For Aunt Jill

Aunt Jill I have been meaning to call you and I have even tried a couple of times the problem is I think about it when your working and then I get busy with the kiddos.   They are all doing great Zeak started wrestling, Jake is doing leather craft and voice and Kaci is in ice skating.   So life is good and busy.   My vinyl Machine is up and running so I am checking in with you remind me how many and give me the correct spellings and I will get them done ASAP  I can ship them or if you are coming up or someone going down we can get them to you.  
I will try to be better at blogging.
Sincerely,
Lisa
If you want to email me so that no one will see your response that is great to my email is
lisa@lisasvinylcreations.com  or you can call me 623-4946

I Know It, I LIVE it, I LOVE IT

This past weekend I had the privilege of taking  Zeak to the Stran Smith Nate Baldwin Roping School.   I was very hesitant at first but knew as a mom no matter how uncomfortable it was I needed to do this.   Wow what an experience I will never forget.   I was inspired in so many ways it is hard to comprehend.  That Sunday I was asked to speak in sacrament meeting so I took my experiences from the roping school and these great men and shared them in my talk.   I don't want Zeak or I  to forget these great lessons so I want them recorded.  

Who inspires you?  What inspires you?  and Who do you inspire?
I want you to think about theses questions throughout my talk!

This weekend I was surrounded by Cowboys.  Which is normal for me but I usually have my family and this weekend it was just Zeak and I.   We were at a roping school with 2 world champions.   This was way out of my comfort zone and way out of Zeak’s comfort zone he usually has his dad there not me, but the lessons I learned were worth it.  I am going to take some of those lessons and share them with you. 

I was asked to use Sister Gibbs talk from Saturday Morning Conference here is a little hint for you.

“I’m a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.”

Because I have to break things down lets start with who we are?

When I am asked the question who are you it usually starts with my name    Then that I am a wife, mother, and the list goes on from there.   Sad but true I leave out who I really am?  I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father

So Who are you?  

Stran Smith who is a wold champion calf roper told the youth yesterday when I put on this cowboy hat it doesn’t make me a cowboy?   I have to know what this hat represents and live it.   This hat represents more than just roping it represents a way of life and that way of life is what our country was founded on so many years ago.    You be careful with the things you listen to, what you watch, and what you eat.   Because Junk goes in and Junk goes out.   When you put on this hat you represent God, this country and me.   

So lets think about the know part. 

How do I know my name?  Because that is what people have called me my whole life.   Our parents name us at birth and then we go by that our whole life.   This is one of the first things we learn is to recognize our name. How do I know  I am a daughter of God that because  was lucky to be raised by goodly parents who taught me not only my name but the gospel.



So similar to our friends hat I am a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   When we are baptized we don’t get a shirt that says we are Mormon but we get another gift the gift of the Holy Ghost and although he is not seen if we choose to let him he is with us always.  teaching us the things we need to know to live like our older brother Jesus Christ.    We now represent Christ and we need to come to know him and live like him.  

The importance of gaining knowledge is an eternal principle. The Prophet Joseph Smith “loved knowledge for its righteous power.”2 He said: “Knowledge is necessary to life and godliness. … Hear, all ye brethren, this grand key: knowledge is the power of God unto salvation.”3

If we want to be good at something we have to learn about it and learn how to be good, 

  This is why Zeak wanted to go to this roping school is to learn from the best so he could be better.  

We come to know who we are by examples and by learning.  This is why we come to church every Sunday and learn from the scriptures and learn from each other. 
So as members of the church who is the best that we need to look to and learn from.   It is our Savior.   And the next two months we have an opportunity to really celebrate his life and teach and learn of him.   Sister Gibbs says As our gospel knowledge increases, we will begin to feel confident in our testimonies and be able to state, “I know it.”
  I challenge you to take this time and season to really come to know who you are and who you represent. 

