Glorious Christmas of 2010

I think this was a perfect Christmas. Yes--we missed our missionary but we wouldn't want him anywhere else than where he is right now.

This year we attended many Christmas productions, concerts, and a trip to the museum to see the Carl Bloch display. It was fun to spend time together as a family to bring the true spirit of Christmas into our lives. We attended the Temple to do some work there with both of our girls. One night at the Temple, it was Michael and I who were baptized and what a great experience that was to have Michael baptize me for those who have passed on. We enjoyed all of the concerts and musical productions we attended: Mormon Tabernacle Choir with David Archuletta, Jon Schmidt, Forgotten Carols, Echos of Christmas, the Christmas sing-in at the ESA, and BYU basketball game in Provo.

It all just made it such a wonderful Christmas. The icing on the cake was talking to James on Christmas Day. He sounds so happy and he is loving the work that he is doing. So thankful for him and for his service to the Lord. He has been gone almost 8 months and the time is just flying by. He is growing up and changing spiritually---we could just hear it in his voice and in his testimony. He is doing a great job and we are so proud of him.

Time with our families was wonderful. My nephew and his wife drove all the way from Alaska to spend Christmas with their families. What a nice surprise to see them. We spent Christmas Eve with my family and did the Blair party on Christmas Day. So thankful to be close to our families again so that we can participate in these family gatherings. We love our families and appreciate our time with them even more.

We feel so blessed and so thankful for the Savior of the World. We love this time of year and love to celebrate His humble birth. We are striving to work on the gifts we are going to give the Savior throughout the new year. May we always remember that He is the reason for the season!

WHAT A BUSY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!!!

We hosted the big Thanksgiving dinner this year at our house. We had 18 people here and it was just about the right amount without having to move to the freezing basement. We had tons of food, lots of laughs, and just good times being together.
For one of our activities we made gingerbread houses. We put everyone into a team of two and gave them some graham crackers and a bag of frosting. Everyone was asked to bring candy for sharing to decorate the houses. Well, some shared better than others and some really got into making their gingerbread house. You can see how much fun everyone had by looking at the pictures.


This is Austin and Kae Lee's house----they even made a dog to sit in the front.

This is Michael's and Andrew's house. They decided they liked the oreo sticks crushed on the roof instead of whole. That way they could eat some of it, also.

This is Emily and Quinn making their house. Quinn was more interested in eating all the candy he could put in his mouth.

This is Brynna and Arika. Arika looks like she is just really having a great time.

Andrew and Michael teamed up to build their dream ginger bread house.

Kevin and Mom were like the perfect house builders and the winners. Just don't mess with their stuff!!!

Michael was really getting in to the decorating or was that the eating?


On Friday we went to the Blair's house and did Thanksgiving dinner again with Michael's family. We had all the regulars like pea gravy and Mom Blair's dressing.
We stayed over night Friday so that we could watch the BYU and Utah game. Too bad we couldn't bring home the win this year. We had a great time with family and missed those who weren't with us---like James. He was well taken care of and we are thankful to those people who take care of our boy while he is in California.

This is at Grandma Blair's house in front of "Stumpy" all decorated like a turkey.
This is a new addition to her collection of outfits for Stumpy. Isn't it cute?
We feel so blessed to be around family and to enjoy good times together. Thanks everyone for making it such a great weekend.

A THANKFUL HEART

Since it is Thanksgiving this week, I felt that I needed to express thanks for some of the wonderful things that I have been blessed with.

I am thankful for a wonderful and loving husband. Michael is my best friend and my life has been greatly blessed because of his great example and love for me. We have the best times together and we still love going out on dates. He makes me want to be better in all areas of my life. I feel so blessed to be married to such a great man.

I am thankful for James. I am so happy that he has chosen to serve the Lord. I am thankful that he is worthy to hold the Priesthood and to use that power to bless the lives of others. I am proud of the work that he is doing. We miss him but we wouldn't want him to be anywhere else right now.

I am thankful for Kae Lee. She is such a delightful young lady. She is always happy and always has a smile to share with others. She is such a great helper to me. She loves children/babies and she will be an amazing mother someday. I am thankful that she has a desire to attend college and get her nursing degree. She is a great example to me.

