What's Really Important

Today when I picked Ky up from preschool, our friend who is his teacher had a very funny story for me.


She had asked all the kids if they had a fun Thanksgiving. All 6 kiddos said "no". She asked if anyone did anything fun, again the answer from the kids was "no". She continued to prompt Ky (knowing where we had been) and asked him directly if there was anything fun about Thanksgiving that he would like to share. His answer: "I got new shoes!" So the truth finally comes out - what is REALLY important to a 4 yr old - not Disneyland or getting kissed on the cheek by Tinkerbell, but his new shoes with running lights on them...

Baxter Family Vacation - Nov 2010 - Travel Home To OR 1

We got the special treat of spending our last day of vacation with our wonderful friends the Seables. We left the hotel at a WAY too early hour so we could make it to church with them. Thankfully they had a later start time (esp after we took a 30 minute "detour" and had to be talked in from Holly :). The streets in Grants Pass are crazy - named totally different things at different places even if you are still on the same road.
The kids all paired up perfectly with the Seable kiddos and went off happily to their classes - even Ky & Kels - which was so wonderful. Ceana & I chatted about how wonderful it is to know the church is the same no matter where you go, and that we were made to feel so very welcome being in a different ward. I think all the kids had a total blast at church being with friends.
After church we went back to the Seables for an awesome lunch. It was fun to watch all the big kids help out in the kitchen together. All the kids got along so well and it is extra fun that we both have kids that are almost exact same ages all the way down the line. Ky & Naomi really hit it off and it was funny to walk to the bedroom to check on them to find Ky playing with dolls and things in Naomi's doll house. That just cracked me up. Caiden & Henry got a big kick out of playing football with each other by throwing the ball to each other OVER the top of the house. We had a wonderful visit and it was fun that Adam and Preston finally got to meet each other.
Ceana & Sabrina made our famous PB Fingers to take to the family fireside. I think they have found a new favorite cookie too :)
After dinner we had been invited to Grandma & Grandpa Seable's house for a family fireside. At first I think the kids felt a bit awkward, there were TONS of cousins. They soon found that there was someone there for each of them to hang out and play with and soon they were all just having a blast.
It was wonderful for me to see Adam's sisters and mom again after spending time with them at TOFW last month. It was great to see their faces as they saw me at church - complete shock and suprise and then happy hugs - they didnt know we were coming, so it was a fun surprise for them. Kirsten's face was the best - she just stared at me, like she couldnt believe I was really standing there and then she laughed out loud and gave me a huge hug - it was so awesome for me to know that I was so loved even after just knowing each other for such a short time!

Kathleen (Grandma Seable) got this darling picture of Bro Seable helping Kels with her shoes when we were getting ready to head home. Just so darn cute of the both of them!
Grandma Seable had planned a special family fireside for the older kids and adults. The little kids got to have a special movie and playtime with Grandpa Seable. It was a sweet lesson about remembering the true reason for Christmas and I think gave us all alot to think about for this month and this special season. The cousins got introduced all around and the older cousins really hit it off with the girls. They had a blast just sitting and talking and getting to know each other. We had a really hard time loading everyone up to head home. In this pict are our girls, Keenan and a couple of the older Jarvis cousins.

We were so blessed to have this special time with the Seable, Jarvis, and Savage families. We were made to feel so welcome and so loved. It really was the best way to end our wonderful vacation! I had to laugh about this pict too. Kathleen took our picts just before we left, and this is the best pict we have had taken of us in the whole 2 weeks of vacation. The best family pict in the last 5 minutes of the last day of our whole vacation...funny...so glad to have it! Thanx again to the wonderful and sweet Seable, Jarvis and Savage families! Love ya all tons!

Baxter Family Vacation - Nov 2010 - Travel Home To OR 2

Kaeli is becoming quite the awesome photographer herself. She got all of these amazing shots while flying down the freeway too. So beautiful!
We both took lots of picts of this peak. if you look really closely at the clouds, it looks like there is smoke coming from the top like a volcano...it really was just the heavy clouds, but it kind of gave you the creeps to think about it being an erupting volcano...