Know that we know who we are  and who we want to be we have to LIVE IT  this is so much easier said than done.   The scriptures say we must be  “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”5   The Natural man in us sometimes steps in the way.
The amazing part of this knowledge that we have it that even if we make a mistake we can repent and make things right.   I want to share another story from the other World Champion Nate Baldwin he is not only a cowboy but he is a Mormon and served an LDS mission.     He was at a rodeo on a great horse when something went wrong and he ended up being caught in the rope and his horse started running in circles.   He said the first time around he wasn’t scared the second time he thought he was in trouble and the third time he thought he was going to die until someone cut the rope and he was free.     As he was talking the thought came to me this is how sin is the first time we sin we are a little uncomfortable but we are still ok.   The second time we start we are in trouble and the third time we need help.   If we have gained the knowledge we will hopefully remember that someone is there to cut the rope. Although are parents and friends want to cut that rope they can’t they can only give of the knowledge that someone can cut it.   That someone and the only one that can cut that rope and set us free is our Savior.     Living something doesn’t mean we are perfect at it it means we are constantly learning growing and trying.   This takes a lifetime to accomplish.
 I have learned it is just as important for those little everyday sins as for the big major ones.    I need the atonement everyday when I yell at my children or husband, when I didn’t listen to the spirit, when I was in such a hurry to survive my day I forgot to pray and read my scriptures.  The atonement is needed in everyday life and I testify that our Savior is there to cut the rope.  Once we have had the experience of using the atonement we come to LOVE IT! 

As we Learn, and Live the Love just comes.   I know we are all Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are all different and unique and we learn different ways this is why we are all here. Lets go back to my questions  Who inspires you?  What inspires you?  and Who do you inspire?  

 Now these World Champion Cowboys inspired me to be better and live better yesterday but they wouldn’t have inspired all of you.   I have other great people in my life that inspire me that are not cowboys.   I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.   Although scared out of her mind she still remains faithful and strong.   She is a runner and fitness fanatic and she has not let this trial in life change who are what she is.   The day of her first chemo treatment she was at the gym with me what and inspiration she is to me.    In life Heavenly Father sends us tests trials and  a support system to LIVE IT.   
Back to our cowboys friend he won the world at age 38 after heart surgery and many other trials.   When asked are you surprised you won when all the odds were against you?    His reply was No.   He said I have a great support team, I have a wife who is behind me, I have extended family, I have surrounded myself with great people in the cowboy industry  (our return missionary friend.)  And most important I have included my Savior in my support system.   Just like him Heavenly Father has given us a great support system.  Family, friends, a ward family a Prophet and many other great people even some not of our faith.  most importantly  he gave us his only be otton Son.  The Savior loves us all and he teaches us all.  He used parable and have you ever wondered why so many and different parables.   Well it is because he has to teach so many of us and we all learn differently so he used different stories and experiences to teach us all. 

When we know who we how learn who we want to be and Live it we can’t help but LOVE IT because we are content, confident and full of Light and LOVE!  When we have experiences everyday that bears witness that this gospel is true we feel our Heavenly Fathers Love for Us and in return we LOVE HIM.    

Let us all of the confidence to know who we are, live it, and love it that we might be an example to those around us for good and inspire them to come Christ. 

I Love this gospel, I Love being a Mormon and the peace it brings to me and to my family.  I Love my Savior and I am so grateful to have a relationship with him that is constantly growing.  I Love my family my husband, my children, my extended family.  

The Sunshine in my soul!

 I love this photo!  The smile on my face lets you know I am happy!

 And this smile!

 Pizza Sauce

 swimming

 gardening

 Bathing Horses

 Sleep overs in the tent

 Barrel Racing with my kids

 Doctoring calves

The things that bring sunshine to my soul!  And why my house is not picture perfect that's why there is no picture of it! :)   Spending time with my family!   Helping my kids and their friends in the barn.   My milk cow!  Cooking!  My garden and harvesting the produce in it!  Making bottles for babies.   Taking photos of my life.  

