STARTING A NEW YEAR

 I feel certain that if, in your homes, parents will read from the BOOK OF MORMON prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of this great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.

The spirit of reverence will increase, mutual respect and consideration of each other will grow.

the spirit of contention will depart

Parents will councel their children in greater love and wisdom.

Children will be more responsive and submissive to that councel.

Righteousness will increase.

Faith- hope- and charity- the pure love of Christ- will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake, peace, joy and happiness."

President Ezra Taft Benson

Why would a parent not read this book with their children and read it on an individual basis? A Prophet of the church has given it's members wonderful promises, lets  head his words.

A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION? MAYBE

OUT with the old and IN with the new....
Until next year with all your lights and tinsel and smell of pine..... 

Just a few ideas for us all this coming December.....hee hee
IN with the reality of a cold winter ahead

THE NEW YEAR
Making resolutions on New Years Eve has never impressed me much. I know people do that because they hope to change and do better in the new year; however a lot of the resolutions that I've made have not been realistic or I make too many. I have made resolutions to lose weight not very realistic for me when I love to cook and I love food. Exercise more that's a good one. The couch with a warm throw and a good movie is more in line with how I feel.  On my days off I LOVE to sleep in. To some it would be a waste of time but for me I waste no time when I am up and ready to go. I accomplish so many things in a day after a good looooooong nights sleep. I have made some rather amazing long term result resolutions though, well just one that I can remember. I wanted to read the BOOK OF MORMON in it's entirity praying before and after I read. That resolution changed my life. Our kids were little, we only had the three then and reading every night seemed to help our children also. After a few months we had Stake Conference and one of the speakers was Sister Bangerter. She was asked to share her testimony of the BOOK OF MORMON. She confessed to all that she had never read the whole book and felt a little inadiquat .  She only had a month, so she divided it up and came up with 10 pages a day she could have it read in 26 days. That was a  turning point for me.
Lance and I together started reading 10 pages every night. It took around 45 minutes to and hour. Some nights we read straight through and other nights we talked at length about some of the chapters. Let me just say that it was not easy giving up our favorite night time TV show but well worth it.
After we put the kids to bed we would start reading. After a few weeks they would ask us if we were going to read when they went to bed because they liked listening to the stories. Now what could a 7, 5 and a 3 year old understand in the BOM? The SPIRIT, they understand the feeling they feel when listening to something good and powerful. The SPIRIT can teach. The SPIRIT can teach an infant the things that are true in this life. A huge awakening for me at that time. When we are doing what we should and living the commandments the SPIRIT will teach in our homes. Best New Years resolution I ever made.
So this year I decided to try resolutions again. I decided to work on 2 things. One Spiritual and ONE physical. Attend the Temple at least once a month and walk 4 times a week. I'll see how I do on those 2 things.
The long term result of doing just those 2 things will be outstanding....if I do it!!
I love my family so much and just want be able to help them especially in strengthening their testimonies.
"Be prepared and you shall not fear!" Right now all I can do is be prepared spiritually and hope that that will be enough.

OKLAHOMA WHERE THE WINDS BLOW FREELY ACROSS THE PLAINS

Why not? Landon is young, smart, and wants to adventure out, spread his wings, find those unanswered questions. He would rather be in Alaska with his friend who left the same day, but $1,400.00 is hard to come by just for the drive down, to the ferry in Bellingham, and the boat ride to a little Island called Juneau. We are happy that Chris and Lacey invited him down to stay with them while he looks for work.
Landon is a great young man, a hard worker, a smart worker, and makes people laugh. I always felt at peace around Landon even though I was most frustrated with the cluttered bedroom, dirty dishes, piles of dirty laundry on the floor of my laundry (which I would end up washing cuz he's my baby and I could never resist his cute face). His dog Danner near drove me to the nut farm for the first 2 years of his life. I think Danner wore a cone on his head more than not, crashing into everything, bitting off his guaze wraps, opening up his stitches, having diarrhea attacks, Jumping on a tomato cage and putting a  deep punture wound in his belly, getting stuck under the deck and trampling down every flower that was put in the ground  He is the most needy dog I have ever been around. Danner doesn't do the "dog turn" just before laying down. He just plops his body down, usually right on top of you, many times on very uncomfortable places, but no damage done thank goodness. We have grown to love Danner with his big brown eyes that melt your heart when he looks up at you with his head resting on our lap. We love the way he tries to sneak up on the couch with us one paw at a time slowly trying to get his back paw up to no avail.
To make a long story short folks, we now have Danner. For how long? Probably for the remainder. Don't worry Landon we are not upset, we'll just chalk up another one to our lives raising kids.
We wish you the best. Be prayfull, Be helpfull, and keep them laughing. We love you!

Landon and I tapping down a cover on his box of ammo in case it rains or snows. The last thing to do before they leave and it is getting dark.

Landon's motorcycle is in the back of Kents truck with boxes. His truck went on Kents trailor. They had to switch out the wheels for a smaller version so that the truck would fit on the trailor.

Goodbye....we will miss having you around.

Danner did not like the flash of the camera

Danner misses you too Landon.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING FAST

Mya came all decked out in her cowgirl outfit. Her sparklie belt buckle and pink boots did not get in the picture. She is such a dainty little sweetheart and loves her uncles.

My neice Amanda and her mother, my younger sister getting the feast ready for a hungry family 

Clint with girl friend Suni. He is not thrilled for a picture

Henry sneaking a goodie. He has such a sweet tooth.

Mom...Myself...Sister Luann

Nephew Tyler "That's my story and I'm stickin to it!"

Come and get it everyone!!!

Our Christmas Eve dinner. Clint cooked up a batch a chicken wings that were amazing.

Catch a picture with Riley while I can...he is a busy guy 

Mya and Grandma

This is my 2009 Nativity. Looked great in our Nativity room.

Christmas morning I fix our traditional German pancakes with blackberry/raspberry topping and sausage.

Lance and I with our Christmas HAUL...thank you to all our great kids!

"Show me the money"

Suni and Clint checking out their socks....lots of fun stuff

Clint being a DORK

Mya loves bracelets..
I made her several and she was so excited.

Mya with her daddy

Riley showing  Mya the pop up book I got for my collection.

Riley diggin his warm MOWHAWK hat from Landon.

GRANDKIDS ARE THE BEST

I had a wonderful time in Oklahoma in Nov. The weather was perfect. Lacey and I had so much fun shopping and gettting some of our Christmas gifts done. We made Christmas cards and gift tags, painted their shutters to the laundry room, did some baking and went to the Purcell High School football game. Coleman yelled right along with the rest of us. He is a funny kid and always has me laughing.

Got to hold Dominic for the first time since  August. Could not put him down. He is squishy, soft, adorable and such a CHILL boy.

I love it when my grand babies look at me and I can get them Cooooing.

Just look at that face.....PRICELESS!

Dominic zooms in on the movie Coleman is watching...so  precious!

Always smiling

I have a picture of Coleman in this same shirt and hat when he was the same age. I need to find it....they are like twins!

I was taking pictures of Coleman in his beannie and of cource he has to be the HAM. What a character.

We did caramel apples so Coleman could experience the pure pleasure of eating this delicious, caramely, messy treat.

He loves washing the dishes while playing in the water. The humor behind it is that he balances himself on his rib cage and belly. He brushes his teeth this way in his bathroom also.

At the park waiting for daddy who was tutoring a student across the neighborhood. We had a lot of fun.

Two buddies taking in Monsters vrs. Aliens movie

I would love to be this limber again

Say "MONKEY"

We did arts and crafts for quiet time with Coleman

What a bundle of pure JOY!