I totally love this image - most would say "oh, it's ruined.." - but to me, it is very creative - esp with the blur in the front and the focus in the back

The views really were breathtaking. We were so blessed to view such beauty and to have safe, dry roads to drive home on.

Baxter Family Vacation - Nov 2010 - Travel Home To OR 3

Just thought this was kind of a cool angle - glad it came out too, considering I was shooting through the windshield...
Castle Crags in Mt Shasta National Park Area

Mt Shasta

I posted this to give the kids another good laugh. This was a result of me sticking my head out of the window at 75 mph to get picts of all the gorgeous scenery rushing by us.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 16

DAY 16 - Post another picture of yourself

Like I posted before, I usually prefer to be BEHIND the camera, vs in front of it. This was our 1st day of vacation. We surprised the kids by stopping for a lunch visit with our ORCA friends. I had been asked to take kiddo picts for one of the families. When we were all done and ready to go in for lunch, Preston stole the camera from me and took these. Normally I really DONT like picts of myself. I was really happy with these. I had fun doing some tweaking too. I really love the way the bottom image turned out with the B&W and color tweaks - one of my fave thing to do with images - was kind of fun to do it with picts of me.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 15

DAY 15 - Put your IPOD on shuffle, and post the 1st 10 songs

Again, another no-go - I dont even OWN an IPOD. I know some people would say "WHAT?" but our family isnt really into having to have all the techy stuff. We have the things that we need to help, but that is about it....(not sure I even really know what an IPOD is..)

30 Day Challenge - DAY 14

DAY 14 - Post a picture of you and your family

I tried to take the opportunity to take as many picts of the kids and our family during our vacation as I could. This 1st one is on our 1st play day.
I have to explain this one. I have MANY picts of Kels with this face - not sure where she even picked it up. She just did it one day and we were all so hysterical that she kept doing it - and at the most unusual times. It got to be kind of a joke - I would turn around to take a pict and the little peeps would be pulling this face. This was Thanksgiving day at Disneyland and a man there was kind enough to take our family picts. We just had to do one of all of us with this face. A memory that will last forever.
This was one of the better picts of our family during vacation. We had such a wonderful day together and I think this pict really shows that.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 13

DAY 13 - Write a letter to someone who has recently hurt you...

Not going through with this one. Even though I can think of several people I could write to, this is not the place to do it

30 Day Challenge - DAY 12

DAY 12 - Post about how you found out about Blogger and why you have a blog.

I had been hunting for a new, fun way to journal with writing and images. Several friends already had blogs and I was interested - until I found out how challenging it was to wade through the techy stuff to get it set up. That totally put me off for a really long time - until a sweet friend took pity on me and let me come over to her house and helped me get it all set up.

I havent looked back since. This blog (and my work one) is the way for us to keep a continual, up to date (usually) family and personal journal. Since I started this blog I have journaled more for myself and our family than I have in my entire life. It is esp important for me to have journal entries and images to go with them. The kids love looking through our scrap books and reading all the pages we have printed. It is a way for them to remember the things we have done. It is a way to write down the good, the bad, and the ugly at times. I used to really look forward to comments made from others, but now I am not sure that even a small handful of people even looks at our blog anymore. It doesnt really matter if they do or not - this is our family journal - for us, by us, about us. It is for us to remember, for the kids to be able to have for the future, for their own families. Hopefully someday I will get back to scrapping to keep up with the journaling too. It has been really great for me to keep this going, and hope to do so more consistently in the future.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 11

DAY 11 - Post another pict of you and your friends

This is a pict of me and my 2 closest, dearest friends here in OR. This pict was taken just shortly before M and her family moved far away to UT. I dont know what I would ever do without these 2 wonderful friends, who have become my sisters and their families are our family. We have been through so much together, laughter and tears, struggles and joys, just sharing our lives and our families has been a true blessing to me and to our family.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 10

DAY 10 - Post songs that you listen to when you are happy, sad, mad, etc

I am not sure what to post here. I don't just listen to music much anymore. Often when I am working on the computer I sometimes listen to Ceana's fave list on grooveshark.com. We have all contributed to her list and it is fun to sing along with all the music that spans the ages.
On happy days the kids and I also like to throw on a combo of all of our Celtic music CD's. The kids have grown to love Celtic music as much as I do and I often find the little peeps in the TV room hallway dancing to the fun and lively music.
December and holiday music means our annual Baxter family "Name That Christmas Tune" game. Whenever Christmas music comes on, the girls and I "compete" to see how quickly we can name the song and/or artist ( I am still the reigning champion naming songs in just a few notes) The girls are getting pretty good though. It will be more fun now that they are older and more aware of music this year.