I am thankful for Brynna. She is a girl that has her life planned out and knows where she wants to go with it. She is strong in her values and always sets a great example for her family and friends. She loves her family and is always striving to serve them. She is a great young lady.

I am thankful for the Savior. I know that I take his great gift of the Atonement for granted. But without him, I would not be where I am today. I know that He lives and that He gave his life for me. So thankful for that unconditional love and His mercy for me. I know that He knows me by name and that makes Him such a personal Savior. I love Him with all my heart.

I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. He has given me everything that I have. I am so thankful that He is there whenever I need Him. I know that He lives and that someday I hope to live with Him again.

I am thankful for wonderful parents who love me and raised me in the Gospel. I know that they made so many sacrifices for our family of 8. They worked hard for us so that we could have everything we needed. They took us camping and on some family trips out of state. We had so much fun being together as a family. They are great examples to me and I love them so much. They are amazing people. They are still always giving to their children.

I am thankful for wonderful in-laws. I couldn't ask for better in-laws. I love them as if they were my own parents. They have raised their children in the Gospel and reared them in love. They love me and always make me feel a part of the family. They are the most Christ-like and giving people I know. They are people that I want to emulate.

I feel so blessed to have the life that I have. I know that Heavenly Father has been very giving to us. I am thankful to have my family coming to our home for Thanksgiving this year. We enjoy being together but we will miss those who will not be with us for this wonderful day. Hope that everyone is blessed with safety, peace and an attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving.

STRETCHING MYSELF!!!

The other day I was talking to my husband about how some people never work to improve or change their environment or their lives due to no desire or just plain laziness. I guess I was on my own soapbox about it and then he asked me a question that really threw me and made me stop and ponder over for several days now. He asked me if I am stretching myself? Am I really working hard to improve or overcome something in my own life to help me change things that I don't like about myself? As I thought about it, I felt that the answer to this question was a resounding --YES!! Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes!!!!! I am such a different person than I was a couple of months ago and I will explain why. During the month of August, I decided that I would take on the August challenge and see if I could improve myself physically and spiritually and see if that relationship between the two had any bearing on my joy and well being. I promised myself that I would do the following during the whole month of August: Read the whole Book of Mormon, exercise for at least 20 minutes every day, go to the temple once a week, eat more healthy, no treats and no soda, pray fervently for specific blessings to help me and my family.
And guess what happened?
So many wonderful things and so many great blessings came into my life. I have never felt such joy and freedom with doing this August challenge. I have to admit that it was hard. Some nights I was exercising at 11:00 at night or staying up late to complete my reading for the day. It took courage, self control, a whole lot of praying and a great deal of faith that I would see the results from my hard work. The temple part was really easy---that is something that I love to do and have been able to continue doing since James left on his mission. But it isn't easy to stay away from the stuff that I love most----TREATS!!!! I have a sweet tooth and I have discovered something about myself----I have been addicted to sugar. The more I eat that stuff; the more I want of it and my body just craves for more and more!!! This was taking me down a very dangerous path of very unhealthy eating and snarfing all the food I could get my hands on. Who was in control? Certainly not me!!! So, now I can see that I can have control in my life with my eating habits and I can decide what goes into my temple that my Heavenly Father gave me. I feel so much more energy, I have lost weight---which I needed so desperately to do, I feel more freedom in what I can wear, and I don't cringe when I see someone I haven't seen for awhile. I am glad to be slimming down and it is so gratifying when other people notice the change in me. Another added bonus is that Michael has joined me and he is seeing the benefits of making those small changes in his eating habits and exercising. He is slimming down and feeling better, also. I felt such an outpouring of the Spirit as I made a great effort in reading and finishing the Book of Mormon. I know that this book is true and I feel so much closer to my Savior as I read those truths written on those sacred pages. I was filled with inspiration when I would attend the temple and felt the Lords strength as I continued on with my responsibilities in my calling. I just felt so much closer to my Heavenly Father and He constantly poured out His love for me. Great blessings and miracles came to my children. The list could go on and on about the great things that happened for me and my family due to the August Challenge. So, I would say that I am stretching and trying to improve. I am not at the end of the race yet, I still have miles to go and hard work ahead of me as I continue on this path of life to make improvements and constantly "stretch myself"!!! But I feel so good with the way I have started out and I look forward to what lies ahead in life because I have a wonderful eternal companion by my side working on the same goals. Life is good.

