Christmas...

Our Christmas season started off with a trip to our mountain lot to fetch a tree. We learned two things on that trip
1. Trees growing wild on a mountain lot are not pretty triangularly perfect pointed picturesque things. They're kind of like big crazy bushes. And...
2. Trees growing wild on a mountain lot appear to be much smaller before you bring them indoors.

But it was a fun experience and we really love our ginormous crazy tree.
We have really been enjoying our Christmas holiday as you can tell by the fact that I haven't blogged in forever. We took a fun trip with all of Rick's family to the polar express (got pictures but didn't post), we went to Tucson for my family's annual Christmas party (so fun, love seeing my family), and we had our traditional go out for Chinese food Christmas eve dinner (last time for that tradition. Only one Chinese restaurant was opened and it was EXPENSIVE! It was a much easier tradition to have in the city. We'll have to come up with something new for next year.)
But Christmas morning was lovely.

We had action heroes...

Waylon loves "the Hook" (Hulk). He talks about him constantly. "Mom can the Hook pick up our house? What about our town? Can the Hook pick up our whole town? Can Superman beat up the Hook? Can all of the superheros together beat up the Hook? What if my dad was the Hook?" And on and on and on. So you can probably guess that he L-O-V-E-D his present.

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real live heroes...

My kids are amazing people and expressed such sincere gratitude for their gifts even though we had a much smaller Christmas this year. In fact they told us that we didn't have to get them anything at all. But of course I had to get them something and they loved everything they got, which is one of the many reasons I love, love, love them (they're messing around with some of the younger sibs' gifts in this picture).

favorite gifts...

Paige got a new doll for her doll collection (LOVED!) along with the surprise return of her beloved Sam the monkey, her favorite since she was itty bitty, which was believed to have been lost in the move, but was recently found and hidden away for Christmas. So fun.

more favorite gifts...

Jamie loved her soda and special "soda cup" more than the Heelys that Santa brought her. Of course that has since changed as she has been heard to say, and I quote, "I am addicted to Heelys."

and happy hearts.

Easton loved her heelys right from the get go. Of course even if she had gotten a lump of coal she would have exclaimed, "Woo-Hoo!" and gone out to use it as sidewalk chalk. She is a delightful child with a happy, grateful heart.

I on the other hand am a little more spoiled as I received all of these amazing gifts in my favorite shade of red. A teddy bear, a new dress, some shoes, a new KitchenAid, a Polaris Ranger, and a convertible Mercedes. Okay, well it is the thought that counts, which is exactly why Rick and I decided to save our money and give each other pictures of what we would have bought for each other if we could. It was fun and sweet and when you've already gotten the gift of the best guy ever, what else do you need?


I got Rick an xbox 360 and Fable II (my picture is not as nice as his, but I don't have access to all of that fancy smancy sign making equipment).
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It was a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and I thank my Savior for his continuous gifts to me. He is my joy, my hope and my peace. He makes my heart soar at a time when the world would tell me that it should break. What greater gift is there than that?
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I must also mention that my precious little guy turned 4 the week before Christmas. What a delight he has been to my life. What a gift. He makes me smile everyday and I am so thankful for him.


He wanted a doughnut cake for his birthday so we just piled them high on a plate. How fun is that? And easy too.

Happy Birthday Buddy-roo

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And a very Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year to all of you!

Comfort Food...

Tuesday December 16~ COMFORT

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Last night I walked into Basha's to buy some milk and was surprised by the hoards of people there. I was surprised again upon finding that the milk had been nearly cleaned out.

"Why are all of these people buying food?" A young boy asked his mother the same question that filled my mind.

"Because there is going to be a blizzard." His mom replied, "And that's what people do when there's going to be a blizzard, they buy food."

It was a bit eerie watching the food fly off of the shelves and I didn't very much enjoy standing in a long line for the few items I needed either. But I felt comfort knowing that I had a surplus of food at home if we should ever need it.

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With our troubled economy I have often thought of what I can and can't control in my life. I honestly don't know where we will be a year or two from now. I hope things don't get really bad, but I feel such comfort knowing that whatever happens my children will not go to bed with empty bellies because I have followed the counsel of a living prophet and have stored up a supply of food for the rainy (or blizzardy) days that may come in life.

Our food supply is still a work in progress. Right now I'm working on getting a three month supply of the foods we eat most and I'm also working on getting toiletries, cleaning supplies and such, but I'm comforted to know that even as it stands right now we are in pretty good shape and won't starve.

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But my greatest comfort of all comes from knowing that God lives and that he still leads and guides us through a prophet just as he did in times of old. I have a testimony of a living prophet and I know that if I follow his counsel I can find comfort in any storm.