When I am stressed or sad, or struggling with things I turn on my most fave music in the whole world - Pachabel's Cannon in D. I have several CD's that I listen to that help me to be calm and to just re-group a bit. My fave CD also has ocean waves and sounds in the background with the music. I also love December because there is a fairly recent Christmas song done by the Vienna Boys' Choir that has incorporated Pachabel's Cannon into it. It cheers me when I hear it on the radio, esp if it has been a rough day.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 9

DAY 9 - Post something you are proud of from the last few days.

I think there have been a couple of things.

1- Being able to really pull off the surprise visit with ORCA friends at the beginning of vacation, and seeing how excited the kids were to see each other. It was SO hard to keep things quiet and to keep our visit a surprise. It totally paid off though, when I saw Ceana's face (and heard about the other kids' reactions) when she realized where we were, esp after she had been so sad thinking we were going to be so close and maybe not stop. It was wonderful to spend that special time with friends who have become so very dear to us.

2- We spent a glorious, wonderful Thanksgiving day at Disneyland with just our little family. Preston's dad became very ill Wed night, and we were very sad to not have his parents with us. We did our best to enjoy our day and we couldnt have wished for a more perfect time. The weather was clear and warm (after being cold and rainy), the expected gazillion people never showed up (there were lots, but small compared to guesstimates), we never waited more than 30 minutes for anything (we LOVE Fast Passes), we got to share a monster turkey drumstick and corn on the cob as a family (after eating chili cheese fries, chkn nuggets, fish, and YUMMY choc cake for our main meal) to celebrate a piece of the big day's traditional meal, we got to enjoy 3 amazing shows (fireworks, Fantasmic, and holiday music hill billy style), we utilized 2 strollers for the kids to nap during the day, the kids were really great and well behaved (vs severe meltdowns, esp from Colton each day), we got to meet and greet several Disney characters (Caiden counted 52 that we had seen by the end of the day, and 6 we got to meet personally), and so many more wonderful things! I was just so happy and proud of all of us for making the day an extra special one, even when we all were sad and worried about Preston's dad. We are happy that he is better now and that they arrived safely home this afternoon.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 8

DAY 8 - Post short term goals for this month and why:

I think that my 3 biggest short term goals will be to....

1 - Get all the vacation laundry done as quickly after arriving home as possible. Hoping to get everything all put away this next week.
2- Get kids working on, and caught up on all homework assignments. I am pretty sure we will be spending ALL of our Winter break doing homework after being away for the last 2 weeks
3- Try to get all of our vacation images sorted and cleaned up to be scrapped and posted

Vacations are so wonderful, but they also present many big challenges with our family being so big now.
Laundry seems to be a constant in our lives, and it becomes a monster job after a vacation. I will have extra loads since we have needed to wear lots of layers every day. We are supposed to get totally rained out tomorrow (100% chance of rain) so IF we are able to get to our last big activity (6 Flags) I will also be bringing home wet clothing.
Preston has tried to have the kids rotate to the front seat to work on homework with him during our long drives. This proved to be detrimental to Kaeli as she got severe motion sickness our first morning on the road. Our schedule has been really intense and we have played hard, and done very little homework. It will mean extra long days for the next 2 months, and probably very little social time until we make sure the kids are completely caught up. The term ends the last week of January, so we have to have everything completed by then.
Taking time for an extra long vacation jam-packed with fun, fun, fun, has meant TONS of picts. I was able to do some fun vacation shoots for the kids and we have tried to get family picts everywhere there was an opportunity to do so. It means I have lots of work ahead of me to get them all sorted and cleaned up though. I am hoping to work on a couple different projects as well as get them scrapped for the kids and get them posted here for our family journal. Lots to do and take on, and not quite sure where I will fit it in working around kids and house and such. May just have to do one tiny piece at a time and maybe just do a fun post when I can find a quiet moment each day.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 6 AND 7

DAY 6 - Post about your favorite super hero and why he/she is your favorite.
DAY 7 - Post about someone/something who has had the biggest impact on you

I have been trying to think about who I would post about. There are so many people who I think are heroes and who I think are super heroes (and not the comic book kind) There are also many people who have made huge impacts on me and in my life.