VANISHED INTO THIN AIR!!!!

I am so far behind in my blog---where to begin? Since I have too much to write and too little time today---I am going to blog about something that has got me so frustrated and a bit upset today.

I sent our missionary a package a couple of weeks ago and prayed that all would make it there safely. We got an email from James yesterday saying that there were several things missing out of his box. My heart just dropped when I read this. There were some important things in that box that did not make it to him. I am not much of a detective but Michael and I are bound to figure out what happened to his other stuff. It's not like he is half a world away----he is just in California. How hard is it to get a box mailed and delivered with all the contents in it to California? So---you can see my frustration over this matter. Everything is replaceable except for his bank card which will need to be cancelled. Those things just vanished into thin air---we have no idea what happened. I guess he didn't need those things after all!!!!

BLAIR FAMILY REUNION: FOOD, FUN, AND FAMILY

We went up to Burley Idaho to spend a couple of days with the Blair family for our annual Blair Family Reunion. We had a blast. Jim and Laurie Baker let us just come and take over their home and their back yard. They are wonderful people and we have so much fun with everyone. Here are a few pictures of our fun adventures. We look forward to next year. Thanks for a great time everyone.




Michael and I loved taking off on the jet ski and just riding---what fun!!!!

Brynna did not like the jet ski ride with her sister----"oh did I got too fast?"



This is Jim and I cutting up potatoes for french fries--one of Jim's specialties.


I know it is hard to tell but these fries are cooked in a huge pot and cooked at such a high temperature it is hard to stand by and watch them. This is something that Jim always fixes for us at these family reunions. They are delicious!!


These are wonderful people that I love so much---Mom and Dad Blair. They have been married 50 years this year.

Dad Blair and Jim Baker just chillin'


Oh dear----we worked them way too hard!!!


Michael and his brothers helping me fix breakfast.


Brynna burying her feet in the sand.


Michael and Kae Lee loving the ride on the jet ski.


Michael and his brothers getting the jet skis ready to ride.




Brynna and Kae Lee love this swing---it swings out over the river. They never tire of it.


Kae Lee was really adventurous and loved the tube--she just kept going and going!!

HE WAS WORTH THE WAIT!!!

A big shout out to my best friend and eternal companion!!! Today we celebrate
our 22nd wedding anniversary. I never knew that my life could be so full, so fun, and so meaningful until I met Michael. We met in the mission field and he was my district leader for a short period of time. We saw each other throughout the mission but there was NEVER any romantic feelings on either side----anyway that is our story and we are sticking to it. After our missions, we both ended up working at the same place---kind of odd to see a former missionary come into your place of employment saying that he got a job there, too. It was our destiny to both work there----ahhh.
We went out as friends for awhile---a very short while--then things started to change for both of us. We got engaged the end of May and we were married on
July 12. What a life we have had together. I wouldn't trade it for anything. He is my life, my love, and my best friend. I am so blessed to have him as my eternal companion. I am truly a better person because of his influence in my life. Thanks hon for 22 wonderful, magical years---I look forward to eternity with you. You are the best!! Thanks for ALWAYS being my knight in shining armor!!!

IT IS HOT IN CALIFORNIA BUT COOL IN ALASKA!

This is Michael and I in Juneau, Alaska. What a beautiful place!!!


I have been so bad keeping up on my blog lately. I thought that I would have more time in the summer-- but I don't and the days seem to go by even faster.

I will post something later about our Alaska cruise. It was a great trip.

Just an update on James: He is serving in Folsom, California. It is a very wealthy area and he is getting spoiled. a very wealthy member took him and three other missionaries to breakfast in his Rolls Royce and then bought all of their groceries for the week. He loves the area and the people. He is on a bike and he says that he is just soaked by the time he gets to his appointments. I can only imagine what it is like riding a bike in 100 degree temperatures with long pants, long sleeve shirt, a helmet, and a backpack on. He is dying in the heat.
He has three baptisms coming up on July 31 and he is so excited. He is a very happy missionary. We miss him but we are so glad that he is happy and doing so well.

There will be more later on my summer activities.