I just read an article that really hit home my average day goes like this!   I get up get my kids out of bed and doing the chores outside.   I then make breakfast for everyone.  Most (not everyday) days I try to have a warm home cooked breakfast.   I ship the kids out the door.  Then who know what happens for the next few hours until everyone gets home that is still a work in progress.   At 3 we work on homework, shuttle kids to various activities, most days we end up with a trailer load of horses and a chute full of cattle that take a good 2-3 hours of my time.   I am backing trailers which I am getting pretty good at if I do say so myself.   Saddling horses, loading chutes, sometimes I even get to ride!   Then we rush home and do chores in the dark,  doctor horses, milk the cow and I begin dinner.   By this time I am having serious guilt because it is after 10pm and my children need to be in bed so we hurry and have scripture study and prayer and ship them off to bed.   What I hope my children will know and remember is that their mom loved them.   She took time to help them develop skills that would help them survive and live life to the fullest.   Sometimes it was more stressful than other but we were together and we were learning and growing.   I hope they will remember the practices, the meals, and the homework, and also the special times when I would swim with them, read books, and take them to different events.  I want my kids to know I love them and that all of this does and can bring sunshine to my soul!

All Around Cowboy

Sept 28 & 29th were so fun!   We had our last Junior High Rodeo for this year in Toole.   Zeak and Jake both had amazing rodeos.   Zeak and Hadley Holmes hadn't got together to practice so Dan and Zeak stayed home and I drove Jake to Toole and got him ready to rodeo.   We thought we had it planned out for Dan to make it in time to rope!  Plans did work out but Lex was Jake's back up heeling partner.   Jake caught both steers, one of his breakaway calves, had 2 nice barrel runs, and a 21 second pole run.   He won $100.00 back.  

Zeak did so awesome I am so proud of him.   He has practiced hard roping the dummies and roping up to Neilson's.   Rhett has been so good to help Zeak improve.  The other night Rhett loaded the bull and two huge steers for Zeak to chute dog.  We gave Zeak a really hard time because he couldn't do it and he was getting mucked out!   Lex got in to show him how it was done!  Long story short we all had to apologize and tell Zeak maybe they were a little tough to throw.   I decided tough practice makes for tough rodeos.   Zeak threw both of his chute doggin' steers winning the chute doggin on Saturday with his fasted time of 2.81,  it was so funny to watch he had to carry his steer across the line to throw him.    In the tie down roping we had some long times but he got points and caught both days.   Goats he had two really good times and earned more points.   In the Ribbon roping we placed the first day and had some tough luck the second day we were  long on our time.    Team Roping was the event of the weekend.  He was so awesome.  Normally Zeak struggles with slow cattle and that was our draw for both days.   The first steer was super slow coming out of the chute.   Dan, Zeak, and Hadley made a game plan for both days and it worked.   They won the rodeo both days.   With two 1st and placing in the other two events Zeak had enough points to win the All Around Saturday and tied for Reserve All Around on Friday.   The things we learned were to watch your cattle,  have a game plan,  and then execute the game plane.   With lots of dedicated  practice, prayers, and hard work we had a very successful weekend.   Zeak built some confidence in himself and his horses and he has a game plan of where he needs to improve.   His total winning for the weekend were $324.00.   Guess we have enough money for the next rodeo.   

