The End of 2008

You know part of me wants to say "I sure hope 2009 is better than 2008", but after doing some visiting teaching last night I was reminded of how blessed I am in my life. I need to look at the glass half full more than half empty as human nature tends to steer me. I truly am blessed. My children and I all are very healthy. We have everything we need to live day to day, a nice home, food on the table, and love in our home (at least most of the time-LOL!) I am not perfect and mistakes seem to happen before I have time to consider things through, but I try. I try to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good mother, aunt, friend, employee, etc. Yes, I am blessed and thankful for life!

Carnival Cruise and the Bahamas

Well, the kids and I went on the most awesome family vacation.....Carnival Cruise Sensation to the Bahamas. I must say I was hesitant in taking my four plus one more (Michaela's friend Hannah). I mean what was I thinking...four kids, a ship, a different country? But....it turned out to be wonderful. I think a time the kids will remember the rest of their lives. It was magical to see the ship and travel through their eyes. Camp Carnival, twenty four hour pizzeria and ice cream, karaoke, the blue Bahama waters. An added bonus was visiting with family briefly in Florida before we embarked on our journey. Yes, a trip to remember. Can't wait for the next one.

Get Off The Roads - Michaela Turned 15........

Michaela turned fifteen yesterday and will be driving very soon and I am still coming with the terms that I have a child who is now in High School, let alone will be getting her permit this week (if she gets her way)! Do I really look that old? LOL! Michaela is beautiful and has the most wonderful personality, and is fiercely loyal to her friends and family. These are the things I tell myself when she is testing the boundaries of our mother daughter relationship, (along with "I think I can, I think I can...LOL)! Anyhow - we all went as a family with two of her closest friends to "Habaneros" for dinner last night. The sombreros, fried ice cream, and fiesta were just what we needed to celebrate Michaela's "life". Happy Birthday - Mickey Jean!!! We love you!

Happy Birthday Joshua

So today marks the eleventh year since my baby boy Joshua was born. I guess he isn't a baby anymore though. He is growing up so fast and even has a little girlfriend named "Jewels" (at least he thinks). This morning we got up early and all went to Shoney's for breakfast to celebrate. I think we will make this a new family tradition on birthday's as it was a hit!

Eleven years ago I flew out to Utah and attended BYU Education week during my ninth month of pregnancy with Joshua. I know pretty stupid! It was a difficult time in my life and I really needed the spiritual re-enforcement I knew the event could bring, and it was just that. Afterwards, my mom and I had the opportunity to attend a live session in the Salt Lake City Temple. I was truly struggling with the fact my marriage was falling a part and I was bringing this little spirit into the world soon to what? It was there Joshua and mommy got to know one another before his pending arrival to this earth. Through a sweet, calm presence, he reassured me it would be "okay mom", that he had chosen to come to earth and to our family, and that he and Heavenly Father knew what they were doing. Then later his baby blessing.....such an inspired blessing by his Poppy Briggs that he had a special purpose in this life.

As Joshua has grown and turned into a most "persistent" young man, I have often questioned that purpose through frustrating moments, but then I have a moment like the other evening.....Joshua and I were working on his state of Idaho report for school and when it came to listing historical events of the state, I found some information on the Mormon pioneers who settled the territories there, and the Idaho Falls Temple. Kind of weighing whether to include that in this particular section, I asked Joshua what he thought and was comfortable with and he replied, "Yes, mom definitely", with such confidence. Those teaching moments for me, not for him, are what I live for. Happy Birthday Joshua - mommy loves you!

An Unexpected Weekend

We just spent the best two days....at least for the most part. I woke up a little later than usual Saturday morning (except for sleep walking in the wee hours to let the puppies out) with the intentions of painting my bedroom (yes the same one I have planned to paint for the past 4 staturdays!). Anyway, I had the worst headache. Caleb was nice and fixed me breakfast in bed, and I just wasn't motivated to do anything. Next thing I know my kids are asking - yes ASKING if we can go to General Conference. Now something is up with this I thought. I soon found out our good friends the Mears/Lilly clan had called and asked if we were coming. At that point, I didn't even try to resist so I decided in part due to the promptings of my children, and secondly out complete guilt (the prompting of the HG), to get myself out of bed and just go!