JUST A PHONE CALL

We got a phone call from our missionary today. I cried the minute I heard his voice say "Mom?". Gosh--how I have missed this young man. He was at the airport waiting to board a plane that would take him to California for two years.
We didn't get to talk long but it was so good to hear his voice. I know that kid is a chip off the old block when he tries to tell you about spiritual experiences in the MTC and he gets so choked up with emotion that he has a hard time talking. He loved the MTC but didn't like the food. He was ready to go to California and teach real life people and eat real food again. We got the phone call from the mission office today to tell us that James had arrived there safely and that he was eating lunch and would be with his trainer tomorrow. His p-day is Monday and that is when we will hear from him through email. Can't wait to get his first email out in the mission field. He is a great young man and I know that he will do great things in California. Thank goodness for phone calls---they can lift the Spirit and bring so much comfort to concerned parents. We love our James. Till our next phone call-----Christmas Day 2010!!!!


This is James and his friend Keegan Phillips, they got to see each other in the MTC.

OUR MISSIONARY

Just arrived at the MTC---he was ready!!!

He had to eat before we took him to the MTC--eating at Los Hermanos in Provo

James and his Dad are very close---Michael will really miss him!!!

All of us at my parents house before his two year departure. There will be an "empty chair" now until he returns.

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO JAMES

One thing that I really love about being a mom is watching my children interact with each other. My three children love each other. I love to see them hug and give comfort to each other. It just does my heart good when I see all three of them just laughing and sharing silly thoughts with each other. They are my jewels.

We took James to the MTC today and it was difficult to do but it is the right thing for him to do right now. He is a great young man and he is going to do wonderful things.

His sisters are going to miss him but they will grow closer together through their letters. It will be tough at first and there will be lots of tears shed. But I know that they will grow to love him even more. We look forward to his first letter.



They love being together!!!


My three wonderful children


Our wonderful day at the Temple with James




We will miss him but we wouldn't want him to be anywhere else. Go James!!!

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!!

In just a matter of seconds, James was asleep at the wheel while driving. He says that he never really felt tired and he never did the "bob" with his head that signaled that he was sleepy. It was late, very late to be driving back to Provo after working at 5:00 in the morning and taking a nap in the afternoon. In a matter of seconds, his car hit the cement barrier on the driver side going about 70 miles an hour. He hit the front driver side first and then scraped the back of the driver side then it bounced him out into the HOV lane. He hit his head on the steering wheel and that is what woke him up. He realized that he hit his head on something but wasn't quite sure where he was or what happened. He got out of the car and saw the damage and realized that in the blink of an eye---he could have been gone. But...I believe in angels and Heavenly intervention on James' behalf. I believe that my brother, Kelly, was there protecting James. James has a great mission to perform and he isn't finished yet. So thankful that he was okay and all he got was a bump on the head from hitting the steering wheel.
He called Michael and I at about 1:00am telling us of the accident. We drove to pick him up around exit 298 on I-15 going southbound. We arrived back home with a shook up James around 3:30am. There is no way your mind will let you sleep when you have been through such trauma. All I could think about was "what could have been"? And feeling such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that the outcome was not different.
So thankful that James is alive and not seriously injured. We had to sell the car for scrap metal---it would have been too costly to repair. We can always replace a car but we could not replace our James. So thankful for the power of prayer and for our loving Heavenly Father for preserving James' life. I realize once again that life is just so precious and that in the blink of an eye---it can be taken.

THE CALL TO SERVE!!!