Kaci's Gold Buckle

This post is kind of ironic.  My little girl decided this spring to be a cowgirl.   She figures she doesn't really have to practice because her brothers will keep her horses rode for her so all she has to do is get on and look pretty.    This kind of makes me laugh because she is right since her brothers need the horses and she has shown no interest until now that's all she had to do to win her first buckle.   The ironic part is her brothers were both older and worked a lot harder and waited a lot longer to win their first buckles.  We started going to Mount Pleasant to the barrel races every other Monday.  The first time I signed her up she wasn't very happy I helped her the first time on M&M which really made her nervous but she did great and Kendra Seager ( the lady in charge) made a really big deal about her doing so well gave her her $2.00 and then told her if she came 6 times she could win a buckle.   So each week we went back and Kendra would tell Kaci to try doing it her self this time and then trot the next time.  Each time Kaci improved and the minute she was done she would run to Kendra to get her money.   This made me smile.  By the end Kaci was loping in the warm up area with the other kids and she was so excited to get her buckle.   The series ended in May but because of scheduling we had to wait until Aug to get the buckle.   Kaci was so excited and that night she actually loped around the barrles.   She slept with and wore her buckle for two weeks.    I think that is the purpose of life as a mom and mom to so many others.  Seek the good in them and encourage them to do better each time.  Line Upon Line. Precept on Precept until you win the Gold Buckle.

It was in the Salsa and the Raspberries

The last few months have been a struggle for me.   No major problems or sicknesses, just huge change!  With all of my children in school and some unfortunate relationship fall outs that have left me having very negative feelings about myself.   I have found myself very alone much of the time.   I DON'T like being alone!  I have shed more tears than I can count and that is not in my nature.   I get up every morning and put on my brave face feed my children give them hugs and kisses and send them out the door.   As the door closes I feel lost, overwhelmed, and feel like I am sinking barely treading water.   I am use to being consumed with people and  phone calls and now I sit in complete silence.   Feelings of doubt creep in and then I curl up and sleep or cry my eyeballs out.   My sweet husband has been in tune and caught on to my struggle.  The other day when leaving for work he asked me what was on my agenda today?  I told him I needed to make salsa with the tomatoes he said I will have Mike's wife call you with the recipe she uses.   Forgetting about the conversation with my  husband I did the morning usual and then was trying to motivate myself to get the salsa going, when the phone rang.   It was Mike's wife.   I am quite certain that this phone call was inspired and a gentle reminder from my Father in Heaven that I am a good person and I do have a good heart.  I am human and therefore imperfect and make mistakes daily.  Our conversation went from tomatoes and peppers to Zucchini soup and then to Mother hood and the gospel.    She had a similar feeling of always treading water and  barely keeping her head above to avoid drowning.     After a long much needed conversation I found the motivation to move forward with my day and accomplish not only the salsa but the raspberry jam as well.   When we went to hang up she said,  "I hope you don't think this is corny but thanks for the mini devotional today it is what I needed!"   I thanked her and told her I was certain it was not corny but inspired.   When I hung up the phone tears spilled from my heart but this time they were a cleansing kind of tear.   While picking the raspberries I was reviewing our conversation and thinking about how many women in our society feel this same feeling of just keep their heads above water.   What can I do to make a difference in my life and in the life of my family and overcome these feelings.  A thought came to my mind and I ran to the house for my camera.   I needed to take a photo of my raspberries.   They are something that bring great joy to my life and also to the life of my family.   They are very small and very simple but they bring joy.   We love to eat them right off the bushes.   Throughout the year we eat them on our homemade rolls, our scones, homemade bread, and our famous best mom ever pancakes.  Then I decided when I have this depressed overwhelming feeling I just need to grab my camera Seek for the Good in my life, take a photo and blog about how it!  My Life is Good if I will just Seek for IT!

 The tomatoes that brought forth 36 pints and 8 quarts of pizza sauce 8 quarts of stewed tomatoes and 36 pints of salsa.

The raspberries that made homemade ice cream, and 12 pints of raspberry jam for us to enjoy all year long.   Their small red beauty contrast the large green leafs that protect and shade them from the harmful world around them.     I look at them and I see myself very small and fragile with much good to give.   I need the protection and security of a loving Heavenly Father to protect me from the world around me.   Because of these small beautiful berries I will continue to seek the good around me and help others see that good as well. 

