You oughta be in pictures!

The Saturday after Christmas, my mom arranged for us to get our family pictures taken; my parents, my family and Wade's family. The pictures turned out so CUTE! We had the pictures taken in the snow and in the studio. It was fun to be together and take an updated picture of everyone.

This picture was taken of my kids, and I love it! I can't believe how BIG my kids are getting! In ways it makes me sad they are growing up, but at the same time, they are truly a lot of fun. I was blessed with really wonderful children and I couldn't have asked for better! They are thoughtful (for the most part), kind, helpful, loving and generally obedient kids. I'm so grateful to my heavenly father for answering my prayers and letting me be a mom! It isn't easy, but it's so very worth it!

I love you darling kids! Thank you for making my life such a fun adventure!

P.S. Sorry the picture in the snow is out of focus! It's the best I could do...it just didn't wanna focus for me!

Obama, Obama...

Well, Obama was sworn in today...yadda, yadda. Most people who know me understand that I am in no way a supporter of Obama.

HOWEVER...

Now that he is officially the President of the US, I suppose I will quit murmuring and hope he's a man true to his word. Okay, in the past he's been a big liar, a putz, a con-artist, a jerk...you get the idea...I will forgive and forget and hope for the best!

He has said a LOT of stuff, made a LOT of promises, and gotten a LOT of people stirred up thinking he is the next Messiah and will save our country from impending doom. Know what? I hope he DOES!! I don't want an idiot for a President, I want a great man...it's just, I don't feel like Obama is even a GOOD man.

YET...

Time will tell, and I will watch and see how things turn out. I PRAY that things in this country turn around and that everyone who voted for Obama can say to me, "WE TOLD YOU SO!"

Good luck President Obama! May you prove all of us doubters wrong!

YAY FOR MOM!

I was looking at my Xanadu-loving friend Audra's blog and saw the cutest tag/blog entry. I got my kids together and asked them the following questions. It was fun to hear their reactions, even though some of them were rather silly!!

K = Kaleb, C = Cameron, TY = Taylor, T = Timothy

1) What is something mom always says to you? K:) Think before you speak, C:) I don't know...shut up? TY:) I love you, T:) You're an idiot!
2) What makes mom happy? K:) People that listen to her, obey her, help her, and do chores, C:) New shoes!, TY:) When you are obedient, T:) Not lying.
3) What makes mom sad? K:) People not listening, people bugging her, screaming when she has a headache and being alone for a long time. C:) Whatever Kaleb said, he took all the good things! TY:) Not listening and being disobedient, T:) Lying.
4) What does your mom do to make you laugh? K:) Tickle me, and she tells jokes and says funny things, C:) I laugh when she yells at Taylor, TY:) She says, "Hey Taylor!" and I say "What?" and she farts! T:) When she looks at me.
5) How old is your mom? C:) She's either 37 or 38, K:) What? She's 35!, TY:) She's 37, T:) She's older than the dinosaurs.
6) What was your mom like as a child? K:) Playful, she never put sunscreen on so she got sunburned and her mom had to peel off all the dead skin, C:) She was always nice to her brother and friends, TY:) She had curly hair like a perm and was loving and nice, T:) She never got in trouble.
7) How tall is your mom? K:) About as tall as Tim. How tall is Tim? C) Ida know, I've never measured you before. 5'2"? TY:) I'm not sure, 4'5", T:) 5'4"
8) What is your mom's favorite thing to do? K:) Go shopping, watch Seinfeld, hang with her friends, go watch movies, C:) SHOPPING! Reading vampire books, TY:) She likes cuddling and us giving her massages and she likes going to movies, T:) Anything Twilight.
9) What does your mom do when you're not around? K:) Talk to friends on the phone, read vampire books, babysit kids, C:) Hang out with Angie or Heather or Dawn, TY:) She babysits and probably gets annoyed, T:) Babysits.
10) If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? K:) A comedian, like Jerry Seinfeld, C:) Singing, TY:) Acting and singing, T:) For being the craziest person on earth and drug dealing.
11) What is your mom really good at? K:) Making meals, scrapbooking, and babysitting C:) Scrapbooking and she's really good at sleeping! TY:) Cooking & parenting, T:) Being a mom.
12) What is your mom not so good at? K:) Tech deck skating and playing Grand Theft Auto, C:) Cannonballs like when you jump in to the pool, or any gun games, TY:) Math and disciplining us. Sometimes she is too nice and she needs to be harder on us! T:) Skateboarding.
13) What does your mom do for her job? K:) Babysitting, C:) Babysits, TY:) Babysitting, T:) She sits around watching TV all day.
14) What is your mom's favorite food? K:) Chinese, C:) salad from Cafe Rio, TY:) salad, T:) Cafe Rio salad.
15) What makes you proud of your mom? K:) She tells funny jokes, she doesn't yell as much, she takes us fun places, C:) When she takes us places to buy stuff with our money, she doesn't get bothered when people make fun of her, TY:) She is nice and she always tucks us in bed and she helps us with homework and she is a really great mom, T:) She's just a good mom.
16) If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? K:) a cartoon version of Elaine from Seinfeld C:) Velma from Scooby Doo, the geeky one, TY:) Lois from Family Guy, T:) Cartman.
17) What do you and your mom do together? K:) I show my mom stuff on youtube like Potter Puppet Pals, C:) If dad can't go with you to Desert Star, you take one of us, TY:) Shopping and spa days, T:) Sometimes she checks me out of school and we go have lunch and talk.
18) How are you and your mom the same? K:) We both like Potter Puppet Pals and we're both funny, C:) We both have brown hair, TY:) We both like acting and singing and we have brown hair and we like to shop, T:) We are both totally cool.
19) How are you and your mom different? K:) I'm more obnoxious, C:) I'm younger and you're older, TY:) She is way taller than me, T:) She is old.
20) How do you know your mom loves you? K:) How? That's easy! She says I love you and hugs you and stuff and when she takes us out places, C:) Same thing as Kaleb said, TY:) She tucks us in bed and gives us hugs & kisses and makes us treats, T:) She beats me. Just kidding! Ha, ha, ha! She tells me she loves me and calls me a jerk...she always calls me a jerk!

