New Year...

I love starting fresh.  Having moved so many times it has been something I have gotten use to.  I have been able to live in so many places and know so many people.

This year looks bright and I am extremely excited to see how our family will grow as we start again in a new state.

We are very happy in Colorado.  We live by my brother and his family and are now short drive to UT to visit friends and family.

The end of the year was more relaxing, except for the fact that Samuel was sick...again.  Matt and him spent new year's eve in the ER with the Croup.  Man, my poor Samuel gets so sick and he is sick.

The biggest lesson I thought about learning from this year was one I was reminded about this Christmas season.

We had a RS dinner and I brought some food.  It was a treat all of my family enjoyed and something that was a little different, so I thought it would be a good idea to bring it to the dinner.  Well, no one ended up eating it.  I brought a ton because I'm someone who always wants to make sure I cover all of my bases.  I felt humiliated as I saw people talk about my dessert and how unappealing it looked. It kind of made me upset.  But after coming home I remembered a story from President Eyring.

The odd thing, is I had a similar situation happen to me last Christmas when volunteering my time for a Christmas party for the ward.

Here is the story.

To appreciate this story, you have to realize that it occurred when he was nearly eighty and had bone cancer. He had bone cancer so badly in his hips that he could hardly move. The pain was great.

Dad was the senior high councilor in his stake with the responsibility for the welfare farm. An assignment was given to weed a field of onions, so Dad assigned himself to go work on the farm.

Dad never told me how hard it was, but I have met several people who were with him that day. I talked to one of them on the phone the other night to check the story. The one I talked to said that he was weeding in the row next to Dad through much of the day. He told me the same thing that others who were there that day have told me. He said that the pain was so great that Dad was pulling himself along on his stomach with his elbows. He couldn’t kneel. The pain was too great for him to kneel. Everyone who has talked to me has remarked how Dad smiled, and laughed, and talked happily with them as they worked in that field of onions.

Now, this is the joke Dad told me on himself, afterward. He said he was there at the end of the day. After all the work was finished and the onions were all weeded, someone asked him, “Henry, good heavens! You didn’t pull those weeds, did you? Those weeds were sprayed two days ago, and they were going to die anyway.”

Dad just roared. He thought that was the funniest thing. He thought it was a great joke on himself. He had worked through the day in the wrong weeds. They had been sprayed and would have died anyway.

When Dad told me this story, I knew how tough it was. So I said to him, “Dad, how could you make a joke out of that? How could you take it so pleasantly?”

He said something to me that I will never forget, and I hope you won’t. He said, “Hal, I wasn’t there for the weeds.”  

I realized that even though, I donated my time and I felt like it wasn't appreciated, it was because I chose to serve.  I chose to give of my time and talents to help my church.  I chose to help because I felt like I should.

I still get the reward for choosing to serve, even though, I might of thought my work was worthless and unappreciated.

Who am I doing service for? Am I serving so others will see how "awesome and selfless I am?"

I needed to learn that no matter if I think my work is not appreciated by others, it doesn't matter.  My work is appreciated by the only person who matters, my Savior.

This year I would like to try and keep that in mind as I serve.  I would like to be better.

My new year's resolutions for 2015

The dessert that no one ate. I made so much. I felt horrible trashing it but I probably would of had a a heart attack if I ate all of it by myself. 

Christmas 2014

This Christmas we spent it in Utah.  It had two years since I was in Utah.  It was a blast! Life is so much better when you are constantly nauseated and tired from being pregnant.  Last time I was in Utah I was pregnant with Ben.  

We spent our nights at our resort in Midway and traveled each day to see mine or Matt's family.  It was kind of a pain but I like having my own space.  I think next time our visit won't be so long and I will forgo my space.  Parley's canyon is so long! It was hard to do that canyon about every day.  

