Tender Mercies

As many of you know, we have been sharing the gospel with some family friends for quite a while now. The youngest recently was baptized. They are a great family, in many ways they are an extension from ours because our girls are always doing the same things. Unfortunately, the Dad is in Iraq, and not able to learn about the gospel. He is civilian, which means he is not on a base, and would have contact with the church. A few weeks ago he emailed and ask questions about the church, he had gotten some information on the internet, which was incorrect. he doesn't know anything about the church, and is concerned about his family joining. I just kept saying "there has to be someone over there he can get in contact with who could talk to him." I decided to pray that he would come into contact with a member of the church who could answer his questions. Well, He did! I told them last night it was not a coincidence, that I had been praying for that. I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers. Once again, my faith has been strengthened.

Good Things
1. opportunities to share the gospel
2. A heavenly Father who cares
3. answered prayers

Autumn?

Okay, who forgot to remind Autumn that it is her turn? And as for Winter, You just wait, it isn't quite your turn!

Listening

Yesterday was bit of a weepy day for me. D had been invited (monday) to go with grampa this weekend chukar hunting. He was very excited because he got to go last year, and had been looking forward to hopefully being invited again. It just wasn't seeming to work with details of us meeting up with grampa because of a crazy weekend - as always. G asked if I could take D there (2hours away) and I said I would have to think about it. Something just wasn't right. I dropped D off to school, and called G on my way to the temple to discuss what we should do. I told him, I just wasn't super comfortable with it. I could hardly talk to him, because you all probably know how I get when I am weepy. Anyway, It was decided that the spirit was trying to tell me something! Why couldn't I listen? I immediately felt much better, and know that is the decision we needed to make. After D got home from school, I explained what I had felt. I told him I didn't know why, maybe danger, maybe not, but I just didn't think he better go. Although he was very very sad, he accepted it. I asked him to pray about it to see if he felt the same way.

So this morning I asked if he had received a confirmation that we had done the right thing. He told me that yesterday he had felt sick when he thought about going.(I had the same feeling) He then went on to say he had gotten up at 6 to read (as he always does) but had read the scriptures. I asked how long he had read them because he usually reads until 7, and he said an hour. If only I could do that. He is so amazing...I get weepy all over again. So my resolve is to try harder to be the example.

Good Things:
1. promptings
2. listening
3. amazing kids

Refreshed... and Ready to go?

G and I went to LV last week. G went to classes, and I was able to recharge. Okay, He had a little fun too. We visited our friends,had dinner, and played pinochle. That was so much fun! It was great to see them again. I can't believe how their kids have grown. I guess that happens. We also went to see Chicago - the band, that was good, but I didn't realize they had alot of stuff before the 80's that I did not recognize, but fun anyway. There are so many good restaurants to choose from. We ate well! As for my recharging...reading by the pool, getting a stone massage, facial, shopping, and just laying in bed. I think I needed that and came back recharged. I also did some thinking about what I needed to do at my house, (clean, dejunk, yard) young women's, Christmas, and life in general. What a great getaway.

Good things:
1. hot stone massages
2. a getaway partner
3. coming home

Crayon Fun

What color are you? I expect to see on your blog.


You Are a Green Crayon
Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors.While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around.Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease.You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows!Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorcrayonareyouquiz/

check these out!

KK has a blog, you can follow the link on the side of mine. She named herself well..."I want to do it all."

My friend who moved away recently to be near family while her husband is in Afghanistan has an amazing blog. Most of the ideas I use come from her. She recently posted a beautiful post about how Heavenly Father knows each of us. It is well worth your time to check it out. It is the link "the great balancing act."

Good things:
1. Knowing I am not the only one with bad days.
2. Friends who put life into perspective.
3. A husband by my side.

Is This the New Normal?

We are now in the third week of school. And I think we have settled into the new normal. Some parts of it I like, and other parts...not so much!
The day goes something like this:
5:10 girls get up and get ready for school
5:40 they come down stairs making noise, turning on lights, and clanging dishes. Now I could get up, but they seem to find something to eat, and load their bags with food and other necessities for the rest of the day without me. Which is fine with me, I don't function too well this time of day.
Out the door to be at the church for seminary at 6. So far they have been on time.
Seminary ends at 6:45. B has dance on MWF at 7 at the school. K has AP chemistry at 7:20 everyday. But B has to stay in the same seminary class so on the off days she finishes getting ready, sleeps, does homework, or talks with friends until the regular seminary is done and then catches a ride to school with Gramma who is teaching seminary this year.
I don't see them again until about 5:45 when soccer practice is done.
That is a long day for them! It wears me out just to think about it.

After the girls leave, I doze in and out of sleep until about 7 when the rest of us get up and get going. Either G or I take D to school. I go to the gym at least 3 days a week for a class at 8:30. On Wednesday I go to the temple. During the day I do things all moms do, (laundry, dishes, toilets, etc.) I also go to meetings dealing with school committees, do pictures, read, talk on the phone - best if I call then I can use the ear piece, and still get something done,- shop, weed, blog, sew, young women, and I am taking a photography course. Most days D takes the bus home which gives me more time, and less taxiing. I really like a driver and not having to pick up high school kids. With all my less going in and out of town, I think we are actually SAVING money on gas at this point.

Soccer games are for K and B on Tuesday and Saturday's. G helps on the side lines. So we will try to go to all the games, home and away. That is 4 games a week. Add D's on Saturday. 5 games. Double header this week. 6 games. So far the weather is very pleasant, and it makes for an enjoyable day. I think you can kind of count that as being together as a family?!

Also add throughout the week, voice lessons, scouts, FHE, YW, school board, bishopric meetings.
It sounds like more than ever, but with me not chaffuering I actually feel like I have a lot more free time.

Good things:
1. more drivers
2. more free time
3. more time to talk to sisters ( okay not to K, it gets to crazy when she is available for talking, and my brain turns off about the time she gets home.)