Cosmo Club

Grandma Lou gave us an early Christmas present she bought passes for the kids to be in the Cosmo Kids Club so Saturday we went to our first BYU game as a family.   The game was a good one against Wyoming.   Zeak and Dan Loved it!   I don't mind football especially if it is an intense game.  Kaci was bored out of her mind but was easily bribed with an ice skating trip and saved by Taylei who would run her to get a treat or the bathroom.   Jake didn't say much but he didn't complain so that is a good sign.   After the game  the kids were able to go down on the field and get their pictures taken with Cosmo.   That was Kaci's favorite part she loved Cosmo.   After the game we went to Wingers with the Williams and then ice skating.  Dan was feeling pretty sick so he stayed in the truck.  Kaci was in heaven and Taylei and Keanna were having a blast skating with her and trying new tricks.   So you could say we had a very successful Saturday spending time with family and friends creating memories.

Funny Friends

We have some of the funnest and best friends in the world.   The County fair is just a fun party for us most of the week.  Our kids run ramped with all the other kids.   In fact Tuesday night during the roping I was busy doing my thing when Ange came to say our children our lost do you know where they are?   Busy running the roping I said no and I announced loudly for our children to come to us.     I finally stopped the roping to tell Dan that his daughter was missing we had to find her.  Him and Mitch told Ange to look in the trailer.   That is where they were found!   I was panicked for quite a few minutes.  

So a few days later when my daughter really disappeared I should have panicked but didn't.    I knew she was with the Durbin's and since they love her like their own I wasn't concerned.   I got a txt that read:  
To whom it may concern

We have your daughter if you want her back you have to bring footwear floats to the designated spot or else.  
Aug 10, 6:38 pm

• I responded with and if we don't want her back?

The or else would come into effect
6:42

• I responded what are footwear floats and where is the designated spot.

It was supposed to say root beer floats read between the criminals lines duh  

• lol lol lol 

52 S 300 E when you get there there knock on the door three times the password is higelsniffer we will proceed from that point
Aug 10,  6:54

• At this point my phone went dead.   I was trying to round up my kids and husband which took longer than I thought.   Then we ended up visiting with the Sheperds for a few long minutes.   When I got to the truck and plugged my phone in there were two more messages.

It is almost my bed time are we going to have to do this tomorrow
9:05

EMERGENCY ALERT
Lonely child loses one mother a partially special father and two completely special Olympic brothers if seen do not I repeat do not phone police known to be extremely dangerous and out of control brothers known to like horses and go by the names zeakina girlina and jakisha and father thinks he can play guitar and prefers to be called danniella guitario and the mother wow she likes to be called lighting Lisa for she thinks she can out run the only normal person in the family in the barrels kaci woodland if you see this family please please be careful they are a danger to themselves
10:05 pm

Arrivng at the house just moments later with no rootbeer floats or footwear floats and not remembering the password I had to run back to the truck to get my phone.  We gave the password and were let in only to find the Lonely little girl fast asleep on the couch.   
I don't think she had a clue she had been kidnapped or there was a ransomed for her safe return.  I am pretty sure she would have been just fine if she would have wok up the next morning still at the Durbin's. Why?  Because they love her and all of us Like their own.  So wonderful to have great friends and good laughs