I have awesome kids! Try this with your own kids...it's a real eye-opener!

The Lord & His Witty Sense of Humor!

A few weeks ago in Relief Society, the lesson was about teaching our children. We talked about the frustrating moments we all have with our children and the things our Heavenly Father wants us to teach them, but nothing hit me as hard as the following story illustrates. I thought is was so clever, and just the thing I needed!! Here it is...

"The First Children "

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to his kids. After creating heaven & earth, God created Adam & Eve, and the first thing he said was, "Don't"
"Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit," God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve! We got forbidden fruit!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Don't eat that fruit!" said God
"Why?"
"Because I am your Father, and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.
A few minutes later, God saw his kids having an apple break.
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" the First Parent asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?"
"I dunno." Eve shrugged.
"She started it!" Adam said
"Did not!"
"Did TOO!"
"DID NOT!"
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set, and it has never changed.

Welcoming 2009

Well!! It's hard for me to believe that another year has begun! All in all, 2008 was a pretty great year for me and my family. No, it wasn't perfect and of course was filled with ups and downs, but most importantly, it's another year under my belt with NO manic or depressed episodes!

For those of you who may not know, I was diagnosed as having Bipolar I Disorder almost 12 years ago. I remember when the Psychiatrist first told me he thought I was a perfect example of a Bipolar patient. I thought he was an idiot and just about kicked the door down to get out of his office.

In all honesty, it has taken me probably 10 years to figure myself out. It hasn't been easy, that's for sure, but I have learned so much about myself, my loved ones, and what it means to truly live. I've learned that not taking meds is just plain stupid! I've gone the rounds of not taking them, and it just isn't smart. I've learned that keeping my appts with my Psychiatrist is a very good idea!! I've learned that talking to Granty about how I honestly feel brings us closer, and I've learned it's nothing to be ashamed of.

There's no need to go into messy details of the past 12 years of my life. Basically, it has been a major trial, but I can look back and see how many people have helped me become who I am. I want to recognize some of those people and let them know just HOW MUCH they have pulled me through some awful, awful times...

* My friend Meridith...she has been my friend for over 20 years now, and sometimes she really caught the brunt of my actions. I know there were times she didn't understand me, but she never, not once, turned her back on me. If nothing else, she believed I would get better, and stuck by me. I love you so much Mer!

* My cousin, Dawn...Dawn has been like the sister I always wanted. She and I met at a family reunion shortly before I was diagnosed and we just "clicked". She has been there when I needed a friend to talk to, to get advice from or just company when I had a bad day. She's the most positive person I know and always knows how to make me laugh. She's the one that introduced me to "heart medicine" (CHOCOLATE!) and the fact that it's okay to indulge once in a while! Especially when you're heart is aching.