My boys loved seeing all of their cousins.  They miss them and talk about playing with them all the time now.  Samuel threw up midway through our trip.  He contracted the flu.  He spent Christmas eve at the resort with Matt sleeping.  He had been rushed to the ER because we were worried about dehydration.  He was able to obtain some magical Zofran and ended up feeling a lot better after that.  Poor guy, was so hungry and was begging for food.  He did really well while puking all over, he didn't panic and tried so hard to hold it in.  

We were also able to see some friends while in UT.  It was a great trip.  

The first night we were there we made an effort to attend a temple session at the Salt Lake temple.  We hadn't been there since I was pregnant with Joshua.  And I hadn't done a session since I took out my endowments.  It was AMAZING! Temple nights are the best date nights.  

We also saw the temple president who is no other then, President C. S. Samuelson!!!! Former BYU president, our BYU president.  We acted like we knew him and he in turn wondered if he knew us.  Doesn't he know all the BYU students while he was president? Haha! 

This time I was able to soak up everything about that beautiful temple and it was incredible! Life seems so much better when you are in the temple.  

After our trip we stopped at Crown Burger and ate some deliciously unhealthy food.  I don't think I will be able to ever give up french fries.  

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I am excited for a new year and more adventures! 

The way WY looked on the way back.  We didn't hit a storm while driving home but there was tons of wind! Which caused all kinds of problems for us.  WE couldn't see the road, we couldn't see other cars because of blowing snow.  I wondered how cars who go stuck in the snow managed to get help because there was no service on my phone during most of the area.  We prayed like crazy and the boys were nervous.  But we made it! 

Joshua's first time sledding! He loved it so much! He was a crazy sledder and after each time he went down we waited for tears, but he was having a blast! He went sledding down the hill I use to as a kid.  One of the best activities we did while in UT.  

Making snow angels in my moms yard.  We built "snow monsters" because the snow was too powdery and wouldn't shape for a snowman.  They loved every second of it. 

Joshua making an ice slide in my parents yard.  He never wanted to leave the snow.  

We had to touch the bountiful temple.  It was freezing and I didn't get a great picture but it's more about the activity right? 

Watching Tv with grandpa.  My little Ben was completely out of his element and people wanted to always hold him.  He was fine, as long as I wasn't an option for him.  He's my sweet mom's boy! He likes people, just not when he's off schedule etc. 

Christmas morning came! Joshua exclaimed, "I must of been a really good boy." 

My family's attempt at a nativity.  Ben made a great shepard while he ate chocolate.  That was the only way he would stay on the stage and be happy.  

WE met up with our friends from Logan and were able to take our kids and play at this place.  They really enjoyed it.  They love these kind of places.  

This is Ben while Matt's mother was singing at one of the visitors at temple square.  He didn't want to be inside.  He was laughing and dancing during the nativity that temple square holds.  He is the happiest kid I know.  Just adorable and gets away with pretty much anything because he's so perfect.  I could hang out with him all day! 

Anxious boys right before we left for UT.  We love Christmas around here! 

Temple square for the first time.  They loved it! We thought we might be able to touch the temple, but I think you now have to enter through the visitor center and it was closed.  I was a little disappointed.  But I think they know how much I love temples.

Thanksgiving 2014

"May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more."

Forgiveness, President Hinckley 

We have been busy preparing for family to visit us this thanksgiving. We had a full house for several days. But there always seemed like something or someone to play with. My boys really loved having constant playmates from the time they woke. 

I was even able to do two shopping outings without children. It was a very successful week. I love this holiday season! My boys are all ready for Christmas now! We put up our tree the week of Thanksgiving...yup I'm one of those people. My holidays just share time...at least that's what I tell myself. 

Playing at our favorite park with the cousins. 

Joshua made his own little pumpkin pies this year. Aren't they adorable! 

Here is a picture of my turkey! 22 lbs and all! I'm a grown-up and cooked my own turkey this year. It was too stressful but it all worked out. 

Our FHE lesson on thankfulness turned out great. The boys had a blast trying to name all the things they were thankful for.