Trunk full of Treasures and Memories

My Great Great Great Grandparents Joseph Price Jones and Jane Hughes Parry. 

Grandpa Job Jones Miller DeNora Fae Lamont my grandpa's sister Larae, then my grandpa's brother Thomas and his wife Linda.

The New Testament published in 1880

Home of my great great grandparents Thomas and Margaret Jones.

Great Grandma Janie Jones and her brother Thomas

The last year I have been very drawn to my genealogy and where I came from or who I came from.    This top photo is of My Great Great Great Grandparents Joseph Price Jones and Jane Hughes Parry.    The photo on the bottom is my Grandpa Job Jones Miller DeNora Fae Lamont my grandpa's sister Larae, then my grandpa's brother Thomas and his wife Linda.    I had the honor and privilege of spending the day with them last Friday.     My mom and dad were there as well.   Uncle Thomas has 8 binders worth of pedigree charts that he had gone through and so he made copies for my grandpa and his sister.    We put them in sheet protectors and binders for them.   I was not interested as much in those, I can get online and see that.   I was interested in the photos and stories.   So when we were done Uncle Thomas pulled out a trunk full of photos and memories.   His house was full of antiques and treasures from my great great grandmas house.    As he pulled each photo out I had to take pictures.    I was so excited to have these treasures and now I want to know these people and their story.    My grandpa and his siblings shared stories and memories of their childhood which I tried to record.  I want to know my ancestors and I want my children to know them.   I firmly believe we will need their examples of courage and strength to make it in these latter days.     When I get to heaven I want to be able to recognize them and know them already.  

Become More

I attend Time Out for Women twice this year and loved every minute of it. The theme was "Choose to Become." I have wrestled with this all year. With so many options and so many examples I was left confused and not knowing.

The other day I had an experience that left me knowing that for sure I needed to create a home that was safe, warm, and comfortable. A place where not only we want to be as a family but that others will want to be as well. I just read a blog that summarized my feelings so well. She had compared herself to everyone and everything around her. That is Satan's plan he wants us to be competitive. It was his competitiveness that landed him in the pickle he is in. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father had another son with a different plan. He was the opposite of competitive. Jesus was so loving and compassionate that the Father chose his plan. Do you wonder if when Jesus presented his plan he fully comprehended what his plan would mean for him and all of us? It is so easy to list all of the things I am not. I am Not a writer, not organized, not stylish, not the best at anyone thing. Yet I am good and good and many things. I have a very kind tender heart. I am creative, a cook, can play the piano and organ, love to create and keep memories, I am a cowgirl, the list goes on and on.

In this blog post I just read the lady dares anyone to Become More with that dare I AM GOING TO BECOME MORE! I am going to become more in both my good areas and my not so good areas. I am going to Become More with out comparing myself to everyone and everything around me. Here is to 2012 and Becoming ME!

Novemevber

Boys day on the dessert

Aunt Brenda made her awesome cake

Woodland Family

Barnhurst Family

Grandma Woodland on ice

Wrestling Tournament

Pie Party

School Thanksgiving party

Aunt Shannon is the favorite

Dan carving the Thanksgiving turkey

Thanksgiving Dinner

Even Cowboys can iceskate

Wow November was another full month.   Zeak started wrestling and we were able to take Grandma Woodland to the Spanish Fork Duel.   She is so good to support the kids and loves to watch them.

A few years ago when we lived in Nephi we were invited to a pie party.    Dan loved it and has wanted to do one every since so we finally made time for not one but two pie parties.   We have lots of friends in different circles and so we had a party on Friday night and then another one on Saturday night.   It was a lot of fun we will have to try and make it a tradition.

I helped with the kindergarten class party we made the traditional turkey apples and played some fun games.   I love being able to go help in my kids classrooms and help with the class parties it is one of my favorite jobs as a mom.

Thanksgiving was with the Woodlands this year.   Everyone came to Susan's house this year.   Dan helped carve the turkey which I think he loves doing.  It is so fun to be together and enjoy the holidays.   I was in charge of the rolls and I saw a fun idea on pinterest and so we tried it.   I asked everyone to email me what they were thankful for.   I typed it up and then put it on a piece of paper inside each roll.   It was fun to hear what others were thankful for and to see who's paper you got.    My rolls are always a hit but I think everyone enjoyed the papers.

