered with ear aches, which have finally relented, goupy eyes, that are looking better, and now it's a horrible cough. The poor girl has bags under her eye's because she's been waking up every hour at night in a coughing fit. She hasn't made it to pre-school all week :( Emmie's first night here, her ears were hurting her as well, on top of the fact that she cried for an hour before bed, missing her mommy and daddy. I prayed that her ears would get better because being sick on top of missing her mom and dad was just too much. Now, all the kids have this horrible cold, except Emmie is the only one who is doing well, for which I'm grateful! My poor husband has been working late every night on a project for work that had to be done in full by today, and now he's meeting with all the big wigs of this company, making sure this schedule is done right. Dan and his dad own a PAR or dealership selling Primavera software. They also consult in this software, which is what Dan has been doing and Dad teaches this software. They have had a lot of work, of late and so they have been having me coordinate all of Dad's training classes. So, on top of all these sick kids, Dan working late, one homesick little girl, I've had a ton of work! I've had several calls all week to follow up on that obviously need to be done without children in the background...yeah right! My kids are used to naps, but Emmie doesn't take naps, she goes 100 miles an hour all day and if I'm not on top of where she is at all times, I find water all over my bathroom, and entire tube of toothpaste smashed and smeared all over my counters, DVD's all over my floor, white flour sprinkled all over her and my kitchen...anyway, I say this not to complain because, really she's so cute and we've had so much fun together, but it's been kind of crazy! Also, I learned this all within the first couple of days, now I'm wiser and stay on top of where she is at all times:) Last night, poor Emmie cried for forever and I held her, sang to her, read stories with her and finally had to let her just cry, because there was nothing else I could do for her and it was 1 a.m. before I finally hit the hay! With sick kids, we haven't really ventured out, so I'm really starting to memorize the lines on the walls :) Yesterday, sick or not, I took the kids to the library. The kids loved looking at the birdies and the bunny rabbit. They picked out books that we read last night before bed. I had visions of taking these kids downtown to temple square, childrens museum and other fun adventures....o-well. Darren and Traci, when you read this, don't stress...it really has been great having her:), it's my sick kids that are driving me crazy!!!!
Emmie says the cutest things! As we were driving to the library yesterday she saw the mountains and said "Look at those mountains! I want to slide down the mountains and they would tickle me!" Also, the other night as I was putting her to bed, she was really sad and so I told her we were going to say a prayer and that Heavenly Father would help her not feel so sad, so we said a prayer. When we were done, this was our dialogue:

Emmie: Where is Jesus?
Jen: He's all around us and in heaven.
Emmie: But, I can't see him.
Jen: I know, we can't see Him because he's so special. But, we will see Him soon and just because we can't see Him doesn't mean He isn't there.
Emmie: I want to see Jesus.
Jen: Me too.
Emmie: I love Jesus.
Jen: Me too.

She is the sweetest little girl!

New Year's Goals...

So, thanks to Marcie's suggestion to post New Year's goals, I've been thinking of mine and decided to post a few...

I was sitting in Sunday School yesterday as the teacher invited anyone who has shared a Book of Mormon with a non-member or anyone who has experienced they're own witness that the Book of Mormon was true. This really got me thinking about when I first read the Book of Mormon. There was much talk of how to find "truth". The only way to find truth is by prayer and the Holy Ghost testifying the truth to you. I grew up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and really never struggled with it's truth. I was active in attending church. I had struggles, don't get me wrong, but I just knew the church was true. However, reading the Book of Mormon wasn't something I think I'd done by myself, cover to cover ever before. I'd read it with my family growing up and studied it in Seminary and at church but had never really made it my goal until after I was married. Hailey was one year old and Dan had just finished school and we were moving up to Portland Oregon to stay with his parents until Dan found a job. This was the first time I'd moved from Utah and I was so sad! I had a very hard time adjusting. I decided to start reading the Book of Mormon and to do it in 3 months, which would mean reading 3 or so chapters a day. Hailey would sleep in the afternoon and that would give me time to study. I loved reading each day, it gave me such peace! I looked forward to it! As I'd read I would pray to know it's truthfulness and I would continue to just feel warm and peaceful and I learned a great deal! As I finished and knelt on my knee's, even before I began to pray, I felt an overpowering warmth and comfort come over me and as I prayed the tears came freely, I knew it was true! So, as I sat in church yesterday, I knew that this year I would read this book again. I've read it since Hailey was little, this will be my 4th time reading it. It's difficult to keep up reading with 4 children and my working but I know I will find peace in reading it and that's one of my goals this year.