Acting your Age

So in January of 2012 I started going to the local gym.   I would get up at 4:20 and meet who ever was going that morning at the church.   We would do spin or body pump.   I even tried a few boot classes in the evenings.   I was feeling great.   Lots of self confidence and life was good.   Then came summer and its craziness.   June I went 5 times enough to make my membership worth it.   July I had good intentions with two trips.   August was a complete failure the one and only time I went the instructor slept in.   So here we are September 11th.   What a day to start back at the gym.   It helped that there was a little guilt and pressure to go since the class was set up for us Mona girls specifically.   Upon our arrival the parking lot is full for this early.   We go in Wendy Winn is excited to see us.   It has been a long time I think she gave up home.   We start laying out mats and Wendy starts writing our schedule on the mirror.   Sure horror comes over my face as I realize this is not what I am use to but it is to late to sneak out the door.   I am driving and Amy and Molli are for sure not leaving they thrive on the competition of working out.    So I put on my game face act as confident as possible and listen for instructions.    What came next was a welcome relieve a motivational  thought that took a good 3 minutes.   The it started we started running not to long not to bad!  Then we did shuffles and high knees.   I can handle this its going to be ok!    Squats 50 to be exact not so tough.  Push up 25. . .  I CAN'T EVEN DO ONE REAL ONE!!!  Panic I can feel it by number... yep 2!   Ok made it to 25 with my arms shaking but the real killer was the front roller overs.   In little people terms that translates to a summersault.    Ok people here is Life Lesson by Lisa Woodland.   DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT DO SOMETHING AS AN ADULT THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN DO AS A CHILD!    As I feel the muscles in my upper back and neck tear and shred I know I am in trouble.   40 squats now 20 pushup wheelbarrows.  If you are asking yourself is there a little people term for that?   Don't worry there isn't you have a partner you want to be the one standing holding the other persons legs, not the one walking with your arms.   Then,  yep you read it right we are only half way done people.   30 squats and 15 pushups more front roll overs not good.  20 squats and 10 situps finishing with wheel barrels.   Then we got to write our goal for the next six weeks!   I am still in to much shock to think rationally so I write my name on the mirror with a goal to gain more core strength.  ugh! What have I done to my self.   I drove lucky me and all the way home we discussed what a good change that was how sore we were going to be and on and on.   We dropped Amy off and headed for Molli's.  Molli said, "hey just take me to your house I will run home.   I can see your in pain."   Not wanting to argue the point that  I was really starting to feel it I said are you sure?   Hoping and knowing she would say yes.   So at the corner of my street I get this nauseous feeling and think oh no I am in trouble.   I need fresh air.  So I roll down the window and think I will be fine.   We pull in Molli gets out I head to the door quickly put my key in. . . and turned my head seconds to late!  Yes I have finally thrown up after exercising.    To embarrassed to see  if Molli is still around I lay down on the cold cement.   Then I get up turn on the hose and spray off the door and porch.   
I go to my bed lay down for an hour and try to convince myself everything is good.   I even get up and post a nice note on facebook for anyone and everyone to join me Thursday morning.   So am I going back?   Why, yes because I have to overcome my weakness and  become strong.   Plus even though I am in some pain I really emotionally feel so much better.   So if I can get my body to catch up to my emotions life will be good.   I will just not be doing any more summersaults! lol

1st Day of School 2012-2013

 Zeak 8th grade

Zeak is growing up so fast.   Some days I am amazed at his maturity and responsibility.  He asked me to wake him up at 6:00 am so he could get all of his animals fed before school.   I still know he is maturing when him and his dad battle it out about something dumb he has done.   He Loves his horses.  He Lives to Team Rope, calf rope, brand, ranch anything on a horse.   English is a struggle for him and thanks to Mr. Sameulson Math is easy for him.  The other day we were having scripture study and we were discussing the scripture.  Dan said,  "Zeak I am so impressed you are learning something."   Zeak, "Dad even though it doesn't look like I am listening I really am."    We all laughed and then I said, "Zeak your goal for this year is to make it look like you are listening then we will have all As and Hs."      Here is to a great year of learning and growing.

Jake 4th Grade

Jake is our funny man he keeps us laughing.  He loves his animals he is always on ksl looking for more and scheming ways to make the farm bigger and better.   He enjoys leather crafts a talent he developed this year in 4-h.    Music is his life.  He is often found singing, doing his chores, in the shower, and in the truck.   He can memorize words like his dad.  If he hears a song once it is in that brain for life.  Of the three kids I would say Jake loves school the most.   He never complains about having to go.   He is always excited to learn new things.   He is the easiest one to get homework done and handed in.     Jake hates spelling with a passion.   He is excited about his new teacher Mrs. Penrod.   It is going to be a great year.