My ultimate super hero would be my husband. He has made a huge impact on me for more than half of my whole life. We have known each other since we were 15 yrs old. In all these years, he continues to amaze me with his talents, friendship, love and willingness to give all of himself and his whole heart into anything and everything that he does, including and formost in loving me.
I admire him, and continue to be in awe of everything he does and the wonderful man he is. Maybe someday, when I grow up, I can learn to be like him. I know that I am truly blessed because he is in my life.




He is my hero because he serves in so many different capacities. He serves in his unit, traveling often to support all of those soldiers who are deployed or arriving back home. He serves as part of the command staff, and as a platoon sargeant, and as the drum major, and the lead in the unit's brass quintet. He serves in our bishopbric as the bishop's executive secretary, and the ward website specialist, and the ward bulletin specialist, and whatever else bishop might need. He serves in our community as an assistant CERT team lead (done being full team lead after serving for several years). He is trying to serve in our school district by applying for an open school board position. He serves at work as an employee, a project manager, and has also served on the ADCOM group that plans family and employee social activities. He serves our family by working so hard to provide for our needs and wants. He supports the kids in all of their activities and music. He works miracles in our home by doing house jobs in hours, when i cant get to them for days or weeks. He stays up all night on vacation to do monster loads of laundry just to surprise me the next morning. He patiently sits in the front seat as he teaches Ceana to drive and lets her drive just about anywhere and everywhere (including heavy traffic in LA) and is always calm as he gives instructions and lessons. He runs extra errands when he knows i cant get to them, just to help me. He supports all my dreams and hopes for my photography and is willing to help with whatever I might ask.
He is my hero because he loves our children. He is the one the girls go to for extra hugs, long talks, crashing on the couch to watch movies, joking around until they are hysterical, comforting them when they are emotional and hysterical in a not so fun way, for playing games, and for help with homework. He is the one the boys and Kels go to for reading books, and tickle-fests, and being tucked in bed. He is more than a father, he is a daddy.

30 Day Challenge - DAY 5

DAY 5 - Post a Picture of Somewhere You Have Been To -

We are enjoying our family vacation so much. Somewhere that we visited yesterday that I have never been before was to the USS Midway in San Diego. It is a MASSIVE WW II aircraft carrier. It was amazing to tour the ship and listen to the stories of the soldiers who served on this ship during many wars. It was a great experience.

New Haircut II

We were at a friend's house a couple of days ago and Preston talked me into relinquishing the camera for a bit. These are picts he took of me. I normally like to be behind the camera vs in front of it. I told him how much I really like these though. He did a great job. I just did some slight tweaking and playing. Kind of fun I think.

New Haircut

I am lucky enough to have a sweet friend who is AWESOME at doing hair. And she is willing to trade! I get a fabulous new look, and she gets fun family picts. Works out so perfect for both of us.
She was so sweet to sneak over today and give me a wonderful pampering session of getting a color and new cut for our family vacation. Kaeli was sweet enough to take some fun picts of me to show it off. She is becoming quite the photographer herself which is lucky for me!

30 Day Challenge - DAY 4

DAY 4 - Post about a habit you wish you didnt have...

I have actually been thinking about this one alot lately - esp with our life in a constant frenzy.

When I am nervous, or anxious or upset I chew my nails horribly. Right down to the quik and usually include the cuticles, which end up torn and bleeding. My hands are a mess right now as we are getting ready for vacation and all that goes with it. Also as we are preparing to leave poochies behind for awhile. We have not left them this long before...I know they will be well cared for, but still I worry that they will be ok being alone for so long.

I am hoping that once we are on the road that things will calm down a bit. Just so much on my mind, it is hard to not take it out on my hands...

