Snow day!

My babies out playing in the snow...a rare treat in the Willamette Valley....

Remembering to be Thankful

"Thankful"


Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for

This song is so poignant during this season. In Young Women, we are collecting items for the Local "Safe Place" for Teens. One of our YW has actually used this service. She is so grateful for our involvement. I know what we are doing is really what Christmas is really all about! For all of you in a tough spot this Christmas season, remember that we are blessed and there really is so much to be thankful for....

The Flirting Gene

Evidently, my daughter is a flirt! No we are not talking about Brighten. We all know that she is going to be a heartbreaker when she gets older. But my oldest, Madeline is quite the flirt. I guess I haven't noticed it lately. She has always had some boy having a "crush" on her at school. It all started with Mario in first grade. He was Italian. She has been hooked ever since. Now she is straightening boys ties in church...and I just have to laugh! When I was her age, I would have been mortified to even talk to a boy, let alone touch his tie! Not that I didn't like guys, I did, but I just wasn't that forward. Yes it's all changed! Admission of my guilt...I am a flirt now. I am married. I can flirt all I want and drive my husband wild. It's glorious that I have that much power over a man! Tricia taught me all that I know and now, I can't stop! So I guess she is just following after her mother. Now, if any of you know of an inexpensive girls school...middle school is coming and I so do not want to go there!!

We are not Homeless...

Reality is a hard place to live in. As a teenager, your world revolves around your friends and school. Rarely, do you get look outside of yourself and walk in another's shoes. Well in preparation for our Christmas activity, we have asked our YW to do something that could be very hard for them to do. As leaders of the Youth, sometimes you stay up nights trying to figure out ways to help them feel the spirit and "get it". It just so happens that I had a moment of clarity a few weeks ago and came up with a great idea that just keeps getting better by the moment. We asked our girls to wear the same outfit to school for an entire week. You should have heard the gasps that erupted. Murmuring ensued. I could go into details, but by the end of the lesson, I could tell that they were all thinking about it. Testimony meeting then proved that indeed they were "getting it" and were taking it to the next level. This is what we were trying to accomplish. Not only do we want them to feel empathy and not worry about what they are getting for Christmas, but to feel a sense of Unity, to stand out and be an example, to be brave, and share what they do have. At the end, one of our YW took the challenge to heart, and is going to try to get all of her friends to join in that are not a part of our ward! YESSSSS! This is exactly why I love my calling! Give me a bunch of teenagers anyday! I'll take them! Keep your primary kids and your Relief Society, I love Teenagers! So in the end, our lesson will be on the most important gift that we can ever get and how to give the most important gifts to others! If any of you have any bright ideas on how to bring home the last part of this lesson, feel free to comment. By the way, we are donating toiletries to the youth shelter here in Hillsboro and to a family shelter in Hillsboro. The statistics are staggering people. We are blessed to have a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. And just food for thought, the average age of a homeless person is 12 and 76% of homeless people are families....if any of you live in the area, feel free to email me and I can point you towards several agencies that need help. Have a great Christmas everyone and let us remember the greatest gift that anyone could ever receive; the Gift of Eternal Life!

The Good Guys

I think good guys are hot! I know it sounds like a weird post, but let me explain. We all know what mainstream media thinks the hot man is. They devote whole magazines to that one subject. But I am really attracted to the Good Guy. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but when we go see a movie or watch a television show, I am always drawn to the good guy. So Patrick Dempsey is Hot by everyones standards, but I loved him when he was a nerdy 20 something guy in Can't By Me Love.This man is extremely good both on and off screen. Tobey is the ultimate guy and he had a pretty hard life to get where he is. I respect him.Noah is extremely intelligent and is a total family man. He always plays thoughtful characters. Yeah he's a little young for me, but the Harry Potter character he plays is very good and he wrestles with some pretty heavy stuff. I know he is in some Broadway where he was naked, but the guy is british so it can't be too great right?!
And we are saving John for last. I have seen everything this man has ever been in. Even when he plays an assasin, he was a good guy. I love Say Anything and Serendipity.

So Brad Pitt and George Clooney might be hot, don't get me wrong, but if I were to actually meet one of these men on the street, I would be geniunely glad to get to know them as people and not just the Characters they play. Anyone else love these guys or am I the only one attracted to the "Nerdy" guys. ( And I love this song! I don't care if this Clay is Gay...he is a good guy and this song is amazing!)

The Wedding

My first "baby" just got married! Ok, I might not have birthed him, but I practically raised the kid and he still calls me weekly if not daily for advice... I have a ton of family! No, we are not a big Mormon Clan, but we are tight! We are a diverse bunch, and I love them all, even the really weird ones! We don't have a ton of kids running around, but we will. Both of my parents are the oldest in their families. So here's to many more weddings!

The Flowers

And this is what I do for fun! Standing for hours wiring and wrapping stems, spray painting branches and getting glitter all over my hands is just plain fun for me. I know, I love to be tortured and to feel pain. When you really love someone, you sacrifice a clean house and glass in your feet (that hurt) so they can have pretty flowers on the cheap! This was for you Kip! Your Sissy loves you!