I must confess I didn't even know this was GC weekend, isn't that sad? What's worse is that I haven't been to GC in years I don't think. I mean I have tried to watch at mom and dad's or caught a session here and there, but to actualy attend all four session - and with my kids, rare! I usually have to resort to reading the talks in the Ensign. Anyhow, the kids did "pretty good" after being bribed in between sessions Saturday with Subway and driving practice in the church parking lot-Yikes! On Sunday, a visit to the park for a picnic with our friends in between sessions as the weather was gorgeous and couldn't have been a more perfect fit with conference weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed the messages from our General Authorities and Prophet and came away re-newed (until I got home with my fighting children-LOL! JK).

Elaine Dalton, YW General President had a quote that struck with as I re-called my own adversities and tirals. She counseled us to have the internal motto, "In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things." Michaela even volunteered later that she liked Sister Dalton's talk as well about a "Return to Virtue".


I have always looked forward to the simple messages and amazing stories of our beloved Prophet,Thomas S. Monson. He counseled us that this is our "one and only chance at mortal life", and that we need to distinguish between what is important and what is not and "find joy in the journey". This hit me hard. He went on to say if we "pile up enough tomorrows (I'll do it tomorrow), one day we'll find a pile of empty yesterdays and then we'll find we've run out of tomorrows". I struggle with the past. His counsel was "rather than dwelling on the past, make the most out of today". how many times have I heard that, but somehow find if hard to let go of. I think because we let stress get in the way of what is most important sometimes. He ended with a quote I want to hang on my bathroom mirror (yes, I am my mother), so i will end with the same, "Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with a grateful hand."

MHS vs. FHS

So......Michaela is cheering this year for Freedom High School. Michaela seems to enjoy it and was up bright and early yesterday morning as I had to take her to school to help decorate the football players locker rooms at the field house. Go Patriots! In the afternoon, they had a homecoming parade in downtown Morganton. I guess this is only the second year for such a thing. Michaela was so excited all day for the various festivities. Last night was their Homecoming game against the rival McDowell High School Titans. All of my siblings will be happy to know that the Titans won! I went in my MHS pullover along with Rahlee, Joshua, and Caleb and braved the Freedom stands. It was soooo cold. I love it! We all had a good time. Caleb looks forward to being in the marching band next year when he goes in to high school. They had an awesome halftime show and appear to be very competitive in the state. I can't believe I have kids high school age.

Breakfast Anyone?

Okay, so last night after I went jogging, after we went to Scouts and YM/YW, and after I worked all day, I started making breakfast for Michaela's seminary class. For those of you lucky enough to have participated in school release seminary, those of us in the South arise bright and early with the roosters to take part in scripture mastery. It makes you stronger I believe because it is more of a sacrifice (sorry that's just how I feel). Back to breakfast.....so I made an egg and sausage strata because it had to sit in the fridge overnight, then this morning I got up at 4am to start on the hash brown casserole and put the strata in the oven. While those were cooking, I got ready along with Michaela and Rahlee. Tyler C. was dropped off for a ride and off we went at 6:00am sharp, except I forgot the Sunny D and had to go back. Might I say, breakfast was a hit, along with the doughnuts! After seminary, I dropped of Emily W. @ Patton HS, Michaela @ FHS, picked up the boys at the house, dropped off Caleb @ TRMS, Tyler back at home, and finally Josh and Rahlee at WAYE. You might ask how I am managing to blog after returning home to wash all the dishes before I go into work "late" might I add. Well, it is becoming a stress release. I use to love to keep a journal. That went by the wayside when I had kids, so I think I am catching on to this in the same sense keeping my journal was for me. So happy day everyone who is just beginning their days!

Pop-Up Ads Go "Figure"

So I have a question. This may have been a coincidence, but I was on MySpace and when I was visiting my totally "hot" friend Damon's page, his pop-up Ad was all about Bowflex. I went back to my page and my pop-up ad was something like "do something about your muffin top, visit Kellys weightloss.com. Was this a coincidence or is someone trying to tell me something? Now, if you check out Damon's pic's you would totally agree his page is the place for a Bowflex Ad because he is ripped! And I guess I would have to concede mine may be more of a place for "muffin top" ads. ;0( LOL!