This pantry had us at hello!

This is just a small corner of it. It's ginormous and was one of the greatest selling points in our decision to purchase this house.
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And P.S. We didn't have a blizzard (yet).

I see an angel...

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” ~Michelangelo

I heard this quote tonight and I loved it. It made me think of myself and my life. Though in many ways I am still a simple hunk of marble I know that if I keep carving away, working everyday to improve and grow, someday the angel, the daughter of God that I really am will be set free and I will soar.

Joy...

Tuesday December 9~ JOY

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As I listen to Christmas songs this season I am filled with immeasurable JOY.

When I hear songs about my Savior it's as if the heavens burst open, showering me with peace, hope and more JOY than I can express.

It feels at times like the whole world is falling down around me,

and yet I still have JOY.

JOY in Him

My Savior

My King.

Christmas ears...

Well I told Rick that I wanted plastic surgery for Christmas and his expression was a mixture of confusion and disgust when he asked me, "What are you talking about?"
I laughed and asked, "What do you think I'm talking about?"
He said, "Well it sure as heck isn't your nose." He likes my nose.
So I said, "So what do you think it is?"
He then shot me a look that said, "No way am I walking into that one."
I mean just imagine if he would have said, "I guess you might want plastic surgery on A, B, or C."
To which I might reply, "Why would you think that I might want surgery on A, B, or C? Do you think I need surgery on A, B, or C? Oh my gosh! You don't like my A, B, or C!" Then there might be great weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. That is if I were the weeping and wailing type, which I'm not, but still you can see why a man might shy away from such subjects.
Rick then gave me the standard smart husband answer, shall we say it together on three--1,2,3-- "YOU DON'T NEED ANY PLASTIC SURGERY. YOU'RE PERFECT THE WAY YOU ARE."
You see a smart husband knows that a flattered wife is a happy wife so Rick makes it a point to compliment me quite regularly. What a guy.
I told him that yes I do need plastic surgery so he frowned and again asked me what I was talking about. I lifted my hair, wiggled my little earlobes and said, "I need to get these sewn."
Boy was he relieved, and very accommodating.
So it looks like I'm on my way to my first plastic surgery. Yippee skippy!

Plastic surgery for the winner...

I need plastic surgery. No, it's not what you're thinking although I could really use that too. I am speaking of my terribly stretched out (now what are you thinking?) pierced earlobes. A combination of the ridiculously heavy earrings of my eighties youth and the curious and quick hands of many a foster baby who grabbed hold of those ridiculously heavy earrings of my eighties youth while they were still attached to my poor little ears, has left me with ugly ear holes that are stretched almost clear through. I'm afraid that just one more bump or snag from Waylon and--RIP!--it'll be a flapping double earlobe for me (I apologize to the squeamish folks in the audience). Waylon accidentally snagged my right lobe tonight so you can thank him for this post.
So I'm thinking that I'll tell my Love that I want plastic surgery for Christmas.
Any guesses on what he'll think I'm referring to?
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Now onto a totally unrelated subject. I must announce that I can now say that I am a...

That's right I am finally a winner. Today while Christmas shopping for Marlee, artist extraordinaire, I found an awesome art supply store, bought some fabulous items that just happened to be on sale (bonus) and entered a daily raffle drawing. Well much to my surprise the owner called me tonight to tell me that I won. Yippee! So tomorrow I get to go choose a free item from the exciting raffle section of the store and give it to miss Easton, my other artist extraordinaire, for Christmas. A free Christmas present, SCORE!
It's great being a winner. And don't you worry, I promise not to forget those of you who knew me when...

Love...

December's SPT Challenges:

Tuesday, December 2~ love
Tuesday, December 9~ joy
Tuesday, December 16~ comfort
Tuesday, December 23~ joy
Tuesday, December 30~ hope

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LOVE

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I want to participate in SPT today, but I don't know how well I'll do. I want to share my thoughts on the wonderful subject of LOVE, but right now my heart is so full and so empty all at the same time so it makes it hard to sort my thoughts.

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Today we took a quick day trip to my beloved valley home, but today it wasn't fun.

Today we attended the funeral of a dear friend.

Today I saw and hugged her family, her family that I LOVE.

Today I saw and felt their strength and was touched by the LOVE they have for each other.

Today I went to the cemetery and watched this family say goodbye to the one they LOVE the most and my heart ached for them.

Today I visited my father's grave, my father who I LOVE, and remembered when I had to say goodbye to him.

Today I can still feel his LOVE, and can smile when I think of him.

I know that because of eternal LOVE our friends will smile again too.

But tonight...

Tonight it hurts.

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I didn't have it in me to take a self portrait this time, but here is a picture of some people that I LOVE.