Gratitude Attitude

I have decided that my mood has been quite somber at this election season. I have felt very disappointed, yet at this same time very grateful to be a citizen of this great country. I do believe our country has some major issues to face. Some of which unless we return to values of integrity, hard work and moral values, we may not be able to overcome. But...as I have contemplated what my responsibility in the world is I have realized it is important that I meditate and ponder on the things which I am grateful for, so I have decided to create a "Gratitude Journal". My goal is to begin each day with a moment of gratitude and to try and write it down. Today, I am grateful for the knowledge I have of my Savior Jesus Christ and the door it opens for me to have communion with my Father in Heaven. How wonderful and comforting to know of their divine love and compassion for me and all those on the face of this earth. The knowledge I have of their mercy and desire for all things good for us brings such peace to my soul. Also, the blessing they have given us in a modern day living Prophet. President Monson continues to remind me of the blessings of relationships and service to others. His hope and love of the people he serves brings solace to my soul. So this day as our country faces a new direction, I realize my job is to draw on the words in 1 Nephi 31:20 and continue to "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Well this blogging thing is turning out to be the best journaling I do, so I guess I better update. This has been a crazy week! The school I worked at last year convinced me to come back for two days a week and I am still taking my tax class. I finished up the girls pajamas for Christmas and got the boys done except for the elastic. We had a little pie social here tonight after our ward temple trip. It was a nice evening.
Tomorrow is Nate's 26th birthday! (26 on the 26th) I can't believe it. We were going to go to Logan and have a birthday party for him, but Grandma Dorothy wants us to come to her house. It will be hard on Randy because he has drill until 4 p.m., but I have decided relationships should be our priority! ...so off we go to Preston tomorrow. I am heading to Idaho on Halloween to pick up my parents and bring them down here for the weekend. I hope it is not to hard on them, but we thought it might be good for my dad to get out. Guess we will try it and see.

Wyoming here we come....

We had a nice fall break! Randy wanted to go and see Dirk and the Oviatt's so off we went to Afton! What a nice relaxing weekend. Nate and Randy headed up into the mountains to play and Alisa, Jordan and I played with Charla and her family. Actually, I think Alisa tried to study. She has a crazy load this year, and college can get a little stressful! We are glad we got to have her around a couple of days.


I forgot what a nice slow pace a small town living provides. Life just gets so harried here. Jordan and Wendall went on a bike ride and found a couple of bucks. We went on a nice fall walk and just enjoyed the day. Charla helped me with some projects and we just got caught up. Her family was such a gift to ours! I really miss having someone that is so comfortable at our home and we at theirs. Guess I need to get out of my shell and make some longer lasting friendships here in West Point!

COME LISTEN TO A PROPHETS VOICE....

I absolutely love General Conference weekend, for several reasons. It is always so uplifting to hear the messages of faith and hope. I have been trying to come prepared with questions in my mind as I listen to conference of situations in my life and how to handle them. It seems the last few times Elder Uchtdorf has been the one to really give me answers. If I was as smart as my daughter Emily, I would link you to his talk, but he really reached in and touched my heart and gave me hope at this challenging time in our world and lives. I am so grateful for the words of apostles and prophets, what a blessing. Instead of the nightly news, we need a daily dose of one of the conference talks. I especially loved how Elder Holland told us to move forward with faith not fear! Every generation has its challenges and problems, but we all have the blessing of the Spirit if we will just seek it. What peace it brings me!!!

The other blessing of conference is my children generally try to come home. It is craziness, but the craziness of my favorite kind! What a great weekend. And in October it is Rylie's birthday party, so we have to squeeze some fun time in there for her!



This year we tried going to the Deseret Book ladies night out - - I think we have more fun at home playing!


And...next time, my goal is to get a picture of all the handsome men on their way to Priesthood session! What awesome guys we have!

Will I Ever Settle Down....

Randy came home with the much anticipated "Letter" today. He still has a job, but only if he is willing to move to Fort McCoy Wisconsin. It is complicated and if he turns it down, then he gets in the system with a priority placement for other jobs in the area, but in this market, it doesn't seem very wise to turn down the job. He says this buys him some time to look elsewhere. They will relocate us and buy our house if need be, but I really don't want to move across the country and leave all my family here....anyone want to relocate with us?? Stay tuned!!!! I am just ready to stay in one place! We really don't want to move until Jordan graduates anyway. So I guess we just need to really say our prayers and do some serious soul searching!

Canning.....ugh!

Well, here it is almost midnight and I am canning chicken!!! The pressure cooker always makes me a little nervous. I scrubbed it hard before I started and then I put the pressure release rubber thing in upside down! Well, that made my water come out to fast, so now I am trying to process again. I wish the silly thing would hold more than 8 jars. Anyway, it just gives me time to blog a little. I could go read a book but I am afraid I would fall asleep and then who knows what would happen to my poor chicken! I have been trying hard to build our food supply. Now I think we need to invest in a generator. When we came home from our reunion the power was out for several hours and it just give you cause to reflect about what you might need in emergency situations. My heart goes out to those folks in the south getting hit with the hurricane weather.

Family Fun

What a fun time! We had our reunion in Pocatello over Labor Day. I wasn't sure when I would get all the kids together again, so we took the chance to get a photo shoot in! Everyone was a good sport about it! We had some fun while cheesing it!
We went swimming, eating and playing. I think it was a fun time for all. On Sunday we sang "I am a Child of God" in my parents ward. Everyone was not so excited about it, but I think it was a special time for my parents. We were missing Nate, but all the rest of my little posterity were able to sing. (Except Matthew decided he needed mom about the same time).
I think we made it through the weekend without any major hitches or feelings hurt. Sometimes with all the stong opinions floating, that is the greatest accomplishment. My cousin from Houston came with her kids. It was so awesome to see them!
I think my favorite part was the noodle game! I worked muscles I didn't know I had! I need someone to play it with me about three times a week, and I am sure I would be in great shape!