30 Day Challenge - DAY 3

DAY 3 - Post a picture of you with your friends

I got looking through all of my picts and I found that I am usually behind the camera vs in front of it. I know I posted this pict already, but it is one of the most recent ones of me with friends. I know that Kirsten took this pict, but I can't remember her doing it. We were walking to or from the Lloyd Center where we were enjoying a fabulous weekend at TOFW. Pictured L-R:
Heidi, Sandra, me, Holly, Kathleen, Natalie

30 Day Challenge - DAY 2

Day 2 - Explain the meaning behind your blog name:

With 6 kiddos (yes, that's right I said SIX, ages 2,4, 7, 10, 13 & almost 16), 2 spazzy dogs and canibal fish, our house is a daily circus. We needed something fun that would truly express our daily life.

There are 8 of us now, we are complete, unless Heavenly Father tells us otherwise.We are constantly doing a juggling act of keeping a schedule and balance in life with all the craziness of dr and specialist appts, errands, school at home, military, work, church callings, etc. We find ourselves trying to keep each adventure, and mis-adventure, in some kind of organized chaos.

I do not do it alone - the girls and Preston are helping me keep many circles going all at the same time. They are the ones that allow me see to and try to find answers to Colton's and my own health needs, keep little kiddos fed and clothed (even if that means diapers and shoes, and PBJ tortillas AGAIN), keep the the couch stacked with piles of clean clothes (hey, it could be piles of dirty clothes..), along with trying to accomplish daily school assignments amid little people running and screaming through the house, and trying to find time to spend with friends, or just a moment of peace and quiet to themselves.
I am also still learning, and trying to remember every day that Heavenly Father is watching over our circles and all of our chaos, and that He is the ultimate "ring leader". It has been a long journey of learning on my part, I often try to run the whole circus by myself. I have to sometimes be compelled to sit back and watch, or let go of all the distractions that keep me from seeing or remembering that I am just a "roustabout" and here to take directions from Heavenly Father to keep things running smoothly from day to day. It is a life-long learning process.

Often our balancing act is on the verge of toppling over, other days we keep many circles and adventures running smoothly. Together we are trying to the best we can each day, taking just one day (or even 1 hour) at a time. Our circus, though often chaotic and crazy, is our family adventure. Together we are learning to balance each act and adventure as it comes. Together we are battling life's lions, keeping all the plates spinning, keeping each other safe and supported when flying or falling, and watching for all the little moments to clown around. We are trying to remember to dance to the music of life and enjoy the journey. Life is a circus, but what a wonderful show it is!

30 Day Challenge - DAY 1

Day 1 - Post a recent picture and 15 interesting facts of yourself:

1 - I have very vivid REM sleep, and dream in color
2- My pet peeve when driving is when people pull out right in front of me, when there are no other cars in sight
3- I miss taking ASL classes and using it all the time like we did when Colton was tiny
4- I LOVE being behind a camera, but not in front of it
5- Sometimes when I dream at night, I can fly, sing beautifully, and ice skate like an Olympian - ahh, maybe someday...
6- My body is often a medical mystery...
7- I like to eat Twinkies and Kit Kats only if they are frozen
8-I am TERRIFIED of snakes, can't even look at a pict of them without almost throwing up
9- I am the spider/bug killer at our house
10- I am a visual learner
11- I love the sound of rain and ocean waves
12- I really enjoy trying and eating foreign foods
13- I don't do well with heights
14- I hope that someday I will learn to play the piano and the language of music
15-Because of hereditary genes, if I didnt color my hair, I would have had completely white-gray hair 15+ years ago

30 Day Challenge

I saw a fun challenge on a friend's blog and thought it would be fun to give it a try. I am not sure I will be able to do the 30 days in a row since we will be gone a bit for vacation, but I am going to give it a good try. It would be fun to also see what others' post too - so here is the whole thing -

day 1- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
day 2- The meaning behind your blog name.
day 3- A picture of you and your friends.
day 4- A habit that you wish you didn't have.
day 5- A picture of somewhere you've been to.
day 6- Your favorite super hero and why.
day 7- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.
day 8- Short term goals for this month and why.
day 9- Something you're proud of in the past few days.
day 10- Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad.
day 11- Another picture of you and your friends.
day 12- How you found out about blogger and why you have a blog.
day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
day 14- A picture of you and your family.
day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play.
day 16- Another picture of yourself.
day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.
day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have.
day 19- Nicknames you have and why you have them.
day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future.
day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy.
day 22- What makes you different from everyone else.
day 23- Something you crave a lot.
day 24- A letter to your parents.
day 25- What I would find in your bag.
day 26- What do you think about your friends.
day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge.
day 28- A picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?
day 29- In this past month, what have you learned.
day 30- Your favorite song.