Kaci Fae 1st Grade

Yep our baby is in first grade.   She has changed the most over the last year.  She has gone from only wearing dresses and fancy cloths to cowgirl cloths and boots.   She has gone from crying when we have to go to the arena to crying because the boys have to ride her horse.   She has gone from being my little princess to daddy's little girl.  She still loves to ice skate.   She can often be heard singing a song that she is making up as she sings.   I wish I could catch it in time to record it.  When I hear this I know she is happy.   She is definitely a girl and in the mornings she lets me know that she is.     She goes out the door crying about her cloths or hair more than not.   Eating breakfast is hard for her in the mornings.   She loves her friends and loves her teacher Mrs Marsh.  Learning is a struggle for her at time but comes easy at other.  I am excited for her to grow and develop this next year.

So a little update on Dan and I 

Dan started a 2nd job this summer which has been a huge adjustment for our family.   He is working at the boys home down the street from us.   He works two nights a week from 2pm until 10pm.   Right now his job is setting up the animal program at the home.   He loves working with the boys and loves working with the animals.    He is still doing construction full time at Sheperds.   They will keep him busy until December or longer.   I just keep telling them to put him on the pay roll.    He is the Young Men's President which keeps him busy when work doesn't.   He still finds time to play the guitar and help the kids practice although that has diminished drastically.

Then there is me.  I am not going to lie I cried the first day of school.   Dan came home early which was a shock and surprise.   He was very patient with me crying and let me get it out.   I just needed to have a little mourning session.    I have had lots of time to ponder on life and ponder the things I need to be doing.   I am still unsure of everything but I do know for sure that my first responsibility is to be a supportive wife.   With Dan working two jobs I have had to pick of the pieces and fill in the gaps.   Normally I would rebel against this but my heart knows that this is what Heavenly Father expects of me right now.   Second is being a mother.   The other day I was in conversation about all the fun things there are are for moms to do with there kids and how I wish pinterest would have been around when my kids were younger.   Jake in his sensitive manner said, " mom you can still do those things we want to do them still."   I have reflected on this the last few day and have decided that yes,  eventhough my kids are older they still want and need their mom.   I need to do fun things with them and create a warm environment for them.    So those are my two goals for this school year.  To support Dan and Be a good Mom!  

2012-2013

Not Perfect

I'm sitting here holding my baby who is not such a baby anymore.   She is sick and just wanted to be held.  My heart is full of Love tonight.  I feel very humble and blessed at this time in my life.   I have learned so much and I feel a peace that I haven't always felt.   I know our life is not perfect.  But, our life is good.   We have each other and that is all that matters.   I can't take anything with me when I leave this life.   What I can take is my relationships with my family.  My husband is my best friend and his is one of the most important relationships.   My kids who I love very much, my extended families, and my friends.   The most important is the relationship with my Heavenly Father and Elder Brother Jesus Christ.    All of these relationships are far from perfect but a continual work in progress.  I am so grateful for the time I have to keep developing and working on them.   I am so grateful for My Life at this time.   Life is GOOD!

Making vs Taking

So the other night we were invited to a private open house the Nephi City Pool.   I had Rylon and Brinley so I got in my swimming attire, which I will never learn to love as long as I live I'm sure,  and took the kids to the pool.   When we pulled up we were taken back by the amount of people in attendance.  My kids decided they didn't want to go they were certain the pool would be to crowded.   Much to my surprise none of the adults were swimming or even in swimming attire for that matter.   I was a little uncomfortable at first knowing that I was the only adult that was in swimming attire.   Then I decided that I was ok.  I was not going to let this stop me from making memories with my kids and my nieces and nephews.   I had my camera and I should have had someone take a photo of me with the kids but I didn't.   The later it got the less crowed it got.   The three little ones were cold so I got them dressed and had Kaci sit with them while I watched Jake and Zeak on the diving boards.   Alley Gee is my new hero.   She came late to the party without her swimming attire but that didn't stop her from having fun with Stormy and showing her that she could still do a back flip off the diving board.   This taught me a wonderful lesson about making memories with our kids.   Spending time with them and not worrying so much about the world and how they are looking at us.   My kids were not embarrassed of me or worried about the other parents they were just having fun being with me. 