The day after Thanksgiving was Kaci's Birthday she was feeling really sad that her Birthday is always on Thanksgiving and so she can never have a friend birthday.   So I talked to both sides of the family and we invited everyone who could and wanted to go ice skating with us.  We reserved the rink for 2 hours.   We had a blast.   Kaci loved it then we went back and had cake and ice cream at Susan's.   Brenda has found a new creative talent that we are all enjoying.   She is decorating cakes.   The ice skates she made out of rice krispies and fondant.  The ice was cake and fondant.   She did a great job and Kaci loved it. 

The day after Kaci's Birthday the boys went riding on the desert.   They enjoy going.   I love that they have iphones and can take photos while they are on their outings so they can be blogged and journaled. 

Dan and I celebrated our 14th anniversary.   That is so crazy I don't have any photos.   Our anniversary was on a Tuesday night so we didn't do a lot that night we did however spend the second weekend of the NFR in Vegas with Aaron and Melanie Hall.

And that concludes our November bring on December.

TOFW

Me with the Miller side of my family, Sheri, April, Shantell, and Aunt Susan. I got on facebook Thursday night and realized they were headed the same place I was. Thanks for saving our seats.
Participating in the possibility packs for the local Dove Foundation,

Shannon, Me HILARY WEEKS, Jessica, and Kathryn. Hilary is amazing and is so kind to everyone she makes you fill like you have been her friend forever.
Aunt Jill this post is for you. For the last month I have been on a spiritual high. I have had some amazing experiences and witnessed more small miracles than I could have ever imagined. All my life I wondered if I would ever have such experiences and much to my surprise I have been having them all my life. I just never recognized them. A few years ago I attended my first Time Out For Women with my dear friend Ange Berezay. We have gone at least once a year forever it seems. This year was no different in September we attended the one in Logan. It was amazing! Shortly after we got back my sister-in-laws invited me to attend the one in St George. Most of the presenters were different and Dan agreed it would be a great thing. I am so glad I attended. This just helped continue the spiritual high. I have a testimony of the simpleness and blessing of living the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If we choose to live a Christ Centered life we will find joy and happiness beyond our comprehension. I am so grateful for this testimony and the knowledge I have that Christ lives and Loves each one of us. That if we follow him he will lead us back to our father and mother in heaven. I am so grateful for people who are willing to bless my life through their gifts and talents. The men and women who are presenters for TOFW have blessed my life through their testimonies. I am so grateful Dan kept the kids this weekend and let me have this little time out.

October

Payson Temple Ground Breaking

Deer Hunt Weekend

Grandma Lou annual Halloween Party

Kaci friend Halloween Party

Halloween Day with the Durbins

Jake's Pumpkin grown with lots of Love from Grandpa Miller

First Snow Storm

Jake's Oops

October was so full.  There was a week or so where time seemed to stand still.   We lost our beloved friend Grandpa Don.   I have never felt the abundance of the spirit as I have felt this month.   It started with an amazing opportunity and experience Dan and I had to attend the ground breaking of the Payson Temple.   Our amazing Bishop Mark Drake offered tickets to Dan and I we also had the privilege of riding up with him and his wife and Dan's parents. I am so excited to have the temple so close.   I will be able to drop the kids off at school and do a session before they get home from school.   I am hoping there are some amazing opportunities for our family to help with the process of the temple dedication.     This is a true blessing to our community.  

The week after the temple dedication is when time stood still.   I will save the details and experiences for another post.    

Kaci and I got to go on our annual girls deer hunt weekend with Grandma Nelson this is always a fun weekend full of crafts and shopping.

Early this spring I got a phone call from Grandpa Miller.   He had just purchased some large pumpkin seeds and large strawberry plants.   He sent Jake some seeds and ours didn't work but grandpa's did.   So we drove up and listened to General Conference and had dinner with grandma and grandpa.   Grandpa gave Jake the biggest pumpkin in the patch.   It was so fun to have it on our front porch.