You Have 30 Seconds...

I am not even sure who is looking at this anymore, but I am going to do a couple of posts to see if I can get some fun feedback.

I am part of a small business association. In our meetings each week we get to give a 30 second "commercial" about our businesses. It is a fun way to share about what we do and the kind of clients that we are looking for.

I thought it would be fun to see what other people think of me and my work. So, here is the challenge. Please respond with a 30 sec "commercial" about me, my work, my business. You can be creative and honest. I am going to throw in an extra incentive too - if I use your "commerical" in one of my meetings I will send you a fun photo fine art gift as a thanx!

I will look forward to reading all of your fun responses!

What I Learned from TOFW

This past weekend I was invited to spend a wonderful 2 days at Time Out For Women with a very good friend and her family. I can't even begin to describe all of the laughter, tears, and inspiration that this experience brought. I am going to include some stuff here. I may add more soon too. For now, though, these are some of the things I learned this weekend:

Going out to dinner and to a women's conference with a bunch of AMAZING ladies is a great way to spend an evening!
Michael McClean is an AWESOME performer and even better in person! So is Hillary Weeks - and she is SO gorgeous! They are both also very inspiring and funny:
Things I learned from MM:
1) His voice is STILL the same after all these years, so incredible
2)According to his mom, there is only one problem in life - there is no background music!Where is the mood music when you really need it?
3)It is perfectly ok (and a season of life everyone has) to have Family Home Moments and children whose names are "Gimme, Lemme Have It, and Smine!"
4)Happiness isnt something that awaits us, it is here right now in the magic of every moment
5)Watch for unexpected gifts, and be in tune with the spirt in the moment and find the little things that make you smile
6) It is ok to try again, to try something new, to just keep trying. (Personal inspiration DOES come, even in the midst of 2700 women, more to be journaled soon)

Things I learned from HW:
1) When the spirit speaks, obey with exactness (hilarious story about a store bought chicken)
2) Heavenly Father knows us and will be willing to be as much of a part of our life as we will LET Him, in things big and small
3) There is a funny song for every season of life: (housework, teenagers, whining little peeps)
(Ode to Laundry) "Climb every mountain, sort every load. If you're alive and breathing, there are clothes to fold"
4) We forget about the good things we've done, the tiny victories, the good changes we've made. He looks on the heart and fills in the missing pieces. He won't forget what we have done. As the day comes to a close, look through the mirror of His love and He will show us all the good we have done.
5) The Savior gives and takes - He gives peace and takes heartaches
6) When you get in over your head, if you give everything you can, He will take what you can offer and magnify and multiply His help, and our blessings.
7) Remember to show gratitude for all the little things you can, and do, give, and for all of the great things that Heavenly Father can do with those little things. "Through small and simple things, great things shall come to pass"
8) Do not notice the gifts you don't have, but notice and show gratitude for gifts you have been given. To be able to appreciate and to say & show gratitude for OTHERS' gifts is a special gift too. (just for me)
When you are among your sisters, no one cares if you have make up on or have your hair done, everyone is just happy to be together

Feeling welcome, included and loved by women who were once strangers, but are now sisters, is one of the best feelings in the world!