Our New Weedeater

The other day I sent Jake and Kaci out to weed the garden.   I was busy cleaning and doing my thing in the house.   Dan came home from work yelling at me to come to the back door.   He said have you been watching your children?  Irritated by the fact that he would think I would not be watching my children I went to see what the problem was.  Because you know as a mom we sometimes become immune to problems they are an every 2-3 minute occurrence.   As I reached the back door he was laughing which eased the tension and said you have to see this.   Yep,  Jake was using his goats to weed the garden.   Carefully guiding them around each plant.   As I was grabbing my camera to get some footage for posterity sake Dan was busy posting on facebook.   This is his post,

So, I may not be the sharpest tool in the tool shed, and my kids probably aren't either, but when your sons job for the day was to weed the garden, and you come home to this, you know that common sense runs deep in there blood. He even managed to make the goat eat around the plants. I tip my hat to you son. He saved money on feed and got the job done!!! Man I wish I would have thought of that when I was a kid!!!!!!

So if any of you are in need of a weed eater Jake and his goats are for hire!

Surprise

Zeak had a surprise party brewing in his head.   Unbeknown to be he had already talked to Mitch and had most of the party planned.   I was left to prepare the food and the rest Zeak and Mitch would provide.   They had the cattle arranged for, got the bbq grill, they had invited the Winn's Shepherd, Neilson's, and Carters.  They were all coming before Dan got there and the plan was for the boys to run the shoots and the adults to rope.   We were going to have hamburgers and hotdogs.   Zeak wanted all of the horses saddled and ready so Dan could step on and go to roping.   Mitch and Zeak had come up with a wild story on how Tuff was hurt and they had hauled him to Nephi and Dan needed to meet them at the arena.  I'm not sure if he bought their story but he was surprised when he pulled in and saw all the horses, steers, and friends, and family.   His next surprise came when they roped him and gave him birthday spanken's right off the bat!   Zeak was elated when a guy from Arizona was looking at buying some horses and agreed to open shoots so the kids could rope with their dads.   It was a fun night they ate and roped until dark.  It got serious when the rally caps came out and the flag!   I know Dan enjoyed his night and hopes he knows how much we all love him especially Zeak!

The big 60

'

My dad turned the big "60" on June 4th.    For his birthday we all spent the weekend at my mom and dads.   Dusty came up with the idea to get him a gun and have his signature and birthday engraved on it.   I think my dad was pretty surprised.   We took him shooting and everyone had a blast.  Dusty brought probably 20 cans of shaving cream and thats what we used for targets.  That was so much fun you hit the can and it explodes.    After shooting we went back and had cake and ice cream.   Brenda made the perfect cake for my dad it was awesome.  She had a Mountain with wildlife including fish in the stream and a garden planted at the edge.   What a fun way to celebrate 60 years of life.   My dad has 6 children and 10 grandchildren with one on the way.   My dad has a love for his family and has always held my mom on a pedestal.    He loved her and respected her to the highest.   He loved us kids and we knew it.  He took time to teach us and help us in everything.   My funnest memories are hunting with my dad.   I am not an early riser but I loved to get up early before school and go hunting with my dad.   He would teach me how to look for tracks and signs how to find my way back and how to walk quiet.   He was always making me step carefully.    My dad was good at math and always helped me with my homework.   I learned my love of cooking from my dad who learned it from his mom.   We learned how to live the gospel from my parents.   My dad is a great man with a huge heart and testimony of the gospel.    Thanks for being the worlds best husband, father, and grandpa.   We Love You!