Graduating From Cub Scouts

I just realized tonight at our pack meeting that Joshua was graduating from Cub Scouts.....and in that realization, I guess so am I. I will not be in Cub Scouts again as both of my boys are getting older . Which means again, so am I. Joshua received his Arrow of Light tonight. As you can see by the pictures (under October), I completely forgot and he went without his uniform, of all nights! I guess the most important part is we were there and he earned his Arrow of Light Badge. Did you know that this badge and his religious knot are the only two badges he can wear from his Cub Scout uniform when he goes into Boy Scouts? No more Pinewood Derby's or Regatta's. It seems like yesterday he was wearing his orange little Tiger Cub uniform. Where is the time going?

Blogging

I am going to try and blog more.

Our Home

Well, it seems as though this is becoming the thing to do in our family. After reading my brother Robbie's blog 4 months ago, I was inspired and intrigued. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up on Robbie and Cecelia's lives and it caused me to refelct on how much we really miss with one another from living so far apart. Since then, I have anjoyed Adam and Trish blogs, Gilliam blogs, even Angela's blog, Therefore, I will share a bit about myself and the kids in an effort to enlighten you all on what has been happening lately in our lives, not that it is very exciting!

As many of you know this past year has been a year of change in our life, as it is for most of us. We moved from Virginia after hopes of beginning a new phase in our lives were abruptly altered. Nonetheless, even though we thoroughly enjoyed Virginia and the aquaintances we made, it isn't so bad to come "back home". We have been so grateful for the many blessings the Lord has seen fit to bestow upon us among the trials that seem to encompass my focus at times.

Since May of 2007, the kids and I have been living in a house in a wonderful established "Brady Bunch Era" neighborhood here in Morganton. My hopes were to buy the house and settle down with the kids and watch them grow and mature into adulthood (some days it can't come fast enough, others I'd like to freeze time). Anyway, back to our new home. I closed on the house the 28th of February-YEAH!. It feels so good to have the burden of not being able to really settle down, out from under us. Now we have a place of our "own", we can truly call home.

Most of our neighbors are pretty "mature" like Bill and Dee, and Pat and Paw. The couples on our street have children who've grown and live far awaywith thier grandchildren so the kids have become kind of like surrogate grandchildren for them. Last July, we all met in one of the neighbors yards for homemade icecream and cookies and brought our lawn chairs to watch fireworks together. Even old Judge Tate who lives at the end of the street came up with his wife. It is just like those neighborhood block parties you seen in magazine spreads for "Jello" - almost perfect!


So I have done some remodeling in the house since moving in. Trish helped me paint over the "pepto pink" almost immeadiately, but then found out she was pregnant and my motivationg came to a halt. I didn't want to go too far since I didn't own the house and really wasn't sure how that was going to happen over the past 9 months. Our main bathroom had a pink bathtub, sink, and toilet with pink tile on the walls. So when we first moved in I thought "What can I do with this without having to make drastic changes?" So I painted the walls chocolate brown and was satisfied with the "Retro" look. Satisfied that was until the shower wall caved in. The home was built in 1964 and while brick and sturdy, after that many years, you can expect things like that to happen. First it was just going to be rebuilding the wall and re-tiling, then I decided to get a new bathtub, and then one day I just gutted the entire bathroom. In hindsight, I wish I had taken before pcitures, but I didn't. But, I am sharing with you a picture of our "new" bathroom. I have dad and Adam to thank for most of the work (even though it took 4 months to get the toilet put back down - LOL!).


Since I decided to venture in to blogging and wrote this, I will now continue almost 4 months later......It is summer, July 13th. I had my hardwood floors re-finished in the LR, bedroom, and hallway, Adam layed tile in the kitchen, and I re-finished the kitchen cabinets. There is still lots to do and while the kids are gone this summer, I am searching for the motivation. Lets hope I find it soon!!!!