Things I learned from Ardeth Kapp:
1) When you have hope in your heart, things look a little bit different
2) I have a photographic memory, just not same day delivery
3) You can't go back and make a brand new start, my friend. But you can start from here and make a brand new end.
4) Faith in place of fear, Hope in place of heartache, Charity in place of contention
5) The scriptures are like letters from hme with a personal message to help us rejoice
6) D&C 6, Alma 37:37
7) Selective Neglect - I select the things I am going to neglect so I dont neglect the things that I select (choosing good, better, best)
8) Hope gives us eternal perspective and courage

Things I learned from Mark Mabry (Reflections of Christ)
1) I need to know the BofM better. How do I feel, how does it apply to me?
2) The touch of a woman is possibly the most powerful thing to a man (or child)
3) I know that my husband (and the Savior) love me because they know the worst things about me, and yet they are still here
4) Find the courage and hope to "put it all out there" to the Lord and He will help make life that much better and you will find the power in yourself that has been dormant
5) 3 Nephi 17

Things I learned from Merilee Boyack
1) Think of trials and challenges as "Strengthening Opportunities"
2) Choose to have a positive attitude - when all else is out of control, the only thing you have in your control is your attitude
3) Choose to be cheerful - a good, positive attitude can physically save your life.
4) Choose to have hope in God and to trust in His will - Pres Uchdorf "...He will answer our prayers perfectly and in the perfect time...", Elder Holland "...attitude can open or close the doors to help..."
5) Choose to be faithful - look to the scriptures for examples (abraham, JS) and hold on no matter what. Remember the things that you do know, and that will be enough
6) Choose to accept suffering - there are things to be learned that can't be learned any other way. It is the best way to become who He needs me to be. I can learn more empathy for the Savior's purpose and to purify heart and soul. Suffering should not be an unwelcome thing
7) Choose to be grateful - your attitude directly effects your physical healing. Take every opportunity to show gratitude for every little thing. He will bring joy to your life and a bounce to your step
8) Choose to let Him bear our burdens - He can give us more than we can handle so that we will turn to Him, so we will go to Him. When we are done and we can't handle any more, He reminds us that we aren't supposed to handle it all. Burdens will not be removed, but they will be made bearable.
8) Choices should be motivated by the love of the Savior, with wisdom and gentleness

Things I learned from Emily Watts
1) Thank goodness for smart alec questions and the gift of laughter
2) We all have the capacity to plan, but brain cells die, and the one word that makes them die is "mom" (esp when repeated a gazillion times and in ever increasing octaves)
3) It's been lovely, but I have to scream NOW!
4) It is ok to abandon some hopes - sleep, being in charge of yourself, not have nice things, etc (but it is also ok to mourn these things as you work through seasons of life)
5) Always keep Mother Hopes -
a)children CAN improve, grow and progress - the days do fly by, even when moments seem very long. It is the little things that matter, kiddos do learn and grow.
b)a mother's work is eternal and important - faith is believing a principle is true. Hope is believing that the principle applies to me. It is not about you, you are a part of the chain of eternity. A mother's love and work is a job for all, not just one
c)Heavenly Father will help you do your "mother's work" - don't get locked inot a certain way to work, situations and kiddos will come that will defy all the rules. Turn it over to Him, and LEAVE it with Him and He will tell you and give you what you need when it is needed. He helps in ways that are EXACTLY suited to you, your situation, concern and moments

Things I learned from Kris Belcher
1)Laughing so hard that your jaws and stomach hurt and you have tears running down your face is good for the soul
2) Heavenly Father loves us so much that he puts exceptional people in our path
3) Our trials are not trivial or insignificant, they are opportunities to grow, they are specific and personal to US
4) Strive for "Thy will be done", ask His will and then be courageous enough to live it
5) Find the courage to give the Lord your heart, mind, life, but most important your will
6) You can physically and emotionally be a mess, and still hold on. It can take a long time to heal, and it is OK to mourn
7)If we feel the Lord's warmth and light on our face, we know that we are headed in the right direction. If we feel it on our back, we need to make a course correction.
8)
L - Christ is the God of LOVE
I - Christ is the God of INTELLIGENCE
G - Christ is the God of GRACE
H - Christ is the God of HOPE
T - Christ is the God of TRUTH
9)It is ok to let worries go, to stop trying to do everything, to learn to laugh and find joy

Things I learned from Michael Wilcox
1) Look past the walls and giants and focus on the bounty of the fruit and bounty
2) Trials and challenges are sent or used by Heavenly Father to face our "Goliath's" in life
3) An exquisite sunset heralds the joys and bounties of the day. It brings with it the opportunity for rest and respite from the labors and trials of the day. It brings the promise that light wil come and will bring a new day, unfilled and unwritten. A sunset is a gift, it is part of life's eternal circle
4) D&C 88