Wednesday was a very stressful day. I was up by 2:30am and couldn't go back to sleep. My mind was just a whirl with everything going on in my head. I hoped and prayed that James' mission call would be here and I wasn't sure what we were going to do if it wasn't. I tried to busy myself with cooking and cleaning all day. I was just so tired and nervous about this whole mission call thing. I went to check the mail at 1:00pm--just hoping that by some miracle it was there---but nothing. I tried to calm my nerves and cook all sorts of food for James and his friends. At 2:00pm, James called to see if I had anything for him. I told him that there wasn't anything and that I would let him know as soon as I could. As I talked to him, I walked out to the mailbox hoping that by some miracle it was there. I put the key in, and there it was---big and very white. I started to cry and told James that it was here. He started shouting "No Way! Mom is it really there?". Wow---my heart was beating so fast and I couldn't stop shaking. This was it, this was going to tell us where our son was going to be spending the next two years.
The rest of the day went much quicker. I was busy making food and calling people. I was so excited to have James home to reveal his mission call. Michael's parents and Janna were coming, many friends of James' were coming, also. James didn't leave Provo until 6:00pm and so he didn't arrive here until 7:30. He looked at the envelope and asked Keegan how much his postage on his envelope was. Keegan told him that it was the same. Right then I knew that James was going stateside. We all gave him our predictions of where he was going as he wrote them down on his envelope. He was shaking so bad and he got very emotional about opening it. He began reading it with so much emotion, I started to cry as I thought of the impact this letter had on all of us. He started reading his call and then read the words:
California Sacramento Mission--English speaking---MTC May 12. Wow---I just started screaming with excitement. My mom started to cry as we realized the connection with James being called there when Kelly and Darrell had served their previously in the same mission.
Our boy was going to California for two years to serve the Lord. We were so excited and happy for him. It was an emotional evening. James was happy---just in shock.
We realized that he had just nine weeks before going into the MTC. Wow--how exciting, he will finish school and then have only three weeks before the MTC.
We will have a missionary son before Kae Lee's 17th birthday. We have the call, now we just have to get him ready!!! This is so amazing--we are so thrilled!!!
Congrats to our James!!!

THEY BELONG TO ME!!!!

This last Sunday, I was just in the mood to take some pictures of my lovely daughters and my handsome hubby. They love to have their picture taken--excluding Michael-- and some of them turned out really cute. My husband and my children are my life. I love them so much. We didn't have James with us over the weekend and that is why he isn't in any of the pictures.









I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful family. They belong to me eternally!!

THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL

Here are two of our cute kids all dressed up for Girls Preference.

Kae Lee took a young man from our ward but I didn't get any pictures of them together---I am such a bad mom.


This is Kae Lee and her friend Kristen before they went and picked up their dates. They are such beautiful girls. Kae Lee liked her green mermaid dress. It is always fun to see your children all dressed up in fancy clothes.



Here is James and Courtney all dressed up for Preference. Aren't they cute?

WHAT A DAY!!!!

Oh what a day yesterday was!!!! It was a day of much happiness and crying.
I started off the day by finishing the Book of Mormon. I was up by 4:20am and decided to get an early start to my reading. By 9:00 I finished reading this amazing book. I cannot describe to you the spiritual out pouring I felt as I finished. I could not even get through the last four chapters without sobbing. I felt such a strong testimony burning inside of me that I felt like my whole body was going to burst into flames because of the power of the Spirit. Michael, James, and I started reading the Book of Mormon on February 1. Our goal was to finish by February 28. James and I both finished yesterday and both agreed that our testimonies had been strengthened in leaps and bounds. Michael is still reading and hoping to be finished by Sunday. What a great project to work on together. Kae Lee and Brynna are still reading daily but will be finishing at a later date. I love that precious book and I know that it is true.

Later on in the day, our James pushed the "send" button on his mission papers to be sent to Salt Lake. Now we await a mission call. Wow---this is really happening. Our son is going to serve a mission and it is so exciting. Where will he go?
I just cried when he called to tell me that the deed was done and now we just wait.
Tears, tears, and more tears!!!! But...my life is so full and so good!!!! I feel so blessed!!

SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE 14!!!!

This is our birthday girl. She turned 14 on Monday. Isn't she beautiful?




We had a special birthday dinner for her. She loves pork roast and rolls,



Happy Birthday to our sweet daughter. Hope this next year is better than the last!!!! You just keep getting better all the time!!! Love you!!

A FAMILY THAT COOKS TOGETHER....STAYS TOGETHER!!!

What to do with your kids when Valentine's Day is on Sunday? You cook and talk and just be together. What a special day it was for us!


Michael sampling the yummy salmon we cooked!!!


Kae Lee and I having a fun hug together!


Everyone helped with dinner---even Brynna!!!


James cooking up our so yummy shrimp!!!


Our Valentine's Day was a day spent together as a family. We went to Church together and then the rest of the day was spent cooking, laughing, eating, and sharing our testimonies with each other. It was a perfect day filled with being with those we love the most! It was fun having everyone home and in good spirits. It will certainly be a Valentine's Day to remember. Thanks everyone!!!


James and Brynna working on the truffles----so rich but oh so good!!!