*My brother and my Aunt Shelly...when this whole ordeal started, my brother was on a mission, and of course my parents didn't want to burden him with my issues. Since then, he has always asked me how I am and been one of my biggest cheerleaders. He's always been on my side, so why should I be surprised? And then my Aunt Shelly...she is the BEST! She's always been like a big sister to me and always, ALWAYS lets me know she cares. There are times she'd call, just to say hello and make sure I was still breathing.

* My old RS President, Sheila...she was my RS President the year I was diagnosed. At the time I was one of her counselors in RS and she wouldn't let me give up. She knew I was struggling, and that I was hurting, but she kept me coming to church and close to the Lord. It was something I needed. I just didn't know how much.

*My old Bishop, Bishop Lauber...Bishop Lauber and I became fast friends when I was diagnosed. He took a special interest in me and let me know that although things were at their darkest, they WOULD get better. That Heavenly Father WAS aware of me and wanted me to get better. He prayed with me, he wept with me, and he celebrated with me. I will forever be grateful to this wonderful man!

*My parents...I can't help but think of these two special people and simply cry. There were never two more Christlike people than my mom and dad. It was hard having to fall apart at my parent's feet, feeling I had dissapointed them, that I had dashed their dreams of what a daughter should be, and ask for help. Both my parents gently held me as I screamed & cried and battled the harship that was my life, and never, NEVER did they judge me. They loved me and love me still unconditionally. There was a reason they were chosen to be my parents and I am grateful they were.

* My husband...I know that every woman feels she has the most wonderful husband in the world, but I'm sorry ladies--I DO! If there was a way to convey just how much my husband has struggled over the past decade, I would tell you, but there just isn't. Granty has helped me through some horribly awful times. Don't be mistaken and think that I was the only one struggling. Oh no! Granty was suffering right along side me.

I'm ashamed to admit this, but it has seriously taken me years to figure out what a gem of a husband I have. I couldn't see it in the beginning. Perhaps my sick mind camoflauged how great he is. No matter what it was, I can see it now, and how dearly do I love him. There were plenty of times he could have left me, and with good reason! However, he told my mom once, when I was in one of the most horrific episodes I've ever had, "I know the woman I married is in there somewhere. I know she is a good person. I just need to find her again."

I'm so grateful to you, Grant. I'm so grateful you didn't give up on me and that now, finally all this time later, we have an awesome marriage! The past two years have been the best EVER, and they just keep getting better and better! I am so in love with you and so happy we are still together!

*My Heavenly Father...there is no was I could have survived the hell of my life 12 years ago without Him. He has been my constant companion, and I have felt Him holding my hand many times as I cried my heart out to Him. I am eternally grateful for his love, his forgiveness and his presence in my life.

So here's to 2009! May it be another successful and healthy year!

Our Army Brat

When we first moved to Eagle Mountain, our family became really close to another family in our area. Their youngest son and Tim were best friends for several years, and we felt like we knew their family pretty well.

To make a long story short, some things happened in their family and their older boy, Danny, needed a place to live. At the time, he was 17 and a senior in high school, so we welcomed him into our home AND into our family with open arms. Danny lived with us for about a year, and of course, it wasn't perfect, but we all loved him...very much.

A few months ago, Danny called and told me he was joining the army. I think he was afraid of my reaction, and I tried to be as positive as I could, but to be honest, it scared me to death! He knew I was afraid, but he was SO eager, and SO excited, it's been hard not to be excited for him, but as a mother, the fact he is in the army, tugs at my heart.

He left for Basic Training in October, and we have missed him so very much! He was able to come home for 2 weeks over the Christmas Holiday and it has been so great to see him! Although he technically isn't my child, I can't help but feel the pride the mother of a soldier feels.

I have never known a person in the armed forces. Both of my grandfathers served in WWII, but I've never known somebody actually IN the service. Does that make sense? Anyway, it brings a whole new sense of pride in the country...pride in our service men and women...pride in the youth of this nation.

Danny will be deployed to Afghanistan in April or May, and I am dreading that moment. He will be gone for 12 months and it will probably be the longest 12 months of my life...up until now. I pray that he will be watched over and protected. I am so afraid for my Danny Boy, but so proud of the man he is becoming.

I love you My Army Brat!