Things I learned from Mariama Kallon
1) We live in a choice land and we are wealthy beyond our wildest dreams, no matter our current circumstances
2) Open your heart and let His will be done
3) 2 Nephi 4:26-30, D&C 84:87-88, D&C 31:1-6

Hello World from Ceana

So...hi this is Ceana! Just wanted to let you know that I have a blog of my very own! Here is the URL.

http://theultimatelifelover.blogspot.com/

The only way you can see it is if you have been invited to it, so if you would like to be able to read it (if you already can't) send me an email/fb message/call me :) and I will see what I can do. Thanks!

2010 Trunk Or Treat

Kels was given a "new" dress from a friend and we found her some wings and a hair ribbon wreath. She told me that she was tinkbelle bugfly. Pretty funny. She got VERY attached to her wings and they still have not been put away with the holiday stuff. The other day she announced that she was BATMAN!!! and attempted to "fly" off the furniture with her brothers...I may have to put her wings away very soon before we end up with her breaking more than her wings...
Kaeli spent LOTS of time working on the perfect costume for Ky. He is still in love with anything that has to do with CARS. She found a box and made it into Lightning McQueen for him and then we decked him out in all of his Lightning clothes top-bottom (hat, glasses, PJ's, socks) and topped it all off with his new favorite shoes - cowboy boots. He was hysterical and he was so fun to watch as he enjoyed his costume to the max this year. We were all sad that it got wet in the rain and really was a "one-time only" costume...

Colton was excited to be Superman this year - again, thankfully easy piece of cake costume - his favorite T-shirt and borrowing Ky's bday cape. He was all set to go.

GO PANTHERS!!! Ceana wanted to show her other "school" spirit by getting as many layers of black, red and white as she could. She did a pretty good job too.

Trunk or Treat night always starts out with a children's costume parade in the gym. This year the parade was pretty long - LOTS of families from our wards and the community joined in all the fun.

Kaeli decided to be "M&M Girl" - she wrapped one of her favorite blankets around her shoulders and called it good. She devoted all of her time on making Ky's costume that she chose not to do anything for herself. Kels was stuck to her like glue for the night. She had so much fun but had to make sure her "sissy" was right there with her.

The kids had a total blast this year in spite of the rain that decided to do its thing in the one hour window we were outside (no rain most of the day, no rain from time activity was over for rest of the night) Ky was esp excited to see and get treats from his preschool/primary teacher. he adores her and is loving every minute of being in "big school" with her. He was excited to show off his treats and full bucket to me.

Caiden "volunteered" himself to be Preston's helper with candy this year because he chose to not make the best decisions with his behavior, attitude or language, and ended up blowing all of his privileges during the week. I am hoping it was a lesson well learned and that he will someday understand why right now I am the "mean mom" of the world...

I took a turn with the little peeps so the big girls could have some time just to themselves for big girl stuff, esp since Tori was able to come to be with Ceana for the evening.
It was fun to just take some picts of the haul the kids brought home. There was such a good turnout this year that the kids' buckets were overflowing. Ky ended up having me carry his bucket so that he could carry more candy in his hands. It was pretty funny.
Our usual tradition is to dump out all the goodies onto the middle of the table and let the kids each pick what they want to eat. Colton took full advantage of that this year and ate way more than he was supposed to. It was fun having Kels old enough this year to really "get it" and understand that she got to pick and eat lots of yummy treats.
Something the kids thought extra funny this year was Preston's need to "organize" all the candy into piles. Ceana got in on the fun and soon all the "we are keeping" piles were organized into neat little piles far away from the "we will never eat these" piles. Although, some of that did get pilfered this year because Preston and Ceana discovered a package of "exploding candy" (ie pop rocks) and several other "retro" candies that got eaten up that night. The rest of the candy got put into baggies and "hidden" in the freezer. We usually freeze all of the choc stuff to use for baking projects or for special activities or travel. My hiding place was apparently not good enough this year though because it has been largely diminished by kids hungry for sweeties. The other candy has been taken to Preston's work or will be given to bishop for his Sunday kiddo treat give away.