Mona is getting a new sewer system.  Our streets have been tore up and closed most of the year.   This month was our roads turn.   They had to cut the sidewalks at our house and Woolslayers.     Just before school was out they poured and put the first finish on the sidewalks.   Jake wasn't paying attention and to his defense they didn't really mark it well saying it was wet and he stepped right in it.  Two foot prints when he realized it was still wet.   He came in the door in complete tears.   I thought someone had died by the way he was acting.   When he calmed down enough to tell me, I burst into laughter.   Zeak felt really bad for him and said, "mom I know how to finish the concrete I will go get dad's tools and fix it. "  The men working on the sidewalk saw the boys fixing it but didn't come over to see what was going on they just watched from the corner.    Not that I know anything about concrete but I must say I was a proud mom watching my boys fix Jake's mistake and the fact that it looked better than the original was awesome.  

Kaci wanted to have a Halloween party with her dancing friends.   We dropped Kyler off on our way to dancing and they invited him so after dancing we picked him up to come to the party.   It was fun we made paper plate pumpkins,  and spider cupcakes.

Towards the end of the month we had our annual Halloween party with Grandma Lou we carve pumpkins and have a fun dinner.    This is a fun tradition that I always look forward to.   My kids have gotten to the point that as long as we get in a pumpkin carving party with grandma Lou then we don't need to go trick-or-treating.  It is fun to see the creativity and individuality show through.

  We also got to have another pumpkin party with Grandma Janice.   They finally needed a little break from cows and packing.  We need to have a little fun and celebrating.  I love the fun memories we are creating with our kids and the special grandmas in their lives.  

Woodland Family Vacation

Drum roll please... it is the night of the big Home Coming game at Juab High School. The crowd is full of energy. It was time to announce the home coming royalty. The Queen for the year 2011 is Kaci Fae Woodland daughter of Dan and Lisa Woodland of Mona. She loves ice skating and dancing. She is a member of the JHS Provita. Her date and Home Coming King is Tuff son of Skipper W and Smart Chickalena from Mona. He is captain of the football, basketball, and baseball team. Don't they make a handsome couple.



It was Christmas Eve and all Jake Woodland wanted was a goat. Yes, that's right a goat! How would Santa bring a goat? He wouldn't be like all the other toys he would need fed, and watered and what if he left little goat droppings on the toys. Jake new there was no way he would get a Christmas goat but, wait a minute. I here bells I here here hoofs they are on the roof lets have a look! What is this? Where is Rudolf? what is that leading Santa's sleigh? Why, it is Squirt the red nosed goat doing the work of the reindeer today. He is bringing toys to all the good little girls and boys with out leaving little goat droppings on all the toys. Jake Woodland got not one but two goats for Christmas this year. But, the real surprise did not come until spring when little squirts was found, a perfect example of Christmas wishes do come true.
Jake participated in the kids talent show. He sang, "Proud to Be an American" and he had me accompany him. I was shaking like a leaf and hope that I wasn't the reason he was so nervous. I decided after this experience to never give Dan a hard time for missing when he is roping with our boys. That is just way to much pressure for a parent.
Jake and Zeak are cultured they switch things up by running barrels on their bikes instead of horses.





Dan made it his goal last year to sign up for the County Fair Idol. He asked Jaron Carter to accompany him. They performed at the Mona Days Celebration and had a good experience so they decided to give the Fair Idol a go. The first night of the competition Dan had to sing 30 sec Au Capella number. He chose Good Brown Gravy by Joe Diffie. He made it through that round and him and Jaron chose "Lady" by Alabama unfortunately there was not a round 3,4,or 5. They were relieved and bummed all at the same time. After talking to the other two judges they felt really bad. I am just proud of him for accomplishing his goal and doing so well. He is already gearing up for next year.



Extreme Horseman is another fun event Dan enjoyed last year and Zeak decided to try this year Dan didn't do as well this year but Zeak ended 3rd.


After 5 years of the Ranch Rodeo Dan and his team of Jaron Carter, Mike Kajanis and Scott (friend of Jaron's) Dan finally placed 2nd and was out of winning it by 30sec. He had a blast.


The team penning needs some work that is all I have to say.


This year the Woodlands had another great family vacation. We really are rednecks who love to go to the Juab County Fair. The only part of the fair we don't enjoy is the derby, yes I know that is terrible we don't love it but we still sponsor a car every year.