My second goal is to not raise my voice at my children, and to be more patient with them! This sounds terrible to say, but my kids don't respond unless I threaten! Am I the only one who experiences this? Please say no! I'm watching my niece Emmie this week and her parents are so good with her! As I'm taking care of her and having to help sort out sharing problems and her throwing water all over my bathroom, I can't really raise my voice with her, she's someone else's child! I began to think, well, what if I treated my children as if they were someone else's children, in the sense of disciplining and then the thought occurred to me that they are someone else's children, they are the Lord's and he's entrusted them to me to care for and be patient with and to love unconditionally. So, my next goal is to change my parenting style a little. I am a strict mom, and I've been told this a lot! Well, I think it's good that kids have boundaries and that they know some things are just not acceptable, like hitting, or being rude to others...I just don't tolerate these things at all...so I'm not changing my strictness, I'm changing my voice tone and I'm going to start whispering and my kids are just going to have to lean in a little to hear what I have to say....ha! ha!

Lastly, I'd really like to lose 20 lbs! I've lost a lot of weight over the last couple of years and eating well and exercise are something I just do, and my last little chunk (don't mind the pun) of weight won't come off...so hopefully this year it will...we'll see!

I hope I didn't bore you with my seriousness! I hope your thinking of your new goals as well! The New Year really is a great way to start Fresh!

Primary!

Well, yesterday morning the primary had a breakfast for the children to meet they're new teachers. They wore they're pajama's and ate breakfast, painted rocks and made a journal. We've been worried about our little Sunbeam, hoping he would go to his new class without problems. We really built it up and he was excited to go, all the kids were! They all went great without a hitch, even Joe! He loved it. Our neighbor is his new teacher and her son and Joe are great little friends. So Sunday is here and it's time to take the kids to they're new class. Rachel has her blankie in tow, Joe has his little cousin Emmie staying here while her parents are on a cruise this week, and we're thinking Joe will be just fine and so will Rachel, but...we were deceived! Rachel was super sad and Joe went fine until Dan had to go in and help Rachel and then, of course, Joe wanted to be with Dan too, so poor Dan had both wailing children and I had no idea what was going on! Emmie, the visitor, of course, was just fine. Being a sunbeam for her was great, go figure, what is it with my kids? They are just so attached to me, it drives me insane, sometimes! Anyway, here a couple pics of the breakfast yesterday. I'm sure there are more adventures in store next week!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

January 4, 1954

I always look forward to my Dad's birthday because it's another celebration after Christmas and I love celebrating! We went over to visit Dad last night and watched "Transformers". Brent came by and it was fun to see him too. The kids had Root Beer Floats, something I remember having a lot growing up. YUM! Happy Birthday Dad!

Reigning in the New Year with Flu Blues

This will, without a doubt be the most memorable New Years! We had my grandparents over along with my mom's sister Teresa and her family and we had a ball! We played games, ate food, but much to my chagrin, I began feeling quite queasy around 9 p.m. so I took it easy and finally decided to call it a night around 11 p.m. and it was a good thing I did because I don't think I've been that sick with the flu in years! It was horrible, chills, achy, stomach yuck, the whole thing! I felt bad abandoning my family. The kids did quite well, much to my surprise. Joe fell asleep around 11 p.m., Rachel was out soon after and Hailey and Abby made it into the New Year. They had fun. I love it that Hailey and Abby are getting old enough to play game with the "big kids". Abby was a whiz at boggle and Hailey's getting really good at her new favorite game "Blokus". Even though I had the flu, this was a super fun New Years celebration.